prettysleeved1

:lol: And on that note, it's time for the collection plate. Ahhhhhhhh-meeeeen.

Sweet baby jesus on the mountaintop...

Are you active? I ask because inactivity will make you more tired.

Girl.... Nevermind.

I just PM'd you.

Today I am 5w 1d post-op. I'm feeling great and am back to full activity. There are no more aches and pains and I've finally managed to regularly get in over 90g of protein without reliance on protein shakes. At three weeks, I hit the dreaded stall but continued to lose inches. It was a little disconcerting for me to be in that position. Of course, inches are great but when I go to the doctor, they don't measure my waist, they weigh me to see if I'm on track. Nonetheless, I was prepared for it and had already made up my mind what I would do when it came. The stall broke today so for 15 days, I was at the same weight. In those 15 days: I increased my protein to between 90-115g per day. I increased my water to at least 84oz. per day. I increased the length and intensity of my workouts. My total calories increased to around 850. I increased my intake of carbohydrates. As I said, I'm doing a good job of weaning myself off of protein shakes. Some would say that it's too soon but I'd rather get my protein through food than a shake. I've found myself in a predicament where I have to eat something every three hours anyway so I just get the protein in at each small meal (about 5 per day). My go-to sources are chicken, fish, shrimp, very lean ground beef, ground turkey, and low-fat cheeses. Increasing my water was the hardest part because water temporarily fills me up so it takes longer than I'd like to get all my water in (and I'm past the sipping stage). However, if we jump into the Way Back Machine and go back to high school physiology class, we remember that we need water to metabolize stored fat. On top of my workouts, dehydration wasn't going to do anything for weight loss so I had to get in more. Some surgeons tell their patients that protein shakes count towards their water totals and since water is in the shake, it makes sense but I believe (and have always believed) that regular water is the best to meet water needs. My workouts started off slow because my surgeon has a sort of vesting schedule for workouts. At two weeks, she only allows walking. At three, speed walking, and it progresses from there. At three weeks, I felt fine. I had no more aches and pains so I went ahead full speed. Pre-op, I was a runner and frequently used HIIT training. I transitioned back into those forms of exercise. I gave myself about 4 days to adapt and then increased the running by about 15-20 extra minutes (about another 1.5 miles). I also reintegrated strength training. The increase in my workouts warranted the increase in my total calories. I was never given a calorie level to maintain by the NUT. In fact, she said not to count calories but to just eat according to the sleeve. The 450-500 calories I had been getting just is not conducive to long-term functionality and it was causing me to retain water. Over the course of a week or so, I increased my calories in a number of ways. For example, for breakfast, I would have a serving of turkey sausage crumbles. I started to add one serving of shredded mozzarella to it for an additional 80 calories and 6g of protein. Lastly, I increased carbs. On my plan, I cannot have raw fruit or vegetables until 6 weeks out. I can, have canned veggies and fruit though. I found some "No Sugar Added" canned fruit that has 30 calories and 6 grams of carbs per serving (1/2 can). I started eating a few slices of the fruit (because I can't manage a 1/2 can) with my protein at lunch. I'm not 100% certain about the science behind this but since our bodies need glycogen and the need to glycogen is one reason that stalls happen, I figured introducing some carbohydrates through food would help my body get what it needs without prolonging the stall. I just started doing this over the last week and apparently it worked because I lost 1.2 pounds between yesterday morning and this morning. As a final note, my surgeon's nurse practitioner explained that with the sleeve, they usually see stair step weight loss. She noted that most people will lose a large amount of weight and then level off for a week or two and then lose another lump of weight throughout the process. Although I'd like to see a weekly decrease in weight consistently, I'll take the alternative as long as my total body composition is changing. My NSV (inspite of the stall), is that I'm back at The GAP! Here's to a fashionable fall.

Yes, I will. Give me about an hour.

