curtsj01

Yesterday the fam and I were on the road most of the day. They stopped at Burger King to get food while I sat and watched them eat. So when I did start to get hungry, we stopped at a gas station in the attempts to find a Protein bar or snack bar of sorts. Well, there I was in the gas station for 5 minutes it seemed checking the nutritional value of the ALL snack bars there. Most of them were crazy high in sugar like 25-30grams. I noticed that all the nutrition values were not so readily to get at...being I had to flip the seam of the packing up on all of them to read this info. The healthiest ones I found were the South Beach Diet ones at 12 g protein, 5g fat and 5g sugar, and very yummy. They were all the way on the bottom shelf. Interesting enough, shows how as a society we eat with our eyes and sugar addiction. The highest sugar ones were on the on the top shelf... sigh....

I did munch on two fries.... we went inside to eat so the tray liner was advertising 6 meal combos for under 650 calories. I thought, "Oh my, one meal is my daily limit." Like Diva said, I though about getting a just a grilled chicken patty, but it was $2.50 for one patty and I think the taste of the grill would get me wanting a whopper again. LOL. Can't have just one....

I really wouldn't eat bread at 4 weeks since there is no protein value to it. However, I have had a few saltines with my tuna to help satisfy my bread craving. And they do sit heavy on my stomach. Again, not on the meal plan, but I compromised with unleavened bread (not risen with yeast) to minimize the "balling" effect. I have also had a bite of pita with my hummus and did okay with that. But I do this sparsely due to the nutritional value. At 4 weeks out, you should be going into the solids soon. I would just concentrate on getting that protein in through food. Protein first, veggies second, carbs last.

To fit both legs into one leg of my fat pants is a secret dream of mine. Congrats to you!

Okay, now I have read it all here!

I told my music minister at church about it prior to and no one else. Well, when I was out for surgery and recovery, he told the choir (my extended family) and so of course, more people than I necessarily care to, knew about my decision. Since I knew he told some people, I decided to write out a Note on Facebook about it. So who ever choose to read it would understand my reasons for coming to this choice, would know what the procedure was about, what changes I was making and how they could or could not help. Prior to this note, I was getting a lot of persistent unsolicited advice from the few people I did tell that did not coincide with the doctor's orders. Afterwards, more people understood and were on the same page as me. I didn't want to tell anyone because of the stigmata of the fat girl getting WLS, however, now when people ask me about it, I answer questions. I know that if I don't answer their questions, they will come to their own conclusions which may not always be good. I explain how I am eating and adjusting and how things are going. Maybe now that they know, the potlucks will be more healthier. LOL.... And I know that there is one lady in the choir who is considering the surgery, so if I can be motivation for someone else to get their life in order, then I should. At this point, anyone who has a problem can walk on. No one is going to put my stomach back in, so anything negative they have to say now is useless,

The liquids and pureed will go down faster then solids. Part of the reason why we are not supposed to drink 30 before/after eating is that the fluids help slide the food through the sleeve faster then normal digestion and don't keep you full as longer. Think of Thanksgiving dinner and you ate too much, you took a drink of milk to help the food down. Now it is the reverse and we need to prevent this. As you move to solids you will start to feel fuller on smaller amounts of food for longer amounts of time. Think of the soup, it is a broth. The chili is Water based. The yogurt does have a slightly thicker consistency which is probably why it takes a minute. I think I felt like I ate too much on pureed's too and had to move to solids a few days early just to feel satisfied. Now that I am on solids, I don't really feel this way anymore.

