LifetimeLoser

I'm so glad I found this...I know its an old post, but I just found out my stomach is a 38 and thought it was big, but so miniscule.

I had my first experience with getting the slimes a few days ago. I had eaten a little too much in hopes of trying to get a little more calories and protein in for the day. I wasn't all that hungry. In fact, I'm never really all that hungry. I find I am less hungry at 4 weeks post op than I was at 2. It is probably because I am eating denser food which takes time to digest, but it is a weird feeling. I go basicaly the whole day without really feeling hungry. Yesterday, it took me 5 hours to nurse down my protein shake! Some days are better than others. Most mornings I can just drink the whole thing down in like half an hour. Well, I vowed that I would never eat too much again because the slimes is not an experience I wanted to have again. Fast forward a few days AND I GOT THEM AGAIN!!! This time it was because I think I ate too fast. I was eating some slivers of pecorino romano. Everything felt fine. I didn't feel anything stuck in my throat, my belly didn't feel full at all. I thought it was the easiest thing do go down I've tried so far. Maybe that was the problem...it was too easy going down. Sure enough, maybe 20 minutes later my mouth started salivating and I started "dry heaving" so I ran to the bathroom. I stayed there for awhile while I "almost" puked. Just to put it in perspective, I've always had a problem with puking...meaning my body doesn't like to give it up. Even in my college days, when I used to party all the time I could never puke. I would get sick and dry heave, but never puke! I want to puke because I know it will feel better after I do, but it just never works out that way. So I always get the dry heaves without the vomit...and it is extremely annoying. I think I've puked twice in the past 20 years. One of those times was when I had extreme food poisoning. After about 20 minutes of being in the bathroom, I felt a little better. I went back to my room and sat on the bed. And then burp! And after that burp I felt sooo much better. I vowed I would never slime again, but I realized I don't have this all figured out yet. I've been eating healthy, getting my protein and water in etc. The cheese I ate was pretty healthy, but maybe it was too dense for this belly. I haven't had any problems with any of the food that I have eaten thus far. My taste buds haven't changed. The same food that I ate before still looks delicious to me. I think the difference is I don't have that hunger to push me over the edge where I reach for it and put it in my mouth. I kind of just walk past it and say, "that looks yummy." I'm struggling to get in 600 calories a day and 80 grams of protein so I am not at all tempted to eat something that isn't going to fuel my weight loss. So what I've learned? 1. Even if a food goes down easily I should still eat slooooowwwwwwwww. 2. I don't have everything figured out yet. I'm probably going to make a few more mistakes 3. Don't force myself to eat more if I'm not hungry...even if my calories have to suffer for a day (I'd rather listen to my body) 4. I haven't tried every food yet...there might be something my tummy doesn't like despite the good luck I've had thus far 5. I HATE SLIMING. IT'S NASTY! 6. I have to find my own way. I can always seek advice and see other people's stats and what worked for them, but each person is different and I have to find what works for me. “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” ― Heraclitus “Not I, nor anyone else can travel that road for you. You must travel it by yourself. It is not far. It is within reach. Perhaps you have been on it since you were born, and did not know. Perhaps it is everywhere - on water and land.” ― Walt Whitman

I also made homemade stew and chili. I did canned chicken or tuna with greek yogurt. I ate blended up soups, hummus, yogurt, ricotta cheese.

I haven't even started solid food yet and I am almost 5 weeks post op. It was 2 days clear liquids, then full liquids for 11 days, pureed for week and a half, soft moist foods (what I'm doing right now). and then in 3 days I get to start full foods.

The cheese was about 3 oz. I do weigh and measure everything I eat. I was eating like 300 calories a day and then hit a stall. My NUT told me to add some carbs in like apple sauce etc. That upped my calories real fast. But thank you for telling me that is a lot of calories because I feel like I am stuffing myself and most people tell me that I'm not eating enough! If I eat protein like fish...I can only eat about 2 oz. So if I was just to eat "normal" and not try to force myself to finish my protein drinks etc. I'd probably be at around 400 calories. How far out are you? I hit a stall at about 10 days post op and was told to up my calories and carbs...I did and my stall broke a week and a half later. I don't like upping my carbs though...it is just one of those borderline things that if I can do without...the longer the better for me. And I don't like force feeding myself to meet my calorie goal. So I do think I need to start listening to my body more.

For me, I had no doubt in my mind that I could lose 100+pounds again...key word AGAIN. I've lost my excess weight countless times before since I was 16. I didn't get wls because I didn't think I could lose the weight on my own. I made that decision because I didn't want the weight coming back, and with all the things stacked against me as far as weight loss goes I wanted one thing that would help me...a tool. I mean let's face it. We are bombarded by food left and right. It isn't like quitting smoking. You can just go cold turkey and never buy smokes again. You can't just abstain from food ever again. Every day you are forced with a decision. The decision to eat something healthy and normal is easier on some days and harder on others. You are forced with making that decision multiple times a day. I wanted some comfort in knowing that I would have a little help along the way. My decision wasn't only for myself, but for my 2 year old daughter. I want to be able to be active with her instead of placing her in front of the t.v. because mommy doesn't have enough energy to go out and play. I want to show her how to eat healthy and lead by example. All in all, doubts are normal. You will have to decide what is right for you and what your reasons are for going through with this. I don't think anyone should ever tell you to get weight loss surgery or don't for that matter...it is only your decision to make. I guess you just have to think of what you have to lose if you do get the surgery? Maybe 100 pounds...and as others put it...as long as you make that right decision...the weight will fall off pretty effortlessly. Good luck!

wow you look smaller than 242 lbs!!!

