DoOver

My program says 60 grams for women. I just had my 6 month blood work done and my protein levels are fine at this point. It would be early for a problem to show unless you were really having daily lows (according to them) but my level was almost the same as pre-surgery. And I went through the first 3 months lucky to be averaging 50 grams per day. Others might have suggestions as to the "risk" involved.

I wouldn't have been bothered by this. I am not all that sensitive but I began treating my weight as a health issue years ago and people just sort of fell in line. Once I took the emotional part out for me, people's "comments" were no longer things that bothered me or hurt me. It crossed my mind that maybe I was a good part of the problem back when it did bother me. But you see, I'm in my 50's. I might have heard this all a lot differently in my 20's. But as a 50 year old I think she was actually trying to let you know you look good. My advise, if interested, is to assume she was and let her off the hook.

I haven't given it much thought at all but my surgeon sure has. Every time I see him he reminds me that I have to be at 160 within the end of year 1. I just smile and tell him I will. I'm far more interested in size. I have always been muscular for a female. Even as a thin teen. What with my age, the muscle issue and skin, I'm not too sure about the 160 ( I'm about 5 - 7 ) but I'm looking forward to no longer wearing plus sizes. But my surgeon, a man, just smiles back at me when I say that. I think it's called "failure to communicate".

greak yogart - had the ooinkos type for lunch and it was strawbettry and dandy and 12 grams of protein. Yummy!

We were recommended Speicial K Protein also. I keep a box handy for if I know I will need breakfast after arriving at work. I can get a small skim milk from the machine so I keep a baggy of the cereal in my desk. It's not an every day thing but maybe once every other week. I really like having options like this as I get sick of the same thing over and over. It is one of the few things I use artificial sweetner on as I think it's rather flat without a bit of added taste.

I understand the fear but gall bladder surgery isn't a big deal. They might keep you a night if they think you are in a weak position due to having just been sleeved, but typcially it's outpatient. I took my husband for his and he was in and out of surgery and in recovery before I could walk to the cafeteria and back. Of course, this is all assuming they do it laproscopically. Try not to worry about it too much. Almost all adults have gall stones. The issue is if any of them travel into the ducts and cause a gall bladder attack. Are you ill? Is it causing you a lot of pain? An actual attack is nothing to play with and my husband was so miserable he would have let them take it in the ER! As said, a lot of folks go through this. It's not fun but it's also not a horrible surgery anymore. Fingers crossed it's nothign major for you.

Started drinking it about once a week about a month ago. It's not the sweet I like but the bite. If it's too sweet, I do not want it. As a frame of reference, I now buy a small at McD's (it's when I take the little ones there to play on Saturday), it's caffine free and I drink about 2/3's of the drink. I sip. Now here's what I've found interesting. On those days, I have to remind myself to eat the next time. I eat at noon. I pick the kids up at 1 so we are at McD's around 1:20. We leave there at 3:00 and usually around 5 I suddenly remember I've missed a meal. It's actually crossed my mind that I should have it every day! I think most of us a few months out know how fast liquid goes through us. I'd love to understand how a teaspoon sip of diet coke could stretch my sleeve. Honestly, I think eating too fast is far more of a risk fo that issue if there is a risk at all. Just my opinion based on my experience.

Can you use music? Do you have anything you can pop in your ears? i POD? I told my NUT that distracted eating worked great for me and it's supposed to be awful. But I'd listen to music I liked. Of course, I was alone when I did this but I'd put on a song, eat a bit, then sing along for a bit, then do another bite. Worked great for me. Thankfully, I did not take this little skill out into public.

Duh. I feel dumb. That's the way I take all of my meds.. I read your original post wrong and assumed that was how you'd taken it the first time, then added the yogart because you were supposed to have it with food. That's what happens with assumptions. Sorry.

How have things gone today? I'm just wondering if you should try something like saltines. I did a quick search and it actually says the reason you are to take it with food is to avoid it causing stomach upset. So if it made you sick with yogart, maybe you should try a different texture of food. Saltines are gentle on the stomach and help to absorb acid. I'd also suggest sandwiching the pill between very small amounts of food with breaks of about 15 minutes before you take the next step. This is an exception to the rule for eating. Just something needed at times. I hope you are keeping the pills down and feeling better.

Interesting. Mine said it has nothing to do with the size of the stomach or the ability to digest or dilute but that NSAID's break down the mucus that's in the stomach for protection. For instance, there are NSAID creams that you put directly on an arthritic joint and they carry the same gastric warnings as a pill does because one it's in your blood stream it does the exact same thing as the pill form would. Asprin, on the other hand, he said can and will actually damage the stomach as there is not enough romm for safe digestion. Amazing how you get so many different stories on things. The end story from my doctor is that he sees no issue with taking in moderation but does not like his patients taking it for regular pain relief. He said twice daily dosing once a week would be moderation.

I had a lot of aches, especially during the night, in the first 2 or 3 months. As I got more to a normal diet they passed. For the cramps, I took a potassium and magnesium supplement. Seemed to help a lot and didn't bother my stomach. Unfortunately, I have still not had the cold all the time issue. Maybe it's my age but I'm still hot. I'm waiting to see what this winter is like for me. But I think being cold is the normal.

It's normal. Your body has been through a shock. I think I finally got some energy back around 8 to 10 weeks.

