Shan

Do they profit from the liquid that you're supposed to be drinking for three months? I can't really think of any other reason why they'd tell you such a thing. I'm 3 months out now, and I eat 100% all food. No Protein supplements of any kind. I'm talking all kinds of protein, veg, etc. My diet went like this. I know typing it all out is a bit obnoxious and that not all docs reccommend the same things. I just wanted to give you a dose of my sleeve reality and show you that it's not as scary extreme as that doctor made it out to be. Phase 1 - Day 2 through the end of week 1: 1oz of clear liquid every 30 minutes that you are awake. (Crystal light, decaf coffee or tea, sugar free Jello, sugar free popsicles, broth, etc) Phase 2 - Day 8 through Day 14: Full liquid diet. All made very soupy: oatmeal, Grits, Cream of wheat, Milk, Soups strained of all food particles, Sugar free/fat free puddings and custards. All liquids from phase 1. Phase 3 - Weeks 3 and 4. Soft diet. Begin protein supplementation of 30-60 grams a day if you've had no issues so far. May add blended foods using skim milk or Water. Blended meats or casseroles, baby food consistency. All foods from phases 1 and 2. Add low fat cheese, cottage cheese, low or no fat/low sugar greek yogurt, eggs, very tender cooked dried Beans, cooked dried peas, smooth Peanut Butter. Phase 4 Week 5 and 6 - You may add soft protein foods such as tuna salad, egg salad, chicken salad made with light mayo. Baked fish. Week 7 - Add chicken. Not fried, no skin, white meat preferable. (I also added shrimp here.) Week 8 and 9 - Add soft fruits and vegetables - No Skins. Kiwi, strawberries, bananas, cantaloupes, watermelon, oranges, canned peaches, pears, etc. Canned fruit must be canned in it's own juice, no added sugar. No raisins, grapes or coconut! Vegetables that are steamed until soft. No raw veg. Week 10 - You may add crunchy fruits and Veg. pineapple, fresh pears, apples, peaches, etc Peeled grapes. Spinach, greens, cabbage, raw celery, carrots, etc. Salads with low fat dressing. Week 12 - Add LEAN beef and pork. Make certain that you chew thoroughly (at least 25 times).

Hey Anna! You're doing awesome, girl! Here's the thing. The first few weeks were total survival mode for me. It wasn't about getting in the required amounts of anything...it was about getting in whatever I could to survive (mostly sugar free pudding and broth which netted me very little protein). I didn't get anywhere near my protein goal or my water goal...or any other goal for that matter. I just tried hard to get in what I could. ANY kind of protein supplement immediately gave me massive diarrhea. Before surgery I loved Crystal light. After surgery I couldn't stand anything at all that was premade with artificial sweetener. I also discovered that cold drinks made my stomach ache. Hot decaf tea on the other hand was a lot easier on me, and I enjoyed it. Give yourself a break. It takes a while to learn how this new stomach operates, and what you like. In a couple of months, it'll get a lot easier! Before that...it's a learning process, and you won't be perfect. That's okay though, because nobody expects you to be. Just take it a week at a time and work on little pieces of your goal. Maybe this week you want to work on fluids. Next week work on upping your daily protein by 10 or 20 grams. Whatever. Just break it down...pick something to focus on...and don't beat yourself up if you're not perfect. You're doing great!! 24 pounds is AWESOME!

Ewww...really? I can't stand licorice either and I have never noticed this aftertaste with the brand that I use. It's very clean tasting, kind of reminds me of sweet n low. I use the Nu Naturals Alcohol Free Stevia. There is a vanilla flavored one that looks almost exactly the same, but I prefer the clean taste. If I want vanilla, I'll add it myself. I get it at the health food store (can be very hard to find) and it costs about $8 a bottle. At first I thought that was a little pricey for such a little bottle, but I've had the same bottle for two months, and am only about halfway through it. Here's a link. Be sure to check out the reviews. A lot of people mention the lack of aftertaste. http://www.iherb.com...59-ml/4460?at=0

I use alcohol free, liquid stevia drops and I've never had that problem. If I didn't use the drops, I'd let my tea and lemon water sit there until it got gross, and then toss it. Just those couple of drops of stevia make it so tasty to me and then I drink all day long.

Definitely! I'm almost three months out now, and things are definitely starting to get back to normal. I'm with Rootman. It's bittersweet. It's nice to be able to eat a wider variety of foods, but I kind of wish I still thought everything tasted nasty.

That is awesome!! Way to go, girl!

