Lexy

Rockstarswife - I'm right there with you. I have been in a stall all summer! My goal is to lose 100# but I am only half way. Very frustrating when I don't eat very much. I must say though, I had to stop my workouts at the gym because I hurt my knees in a fall and tore my right hamstring. The knees probably need medical intervention but the hamstring is much better. Today I start the T25 exercise program. I hope that helps to jump start my weight loss.

I had my 3 mo. fu today and am down 30 pounds. I am disappointed it is not more as I have been stalled for a mo. The nut. told me I am doing great and it is normal to stall but assured me it will come off. So, I am ok with where I am now. have 70 to go. So Sadlers, you are doing GREAT!

Cathy, you are doing better than you thought because it has only been 8 weeks

I even told the clerk at the grocery store when she asked what I was buying the small spoons for. She was very obese and maybe my response planted a seed.

If you live in the Portland area, you might want to check out Legacy Good Sam Weight Management Institute. Their phone number is 503.413.6547 and they are located across the street from Good Sam Hosp. on NW 22nd. Ave. I had Dr. Halpin who is excellent, but so are the other surgeons there. Gastric surgery for weight loss is their specialty. I would definitely only go to a place that does this type of surgery day in and day out vs. a surgeon who does it on an occasional basis. The entire staff is very nice and friendly and make you feel so comfortable. They are incredibly supportive. I hope this helps.

I was sleeved on Dec. 17 and went on a humanitarian trip to Guatemala on Jan. 20. I was part of a Rotary group that went and stayed with Rotarians in that country. We were wined and dined in upscale restaurants and homes unless we were in a village where we were usually given chicken broth with tough chicken parts. I was usually in the presence of 9-20 people who did not know about my surgery (with exception of 2 of them). Sometimes, if the person sitting next to me said something about how little I was eating, I would just tell them I had stomach surgery and was still recuperating. If they pressed, I told them what type of surgery and found them to be very supportive. I always told my host families though, just so I would not offend them. They can't wait to see me in my new body next year. In my travel group of 9, there was one gal who is about a size zero, who observed my eating pattern and said, after a few days, she could not wait to see the day when I actually ate a meal. I thought for several days about what to do with that comment as I could tell that it really bothered her. So, toward the end of the trip, 7 out of our group got very sick with a virus and no one could eat. Toward the end of the illness I went to bfast with that person and we both had a poached egg on toast. While we were eating, I told her about my surgery. She was incredibly supportive and was relieved to know I didn't have an eating disorder:-) She said I was eating the way she and others should be eating - small portions. Overall, I found I could eat anything set in front of me, but usually just a bite or two of each item on the plate.

Have you tried the Unjury powders? My dr. office gave me samples and said they were a favorite. I use Premier sometimes, but I do like the taste of Unjury better. The only thing is I have to order it online and it seems to take a long time to get here. I love the chocolate mixed with skim milk and that gives me 186 cal. with 28 gm. protein. The powder packet is 100 cal and 20 gm. pro. on its own. I also like to mix the chocolate, vanilla or unflavored with coffee and they all taste good that way - like a mocha or latte, esp. if you add some milk too. They also have a very good chicken broth that actually tastes like regular chicken broth.You have to be careful not to use water hotter than 145 deg. though because the whey will turn into little pieces of egg:-) I also love the strawberry sorbet flavor mixed with lemonade Crystal Light. If you haven't tried these, you can order a starter sample supply that comes with a shaker jar from http://www.unjury.com/store/protein/. Good luck!

I too had a food problem yesterday. Went out with friends for dinner at a Hawaiian restaurant and ordered chicken wings, planning to eat only 1 or 2. Someone gave me their tomato basil soup and I ate about 1/4 cup of that while waiting for the chicken. I did well with the first wing but then felt full and should have stopped. After about 10 min. I picked up another and had two bites. That was "all she wrote" as I was rushing into the bathroom to immediately lose everything. Glad I made it to the restroom! That is the first vomiting episode I have had since surgery 4 weeks ago. I chalk it up to the need to remember to listen to my body and stop when I am full. Also, the chicken was deep fried and covered with a bready coating and thai peanut sauce - probably much too rich. This is like learning to eat and what to eat all over again:-)

Oh yes, I have had that. It is hard to get used to drinking more slowly or sipping. It is much better than it was the first 3 weeks.

Clever!

Oops, forgot to answer you question about calorie guidelines. I have been getting between 600 and 800 cal per day. I asked my nut if that is enough and she said that is about what they expect. Also, I am supposed to eat the protein first, chew well, take 20 min. for a meal (usually takes longer if it is a regular meal), and don't drink for 5 min. before or 30 min. after. The not drinking water with my meal is the hardest part for me. I am going to Guatemala on a humanitarian trip on Sunday for 10 days and was worried about the food. I went last year and felt that what they serve is very managable. My nut said I should be just fine. They eat primarily beans, plantains, polenta, chicken, fish, eggs. She did suggest I take protein bars to supplement with. We have water with us constantly while we are there so that should be good. My main concern is appearing like I don't like the food that is presented to me. I will just have to think of a polite way to explain why I'm not eating much or, if it is a host family, I may tell them about the surgery. Any suggestions on how to handle that?

We are very similar in our weight. I started at 241 and am now 223. I am happy with that since I have not started exercising yet. I have had a very bad cold all week and been snuggled up in the house. Keep up the good work. Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

Good job!