Had a response ready and lost it somehow. Short answer: I'm a slow loser. I was never a huge eater before, I lose very slow now. I get about 750 a day and keep it as low carb and healthy as I can and I'm still not wasting away. I choose to look at it this way: I now know without doubt I could have never lost it and kept it off without this surgery. Who knows? Maybe it will work great for you. Maybe you'll be like me. I kept my surgery private and NO ONE even begins to suspect I am losing so slow. So if you are like me, just keep in mind that this is the best possible solution right now that will help you become a thinner, healthier person. Maybe never skinny. But if you lose 75% of what you want to lose, will you really wish you hadn't done this? Nope, I didn't think so. To answer your question, I'm really not a numbers person. The weigh ins were on different scales and the all liquid fast was for 11 days and didn't start until 2 days after my weigh in. So it's hard to judge your success against another's especially because the pre-op diets vary so much. But I think I lost 8 pounds to the best of my memory. For 11 days on 550 liquid calories, I didn't think it was all that great. But I'm still a pretty happy sleever about 6 months later.

Before I was sleeved, I thought I would go through life feeling so deprived. But now that I'm a few months out, the biggest surprise is how infrequently that happens. I just checked my food diary and I am at 440 calories so far today. And I feel like I've been eating all day. That's 3 meals? I don't know when this shift in perception actually happens but it's sure nice. Yes, there are days when I wish I could have more. But frankly, those thoughts tend to be right before I start eating. Then, once I've eaten, I'm fine with stopping at the 4 or 5 or whatever ounces I am able to take at that time. It really is a different way of life.

Mine has gained in the past year. He's got a tummy for the first time. He won't tell me how much he weighs. I'm okay with that. We are the same height so I'm just going to claim a win when I can move the car seat in a notch closer to the wheel than he can!

Yes, I want to add that if you are talking about the actual pre-diet fast, get onto it. I followed mine to the letter and it wasn't easy. But it also wasn't that bad. And I was ready for surgery the day it happened. You'll feel better about the whole thing if you turn it around. It will help your confidence.

Ditto. The only time it bothers me is when I read somone post they lost 7 pounds that week or something like that. Mainly because "before" I acutally lost huge amounts in a week doing weight watchers...one week 7 pound and another week 10. And I was eating far more when I experienced those losses than I am now. I take comfort because I don't think I will be nearly as likely to gain back this time. Those times on WW, I pretty much knew I was playing a losing game so to speak. I don't feel that way this time. Yep, it's coming off very slowly compared to some. But this time, I'm donating my clothes as soon as they are too big. Trust me, I have never done that before!

When you say pre-diet, do you mean the actual pre-surgery fast that a lot of us have to do? Or do you just mean that you are being told to diet? If you are just being told to diet, have you gained any? Lost any? In this case I'd give them a call and ask what their expectations are. For instance, at your weight my progam would have asked for a loss but it could have been as little as 3 pounds. So instead of stressing, just call them and find out where you stand. It would also give you a chance to let them know how important it is to you. Assuming you haven't gained, that could sway them your way.

You know, my Dad's two sisters both died of ovarian cancer and I've been told I am at very high risk. And before I went in, it actually crossed my mind that I might come out with a different surgery than I was expecting. But I can't imagine what a shock it must have been with no thought prior. As bad as this is, wow, what a great thing to have caught it so early. Everything I ever hear says that's 90% of the battle with cancer. I so hope you have a gentle and easy recovery!

I wasted a lot of $ on vitamins. Then I found out that at 2.5 months I was able to take about anything pill form. All those chewables that gagged me are in the cupboard. I now actually have 3 or 4 differnt pill brands and I rotate. I just figured I can't miss by doing that and none of them bother me at all now. Vitamins were the only thing that made me throw up through this whole process.

I looked this up. 1/2 of a McD's ice cream cone is 65 calories, 2 grams of fat, 10 carbs and 2 grams of Protein. I'm out far enough that I can have other things. But if I'm out with people and wanting to be in "blend in mode", this just isn't a terrible option to me. It's higher in carbs than a lot of people want but I'm not shooting for perfect, just sane and reasoned. And to me, I'm looking for the best of the choices when in life. At lot of my research is along the lines of the "eat this, not that" concept. Life is going to put me places where I have to roll with it. So I'm reading the nutrition info for common places ahead of time. I've read people here who have talked about having chicken mcnuggents when in a position of having to eat at a fast food place. For my money, 1/2 of this cone (and as I said earlier, I don't eat the cone) is not a bad option and better than Mcnuggets. Personally, when I'm in control of my situation, I love Kay's Naturals Snacks as an option. But they are soy protein which means carbs. So while they are low sugar, low fat and high protein, they are high carb. Others might think they are evil incarnate. You can only research and decide for yourself what works. (Speicifically, I love the cinnamon pretzels...120 calories, something like 2 sugars and 12 grams of protein. I want people to buy them so they keep making them.)

Does a person always know if they have acid reflux? Now that I've experienced it, I can't imagine having it to a dangerous degree and not knowing it. But I'm wondering if, in your opinion, there can still be risk if you quit the meds because you are actually still experiencing reflux.

How long before you eat are you cutting your fluid? I try to cut it about 20 minutes before eating but I don't always have that luxury if something happens and I have to eat to squeeze it into my work schedule. I was told by the folks in my program that after you are healed and back on full foods it wasn't important to worry about more than 10 minutes as the water (that's pretty much all I drink) goes through you pretty fast. Have others been told that? I want to make sure this isn't something I need to keep better track of.

Thanks for the sanity check. Glad to know I'm not causing myself any issues.