Time2Lose

Hiya! I hear you on the comments. My boss who had refrained from making comments about my weight, came into my office the other day and said "seriously, you need to stop losing weight...get off the diet." I am past goal. I was shooting for 170lbs and I am now 158lbs and I need to stop! I am 5ft 11in and so I am already in small and x-small tops and medium pants. I am however having trouble getting enough calories in. What are you all eating at this point? I need to stop the drop! Help!

Hey Guys: Hang in there. Stalls happen to all of us, some admittedly more than others. I am 4 months out and luckily have only had two stalls which lasted about a 1-2 weeks, but once it passes it's like your body kicks into high gear and within a week clothes that were too tight are too loose. Please be patient, your body is trying hard to adjust. I have had problems keeping up with eating and drinking; the issue being that I am seldomly hungry...I have to get back on the Protein Shakes and keep it up because I seem to be losing hair. Try not to be obsessed with the scale...I know someone who weighs every morning (I think that's a set up because our weight fluctuates some much). I weight once a week (Monday mornings).

Hey Guys! I haven't been by in a while. All is well. I am at 204.4lbs down from my starting weight of 262. I am excited as I am fitting into all these clothes I'd refused to throw out when I was too big for them. In fact I am finding that some that didn't fit three weeks ago are not a bit on the big side! I have to constantly remember to try things on so I don't shrink past the size without enjoying the outfits at least once! I have been having issues keeping up with my food intake. I try to do the Protein Shakes but I just can't seem to get at least 2 in...heck in the last few days I've been luck to get one. I am not just not hungry anymore. I get nauseated at the smell of a lot of different types of food. I am still trying out various things but very little seems to work and what worked last week is not guaranteed to work this week. I am currently sitting here with a glass of milk and some watermelon. I do need to keep up with my Vitamins too...swallowing pills is still a challenge unless its a small pill. The chewable vitamins may be tolerable one week and make me want to throw up the next! I do need to get on something to boost my energy levels though...maybe it's time I go see my primary care physician huh? Ref the cold...I have noticed that!! Less fat insulating us now I guess. Hope everyone is doing well!!

I am 3 weeks and 5 days out. I know the pain you speak of. I still encounter it now but less frequently and it hurts less too. I found Popsicles worked best during your stage, along with hot drinks. It'd hard to keep up with the liquids but u must try. Good luck! It gets easier!

I remember taking the doctor as I got on the table, then the next thought was "I'm alive!" the pain was clearly there but it was manageable. Kinda felt like a very bad menstrual episode but then mine tend to be painful (I even went without pain meds during the menstrual cycle preceding the surgery to "prep"). They kept the meds coming at regular intervals (didn't have a pump). I was on IV fluids for 24 hours. The barium swallow was the most nasty part, don't know what the heck they made me swallow but that thing was awful!! I didn't have a catheter. I was instructed to stop all fluids at midnight the night before my surgery, which was at 5pm. I peed a lot after surgery, it hurt to get out of bed but it was more like the pain you get after a million crunches Water was the enemy! It hurt to drink it, Popsicles and I became best buds. Lived on that the first couple of days. Broth was ok but swallowing was a bit of an issue and even now (3 weeks out) I still have kinda hit my chest every now and then when I drink or eat something that decides it doesn't want to go down smoothly. One other thing, my taste buds are from another bloody planet right now! I have purchased Welch's white grape juice pre-op, it tasted foul in my mouth post-op! I couldn't stand the chicken broth and bouillions I'd purchased; I will find that I waste food as I try to navigate what to see because I can only have a few bites (if I can stomach the taste of it). What has really worked for me: First and second week - Caramel Apple Spice from Starbucks. The extremes work well (ie. iced/slushy or hot drinks). For protein: I have a magic bullet and in it I put some water, a scoop of Whey Protein Isolate 28 vanilla flavor (from GNC), one Fage 0% fat Greek plain yogurt, frozen fruit (strawberries/blueberries) and blend. Packs in 46g of protein! Please take care of your incisions. I purchased Hibiclens from CVS along with an antiseptic/antibacterial spray. I struggled with the Cipro antibiotic, even when I cut the pill into two, the taste was just horrid, but I am good now. I have one more incision that needs to fully heal up, but otherwise I am good. Oh, you may feel weak/wiped out easily the first few weeks, so be prepared for that (especially after you head back to work). Well good luck guys! Hope you all have smooth surgeries and recoveries!

