Puja

Hi, everyone! As a vegetarian sleever, currently in India, I currently find myself strapped for Protein options. I mainly do Protein shakes, Protein Bars, lentils, yogurt, Peanut Butter, and cheeses (including paneer, which is sort of like cottage cheese). On some days, I might have a maximum of one ounce of cheese. On other days, however, I catch myself eating maybe 3 ounces of paneer, 1 to 2 ounces of cheese, and 2 tbsp of peanut butter all on one day. This is partially my fault, because I see it happen on days where I don't drink my Protein shake, or on days where my fridge is not well stocked with protein options. Today was one of those days! In my head, this all sounds like way too much fat. So, the question is, how much cheese is too much? While the paneer may be a smidgen lower in fat than cheddar or peanut butter, it's still fatty, I assume.

Hi, Newlifesils! Thank you for your comment, and for bringing me back to this wonderful site! I took a bit of a hiatus when the interface began to change, but am glad to know this thread is still helping people out. You appear to be at 2 months out now, I'm glad to hear you sounding so positive! NMJG, Indian food has worked really well for me in regards to lentils and paneer, but I've had to dial the spice back! How are you doing with spices? I believe you are 6 months out? Sumadnrao, congratulations on your new sleeve! Slow weight loss is better, believe me. You want that time for your skin and mind to adjust to your changing shapes. After all, most of us on here had difficulty losing weight at all, right? So something is better than nothing! All the best to you. Keep your spirits up.

Perhaps we can all start off by posting a small intro on where we are from, and our weight loss journeys? My name is Puja (obviously), and I've been overweight my whole life! I was born and raised in California, but lived in Bangalore for several years where I pursued my MBBS degree. I had WLS on August 31st, 2011, and have been in maintenance for about 6 months!

I have experienced this a few times after my meals. I never got it checked out, but did notice a pattern: it usually happened when I had gone a little too long without eating, and then ate a little faster or more than I should have. I didn't overeat, per se, because my meal would have been pre-packed, but perhaps if I had eaten slower or been more aware of my meal, I would have stopped before the vagal responses kicked in. Eating fast or taking bigger bites tends to kick my vagal responses into overdrive, regardless of the quantity. In each case, I had been studying and noticed during a break that I had missed my scheduled meal time. I ate while watching a TV show or movie on my laptop (being hungry and not focusing on the bite size/timings is a bad combination), and finished the lunch I had measured out earlier that morning. I didn't time the meal, but I bet it was shorter than 20 minutes. While I haven't heard about the insulin surge causing an increased BP, it definitely sounds plausible. The vagal response can do the same. So, I chalked it up to that, and gave myself a slap on the hand for being negligent. Try to time your meals or be aware of the bites, and see if maybe there is a pattern?

Thanks for the information, Feedyoureye!! You're such an awesome wealth of information.

Hello, everyone! I had my sleeve on August 31, 2011, so I am about 2 months shy of 2 years. There have been lots of events in my life the last few months, that have added to my stress, and disrupted my eating routine, and I'd like to write a little about it. Primarily to get feedback if anyone has had a similar situation, and secondarily to put my thoughts out there into a world where people can relate. Since I had surgery, I have had lots of time to fall into a very well planned eating and drinking routine. As a student, I have had loads of time to find what works for me, and what doesn't. However, there were many events that took place in the month of May and June that sort of disrupted that routine. In May, I gave one of the biggest exams of my life. My appetite wasn't very good, and my calorie/protein intake dropped a bit. Following this, I was in classes from 8 to 7 for a week (also a wonky eating and drinking routine), and then I was off to India - this is where things really went downhill. I was barely hitting 50-60% of my nutritional goals, and was running around all day long. By the end of these 2 months, I had dropped 2.5 pounds below my healthy weight range. Here's the thing, many of us might even be a little happy about going below the range, but no one wants to look sick or undernourished. Losing weight with a healthy lifestyle still leaves you glowing and energetic. I, however, looked anorexic, pale, and dull. It was seriously ridiculous, and people were commenting on how unhealthy I looked every single day. This was new for me, because I didn't realize how easily I could become malnourished if I wasn't adequately planning out my meals. (I'm vegetarian, by the way). After coming back, there was a huge function at our house, and I was eating the bare minimum for another 2 days. This put me at 3 pounds below weight. In the meantime, the low nutrition caused a bit of muscle loss around the hips, and I started having symptoms related to a pinched nerve. So, I started pilates and yoga classes to help strengthen my core and ease the pain. At the same time, I decided I would add some more calories, fats, and carbs into my diet, to help bring back that glow and the lost pounds. On a daily basis, I added in half an avocado, 2 pieces of whole wheat toast, and an ounce of nuts. All healthy fats and calories, no? Well, here's the kicker. By the end of 3 weeks, I had gained back those 3 pounds, plus 1 more. 4 pounds in 3 weeks. Yes, I'm back in my healthy range, I look well nourished, I have more energy, and no one is telling me that I look sick. I can even see the difference from the yoga. However, I am terrified at learning how easy it is for me to gain weight, even when eating healthy foods. Yes, I can convince myself that it was also easy to lose the weight, and that my body reacted quickly by replacing the lost nutrition... blah blah blah. In the end, I still gained 4 pounds with very little effort, in less than a month. I always knew that my nutritional planning would be a lifelong process, and I have learned to enjoy it. Still, I didn't realize how quickly my weight and health could fluctuate if I did not make my intake a priority!

