lsereno

I'd check them both out. The good one is the one you will do. One might be closer, more convenient, just more appealing - whatever. I am considering joining the Y because the two closer gyms don't offer morning classes. I won't go to exercise class at night. I've been walking 4 days a week but I miss my strength training. I also won't go use the machines. Classes or group activities are what I need to show up. Lynda

I took pain meds for two weeks. I tried switching to tylenol about day 8 and spent an uncomfortable few hours. With the tylenol, I could feel pain around my stomach, not all of it matching up to exterior incision sites. Everyone heals at a different pace and many heal faster than I did. You might be fine to go back to work in another week if you have a desk job. Is it possible to work a few half days or even 3/4 days? Can your doctor extend your medical leave time so you can wait longer to go back if needed? Lynda

I was cleared by my surgeon at 6 weeks. He said to just avoid stuff that put a big strain on the stomach for a few weeks after that, so I focused on legs and arms at first. Lynda

Yes, it has settled.Good luck on your journey! Looks like you are almost at goal. Lynda

Hi Astambo, Yes, I do use the 100 mg gel caps. I take them as recommended on the label. I usually take one at night and then one in the morning and at night till things work their way out. Usually do not have to take more than three. Lynda

Hi Desert Mom, I can eat 3.5 oz of Protein, but most of the time I choose not to so I have more room for veggies and a little starch. Those sliders are a problem! As are calorie-laden drinks. It may get easier with time, but it's always going to be a struggle for me. That's one of the reasons I'm still here on this board, giving and getting support. I do think about my choices daily. Of course, I'd love to have a McGriddle with sausage, hashbrown and OJ for Breakfast. But I'm sticking with my lowcal ham on whole wheat english muffin. And yes, that iced pumpkin bread would go great with pumpkin latte, but I'm gonna stick with the plain biscotti and the tall soy latte, thanks! Not that I don't have treats, but I have to control them instead of letting them be the norm in my daily diet. I am waiting for plastics too. I've been at goal for almost a year now and I can see a difference, but things are still not perfect. For me, I may decide it's good enough. I'm 56 and pain/expense averse :-) Lynda

I am coming up on two years out. I have been pretty stable in the amount and types of food I can eat for the last year. I do have to be careful of the choices I make to stay at goal weight. I can't eat the same volume of food I ate pre-op, but I could easily eat the wrong foods and gain all the weight back. Here's what I've eaten today: 9 a.m.: whole wheat english muffin with two slices low-fat ham lunchmeat 11 a.m.: 1 cup nonfat plain greek yogurt made into a smoothie with splash of OJ, Splenda, Water, and 1/4 cup mixed berries 1:30 p.m.: 2 oz. cornish game hen (left over from dinner a couple of days ago) mixed into 1 cup Progresso Vegetable Soup I plan on having spaghetti and caesar salad for dinner a cupcake for dessert. I may snack on some pretzels while the game is on too. Lynda

Try thinning it with Water, adding Splenda to sweeten to taste, and adding fruit. I use frozen berries in the summer. I thaw them in the microwave, add Splenda to sweeten them, then stir them in my yogurt. In the winter, instead of fruit, I add some canned pumpkin and vanilla and cinnamon. I use 1 cup Fage 0, 1/4 cup pumpkin, 1/4 cup Splenda, 1/4 cup water, 1 tsp vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. I also like to make it into a shake: Blend greek yogurt, splash of orange juice, Splenda to taste (I use about 1/4 cup), a couple of frozen strawberries, and water. When I first started drinking it, I used 1/2 cup yogurt and 1/8 cup water. Now, almost two years out, I use 1 cup yogurt and 1/8 cup water. You can also make a savory dip. Use greek yogurt and mix with ranch dressing mix. Thin with a little water if it's too thick. Lynda

I use Colace, It was recommended on my program through Kaiser Fremont Bariatrics department. It works well for me. It's important to drink enough Water with a stool softener. It works by drawing extra Fluid into the colon. Lynda

