Carolinacrumb

Hey ladies, Sorry to be gross, but is anyone else having issues with constipation/only pooping once every few days?! I have been taking benefiber every day as well as taking stool softeners, but nothing seems to help. I was banded 3/27/12. And when I do poop, it is horrible/painful. Advice? Similar experiences?

Hi there! So I have been told so many different things about whether or not to eat back your exercise calories and I am wondering what others do... I have been using Myfitnesspal.com to track/log my calories, protein, exercise and what not, and they highly recommend eating back your exercise calories to keep your metabolism in check. I eat about 1200 calories a day but recently have been swimming laps for at least an hour a day (burning almost 800 calories), sometimes swimming laps on top of also doing water aerobic classes for 60 min, and I have been hungrier, so I eat some of them back (not all). However, since I have been doing this, I have hit a small plateau and stayed at right around the same weight! Doesn't make sense to me since I am still not netting anywhere near the recommended 1800 calories a day to lose weight It is hard to exercise so much and not be hungrier for more than 1200 cals, but why am I not losing weight quickly like I have been the last 2 months or so?! Any input? Does anyone else eat their exercise calories? HELP PLEASE I AM SO FRUSTRATED!!

Hey there! So I am about 2 months and a half months out since I had surgery and have been doing REALLY great so far as in watching my calorie intake and exercising/getting in enough protein etc... I have lost almost 50 lbs HOWEVER I am struggling because it is summertime and that means concert and rooftop bar time!! I don't drink often, but I feel like the past few weeks at least one night a weekend I have been :/ I usually just drink sugar free kool aid mix with shots of vodka, but even then the vodka calories really add up!! Does anyone else drink occasionally? If so, what do you drink and how do you make up for it? I have had to basically like double my workout and decrease calories hardcore for at least 2 days after just to make up for one night of having a few drinks... GAH

Here is something I found on my fitness pal that explains it a bit... not saying it is entirely correct or right for everyone i am just gathering opinions on the matter http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/539912-why-eating-exercise-calories-is-so-important

Well there is alot of research that states that eating back your exercise calories keeps your metabolism up and that the key is to have your "net" (food intake-exercise) needs to be at your calorie goal... I am not making this stuff up alot of people do it apparently. I still have a deficit everyday...

Thanks for the advice!

You look incredible! Congrats!!

I was supposed to get my first fill last Thursday, but because my port site incision became infected and they put me on antibiotics for 2 weeks and pushed my fill to this upcoming Thursday. Does it hurt? What does it feel like? Is it scary? I absolutely hate needles and am sort of scared and nervous... I am also excited though because I have been really hungry the last week and know I need my first fill STAT! Any advice/first fill experience anyone can share with me to help? Thanks!

I started eating applesauce everyday and this has helped IMMENSELY.. now I poop usually once a day or every other day which is WAY better than once every 3 LOL

I would definitely call your doc ASAP to make sure you are OK and find out if you need to go see him right away or go to the E.R.... your doc should always be on call esp right after surgery. Good luck and feel better!!

I have been really craving diet soda too!! I have been too scared to drink any because I had my first fill 2 weeks ago, but I have heard that you can drink a little as long as you let the fizz out and sip slowly. Probably best to avoid it though... be strong my friend!!

Thanks Hummingbird... I will try the fiber gummies!

I know this, but am hoping i feel a little something after this first fill

I have ZERO arch and horrible plantar fasciitis in both my feet... it didn't ever bother me when I was thin and I developed issues with it when I was over 210lbs. It then sort of "went away" even though I continued to gain, but now that I started as a waitress again it is back with a VENGEANCE. I am hoping that as I continue to lose weight and have now been banded that it will get better and better.

Mashed potatoes! Just chew them really really well... I ate mashed potatoes 5 days after surgery and did just fine. Or you could try watered down cream of wheat or oatmeal, and yogurt?

