lsereno

I was sleeved at 54. Check out my before and after pictures in my gallery! I think I look younger. I sure feel younger! Lynda

My Dr. let me go back to the gym at 6 weeks, but he specifically said to avoid the ab exercises for longer. I started doing ab exercises at about 12 weeks. Lynda

This forum is not private because it contains valuable information for newbies. It's not a forum to vent about newbies, but a forum for vets to find support and information. It also gives newbies a window into what life will be like further down the post-op road. Lynda

Everyone's program is different. Mine allowed fruits after week 2, and I ate tiny amounts of them. I got my Protein in first and that very little room for anything else. Measure your fruit. The best way is to weigh it. 100 grams ( a little over 3 oz.) has 46 calories. Only exercise I got at a month out was walking. I wasn't cleared for the gym till after week 6. Stay on your eating plan and the stall will go away. Lynda

Be happy to! I'm not sure exactly what equates to soft food because each program is different, so you may not be able to eat all of these: 1% Fat Cottage Cheese: 1/2 cup has 81 calories and 14 grams of Protein Fage 0 Greek Yogurt: 1/2 cup has 65 calories and 12 grams protein 98% Fat Free Ham Lunchmeat (costco brand): 25 calories per ounce and 5 grams of protein Most cooked chicken breast meat: 46 calories and 9 grams of protein per ounce Dungeness Crabmeat: 30 calories and 6 grams of protein per ounce Cooked Shrimp: 25 calories and 5 grams of protein per ounce Dennison's 98% Fat Free Chili (now marketed as Fat Free Chili): 1/2 cup has 105 calories and 10 grams of protein Anderson Split Pea Soup with Bacon: 1/2 cup has 70 calories and 5 grams of protein Frigo Lowfat string cheese: 50 calories and 7 grams of protein eggs ( I don't like eggs but I can't leave them out of this list!): 80 calories and 6 grams of protein

I agree that she should be reported. You are not the only person she has done that to. I wouldn't have said much to her F2F. Everyone has a right to their opinion, but it a medical setting, it is not her right to express personal opinions. Lynda

I eat Beans now that I can eat more food. I have seen lots of people who eat refried beans early out, but I preferred more dense Protein with less calories.I did eat low fat turkey and beef chili with beans. Lynda

I used unjury chicken flavored and GNC's Gold Standard Whey Protein in Vanilla. My trainer recommended the GNC Gold Standard Whey and my Dr. recommended the Unjury because I had a problem with lactose post-op. Lynda

Not everyone struggles with fluids. Some people do not have as much post-op swelling and they can fluids down easier. It doesn't mean you won't have restriction when you start solid foods. And not everyone loses their hunger. Are you on a PPI, such as Prilosec? If not, you may have excess stomach acid which makes you feel hungry. Ask your Dr. about a PPI if you are not taking one. If you are taking a PPI, you may need a different one. Some people are stuck with the hungry feeling, but most report it is better when you can eat solids. Lynda

I started right around 40 too. I simply couldn't get under 200 lbs after years of trying, including Weight Watchers in person, Weight Watchers online, hypnotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy, 3x per week with a personal trainer, and a brief stint with Alli pills. This surgery was my "hail mary" to regain my health. Lots of people told me I was too small. I told them "My doctor and I have decided this is the best option for my health." This surgery forces you to change the way you eat for a while. It carries very real risks. It can be expensive. Only you can decide if it is the right option for you. Lynda

I know that fear. I'm still worried about year 3-4. I've seen a couple of long term post-ops say that it's harder to lose any little gains then. I reset my bounce range to be more like yours - just two lbs over goal. I had set my range for 130-40, with 135 my goal. I have only dipped below 134 when I first went into maintenance. I got up to 140 around the holidays last year and I realized that setting my range for 5 lbs over goal allowed too many junk food parties. So my current bounce range is 133-137. That stress/guilt cycle definitely needs to go! I've got two thoughts that help me with that, both from online WLS groups. One is from writergirl, who has recently posted a couple of thoughtful entries on her journey. She mentioned that she realized self soothing should not be self destructive. And the other is from Elina over at the OH VSG board: "You can't hate yourself thin." Next time you are feeling bad, channel that acquaintance and look at yourself with those eyes and those thoughts. I love having this vets area to talk about long term struggles. Lynda

My weight watchers coach once said a weight loss journey has to be "all about me" and she was so right. You have to be the one to decide. You could take him to the pre-op appts with you or to a support group meeting. Lynda

The deal is those are extra calories. So the calories she was already consuming normally keep her at goal. She lost while she was on vacation, which might have included some dehydration. I eat bread, nuts and avocados at goal without gaining weight, but other than bread not as much as the OP. I think for most people, if they are not trigger foods, they can eat limited amounts of these at goal. The trick for many with these foods is they eat more. Instead of one ounce of nuts, its a handful everytime they pass the jar (and that's why mixed nuts are rarely in my house!), or they eat a piece of bread, waking the carb monster and then go on a carb bender. Also, not everyone is going to be able to eat as much as I do post-op. I'm 5'6" and I walk at least an hour 4 days per week. I built up a lot of muscle pre-op, some of which I still have. Lynda

