melissa45154
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Everything posted by melissa45154
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I was the same way. It wasn't until the mushy stage that I really got all of my protein in. My doctor said I was fine as long as I kept trying and adding more each day. One thing to try is Isopure. It isn't milky. It's more of like a gatorade type. I could handle some of it. The nice thing about it is it has like 40 grams of protein in one bottle. So, go to gnc and try one. If you can stomach it then keep it in a water bottle and take it with you all day. The other thing I did was nestle of all things makes an unflavored protein mix. It also doesn't really alter the taste or consistency of the broth/food. They gave it to me in the hospital to put in my broth. It worked pretty well and I still use it today if I'm needing to up my protein for the day some. It doesn't have a lot of protein in it, only like 8 grams per serving. However, I came to realize to take baby steps. That 8 grams is so much better than not getting anything in. If you add it to your broth/applesauce/or whatever 3 times a day then at least that's 24 grams right there. Broth was a huge thing for me. I think the warmness really helped me out. So adding the unflavored to it was a god send. By the time you get to the mushy stage the swelling will have gone down some and you will be surprised at being able to eat. It will mess with your head at first that 1 container of yogurt is too big (at first, not forever). However, you will start to figure out a lot of things you can do to get your protein in that doesn't involve shakes i.e. scrambled eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, peanut butter (watch the sugar on that), but you will get creative and figure out what works for you. Hope this helps some.
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Thoughts On Hair Loss?
melissa45154 replied to 101driver's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I'm 5 months out and am thinning very badly. I get all my protein in and my nails look fantastic. I remember my doc saying your nails will be the first sign to see if you are getting enough protein. So, I have that covered. I also have PCOS and had already lost quite a bit of my thick locks a while back. I know I'll never regrow that loss. I'm just hoping that I regrow what I'm losing now. I didn't realize how bad the back was until my son freaked out and said he could see my skin. Hoping it starts growing back soon. -
1200-1500 Calories...really?
melissa45154 replied to brandymarie81's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
My doc told me not to worry about the calories as long as stuck to "the plan". He said I would be floored with how few calories I eat in the beginning. He did say that once I got to a weight that I wanted to maintain then that is when I should be def. counting calories. He said just add a "0" to whatever weight you want to maintain. For example, if you are weighing 130 and want to stay there then you should consume around 1300 calories per day. Not counting calories and staying within my food plan is working for me, especially since I absolutely hate counting calories. I am 10 weeks post op and I have lost 42 pounds (all post op, no preop diet), 8 inches from my waist, 3 inches from my neck (crazy), 9 inches from my chest, and 11 inches from my hips....I would say worry amount your water intake, protein intake and limiting starches and you should do fine. I also find the weeks I'm serious about working out I really do see a difference in the scale......Goodluck to you. -
I was just sleeved on Dec. 28, 2011. I am losing at what I think is a pretty good pace. I have recently started back at the gym. I mostly do walking on the track (I am doing the Susan G Komen 3 day in Dallas in Nov.) and the eliptical. I honestly haven't done much in the form of weights. I think I will start this week because I am definitely noticing the skin sagging. While I actually do enjoy weight training, I'm also looking for some sort of group exercise that I might enjoy and keep me motivated that would help some with toning. Has anyone ever tried Pilates with for toning after being sleeved?
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I had the same problems and when I talked to my doctor about it he said to keep trying and yes how important it was, but also that it would be hard for the first few weeks. Actually, it wasn't until I was able to start eating "regular" food again that I am able to meet my requirements. I still can't stand any protein drinks and have tons here. Good luck and just try not to stress too much. You will start to meet the requirements soon.
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I was on a liquid diet for 5 weeks. My doc actually told me to drink about 8 ounces of apple juice every morning during those 5 weeks because he said with just broth and water you're not getting much if any carbs and your body still needs some carbs. I think it sounds very good and yummy.
