Leaderboard

My surgeon says he is happy with a 1 lb loss every 7-10 days. At first, I was doing much better than that, losing between 2-3 lbs a week. Now that I've been banded a while, the weight loss has slowed down (even stopped the past 6 weeks) so losing and keeping off that 1 lb a week is taking work. There are only a few things I really miss living my new lifestyle. Sour Patch Kids are probably the biggest thing. Sugar coated in sour sugar? Yes please!! But I haven't had them in months. Every know and then I will crave a drink of Pepsi. The way the carbonation burns...mmm! But I know it's potentially hazardous so I don't give in.

Ok, it might be prudent to order a book from amazon.com, as there are books that will give you so much information on how to live with your sleeve. Here's one I saw today: The Sleeved Life: A Patient-to-Patient Guide on Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Weight Loss Surgery [Paperback] Pennie Nicola (Author) But for a quick overview here is some info I think might be helpful: From 4-6 weeks you should probably still be eating soft foods. Aim for 65 or more grams of protein a day, and 64 oz of fluids and that includes all fluids which should be sugar free. Sample soft menu, high protein foods: Breakfast Softly cooked eggs Cottage Cheese Yogurt Hot Cereal Soft Fruit Lunch Soups are perfect Fish - tuna is a great choice Refried beans with melted cheese/sour cream Chili Beans Soft cooked meats and poultry (crock pot is great for this) Soft cooked veggies Dinner Again, soft cooked meats and poultry or fish Soft cooked veggies Snacks Yogurt SF jello or pudding You will probably need to have at least one high protein shake per day to be able to meet your protein needs. I use Pure Protein powder for 25 grams of protein. Take a multi-vitamin everyday, and calcium citrate, a B12 sublingual 2 days a week, and a B-complex 50 with thiamin daily. After 6 weeks, start adding regular meats, chicken and fish, salads and a more normal diet, but start slow and see if you can tolerate. You can probably eat about 4 ounces or half a cup per meal and eventually 6-8 ounces. Good luck...and no drinking with meals, wait 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after your meals!!

The above posters advice to journal what eat is what I'd do, too. Also, are you sticking to a cup or less of food per meal? Unfortunately just because you're eating salads often doesn't necessarily mean you're eating healthy or low calorie. It's all entirely dependent on what you put in the salad.

Have you tried using "myfitnesspal" to log your food intake? Many times people feel like they are eating healthy or within a certain calorie range and don't realize just how much they are taking in. Salads can be very unhealthy if adding cheese, dressing, etc. Also, many people don't realize how many liquid calories they are taking in. I think a food journal would be a good first start. Also, salads are ok but you should be eating protein first, salad next. The protein is going to fill you up and keep you satiated. Good luck to you!

Good for you for doing your research and sticking to your convictions. My family doctor has been very supportive too; however, over the years if she found out I went to a specialist (be it an ENT dr. or other) she was a little put out that I did it on my own and not including her in the decision or getting her recommendation for a specialist. I think sometimes it's an ego thing if you make decisions or see other specialists of your own choosing. I am guessing over time your doctor will get over it. If not, nothing says you have to stick with the same doctor. Kudos to you!

​Time for a new doctor? My lung doctor set me up for the surgery, not my PCP. My PCP is behind me with the banding, though. My surgeon likes by pass better but I don't. I know about 6 people who had by pass and they are all big again. It is a band aid not a cure. We have to want to change our nasty eating habits. I have and I am proud of myself. I hope one day to wear a size 12 or 14. I don't need to be skinny, I am 62 next week. Do it for you and no one else.

At first my family MD did not like the idea as well....and she said, well I don't think you are that big to require surgery.....So I explained to her that I have been struggling with my weight for the past 7yrs, and each year I seem to be gaining more and if I don't do something about it now, it will only get worst....and I reminded her, she was the one who wanted to put me on metformin. Then she said to me you know what, I get it, I get it.....and have been more supportive since. The bad thing is for me, I work with my family MD, and so she sees me on a daily basis, so I have to push myself harder, just to make sure I do not embarrass myself by failing at this....

It helps to plan a menu for 2wks or a month ahead....that way you do not have to think of what you are going to eat for dinner. That will also help you to buy groceries that you actually need for the 2wks or the mnth. As a single mom with a busy schedule, that has helped me a lot, planning meals weeks in advance....I am pretty sure it will come in handy as a bandster, once I get banded. I also undesrtand how hard it is to work and go to school at the same time; so if your school ends late, I would suggest you have your bigger meals during the day and have a protein shake at 8-10pm....that way you get your protein needs in a "light meal form" with much less calories then and actual meal.....just my suggestion.... but don't give up, we all fall off the band wagon at times, we just have to keep picking ourselves up and try again untill we succeed.....Good luck and keep us posted!!!

Have you tried the Isopure Zero Carb? its fruity and i actually found its not bad and its def better than the thick milky ones. I have only tried the Alpine Punch but its kind of like a crystal light to me (albeit it leaves a wierd after feeling) but nothing that watering down cant fix. Each bottle has 40g of protein!!.

if you don't get in enough protein you will lose your hair and start wasting away your muscles. 24 grams is not enough, I have heard muscle milk is good. The ones I use are delicious I can see I will tire of them after 4 weeks but I know I HAVE to consume at least 60 grams a day.