melodymouse

4 oz at 3 weeks really is a lot at one time. The average sleeve right after surgery can only hold 1-2 oz. I agree that it sounds like you are over filling your new stomach. It should take you at the very least 30 minutes to drink 4 oz and probably closer to 45. A good rule in early stages is one ounce every 10-15 minutes.

I was only on clear liquid the first two days when I was in the hospital but was ok'd for full liquid on day 3 and I started them then. nectar is a high quality Protein with few impurities and the way it's formulated it is safe early on. So is Isopure RTD but I found them pretty intense flavor wise. The Nectar is pretty strong for me too so I would either use more water or I bought some unflavored Nectar from BariatricAdvantage.com and would mix them half and half. But as always, you should follow your doctor/NUT guidelines because they know your personal history and we do not.

I was a told dumping syndrome only lasted a couple of hours and that was true the one time I had it. I also didn't "dump". Just felt like a terrible case of food poisoning. Dizziness, headache, nausea, chills, cramps, but nothing coming out of either end. I was told that is how it normally presents. If it started last night and you still feel bad, maybe you just have a bug. We tend to worry that things are sleeve related, but isn't always! If you don't feel better tomorrow, you should check in with your doctor.

That question was asked of a doctor at our support group. After ripping the lady who asked a new one for chewing gum in the first place, he told her to go on a liquid diet for 3 days so her system would "focus" on the gum. He said cold liquids were better than warm because it kept the gum hard. He didn't send her to the hospital or anything so it must not have been life threatening! Good luck!

What worked for me was taking some at each meal/snack. I would take some when I first started eating and 15 after I stopped. Your body is still digesting but has some room. Just remember not to take calcium and iron at the same time. I was able to cut back at one year. I only have to take 1 multi a day, B12 once or twice a week and no B-1 because I am getting enough from the healthy food choices I make! = )

I am so jealous! Drinking water has definitely stretched my stomach. I have to wait an hour to an hour and a half after eating to start drinking or my stomach blows up like a watermelon. Sounds like one too! Dr said its slow digestion probably caused from scar tissue. Definitely makes it harder to get in that 64!!

The problem with popcorn is not that it is fattening, its because the hulls, (the hard brown crunchy part) does not get metabolized by your body. Just like coconut and most seeds, it comes out of your body in pretty much the same condition as it went in, hopefully that is. With full size stomachs we used to be able to drink enough liquid to flush things through. We cannot do that with our new streamline tummies! Undigested particles and fiber can get trapped in our stomachs and create something called a Bezoar. They continue to collect other pieces, growing larger until they cannot be passed through and have to be surgically removed. So, it would be wise not to eat it again! There are a lot of reasons we are not supposed to eat certain things now, other than just the weight factor. If you are going to push the limits, at least wait until you are much farther out and have lost most or all of your desired weight! WLS only works for a short time unless you abide by the guidelines.

Cheating husbands really suck! Just understand, it's the flaws in their character that make them cheat, not you. It is one of the things that led me down this path. The best revenge, is to thrive and be happy. It is a great feeling when you run into the other person and you look fabulous! Don't allow someone else's bad behavior define who you are. Be strong and believe in yourself! You can find a new "friend" to comfort you. I found music. Positive songs about strong women who overcame. You can do this! Put yourself first and you can find your way. You deserve someone who values you. We all do. Hang in there. This too shall pass. Hugs to you!!

Save your money on the wraps. It DOES just squeeze fluid from your tissues so when you re-hydrate it will come right back. Spend the money on some weights you can use at home. And the Palmer's for tightening does help. But it is the kind of lotion that doesn't absorb but sits on your skin so if you get it wet, it feels kind of slimy!

Make sure you are eating enough. Not getting enough protein, fluids and even calories can slow weight loss just as easily as overeating. Please don't be discouraged. We all go through these little spurts while our bodies adjust to the changes. Something I did to keep motivated is I would try on clothes that were a little tight fitting. Even though the scale didn't say that I was losing, my clothes would fit looser! Hang in there!!

Just actually did this. Dancing around, stereo blasting, mopping my kitchen floor, I literally shouted out "LOVE MY SLEEVE!!!!!!" = D = D = D

Congratulations on taking this major step in reclaiming your life! My best advice: keep a positive attitude! It can help you overcome a great many things! Focus on the positive accomplishments and let the rest go!! Enjoy the new you!! = )

How nice to see someone else rejoicing in their decision!! I hope all the complainers out there see this. It is a reminder that in spite of stalls, or slow loss or whatever you find to be negative about today, someone else is noticing. Someone else cares about you and what you are going through and they are proud of you! They may not always say it, but they do care and they are proud! What a great reason to get into the Happiness Habit!!

There is a simple test you can do. Pinch and pull up the skin on the back of your hand, then release it. If it takes more than 5 seconds for it to go back to normal, your body needs more fluids!

I am 15 months out and have lost 105% of my excess weight. I hit 104% by 10 months out and just in the last week dropped the other %! My local support group calls me their "Poster Child"! Gotta love it!! = D

I am 15 months out and haven't lost anything since the end of December. In Feb I decided to go into maintenance mode and be happy with my 122 pound loss. I went up to 80-90 g of Protein and 1200-1500 calories depending on my activity level. Last week I dropped my calories back down to 1000 and increased my activity but only slightly. When I did my weekly weigh in this morning I had lost another 3 pounds! Just 5 pounds away from the third goal I had set for myself, a Fantasy goal loss of 130 pounds which will put me at the same weight I was when I got married at age 22! My advice is to let your body stabilize a little and then ATTACK again. Keep it guessing. Changing your routine, the type of exercise, the time you exercise or even when or what you eat can make the difference. I let my body get comfortable where it was so it didn't want to fight me! Then I change the rules! haha!! Let me know how it works!!!

Thanks, Tink! I'm always looking for things to pass along to my local support group members. I just bought a book today called "Eating in the Light of the Moon. It is a book primarily for women on how to transform their relationship with food. I'll let you all know how it is!

At 15 months out, I feel more "normal" than I ever have in my entire life!! VSG truly changed my life!! So incredibly grateful!!

Working out does help some. It may not all snap back but it does make a difference. Swimming is supposed to be the best if you have access to a pool.

Unfortunately most veggies are too fibrous at this stage and any veggies you do eat should be cooked until they are soft. Undigested fiber can get stuck in your stomach and cause a lump called a Bezoar which leads to other problems. My best advice is to be patient. You'll be eating more in no time, when your body is ready. = )

I don't have any different recommendations for soft foods. I pretty much stuck to the basics, egg whites, Greek yogurt, LF cottage cheese. I did eat Fat free refried Beans with low fat cheese which tasted pretty good. As for the belly button, miserable isn't it?! I had a complication and a second surgery that made a question mark around mine. The pressure from that was one of the worst things. Still bothers me from time to time. It helps to support the weight of your stomach with your hand when you move around or with a pillow when you are trying to sleep. They also make an abdominal brace that does that, but I couldn't find one that fit right. Best to you!

There is no sugar free yogurt because dairy products have natural sugar. What they mean is yogurt with no added sugar. They are usually ones with fruit or fruit flavoring. You can buy plain and add in your own fresh fruit. Things like natural applesauce and mashed bananas work good in the puréed stage. You can also add vanilla or other extracts with a little artificial sweetener.