Thanks so much for sharing, Lorna! Can you tell me which hospital you went to? My paperwork says that Dr. Ponce is doing surgery at Florence Hospital, now, not INT. I have heard that Frorence is older, but clean and comfortable, but that INT is new and advanced. Also, did you stay at the Lucerna Hotel? Their photos show both very nice and very bare rooms. And, it looks like your surgery has been quite successful!!!! Congrats to you!! Which procedure did you go with? I have had Lapband since 2012, but only problems since the beginning and I am seeking revision to sleeve. Dr. Ponce appears to be extremely skilled!

Thanks again! 

Samantha 

I just started speaking with a coordinator about scheduling revision surgery with Dr. Jaime Ponce de Leon. I haven't agreed to anything, but after reviewing the details of their offerings, I received information from another coordinator who facilitates surgery for the same doctor, but instead of staying at the Lucerna hotel, they have 2 recovery houses. 1. Do you have any suggestions for the best information and follow up in a coordinator type company, and 2. Dr. Ponce...does not offer any nutritional follow up, while the other doctors supported by the second coordinator offer 2 years of nutritional support with a US based nutritionist. I am waiting for confirmation on financing...open to suggestions there, too. Currently, based on the coordinator's suggestion, I have applied for a loan from e-financing. I am hoping to schedule for this month or early next month. 

Thank you!!! 

If I ate that many carbs, I'd have wicked food cravings.  During weight loss, I kept my carb below 25 g per day.  That means all my carbs came from dairy and low carb veggies.  This worked for me.

My program let me eat more carbs, but I didn't because I knew it was not a good choice for me.  I'd suggest trying really low carb for a while and see how it works for you.  Then you can add carbs back and see how it feels.  Some people are more sensitive to carbs than others.

Best of luck,

Carol

Hi,

I had a VSG about 2.5 years ago, and have been active in the VSG forum for years.  This is my first time checking out this forum, and I don't know about the other forums -- other than the recipe forum which I also use. 

But I want to say that I've had a very positive experience with weight loss surgery.  It isn't easy, and it takes commitment and discipline, but it makes the weight loss possible.  I started at 385 pounds with a BMI of 60.  I lost 225 pounds in 18 months, and I have been maintaining at 160 pounds - and a BMI of 24.  I've been maintaining for about 1.5 years.

I don't want to make it sound easy.  Its an effort and getting used to my new tummy was not fun.  But the results are so worth it.  I have had no complications, and came thru the surgery with minimal pain.  No diarrhea, little nausea, no dumping.  I can eat anything, but I avoid carbs because they cause food cravings for me.  But I am happy and my eating is quite normal - small portions, but few restrictions.

Check out the VSG forum.  I think most people there are quite happy with their results.

Best of luck. 

Carol

I'm not sure of your initial weight but if you are only up 40lbs after 15 years that's a success in my book.  All of my life I continued to gain.  I had my first WLS in 2002 at 240 lbs and my revision at 220 lbs in 2010.

Although that was a regain of 100 lbs in 8 years I was 20 lbs less then I started.  Had I not had WLS I would have easily been at least 260 but more likely close to 300 lbs.  So even though my first surgery was a failure by all accounts it at least helped slow down the progression of my weight gain.

So you have been a success and are now like most people who want to lose a few pounds.  I know that 40 lbs doesn't seem like a few to you but it's a hell of a lot better than 100 or more.

So what to do?  I'm going to take a wild guess and say that you have probably gone back to eating things with refined carbs like bread, pasta and crackers.  And maybe sugar if you are able to tolerate it.  I know that is where my 100 lb regain came from.

So the thing to do is to get rid of those things.  Clean your cupboards, fridge and freezer of all the junk.  Donate to a food bank or needy family.  When my daughter moved out I donated all the food she left behind that I didn't eat to a local family.

If you have family that still eats that stuff you will have to enlist their help.  Depending on their ages you can ask them to eat it outside the house.  If we are talking small kids and you control what they eat they can only benefit by cutting back on those things.

You don't have to go out and stock up on things, you probably have what you need at home.  Stick to your food plan, whichever one works for you, whether it's your surgeon's plan or weigh****chers or whatever sounds good.  Don't experiment until you reach goal.  You are going to have to relearn how to eat right and how to have discipline in your eating again.

I know that when I had my revision I decided to follow the food plan my surgeon offered to the letter.  I was able to detox off the carbs while in the hospital so that made it doable, if not easier.

I stuck with that plan until I reached goal.  I also paid out of pocket to see a nutritionist that worked with WLS patients since my insurance didn't pay for one.  I just had no clue and it really helped.

Now I am 5 years out and I'm still learning how to eat to stay a normal size.  It does not come natural to me, that is why I don't eat impulsively.  I try to plan out my meals and not wing it.  Maybe someday I will be able to do that but now I still need some structure with my eating.

Get support whether in person or online.  Support helps keep you accountable.  I don't know for sure with you but for me I totally cut myself off from other WLS patients and that made it easier for me to lose control of my eating and weight.

Just take it daily, plan out your meals one day at a time and you will do fine.