Nancy Rivers

Congratulations! I'm glad things are going so well for you both.

What you describe was my life before the sleeve. That's part of the reason I ended up so sedentary. However, since the sleeve, I can stand longer or walk longer before the sweat starts. As I continue to exercise (walking) it's getting better and better.

If you scroll down a bit - there's another post on the same topic - several others have tried it too.

I got the "Start! Walking at Home" DVD that has a 20 minute "gentle walk" that is about 1 mile and a 30 minute brisk walk that is about 2 miles today. I just tried the 20 minute gentle walk - and while I did the full 20 minutes - I couldn't do all of the steps, but that's ok, I'll work up to it. I'm gonna try to do this at least every day this week. Hopefully then I'll be able to do the whole workout. Then I'll add doing it a second time each day. I hope that's not pushing it too much...

Are you getting all of your Protein? Are you getting all of your Water? Are you getting your Vitamins in? As long as I'm doing those 3 things, I'm never hungry. Also, are you sure it's not head hunger?

A question for the ladies who have had the sleeve. Do you experience weight gain with your TOM? If so, when does it usually happen - the week of, the week before or 2 weeks before? I'm just trying to figure out why I gained 4 pounds a week ago and have stayed at that level. At the support group meeting last night, the PA suggested it could be because of TOM. I'm inclined to think that is what caused it because I haven't really changed any of my other eating habits. However, having my surgery a month ago and it screwing with my TOM, I really don't know when I should be having it again so am a bit confused with this weight gain. I should have started my TOM last month on the day of my surgery, but it started a week later. So now I am thinking that I will start sometime next week (at least that is what I am hoping considering my normal migraines that come just before TOM started yesterday).

Congrats!

I am 4 weeks out and just had last night some cheddar scalloped potatoes. I get a bit of protein from the cheese, so it's not as bad - but I don't plan on having them too often.

Thanks. I think I will try them.

My dietician told us no baby food - just blenderize normal foods that are high protein, low fat, & low carb.

4 weeks out and have lost 15 pounds. It was 19 - but regained 4. For the last week, I have been holding steady at the 15 pound loss. Kind of disappointed in that. Otherwise doing well though. I still do a protein shake a day to make sure I get enough in. But, I'm getting more chicken and fish in now which helps. Technically, I'm still on soft foods until the 28th when I see the surgeon again.

You look awesome! Congratulations!

Queenmab - our stats are very similar - I had surgery the day after you. At this point, I have lost 15 pounds and have been at this same weight now for a week. Actually, in the first 3 weeks I lost 19 pounds - but last week gained 4 pounds and have been stuck at that now for a week. I know it's discouraging. But, we have to keep with it. At this point, our bodies are still trying to figure out just what the heck we did to it - so it will take a "breather" and try to figure it out. That's why we're stuck at the weight we are right now. But, it will break eventually and then we'll start losing again. We are learning new habits that will lead to a healthier body over the long term - that has to count for something.

Here's the link to Anthony's website: http://www.myownweightlossnow.com/ He has an "open chat" every Sunday night between 8pm and 10pm Eastern Time.

It takes about 6 weeks or so for things to heal up. What I do is measure everything putting only the 2 or 4 ounces on my plate - and then eat with a baby spoon so that I don't eat too fast. This way I know how much I am eating so I can journal it (my dietician wants me to journal daily). I eat until I feel full (most of the time that means I eat until I belch, but tonight it was until I got a tight feeling). If I haven't eaten my entire portion, then I put it in the fridge until my next meal time. I have found some 1/2 cup containers that for storage, as well as some 1ounce and 2 ounce containers too (those are "baby food dishes" - but they don't look like they are for babies - just the outer packaging was). It really helps.

I didn't have to do any bowel prep before surgery. All I had to do was 4 Protein shakes for 11 days with 6 other food items (broth, Jello, salad veggies) and Clear liquids the day before surgery. For me the hardest days were days 3 through 5 when I started having cravings. Other than that, it was pretty simple and I didn't have any issues. What type of pre-op does your surgeon have you doing? Every surgeon seems to have their own plan.

Congratulations!

I have NEVER been able to float - I always sink! I'd love to be able to float.

My surgeon won't let me do anything but walking before 6 weeks out.

I haven't been able to start at the gym yet (hopefully at the end of the month my surgeon will clear me for it). However, there is a personal trainer there who had the gastric bypass surgery approximately 6 years ago and has lost about 400 pounds. He has not had any plastic surgery and has no sagging skin. He told us in a couple of our support group meetings that if you do the "right" exercising, then it will really minimize the sagging skin. One of the ladies there had VSG surgery a year ago and has the bat wings - he started working with her and when I saw her last, even though her arms were covered, I could tell there was a definite reduction in the bat wings. His name is Anthony and works at Mercy Healthplex in Fairfield Ohio. I know he has a personal website as well - but I can't remember it off the top of my head. I'll see if I can find it and post it though. He seems very willing to talk to anyone about his experience.

Congratulations! That is awesome news!

You really need to be checking your blood sugars if you think it's any form of hypoglycemia. By the way, diabetes is the OPPOSITE of hypoglycemia - diabetes is too much sugar in the blood, hypoglycemia is too little. While I am diabetic, my sister is boarderline hypoglycemic - her sugars will dip below 60 if she's not careful. When the blood sugar is below 60, things like what you describe can happen. If you don't have a glucose meter and test strips - get one! Test your blood sugar when you have these episodes. After you eat, wait another 30 minutes or so and test again. Testing when you first get up in the morning will give you the "fasting" blood sugar reading. Testing 2 hours after eating gives you an idea of how your body is reacting to the food you are taking in (although, I would test immediately before I eat and then 2 hours later to really understand how a food reacted in my body). Then when you go to the doctor, take the blood glucose readings with you - it will help your doctor.

You're PCP is probably taking that idea from something on this website: http://www.yoursurgery.com/ProcedureDetails.cfm?BR=1&Proc=5 I had to read down quite a ways to find it, but there is a sentence that talks about it. It now explains why we get those breathing things after surgery that we are supposed to use 10 times an hour. That never made sense to me until I read this article.

Yeah, it will change. You're still swollen from the surgery. As that swelling goes down, then you'll be able to eat more. My surgeon had me using full liquids and puree foods starting on day 3 after surgery - though to the 20th day. Then starting on day 21, I could have "mushy" foods - or soft foods. Starting at 6 weeks, I can have "normal" foods. When I started mushies last week, I had some meatloaf and it was wonderful! I could only eat about 2 ounces though. Now, a week later, I can have 3 ounces. I can eat a full 8 ounces of a thin Soup though - so it will depend on the food how much you can eat at a time. Just listen to your body and you will know when you are full. Do not push it otherwise you will end up throwing up. Don't worry about the time it takes this early out to eat. As the swelling goes down and you are able to eat better, then pay attention to the time.

The ricotta bake is really good. I substitute low fat versions for some of the ingredients. The carbs aren't too bad in the recipes that I have checked out.