lollyfidy1965

If you're drinking Crystal Lite with Aspartame (sweetener), it may be that that's causing the headaches. (I can't touch the stuff...gives me wicked migraines!) I find several of the 4C flavor packets to be quite good (fruit punch, peach tea, etc)....they're 0 calories, sweetened ith Splenda, and perfect in a 20 oz bottle of Water. Keep trying different things....the last thing you want is to become dehydrated! Best of luck! Laura

I haven't felt hunger a single time since my surgery, and have lost a great deal of fat and weight. I'm not typically one to argue on here, but I'm not so sure your comments about hunger are accurate. WHAT you choose to eat can play a huge role in whether or not you experience "hunger", because different types of food take longer to be processed in your stomach. (ie...carbs are processed much more quickly than Protein, so if you eat a meal high in protein you will feel satisfied longer than a high-carb meal of the same number of calories)

I highly recommend reading the book "The End of Overeating". In it, the author details how the food manufacturing industry intentionally manipulates the content of sugar, fat, and salt, in order to make foods cause a chemical reaction in your brain that is identical to the reaction triggered by cocaine and heroine. If you're "craving" foods high in these, you are simply exhibiting the evidence of food having become (literally) your drug of choice. I became so furious, while reading this book, and that anger made it much easier to avoid those foods before and after my surgery. I'm 4 months post-op now, and have cleared all the junk from my system. It's very rare now that I give junky foods a second thought. Be strong, and don't give in to the desire...it is simply your brain wanting that rush of chemicals. The longer you avoid it, the easier it will become!

It depends on the size of pants. You have a larger range of weight variability in a size 26 than you have in a size 16, so you'll have to lose more weight to get into a 24 than you will into a 14. It took a loss of nearly 75 pounds for me to drop from a 26 to a 22. Once I got into 20's I only had to lose about 12-15 pounds to get into 18's comfortably. Don't despair!!! Keep working hard, and the results will come!!

I could eat them, but avoid them because most are loaded with simple starches (rice, noodles, potatoes, etc), and light on protein. The salt content is also typically quite high.

Pasta, bread, potato, and rice are specifically not allowed by my plan through the first six months post-op. After that, they are strongly discouraged...because they're simple starches, and not particularly good food choices (and for many of us play a large role in why we ended up needing surgery in the first place). Ask your nutritionist....my bet is they'll tell you to avoid them, and to focus on Protein, rather than carbs. Best of luck

According to my surgeon, yes....along with oral steroids (like Prednizone). Walgreens makes a tasty grape chewable acetaminophen.

While I hadn't been "officially" diagnosed with diabetes prior to surgery, I was definitely "pre-diabetic." My HgbA1c was slightly elevated (6.7), and my fasting glucose was running between 110 and 115. At my 3-month post-op check, my HgbA1c was down to 5.6 (perfectly normal), and my fasting glucose was a brilliant 78! As part of my approach to eating, post-op, I am very careful about the amount of carbs I eat every day. On most days I come in at or below 30 grams (total carbs), but will go higher, if I'm eating things that are particularly high in Fiber. I've been in ketosis for almost 6 months, and am steadily losing weight. Be patient...and be mindful of what you're eating (in terms of grams of carbs). That strategy has certainly worked well for me. Best of luck! Laura

My surgery was 6/19. I've lost 61 lbs since the 26th of June...that's the day I left the hospital. Since my first visit to the surgeon (May 5th) I've lost 89 lbs, and I've lost a total of 113 lbs since the middle of March. My highest weight was 354, my current weight is 241, and my goal weight is 174. (I'm 5'10", and 174 will put me in the "normal" category on the BMI chart.) Keep up the good work everyone! Laura

The length of time you spend in the hospital will depend entirely on how you do after surgery, and your surgeon. I had a relatively mild complication immediately following surgery (my sleeve was inflamed so severely that nothing, including Water and the dye used for the leak test, couldn't pass through), and a conservative, concerned surgeon. He kept my NG tube in for an extra 4 days (to allow the inflammation time to resolve), and kept me in the hospital or 6 days. While my situation is NOT "typical," I was, and am, very grateful for the care and concern I received from my surgeon and his team. My best advice to you...follows your surgeon's advice, and don't sweat an extended stay if he/she feels it is necessary. They won't keep you longer than is medically justified...our insurance system makes sure of that. Best of luck to you! Laura

When I had my surgery, on June 19th, I was in a snug 26 jeans, and 5X top. Today I'm in a fabulous 18 jeans, and XL top...with some Large tops fitting, as well!

