TES

P.S.--less is more, especially at first--try to undereat your sleeve. As long as you hydrate, you should be satisfied.

Does your surgeon provide guidelines? I would go by that. At first I measured everything because your nerve endings are still healing and it's tough to have that too full cue until you are full healed.

Mine told me not until the incisions were completely healed, which for me was probably just over 4 weeks (the one where the drain was took longer bc it was bigger). I used the waterproof Nexcare bandages even then just to be sure. An infection would be awful. Also, I couldn't do structured water aerobics classes for either 8 or 12 weeks--they didn't want to risk tearing the staple line.

I've never experienced dumping syndrome but I stay away from junk (I'm 5 months out).

My medical team implied that I should be at about 500-700 calories that far post-op. It sort of happens naturally if you try to get in at least 60 g of protein a day and limit carbs.

sorry to hear this--I would call and ask to talk to a supervisor. If you have phone records documenting when you left the vm messages, you could provide those.

I like Unjury the best, but no matter what, there's going to be a slight taste and texture difference. I like it best in things like yogurt, shakes, and half the normal amount in soup. I probably wouldn't put it in beans. Some people put it in SF pudding, but I don't eat that....

It will be like that forever. I am actually really used to this now. I only stop drinking about 5 to 10 minutes before eating but I wait 30 minutes or more after eating to drink--especially if I eat a meal with some fiber, like raw veggies. I don't feel well if I accidentally drink too soon after. This was actually my biggest concern about the surgery (not drinking while eating) but it becomes the norm pretty quickly post-surgery. My RD suggested I practice doing it before surgery and just couldn't bring myself to do that--but after surgery, it makes you feel the best, so it's easy to embrace it.

Wishing you all the best! You are doing pretty well if you are posting on the boards from the recovery room...I barely remember being in there!

Wishing you all the best! The catheterization is no big deal if they do it--they will do it while you are under anesthesia, and you'll be grateful when you are recovering. It will probably come out in less than 24 hours and it's no big deal when it comes out, either.

Love the idea, but I like doing it digitally, because I would worry about losing or misplacing the disposable camera or having something go wrong with it. With an iPhone or digital camera, you can back up on your computer or a flash drive in addition to having it on the device with the camera.

I didn't have one either. My surgeon palpates the surgical area in your preop appt (under the guise of showing you where your incisions will be--but he is really checking to see how fatty your liver is). If you have a fatty liver, he puts you on Medifast for a couple of weeks prior to surgery. Even though I had a higher BMI, my liver must have been okay (my adipose tissue tends to be evenly distributed and not heavily in the abdominal area)--and I didn't have to do the pre-op diet. Did clear liquids and a bowel prep the day before.

I would just worry about making up the fluids given your post-op status. I might talk with someone from your religious organization about the possibility of a medical exemption. I do understand the importance of religious practices, but you don't want to end up in the hospital from dehydration.

what about just doing digital photos?

How far post-op are you? My PA told us to expect diarrhea starting a couple of days post-op, for about 2 weeks. That's exactly what happened to me.

liquid and solid measuring cups, a couple of little dishes that you love to eat out of (I have some wide-mouthed mugs with handles that I use and tea cup plates), a shaker with a little wire whisk type ball in the bottom to mix protein shakes, a good blender (I use a Vitamix but there are lots of good ones on the market), a stick blender to puree soups, a food processor (nice to have not a must have), a registration with myfitnesspal.com, good walking shoes, a couple of non-BPA water bottles that you like, a fancy glass that you like drinking out of to make water drinking a nice experience. The only thing I went out and bought out of all of this is the shaker for protein shakes.

omg that stuff is soooo nasty--tried a raspberry "salad dressing" several years ago and still feel a little nauseous when I see it in the store. Yep, it's all chemicals....

I'm 5 months out and I have continued to feel hunger from the beginning. It's not "head hunger"--it is a physiological feeling that my body needs food. It is different than a craving for a specific food. It's not unbearable but I never had unbearable hunger cravings before surgery, either. I would sometimes forget to eat until the afternoon (which of course is a bad habit) pre surgery. I am wondering if I might have had less ghrelin than normal presurgery and that is why I haven't had a dramatic difference postsurgery. I am still losing, slowly but surely, for which I am grateful. I am hypothyroid and have never lost weight quickly or easily, so I sort of expected that the pounds wouldn't fly off. It's ok, bc I'm going in the right direction. But sometimes I see people who aren't really exercising and aren't as diligent about their diets as I am, and they are losing much more quickly. Assuming they are reporting in accurately, some of it has to have a physiological basis that varies by individual.

My surgeon doesn't allow any liquids that are more than 15 calories for 8 fl oz, so I haven't been doing coconut water since surgery. I used to like to drink it when I felt dehydrated or after a workout. It is really refreshing.

Very well-said, Cheri. People can only speak to their own experiences, not others'. I truly believe that all else being equal (starting weight, exercise, calories, water, protein), people will experience dramatically different weight losses--even early on. Everyone is different. Just because weight loss is easier for one person and more difficult for another does not mean that the person who is losing more easily is working harder or that the person who is struggling isn't trying. Yes, if there are things to be tweaked, we should all tweak--but don't judge unless you've walked in someone else's shoes.

Wishing you all the best!!!

Wishing you all the best!

First of all, you look amazing! Congratulations on your success. I know that at 5 foot 8, you could weigh about 175-180 and still be in a normal weight range. So that's my guess.

Wow, what a great idea! Thanks.

I'm going to be honest...it makes me uncomfortable if people comment on my weight loss. Especially if they ask if I've lost weight and then ask how much...and then try to guess how much. LOL! So maybe it is a blessing in disguise.