kalew

Ok, I talked to my nutritionist this morning. She gave me the name of a website she uses "Calorie Count" looked very easy, especially for putting in recipes that you use at home, which are hard to figure out nutritional content... she also said: EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE!!! She said the amount I was eating was fine IF I were EXERCISING. I’m 5’6” medium to heavy frame; and she said 1000cal a day if I am exercising. If I am not exercising I should eat 900 cal Broken down like this: 900 cal; 38 g fat, 75 g Carbs, 60+ g of Protein Eat out only 3 times a week. It’s too easy when you eat out to get more fat and little bites of temping foods. Throw out the wheat thins or anything you can’t stay out of. Best way to stop a plateau is to (you got it) EXERCISE! I asked her about going on liquids for a couple of days, to jump it and her concern was that I might lower my metabolism, we will burn our muscle if we go too low on our calorie intake. Best way to increase you metabolism is.....yep, exercise. You know what you don’t want to do when it is 105 degrees out? Yep exercise. She suggested getting a DVD, or swim or find anything that I like doing. Mall walk. Anything.... Just move, 4 x a week for 30 min+

Yep, I plan on getting something done after 2 yrs, we will see what needs to be done at that time. I'm 57 so I don't think my skin will be as elastic as it use to be. Will probably need my eyes, neck, and face lifted some. Not sure about the arms, don't really want long scars. I'm loosing slowly so I hope that will help some too. It's frustrating, but I know I won't regain anything that I loose, so even a one pound loss makes me happy!

I had a sunken area on the left at the incision site where he pulls the stomach through. It is a deeper incision and there is a suture in there that will break later. It hurt for 2 weeks started to get better, then broke (sunken area was gone), hurt again, but started to finally get better. All gone by 3 weeks. Only bad part of the whole thing. I don't have any problems with any food now. Zero issues really, weight loss a little slow, but I need to start exercising more. Hope your FB season goes well, be carful in this heat!

Even if it doesn't you will get a jump start on your weight loss at the least. It's not a bad idea, I heard my surgeon actually didn't do someone's surgery because they didn't do the diet and hadn't lost weight. They were in the OR and he just closed her up. Imagine that! It must do something if he could tell inside.

I chose the sleeve as well as it is less surgery than a Roux-en-Y. The more cuts, the more chance of a problem. I didn't want something foreign in my body with the lab band and I could just see it causing pressure sores on my stomach. I am a nurse and like Tiffy said, many people do just fine with partial gastrectomies. I have not had any problem eating any particular food, I have also found that I don't crave "bad" foods like I did before. You know, bread, cake, chips etc. I just don't want it. So the diet afterward is pretty simple once you are on regular food. The weight loss has been slower for me once I have been on regular food, but consistent.

So, what is different in Europe? Would love to know. Everyone is so crazy being on the full liquids but this will be your greatest weight loss, as soon as I was on solid food everything really slowed down as far as weight loss. I was really constipated at first but have found a balance with more fiber and doing better. Weight loss is slow but steady. I haven't been exercising much lately though, it is so hot. 106 today! ugh!!

Congratulations, I almost went with Dr. Kim, but due to insurance issues I wanted to have my surgery at Baylor Plano.

Well that makes me feel better. I was also hoping that my skin would shrink up better and not be as saggy as if I lost it all in 6 mo. I had surgery so that I could make a lifelong change. I am in this for the long run and I am eating a lot better than I have ever been on a consistent basis.

350 cal a day! 60 gms of protein alone is 240-300 cal, my citracal liq is 40 cal, have to mix it in juice so that would be another 60 cal so I would be up to 340!!! So you are just having 3 protein drinks??? that is crazy man. If I go down that low, I get so tired I can hardly function. I mean I have to sleep, like hibernate! Guess we all have what works for our bodies.

Good luck with everything, the pre-op diet was harder for me than anything post op. It's been pretty easy post op to not over eat. I've had a few cravings but nothing bad. I splurged some for my birthday, but I couldn't be terrible. I could only eat one bite of birthday dessert after dinner. I would of eaten 2-3 times the food before surgery. So it's really great.

Hi ya'll, I have lost 28lbs so far. was sleeved May 17, that includes 12 lbs preop. Things are going so slowwwww... I have started walking and bought a yoga dvd; I have to walk in malls though as it is too hot here to go outside even in the mornings. I have been getting in my proteins and watching my carbs. I don't have any trouble with any particular food, wish I did. Any suggestions on how to speed up the weight loss?

