JillianMarie

Hi all! Hopefully everyone is doing great, I haven't posted in quite some time so I wanted to update. The last time I posted i believe I had mentioned that I wasn't feeling restriction anymore, and that it took quite a bit of food to make me full. This was NOT the case post-op initially. For about 6 weeks I had great restriction, but after moving to solid foods i got where i could gradually eat more and more, and when i say that I don't mean that i was testing myself and trying to stretch my sleeve, I mean that my hunger was returning and I felt satisfied only when I ate more. I have tried several things over the past few months to try to experiment and see if it was just my eating behavior, the foods I ate, the timing, or something I was doing wrong. Well, I tried going on a liquid diet to re-shrink my sleeve, and it was unsuccessful. I also tried the 5 day pouch test, and found that I can eat MUCH more dense Protein (cottage cheese, grilled chicken, etc...) than I should be able to eat at this time out (a little over 4 months). My hunger has returned and my stomach actually growls again! It hasn't done that since I was pre-op! I had an upper GI done about a week ago, and it showed that my stomach has stretched quite a bit. Probably due to the fact that it was abnormally elastic to begin with. I feel NO restriction anymore, and if I chose to, I could literally sit and eat for two hours straight. I of course, practice self control and don't let myself do that. But, I have found myself having to try to diet and go hungry again. This isn't fun. I have talked to my surgeon who thinks that I should either undergo the DS or be re-sleeved. I am greatly considering being re-sleeved. Does anyone know someone who has had to have this procedure revised? Thanks!!

Thats good to hear! It only takes a few handfuls when you get the "real" experience at the movie theater! But it makes a great low cal snack at home, the light butter microwave bags make a great snack for movie nights at home, and you can do a lot less damage with popcorn than by munching on other snacks!

It looked terrifying to me as well, and i was sure the first time i ate it that i would get sick. Nope. Do this- pop some popcorn then put a cup in a bowl that has a little Water at the bottom. Or sprinkle some water on top. You will see how it shrivels up into "mush", when you have some liquid in your stomach it is surprisingly easy to digest. I wouldn't recommend eating it without a drink of course, but who can eat salty popcorn without a drink?

I ate popcorn much earlier out than I probably should have, but never had any problems from it. It is a slider for me. I can eat a whole big bag of it but I keep it to the light variety. At the movies you should go by how fast you feel full, it will fill you up faster being that they add butter to the popcorn. (or ask for no butter).

I agree with you all about the healthy fats, I notice that if i eat two tbsp of Peanut Butter I am satisfied for hours and lose my carb cravings as well. The healthy fat and Protein in the peanut butter really sticks with me throughout the day.

Never heard of that! Thanks for mentioning it, i'll bring it up to my doctor! Nexium is definitely a little too expensive for me!

Prevacid is a PPI. I've got an RX for Nexium that i may fill, my Dr. says that it works better than Prevacid. I took a Reglan last night and it seemed to help a lot though.

Jachut- I have always found this to be true in the past for me, that if i ate whole grains and low glycemic carbs such as some fruit, that I had more energy and it helped control my appetite. I know that there are certain foods that do have carbohydrates but with a low glycemic index that actually keep me from getting hungry, and those are Pure Protein Bars, Supreme Protein Carb Conscious bars (i love the Peanut Butter crunch) and Snickers Marathon bars. I am assuming the high protein content and low sugar helps with the cravings and appetite. Also, strawberries, blueberries and canteloupe all really help with my energy levels and keep my blood sugar stable. I haven't had any problems with berries although canteloupe seems a little hard for me to digest right now, it sits hard on my sleeve.

I have had chronic insomnia for 11 years, and am now taking a combination of Clonopin, Ambien, Trazadone, melatonin, and Simply Sleep or Benedryl (same ingredient) every night to help me sleep. It is unfortunate that i have to take so many things to help me sleep every night. I have never snored, yet i do have a collapsed septum (when i breathe in through my nose, my nostrils completely close), so I have to breathe through my mouth when i sleep. It may contribute towards the waking throughout the night. I also used to suffer from a rare sleeping disorder called NES. Some friends have suggested sleep centers and getting a Cpap or Bipap, I need to check and see if my insurance covers sleep studies, it would be worth a shot. I may start taking Reglan again, which helps move contents of the stomach through faster, it might be worth taking at night to help keep things down rather than coming up. My Dr. gave me an RX for Nexium but I rather not fill it because of the cost, I am currently taking Prevacid. If Nexium is much better than Prevacid it could be worth the price difference.

We all know that excess carbs can slow weight loss by adding too many calories, and also cause us to become Protein deficient; but have any of you found that carbohydrates cause increased hunger and appetite? My nutritionist gave me a plan that can is somewhat high in carbohydrates compared to what many of you are eating. She said that if it didn't work for me, we can adjust the plan. I have found that ever since moving to solid foods and including carbohydrates, my appetite is much stronger than it used to be when i was on the first month post op diet of mainly protein and very restricted carbs. I didn't find it hard to resist food because i didn't think about it often. But after including bananas, oatmeal, milk, and some cereals and breads, I have a big appetite and get the urge to graze all day. Also, it has lead to some Water retention and bloating. What are your experiences with carbohydrates and appetite? And for those of you that monitor carbs and calories, how many carbs and calories do you allow yourself in a given day? Thanks!

I keep somewhat of a journal but i don't write down everything down to the number of spoonfuls, and if i have a few sugar free hard candies i dont write that in.. I am getting over 100 grams of protein a day. I eat South Beach Diet bars and a lot of beef Jerky, and I make chocolate pudding with sugar free Jello pudding mix, but substitute EAS chocolate Protein shakes for the milk, which makes it almost pure protein. The crunchy stuff also goes down really easy for me, chips, popcorn, crackers, that kindof stuff... i could probably sit and eat a whole bag of chips before feeling full, it does nothing to me. I'm trying to stay away from that stuff now. Greek yogurt is high in protein. I had a barbeque sandwich tonight, normal amount of meat but only half of the bun, and the pork digested well and has left me full. I just make sure that whenever i eat, whatever meal it is has a good source of protein in it.

Wow the pictures of the cloud bread look incredible! Great idea for making little pizzas, i could melt some fat free mozzerella and turkey pepperonis and no sugar added tomato sauce and it would be perfect! I have to cut down on carbs, my nutritionist told me I was really overdoing it on carbs (well over 150 grams a day) so I would like to adopt the low carb lifestyle. You gave me some great ideas! Thanks!!

I met with a nutritionist today for the first time. She developed a meal plan for me, with substitutions. She did say that very well cooked vegetables are safe at this point, NO raw vegetables, and that I need to increase my fat intake to help with satiety. She said that eating strictly fat free foods all the time doesn't sit in your stomach long at all and will cause hunger sooner. And last, I've been really overdoing it on carbs, causing my insulin and blood sugar to spike, so all refined carbs are out, but 100% whole grain light bread is okay and fruit is also. I feel better that I'm on the right track now!

What is cloud bread? I take it that it is low carb of course. How many carbs do you limit yourself to daily excluding Fiber? And do you also do low fat or not worry about fat as much, just keep the carbs very low?