You are on a liquid diet, it all counts as fluids... As long as your taking in fluids through out the day, the volume will come in time. As the soreness in your stomach goes away, the fluids will come a lot easier. I know I couldn't do my shakes for about 10 days out because it just sat so heavy on my stomach. So kudos for you to be getting it in already. I also am not hungry for food anymore. 3 days from surgery I think my body was still processing the Ghrelin hormones so I still felt some "hunger" but I knew it was more of an empty rather then hungry. Now, I can go all day without eating and not be bothered at all (although it is not healthy and counterproductive to the goal). When they remove the greater portion of your stomach they remove the lining where the hunger hormone Ghrelin is produced. This absence of hormone has an appetite suppressant effective, resulting in no hunger. I think it is cool to not be ravenous hungry anymore! I can eat a small amount of food and feel normal. Just take it easy and follow your post-op diet. Do what you can. Your body will tell you what is comfortable and not. Fluids are very important, the 64oz becomes more important to follow when you start adding in the more solid foods. Don't wait to eat just because you haven't had your 64 ounces yet.16 waking hours is a long time to spread 64 ounces over. That is 4oz an hour. Your doing great with the 30oz. If your like me, it's certainly more H2O then I ever drank on any given day prior to the surgery. And if your doing a Protein Powder and mixing your powder with skim milk, the milk counts as a Fluid and a Protein.

I have had a few surgeries now: 2 biopsy under general, a knee arthroscopy with lateral release and now the sleeve. Going in for surgery never gets easier when it comes to your worries. I was nervous too. My surgery was originally for 2:30pm, but they called the day before and I was the first one of the day at 7am. While that made my worrying easier as I didn't have to stress all day about going in, it also took away some worry time which made me worry more. I am in the medical field and it still doesn't prepare you for having a procedure done to yourself. Your feelings are normal and to be expected. I'd worry if you were not nervous in the least. Don't give up all you have worked so hard for. The surgeon visits, the dieticians visits, the psych eval, labs, possible cardio testing, insurance approvals, arrangement that were made...etc... You are so close to the finish line and seeing the rewards that you have longed for - why give up now? It may seem like a big step, but remember that all the people on this board have gone through the same and we all made it out on the other side just fine. When they bring you in the o.r. and give you the anesthesia, you will be awake and done before you even realize they put you to sleep. You'll be fine. You'll love that you went though with it. Be strong, the best it yet to come.

@FiloSophia, I had the same feeling. I felt like I had to have some carby foods just to tell my brain that I am not completely deprived from the things that "I will never be able to eat again." And I did, and I can eat those things, if I choose to. And I paid the price and felt like crap from it. But I ate the cookie. And I move forward. I know now that I can eat the same crap as before and while I will not eat the whole bag of Cookies, I CAN eat 1 if I truly want. I don't feel so deprived anymore. I don't feel so restricted from the foods I "love" (I say that loosely as I my tastes are changing - who knew soy was actually good). I just know now that there are better choices to make for my life. And now I don't feel so defeated from my slip. One thing I am dealing with is reading the posts where people say they can't eat more then 2 tablespoons and they are full to the max and I feel like I am eating more like 6-8 ounces. I feel like the doc made my sleeve too big and I eat too much. Then I look at the amount of time I am no longer spending in the kitchen grazing all day long. And I look at the weight lost so far. I look at how much I truly am eating in comparison to this time last year. It is a blessing in disguise. It is all relative. I may be able to eat 6 ounces comfortably, but I can never eat the whole bag of cookies again!

The recommendation is 6 weeks. That is due to risk of the suture line rupturing from the weight/force/pressure of your partner and the act. Now, with that said, I was beating my hubby off with a 2X4 at two weeks out and finally caved at 3. I would surely wait until your sutures fully heal up. It's no fun having to get your busted sutures re-sewn. Now, if you topping, then, just watch your thrusting velocity and I think you'll be fine.

What was an expected 24 hour stay in the hospital turned into 48 for me. No other reason but they wanted to be sure there were no leak issues. Once at home I was able to move around to take care of myself (I walked from my room to the car at the hospital), yet I still knew I needed time to heal. It's kinda like getting into a car wreck and the first 24-48 hours, your feeling okay. Then the next day, you feel like you were hit by a train. That was the day after I got home from the hospital. The pain meds were all but gone ( I had my script I was sent home with), the nurses are not there to help me out and my bed didn't do all those cool adjustments like the hospital one did. I didn't sleep to well the first few night. The recliner in the living room was my new bed. If you could help it, take a week for yourself. I agree with all the adjustments needed. The first couple of weeks, I felt like I spent the whole day thinking about what to eat and concentrating on trying to consume it with minimal discomfort. It seemed that once I was done eating, it was time to eat again. Take this time for you so you can make the right start on your new journey. Although I was not hungry following the surgery, I do think I was a little weak from the dietary changes. I have adjusted now and feel fine, but your body needs to adjust. You are altering the means to fuel itself. It's like taking a truck from diesel to bio-diesel. You use less and it processes much more cleaner and efficiently. But it takes time to convert the vehicals engine. I had knee arthroscopy with lateral release surgery 2 years ago. I went back to work 1 week later as a medical office manager. I was on my feet way more then I had anticipated, but once I was healed, I was healed. The bone is what it is and will continue to be. What I have done to my stomach is life altering and affects me every day. Although I have healed physically, some days I feel like I am just out of surgery again with my choices and the volume I can consume.

