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you mean clothes that you don't fit into anymore? go for it! you will be able to maintain with the surgery!

Sooo glad you are feeling better and more like yourself!!!

If it makes you feel any better, post-op my only WTH did I do moment was the day after surgery when I was really thirsty bc my surgeon doesn't allow fluids until after the 24-hr leak test. After that it was smooth sailing. I think it's just normal jitters. always easier being on the other side. Just take one day at a time and try not to overthink it--I know that's easier said than done. Wishing you all the best!

I understand your frustration, but I don't think it's the "norm" to lose 30 lbs in the first month. Remember how long it took to put it on. Also, the sleeve is about maintenance as well as weight loss. Only 5% of people who lose weight thru nonsurgical means keep it off. the rate is MUCH higher if you've had WLS. Wishing you all the best--I think it's normal to feel anxious at this stage but in a few months, you will look back and realize how much these incremental losses add up! Good luck.

refried beans with cheese are a good bet, soups... that might be about it right now. I'm a vegetarian but I thin some people do flaky fish and chew well. will you have a little fridge and microwave in your hotel room? I might rely on that and eat yogurt etc. I didn't eat out for at least the first 2 months.

Proud Grammy I know that you will be successful long term! I think that is inappropriate. Maybe you should mention something to the office manager at the doctor's office. You don't need to say who said it to you but let them know about the comment and you could recommend that maybe some overall staff education might be in order....

PS--this is pretty similar to what I ate at your stage. I also did some mushies like refried beans with cheese and added unflavored protein powder to soups (cooled down a bit to avoid clumping), sugar-free hot chocolate, or Greek yogurt (more palatable to add half a scoop to that much Greek yogurt). You could try ricotta cheese too and I did vegetarian meatballs by Morningstar mushed up in the ricotta with a little marinara. At 3-4 weeks I could only eat 2 to 2.5 meatballs and now I can eat 4 or 5. Your stomach is still very swollen. I didn't feel like mine was normal (new normal) until about 4 months out.

You're doing great. Are you asking about calories bc you feel hungry or weak, or because mentally you feel like it should be more? I would say you are at just about average for this phase. you are doing great on your protein!

Some of the processed foods during mushies can be high in sodium. Usually you can flush out any related fluid retention with extra water. I was surprised at how high some of the things were in sodium when I started tracking on myfitnesspal.com

I also have upped my fat intake a little bit, which I think helps with hair loss. I focus on good fats like nuts, occasionally a little olive oil, and avocado. It makes me feel more satiated too and I'm consuming only about 100 calories more.

Yes, I am for 20 g of protein at each meal and then if I have a snack, it is also high protein (usually Greek yogurt with protein powder added for at least another 20 g). That theory about how much protein your body can absorb at one meal is controversial, but I like spreading it out anyhow bc it's more palatable.

I would think that you could appeal since the first surgery was not successful due to a defect in the band that affected your anatomy--and you have it documented.

You would have to take sooo many of them to get up to any appreciable level...I think it would be a lot worse than just adding some protein powder to your food (have you tried it in Greek yogurt?) or drinking a shake (I like Premiere protein, 30 g of protein and 160 cals mixed with coffee over ice; I actually look forward to it).

You look great! I would say about 2 lbs per week is pretty average after the first month or so--just make sure you get in at least 60-80 g of protein, limit carbs other than from veggies and fruits, and drink at least 80-100 oz of water a day, plus get in as much exercise as you can. If that seems slow, just think of how quickly 8 pounds/month can add up--32 pounds in 4 months, 96 lbs in a year--etc. Plus it's a lifelong change rather than a finish line, so that helps when I think about it too.

Going closet shopping and fitting into "incremental goal" clothes I bought on clearance "hoping" that I might fit into them at some point. I even get to cut off the tags before I wear them.

Yes, probably temporary water gain for hormonal reasons (ovulation or pre-menstrual fluid retention), but if you don't think that's it and you are concerned, definitely go see your doctor, bc sometimes it can be something more serious. Make sure you are getting plenty of protein and limiting carbs plus drink extra water. Great "recipe" for diuresis.

I don't know how I feel about the not enough protein thing--I am eating probably triple the amount of protein that I did before surgery, including immediately post op (I was lucky and never had a problem getting protein shakes down). My surgeon says the same thing though.

My hair loss started at 3.5 months out, and now at about 5 months and 1 week post op, it seems to be slowing down a bit. I was taking Biotin but it didn't seem to help, so I stopped. I am using Nioxin shampoo/conditioner--may not have decreased hair loss, but may be encouraging new growth. My hair had also gotten a little dull and some of the shine seems to be coming back. Have gotten plenty of protein throughout, including the first 2 weeks. Your hair is weakest when it is wet, so if you can minimize the number of times you shampoo per week and how much styling you do while it's wet, that can help, too.

I've been using Nioxin and I think it has either slowed down my hair loss a little or has helped with regrowth. Seems a little better.

an 8.99 TSH is pretty high--glad you are getting your dosage increased. Mine got up to 5 not too long ago and I felt awful. An additional .25 mcg of synthroid really helped.

There's a lot of controversy about armourthyroid--the dosages may not be as reliable because it's from an animal source (pigs). Just an FYI.

Totally agree--and if they ate a cupcake and lost 2 lbs, perhaps they would have lost 3 lbs had they not eaten the cupcake....

hmmmm I LOVE Unjury--most palatable protein powder out there IMO. It's also "hospital grade"--most bioavailable one so many hospitals and physicians recommend it when patients need protein powder for various health issues. I did NOT like the Unjury "cheese sauce," but the vanilla, chocolate splendor and unflavored are fabulous. They blend really well, too.

If you eat meat (I don't), I have heard lots of people say that they like the Wendy's chili while on the road. You could blenderize it or just be sure to chew it really, really well and eat slowly. You could also do mashed potatoes, but you are better off focusing on protein. Soups are great during the puree phase. I am a vegetarian and I really like the Morningstar protein products--the vegetarian meatballs and vegetarian breakfast "sausage" especially. Those early post-op seem to find that they set better than animal protein and they are easy to heat up if you are going to have a fridge and microwave. I like to heat the protein "meat"balls with a little ricotta and marinara plus some parm and/or mozz cheese (just a bit for a protein and flavor boost). Also, Greek yogurt is a great source of protein during the puree stage. You can add half a scoop of protein powder to boost the protein. Laughing Cow soft cheese wedges are a lifesaver too. You can also do refried beans topped with some cheese. Even Taco Bell has them if you need to do fast food while traveling. Good luck and have a good vacation!

Dr. Ben-Meir did my surgery and he was incredible. The care I received at St. Vincent was exceptional--the dietitian I saw really knows her stuff and I credit her with my success as much as the surgery. The PAs are great and the nursing staff exceptional. I have not heard where Dr. Ben-Meir has landed but if your surgery is still a ways away, I think it's worth seeing if you can find out where he lands so that you can have him do your surgery. He follows evidence-based practice and really knows his stuff. He has done numerous clinically/technically challenging cases and has great outcomes.