Nectar is okay. I have the Fuzzy Navel and the Truffle. The thing is that whey protein has a very distinctive taste and no matter how "fruity" you'll still taste the twinge of whey. I mix my Fuzzy Navel with Blue Raspberry Amino Fuel and I can still taste it but it's better. But, I'd never tell anyone that the Nectars taste like juice because...they don't.

Uhm...doctors speak in terms of what the literature tells them. A bunch of numbers and averages. Think of what would happen if he told you you'd lose 120lbs and you topped out at 80lbs. You'd probably be disappointed and think he had something to do with it. In reverse, if he tells you you'll only lose 80lbs. and you end up losing 120lbs., you are pleasantly surprised and he looks like a hero. If it's any consolation, I know of plenty of people who have lost ALL of their excess weight with the sleeve; and many of them had to lose waaaaaaaay more than 120lbs. At the end of the day, it's what you make of it.

Well, I'm not a diabetic (never have been) but I'm 5 weeks out and have definitely had several episodes. Now I'm in a predicament where every three hours, I have to put something on my stomach or I feel like crap.

Does she have an e-mail address? I'd try that.

I stalled in weight but I notice I also got smaller at the same time. I'd check my measurements if I were you.

Tell your doctor but besides pangs, how do you feel when you are hungry? For example, I know some people online sit up and act like they've never been hungry another day since surgery but I've never had blood sugar issues before and now I find myself not only with hunger pangs but feeling like I'm going to pass out if I go more than 3 hours without something on my stomach. Then again, I'm more active than the average person. Could that be it in your case? The bright side is that as early out as you are, I don't see where you could do damage when you probably can't get in 2 oz. in one sitting anyway (at least I couldn't at 7 days post-op). But if your doctor is saying you shouldn't be hungry, then definitely talk to them about it and to make sure they aren't moving you up the ladder too quickly.

The answer: life isn't fair.

That's likely why it's in the "rants and raves" section.

Carbs? Calories? Fat?

Today my numbers were 97g protein, 7g of carbs, 41g of fat. Total: 785 calories

Easy. 1g carbs=4 calories. 1g protein=4 calories. 400+400=800.

How long from your surgery date did it take you to work up to that level?

Sounds like the 3 week stall. I'm four weeks and it's happening to me. It'll pick back up eventually but in short, the lack of carbs is causing your body to convert some of the Protein you are eating in order to refill glycogen stores. That also causes an increase in Water in your system. Plus, your body is just starting to figure out that the "famine" isn't temporary and needs to make adjustments. There's no telling how long it'll last because everyone is different but I'd suggest making sure you're getting your water in and continuing with your exercise until it breaks.

You're 39. If you don't want to tell her, don't tell her. I didn't tell my folks. Don't plan on telling them either because....I'm an adult and I didn't need their permission nor endorsement.

Actually swallowing gum with a normal stomach can be problematic so it's really just the luck of the draw.

Passive dependent means that a person isn't self-reliant and that they depend on other people to take responsibility for their life. In the hospital, are you going to have to go off your meds temporarily? I ask because in truth, meds don't cure you, they cure symptoms so perhaps that is where the psychologist is coming from. I wasn't on any meds but my surgeon requires everyone to come off of all medications while in the hospital up to almost two weeks after. Do you feel that you could go that long without your psychotropic medications if that happens to be the case with you? Do you know which tests the psychologist gave you? Did you answer the questions honestly? Also, don't come down too hard on the psychologist. While they cannot prescribe medicine, there are things they are proficient at that psychiatrists aren't and vice versa. He has to give you his professional opinion. I think that you should consider your other options like other posters have said but in the meantime, think about what it may mean to you if you undergo another psych evaluation and the results are similar.

I'll admit that I don't like fat people who are sloppy, lazy, and fulfill every other stereotype about fat people. I feel that no matter what size you are, you still need to have a sense of pride and I hate seeing fat people in mumu's and run-over shoes and looking generally unkempt. And yes, I do and always have distinguished myself from those types of fat people.

I don't have any advice but I feel that if the surgeon is saying he doesn't know what to do, then he needs to call a colleague who is more advanced to see what can be done. I hope you get better.