GreenEyedMamma

Questions: What was your starting weight? How many calories are you consuming every day? How many carbs are you consuming every day? How much Water are you drinking every day? Are you eating real food more than shakes?

Most people add that information to their Signature (where your ticker is). You can click on "Signed in asCCinINdiana" and then click on My Settings. There are all kinds of things you can update once that page opens up including your profile and signature. I hope that helps.

Unfortunately, "that" will take some time. I am 5 months post-op and I still only go every other day (sometimes every two days). Sorry to be blunt but when you have little going in, you have little going out. When I feel like I need a little help, I take Benefiber. Stool softeners only help when there is "something" to soften.

I get my protein from real food. I will have a shake a few times a week when I don't feel like eating. This is usally Saturday mornings for breakfast and one night a week for dinner.When I do have one, it is a ready made shake (Premier Nutrition) with 30 grams of protein. I eat shredded chicken (4 ounces can have around 26 grams of protein), solid white albacore tuna (3 ounce can has 20grams of protein), Egg Beaters (1/2 cup has 10 grams of protein), and babybel light cheese has 6 grams of protein. I also have ground turkey breast and pork loin. I usually get in between 80-100 grams of protein per day from real food. I track everything on FatSecret.com (myfitnesspal.com is a great resource too). Today, I only had 544 calories (had a light dinner) but was able to take in 83.50 grams of protein, 15 grams of fat, and 10.50 carbs. I had Egg Beaters with a little shredded cheese for breakfast (82 calories, 14.50 grams of protein, 3 carbs, 0 fat). For lunch I had shredded chicken, shredded cheese, salsa, and sour cream and rolled it into half of a low carb-high Fiber tortilla (227 calories, 33 grams of protein, 5.5 carbs, 8 grams fat). For dinner I had 3 ounces of solid white albacore tuna and a tablespoon of light mayo (115 calories, 20 grams protein, 2 carbs, 2.5 grams fat). I had a light string cheese for both my am and my pm snack (both totaled 120 calories, 16 grams of protein, 1 carb, and 5 grams of fat). I don't think it matters what time of day you work out but you should have some sort of protein after you work out to feed your muscles. This can be a simple shake though. Also - to give myself a "treat", I will have a Peanut Butter protein ball. I mix two scoops of vanilla Protein powder with 1/2 cup of real natural peanut butter (the kind you have to stir), drizzle a little bit of honey over it, mix it up real good, roll into four balls and refrigerate. I will have one as breakfast or if I am simply increasing my calories for the day because each ball has 260 calories, 22 grams of protein, 7 carbs and 15 grams of fat. They are YUM-O!

I went through a two week stall as well and that is when I increased my water intake dramatically. I read an article somewhere that said if you increase your water intake by 16 ounces over the recommended 64 (to at least 80) ounces of water per day you can increase your metabolism by 30%. I started drinking 96 ounces and peeing quite often and that really got things speeding up. I have been losing at a steady pace since doing so. There are days when I can only get in 72 ounces and I tell you I can feel the difference when I don't get in my 96. Crystal Light is the only way I can get it all in. I start drinking at 7:30am and I reward myself with my morning snack after I drink my first 24 ounces. I do the same for lunch and my afternoon snack. I always get in my last 24 ounces before bed. I know, it makes for a trip to the bathroom in the middle of the night but this is what works for me. I also reduced the amount of carbs I take in every day to less than 30. I eat between 700-800 calories per day most days and I make sure I have two Snacks a day. I also eat on a schedule. 7:30am is Breakfast, 10am snack, 11:30ish lunch, 2pm snack, 5:30ish dinner and then nothing after that but water.

First of all - CONGRATS on your 45 pound weight loss. That is awesome. This article will explain a few things. http://www.dsfacts.c...or-plateau.html As awful as it sounds, try and increase your Water intake to 96 ounces a day and pee often. My fitness trainer friend says to make sure you POPC (pee often, pee clear).

It took quite a while for my drain tube "hole" to heal totally. I swear some days it still itches and I am 5 months post-op.

That is stinkin hilarious...HA! Your pain sounds EXACTLY like what I experienced. It was in the upper part of my abdomen below my boobs. The last episode I had was after lunch and I couldn't even stand up straight. I tolerate pain really well but that was the one of the worst pains I experienced (and I went through 26 hours of labor).

I had the same thing long before VSG and it was my gallbladder (like the others are suggesting). I had "sludge" in my gallbladder. Caused serious pains and I felt like I was being stabbed at times. It hurt to breathe during the pain too. I was at work when I had my worst attack and my boss took me to the hospital. <BR><BR>Popcorn was my enemy during that time. It went right through me and caused some rather "loud disturbances" if you know what I mean. <BR><BR>I had to have a HIDA scan to confirm what it was. They inject a nuclear compound into your bloodstream and then watch it as it travels through your organs. If it is your gallbladder is sludgy like mine or isn't working it will stay in there. The scan takes FOREVER and is boring. It does sound like that is the problem though. Go see the doc and have it checked out.

My pre-op nurse said that even though the scrub is "recommended" for more than two days, she said I could just use it the day before and the day of surgery. Both of my parents are in healthcare and they said surgeons prescribe it as a precaution these days but it isn't necessary because they still scrub you down before surgery anyway. It will dry your skin out so if you have sensitive skin you may get a reaction.

That is AWESOME!!! So happy for you. I was at my highest weight when I got married so it will be fun to see how mine "fits" when I reach my goal. LOL.

Ugh! I was given that uuber prep-soap crap and I had a severe allergic reaction to it. I used it the day before and day of surgery. The day after surgery I developed a little rash on my belly that spread like wildfire to any place that the stupid (yes, I said stupid...LOL) soap touched my body. It was awful and I ended up being off work another week because of it. I don't remember the name off the top of my head but it was in a little bottle. A little evil bottle...