Hahahahah calling the mother ship!! I completely understand!

I also don't like to use the word "diet". Like you, I had this surgery so that I would never have to diet again... but you know what? I really don't feel like I'm on a diet. I'm just eating the way I always should have been eating, and the way that many normal, healthy adults eat! Yes, I still watch my intake and pace myself, but I no longer beat myself up over a treat. I find it's easier to maintain my sanity if I don't step on a scale. I figure that if I am vigilant, there shouldn't be a need to check my weight. That lifestyle carried me from post-op to maintenance, and I'm very happy with it. I maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, and that is what I always wanted! I wanted to feel normal, and not be obsessing about my weight! I step onto the scale maybe 2 times a month, to make sure I'm in range. Any more than that would probably give me some serious anxiety.

I think the decreased burping is due to us having less air in our tummies. We chew very well and take small bites, so we are swallowing less air while eating. I know what you mean by "...just feel it happening"! I get little air bubbles all the time (while drinking or eating), and it's usually a sign that I'm eating or drinking too fast. I sometimes pat on my chest a bit to bring the air up. I still get a runny nose! I never had that symptom associated with fullness pre-op, but I most definitely have it now.

Fiddleman, I think it's a great idea to do a little more research before deciding if DIM is right for you or not. You look great, and your hard work is definitely showing!! I'm so glad to hear that your new lifestyle is giving you the drive to venture into other activities that you would have never dreamed were possible.

Ok, I read up on "DIM" really quickly, and feel I should clarify something. Yes, my reading was superficial, but it was enough to understand why you may be under the impression that it reduces the balance of estrogen in favor of testosterone. Everywhere in our body, we have estrogen receptors. They react differently to estrogen, which is why giving estrogen supplements can promote certain cancers while preventing other cancers. DIM works similarly. At some points in time it may be estrogenic, while at others it may be anti-estrogenic. Of course, when something is in trial, it's hard to tell if that is based on dosage range or some other factor. It does seem to have anti-inflammatory properties, which is good... however, I'd still be wary of supplements that alter our hormonal levels. Coming to DHEA, I'd like to provide an analogy (I hope it makes sense!). If you are driving on the street and come to a fork in the road, there are only 2 ways to go - the left or the right. There is no other option. DHEA is the same. It either goes toward testosterone or towards estrogen. It is not stored in its precursor form. Of course, if your body produces SO MUCH estrogen and testosterone that it no longer has the ability to use the DHEA, you may urinate it out. But, by then, your hormones are already out of whack. Here's the thing, the stuff sold at GNC or whatever may not be super strong, so I can't comment on what is or is not safe. The supplements are, however, very intelligently marketed to show the pros and not the cons. I can only comment based on my understanding of biochemistry, physiology, or endocrinology. Please let me know if what I'm saying still does not make sense!

Butterthebean and Supersweetums - thank you. *blush* I've just been lazy about the pictures... and you're right, I should definitely get some up!! I'll work on that in this next week. Fiddleman, I would like to clarify a few points about the DHEA (I haven't learned about dim much, so don't feel confident in what I would say about it). It doesn't "free up" our body's source of testosterone, it gives the precursor to help us produce and utilize more testosterone! More testosterone = more muscle, which is why athletes use it. It does not in any way reduce the estrogen production (there is also no such thing as good or bad estrogen). Whatever metabolites are not used up in the formation of testosterone will eventually be diverted towards estrogen. The problem with hormones is that our bodies' normal ranges are so so so small. A teeny bit below or above the normal range can wreak havoc, which is why we see so many side effects in people taking supplemental testosterone. It's hard to maintain a safe range, since everyone metabolizes the drug at a different level, and then reacts to the final product differently. Hormones are scary in another way, as well. With certain hormones (especially testosterone), the more we put into our bodies from an external source, the less our own body produces, because we trick it into thinking there is already a huge surplus. Take a look at athletes that have been taking testosterone in high doses for a long time. They may be muscular, BUT - they will have super small testes, breast enlargement, and other undesired characteristics. If you are thinking of taking these supplements, I would discourage it. Misty takes estrogen because her body produces less of it due to the hysterectomy, and it is essential to her long term health. For someone who has balanced endocrine levels, I would not rock the boat!

