Catracks

I will probably eat the same way I do now and add in additional calories by upping the portions a bit. No Snacks? Hmmm, I guess I either snack of eat 5 meals a day. I'm still around 700 calories. Not everything I eat is protein packed, but I do choose foods that are high protein. I do eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, but I tend to dip them in high protein things like flavored Greek yogurt or Peanut Butter. My carbs are complex and contain protein. I also eat dark chocolate (70% and above). I am of the "eat what you want within reason" crowd. That's what the surgery was for. We can eat like normal thin people now - thin people who choose wisely.

No hormones or chemicals to confuse and screw up my metabolism thanks. I went through this surgery because I wanted to eat healthy. Fooling especially with hormone levels is not someplace I'd want to go. Phentermine raises blood pressure. It's basically "speed." Ephedrine can be deadly. Is everyone in this much of a hurry?

I simply do not understand the surgeons who send people home sans detailed instructions. I have a notebook full of things like: What is the best Protein powder, how much of each and every nutrient should be in the supplements I take, what I should be eating at which stage, a list of protein rich foods, sample menus, etc. Week 1 & 2: Clear liquid Week 3 & 4: Full liquid Week 5 & 6: Mushies/puree Week 7 & 8: Start introducing solids. The common list of not allowed foods are: Carbonated beverages, doughy bread (toasting bread makes it manageable), popcorn (you can try after 6 months), coconut and coffee (okay after 3 months). I have been told that very fibrous fruits and vegetables can cause problems (celery, asparagus, apple skins, the white, web part of citrus), but I digest them fine. Get 70-90 grams of protein and drink I think 72 oz. of Water a day. Take a mufti-Vitamin with Iron and a Calcium supplement. I do not have the amounts on me, but I take 3 chewable multis and 2 soft chew calicium citrates a day. I also take 2500 mcg of B-12 every 2 days, but that is more than recommended.

I started the challenge a little late and it took 20 days to lose 9 pounds. There is only - what, 18 days left? Who knows? I might make it. If I do, I will be just past my halfway to goal mark. I've already hit Onederland and first 50 pounds lost on this challenge. Hooray!!!

It's between two NSVs. 1. The guard at our library (rare books) called after me after I walked past him. I turned around and he said, "Oh, I didn't even recognize you!" 2. I reserved two horses this weekend. The man asked if either my husband and I were "heavy-weights." I said, "Nope!" This was just in the last two days. I'm loving this!

Why? Just drink some nice green tea. It is good for you. The sleeve means no more diet pills. I just lost 4 pounds from Friday to Tuesday. If you eat right, it will come off scary fast sometimes.

Someone on another thread said to add a zero to the weight they wanted to maintain, e.g.: You weight 130 then 1300 calories will maintain that weight. It sounds very reasonable to me. 1300 calories is a lot of food to me now.

My mushies stage was week 5 and 6. My surgeon is one of the more conservative ones.

I don't really eat low and non-fat foods either except for milk, cottage cheese and yogurt because they taste just fine without the fat. Low fat cheese on the other hand is just plain gross to me. During lent, cheese and fish have been life savers :-) Eat the fat, but try to make it good fat like avocado, nuts, olive oil, seafood and lean meat. I substitute other things for mayo like low-fat Greek yogurt blended with herbs and spices or onions. Mayo has 100 calories per tbs. I'd hate to waste 100 calories on a condiment. I'd rather have a juicy piece of steak or chicken or just about anything else. Yes, Protein first, but I do recommend veggies and fruit (just a little will do you) because eating pure protein causes horrible constipation. You could take laxatives, but they have a side effect that make you dependent on them. Your body like natural solutions. :-) There are also protein rich carbs available. The Barilla whole wheat Pasta I use has 10 gr a serving. Quinoa is also a protein rich grain. I'm also hooked on these crackers that have whole grains and sunflower seeds in them. It turn out that I eat what I want and still come in under 800 calories. I eat smart and I can't eat much. I also stand by my tiny piece of dark chocolate every once in a while. Low in sugar dark chocolate (at least 70%) and unsweetened cocoa are full of anti-oxidants.

Like was said: get your Protein in and your fluids and the weight loss will follow. Honestly, I was told to not even count calories, but I was curious and so entered them on fitday. Maybe trade the taco meat for a leaner protein. Seafood is the BEST for that. Salmon and ahi sashimi grade tuna really packs the protein per ounce. Cut the sour cream and use Greek yogurt (excellent for protein BTW). Don't force. At 2 weeks I was just off Clear liquids and on to full liquids. I wasn't hungry at the two week mark either. Don't forget the Protein shakes either, You can doctor them up so they taste incredible (SF Jello powder, frozen fruit, SF Torani syrups, etc.)

I use this formula. It works for normal weight people: 1. Eat when really hungry, not bored or head hungry. 2. Eat quality lean Protein first, vegetables and fruits second and complex carbs if any room left. 3. Eat slowly. 4. Don't take that one bite too many. 5. Give yourself a treat once in a while. The world didn't end when I had a tiny piece of dark chocolate with my coffee.

