lollyfidy1965

Yeah...another item that isn't on my post-surgical diet plan...pasta, of any kind.

Uhhh....milkshakes are not on my post-surgical diet plan. Period. If I want something that reminds me of a milk shake, I drink an ice cold chocolate Muscle Milk Lite...8 oz has just 100 calories, its sugar free, and packs 15 grams of Protein. Its all about making healthy choices

Sorry if this sounds tough, but.....You might want to take a second look at your diet recommendations from your nutritionist/surgeon...I'm betting neither of those is on it. Do yourself a HUGE favor, and do your best to make HEALTHY food choices! Your sleeve isn't going to cast a magic spell, and cause you to lose weight. Your weight loss is entirely dependent upon your ability to eat healthfully, both in terms of content, and quantity. (And I totally understand cravings....I've been jonesing for a corn dog for a couple weeks...I just haven't gone and gotten one!!) Best of luck to you

Let's hope not!! LOL

I've never been a user of aspartame (it gives me horrible migraines), but I'm definitely not eating as many carbs as before surgery. I've read information about carbs, chemicals, etc causing issues with memory, but I've also read that ghrelin (the hormone produce by your stomach, and which causes us to experience "hunger") has a positive impact on memory...and that some people find they have diminished memory, post-VSG. I'm hoping it'll be a wash for me, and that my memory won't change much, one way or the other.

Welcome! I think pain is a purely individual thing. For me, I had some minor complications, immediately following my surgery, and ended up staying in the hospital for 6 days. After the third day I only needed my pain meds (I was still on a pump at that point) to help me sleep at night. The fifth night I didn't use anything, and didn't use any of the pain meds they gave me when I came home (not even Tylenol). But, I have a relatively high tolerance for pain (lifetime migraines and chronic lower back pain). When I was on full liquids (from the day I came home from the hospital) I enjoyed chocolate Muscle Milk Lite (its sugar free), decaf hot tea, unjury chicken broth flavored Protein powder (especially when made with chicken broth instead of straight water), whipped cottage cheese, unsweetened applesauce, Gelatein 20 (a high-protein Gelatin...20 grams of protein in a 4oz cup), and cream of tomato Soup (made with skim milk). I never actually "pureed" anything, when I got to that stage. I ate a lot of tuna salad, and fish, ground turkey, fat-free (but not whipped) cottage cheese, hummus, thinly sliced deli meats (turkey, chicken, and roast beef...all very lean and low-sodium)...anything "soft", "ground", or easily flaked. I was initially on this stage for a week, then developed breakthrough acid reflux. When I called my surgeon about it, he added a daily Prevacid solutab to my meds, and put me back on full liquids for an additional 3 weeks. (I still ate fish and tuna salad, and had no problems with that.) Everyone who is anyone in my life knows I've had surgery. I've been very open about it, and don't bother myself with what anybody else thinks. On the whole, I've found people to be very supportive, and thrilled with my progress so far. I make jokes about my eating...when waitresses look at me funny, because I don't order anything to drink, or when I ask them nicely to please only put 2 oz of fish, and 2 TBSP of veggies, on my plate, and to please put the rest in a to-go box before bringing it to the table...and it takes all the discomfort out of the situation. I felt an increase in energy within 2 weeks of surgery, although I still had days (for several more weeks) during which I had NO energy. I began walking on a treadmill 10 days after my surgery, and progressed to walking an hour (at 3.0 mph) twice a day, each time followed by an hour of Water aerobics. Yeah...call me crazy, but I am thoroughly LOVING losing this weight!! My complications were related to increased inflammation in my sleeve, immediately following surgery. The morning after surgery, I was taken for a leak test, during which they found my stomach so inflamed the dye wasn't able to pass through...at all! I went back to my room, they put an NG tube back down my throat, and left it in another 4 days. I was NPO during that entire time...not even ice chips to suck on...in order to give my sleeve time to settle down, and the inflammation to resolve. The evening of the 5th day they removed the NG tube, and let me try sips of water during the night. The following morning they allowed me to move to Clear Liquids, and I enjoyed some beef broth. (I tried Jello that day, but it didn't feel "good" going down...I still haven't had regular jello. LOL) The day after shifting to clear liquids I was moved to "full liquids", and allowed to drink my first Protein shake (I love the chocolate Muscle Milk Lite!). When I had no problems with that, they decided to let me go home (YAY!). With the exception of the wicked bad acid reflux (which I never had prior to surgery), I have had no problems at all. I follow my surgeon's/nutritionist's directions, take tiny bites, chew them like crazy, and take 30-45 minutes to eat my meals....and I'm steadily losing weight. If you, or your husband, have any additional questions, feel free to reach out...I'm happy to lend any help I can. Laura

Nice! I went to a physical therapy appointment, this past Thursday, with someone I had sessions with back in March/April (2 months before my surgery, when I was at my highest weight). She said "You look like you've lost a little weight in your face." I smiled and said "Thanks! I've lost 90 pounds from all over...including my face!" LOL She was stunned, and couldn't get over the difference!

I've already had to go bra shopping...dropped from a 50F to a 46DD. I couldn't be happier...and love having more options when I go shopping!!

And try sweetening with Splenda, or Splenda brown sugar, to eliminate the use of simple sugars (table sugar, or honey). Personally, I love oatmeal, but don't eat it now. It's far too many carbs for me...kicks me right out of ketosis.