This thread made me smile. Hubby and I have talked about this too.... when I was consuming 4000 cals a day, I was like clockwork right when I woke up every morn and there was a large amount present. I always knew when I binged the night before by the following morning. Now, I am lucky to go every other day. Really makes you think about what goes in comes out and the efficient use of healthy foods as opposed to the filler foods passing right though.

My first 3 weeks, I did great and lost about 30 pounds. I was so ecstatic, I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. And then I waited.. and waited. Another 3 1/2 weeks passed and there was no downward budge on the scale. I was getting frustrated and felt like I failed. All the while, going to the gym, doing Zumba classes etc. Then I had a very stressful event occur and found myself reverting back to old ways. I found myself carb binging for like 5 days. I didn't realize what I was doing until a few days had passed and I was feeling like total crap. I gained 10 pounds in that week. I hated myself even more and decided to go back to the basics. I went back to full liquids for a couple days and started to feel better. Within 2 weeks, I had lost all that weight and then some more. What blew me away was that I could gain and lose so much weight in a matter of a short time. The initial lose was like getting my hopes up and than having nothing happen. I am attaching a link to an article that helped me. http://www.justinowings.com/b/index.php/me/understanding-bodyweight-and-glycogen-de This explains better the relationship of glycogen (sugar), carbs, Water and fat lose and how so much can be lost in the beginning and then we stall out. The ratio of carbs to water is 1 gram carb to 4 grams water. Your body needs water to store and process the glycogen. "Another implication of the water/glycogen relationship on bodyweight is that whereas the first 4000 calorie deficit you create will reduce your weight some ten pounds, the next 4000 calorie deficit is likely only going to reduce your bodyweight a paltry two pounds! This is because a pound of fat stores 3500 calories and requires about a pound of water for storage. Thus, the initial weight-loss will seem easy compared to the drudging continued weight-loss when you’re actually burning stored fat." What I do know is that my clothes are fitting a lot better. I was in a size 32 pants when I first visited the surgeon in October and I just this weekend pulled out the 24's. I have eliminated all the clothes in the closet that are over a size 24 and I have twice as much space in my closet now! People at church who only see me once a week are telling me quite frequently that they are noticing differences. It's hard for me to see as I look in the mirror everyday, but even when I look a pics from this past fall, I see the difference. The renaissance dress I made in October tailored to me is too big now and needs re-tailoring. These are all good things and they remind me that this a journey, not a quick fix. They remind me that I am still human and I will falter as well as succeed. They remind me that I can not undo in a day what took a lifetime to create. Your making great progress, wish my numbers were as great as yours. Talk to your surgeon and nut, check to see if there are little changes you can make to get yourself on track. Not saying it is the way to go, but I did notice, that upping my carbs just a tad bit for one day helps jump start my body. As if I am in starvation mode and those carbs kicked the switch back on.Protein within 30 minutes of waking is also very good for kick starting your metabolism. Our bodies all respond differently to different diets and different foods. I know I am still trying to learn what works best for mine. Good luck... just my thoughts. Hope they help.

I too noticed this. I was getting discouraged thinking I was eating too much. I just make sure I am measuring everything out and as long as I don't go over that, I am okay. I have noticed that the denser foods hit the "too full" point a lot quicker then the slider foods. And that too full feeling is literally the difference between one bite. It's not easy to get used to, but I know it's working. I bought some glass bowls with a lids that are 1 cup volume. I use those to eat from so I know that a half a bowl is just enough. I made my dinner tonight and I made too much and ended up with two extra portions. Breakfast and lunch for tomorrow!! I just look at the fact that I am no longer eating 3-4 cups of food in one sitting to now only eating 1 1/2 cups in a day. It's great!