I was very surprised by the switch to regular diet at week 3. I was initially supposed to do the standard prescribed liquids for 2 weeks, puree for 2 weeks, soft for 2 weeks, then regular diet with a few exceptions. The different clinics seem to have different variations of that diet but they are pretty similar. But then they individualize it based on how the patient is doing and what their individual needs are. I tell ya though, just because I have been cleared for reg. does not mean I am on a complete regular diet. I really cant eat much but what I can eat really does help with the hunger. I went to lunch at a Chinese restaurant with friends yesterday and one gave me her wonton soup and I could only eat 2 small bites of wonton but the broth went down ok. The other friend gave me a few noodles with chicken and I could only eat 2 bites of chicken and one noodle. So after the outing I had my premier protein shake and that seemed like comfort food:-)

I saw my dr and nut at 3 weeks. I told the nut I was hungry all the time and she said I could start a regular diet. She thought the puree was not satisfying my hunger. She said I am healed and can have whatever I want, including breads, pasta, and rice. I told my dr I was having light headedness and felt sleepy, esp when driving on the freeway. She told me to try going back on coffee with caffeine. So, both suggestions, to resolve hunger and the head symptoms, have made a huge difference. Granted, it takes me an hour to drink a cup of coffee and 2 bites of chicken and I am stuffed but, I still drink pro. shakes and feel the reg. food is more of a supplement because I eat so little. I was wondering if anyone else is on a regular diet yet and how it is going.

I am only 2 weeks post op and just started pureed foods yesterday. The thing they want us to focus on the first couple weeks is getting the liquids in. The protein will come along. When I was in the hosp I was instructed to drink one ounce of water every 15 min. while awake. Water hurt my stomach, esp. cold, so it was hard to get it in. I kept it in my mouth until Body temp and then swallowed. I did better with thicker things like yogurt, milk, cream soups. Popsicles were helpful too. Good Luck.

Hi Sarah, I am only 2weeks out and down 12 pounds out of the 100 I want to lose. So I am not as experienced as some of the others on this site with going through this, but I do have professional experience in bariatrics as well as an excellent bariatric clinic where I am patient. That said, I can tell you the biotin is a great idea and works for some but not all. Check with your dr. on the type of calcium you should be taking, the type makes a difference. Calcium citrate rather than calcium carbonate is more easily digested by the stomach. If your dr oks that, it may help reduce some of your gastric reflux, but not certain. The best way to know if you are getting enough fluids is to look at your pee. If it is light and clear and does not have a strong odor, you should be ok. Maybe you need to try something different from prilosec. My dr put me on pepcid twice a day even though I have been on prilosec for years. I hope some of this info is helpful. Glad you found this board for support.

Desert Mom, Happy Boxing Day to you and I hope you are enjoying your vacation. You will enjoy it much more if you just let go of what happened yesterday and get back on plan today. If you really think about what you did, did you have 3500 calories more than what your body needs to live on? It takes that many calories to gain a pound, as I am sure you already know. If you found a scale and your weithg was up, it is most likely temporary water weight and should be gone by the time you get home. So I say, chalk it all up a very merry Christmas for you, go back to your regular plan and get those last few pounds off. Another thing I have discovered during past diets is that when I have a day like that, it amazes me that I often actually lose weight because my metabolism got a boost. Go figure!

Yes Candice. My surgeon does it before giving anything to drink after surg. They don't all do that but I found it reassuring since leakage was my prime concern.

I have told the people that I socialize with the most because we eat out with some of them once or twice a week. We are also all friends with a few people who have had bypass surg. and have witnessed their success. However, I have not told my mother, sisters or in laws. The only family who knows are my kids and husband. So, tomorrow is Christmas and I am on liquids only. I have decided to tell my mom and sisters because they will think it odd that I am not eating. The reason I have not told them is because I thought they may try to talk me out of it. We all share the obesity gene, some fight it more than others, but we have seen each other yo-yo over and over again on every diet known to man, since the mid 1960s. I'm hoping I find support from them. Surgery is just another tool to help us reach our weight loss goals. We will forever be watching our diet and exercising, or we will put it back on. It is not a "cop out" or "the easy way out" and, in fact, it is not easy. To tell anyone beyond family or close friends is definitely something I would do if I believe, that by sharing my experience, I can help them make a decision that could lead to a positive change in their life.

My surg was one week ago today. I started on full liquids right after the swallow test the next morning. They gave me vanilla yogurt and milk and told me to try to get in 1 oz every 15 min while awake. I am supposed to do full liquids for two wks., then puree for 2 weeks, then soft for 2 weeks then whatever I can tolerate. I try to get in my 75 Gm protein using a Premier drink with 30 Gm, an Unjury drink with 20-25, low fat and sugar eggnog for a holiday treat, yogurt and milk. Sometimes I only get 50-60 Gm but they said this first couple weeks may be hard in that respect and to place more focus on getting enough liquids. I'm still having a lot of waves of upper abdominal cramping so that makes drinking difficult.

I am having cramping pain that comes in waves and last for just a few seconds. I called my dr. because I thought it was post laparo scopy gas and i wanted to know how long it would last. She said it is not gas, but swelling, and I would have for a few more days. When it comes, sometimes several times an hour, it is very miserable. Has anyone else had this type of pain? What made it better and how long did it last. Otherwise I feel really good.