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Can't Stop Crying...
melissa45154 replied to Always Actnup's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I was the same way, but made it through just fine and I'm loving it. You will be in my prayers. This is the awesome new start to your life. -
Just Got My Date....march 19Th
melissa45154 replied to wannabb08's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
i don't really have much recommendation about preventing the clotting. They did give me anti clotting injections in the hospital. I think that helped a lot. When I was 2 weeks post op my doc had me starting on an asprin regimen again, but not until 2 wks out though....I'd say the injections at the hospital was the best to make it not as serious as it could have been....Good luck to you all. -
Just Got My Date....march 19Th
melissa45154 replied to wannabb08's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I had 9 previous abdominal surgeries due to a nasty staph infection after a hysterectomy. Due to this the surgery was a little trickier to navigate through all of the mesh. It almost had to be completely open vs. laproscopically. Then, I got dehydrated. It was hard for me to find things to get down, but this site was a big help with solutions. I stocked up on crystal light lemonade before surgery, but to this day can not tolerate it to get it down. My go to drink is decaf unsweet warm tea (helps in the morning) and then iced cold the rest of the day w/ lemon added to it. Adding lemon to my water helped for some reason also. Then I had a deep vein thrombosis in my arm where they tried to do the iv. I have had a stroke at the age of 32 (35 now) so when I saw and felt what was happening I got to the er pretty quickly to get it broken up. This is not something most people would have. It is something I am prone to. The biggest advice I can give is to worry the most about getting the liquid in (warm chicken broth went down pretty well and it counts as a liquid). You don't want to get dehydrated. I was so worried the first week because I couldn't get enough protein in me. My doc told me at my first post op appt that it was normal, but he didn't tell me b/c he wanted me to try. The second week was much better with the protein. So, don't worry yourself so much over that. Just keep sipping from the time you get up until the time you go to bed... -
Just Got My Date....march 19Th
melissa45154 replied to wannabb08's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Congratulations to you both. I'm 8 weeks out and I was scared to death. There were a few hiccups, but everything was ok. I'm loving my decision more and more with each day. -
How Can I Break My Scale Addiction?
melissa45154 replied to GonnaLoseIt's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I thougth I was the only one.....I was weighing myself every single time I walked into the bathroom. I too have gotten myself down to just in the mornings. I think because that is when I weigh the least. Makes me feel even better about my progress. I want to get to the point where I weigh just once a week. -
Six Months Out - 85.4 Pounds Gone
melissa45154 replied to Lissa's topic in Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories
You look so good. Keep up all the hard work and all the encouragement to the rest of us. -
Will I Really Not Be Starving?
melissa45154 replied to Jjen's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I was the same way. I'm 8 weeks post op today. I have had a headache for the past 2 days, and I realized this afternoon that I literally had only had about 2 bites of food in the two days. Not good I know, but if I'm not on my schedule then eating kind of goes right out the door. Now, with that said I do get "cravings" for food I used to love before being sleeved. I'll admit some of the cravings have gotten so bad that I actually took a bite of whatever it was. It was digusting. My tastes have changed so much. That was hard for me and something I am still working through. I never really thought I had as big of an emotional and mental problem with food before surgery. Now I realize that I do and am working on it. I also had a huge fight with my dh on valentine's day. I ordered delivery from my favorite place, and once it got there I took 2 bites and was full. I through the rest in the trash. I was so upset to caving under the emotional eating, but then I realized somethings. 1) If I had not been sleeved I would have ate 20 times as much as what I did that day. 2) The sleeve is helping me recognize my patterns and problems with food so I can change them. I'm really tired right now so I'm not sure this is making any sense right now, but to answer your question I do get hungry from time to time. I never feel like I'm starving, and it is still weird to me that I'm hungry I eat a few bites of food and I'm so full. Oh, and I am not a doctor, but personally I think it won't be easy to stretch the sleeve out. If you eat to fast or even 1 bite more than you should the sleeve will not be nice to you. Good luck -
I am 8 weeks post op. I have been getting plenty of protein. I have never been able to do protein shakes, but I eat rarely any carbs, some veggies, and always a protein like boneless skinless chicken breast. Even for breakfast I normally just have some deli ham or and egg. My hair had been doing really great since surgery. That is surprising because I've had to have almost all of my hair cut off after some surgeries I had a couple of years ago. My hair just broke off in clumps. Anyway, all of a sudden my hair has become so dry and brittle and it is breaking like crazy. I rarely heat style it. I normally just let it air dry. I have started using pureology. I did a very good hair mask over the weekend (did nothing). I'm just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what I should do. My hair is down to my bra straps and I don't want to cut it all off again....On a side note. The back is pretty soft and silky. It is mostly just the top, sides and front.....This is the same places I've had problems before and like I said I don't heat style it. I just go natural....Oh, and I do use the keratase rebuilding serum after the shower.........Please help with any ideas...Thanks
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This will be my first challenge. I hope it's not too late to join. I'm going to adjust my goal according to the shortened time frame compared to if I started on Valentine's Day. My starting weight: 232 Current weight: 198 Goal weight: 178 Goal to lose: 20
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Thanks for all the relplies....Some great ideas to try. I also read on the internet about biotin which I knew about. However, I also discovered that iron deficiency can cause it. My multi-vitamin does not contain iron. I figured I was getting enough. However, I decided to go ahead and buy an iron supplement to try that out.