I have definitely shrunk! I expect to be a B cup down from a 40D. They already resemble tube socks, but no WAY are they being cut on!

I eat around 700 calories a day also. That does sound like a lot. I have to eat Nutella and Peanut Butter by the tablespoonful to hit that. Seriously, at two weeks I was struggling to eat 2 oz. at a time.

I used cayenne pepper, salsa, Tabasco sauce, Tapitio and adobo sauce since full liquid stage -- oh and of course powdered mustard, curry, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove and paprika. I suppose if your old stomach didn't care your sleeve won't. Your mileage may vary.

Crystal light is the same. The way I've heard it is that when people drink sugar soda and diet soda there is a pleasure reaction to sweetness from both in the brain. In the sugar soda your body also gets the sugar kick, but does not from the diet soda so your body tend to crave more carbs (simple fast carbs) to make up the difference. I believe it too. It make me crave simple carbs. This is why I drink a bit of fruit juice diluted with club soda. I don't want to ingest the chemicals. Some people have huge issues with stomach gas and reflux, always have, always will. I do not have such issues and drink carbonated Water in moderation. Before my surgery, I had an upper endoscopy. It was totally clear - this from a habitual diet coke drinker. I will not go back to the diet sodas, but I do loves the bubbles. Champagne is also my wine of choice LOL! The only thing I will not put in my sleeve yet is popcorn. I can wait a few months. I should add that artificial sweeteners do not affect everybody the same way. Same with the carbonation. Your mileage will vary. @ dogzz - Heroin? Really?

Just curious, but is this some form of texting shorthand? I'm not sure I understand. Soda is gas. We have gas in our sleeves. You tried it and hated it. We will hate it forever too. Now you are afraid of the word "Soda?" To the OP, wait on it. A month out is too soon I would think. I also think diet soda actually makes one crave carbs. There are many studies to back that one up. New sleeves should be eating and drinking soothing things and getting that Protein and good liquids in. No room for junk right?

I drink soda on occasion, but what I do is add club soda to fruit juice 50/50. My favorite is Trader Joes blackberry juice and club soda. I have occasionally added crystal light to club soda (careful, it fizzes), but I really want to stay off Nutrasweet. It's not going to stretch the sleeve. It will put some pressure on it, but guess what? We have stomach valves and can burp. I sip slowly and don't slug it.

I take 2500 mcg of B12 every few days. I do know that if I do not get 8 hours then I am very tired. One day I had to pick my husband up at the airport at 11:00. We got back at 12 and I had to get up at 5;30. I was so out of it that I didn't remember turning the alarm off. I also put my phone in such a strange place that I couldn't find it when I did wake up. I had to call in sick. It may be lack of calories or my body working hard to rid myself of the fat. Who knows. I don't think it's related to the actual surgery or that anything is wrong. Otherwise, I am more alert than I was pre-surgery with that horrid apnea.

We tend to eat out a fair amount -- Maybe once every two weeks or sometimes once a week. I'm not fond of chain restaurants so I like to be adventurous. I had Spanish food last week. Anyway, a good server will not even bat an eye, especially when you tell them that the food was very good (if it is). People remarking on how much you've eaten is WAY out of line. I'm taking my mother to an Easter brunch and I will admit that it took almost an act of God to get the child's price at a very good restaurant (they had to consult the hotel's food and beverage manager). I simply will not pay full price. If they won't accommodate I will happily eat elsewhere. In regular restaurants I just take the food home as I LOVE leftovers.

Cottage cheese and Greek yogurt. I'm addicted to the stuff now. Also, I always only sort of liked fruit. Now I cannot get enough.

I have the opposite problem. I want to eat more. Nausea for me only comes about when my stomach is empty.

Well YES, but: I hit Onederland, but am still a 16. I went to Quicksilver yesterday and found such cute bathing suits. I wish I knew what bra I will end up with. It's so impossible to wait and winter/spring is when the bathing suits seem to all come out. I bought a large and my daughter said, "I've seen pictures of you. You will probably be a B cup." For those people that have met goal: Did your Boobs shrink back down? Mine have shrunk considerable so far. Now pants are easier. The last time I lost weight I got to 130 and a size 6. Also, my lower stomach will probably not bounce back - hence board shorts. I would like to wear a bikini top though. Do these scars ever fade or get mostly covered by tan?

I personally will stop at size 6 or 4. My doctor said that 110 should be my goal, but that would put me at a size 0 or a 2. I don't want to go there personally and my husband would start to complain. His lean self even liked me at my highest weight (go figure). Curves are a good thing. Put the obsession in maintaining where you are and see if that works. Maybe some weight training to fill out with muscle?

I never had a leak test. They said it wasn't necessary. Maybe my surgeon is cocky. Yeah, that's it.

My doctor does mostly gastric bypass so all the literature and instructions are geared to them. I got him to clarify. Steroids and NSAIDs can be taken, but they would like to give additional medications to protect the sleeve while doing so and to monitor. I see nothing wrong with this I think from now on out our PCPs have to be in sync with out surgeons on all things. Whenever I get blood work done I have it sent to both offices.