It's all new

Wow - what a success story! It sounds like the sleeve has helped you change your life in many ways. Congratulations on all of your hard work.

It comforts me to read this! I too am on a pretty strict "feeding schedule" or I get very miserable very fast. But it hasn't affected my weight loss either. I'm sure the hunger would sound scary not being sleeved yet, but it is much different than presurgery because after eating a very small amount of food you are stuffed again. You do, however, have to choose the foods you eat carefully - lean Protein first etc etc. I take Prevacid - prescription strength - twice daily. I have had a major problem with reflux even before I gained weight. I tried many different acid reducers before finding that Prevacid worked whereas omeprazole and the like did not. Everyone responds differently I imagine.

Way to go! That's awesome.

I eat out pretty regularly because I have been traveling. I check out the menu beforehand online to see if the restaurant will work for me. And at home I eat out much less frequently because I live in a small town with fewer options. I do like to prepare my own food because then I feel confident that my calorie count is accurate.

Two things - first, I have problems with hunger too. I was sleeved in May and the hunger never went away. Just bad luck I think. About the omeprazole, I found it to be completely ineffective, I wonder if it might not be working adequately for you? Then again, perhaps we are just in the same boat and didn't lose our hunger. I will say I don't sit around thinking of delicious foods, I stick to my eating plan 99% of the time, but I think it just makes it harder because I am fighting the hunger. Try to find an eating schedule that helps with the hunger (I eat 6 times daily, about 100 calories each time) and remember that getting in LOTS of Water will help.

I can't say what will work for you, but I was also self pay and once I made my decision I was ready to take action. Three months seems like a long time to spend knowing that you have a major life altering event coming up... I felt much more comfortable making my decision and getting the surgery behind me ASAP. It allowed me to start my new life quickly, rather than spend an extended period of time saying goodbye to the old life. I just didn't enjoy all those moments of thinking about the fact that it was my last this, that or the other. And to do that for three months would have driven me crazy. But, you know how YOU will handle it, while I can't begin to guess. But I do know that I was so relieved to be on the other side.

Congrats, that is awesome. What a great feeling!

In the Gastric Sleeve Surgery Support forum there is a whole pregnancy section. I bet you'll find quite a bit of info there. Good luck!

Ok, people, why did you transform and lose every craving you ever had... And I didn't! Don't get me wrong, I'm transforming. I'm losing the weight, eating right, exercising and LOVING it. All in all, this experience has been more than I could have hoped for. BUT I have a moment every few days where I really want SOMETHING (insert French fries, pizza, Doritos, bread, Pasta, chocolate... Yep, those are the ones that have come up so far). The moment passes quickly, but it happens to me several times per week. For the most part I crave carbs. How is it that you guys get through this without having those times? I don't think that I would actually eat any of those items right now, but I want them every once in a while. I do wonder, butterthebean maybe you have an answer because I know you exercise a lot - if putting in a lot of exercise on 20-30 carbs daily makes me crave carbs. Anywho, just sayin I'm jealous of all of you!

Breakfast - 4 cherry tomatoes 1 T goat cheese 2 egg whites 1/2 t butter Snack 1 oz beef Jerky 3 ozs Protein shake lunch 2.5 ozs chicken breast 2 T jalapeño Greek yogurt dip Snack 2 stalks celery 8 ozs Protein Shake dinner Not sure yet - 2 ozs of meat and a few bites of veggies probably Snack Light and Fit Greek Yogurt - it has 80 calories, 12g protein, 9g carbs. Works for me as a treat! Also, 9 glasses of Water. I think that I eat more frequently than most other people, but I stick to 600-700 calories. I take my acid reducer and it works well, but I am usually hungry an hour after eating. I have to be very mindful about not eating more than what I eat as is. If anyone looks at my intake and sees an opportunity to make a suggestion I am all ears. I am 4.5 months out, and exercise an hour or more six days per week.

I think for 4 weeks out you are doing pretty well. I'm pretty sure around that time I started to try to up my Protein, and I, too, used Protein shakes. I often hear of people aiming for 600-800 calories, although it wasn't until about 3-4 months out that I got past 600 calories. I think there are many different ideas about how to make this work for you. Good luck!

andycharriss, I think a free site would be great. It seems like there are so many people struggling financially. On the other hand, if that is impractical I think it is still a great idea and would be willing to pay.

One week pre-op 255 Day of surgery (May 10) 245 CW 185 I wish I were farther along but I'm pretty well stuck at this weight right now. I'm out of town for a few days and am hoping a change of scenery and variation in my diet will help!

Sounds like you are doing great! Feel free to add me on MyFitnessPal - it is always helpful to see what people are doing with their diet and exercise, my diary is open. I'm Mtmw1975 on MFP.

I stayed overnight at the surgery center.

I have had persistent hunger starting shortly after surgery. It has not improved and my surgery was four months ago. I take Prevacid twice daily and my acid is under control. Some of us are just not so lucky and don't lose the hunger - my surgeon said this is true for 10%ish. I manage my hunger constantly by scheduling carefully my meals, Protein shakes, Snacks, and Water. By doing that I'm able to stick to 600-700 calories. A cup of food at a time sounds ambitious - you should ask your doc about quantity. I stick to smaller meals but can't say I have all the right answers. Good luck!

It is quite a difference - you look great!

I would think you would not want a colonic so close to surgery. I have had them since surgery as I have not found a good solution to the ongoing constipation. Taking magnesium daily will help. Also, milk of magnesia can be helpful. Good luck!

I just recently added hiking to my six day per week/one hour per day gym routine as well and... Stalled! Sounds like a similar story. The hikes have been quite intense and to add it to the other exercise I thought it would kick up the weight loss. Boy was I wrong! But I'm still having a great time hiking and being more active, and I'm sure my body will adapt and go back to losing. Hang in there!

Wow - what a hard transition that must be! The first month or two are especially challenging as you adjust your habits to such a great extent. Also, I found that in the beginning I lacked energy - although by 6 weeks or so that really changed. And friends... If they were used to a different you, someone who they could socialize by eating with, and maybe even had some specific notion of who you were based on your weight (speaking from experience!) it can be quite a change. I am well past college at 36, but also attended a very large school. It can be easy to get lost in the crowd. I hope that as some time passes from your surgery, and your habits change, you may find some like-minded people. I know that four months ago I couldn't have imagined friendships based on hiking together, but here I am. I just wanted to offer some supportive words. While I don't know exactly what you are going through I do know that this is a hard transition for many of us. Hang in there!!

I take my premier chocolate protein shake and have a shot or two added along with ice. It's a substitute for a mocha that I can tolerate and gets me closer to my protein goals. Very occasionally I get a tall fat free latte - and love it! I (sadly) count carbs, so milk isn't something I have very often.

Just unflavored ice - people really like their ice I guess!