After my initial 20 pound weight loss in the first two weeks, I seem to have developed a pattern that goes like this: Week 1 (week of my period): I lose one pound. Week 2: Lose 1 pound. Week 3: Lose 5 pounds Week 4: Lose 3 pounds. Total weight loss of 10 pounds for the month. This has happened almost to the letter for the last two and a half months. I'm not one to eat any differently when I'm on my period...especially not after surgery. I honestly think it's just how my body operates. I work out consistenly 5 to 6 days a week for 45 minutes, and get at least 10,000 steps in a day. No matter what I do differently...this weight loss pattern stays the same.

Have you exercised at all before now? I'm so confused! When I went to see my Dr. for my 6 week post op, I was eating about five to six hundred calories and getting about 50 grams of Protein a day. I was (and still am) also getting about 12 - 13000 steps a day, about 45 min of cardio a day, and some strength training mixed in with the cardio. My Dr. told me that I was breaking down the muscle in my body by exercising, and that it cannot rebuild that muscle if I'm not getting 800 cals a day minimum. He told me that my number one focus should be getting my intake to 800 cals a day, and that when I'm consistently reaching that number, then I can switch my focus to exercise. Before he told me that, I wasn't really overly concerned with how many calories I was eating...just how much protein. I quickly figured out how to arrange my eating so that I could work more protein in, and now I get between 8 and 850 cals a day, and between 70-80 grams of protein. It drives me crazy that there can't just be a gold standard answer. I realize that everyone's doctors are different, and that all of US are different as well, but I'm just such a black and white person! I'd hate to think that I've raised my calories and will cause myself to stall out. I suppose if that happens I'll just switch it up until I find the right combo, but it's still frustrating. I'd also like to know where your Dr. is coming from with the eat as few calories as possible. Man...I'm never hungry! If my Dr. told me that same thing, I could probably get by on 2 or 300 a day, but I can't see how that would be a good thing?

Oh heck yes! All the time! I'm the cook around here so I do it purposefully to see that the food I'm cooking tastes right..then I spit it out. Kind of like going to a wine tasting and using a spit glass so that you don't get drunk. lol I've also just picked something up and put it in my mouth without thinking and then thought to myself "aaaack...don't eat that" and I spit it out. I'm just happy that I'm so aware of what I put in my mouth these days.

There are a ton of things that I just don't "like" anymore. I was a diet coke addict before surgery, but as soon as my surgeon told me I would need to give it up, I went cold turkey (Sept 21). During the time before surgery and giving up the diet coke I inhaled crystal light like nobody's business. Since surgery I can't stand it...at all. I've taken a tiny sip of diet coke once or twice since surgery and am relieved that it doesn't taste good to me anymore. I know some people say that diet sodas are fine after six months, but I'm better off without it, and I know that if I like it...I'll drink it. Cold drinks...especially with ice in them, make my belly ache. Pretty much the only thing I drink these days is room temp Water, and hot decaf green tea with stevia. I have to be careful with things like edamame and chickpeas because if I don't eat them really, really slowly they stick, and that's not fun at all. All Protein supplements spark massive diarrhea within 20 minutes of eating them. That made it difficult in the beginning, but now that I'm able to eat more, I just get my protein from shrimp, chicken, greek yogurt, cheese, tuna, crab legs, tilapia, etc. It took me 9 weeks to get here, but now I get about 70 grams of protein a day from real food. I'm going to add in some salad-y types of veggies this week and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm dying for some salad...even if it's just 1/4 of a cup!

Me too! One of the best investments ever. I use it all day every day, and it really helps to keep me on track with food and fitness. I would be lost without it. It won't let me go down below 1000 for my daily calorie goals, but I really don't mind, because there's really no chastisement or anything that it won't let me do if I dont make that goal. If anyone ever decides to get one, be sure to purchase the digital display as well...or you could also get the SP version that syncs up to any smartphone. The ability to get immediate feedback (rather than waiting until you upload your bodybugg) is crucial.

Thank you, Thank you!! I'll definitely give them a whirl!

You know...I'm only 9 weeks out, but I'm already learning that you just have to trust the process. Stalls will happen, but if you just work the program you've been given...the weight comes off! I have weeks where I lose a pound, sometimes two or three weeks where I lose a pound. Then all of the sudden I have a seven pound loss in a week. I've never had crazy huge numbers, but I only started out at 212 so I'm not surprised by that. The bottom line is...I'm almost half way to my goal weight and it has only been a little over two months. It works! It works! IT WORKS!!! It's a journey...no matter whether you're going over a hill or through a valley this week...you'll get there just the same!