Hello vsg friends, I just hit 4 weeks post op and I have never been soooooo tired. I've heard that this is normal, but what can I do? I know I'm not supposed to have caffeine...so what have you all done to get through it when you just can't go to sleep because you have to go to work etc. On another note...Is it normal...one day to be super hungry and the next just not feel like drinking/eating anything. I woke up this morning not being able to finish my shake...a shake by the way I have every morning...I don't know whats up.

tee hee...wonderful for you...it's all the small things that one day surprise us...and then we never take it for granted.

"Fear can paralyze us or it can motivate us." - Jillian Michaels.

I just wanted to share some of the phrases that inspire/motivate me. Some are lyrics, some are from movies and some I have no idea where they came from. What are some of yours??? "just keep swimming. just keep swimming." - Nemo movie "Ain't no one gonna break my stride, Ain't no one gonna pull me down. Oh no I got to keep on moving...stay alive." - Matisyahu "The stone that the builder refused will always be the head corner stone." - Bob Marley "No one can make you feel inferior without your permission." - Eleanor Roosevelt "Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live." - Jim Rohn " and god help you if you are an ugly girl course too pretty is also your doom cause everyone harbors a secret hatred for the prettiest girl in the room and god help you if you are a phoenix and you dare to rise up from the ash a thousand eyes will smolder with jealousy while you are just flying back." - Ani Difranco 32 flavors “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”–Winston Churchill Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing Enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. “The joy of life consists in the exercise of one's energies, continual growth, constant change, the enjoyment of every new experience. To stop means simply to die. The eternal mistake of mankind is to set up an attainable ideal. -ALEISTER CROWLEY

"A picture is worth a thousand words." Don't be discouraged...there is a VERY noticeable difference.

First of all, people come to these forums to seek advice and answer questions...literally. I don't think it is helping anyone seeking information to post wishy washy comments that people can misconstrue. People want to know exactly how many calories, exactly what exercises, exactly how long. Everyone is out there trying to figure things out on his or her own...they don't need you to post vague statements. They need you to post literal things. If I wanted vague, wishy-washy answers to my questions, then I wouldn't even have signed up for this site. And as for people taking things the wrong way or not getting what you are saying...I believe that is on you. I think you need to work on your communication skills. Secondly, you seem to be pretty quick at the name calling. I find people who resort to name calling (like you are slow or a joke...etc.) cannot find a way to properly communicate what they are trying to say and become extremely frustrated. Thirdly, you keep saying this is the last time or I'm not going to respond to ... and you keep responding and coming back and posting...so obviously you have more to say...stop saying you don't.

No problems for me.

Way to stand your ground. It is surprising how many people don't know what weight loss surgery is and what it entails. I had a coworker who thought I got liposuction because I said I was having weight loss surgery.

That must feel amazing for you! 15 years?

good job!

yay for you!

My goal is 80 grams of protein a day. I get upwards of 60 grams a day. You want to get enough protein to keep from losing muscle mass. If you don't have enough protein, then your body starts to burn muscle for energy because your calories are so low. Proteins/aminos are used for repairing tissue...like when you lift weights...you actually break down the muscle and rebuild it. Another reason is to help prevent hair loss...(this doesn't always work), but every little bit helps.

So today is my exact 4 week post op sleeve day! After losing weight and then hitting an almost two week stall...I have lost 19 pounds total during these 4 weeks. I'm pretty happy about that! It took me awhile to figure some things out, but I did and I think I know what to do now and how to break those stalls. What works for me? 1. Getting at least 60grams of protein a day 2. 500-700 calories/day on average...I don't worry if one day is lower and the next day is higher 3. Staying away from pureed/soups etc. I can eat more of those kinds of things without feeling full...which equals more calories etc. 4. First meal of the day??? A premier protein shake WITH a scoop of nectar in there. I want to get my protein up...right when I get up so it is less for me to worry about. It also fills me up. By the end of the day I am usually too tired to eat...and I also don't want to eat right before bed because of reflux 5. Working out 4 days a week for about an hour (cardio). This has been dropping my weight just fine. I will eventually join a gym and start weight training. 6. Using my fitbit to track steps. What I still need to work on? 1. Some days I eat too much sodium...usually when I'm tired and don't want to cook anything. 2. Sometimes I wait to long between meals and I get sooo hungry that I put too big a spoonful in my mouth...now granted I don't swallow because I'm afraid of that tight feeling in my chest...I just kind of catch myself...and say...stop...and I chew it and slowly swallow. I need to stop doing that! 3. I've been getting really tired which I hear is normal, but I do want to up my cardio and start weight training 4. Adding more variety to my diet

slow? No way! That is super fast. Especially since you weren't that heavy (IMO). Good for you. that is great!