johnlatte

So today it's been 4 months since my surgery. I had calculated through a couple of formulas that I would be down exactly 50 pounds by 3/20. (I'm analytical like that) I missed it by 2 pounds..damn. First I had about a 3 week stall, since then I've lost exactly 1 pound a week. For the last 30 day's I've lost exactly 5 lbs. That's pretty depressing. I could have done that or better with out the sleeve. I've eaten right getting plenty of protein, logged on MFP, done the cardio, kept the carbs low, drank the water till I am about to float away. Still only 1 lousy pound a week. I only have a couple of months left before the weight loss starts to get tougher. I wanted to be at goal weight by August (my 55 birthday), because i am going hiking in Alaska and do not want to be a fat ass doing that. Now, don't know if I can get the 53 pounds off by then. Very discouraged about that. So today, I had to go buy some clothes because a while back I ditched all my "skinnier" clothes thinking that I would never get under 260 pounds. Since surgery, I've basically worn track pants that have a drawstring. I have a job opportunity and needed a pair of slacks and dress shirt. For the inital interview, I wore a suit that was at least 15 years old, that somehow didn't get donated to the smiling g. At the store, I picked out a pair of pants that I thought should fit and tried them on. The were too snug , so I had to get a size that I've worn for a long time. I was soooooo bummed. Granted it is 3 sizes smaller than I was at surgery, but I really was expecting to be down one more size. So I am beginning to waver about the sleeve. I read about all these people that have lost 60-70-80 pounds at 4 months. It is depressing. I am glad for them, but for the life of me I can't figure out what I am missing. Not a great way to celebrate an anniversary.

The key to sanity is not to weigh every day. That just makes it worse. Keep in mind that the sleeve isn't going to make you loose weight. You have to start making the plan and planning the work. Once you start adding back a reasonable amount of nutrition, you will see weight coming off. Try to relax and focus on getting through the next few weeks, staying hydrated etc.

Hang tough boo! Who else is going to brighten everyone's day around here.

didn't, haven't, won't. Take my food away, take away my booze and beers, but caffeine, sorry ain't happening. My surgeon signed off when he saw that look in my eye that pretty much said...don't even try to go there.

Nope, not one bit. I was bat crap crazy before surgery and now nothing changed, just ask my ex.

After you are sleeved, won't have as much room to drink with your meal. It takes a little getting used to, but it really isn't that hard. You aren't going to be chowing down on a big feast anyway so I don't think that you'll have a lot of problems there. Truth be told I do sip occasionally especially if I am eating something spicy, but otherwise not. I rarely wait 30 minutes, but probably should. I never felt uncomfortable if I get a sip or two down after eating though. It truly isn't nearly has hard as you have in your head.

Truly, it won't stretch your stomach, because most of the stretchy parts have been removed. You'd have to drink a lot at one time for it to really do significant damange to the sleeve. A lot of RNY patients are told this because the carbonation doesn't really have a lot of area to expand into and can really cause and uncomfortable feeling. My ex had RNY and she could not ever drink a soda, it would just come back up on her. That said many Drs. still float that out there about stretching. To me, soda is just something that I can put aside and not drink, It is full of sugar and empty calories, and diet sodas are full of chemicals and can in some cases lead to additional cravings. I think most Drs. give it a big no, because of these reasons, but tell you that it will stretch out the stomach. I don't plan to try it again, but others have said it isn't a big deal. There are just way to many better things to eat and drink than sodas. (I was a BIG soda drinker pre-op and had no problems giving it up).

Okay I guess....

you aren't going to chow down like you did in the past, but you'll eat more like a "normal" person. The portion control is mostly built in with the sleeve. Now you have to do your part and eat healthy and get the right amount of exercise. The sleeve itself won't take the weight off on its own. It will help in a lot of ways though. What I like about it, is that feeling you get to snack, just seems to go away or I can control it a lot better. I don't sit and graze like I used to. Also I am a stress and emotional eater, both of these are under much better control with the sleeve than before. I think the surgery will change or should change your outlook on food and your diet. It doesn't mean that you become a social outcast, but it become a fair more manageable post - op. You should be fine.

Well yeah, drinking it would seem a bit strange (vinegar?), cooking with it would make more sense. But on this board we seem to have to get clarification for a lot things

johnlatte -same as on here..hit me up!

Are you talking about drinking it or cooking with it?

The weakness and dizziness is a possible sign of dehydration. Sip really slowly and repeat, don't gulp don't use a straw. Go one ounce at a time, but stick with it because you still are going to have to stay hydrated. Check with your Dr. I had two scripts for nausea coming out of the hospital, but never used them. They may give you something. But #1 is to get the fluids in.

I put unflavored protein in soups, pureed and strained them. I ate a lot of yogurts and cottage cheese (still do). Just about any meal can be pureed to work. I would stay away from red meats, but chicken does well. Eggs and egg whites are okay, but it took me a bit to be able to eat them without getting queasy (it was the only food that did that). Trader Joes's has an organic no meat chilli that's good and quick and easy to pop in the microwave (you can mash up the beans pretty easy with fork or puree it.

I haven't been out eating much ethnic, but I have eaten a fair amount of spicy and have been fine. Drinking while eating can be a challenge so the spicy can be tricky. I put chipolte Tabasco on just about everything I eat.