Sending you hugs and prayers for a quick recovery. I see you are moving across country so take it easy after surgery. Stay hydrated and remember to sip and sip often. Walking will help speed up your recovery too. No lifting though. Sip, walk, rest - repeat.

Yay! My surgery date was quick too and had I known my last official pre-surgery meal was going to be on that day I would have eaten more than a four piece chicken nugget kids meal BUT...I think not being able to "go out in style" was the best thing. Good luck with your surgery. Keep us all updated. You are in for the ride of your life. Dawn

Welcome. I was in your place not long ago and it has been an amazing journey. This forum was the best thing I came across while researching VSG and has been a HUGE resource to me not only before surgery but after. Everyone here is always willing to give you advice (whether directly or indirectly by reading the posts). Best of luck to you and I hope your journey to the other side starts soon. Dawn

Welcome and congrats. It is an AMAZING ride. I, too, eat with a baby spoon and a cocktail fork. I also eat out of a really small bowl. Eating slow was hard at first but you'll get the hang of it. It sounds like you are off to a great start and you have a wonderful support system here on this forum.

I easily could have gone back to work after a week but I had an allergic reaction to the scrub soap and was off an additional week. I was bored out of my mind. I think four weeks is too long too. Do what sweetdreams suggested and ask for two weeks and see what they say.

I planned for one week but ended up being off for two because I had an allergic reaction to the scrub soap and I was miserable. Had that not happened, I would have been back to work after a week. I am not a sit at home for days on end person so after one week I was going insane. My job has a short-term disability plan that pays you 100% of your salary for the first 8 weeks of time off. This kicks in after you have been out of work for more than seven consecutive days. Check to see if you have this option. Your doctor can write a note that says you will be disabled for a period of time. The Family Medical Leave Act is available whenever you need it. I would shy away from it though because your employer does not have to guarantee your same position when you come back to work if you take advantage of the full 12 weeks. All they are liable for is to make sure you have a position that is similar in nature with the same pay. Just a thought. Good luck on your journey. It is an AMAZING ride.

I went through a stall for about the same amount of time. I went in for a check up and the scale said I had only lost 7 pounds in three weeks. What really happened though was I had lost 16 pounds of body fat but gained nine pounds of muscle (my doctor has one of those magical scales that gives you a detailed printout of your body composition after you stand on it barefoot). Your body could be doing the same thing. Stay hydrated (drink at least 80 ounces of Water a day), keep your calories up, and get your Protein in. Your body is adjusting and is still thinking "what the heck have you done to me" but don't worry, the weight will come off. I have been losing a steady 3 pounds a week (sometimes more, sometimes less) but after I experienced my long stall and understood why, I don't let it stress me out anymore.

Welcome and I wish you all the best in your surgery and recovery. It is an AMAZING ride!!!

And here I thought I was the only one feeling this way...whew!!! In my mere five months post-op, I have discovered that with each pound lost I am gaining more self-confidence and self-esteem. Moreover, as these grow, I cannot help but face the fact that I married my husband because I was at such a low-point in my life emotionally that I felt he was going to be "as good as it gets". As a heavy girl my entire life (seriously always the biggest kid in class), I found myself in relationships with men that were no good for me but they were the only ones that would pay any attention to me. Now, I am married to a man who treats me bad, I feel unappreciated, and I feel taken advantage of every time I look at him. I honestly do not know what it is that attracted him to me (other than I have a great job and make decent money) because the type of woman he is most attracted to is the complete opposite of me. He likes short, dark haired, dark eyed, Asian or Pacific Islander, skinny women. I am blonde, vampire WHITE, green eyed, far from skinny and short (well, I guess one out of five matches). He always tells me that if he did not love me or was not attracted to me he would not have married me. Well...then why the hell is he making comments on another girls Facebook picture about how beautiful she is and how he is and always will be attracted to her? He NEVER comments on any of the pictures I post. We were recently on a video chat with our friends in Florida who we have not seen in over a year and he was telling them (all proudly) "look at my wife and how good she looks". He was going on about how well I am doing and what not making himself look like the star husband. He doesn't EVER express these things to me directly and I think he only does it in front of others because they are the first to comment about how good I look and he doesn't want to look like an ass by not saying anything. So, to say that my actual pounds lost has changed how I feel about my husband is not really true. However, to say that I view him in a different light because I have opened my eyes to what I have been in denial about for the past seven years is. He is 6' and nearly 300 pounds but his weight has nothing to do with my emotional changes. He has gained about 50 pounds in the last three years and blames me for it but I did not put the fork in his mouth (just like he didn't put the fork in mine). I recently read a quote by Maya Angelou (I will be blogging about it later) but it reads, "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." Right now, I could not agree more.

I hit the 70 pound mark this morning and am inching closer to my first major milestone of 100 pounds. As each pound drops I feel like I am gaining a mile of self-confidence. I am no longer hiding behind people or furniture when meeting new people or chatting via video messaging and do not run when someone pulls out a camera. I am refusing to purchase a new wardrobe until I am close to reaching my goal. I am trying out my domestic skills and am utilizing my sewing machine to take in certain clothes (work pants, etc.). Despite my middle school home economics sewing skills, I discovered the key to keeping my clothes staying up is a belt. I have never needed a belt before so this was something new to me. I thought I would have to get a pair of those rainbow-striped suspenders that old men wear but a belt works much better! Me the month before surgery. Me today (4.5 months post-op)

A big chunk of that came off the first two months. I have been averaging around 3 pounds a week (except last week, I lost nearly 5). I am trying to only lose 2-3 a week (for an average of 10-12 a month) so I don't have too much loose skin. It has been an AMAZING ride. You will enjoy it.