Coops! You're amazing! Your posts have always been inspirational, and continue to be so. Congratulations to you for your continued enthusiasm and hard work!! Um.. and major points for the farting and losing 100 pounds bit. I had to cough up the Water I accidentally swallowed down the wrong tube while reading it, but it was so worth it!

Holy sleevies, I love some of the responses in this thread. They speak to me a great deal, and I feel so vindicated! I love my sleeve, and I could talk about it all day long. I love that I have a new life because of it, and that it has taught me so much about making my health a priority. Yes, I worked my butt off to educate myself. Yes, I revamped my whole outlook on food and nutrition. Yes, I had to become super honest with myself about my bad habits, and change them. But, this was all a learning experience. Not everyone realizes the work it takes from the start, and unfortunately some never realize it.To those people I want to give them a good smack and tell them to take a hard look at themselves. Why would you cut out half your stomach if you weren't ready to adapt to that change? Why would you undergo this procedure without knowing what you were in for? Why would you complain about something without taking the steps to fix it? There are so many amazing vets here that have not reached their "goal" (I say that with quotes because honestly how you feel and live is much more important than the number), and are still going strong. They keep tracking their foods and continue to face their inner demons on a daily basis. We all do. I will forever be a bariatric patient, there is no denying it. And, honestly, I'm the happier for it. I LIKE this lifestyle. I'm not on a diet, I'm eating as I should have been eating my whole life. I walk the perimeter of the grocery store because I'm aware of the dangers that lurk in the middle. I acknowledge my faults and weaknesses. Like so many in this thread, I did all my research before the surgery, so I knew what I should expect. I knew that this was not a quick fix and that this surgery was FOR MY HEALTH. Who cares if I lose slowly or quickly, or if I can't stuff my face full of junk anymore? I will take the slow sips of Water, the weird gurgles, the loose skin, the thin hair, the wonky poops, and the strict regimens any day over a life of complications due to obesity. This doesn't answer the OP's question at all, but I felt inspired to express myself! Like Butterthebean (who always has great advice), I appreciate the people who are optimistic and excited... I appreciate those that look for answers. I don't pay much attention to the complainers or whiners that don't seem to have their priorities straight.

I find it so interesting that we are learning more and more about this sleeve every day, in regards to its long term effects. It really is amazing to hear everyone's experiences, theories, and research. This vet's forum really is brilliant, and I hope people keep checking in at different milestones to give us updates. As for me, I've gone back to my routine eating schedule, and my body is back to being happy and balanced. Isn't it interesting how quickly our bodies let us know if we are doing something right or wrong? Every day is a learning experience for me, because my body has something new to teach me at even 2 years out. Or perhaps I'm more open to its signals now than I was before surgery?

Lynda, the article is interesting, thank you! I've heard about the microbe theory before, but never related directly to the endotoxins released by the bacteria. I'm heading to Atlanta next month, and will be looking for medical research projects. If I can find one on obesity, I'll be sure to ****** it up! NtvTxn and Laura, do you have Ralphs or Kroger grocery stores near you? Their 2% cheddar is the best I have found so far, and I like it so much more than regular cheddar now! It has enough fat to satisfy the taste buds, but not so much that I feel icky afterwards. As far as mozzarella/string cheese, my favorite is Precious 2%. No other string cheese company has matched the taste and quality. Laura, I agree with you on having healthy and natural fats. I also agree that American cheese is far too processed to be considered real cheese. Terry, I understand completely. Since the day I had surgery, I have spent the first 20 minutes of my morning planning out my meals for the entire day, weighing them out, and packing them. It really helps me keep in the calorie/protein range, and portion sizes. This surgery really has taught me the importance of having Protein in my meals, and how to stay satisfied. I absolutely love the feeling. Cheri, I completely agree!! When I first had surgery, your posts really helped shed light on the challenges I would be facing in the future, and still do. I come back and hover around the board once a week or so. I love this vet's forum as well, it really is a huge support. I may look "normal" now, but in my head I know that I am not.... I will forever be a bariatric patient. It's nice to know that everyone out here in the land of VST understands that feeling. I have a 10 pound bounce range (115-125), and check my weight maybe 3-4 times a month. I hate the scale, but using it is a necessary evil. You're right, I did need the wakeup call! As long as I make my health and nutrition the highest priority, I'll be fine.