MichiganChic

I used small silverwear and plates/bowls I bought at the Libbey glass outlet. I used the silverwear for about a month, but not any more. I use small plates/bowls always.

You look great! And I love your shirt

So far, no. I don't like the idea of all that rerouting, malabsorption, and that I would never be able to take NSAIDS again. I might feel differently some day if I don't reach goal, but I doubt it.

People are the same everywhere, it seems! I'm also a nurse, work in a hospital, and I also avoid the whole thing. Fortunately, no one has asked how much I've lost yet! When you are in the middle of all this, it can be hard to ignore people or realize their place in your life (probably pretty low in the grand scheme of things). But you do spend a lot of time with them everyday, so I know it's hard! I heard someone on the boards say they answer "Not enough" when asked how much they lost. When someone asked me if I had surgery (who shouldn't have known) I just asked "who told you that?" and that shut her up. People will quickly figure out it's not a topic of conversation for you.

I'm certain there is a specific reason, and it's usually for low potassium. I would recommend you contact the prescribing physician and ask them for the details. I don't think it's a standard pre-op medication.

I wasn't sure about eating without drinking, either. In fact, I didn't practice it before surger either, because I didn't want to (and I'm mosty pretty compiant). But after surgery, I knew I had to do it to be sucfessful, so do it. Mostly I don't miss it too bad. It was easy at first because eating/drinking was a chore for about the first month. That time helped me establish a new habit. I'm about 3 months out, and I am adjusting. I do set my clock for 30 minutes when I'm done eating though, so I can start drinking again! For me, it's a small price to pay. Good luck with your surgery.

Wow, looks great! Thanks for sharing.

I use a variety of things. When I was first sleeved, I used a Flintstones chewable multivitamin. Now I take a prenatal with iron, but I'm 12 weeks out. I found sublingual B12 at Walgreens which works great. I use Calcet creamy bites, they are 500 mg of calcium citrate + vitamin D.. Those are great, and taste like a peice of candy. I also use Citircal petites, since I take calcium 3x a day (they are pills). I use the premier protein shakes from Costco. Very good, not terribly expensive, grab adn go, 30 gm protein per shake.

I'm about 12 weeks out, and I drink one every day for Breakfast. I didn't find them till I was about 3 weeks out, and it was the only type I could stand. Tried lots of other stuff, and just couldn't tolerate it. Everything was SO sweet tasting. I will say that hus subsided now, and mostly everything tastes "right" now. Those shakes are good and economical, so I do hope you can tolerate them again!

I have a heightened sense of smell, for sure, and it reminds me of being pregnant, though it hasn't made me queasy.

I'm about 11 weeks out, and I still don't have as much energy as I had hoped. I am steadily feeling better and gaining more stamina, but I have never gotten that feeling of "so much energy"! either, lol. It's a major surgery, we are not eating much, so I guess I wasn't really surprised. I never felt good on a calorie restricted diet before the surgery, so I guess it stands to reason, at least for me.Immediately after surgery I was EXHAUSTED for the first 4 weeks, then it's gradually improved. I think as the weight comes off, calories increase, and we gain strength through exercise, we are going to get that high energy level we all want!

Doreen, you look great! You really can tell a difference. I agree, it is hard to see in the mirror, and even though you know the numbers on the scale, it is so hard to see! And I'm with you about that scale! I am on it daily, and it's what gets me out of bed, lol. I probably take it a little too far...I graph it in excel, lol. But since I can't see it on myself, pics and graphs help me through the stalls. Congratulations on your success!

First, I'm so sorry for your struggle. If you read many of these threads, we all fear this could be us, so I can imagine how you might feel. People here have given some good advice about tracking food, protein, and other things that are recommended. You might also want to get a book, since it sounds like there is not a lot of support or education with your surgeon. I downloaded one to my phone (just go to amazon and research books for gastric sleeve). I had been given most of the same information from my Dr/NUT, but still thought it was valuable, and you might find it to be a helpful reference. It will give you some general guidelines to follow. Good luck and let us know how you do.