If you have any type of diabetes get your A1C checked. Check for vitamins B (12) and D. That's the big ones that I get checked. There may be others.

my name is the same here as it is on MFP, I am always looking for friends over there.

I posted this on another thread a little while ago. In light of this new thread, I think it bears repeating. While I can somewhat appreciate what you say, if it was that easy there would be no needs for boards such as this. The truth is that slow losing can be very discouraging and can cause people to throw up their hands and consider themselves a failure and go back to the old habits that got them here to begin with. I've been in a very slow losing slide for the last month, losing a total of 5 pounds in the last 30 days. I've eaten my calories, watched my carbs, done the carido etc, but the weight is just coming off slowly. I wasn't discouraged early on, but now it is starting to come and I can see myself creeping back into where I was before. Weightloss, regardless of how it is approached, either surgically or through the old fashioned methods, it tough. Don't you feel that it we were all eating the right number of calories and doing the right number of jumping jacks that we would be skinny in no time flat? It just isn't that simple for some. It is tough to come on here and read that someone who was sleeved after me, has lost 70 or 80 pounds. It's hard to read that someone is losing 4 to 5 pounds a week for 5 to 6 months and you are busting your hump to lose 1. This is where I was before, I'm losing the weight that I've lost maybe 10 or 15 times. Yes I expect better results and a faster weight loss and I don't think that is totally unreasonable. So I can certainly empathize with the OP. Hopefully that will give you some perspective to "understand people" a bit better.

Its not an ideal choice for a treat. Nutritionally speaking it is about 25 very empty calories, mostly sugar (97% carbohydrates). That said if you can work it into your diet, and can account for it in your daily intake of calories, carbs, proteins and fats, then feel free to indulge. Note that the sugar may cause some queasiness (it may not) and if you have been following a mostly low carb diet, you may feel a little shakey and jittery due to the blood sugar spike. Let us know how you do!

While I can somewhat appreciate what you say, if it was that easy there would be no needs for boards such as this. The truth is that slow losing can be very discouraging and can cause people to throw up their hands and consider themselves a failure and go back to the old habits that got them here to begin with. I've been in a very slow losing slide for the last month, losing a total of 5 pounds in the last 30 days. I've eaten my calories, watched my carbs, done the carido etc, but the weight is just coming off slowly. I wasn't discouraged early on, but now it is starting to come and I can see myself creeping back into where I was before. Weightloss, regardless of how it is approached, either surgically or through the old fashioned methods, it tough. Don't you feel that it we were all eating the right number of calories and doing the right number of jumping jacks that we would be skinny in no time flat? It just isn't that simple for some. It is tough to come on here and read that someone who was sleeved after me, has lost 70 or 80 pounds. It's hard to read that someone is losing 4 to 5 pounds a week for 5 to 6 months and you are busting. your hump to lose 1. This is where I was before, I'm losing the weight that I've lost maybe 10 or 15 times. Yes I expect better results and a faster weight loss and I don't think that is totally unreasonable. So I can certainly empathize with the OP. Hopefully that will give you some perspective to "understand people" a bit better.

My test wasn't like that at all. I did have a fairly long form to fill out and a lot of the questions were basically the same (agree, disagree etc). I had a conversation with the Dr. and that was about it. Never saw her report, never saw the results, she sent me the bill (ins didn't pay).

I was on 2000mg of Metformin and 100mg of Actos. (along with other non diabetic stuff). I was sleeved in November, and am down to no Actos, and 1000mg Metformin. My A1C went from 7.0 to 6.0 in that timeframe. I am going back for more blood work in June and expect to go down another 500mg of Met. I am backing of slowly, so my goal is at 1 year post sleeve I will be 100% at goal weight and drug free. I am already off my cholesterol medicine and half a dose down on my HBP meds.

My first degree I didn't walk and didn't think too much about it. The second one though, I did because I wanted my kids to see their old man graduate. I'm currently working on a 3rd degree, but this time I don't know if I will walk or not. I am leaning towards it but I have a year left so I don't know at this time. Do what makes you feel the best. To me it was a culmination of a lot of hard work, and I wanted to be with the friends that I made and for my kids.

Sorry this isn't Atkins, you count them all.

One of the things that my Dr. told me was the main reason he made folks go through the pre-op liquid diet, was to give them some time to fully understand their relationship with food and eating. He felt that if they could reconcile their relationship with food pre-op then post-op their chances for success long term are much better. It's like quitting smoking or any other bad habit, cold turkey isn't going to always the be best route. The pre-op diet gives you that opportunity to get your head in the right spot so that post-op your recovery will be a lot better. While I can't say that you are or aren't ready for the sleeve, since I don't know you personally, I do think you really have to think more in the long term. Being sleeved is tough and it is a hard thing to go through just on its own. You have to divorce your relationship with food and learn that eating is not a hobby or a way of life, it is only to sustain your life and that seems to be a hard thing for a lot of people to do. We all have our weaknesses or else we wouldn't be here, but that doesn't excuse the fact that you are about to go through a pretty significant life change and need to do so with your eyes wide open. You are either ready for it or you aren't. I hope that you get back on the plan that the Drs. have set out for you and I wish you nothing but success in the journey.