Bougie Size- Infamous Pen Photo-Question ???

 
Picture needed in Bebe Dress (don't cut off the shoes....I hate when that happens) to confirm the bougie size used in your surgery.......yah know...science and all....

frisco

 What is your bougie size? Mine is a 36. How much can you eat now? I have about 500 cal. a day and 3 and a half weeks out.

 These questions are for Elina and Frisco!

Amber, I was given a 32F by the same doctor as Frisco.  But his is "a tight 32F" while mine is the usual one he gives most people.  I think he makes them extra tight fir heavyweights so that they can lose all the way to goal.   Most of the time he sets goal weights in the low normal range of BMI scores, even for heavyweights.  This does not seem to be the case with many other surgeons. 

I can eat about 3-5 ounces of protein or about two cups of soft food.  I do not do this on a regular basis.  I usually eat 3 ounces of protein and about 1/2 cup to one cup of veggies, or about one to one and a half cups of soup or chili or something soft.  I do believe that having a larger capacity makes it harder for me to maintain.  The whole idea behind the sleeve is that your tool will limit your food intake, all the people that say, " Well, it only matters what you put into your mouth not the capacity you have."  I would reply to them, yes, you are right, but how well has this same logic worked for you before surgery?  Because all of us could have just eaten veggies and low fat meats and lost all the weight on our own, and as long as we continued to do this for life, we would have been able to maintain.  That didn't work out so well for most of us, most of us need extra help and the further out we get, the more help we need.  There is no way, I would want a larger capacity stomach at almost three years out.  This is my truth, your truth might be different.

I reread my post and wanted to add that my stomach was not longer than most, it was quite normal size from surgical report.  The difference has everything to do with how tight the doctor made it.  You can see the dramatic difference in capacity between Frisco and myself and that is with a surgeon that generally is known for making very tight sleeves as compared to other doctors.  Something to think about for people who are choosing a surgeon. 

 Now, I am a little nervous! I know mine is a 36 but I don't know if it is tight or not! I will ask the next time I go. I have about 500 cal. a day. Yesterday my husband and I went out of town to shop.....I had a pintos and chess from Taco bell for lunch. I had a protein drink for breakfast, and we went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner, there I had a baked potato (maybe 4 bites) and a cup of chili (maybe 10 bites) and I was stuffed. That was all I had yesterday, so I don't know if that is considered tight or not?? What do you think? 

Amber, what I really think is that there is no need to borrow trouble.  If you are eating 500 calories a day, you are doing great.  Just make sure you are meeting your protein goals for the day as you really need the protein for health reasons (ask me if you are not sure why we need all this protein, I am assuming you already know).  You will know what your capacity is later, maybe a year or more out.  You will then have to eat according to what that capacity is.  If it is really small, you will need to make sure you are getting protein in, but you will not have to worry as much about other food.  As long as you are eating every 3-4 hours and not grazing or drinking your calories, you will be just fine.  On the other hand, if you will find that your capacity is bigger, you will still need to do the above but also watch the fat and carbs that you are taking in.  You might also need to keep journaling in order to only eat a certain amount of calories a day.  My main point, is that this journey keeps evolving, and the most important thing is to be willing to make changes and to stay accountable even as your tool changes a bit.  You can do this, I know you can.

 
I'm about 2.5 years out and eat 2-3oz. protien........chicken breast a little less than two.......light fish closer to 3oz. and about an ounce of veggies.

I was told I have a tight 32f

I lost 190lbs. on 600-800cals a day. in 13 months.

frisco

now thats what im talking about, many ppl on the board say they reach 1000-1200 calories a day .. and some say 500-800 and some say that eating is a chore . 
i guess there IS a difference between every sleeve (bougie size, length, whatever)

 XS ?????
wow right now i can use your dress as a glove.
nicee :)

That's funny.  Life has sure changed in the past three years.  Good luck to you on this journey and I think you are wise to be thinking about the long term now.  I would ask your doctor about the number of sleeves he has done over the years and also about his success rate as measured by EWL over time.  For example, if he expects you to reach goal and goal means losing 60% of your EW, I would be worried.  My doctor wants us to lose 80-100% EW.  He sets his goals accordingly.  He knows that his sleeves give us a good chance of reaching those goals based on his earlier patients.  I would look at that and also at his rates of leaks.