I'm 5'6" and have been within 5 lb.s of my goal weight (135) since March 2012. I agree that goal weight is going to vary on the "look" you want to achieve ( I prefer long and lean), your heaviest weight, and how long you were at that weight. People who were heavier longer may have more extra skin and their weight bearing bones may be thicker. Your age is a factor as well. When I was young, before I gained weight, I weighed 118-125. Anything over 125 and I had love handles and a muffin top over my jeans. Now if I weighed that little I don't think it would look good and I'm not sure I could maintain that weight either. Little Miss Diva is not on the board as much anymore, but I recommend searching for her and checking her pics. I think she is 5'5" rocks around 160-170 and she looks fabulous. Lynda

I haven't had a problem with Splenda. I got to goal weight in about 9 months. I continue to use Splenda in maintenance without a problem. Lynda

I keep treats that I like but will not overeat. I can't have potato chips and have to limit how often I have popcorn. But I can have pretzels for a salty carb without going nuts and for something sweet/fatty, I do well with Peanut Butter and graham crackers. Everyone has to find their own path. I know eggface eliminated white carbs and sugar permanently. For low cal treats I have hot soy milk with a little splenda and seasonal flavoring. Right now, that's a little cinnamom and nutmeg. Tastes like eggnog. I also like the sugar free instant hot cider mix (15 calories). I usually eat some fruit every evening. Whatever is in season. Right now, it's apples, pears, litte cutie tangeries, grapes, or 1/2 bananna. I get my sweet on in the morning with yogurt. Right now I like it with canned pumpkin, vanilla, cinnamon, and Splenda. Things I can't have in the house: good white bread, salted nuts, potato chips, baked sweets, chocolate candy. Lynda

I stayed on the PPI six months. For the carb thing, eat on a schedule and include whole grains, veggies, and fruits for your carbs. Skip the white stuff and sugar till you get your cravings under control and feel, like you are in charge. Some can never go back to them (eggface still doesn't do white carbs or sugar). I track what I eat and weigh every morning. Tracking can be as simple as a note in your purse. For me, I'm at home most of the time so I use a small white board on the fridge door. Make sure you are getting your fluids in too. Leaves less room for junk once you get the recommendations down. For better carbs I do enjoy the 100% whole wheat bread, double Fiber muffins (120 calories for a whole muffin), oatmeal, brown rice, and sweet potatoes. Lynda

Your swelling may have gone down faster than some other peoples. Did your doctor provide a diet plan? Mine recommends three meals and a snack if needed to get in enough Protein, etc. Lynda

Do you have a costco? the whole roast chicken for $4.99 is such a steal - cheaper than buying a raw chicken. Tuna is another great low cost Protein. For something different with tuna, try blending it with a little mayo so it's a smooth spread. Great with crackers. I like the Special K crackers, but they are a splurge price-wise. For veggies, frozen is often cheaper and very tasty. One great advantage to frozen is no waste. Just take out and cook what you need. Here's a chicken pot pie my family loves: 12 oz. shredded chicken or turkey 10 oz. frozen mixed veggies (carrots, peas, corn, and green beans) 1 onion, chopped 1 can low fat cream of chicken soup 1/2 cup milk piecrust Sautee onion in a little oil. I use about a tablespoon. Stir in frozen veggies, chicken or turkey, milk, and soup. Pour into a 9" pie pan. Top with piecrust and bake at 425 till crust is done. 30-45 minutes. Just eat yours without the piecrust. I also make big batches of Beans, chili, and vegetable soup and then freeze them in gallon baggies. They thaw out fast. For fruit, whatever is in season now. At first I could only eat non-acidic fruit. Applesauce was a lifesaver then. Lynda

Good luck on your upcoming surgery. I'm coming up on two years out, but I still remember like yesterday the first time I found this board and the nervous journey to surgery. Take time to explore past topics to get some great advice on what to bring to the hospital, what to buy for at home post-op, and things to do to make it easier on yourself. For me, some of the best tips were: Get house and and everything ready. Buy recommended Vitamins and start taking them pre-op. Give up coffee before surgery. You won't be able to drink much after surgery and a caffeine withdrawal is easier to handle pre-op when you only have to worry about that. Never trust a fart post-op. Have spare comfy clothes just in case. Practice sipping Water all day. Practice eating slowly. One minute between each bite. Get a small spoon, such as a demitasse spoon or a baby spoon. Dig out your small dishes. Buy yourself some small treats, such a nice lip gloss and hand lotion. Lynda

Congrats and welcome to the goalies bench! Our surgery dates are almost exactly a year apart, but our goal dates are a little more distant. It took me a few more months to reach goal. Onward and upward to maintenance and a happy life at goal! Lynda

