Adri

I was a black coffee and diet coke addict. The first day of pre-op diet I had an EXCRUCIATING headache. I could barely function. It lasted one more day and by day 3 or 4 was gone. I'm sure it was due to caffeine withdrawal. It is a good thing you are cutting back now.

My NUT only really gave me numbers because I asked for clarification. Holly, just like your team, the first thing she told me was she just wanted me to eat til I am satisfied. Really?? I'm sure she is well educated and qualified, but she's young and thin and I doubt she has ever had any overeating issues like I have had all my life. Thank goodness I have you all and this forum where we can relate to each others' struggles.

Hi Bryn, I was in the same boat as you. I HATE Bariatric Advantage MVs and Calcium chewables. So then I bought tablets/pills and told my NUT and she discouraged them, saying we don't have enough stomach acid to digest and absorb them well. Since I didn't want to waste my time and money (again) I then ordered samples from Celebrate. Their chewable vitamins aren't too bad at all, and neither is their iron and sublingual B12, they dissolve real fast and are not gritty. So I went ahead and ordered 90 day supplies from them. And I agree with Cindy-Lynn, Calcet Lemon chewies are absolutely delicious, I have them with my morning coffee as a treat! Keep in mind, as time goes on I think you will be able to tolerate the supplements better and better. Don't take them on an empty sleeve, that helped me. Good Luck, I know your frustration!!

Hi Jinjin, I just started week 10 post op. I had 2 stalls within 8 weeks. My first 4 weeks were awesome...lost 30 lbs. Then at week 5 I came to a screeching halt...I even gained close to 3 lbs in weeks 5, 6, and 7. Yes, I had a 3 week stall and was freaking out the whole time!!! Reading these boards helped me so much. I stopped weighing myself every day, now just weigh-in every other day. Somewhere between week 8 and 9 I stalled again for a few days...BUT, after all is said and done...Since July 1st (the date my first stall started) I have lost another 7 lbs. And I'm good with that. If you look at some postings of long-time sleevers, you see the number of lbs. lost really go down after the 1st and second month. I've realized it isn't how fast I get it off, but that I KEEP getting it off...and ultimately that it stays off. I was complaining on previous posts that when I stalled at about 30-35 lbs, this was the same amt I've lost on countless other diets, it felt like the same old bad vibe. BUT with my pre-op diet loss, I am at 45 lbs. lost. Now that is a new one for me! I have not seen this weight since I was a teen. And now I know, the weight loss may stall, but it will not stop anytime soon. Stop worrying! You WILL keep losing and you will become happier and healthier! It took me a week or 2, but now I'm not worried, I am just trying to stick to the rules...and rule#1 for me, low carbs...40g or under a day if I can; less than 1000 cal a day if I can, and all my Water. Exercise is my issue right now, but it may not be a coincidence that when it increased, my weight decreased and my stall broke. I am a very "the glass is half full" kind of person, and this is what I now say to myself: "I CAN'T wait for my next stall !!!" Because that means between now and then I will lose some weight, and then once the stall is over, I will lose again!!! Yay for stalls!! (I know, I know...get over myself! ) Take care, I hope some of these words are helpful to you.

You look gorgeous! Thanks for the inspiring post.

I'm in So. Cal/Orange County/Santa Ana

I thought it was so great when I could start swallowing tablets. I'm 9 weeks out and my NUT says I still shouldn't take tablets. She says we just won't absorb them well. I decided to listen to her 'cause it sounds like they've been a waste of money and effort. So I just ordered some chewable Celebrate pineapple-strawberry mv's and the chewy calcium bites. I give up already!!!! UGH!!! (at least Celebrate tastes a little better than bariatric advantage)

First: Talk to your doctor. Week 3 and 4 were the hardest for me. I was so busy getting mushies in that i neglected my Protein shakes and Water. I had a day where my head was just swimming. I was exhausted for about a week and took 3 hour naps each night when i came home from work. The day I was very lightheaded I decided to drink protein and water like crazy. Within a day and a half I was a new woman...I started soft foods and had a wonderful dinner of chile colorado. Drink protein and water like crazy and see if that does the trick. I hope these words help you. Take care...

I was allowed raw vegetables (chopped small) by week 8; I've had very little and without a problem. I tried olives by week 7 and dill pickles by week 8 with no problems. (FYI, I have been taking Prilosec OTC since week 3.) I must say though, that I have a cast Iron sleeve...hahaha. I have had no trouble with raw foods, spicy foods, red meats or soft breads. I'm now at week 9 and the only things I haven't tried are nuts and popcorn, but I'm in no rush to try them. My advice is that when you try something new, try maybe 2 bites at a time just to see how it goes. If all is well, next time try 3 bites, etc.. That worked for me.

I'm glad I asked before my "overeating" went on too long!! Thanks for your input; and you are all correct. I talked to my nut last week. She said the guidebook was misleading, it was referring to long term eating. She told me to stick to 1000 to 1100 calories a day and 45g carbs a day max. So I'm gonna shoot a bit lower at about 900 cals and 30g carbs I think that is much more do-able. And yes, at this early stage I don't want to get used to eating hi cal and hi qty.

Thank you all so much for being here. I'm feeling better about this now.

My username on mfp: adriq I didn't know you could have friends on that site; i've been using it for a few weeks and it is a great tool!

MTC2001 you read my mind!! I am about 9 weeks postop. I lost about 30 lbs, stalled for 3 weeks and now I'm at 41 lbs lost. This is about how much I have lost on all my other diets in the past. I was often able to lose 35-40lbs. I have always gained it back and then some. And that is what I'm waiting for now. I know Myrori you must be right, but a lifetime of thinking a certain way is hard to change. That is what I've found with this journey--it's just as much a mind trip as a physical transformation. Time is not going fast enough for me, I want to prove myself wrong and get to a 50, 60, 80, 100 pound weight loss and experience not being a fat person for once in my adult life!!! I can't wait, I'm like a little kid counting the days til Christmas!!