I totally agree, the scales stopped moving for me when I started eating regular food for almost 2 weeks, then started again loosing about 3-4 lbs a month. Not gang busters, but it is still moving. I know exactly how you all feel, especially when my husband is asking me almost daily if I have lost any weight. Now I just tell him I didn't weigh. I have lost 28 lbs in 10 weeks. I keep hearing of all those who have lost 50 lbs by this time and it's hard to put it into perspective. I have started walking, I mall walk as it is too hot here to go outside. I'm loosing about like I did on any diet I've been on, 1/2 to 1 lb a week; I'm eating and feeling fuller though, before I would be starved all the time. I don't feel obsessed about food, just try and get my protein in first, then veggies, then carbs. I have not been perfect as I can eat anything without any problems, I had to try a few things to see what would happen.. ha ha. My doctor said most average 1 to 2 lbs a week loss, so I guess I am the lower end. I think being older makes it harder too as my metabolism must be lower than it used to be. Some days I'm so tired! Others I feel great. Can't seem to pin it down on what I have eaten or anything. When you eat out you really have to watch how much sodium is in the food, some dishes have 4-5 GMs of salt! That is an incredible amount and you will retain water like crazy!!!

Congratulations! I bet it really helps to be doing this together! Wish I could get my husband to start dieting, he says he is, then eats 4 cookies!!! Oh well, 50 lbs is amazing, can't wait to get there!!

Congratulations! Good luck with your surgery and your pulmonary checkup! There is a lot you can do on your own to get ready for surgery, your doctor should be able to instruct you.

I agree with Tiff, having something foreign in your body, especially one that is putting pressure on tissues, just seemed to me like eventually there would be problems. I was also already thinking of way you could cheat the band, which wouldn't give me the long term weight loss I wanted. I have had zero issues with food so far. I can eat salads, chicken, steak, anything. I don't even want sweets anymore, not sure why really.

The bougie is the tube that the insert in your stomach during surgery to use as a guide when removing the stomach tissue. It comes in different sizes but there are very small differences between them (millimeters difference). I have a 36, which I'm told is the most common. You don't want one too small or you may have problems with strictures afterwards.

So glad I got the sleeve. I too was thinking of getting the band when I went to Dr. Nick's seminar and heard about the sleeve. It has been amazing. I do not have any issues with any food, just the amount of it. I eat about a 1/3 of what I used to eat, if that. I feel so much better than I did before surgery and it hasn't even been 2 mo yet. It is scary but go to someone with a good track record. Do what your doctor says, eat only what he says post op and you will do fine.

I also had Dr. Nick, the first couple of weeks are a little tough, but not bad, every day is a little better. Wear an abdominal binder it helps a lot, do your incentive spirometer! and Drink Drink Drink especially since you will be out in the heat! Isopure, Vitamin Shoppe has a good Protein supplement "Nectar". Order some unjury on line, I mix the vanilla with my coffee (has to be under 130 degrees or it will clump) but then you have a latte, but is clear liq. I also used a little pillow to splint the left side where they take the stomach out as it is by far the only place that really hurt. It still bothered me a little the third week but not bad, when it hurt I sat down and it was better.

That is what I found, I was really dragging yesterday. Could hardly stay awake I was so tired by 2 pm, so I ate a tablespoon of peanut butter and felt better in 15 min. Amazing.

You can pull muscles easy with hard coughing. I also ate cream of wheat the week after surgery so I don't think it was that. It is considered a full liquid, make it with milk for more protein. It helped me feel full for a lot longer when I was on full liquids.

Yea, I think it's harder when you are over 50 as our metabolism is slower. I went for a walk today as it is the first day under 99 we have had for a while. And my close fit better, I am wearing things I wore when I was 10 lbs lighter. So I will just hang in there. It's hard, my husband asks me nearly every day if I have lost another pound or not. I need to just stop weighing myself. But I know I will. I go see the nut next Friday maybe she will have some ideas.

Hi, I keep reading on the regular posts that when you have less than 100 lbs to lose it comes off slower. I was sleeved on May 17 and things have really slowed down for me. Don't know why, seems like I am not eating much. I have tried to eat more fiber now that I am cleared for regular foods and it hasn't seemed to help much.

This is very easy and you can change some of the ingredients around according to taste, freezes well. Taco Soup 1lb ground beef or turkey, browned 2 cans hominy (or corn) 2 cans pinto Beans (or 1 pinto and 1 black beans) 1 can Rotel tomatoes (tomatoes and green chilies if you can't get Rotel brand) 1 pkg dry Ranch dressing mix 1 pkg taco seasoning Do not drain cans, Mix all together and cook 3-4 hrs, Serve with chips and grated cheese

drinking while eating will do 2 things, one, you will have less room right away for your protein and nutrition, and 2 you will empty your stomach sooner, then be hungry again.

Good luck with your surgery. I thought I had good insurance and it still is going to cost about 5K with all the co-insurance for the hospital. Glad I had it though, no problems, just trying to stick to my diet and get all the protein in and fluids. Will be on regular food in a week, can't wait. You really can't eat too much at one time, the only thing you could do wrong is eat too often and too high a calorie food. I'm GLBT friendly, my husband was really not on board with this surgery in the beginning either and at first he was watching everything I put in my mouth, very annoying though he just cares that I don't hurt myself. It's better now that there is not a risk for a leak.