I wouldn't sweat the vitamins or proteins right now. Just find some sugarless Popsicles that you like and stick with those if drinking is a challenge. I found it hard to swallow much for the first 2 weeks but then it got a lot better. Good luck and don't freak out!

Having trouble removing a stitch or two. The bottom of the knot that I need to clip is below the skin Some of the tight ones I removed by sliding a pair of twizzers under it and then cutting the stitch with a razor but I have two stitches that are just a pain in the butt to get out! Any ideas?

I have two un-healed incisions! Need to get some incision glue. I'm walking around with a mini hole in my stomach

Thanks guys! I was able to get them out! A few of the scars seem to ooze a bit though...yuck!

Why not get liquid multi-vitamins. I got mine from GNC.

When was your surgery? Potato soup might be too thick if you just had surgery. You should be on broths, warm clear drinks and Popsicles (sugar free).

It happens to me too...less now (7 days out) than before. I find hot drinks work better, but like andkel30 said, I sip then pat my chest to burp myself. The little air that precedes the liquid seems to get trapped and hurts like hell. It get better though. I avoided drinks and stuck with sugar free popsicles to get my liquids in during the first few days. By day 5 it was better, but I still can't do cold drinks...those just hurt too much.

Thanks jswilbur! Of course when it rains it pours, in the past two hours I have being sneezing my head off! I am thinking allergies since it was like 70 degrees today and the flowers probably don't know what to do with themselves! Contemplating taking allergy meds now, because I feel like I may sneeze my stitches out! SMH!

Well I am finally post-op! I opted for Dr Almanza in Tijuana Mexico. Was picked up with about 6 other patients at San Diego airport and driven to the hospital which is in a strip mall. It was relatively small but very clean. They had us register (passports, green cards etc.) then did our blood work. The nurse (Lupita) was pretty darn good. I have never in all of my annual exams had blood drawn at the first try and certainly not after having zero liquids in 12 hours. Lupita got it in a single shot; needless to say to was impressed. I was anticipating a minimum of 3-4 tries. We then went through an intake process; personal history (illnesses, alcohol and drug usage; family history, pregnancies etc.). We were then prepped (i.e. got into hospital gowns, got IV drips attached for hydration and then waited). The cardiologist Dr. Diego came by and did his tests to ensure no redflags with the heart. Dr. Almanza dropped by to introduce himself and took a pre-op pic with me. They operate in order of BMI, with the lowest going first. I was 4th, which meant I waited for approximately 4-5 hours; however I was comfortable and slept for a good portion of it. They came by to get me and all I can remember is getting on the table, stretching my arms out and then the next thing I know I was being taken into my room. The night nurse was kind, came by with little bowls to spit up into thanks to the nausea; rubbed our backs (I had a roommate) when we had too much gas pain and kept up the meds for pain, antibiotics and nausea. I spent most of the night making trips to the bathroom - too hydrated - which given the intake restriction post op isn't a bad idea. The next morning, we received medicine packs to take home with us. Naproxen, Cipro, Maalox and antibacterial spray for the incision sites. The issue at this point was gas!! It hurt my chest and the center of my back. There was little pain related to the incisions except when getting up or switching positions. I can tolerate popsicles, but drinking liquids no matter how slowly just hurts going down. We did our leakage test yesterday and had to drink some of the most vile tasting liquids to ever cross my lips!! But thankfully no leaks. I opted to come back stateside once the drainage tube was removed (ouch!) and good decision because it took 3.5hrs to get back into the US vs the 30 minutes it took to get into Mexico. I fly back to the East Coast today. My only concern now is getting enough liquids and Protein in. The hospital, doctors, and nurses were competent and kind and I'm so far glad I did this.