I went to Japan at 7 months out and had a great time. It took longer for my energy to return (I was tired for first four months), but by 7 months I felt great. I took Protein powder and a shaker cup, and beef Jerky. You can drink Protein shake in the morning and another at night if you are having a hard time getting protein in while on vacation. If you have a hotel with a fridge, those little cups of greek yogurt and great and convenient too. Also, light cheese sticks, low fat salami, crackers, little cans of v-8, and applesauce cups are all good choices for the hotel room. Have fun! Lynda

It does stretch with time. I think most people eat more than 4 oz. when they are further out. I know I do. Typical dinner for me is 3 oz. Protein, 1/2 cup veggies, and 1/3 cup starch, such as potato, noodles, or rice. Calorie intake and weight regain can occur rapidly if you don't choose the right foods. High fat, high sugar foods such as potato chips, buttered popcorn, Cookies, candy, and cake can really add up. Ditto for high fat/sugar drinks such as Mocha Frapacchinos, milkshakes, or sodas. And weight regain can creep up on you. I set a top bounce weight of 140. If I see 140 on the scale (and I have!) I cut back till I'm at 137. Lynda

I've been within 5 lbs of the same weight since I hit goal last spring. Here's what maintenance looks like for me: I follow the post-op guidelines for Vitamins, Protein and fluids. I stick pretty closely to my 1200 calorie pre-op diet plan up through dinner. After dinner I have a snack. If my weight is at the lower end of my bounce range, I may have more Snacks or a few cocktails. When I hit the high end of my bounce range, I cut back on extras. Here's a typical day for me: Breakfast: 1 cup regular coffee 1 cup Fage 0 yogurt or 1 cup soy milk 1 slice whole wheat toast or 1 double Fiber english muffin or 1/4 cup oatmeal prepared with 3/4 cup Water 2 oz. protein: Turkey Little Smokies, fat free Hebrew National Hot Dogs, or lunch meat 1 serving of fruit, whatever is in season Lunch: 1 slice whole wheat bread or low fat crackers 1 oz lite cheese with at least 5 grams of protein 2 oz. of lunch meat, chicken, beef, or ham 1/2-1 cup of vegetables or a small can of V-8 Afternoon snack Piece of fruit and 1 oz cheese or sometimes pretzels Dinner: 3 oz. of protein 1/2 cup vegetables 1/3 cup potatoes, slice of bread, rice, or 1/3 cup noodles After dinner snack: Lighter choices: Cup of soy milk with sweetener, graham crackers with Peanut Butter, pretzels, cut up fruit Other choices: popcorn, candy, baked treats Cocktails: A couple of times per week I have cocktails. If my weight is high, I skip them or choose a low calorie option, such as Vodka and Diet Lemonaide. I rarely eat ice cream or potato chips. I currently work out 4 day a week. Currently, that is a brisk walk of at least one hour. I plan to cut back on walking to two days and return to the gym for three strength training classes because I recently found a gym with morning classes. Until I hit goal, I worked out with a trainer three days a week and walked two days a week. In maintenance, I switched to three workout classes, but they were in the evenings or on weekends. I prefer to workout on weekday mornings. So far, it's working for me. Your mileage my vary. Lynda

Walking will help with the gas. Also take little sips of Water and do not use a straw. Try and drink to a schedule to get more fluids in. 1 oz. every 15 minutes while you are awake. Best wishes on a speedy surgery recovery! Lynda

I was cleared for caffeine at 3 months. Each program is different. I did find coffee too acidic at first and drank lattes till I was about a year out. Lynda

I simply could not eat enough to get the recommended amount of Protein in per day for several months post-op. My plan had you try to eat as much protein as you could during the day and then have a Protein shake at night to get the rest in. Lynda

Yes, I was dizzy and I believe it's fairly common. I recommend discussing with your Dr. I was on BP meds and they had to be lowered. Lynda

I can drink it now and have been able to for quite a while. I drank it fairly early, mixed with Water because acidic foods bothered my sleeve for the first few months. I also drank crystal light lemonade with way more water than you would normally use. One of the reasons that it's not on plan is because it's better to get fruit whole instead of juiced. But mixed with water it's fairly low cal. Lynda