It sounds like the doctor's office is at fault. If the doctor is in-network he/she should have a contract or some other documentation to prove this. It doesn't take a phone call to find that out. Regardless of what they were told your co-pay would be, can they prove to you that they are in-network? Something smells fishy there!

pureed foods are also referred to as mushies; these are foods that you really don't have to chew, like they've been pureed in a blender. Soft foods have not been pureed, mushed, or blendarized. Think well cooked vegetable or chicken tenders, peaches, cottage cheese, etc...

The highest protein lowfat foods I've found are salmon, tuna, tofu and cottage cheese. (Salmon is high in fat...but it is the good fat=omega 3 fatty acids.)

Hi Sylvia, welcome to VST! I have been overweight all of my life too. I am now at a weight I haven't seen since high school. It feels like it's practically a miracle! I'm sure this site will be of great help to you, I wish you the best on your journey!

I saw my NUT today. She said the numbers in my guidebook were a bit high. She stated at 8 to 9 weeks after surgery I should stay within the 1,000 to 1,200 calorie range. Which is great for me, because at 1100 calories I was really stuffing myself. I think I'm gonna shoot for 1000 for now. Also, she clarified the 2 to 3 svgs a day of breads/grains/cereal that my book states. She said 15 grams = 1 serving of bread. I was eating 1/2 a bagle thinking that was one serving...but 1/4 bagel is actually one serving of a standard size bagel. Or, another example is 1/2 of a pita pocket is about 15g. But this is do-able!! I'm ok with this and I'm glad I asked because I know we all want to maximize our weight loss especially at the beginning stages. Thank you all for your input.

My "Patient Education" book from my surgeon states the following once you reach Week 8 after surgery: "You will need about 1200 to 1400 calories daily. Do not fall below 1200 calories a day. Limit intake of breads, grains and cereals to 2 or 3 portions a day." It has the typical guidelines for Protein, Water and exercise, but should I really be eating all these carbs and therefore calories? Do any of you have similar direction from your doctor at 2 months out? I've been getting in close to 1100 calories a day this past week and frankly I feel like I'm eating like a pig. I feel like I'm cheating and wondering if it has contributed to my stall. Or is 1100 calories REALLY too few??? Please share your thoughts. I will see my NUT on Tuesday and ask her if I should adjust these numbers and let you know what she says. Now that I can eat a wide variety of foods, I'm scared to death to eat the wrong foods or too much of a good thing! I guess this feels too good to be true: eating til I'm satisfied and still lose weight...who had ever heard of such a thing???

Welcome to VST, you'll find a lot of supportive people and good information here. I wish you the best on your journey!

My last 6 glucose tests have averaged 100 or below. I haven't changed my eating this week and after some thought, I figure the improvement is because I have lost another 3 lbs, but also because I have begun doing aerobic exercise everyday. Not just the surgery and weight loss, but the whole lifestyle change that comes with it is what will help the glucose.

Ok, here's an update. During the first 4 weeks after surgery I lost 30 lbs. Then stalled on weeks 5, 6 and 7. At the start of week 8 I lost 3 more lbs, but have stalled again at the end of week 8. Have lost nothing in the past 4 days. I barely had time to celebrate the end of the first stall when the second one started. I know, waaah, waaah waaah!!

Greg, you are so right! I weighed 4 oz of pastrami yesterday and it looked like a mountain! I can eat 4 oz of salmon, no problem, but 4 oz of pastrami, no way!

Even if you don't use an online site, you can read the Nutrition Facts on all food packages, and if you don't have one already, buy a food scale. A food scale will help you to not overeat by trying to "eyeball" what 2 oz of meat looks like.

Here are a couple of sample menus. Unless my NUT says otherwise, I think I'm gonna cut back on grains. Where the meals look rather large, I eat half, wait close to half an hour and eat the rest...otherwise it just won't fit. This is probably a no-no, but I'll talk to my NUT about that too. Breakfast Pure Protein - 11oz Can, Rtd shake, Frosty chocolate, 11 fl. oz. Puffins Original - Cereal, 0.5 cup (dry like a snack) lunch Jennie-O - Turkey Meatballs Homestyle, 2 Meatballs Mama Cocco's - Mushroom Spaghetti Sauce, 0.33 Cup Lisanatti - Almond Mozzarella Style cheese Alternative, 1 ounce Cherries - Bing, .5 cup dinner Trader Joe's - 99% Fat Free Beef Chili With Beans, 1 cup Tortilla chips Restaurant Style, 1 oz. (about 12 chips) Trader Joe's - Soy Cheese, Cheddar, 1 slice SnacksSnacks: Carr's - Whole Wheat Crackers, 3 crackers Trader Joe's - Soy Cheese, Cheddar, 1 slice Total calories 1,129 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Breakfast Premier - Protein Chocolate Shake, 11 oz banana - 1 small Lunch Oscar Meyer - Turkey Frank, 1 frank Van Camp's - Pork and Beans, 1/2 Cup Dinner Orowheat - 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Thins, 1 roll Generic - Salmon Grilled 6oz, 6 oz. Best Foods Mayo - Real Mayo, 1 Tbsp Grey Poupon - Dijon Mustard - Original, 1 tsp Lettuce - Green leaf, raw, .5 leaf inner Tomato - Roma (1 small slice) Snacks Whole Foods - Old World Pocket Pita Breads (Wheat), 1 pita (mini) Trader Joe's - Soy Cheese, Cheddar, 1 slice Total calories 1,026