kimmy42083

I have been told and have read that cold cereal is a no-no. Why exactly? Does it have to do with carbs, or is it hard on our sleeves? There are plenty of healthy cereals out there, and I would love to add a little variety back into my breakfast routine.

I love every kind of Fiber One I have tried. I used to eat it several times a week. So just to clear this up for me, is fiber actually an okay thing to eat? I've been so confused. Everyone's diet is different, some can have carbs, some say carbs are evil. Coming from a medical perspective (I'm a nurse), I would never counsel a patient to avoid carbs entirely. The body needs a healthy amount of the right carbs to function correctly. So why are carbs such a big deal? Why was I told (by my hospitals bariatric nurse) that I would never eat a fiber rich diet again? She also told me that I would never eat carbs again, period. Healthy or unhealthy. Half the crap she said to me didn't make any sense, so I pretty much just ignored her. Turns out she was wrong about quite a few things anyway, according to my doctor... Obviously I know Protein is king, but how about some balance? I think I'm getting frustrated because this is supposed to be a lifestyle change, not a crash diet. I want to be able to keep my weight off, and I know that a no carb diet is unrealistic.

I also love it with coconut or almond milk. Adds a little more protein to it.

I was going to try the Special K protein cereal. Before my surgery I loved Fiber One cereals. Fiber keeps you fuller longer and I just feel so much better when I get enough fiber. I'm geting next to none now obviously...

When are we allowed to add fiber back into our diets? I'm missing the health benefits of my previous high fiber diet. I just feel so icky, constipated, just generally not healthy when I don't get my fiber. When I dieted before the sleeve, high fiber was what worked best for me. Think leafy greens, whole wheat crackers, fiber one bars, kashi cereal etc... Thoughts?

I really need some advice and input. I am so depressed and distressed by my lack of weight loss and the fact that I can eat so much. I hardly feel restricted by my sleeve at all. I get hungry often (true hunger, comes on slowly about every 4 hours). I don't get sick when I eat like a lot of people do. I am able to eat pretty much anything as long as I chew it up enough. I am not eating sweets or junk food. I have only lost 16 pounds since I was sleeved on 1/30. I am eating about 1200 calories a day, getting at least 60 to 80g of Protein. I am eating mostly solids, but I chew them really well, I stopped the Protein shakes because they taste horrible and I couldn't get them down. I am now eating Protein Bars about every 3 to 4 hours during the day. The bars have 20g of protein, and are 200 calories. They keep me full and provide the nutrition I need. For dinner I will have something small , like a few bites of a baked potato, or some Soup. I am honestly shocked and very upset that I am even able to eat this much. What was the point of surgery?? Is this why I'm not losing weight? Even at 1200 calories a day, I should still be losing weight. I have read about stalls, and I thought maybe increasing my calorie intake would help break the stall. It hasn't. I have increased my physical activity as well, still no improvement My calorie need based on several online calculators is about 2500 calories. I clearly have a calorie deficit. Why am I still not losing. What can I do to break this stall? Also, any advice about what I should be eating would be appreciated. Give me some idea of what to buy, menus etc... Thanks in advance!

I didn't really have much direction about what to eat/what not to eat. I got some handouts that were very vague. My doc is very "do what feels right". Not very stringent about the diet at all.

I haven't tried that brand yet. My mom (who had r&y in 2004) loves their protein bars though. I guess they have about 30g of protein? She eats one every day. I will try to find that brand next time I go to Costco.

How about salad? I am not supposed to have raw fruits and veggies yet. How soon were you able to eat lettuce? Before the surgery, my favorite dinner was a chicken breast with a salad. I know it sounds simple and weird, but that's my favorite dinner ever. Takes about 10 minutes to make, and it's delicious. I would love to eat salad again. It fills you up and has next to no calories...

OMG...steak! I can't wait to have a bite of steak.

Any advice on what I can take with me on the road? I'm a home health nurse. I travel about 1000 miles per week. Work 10 to 12 hour days, 5 days a week, and sometimes on the weekend. What got me into this mess in the first place was the crappy food that's available on the road. That's why I am doing the protein bars. They are shelf stable and keep me from feeling like I'm going to pass out from hunger all the time. I thought I wasn't even supposed to get hungry? I feel like my surgeon lied to me.

How did it go when you first tried to eat meat? My doc says I should be able to handle it, but I'm kind of scared. I guess I worry about the sleeve stretching or leaking. I'm just worried because I know meat is harder to digest than the other things I've been eating. I honestly can't wait to have some chicken again though...and salad! I never thought I would miss salad and raw veggies!