I was at 400-500 then, so you are probably right in the ballpark. Fiddleman is right, calories will increase over time.

I have to take my calcium in 3 divided doses. I'm on 1500 mg, and your body only absorbs about 500 mg at a time. The calcium interferes with iron absorption, so I take my multi vitamin with iron at bedtime. I space the other stuff out around that. Also, coffee/tea interfers with vitamin absorption, so I drink coffee only in the morning.

Are you wearing a scopalamine patch behind your ear? That is one cause...

It's temporary. I remember being 4-6 weeks out, and eating was truly a chore. It was hard to get much down, nothing tasted good, it all ran straight through me, and it just didn't seem to be worth the effort. Take heart, it does get better! I noticed at about 7 weeks it became much better, and quickly. I think that must have been when my swelling went down because I could hold more, and food started to taste more normal. Just hang on a little longer. BTW - I couldn't believe I felt that eating was a chore - never thought I'd say that!

You are so right, it's certainly my fear! I've been worried about how much I can hold, too. Like you, I don't really push it, but I've discovered I can hold more of certain things, and yogurt is one of them. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised though, when I eat just dense protein like chicken breast, I really am full at 3 oz, and would be too full at 4 oz. I'm learning that some days I can eat more than others, some days I'm hungrier than others, and what I'm eating really does impact the amount of food I can hold. We all know the rules and probably follow them, but I feel like I'm finding my way in the dark sometimes. I'm learning there is not a one size fits all approach to managing weight loss post sleeve. I also think my body is going to do what it is going to do. I do follow the rules, count every calorie, exercise plenty....so when the scale does not reflect that hard work, I am disappointed, but I just think time will tell.

Funny, my eyes are also bigger than my stomach! I love that. I measure everything, and I'm still pleasantly surprised at the small volume I can eat. At first I could eat almost nothing, but now can handle 3-4 oz Protein, so it seems like lots more than it was, but it's way less than it used to be. OP - you are no dummy! You are smarter than you were before, right?

I can imagine it.....or actually, fear it! I bet it's way less than they used to eat, and less than most people eat, even if it's not the best plan. I haven't eaten pizza, but I bet I could! Someday I'm going to have a slice of pizza. But I hope it's a rare occassion, I hope I can't hold more than a slice, and I sure hope I'm not drinking pop! Did you find out how much they lost, how long ago, etc? Are they posting here wondering why they are not losing?

I'm gong to get some prunes! Don't care if I'm an old lady

I think people have lots of the good, bad, and ugly covered here. I'd like to add Strange to the list. I have a heightened sense of smell since surgery. I also sneeze a lot now, my nose will get congested for no reason and tends to run a little. At 11 weeks out, things are mostly normal for me now (minus the constipation). Good luck

Great job, you look great!

I'm getting a little frustrated, and trying not to be. Starting weight was 305, and now I'm down to 252, but most of that was lost the first two months. I've been struggling since late January to lose. I lost 8 pounds in February, and I suppose if I kept at that rate, I would be happy, but I feel like it's ground to a halt. I can't believe it. I track everthing I eat, get in 65-75 gm protein a day, drink more than 64 oz fluid, limit carbs, and exercise most days of the week. I was an expert dieter and didn't lose weight before surgery, and I guess I'm not sure why I expected anything different now. However, I remain hopeful that sticking with it for the long haul will make the difference, which is something I never succeeded at before. There, thanks for the rant, I feel better

I do think aabout it....and I do exercise about an hour 4-6 days a week. I have to admit, though, sometimes when I think about the gym, I'm really thinking about how I don't want to go, lol!! I don't know if I was addicted to food, but I hoped that if I was I could replace that with an addiction to exercise. I've tried, but alas, it's not to be. Enjoy yourself at the gym, and take advantage of it as long as you have that drive!