Sleeved December 29, I am also in a stall for 2 weeks. I started going to the gym at 2 weeks out and worked out for a good week. Then I got my period and felt like death for a week. Didn't do much. Got back to it last week and have burned about 6,000 calories in the last 7 days. I've been doing weight training to tone up these muscled and help take some room up with this flabby skin I am going to have. I have been doing Zumba and other classes. I did two Zumba classes today. :-) I have been using the EAS Myoplex Protein powder as I get it cheap at Sam's club. That with my skim milk is 40 grams a shake. I had Vegan sausage, egg beaters and fat free mozerella sprinkled on top for dinner. My fat brain made enough for 3 servings, so I have Breakfast in the fridge. LOL .... I get my fluids in and trying to take ALL my supplements. I don't know why I have stalled at 27# lost, but I am hoping that once my body realizes what exercise is, that the weight will start to fall off again. That initial drop gets your hopes up and the stall is really discouraging. I decided to do the two classes today to try and really kick start the loss again. Oh well, sooner or later, it will go away!

I have noticed that my entire abdomen was smaller following surgery. I attributed this to the fact that my stomach was indeed physically smaller which led to me not cramming so much food in it and my intestines and stomach were not overtly distended from over eating every night. But otherwise, I agree with the others. Unless your a physician trained in palpating the internal organs, it's hard to tell where all of them are. :-)

Hi, I first will say, I am new at this, Sleeved on Dec 29th, I am feeling great over all. Now, my number one food addiction ~~ pizza. There, I said it. I am addicted to Pizza and all the wonderful yummy items associated. I have worked in a few pizza joints and I simply know what I like. My hubby knows this.... and he knows I have been cranky about certain foods in the house as of the last few weeks. So why, oh why.... Did he go and get my favorite restaurant and favorite pie and all the fixings on Friday night? I could have died. It was like bring the heroin to the addicts doorstep. I had to lock myself in my bedroom because the smells were just over whelming me. So, my dirty secret..... I took a bite.... chewed it to oblivion and then spit it out. I had to get the craving out of my head and I knew I couldn't dare swallow even a morsel. I know that it is counterproductive to do that, and I am sure I did get a few calories from this unfortunate act.. How do you cope though with your absolute favorite food being around and you can't have it? Of course, I could kill my hubby for it. We have talked and I have told him how weak willed I am right now and that these things really truly do bother me.... but he says it makes me stronger. Phooey on him. I have enough to deal with right now with my particular diet and exercise plan. Sigh..... I hope this was a one time break and I can be stronger next time.

Hehehe, Thanks everyone for your advice. I got over that hump, and I am doing better now. I think that it takes a week or two for all the ghrelin to get out of your body. I am not having nearly as many food cravings as I did before. Interestingly enough, hubby wanted to do the pre-op and post-op diet with me. That never happened. I went grocery shopping yesterday, I bought the things I needed and I bought the things that he and my son need for meals etc (since it is different). He was getting so pissy when I didn't buy a bunch of junk food and snack crap. He loves to eat late night and I am trying to break him of that habit big time. It was almost a war because I got yogurt and he didn't get pop and chips. LOL.... I knew I was going to be the catalyst for change in our family diet, but boy this is tough.

Secrets can not be kept forever. I understand not wanting to tell everyone due to the stigma attached to WLS. But eventually he will learn the truth. I'd rather give him the information so that he may do with it as he pleases rather then him making stuff up telling people I am on drugs etc. etc. etc. If you don't have the closest of relationships with him (as I with my mom) you can make the choice if you are going to actively continue to listen to his negative behavior after letting him know. Negativity is negativity. I would rather it be about the truth rather then a falsehood that he may be spreading about you. Maybe he will need time to process the info, but my wishes are that with time he will be happy that you made the decision to get you health under control and not live a life full of co-morbid diseases. When I explain it to people as such - that I just want to be healthy, not live with all these obesity related diseases and I admit that I can not do it with diet and exercise alone; they seem to understand it better then just thinking I wanted the easy way out. Since you have already lost 70+ lbs, give him examples of how this has changed your life. Are you sleeping better, concentrating in school better, are stairs easier to handle, more energy, more active? You don't need to sell him on the idea because it's done. I would explain to him that your only request is that he be happy that you made a positive choice in your life so the next 50-70 years is not going to be a living hell. And remember, no matter what he says, it's already done. Nobody is going to put your stomach back in. So he can say what he wants, it's not going to change the fact. I have gone up and down in weight too many times in the last 10 years. When my friends and family can tell me where I tend to lose the weight first on my body, it makes my wish I would have done it at your age. I think it is a great decision to start your adult life with. Kudos to you.