Are you getting enough liquids in? It may be affecting the moisture levels within your skin. I am a moisture addict and the past week I've been moisturizing more and actually switched to a thicker moisturizer this morning.

There is a soup I make (it's African) that I used to replace chicken broth, which I find is just so bland. Two chops up onions, tomato puree (enough to make the color of the broth to your liking - I prefer it red), 2-3 bay leaves, some black pepper, some salt (to taste), some seasoned salt, lots of thyme, scotch bonnet peppers (I like pepper though, so you can skip this); a spoon or two of sugar; chicken legs/thighs/wings/oxtail/beef (clearly you would not be consuming these after the soup is done - you can freeze them for when you can actually eat them); pop all items in a pressure cooker and cook under medium heat for about 30 to 45 mins depending on the number of creature you have in it; and Bob's your uncle! Sorry...forgive the British slang there lol! When you can do soft foods you can include potatoes and carrots before your pressurize...very yum!!

Try Hot drinks. Cold drinks mock me!! They hurt my chest giving me a choking feeling. I got an apple spice from Starbucks, diluted it with some hot Water and it just sailed down with no pain!

Oh...sorry to hear I still can't handle cold ones, so I go hot. Just got a Venti Skinny coffee Drink from Starbucks for "dinner". It goes down well if I sip sip sip, but every now and then I forget and gulp and then it feels like my chest is about to explode! I popped out to CVS and got some Delsum 12-hour, so the coughing is minimal now. Have you tried anything soft? I can manage Fage 0% Fat Greek Yogurt just fine; it has 18g of Protein, I mix in some vanilla essence and Splenda and it's pretty good. I hope you start tolerating your liquids soon #Hugs

My surgery was March 1st: below is an excerpt from my pre-op instructions. You will need to be on a liquid ONLY diet. You may have broth (chicken, beef or vegetable), sugar-free Jell-O, sugar-free ice pops, sugar free juice, Clear liquids (i.e. Crystal Lite, Diet Snapple, water), coffee or tea with a sugar substitute, and Protein powder mixed with Water. The key to the liquid diet is LOW sugar and LOW carbs. NO SOLIDS of any kind. Please also be sure to begin getting as much exercise as much as possible. Just walking 30 minutes a day 5 - 7 days a week is sufficient. This will aid in your recovery and lesson complication risks. This is the recommended pre-op diet for those with a BMI of 40 or below.

Yup, your symptoms sound about right for 2 to 3 days out. Hang in there, it gets better.

Ok, I have a sore throat and a horrid cough that is becoming quite annoying. I cough up phlegm and it's all just becoming to bit much. I am sucking on some Sugarfee Halls but the cough is not going away

I just read that in disbelief. Why is your husband so unsupportive? You drove 103 miles while he slept? I am so mad right now! You know, some men have great insecurities. My ex use to tell me that no one would love me like he does...I use to smile on the inside, because it only meant he was insecure, though he was very convinced I wouldn't leave...until I did. I know it's hard when you are married, but you may seriously want to consider whether its a healthy relationship for you to be in. I can just see him trying to sabotage your weight loss by bringing around unhealthy foods. You are doing this for you, please continue and know that we are here to support you. You can do this!!

Good luck tomorrow!! Now get some sleep

Blackanese25: You look smoking! I have always rocked my heavy weight, I am pear shaped and so I could always get away with cute tops and the usual denim or black pants (wide legs) to balance my hips out. But I bet 4 months from now my mouth would be on the floor when I do my before (258lbs) and after (??lbs) pics. I think we like to convince ourselves when we are at our heaviest that it's not so bad. Keep up the good work! I'm lookin forward to getting to where you are at!!

Help! I was prescribed Cipro and it's a large circular off white pill that tastes so horrible and hurts like hell to take becoz it involves gulping. Did anyone out there get prescribed something different for antibiotics? Preferably in a capsule form? I feel like I'm choking whenever I take it and the panic probably doesn't help. Otherwise I am doing ok.