Protein protein protein! I keep my protein level between 75-90 grams per day, and have only had minimal hair loss (at 10 weeks post-op). I think many drop their protein intake, as they shift back to solid foods (because they can't eat a large enough volume of dense proteins to make up for the loss of protein drinks), leading to more significant hair loss a few months after surgery. I'm still drinking my Muscle Milk once a day, and will add a Gelatein 20, as a snack, on days when my protein intake is running short. So far so good! Best of luck!

The only time I've experienced that feeling has been when I've eaten too quickly. Slowing down, and taking very small bites, works wonders!

When I'm "full" I'm ok....the problem is "OVERfull"!! When I've had as little as one nibbly bite too much my chest (like behind my sternum) starts to HURT...it becomes difficult to take in a deep breath...it feels like there is food filling my esophagus...I start burping non-stop...it's extremely uncomfortable, and can last as long as an hour or 90 minutes. I try to avoid the feeling as much as possible by taking small bites, and eating very slowly. A "comfortable full" feels much the same as before surgery. But now I find I miss that point very easily if I don't eat slowly (to give my body the time it needs to recognize that it's full)...because it really is as little as one bite between "omfortable full" and "I want to die OVERfull"!! Best of luck!

Before making a medical decision based on how you "feel", or on someone's opinion on this website, call your surgeon, and ask them for their opinion.

I'm also having more of an opposite issue. Some things (foods in particular) smell awful to me now. I think it's related to my lack of appetite....my body's reaction to not wanting food put into it. Makes it challenging to eat out, where you have no control over the smells around you.

This might sound crazy, but rather than eating food, why don't you try a protein shake for "dinner". Maybe your sleeve is agitated from working on food during the day, and needs something easier to work on later in the day. Remember, your sleeve is really still healing...you may need to be a little more gentle with it sometimes.

I totally understand, CO! The only cheese I've had since my surgery is Laughing Cow spreadable low-fat Swiss....in part because I don't trust my ability to manage the amount of other cheeses I'd eat. Cheese has long been a major love of mine.....and a major contributor of calories!

What's your location? We have a Dr. Kim here in the Boston area.

For Breakfast I typically have 8 oz of Muscle Milk Lite. (100 calls, 6 g carbs, 15 g protein) For lunch I'll have 1/4 cup of tuna fish, with 1/4 cup fat-free cottage cheese, or 2 TBSP hummus with 5 or 6 baby carrots. Other options are 2 oz deli turkey, ham, or chicken, with cottage cheese, or hummus. For dinner I'll have 2 oz of fish, or some other "dense" meat (pork chop, chicken, etc), with a little (less than 1/4 cup) of veggies. (An example...tonight I had 2 oz of deli turkey, 1/8 cup green Beans, 1/8 cup cooked carrots, and 2 beets. I ate all the meat, all but 3 of the green beans and carrots, and couldn't eat any of the beets.) For Snacks I'll have hummus and baby carrots (if I haven't had them with a meal), deli meat, part of a Quest Protein bar (maybe 1/4), 8 oz of Muscle Milk Lite, Gelatein 20 (a high-protein gelatin), 3 or 4 whole-grain crackers with a small wedge of spreadable low-fat cheese....something high in protein, or, at least, low-carb. Reality is, I'm just not able to eat that much in one setting. In order to meet my protein requirements, my focus has to be on getting protein....with small amounts of veggies mixed in for variety.

180 is my "goal weight"... LOL I hope all goes well for you, throughout the entire process!

Hey Kim! I'm in Arlington (used to live in Danvers). I had my surgery done June 19th, at Beth Israel Deaconess. Thoroughly thrilled with the results, and the care I received! Do you have a 6-month pre-surgical requirement to meet (for your insurance)? How're you feeling about the decision to have surgery? (Its a crazy ride, to be sure!) Laura

I'm 10 weeks post-op, and eat 3 "meals", plus 2 snacks...so I'm eating, as you say, every 2-3 hours, in VERY small amounts. Even with feeling like "I'm constantly eating," the reality is, I'm only eating between 550 and 650 calories/day...mostly protein (75-90 grams/day), and very low carbs (fewer than 30 grams/day). As long as your following your guidelines (amazing how we all have a different set!!), you should be ok. Best of luck!

When you do get around to trying string cheese, Weight Watchers low-fat string cheese is quite good.

The only thing I've found (to avoid the feelings you've described) is to eat tiny bites, chew them like mad, and eat VERY slowly (to give your body time to recognize, and tell you, when its "full"). I'm nearly 10 weeks post-op, and am still only able to eat 1/2 cup of food (say, 1/4 cup of tuna fish, with 1/4 cup of cottage cheese) at a time...and only 2 oz of dense protein ("meat") at a time...and it can take me as much as 45 minutes to an hour to eat that. The only time I feel that "I'm gonna die" feeling is when I rush eating....its truly miserable, and worth missing! Best of luck!

I realize every program has its own suggestions, but I've yet to see one discussed on here that recommends getting 3 times as many carbs as protein. I'm almost 10 weeks out, and average 75-90 grams of protein/day, and keep my carbs below 30 grams. (Think Atkins-like...high protein, low carb.)

Well....the only thing I can think of is an isolated issue. I'm dealing with a nasty (and multiple) muscle injuries in my left hip/leg, and would love to be able to take some Advil, to help with the inflammation. Unfortunately, that's a no-go... Other than that, I'm loving my sleeve, and the weight loss that comes with it!