I've been in ketosis for going on 6 months, with no issues at all. I drink between 80-100 ounces of liquids a day, so I know my kidneys are getting sufficiently flushed. I feel fantastic, I'm losing weight steadily, and have lots of energy for working at the gym every day. Ketosis is my friend. Laura

I've decided that I'm not ever going to call them "stalls" again. From now on they are to be known as "Adjustment Periods"....because that is, essentially, what they are. We lose weight so quickly, and then our bodies need a bit of time to adjust to the new reality of things. During my "Adjustment Periods" I typically lose inches...which I don't do while I'm in a rapid weight loss phase. In the end its all good....lose weight, lose inches....get healthy!! All the best, Laura

My surgery was June 19th, and I've never had a problem getting in 75-90 ounces of liquid and 75-90 grams of protein per day...regardless of the stage. Some days it took more effort, because I have no feeling of hunger, but it's been done.

Give your nutritionist a call and get some guidance from them. They will be able to tell you exactly how many grams of Protein and carbs you need, as well as total volume and calories. They will also have suggestions for additional foods to try, to help you reach your daily goals. Best of luck!

I understand you're not able to walk on land, but would you be able to walk in a pool?? Water walking burns nearly double the calories burned by walking on land, or a treadmill, and the buoyancy of the water takes a LOT of the weight-related strain off your legs, joints, etc. I also love doing deep water aerobics...absolutely NO impact, and burns lots of calories. For example...If I do an hour of water walking I burn 3.6 calories X 247lbs/hour = 889 calories burned If I do an hour of water aerobics I burn 1.82 calories X 247lbs/hour = 450 calories burned Compare those numbers to land-walking. I wish you great success! Laura

I can only agree with the two previous posts. If Pasta (or other starches) are a temptation to you, GET THEM OUT OF THE HOUSE!!! I'm also 3 months post-op, and eat nothing but Protein, and a few bites of non-starchy veggies, once or twice a day. When I find myself craving "bad" things I have a long, hard conversation with myself, remind myself of all the reasons I made the decision to have surgery, and find a high-protein, low-carb snack, instead. I also highly recommend reading "The End of Overeating"...a great book that explains why we crave the things we crave. The best thing you can do is to resist those temptations...as difficult as it may be (trust me...I know its difficult). If you read the book you'll understand that they are a result of your brain's chemistry being manipulated by the food manufacturers....that understanding helped make it easier for me to make better choices. I wish you great success!

After a nearly two week long stall, I'm finally losing again! Down to 248 today! 13 pounds to go!

After years of having to buy adjustable necklace chains, I am now able to wear an 18" chain!! My neck has gone from 18" to 15" since June 26th!! Now...if I could just get the scale to show something less than 251!!!!! ;-P

Alex emailed me back and said he wasn't aware of any administrative action against him, and asked why i thought he'd been banned. I replied "Because his profile says he's banned." Maybe it'll get sorted out, and fixed. If nothing else, I'd like to know what not to say. My suggestions (in response to posts) often include seeking professional help, whether from a surgeon, nutritionist, or therapist...because most often those are the ones the questions/issues should be taken to (as opposed to asking unqualified strangers on here). I'd hate to get kicked off the site for speaking sense, just because someone took it personally.

For what its worth, I sent an email to "Alex" voicing my opinion.....that I don't know what happened, but that Gustavo was one of the "sane and serious" people using this site, and that he's missed by his "friends". Crazy.

Check with your surgeon and see if it's ok for you to take chewable melatonin. It's been a lifesaver for me!!

I'm 13 weeks post-op, and am still only able to eat 2-3 ounces of "dense protein" (i.e. meat). I can eat 1/4 cup cottage cheese along with 1/4 cup tuna salad (total 1/2 cup). Sometimes I'm able to eat a couple pieces of veggies (carrots, green beans, asparagus, etc) along with my 2-3 ounces of meat. I don't push myself (I've learned not to...the consequences are very uncomfortable!), and I supplement with protein shakes, gelatein 20, or protein bars, to ensure I get enough protein every day.

A week after surgery I had been home or a total of 24 hours, and weighed 1 pound more than I did the morning of surgery. We're all pumped full of fluids after surgery, so don't worry over where you are. Trust me....you will lose weight, if you follow your surgeon's instructions, and you will be amazed at how quickly it will come off!! Best of luck! Laura

The place to start is with some questions: What are you eating? How much Protein are you getting? How much water/liquid are you getting? How many calories? What are you doing for exercise, and how much/how often are you exercising?