I still don't understand how I am able to even eat that much? Everything I have read has said I shouldn't be able to eat more than 600 calories a day. I am afraid to try meat this soon. I was going to wait another 3 weeks before I do that. The only thing that's made me sick since the surgery is the smell of eggs. It's weird because I liked eggs before the surgery. The foods I have been eating are: Cottage cheese string cheese Soups (getting so tired of soup) really finely chopped up tuna salad Protein bars occasionally I will have a few bites of a potato when I'm craving something to sink my teeth into All the foods I eat are on my list of foods my doctor gave me. They said protein bars are fine as long as they are low carb and low sugar (which they are). 200 calories is too much for a meal? How many should I be eating per meal? Also, I'm very scared of losing my hair. That's why I have been so diligent with the protein intake.

I'm going in January 30th. I am very nervous about the procedure and the pain etc... how painful was being extubated? I know I will be out when they intubate (put the tube down your trachea), but will I be awake when they pull it out? How bad does it hurt? How was the pain for the first 2 days to 2 weeks after surgery? I'm a baby when it comes to pain, and I'm worried about my tollerance to pain meds as I've been in vicodin for more than 5 years for chronic pain. How many ounces does the sleeve hold at a time? I'm worried about getting my recommended Fluid intake in. How many of you ended up back in the hospital (be it the ER or inpatient)?

Just as I expected, my surgeon took me off all my meds, sent me home with a 4 day supply of liquid Lortab, and then refused to refill my RX. Fortunately my GP has known me for 10 years and had no problem filling my RX. I have since fired my surgeon. He's clearly an idiot if he expects a chronic pain patient (who has been on vicodin for 7 years) to take liquid Tylenol for pain. I also had to fight for pain meds in the hospital...well my mom fought for me. It's always nice to bring another nurse with you to the hospital.

Oh, and I've also been able to eat a little bit of pasta with no problems.

I have already advanced to soft foods. I am pretty much eating solids, just chewing them up really well. I start my day out with a protein shake or bar (if the bar I chew chew chew!), I can have things like chicken salad and crackers for lunch and dinner. I still eat soup, chili, cottage cheese, and greek yogurt. I have added salmon, string cheese, mashed potatoes, refried beans (sometimes I eat the insides of a bean and cheese burrito). I have not allowed myself to try much meat yet, no beef at all, and no raw veggies still. Occasionally I will throw a handfull of berries in my smoothies. I have not been sick once since my surgery, no throwing up at all. My sleeve seems to be handling the solids very well.

I am not really able to tollerate water either. When I can it has to be room temp, which if you had asked me to drink before I would've refused. I started out drinking low calorie gatorade and tollerated that very well. Now I'm drinking propel fitness water, and I like it a lot. I am even drinking iced tea now because I need my caffiene fix. I find I can drink tons more tea than water...I have no idea why. Also, the tea makes me pee more often. When I was just doing gatorade and water I was only going twice a day and my urine was very concentrated. Now its clear. Just something I thought worth mentioning.

I was really cautious when I started to drink again. I am a wine lover, and I was missing the social aspect and meeting the girls for a drink after work. I started slow, one glass of wine (where I used to be able to drink a bottle), and honestly it didn't even leave me feeling "buzzy". Didn't make me sick. So lastt night I was with friends and drank wine again, about 2.5 glasses, again I couldn't drink it very quickly, and I was fine. Just pace yourself and maybe stay away from the hard stuff for a while?

Update: I am at day 14 now and I can eat about 1000 calories a day. I'm focusing on overall nutritional value vs. calories. I'm just making sure that everything I put in my mouth has a good amount of protein, calcium, iron etc... I am at 15 pounds lost in 14 days.

Ps, did you ever think it would be HARD to get 1000 calories in? =)

I've been told I need 1000 calories a day. Yeah right! The most I've been able to eat was 900 calories, and that was just one day, and I had to force the food down. I'm trying to get in my calories...its tough!

I love ice cream. I know its not on the diet, but sometimes I have to give myself permission to have a little bit. The best advice I've received so far has been: eat the very best quality you can afford. You will only be able to eat a few bites, so splurge on the best. I personally LOVE Ben and Jerry's greek frozen yogurt. Yes, it is high in calories, but it also has over 6 grams of protein per 1/2 cup. It has a ton of calcium too. So its not completely empty calories. I can eat about 3 to 4 small spoonfulls, and I feel very satisfied.

Okay, so fair warning, this will be a bit graphic. I have been having very small, hard stool about every 3 days since I left the hospital. I thought nothing of it since I haven't been eating much. Well now I'm impacted. As in I seriously have a large amount of stool that is dry and stuck in my rectum. I have tried to dig it out with lube, have done an enema, took stool softners and miralax. It is the most painful thing I've ever experienced. Please someone give me some advice. What do I do? I'm at the point on the toilet that I'm almost passing out. Break out in a sweat, chille, shaking, lightheadedness, and the pain...oh god.