So I have had two very surprising comments from two young men who I didn't think would ever notice. My step-son, whom I haven't seen since Christmas (I was sleeved Dec 29) came over last weekend. I was in the kitchen when he first arrived and he walked in, looked at me confused, and told me I looked a lot smaller. Then he proceeded to point out the areas that I have lost weight in. Bless his heart. This is the same child who 3 years ago told me outright that I was fat. Then today, my sister-in-law and I go to the same gym. I went to say hello to my neice and nephews who were going to the daycare. I said hello to the oldest who is 10 and he also looked at me very puzzled for a few moments and then told me I looked a lot skinnier. Aww... my new favorite nephew. Aside from the other comments I have received from church members and such, there is nothing like the honesty of a child. When it comes to being fat or skinny, they well tell you like it truly is. That certainly was motivation for my hour and half workout today.

Hi, I was sleeved on Dec 29, so I am on the same time line as you. I found that the Protein drinks were really hard to stomach until about 4 days ago. I think they were just too heavy. I use the EAS Myoplex in chocolate with 23g protein. I got a 5lb bag for $30.00 at Sam's Club, which at three shakes a day, lasts a little over 3 weeks. Mixed with skim milk, I get 31g protein per drink. I tried the Gator-aid that has the protein in it, and I still can not drink it. So maybe it is the type of protein your are choosing. I hope your able to start with some more substantial foods soon. I was allowed to move to pureed foods today, although, I have had one pureed meal a day for the last 3 days. I would try to stay away from the jelly, very high in sugar. Have you tried some yogurt or cottage cheese? I found those to be very easy on my stomach. I haven't been able to do oatmeal at all yet, also too heavy. Interesting side note, I have a bad dream last night about losing my hair and so I have started to be very vigilant about getting everything I that I am supposed to. I am praying that I don't lose my hair. Good luck to you, This journey has a huge learning curve.

I am 30, I have done a lot of soul searching this past year and decided that my weight was the one thing that has ALWAYS held me back. Taking the bull by the reigns, I am happy to say that I am finally going to win this battle! Yeah ME~ I wish I could have done this when I was 12.... chuckle chuckle....

I agree that it may be water weight. I would use the scale as an indicator rather then the end all be all. I finally bought a scale (the first I ever owned in my adult life) a few days after my 1 week post-op appt. Then the few days after, I didn't see any movement. I took a look at my food intake and tried to cut back on the carbs and increase the protein. I saw some movement after. I also know that I am going to starting to retain water in the next week. So if the scale doesn't budge for a few days, relax.... you will fluctuate as many times in a week as you can in a day.

Because of the way I have to eat several small meals in the day and me being a late owl, I do end up having a small snack before bed. Cottage cheese or yogurt or something. I have a hard time with that empty feeling - when it hits - it hits. I am 2 weeks out from surgery also. The empty feeling is not the same as hunger. I explained it to my husband as if you were doing a 7 day fast and you just feel like your stomach is eating itself. But, again, 2-3 bites and it is gone. I don't get this through the night, but I have also gotten into the habit of keeping Water on my nightstand. In the morning, if I don't consume something within 30 mins of waking... the empty feeling comes on strong. But again, it's a totally different sensation from "hungry". One of the things I continued to say straight out of surgery is "I can't believe I am not hungry!" It took a day or so for the ghrelin hormone to get out of my system I think. But it is truly amazing to overnight be able to eat tiny portions and feel satisfied. I have never been satisfied on a half a cup of food. It's like a blessing from God.... a second chance.