First of all, it's just about physically impossible to gain that much actual weight in a day. So at least some of that is Water. Whether you were dehydrated before and have returned to normal or whether your hydration was good and you are retaining too much water is a question you can answer. I'm not going to crucify, but think long and hard about what you are doing to yourself if you are drinking while you are having problems with acid reflux, energy and dehydration. If you are not seeing a counselor, I recommend it. A counselor can help you identify food issues you didn't even know you had and help you come up with strategies to deal with them. Measure your foods and your liquid intake over the next few days. Go for a walk. Preferably outdoors because the fresh air and scenery will help you clear your mind. Measuring, tracking, and following my Dr's plan are what got me to goal. It can work for you too! I'm rooting for you! Lynda

Hmh. That's about 10 avocados (2270), 42 slices of whole wheat bread (3360), and 21 oz. of nuts (3633 calories). That's about 3 lbs. of extra calories. Through in an extra pound for Water, and there it is! At least you chose healthy foods. I had a little junk food party around Christmas time and had to reset my bounce range to 2 lbs. Lynda

Agree with Laura about the shot glass. Set a clock by your chair or bedside. Aim for one ounce every 15 minutes while you are awake - either Water or your Protein drink of choice. I used a 1 cup measuring cup like a little pitcher to keep refilling the shot glass. It was a lot easier for me to drink when I broke it down like that instead of facing a big glass of water. I took my pain meds for almost two weeks and I didn't have any complications. It will get better. Lynda

I take 3 Kirkland calcium citrate when I get up and before bed. The ideal plan is to take 2 three times per day, but my Dr. said it was OK to take 3 two times per day if we kept forgetting our lunchtime dose. I was able to swallow them at two weeks out, which is when my plan said to resume taking them post-op. Lynda

If you are having the spasm when drinking or eating - slow down. Take a tinier sip and wait longer before having the next one. for the OP, you may be lactose intolerant. Try a 100% whey Isolate Protein, because these will be easier to tolerate. unjury Protein powders are 100% Whey Protein Isolate and the only ones I could tolerate immediately post op. After the first ten days, I also did well with GNC Gold Standard Whey Protein powder. It is not 100% Whey Isolate though so if you are more sensitive it might not work for you. I also do well with nonfat greek yogurt, which has a lot less lactose then regular yogurt. There is some debate as to whether the surgery causes lactose intolerance or merely unmasks it because we eat so much less food than before. Whatever. Many people can resume milk products by around 6 months. For me, I tolerate them better but still can't have much of them. For example, this week I had a Starbucks reduced calorie Mocha Frappachino and later the same day a slice of cream pie (hey- I'm at goal and in maintenance!) and I paid the price the next day. Lynda

Here's my list: Daily AM: 3 Kirkland calcium citrate (500 mg each), 1 Kirkland Multivitamin with minerals, 1 Kirkland Vitamin D3 (2000 I.U.), 1 NatureMade Super B-Complex Daily PM: 3 Kirkland Calcium Citrate (500 mg each), 1 Kirkland Multivitamin with minerals 2 x per week: 1 Spring Valley B-12 sublingual (2500 mg) Lynda

33 lbs down is great, but it's more important how you feel about things. You say you can eat a lot, but keep in mind there is almost no restriction for the foods that are most likely to make you stop losing or regain. Don't beat yourself up about what you have done. You can't hate yourself thin (this thought thanks to Elina from Obesity Help VSG board!). Just remember what Writer Girl from our boards said: Self soothing doesn't have to be self destructive. It's imperative that you track what you are eating: including amounts. I strongly recommend weighing your food or measuring it. I find weighing more accurate. If you have junk food around, get rid of it. If you can't get rid of it because other family members want it, move your food or their junk food to another cupboard and shelf in the fridge and freezer. Find something that makes you happy besides food. That is different for everyone. Make yourself a goal board, with pictures of things you want when you are at goal. Put it somewhere you can see it. If you eat something bad, just get back on the wagon and try again. We've all been there and we are rooting for you! Lynda

I set my goal weight for 15 lbs higher than what I weighed in my 20s . I prefer a leaner look and I'm comfy at my goal weight. I can see the extra lbs. on me between now and when I was smaller, but at my age, I didn't think the lower weight would look good (I'm 56). My goal weight puts me a little higher than the middle of the normal BMI range. Goal is extremely personal. Once you get into the overweight BMI range, there are minimal health benefits to being thinner. 150 would put you right in the middle of the normal range. Perhaps it would be good to set your original goal at what your surgeon recommends and your your stretch goal at 150. When you get to the surgeon's recommended weight, you can reevaluate and see if you still want to be 150. If you do, I say go for it! Lynda

Are you viewing from the ipad app or the website? I can see all group posts from the website, but not the ipad app. Lynda

We can all read the messages in the 5:2 group. Only members can post. Please do not assume anything posted in a group is private. It is not. Lynda Edited to change any to anything.

Thank you for sharing your story. Self care, not self destruction is a powerful thought that will help me. I can see why you've got writer in your username! I took some cognitive behavior therapy sessions a few years back and they have been helpful to me. I have also found that regular exercise is key to avoiding depression. I still don't like exercise, but I do it anyway!! I'm still on a learning curve about emotional eating. I just read an interesting article about nighttime eating, which is still a problem for me. It mentioned that many eat at night to decompress from the day. Duh!! Understanding that little factoid will help me recognize that behavior faster. Can't wait to see your practical tips next. Lynds