BKLYNgal87

In the beginning you'll have some food "intolerances". Use this to your advantage, because more likely than not, it won't last forever [though everyone is different]. For me, in the beginning I had difficulty with steak, other meats were fine, but my real gut buster post-op was bread, Pasta, and rice. 7 and 1/2 months later I can eat pretty much anything, but I try and avoid simple carbs because if I eat them I won't lose any weight. I also have difficulty drinking plain Water, even nowadays. It feels heavy when it hits my stomach. So I drink a lot of crystal light and flavored water.

Wa'alaikum Salaam, Noor! I'm actually not Muslim - my fiance is - but I've seen threads before from members discussing Ramadhan fasting while sleeved. They are around

Congratulations! You look fabulous!!

I'm kind of struggling these days on the food front. For some reason I'm retaining a lot of Water (not in line with my cycle and I'm not overindulging on the salt - labs pending) and the hunger has resurfaced in a big way. What used to satiate me 2 months ago seems rather small these days, but I'm trying my best to stave off the overeating by measuring everything. eggs and soy goods aren't super filling for me like they used to be. Now give me 4oz of steak or lamb chops for lunch and I won't think about food for the rest of the afternoon! Shrimp I find fairly filling as well. Lipstick, I'm really in awe of you and your progress!

The problem I have had with the frozen dinners is A) I just find them nasty usually - if you can stomach them then more power to you - and B ) they skimp on the Protein and often give you a lot of rice or Pasta. I am a big fan of the recipes on The World According to Eggface, Emily Bites, and Skinny Taste. They are my lifesavers! You'll have to decide, based on how far along you are, what you can eat now and what you should leave for later. This week I've already made http://www.emilybites.com/2013/11/slow-cooker-thai-peanut-chicken.html . It's so good, especially wrapped up in lettuce leaves. You don't need a slow cooker. I buy a rotisserie chicken, shred it up, make the sauce in a bowl and combine chicken and sauce in a wide pan and simmer on low for 15-20 minutes, stirring up occasionally. Later this week I'll be making this again http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/10/thai-green-coconut-curry-shrimp-with.html, minus the rice. I make cauliflower rice instead. Based on your profile on here I'd say you're doing great! Keep up the excellent work!

Okay... starting to get concerned. I am up nearly 5 lbs this week despite eating no more - and usually less - than 1100 cal a day. I suspect it's nearly all water weight because mathematically fat gain just doesn't make sense. My carb intake is minimal, but I do eat veggies and some fruit. Mostly still getting 80 grams of protein a day, if not more. I've really only been doing cardio at the gym recently, no hardcore muscle building. My period finished maybe a week and a half ago so it's not related to my cycle. I usually gain 1 lb a week before my period. My hunger perception is way up too. Back to feeling like I used to feel pre-op (low blood sugar feeling when hungry). In short, I'm in hell. And, naturally, my GP and surgeon's office were totally empty today so no one will see me until next week. I just keep ballooning and feeling more and more defeated. Anyone else experience this??

My sodium intake has been minimal actually. And my ankles are pretty swollen. I'm doing blood work on Monday and seeing my doctor on tuesday. Thanks for your replies!

Hahaha This made me laugh out loud at my desk. Newsflash to your friend - WLS is *supposed* to make you healthier looking, not sicklier, so clearly you're doing something right!

Tuna was my go-to when I was on mushy solids. Shrimp, especially grilled, is kinda tough and sinewy. Best to save it for later on. But tuna and ranch dressing sounds good. Hmm... now I'm hungry. Gee thanks, PDX

Congratulations!! My doc says I can take a new sleep test after losing about 15-20 more lbs. I may be running the victory lap like you then!

Do you have physical limitations that prevent you from exercise? If not, why aren't you exercising? Have you tried curtailing the calories back from almost 1100? I am almost 7 months out and I eat usually less than that. IMO, Weight Watchers is at best, a terrible diet for obese people, and at worst, a diet designed specifically to keep people "on the plan" and not to lose the weight they need to. Why? They are a for-profit company - that's why! I personally would only reserve it for maintenance but wouldn't follow the daily carb allowance. It allows you too many carbs, truly. The effective tool for rapid weight loss is ketosis, and you'll never achieve that on WW. Expect a loss in the wallet, but not much on the scale. If it worked so well for all of us then why did we end up getting surgery? If I were you I wouldn't give up on your nutritionist's plan yet. Go back to your surgery center and explain your issues.

Incision sites are on your skin, so not sure how popcorn kernels could get stuck in them unless you rubbed them in or something? I think you mean the stomach seam. I would wait on the popcorn at least a month or so post-op. Once you're healed up and able to eat things like nuts, which are also harder to digest, you should be able to handle popcorn. For me popcorn is a slider food. I could eat a whole lot of it without realizing it. Snacking is a slippery slope post-op. Gotta be careful and mindful of it so you can continue the weight loss and don't sabotage yourself in maintenance. Edit: I don't know who told you popcorn is the leading cause of appendicitis, but you can be sure they are not a knowledgeable medical professional as that's totally untrue. Very unlikely and uncommon that an errant kernel would cause a blockage. Most of the time it's an infection or a stool issue.

