Holly5.3

I'm 4 weeks post-op and my stomach "talks" to me when it's empty (cuz I can't tell anymore!)- It is my alarm clock in the morning, gurgling and groaning. I also have to burp! WTH?!? Once I take my stomach meds and start sipping a protein shake, it goes away. I noticed on way home from work it was doing it again! I hope once I'm on heavier foods the sound affects stop already!

I'm running out to get something now! I was fine after surgery, but since I've been on puree I'm having the hardest time going and this afternoon my back started to bother me. I think fiber and/or softener will do the trick. I wonder if I'm allowed prune juice-unsweetened, maybe. I'm trying to eat veggies but when your entire meal is 1/4 cup-it's hard to get any quantity in with most of it being protein.

How are all our Octo and November sleevers doing today? I hope everyone is healing nicely. You are all in my prayers for speedy recovery!

Are you getting your Protein and Water in? What about (personal...sorry!) bowel movements? I'm having a hard time now at week 4, with the latter and I can feel the excess weight! I had a 1/2 cup of coffee which helped, bur I'm not supposed to have it yet! Desperate tomes call for desperate measures!

I'm 4 weeks post-op today. I've lost 22 lbs. since my sleeve on 10/11/12, plus 23 Pre-op-tatal -45 lbs. Since 8/25/12. Size 22 to a 18-pleased with loss but am also mourning food. I open the fridge and stare! I was excited for puree stage and now I'm discouraged, a little. Even though I can only eat 1/4 cup of food, I still want it to taste good! It hard getting fluids in with the no beverage 1/2 hour before or 1 hour after eating meals rule, and I have to have 2 shakes a day to get min. protein in-meals are too small and limited to cut it! The good news is every day I feel better and better-I don't feel like I even had surgery a month ago!

The Unjury chicken broth and unflavored protein saved the day for me post-op on clear and on full liquids! I just couldn't get my protein in without it! I still have 1 or 2 shakes a day-I'm on puree and nothing appeals to me. Chicken tastes like fish, tuna-can't think of eating and I used to love it! I try to avoid beef for digestive reasons, poached/sift eggs are not doing it either so I need the shakes. Geek yogurt tastes good with refried beans (finally, something that tasted good!)-but that's all-tastes like too thick sour cream to me! I'm only supposed to have 3 meals, small snack (Jello) and 64 oz. Water. I'm hardly getting 32 oz. Water in-I always feel so full and I'm used to guzzling water all day Pre-op, getting more than 64 oz. In a day! I am greatful to not be hungry (at least not that much!)-but I keep thinking the next stage will be better but I'm still struggling to get everything in each day...water, vitamins, protein, only eat 3 times, no beverages 1/2 hour before and one hour after....I'm more tired just typing about it! Oh yeah, I an exhausted too-back to work full-time, crazy hurricane and snow storm!!!! And I miss my coffee!!!!! 

On 11/12, I'll be one month, so far I've lost 21 lbs.DOS-255.5; yesterday- 11/6-234.5. Start of Pre-op diet 8/15/12-278. Total loss to date from Pre-op: 43.5. I'm sure my loss this week won't be as much as it has been, but it's nice to see the scale go down instead of up, like on other programs I've been on!

I'm on puree (week 4 ost-op), and my egg is supposed to be poached or soft boiled. I over cooked it the first time by melting some low fat cheese over poached egg-the well cooked yolk did not agree with my stomach. I tried again, poaching for less time so 30 seconds in microwave to melt cheese wouldn't over cook yolk. It was perfect and didn't bother my stomach at all. The scrambled texture is probably too rough on healing tummy, especially at less than a month post-op.

Get the 800 # from web site - when you call they'll send you you packets of protein flavors to try and will send recipes. After my first order I knew what I wanted and ordered on-line. The chicken broth is great-20 grams of protein/cup. Unjury us the only place I've found that has this item. I also bought my vitamins -all chewable and are made for sleeve patients from them.

Unflavored Unjury in raspberry crystal lite and Unjury chicken broth saved the day for ne. I couldn't drink a whole shake of any type. By week 2-1/2 I could drink an entire Premier 11 oz 30 grams if protein skake from Costco over an hour. Now at week 4, I'm still having a shake as my early breakfast and one as part of my lunch-this gives me my min. of 60 grams protein alone then I can have whatever puree food I want for meals keeping my calories at 600. I can only Niw eat about 1/4 cup of pureed foods.

Ways...

I'm doing good-I've lost 21 since op Oct 11, but it's slowing down thus week definately but I feel smaller already! I started size 22 in August and fit into an 18 skirt and safari jacket today! Whoo-hoooo!! Minor setbacks, besides Hurricane Sandy: going back to work too soon and trying a sip ( less than a sip actually!) of spiked ciderand a tsp of buffalo chicken dip-on Sunday! Well, people tell you not to try this at home.. I didn't listen and was very I'll for about an hour! Live and learn, live snd learn! Don't worry, if scale doesn't move you are still shrinking in other wsts!

