Chris R

Good luck with your surgery, Joe. My engagement ring fit perfectly when my fiancee gave it to me a few months ago - now it practically spins around my finger on its own, so the ring shouldn't be a problem soon!

Wow - do your foods come up without the crushed pills too? I've found sugar-free, fat-free pudding works well with crushed pills - masks the taste really well.

I'm only 3 weeks out myself, and I, too, can eat fast, and seem to be eating more than most on here. I eat 1 c of cottage cheese for lunch, and finish it in about 10 minutes without feeling overfull. The more solid the food, the less I am able to eat and the longer it takes me. I have been eating around 800 - 1000 calories a day, and getting way over my minimum Protein. I am able to drink pretty normally, I just don't chug like I did before surgery. Reading the experiences of most on here, it sometimes concerns me, but I have been losing about 5 lbs a week since surgery, not including the 10 lbs of Water weight I gained from the IVs in the hospital. (Including that would make it 8 lbs a week!) I'm happy with that. I also have not had any problems as far as throwing up, sliming, or anything like that.

I long ago started discreetly asking the flight attendant for the 'seatbelt extension' as I boarded the plane. I can't wait until I don't need it any more!

I do feel hungry before my meals, but it doesn't take much eating to make it go away. It's not like I'm hungry all the time.

It really doesn't sound like it's a problem, especially as your overall intake is only 500-600 calories a day. How long does it take you to eat a 'meal'? I worry about eating too fast. I only get a 22 minute lunch break at work (I'm a teacher), and my mornings are very hectic with getting myself ready and getting my daughter up and moving so I can drop her off at school, so I don't have a lot of time to eat before I leave for school.

My son has Cigna. I'm not sure if the insurance requires a specific number of nutritionist visits, etc., but when he started the program last May, they required 6 consecutive months in a program, (now reduced to 3,) and if you missed having a check-in appointment in any month, you had to start over again. The program we are in required 8% of total body weight lost, monthly weight checks with a physician's assistant, 2 visits with a nutritionist, 2 visits with an exercise physiologist, 2 times attending a support group meeting, and a lifestyle changes class that was either 6 Monday evening meetings or 2 Saturday morning meetings, a meeting with an MD, and 2 meetings with the surgeon prior to surgery. After surgery, there are several check-ins with the surgeon (2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months post), 3-4 check-ins with the nutritionist (2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months post), and 1 more visit with the exercise physiologist post-surgery. The exercise physiologist and the lifestyle changes class had to be paid out of pocket, a total of about $200. Other than that, it was just the copays ($10 per visit.) They also made us go to a sleep clinic to be tested for sleep apnea, and we had to get CPAP machines due to that, but it was also covered. The rest has been covered. Edit: Oops, forgot the psych screening - covered, too.

I'm assuming it's your pre-surgery diet. Keep in mind that the purpose behind it is to make your surgery easier - both for the surgeon, and for YOU! When you feel hungry, drink some water instead. It can help you feel more satisfied.

I also gained 10 lbs of fluids in my 3 days in the hospital. Don't worry, it'll happen!

Free Advice: NEVER weigh yourself in the evening, especially if you already weighed in the morning! Almost invariably you will see a gain due to eating, drinking, etc., which is needlessly demoralizing. You may be amazed to see how much you have lost in the morning!

2 weeks out I was still on full liquids - no cottage cheese or eggs then. I was doing my Protein shakes, 2 a day made with 8 oz milk each, maybe some cream of wheat for Breakfast, and creamed Soups for lunch and dinner, mostly. I was able to eat a full cup of creamed Soup if it was a thinner consistency, but only 1/4 - 1/2 cup of the cream of wheat. Water is really important! I've been getting at least 6 cups a day, but I really try to shoot for 8 or more.

I did have a "last meal" the night before I started my 2-week pre-surgery liver-shrinking diet - went out to my favorite restaurant and ate what I wanted. But I don't necessarily think it's a good idea to just be totally out of control. Changing the way you eat is going to be difficult enough after surgery - you will HAVE to control yourself or you could do serious physical damage. Believe me, I totally understand your feelings, especially now. Having been through 1000 calories a day for 2 weeks pre-surgery, then 1 day clear liquids the day before, NOTHING (including water) the day of surgery, water only next day, clear liquids for 2 more days, full liquids for 2 weeks, and now having finished week 1 of 3 weeks of soft/pureed foods only, I am dying for something I can really sink my teeth into! But it's well worth it to finally be on the road to losing the weight and keeping it off permanently. And after all, I know eventually I will probably be able to eat most if not all of the things I used to - just a LOT less of them! Patience - it's worth it!

Seems like everybody gets different advice from their Dr. and NUT. I know I've seen at least one other post where someone said they were told not to use the supplements at all, but being just 3 weeks out, I can't imagine having been able to eat eggs right off the bat. I was allowed to start them 2 weeks post, and although I was really craving something more than liquids, I did find it a lot more difficult to eat them at first. I think if I were you I would ask them about the reasoning behind it. I know the idea of living on Protein supplement shakes forever doesn't exactly fit easily into the lifestyle of most people. I was told they want me to do only 3 meals a day and one snack because it just doesn't really work easily in most workplaces in our culture to graze a little every few hours.

I had 300 lbs to lose when I started my surgical 'program'. At that time, they told me that the surgeon probably would want me to get the bypass due to my diabetes, but I really didn't want to re-do all of my internal plumbing! 9 months and 60 lbs lost later, I met with the surgeon who told me it was my choice! I chose the sleeve and am very happy with that decision. I had also read about problems with absorption of not only vitamins, but pain medication, and people who had bypasses being accused of drug seeking behavior because their bypass prevented them from absorbing their pain meds!

My NUT and surgeon only want me eating 3 meals a day, plus a snack. I am usually between 800 and 1000 calories total, and way over on my protein. I do think I need to try to get in more liquid though - only been getting about 6 cups a day, and really want to shoot for 8.

How much are you eating in a day? It might not be enough. I've seen many posts on here about people hitting stalls or losing slowly, and increasing their calories and water intake helped it. Don't get discouraged. It's possible a lot of the faster losers you've noticed were people who were larger to begin with, like me.

Absolutely - using food to soothe at this point will definitely NOT be soothing, and could only lead to more pain and problems! Seek out friends, clergy, any method of support you can find! *hugs*

I've seen a lot of posts on here that say if you stall, to INCREASE your calories and your liquid, and it usually will break it. Your body may be in starvation mode from so few calories.

On my android phone I tap the home tab, and "daily". Don't know if the iPad is any different...

The surgeon told me 2 - 3 weeks - and it almost took 3. I sympathize - I felt like someone had hooked me on the inside with a fishing line and was pulling at it constantly - to the point of a burning sensation. SO happy to have it gone!

Well, probably too late now - try to sip a little water. Next time take it SLOW. It's getting easier now, but when I first started eggs last week, I could eat much less of them than I was able to eat of full liquids, and had to eat them slower or it got uncomfortable.

I was out one day shy of 2 weeks. I'm a teacher, but I'm not on my feet a lot (due to knee problems). I had pain when walking along one of my incisions for almost 3 weeks - it finally stopped yesterday morning. (The surgeon had said I'd feel a "pop" when the stitches finally dissolved enough to let go, and the pain would stop - fortunately I slept through the "pop"!)