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I just started taking my biotin , vitamin c, and vitamin e this week. I have been taking my multi vitamin for the past 4 weeks. I have the celebrate, but they make me sick so I finally found the centrum gummies that work really well for me. I actually only wash my hair about 1 or 2 times a week as well. It stinks so bad when I wait that long so I always pull it back in a pony tail, but I do try to go as long as I can without washing.....I do have to color my hair (have it done professionally). I'm 35 and would be entirely grey in the front if I didn't color. I've had the start of grey hair since I was 17....Just at a loss as what to do.
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Prayinng I Can Go Home :(
melissa45154 replied to sabrina140's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hope you feel better soon and get to go home. I was in the hospital an extra day as well. The first couple of weeks were the hardest, but once the swelling started going down it was a whole new ball game. I am doing great now, and you will to before you know it. Goodluck -
I love hearing about peopls NSV's .....congrats, and I'm sure this year will be full of more firsts and more inspiring things from you......
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When Can "stella Get Her Groove Back"?
melissa45154 replied to Joiebean's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Spoken like a true man.... :biggrin5: My doc told me when I was comfortable....It was about 3 weeks out for us, but I did have some complications at surgery. -
I'm sorry to hear you have so much stress. I too had family that wasn't that supportive. My brother also said to me if it's just about eating less....then why don't you just eat less and not have surgery? Well, why didn't I think of that? I thought sarcastically. In the end, I just stopped talking to my family about it and found this sight to be so helpful. Now, ironically my family is overly supportive once they started to see it working. My brother did say well I guess if you aren't hardly eating then you should be losing weight. Still not much support there, but that is ok. I seem to have this confidence that has grown overnight. My husband told me last night that he is finally getting the woman he married back. He didn't mean the weight. He meant my personallity. I didn't realize how much I buried myself in that weight, and I am only 4 weeks out. I also thought I was going to do the band. Heck, I had researched and contemplated it for 2 years. Then, an insurance stumble forced me to use a different surgeon only 1 1/2 months before surgery. It was stressful and upsetting, but turned out to be the best thing in the long run. He was more experienced and had a better program. Anyway, he asked me if I ever thought about the sleeve because he really thought it was the best and would be the best for me. I went home and began researching it. Obviously, I chose the sleeve and am so glad that I did. I'm starting to meet people that have had the lap band, but wish they would have done the sleeve or that their insurance would have paid for the sleeve. I still have my ups and downs, but like I said I'm only 4 weeks out. I'm still getting used to it. I'm also realizing more and more how severe my food addiction was. Those are demons that I'm dealing with. However, I still think this was the best choice for me. It is ultimately your decision. Family is there to worry and I find most are uneducated about most wls. I would just research as much as you can and find what feels like the right decision to you.....9 times out of 10 your gut and what feels right is the right decision......hope this all makes sense. i have a bad cold and on some crazy meds for it right now so i don't cough and sneeze so much to hurt my sleeve.....good luck to you.
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Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm only 4 1/2 weeks out and you as well as so many other people have been such an inspiration......Those pics are extremely motivating to me.
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oh, and weird as it was...i couldn't drink anything cold. However, I was living off of ice from Sonics Drive in and that helped with the nausea....I can't explain it, but it was probably my life saver from becoming dehydrated.
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I had so much trouble as well. Ice worked well for me. As well as the warm broth. My doc also said it was perfectly fine to drink some 100% apple juice. He said that it was fine the first week or 2 to do the full sugar. This was b/c I couldn't get anything down including protein shakes. He said this up to 200 calories a day from juice was a good thing for my body. Each doc is differrent, but I would definitely call in the AM if you aren't feeling better. That is what you paid him for.....Feel better soon. I feel your pain, but it does get better.