I've decided to treat my vitamins as a snack. 4 chewable calcium w/vit. D, one multi vitamin plus a Vit. B sublingual. I put them in a baggy and during the day when i feel the need to chew, they're right there! (I'm only on 1st week puree).today was the first day I got all my protein and my vitamins in in days! Hey, they're not chocolates but they are sweet!

It could have been the cider, it had vodka in it, but I had less than a teaspoon! I ate the dip because I rationalized: I'm allowed chicken (and it was shredded), cheddar cheese (but it wasn't low fat). But I'm not allowed Frank's hot sauce, blue cheese dressing or celery! I mashed it up with my fork and it was about a 3/4 tablespoon serving. I probably had a beverage shortly beforehand and afterwards, forgetting about all the rules! (My first social event since sleeve and I was feeling great!) No alcohol means no alcohol! Low or no fat, means low or no fat! When will I learn?

Well, I've been bad, I haven't used my CPAP since Hurrucane Sandy! (excuses, excuses!) but my husband said my snoring has decreased 90%, and I haven't woken up gasping for air like I was 43 pounds heavier, so I'm hoping it's gone. The anxiety and feeling like I'm suffocating just doesn't seem worth it. But I'll try it again this week. I just can't stand the mask covering my face and how dry my mouth snd sinuses get, even with humidifier!

I think I just had first dumping experience, and boy oh boy was it not fun! One teaspoon of buffalo chicken dip snd a tiny sip of apple cider (spiked!). About 30-45 mins. later,I started feeling a slight pain in my stomach and was very gassy (burping). All of a sudden the room was spinning and I felt very hot and like I was going to get sick and/or faint. I laid down immediately and starting stripping my clothes off (was bundled up at an outdoor party)-was so hot. After about 10 mins. the naseau subsided and I dozed off for a few minutes, exhausted! when I woke up, I was freezing and shivering. I finally feel a lot better, 2 hours later, but it was very scary and now my husband is mad because he warned me not to eat the dip and I missed half of the party because I was stubborn and didn't listen! Lesson learned! I won't be doing that again anytime soon! It was pretty bad. 

I also agree-let's see where those clients are a year or two from now! Also, how many of these clients were losing weight for the first time? Big difference between a woman losing pregnancy weight than someone who has stuggled with weight their whole life! The best revenge is living well...you show that trainer that this was a healthy choice for you in the long run-it wasn't quick fix!

Please don't let the belt upset you! You are doing fabulous. Ok, so you had a little fashion set-back, hang the belt in your bedroom where you can see it, and use it as your inspiration! Picture yourself wearing it; how much smaller your waist will be! I purposely bought an adorable black stretch dress (Target) a size XL (14/16) when I was wearing a 22. The dress hangs where I can see it every night and when I wake up! I can't wait to wear it, it's so cute! It will happen, I just pray for patience and strength!you will wear that belt...and it will get too big! Think it-believe it-See it and it will be!

I know what you went through! Even though I don't feel hunger (yet, or any more!) my mom stayed with me after surgery until this morning. My first few days home, she's making pork roast with gravy, etc. Then 2 days later I wake from a nap smelling my childhood favorite, corn fritters! Really, Mom?!?! I was a little mad because it was my favorite and my girls weren't going to like them-they eat very light. Fried foods, except chicken, doesn't appeal to them. She overheard me tell my sister on the phone that I thought it was kind of insensitive for her to be frying up a batch of fritters, so she went on a cooking strike for a few days (too funny! Like I cared-I was on liquids!-lol!)

I agree with everyone! Starting weight/BMI, how your body reacts to the caloric deficit, your age, current health, amt. of physical activity, etc. will all play a part in #s lost at 6 months or a year. My dr. recommends no alcohol, for example, until a year post op. He asked, "Do you want to lose 100 pounds in a year?", Duh! Then he recommends limiting carbs as much as possible the first year. I love my bread (I almost inhaled a fresh loaf of Italian bread! I figured sniffing it didn't have calories, but boy the smell of yeast...yes, that is definately my addiction!) I'm doing well too, weight loss wise so I know it's hard to not get excited and then raise our expectations when the scale is behaving nicely! if I keep going at the rate I'm going, 100 pound loss is realistic somewhere between 6-12 months-I hope! I've lost 42.5 lbs. total since Pre-op in August-Start-278; DOS-255.5; 3weeks post-op-11/1/12-235.5. I know once I can tolerate more foods and my calories increase (currently staying at 600), I'm going to have to join a gym. (I'm thinking family membership as a Christmas gift for husband and daughters with some fitness attire. This way I know I'll get my membership...sneaky!)

Sounds great Fiddleman! I'll have to put it on my Christmas wish list!