You're thinking of ketosis, which is kind of what a WLS patient should strive for, because ketosis causes rapid weight loss. Are you diabetic? Acidosis generally means you may have an increased acidity in your blood. It could indicate a metabolic issue, as Indigo said, or it could just be a lab error. Gotta get that re-tested and if/when confirmed you'll probably sent for more specific testing. Hopefully it's nothing or something that can be cleared up easily. Keep us posted!

http://www.5daypouchtest.com

I have caffeine every day. IMO there is no legitimate medical reason to stop drinking caffeine so long as you don't overdo it. Good for you for only having a bite of the sweets. I can't do that. One bite is never just a bite for me. Better for me to steer clear entirely, which should be easier now that the holidays are over. My splurge is definitely nuts as well, or fancy cheese.

I didn't lose anything for nearly 3 weeks over the holidays. I'd say mostly that was my fault. I had relatives staying with me and we went out to eat a lot and I didn't go to the gym like I should. There was also too much temptation around my office snack-wise. Even if you were following the diet to a T, stalls are totally normal. The body needs to just rest sometimes. Changing up the menu and exercise routine will help you push past it. I am a fan of the 5 day pouch test, that seems to temporarily eliminate my snacking cravings and increase restriction. Don't be dismayed - everyone goes through this at some point. Keep pushing forward and you'll see the scale move again!

Yes my experience is it does get easier. When you can't fit it in the right place it causes discomfort and can fall out. I didn't like using them much but now that I'm 82 lbs lighter they are my first choice. I also realized during my last period that I don't need to buy the long pads anymore! Woo hoo!

Yeah I am a bonafide sugar addict. The sleeve did not change that one bit. I cannot do moderation, especially because nowadays I am trying hard to cope with a lot of stress in my life. Truth: I have been eating things the last 2 weeks I shouldn't have eaten. Only lost like 1.5 lbs in the last 2 weeks because of it. I notice I only do this at work, where much of my stress and anguish originates. When I'm in the grocery store, I don't buy sweets and when I'm home I don't snack. My problem is my office and the availability of candy and sweets. Since I can't up and quit my job I have to do all I can to resist the temptation of momentary sweet salvation. So I am doing my best to abstain completely. Because once I have one bite, it never ends up being just one bite. Not everyone needs to do that, but for me for now, it's the best choice. We all indulge sometimes, no one is perfect, but we have to get back on the horse, so to speak, take responsibility, and move forward. Make tomorrow better.

Wow!! You look GREAT! Keep up the excellent work, and you will get to goal. But in the meantime, you look really fabulous.

My friend, I am going through the exact same thing [boredom/complacency], except I have not been so good about the food choices for the last week or so. I gained a lb and a half that I managed to take off again, but this time of year it is very hard to walk away from the table. It's a struggle each day. I'm not giving up though. I'm 35 lbs to goal and I've gotta accept it's gonna take a while to pass is home stretch .

Beware of dubious statistics and the studies that produce them. Hint: most statistics that come out of the "social science" category are suspect. The utter trash I see in published in psychology and social science journals is pervasive. Only good for lining bird cages. Edit: I wholly support couples seeking therapy when they need it, for whatever reason they need it. But bariatric surgery is not different from any other big life change that can contribute to divorce.

As of today I am a vet so I will comment: AMAZING!!! Just freakin' amazing. You're the best Laura. What an achievement!

A surgeon? Dr. Arif Ahmad at Mather Hospital is one of the best. I originally consulted with him for my VSG. Only reason I switched is because I live in the city and trekking back to the island for follow ups wasn't going to be feasible.

I agree! This site is bad for concentrating, especially at work I had more trouble concentrating before the surgery because I had sleep apnea. This has improved tremendously after losing nearly 80 lbs. But I still find myself fighting to get work done during the day sometimes. The internet offers so many other distractions! To cope I've started developing little systems to keep me on track. Before I leave work for the night, I write out a list of the most critical things I need to do the next morning. I keep a schedule of my day at work broken up by theme - I am a coordinator, I do a zillion different things at work (emergencies come up often that derail the schedule, but at least most of the time I can stay on track). Lists definitely seem to help me. Almost daily exercise helps me clear my head as well. As for the reading predicament, are you reading John LeCarre or James Joyce (lol jk)? When's the next time you're due for labs? It's a possibility that nutrient deficiency could be a factor. But if they come back normal then there are some things you can do to re-focus. I used to do daily meditation in college. It was a tremendous help if you make it a habit.

You look just amazing. Like a whole new person! Congrats on your success! What an inspiration