My port incision and port were sore and tender for 3 weeks after surgery... the incision actually got infected and opened a bit too which was nasty. If it is red or feels "hot" or is tender to the touch, you might want to go in to your doc to have it checked out because it may be infected and you might need antibiotics. Better safe than sorry!

I have Blue Cross Blue Shield and I had to take nutritional classes for 6 months before being approved... At first I was bummed but looking back on it, I learned so much more than I would have if I had just gotten approved right away. It honestly flew by too!

Just came back from my first fill and it wasn't bad at all! It did not hurt one bit, it was just uncomfortable/weird when my doc was poking around to find the sensor. He put in 5cc! I don't feel any different yet, but have only eaten liquids since.

UGH So today was my best friend's birthday and I ate more than I have since surgery 3/27/12... the most I have eaten in a day since then was probably about 1500 calories UNTIL TODAY. I have been feeling super hungry because I was supposed to get my first fill last week but because my port site incision became infected, they put me on antibiotics and pushed my fill back to this thursday. I am a currently a nanny saving for graduate school and just recently started waitressing again part time... I worked a 7 hour shift on Saturday and a 7 and a half hour shift on Sunday and was exhausted and famished... I checked 3 different calorie calculators and they all said that I burn about 3,330 calories in a 7 hour waitressing shift even going at a slow pace! I knew this must be close to true because I got on the scale today and am 4 pounds down from last tuesday SO I figured, what the hell, I'll indulge with my best friend for her birthday! It just got out of control... I ate yogurt in the morning, 2 medium blueberry pancakes with sugar free syrup for lunch, two HUGE frozen margaritas in the afternoon as well as chips and queso, a huge piece of birthday cake, AND spaghetti with Aurora sauce for dinner. I feel absolutely disgusted with myself and am just lucky I didn't get sick (probably because I have not had a fill yet). I attempted to tally it all up and I probably consumed about 3200 calories today which is atrocious. I am overwhelmed with guilt and the fact that I could actually fit that in my body today without throwing up, but I feel super sick and just icky and bloated over all. SIGH. I know I will get back on track tomorrow no problem and that I am getting a fill on Thursday but I just feel so emotionally and physically awful... eating like that is what got me here in the first place and I have lost 35 pounds since surgery 3/27/12 and never plan on going back! Why did I do that to myself today?!

I really appreciate all the helpful encouraging comments. Thanks everyone!

You can do it lady! I know it seems a daunting task at first, but once you get into it and it seems like you are already super motivated, you will do great! I believe in you

Thanks everybody for the positive motivation! I have been SUPER diligent besides today and am not planning on letting that happen again for a long time...

Try upping the calories a bit! I lost 14lbs 3 days before surgery, then 7lbs the next week, then only 3lbs the next week and was frustrated. Sometimes our bodies can go into "starvation/shock" mode and hold on to everything thinking it is never getting more calories again or for a while. I talked to my nutritionist and she said to try upping my calories a bit to 1000-1400 a day and it has worked wonders! I have been dropping more weight since... Also, it is super normal to feel hungrier now that the post surgery feeling is going away. I am personally struggling with that now because I was supposed to have my first fill last week but due to a incision infection it has been put off until this thursday. Stay strong lady! Also, try to only weight yourself on one day a week, in the morning, naked. I used to get on the scale every other day and I made myself crazy! Our weight fluctuates daily depending on if we have gone to the bathroom or drank alot of water or where we are in our cycles etc... If you stick to one day a week you won't stress out as much! Good luck and keep up the good work... be strong lady!

As far as what kind of calories to add, do high protein snacks! I do half a protein shake or a stick of low fat cheese or greek yogurt

I had the same experience! I lost 7lbs the first week after surgery and then the next week only 3lbs and I was walking every day and only eating about 800 calories! I upped my calories to 1200 a day and I either exercise or waitress (busy 6 hour shifts) each day and have been dropping tons of weight since I upped the calories! I am getting my first fill on Thursday