I'm in the never hungry night or day camp.

Damn! Those viactivs are darn tasty, too! I guess since I have a full bottle of pineapple flavored liquid calcium citrate in my cupboard I should go ahead and start taking it. I find it repulsive, but I'd find osteoporosis a far sight more repulsive. Next time I'll go for those chewables!

I don't take Tums, I take Viactiv which is also calcium carbonate. My Dr. never prescribed a PPI and I've never taken one. I've never felt overly hungry or that gnawing feeling that some people say is acid mistaken for hunger. Is there any reason that I wouldn't want to take a calcium carbonate in my situation? I know I've heard several people mention taking Viactiv in my patient support groups and the Dr. has never said that this is not reccomended.

I didn't have a BM until 7 days post op. To tell the truth it never even occurred to me to give it a thought, until that seveth day when I thought to myself...I have to poop. Then I thought...wait a minute...this is the first time I've had to poop since I had surgery. Had a very normal BM and moved on with my life. I used to be a once a day kind of girl. Now I'm more of an every four days kind of girl. I'm trying to remedy that, but it's hard to balance getting Fiber when you spend most of your life trying to eat Protein. I never have cramps, or feel extra gassy. I just don't poop very much. Every once in a while it'll be very firm, and then I'll just eat something like roasted chickpeas and that gets things back to normal.

You look fabulous!! Thanks for sharing your amazing results! I can't even imagine hitting the big 1-0-0, but I sure would take it.

I already have a cuisinart ice cream maker and never considered protein ice cream!! Awesome idea. I have eggface in my google reader, but I've never taken the time to dig through the recipes. Thanks so much for the heads up. I'm going to try one ASAP! I'll let you know how it goes.

I had the exact same thing under one of my incision sites. It was just a big hard lump that you could feel, but not really see. That incision was also the only one that got a HUGE bruise around it so I'm thinking it was just some scarred tissue that needed to heal. After a couple of weeks the lump started getting smaller and now at 7 weeks out...it's completely gone. Hope that helps.

The Chobani 2% pineapple is SO GOOD! Love it. I usually stick with the athenos 0% Strawberry most of the time just because it has no fat, more protein, and it's a lot cheaper. I also use the athenos non fat plain in place of sour cream and it's delicious for that purpose.

Tried the Chicken Soup Unjury this evening. Ughhh. And can I say again...Ughhh! Kind of tastes like chicken soup broth, but with chemicals in it. It's super salty, too. It's going back and I'm going to request an exchange for the chocolate. Hopefully that'll taste better.

I'm new at this game, and admittedly don't know much at all, but this doesn't sound quite right to me. I think if I were in your shoes, I'd be giving my Dr. a call to get his/her thoughts on the matter. Do you feel as if you're retaining a lot of Water? Are the liquids you're consuming salty? What would you say your normal daily intake is? Any past issues with edema? I wish I could help...please update if you get any more information. :hug:

I've tried 11 different Protein products and every single one of them tasted awful and gave me major diarrhea. I'm not sure if it's because of the massive quantities of protein or because of the artificial sweeteners. I ordered the chicken Soup unjury last week, and I'm looking forward to trying that. A lot of people say that it tastes just lipton chicken noodle soup broth. Hopefully without any funky sweeteners I'll be able to handle it. It should be here today or tomorrow...I'll let ya'll know what I think of it. In the meantime I've been getting most of my protein from greek yogurt, little tiny egg white omelets with a bit of reduced fat cheese, and I've also just recently been able to tolerate a chili that I made myself with VERY FINELY minced ingredients. I throw a small dollop of greek yogurt on top of that as well. Obviously you won't be able to eat the chunky stuff in the beginning, but I'm only 5 weeks out and these things have been great for this phase. It is all so very confusing, but you'll get the hang of it. Oh, and if you have a "Vitamin Shoppe" near you, they take returns on partially used items as well. Good Luck!

Just wanted to add that a super easy and cheap way to get your ground meat ultra fine is to place about 2 cups of Water in with the meat while you cook it. Just throw the water in at the same time as you put the meat in and cook as usual. It will look disgusting, but it cooks up just as usual, only without large clumps. I also usually add a hefty amount of garlic powder and onion powder and a touch of salt. After I drain the meat, sometimes I even rinse it with hot water to remove extra fat. Even then...if the seasoning was added during cooking, it tastes perfectly seasoned. My husband watches a lot of food Network type of shows, and the water technique is used by a lot of restaurants to achieve the super ground consistency for chilis and meat sauces. Hope that helps.