Recycled

Follow the instruction of your Doctor's coordinator. They deal with the insurance companies and are aware of what is required and what will get by.

Say hi to everyone and split.

Try this link. I listed a few a while back. http://www.bariatric...y-new-journey-���/

I agree. Besides, there is no one normal. Everybody's different. The only normal I can relate to is my own recovery........that, and what I have READ on here about other's recoveries. So newbies, before you go freaking out, try reading a few posts. Maybe even do a search. There's only hundreds of the same topics over and over that will probably answer your question a dozen different ways. At least look at the Recent Topics section. I have seen the same questions asked three different ways and still showing in the Recent section. I know, I know.....you want an answer right away. It's only been a few hours or a couple of days and everything happening is still new and unknown. To you that is. To those that are months out it's routine and can get very redundant repeating the same answers over and over. Think of it this way. If you do a search, you'll usually get lots of responses instantly. No waiting. You can belay your fears instantly. You might even find answers to some questions you haven't even thought to ask yet. Give it a try. No matter.....we will still be around to answer whatever questions you might have. And remember, when you get several months out......don't be too hard on the newbies.

Spot on! (did I get that right)

What about a local Gastro- Doc? Or even your PCP?

Actually the tone was intended. Difficultly breathing is not an issue for an online forum. It wasn't meant to be sarcastic. It was meant to emphasize the importance to seek a doctors advice on what could be life threatening and not waste what could be valuable time on here. I hope your are feeling better and things are alright now. Just ignore the tone. Sometimes us guys can come across a little too insensitive. I really did mean well.

Ok, I have written some posts earlier on the hunger pangs vs head hunger. It's one thing to suggest that head hunger is not the same as hunger pangs from being hungry. But dealing with head hunger still needs to be addressed. Before, I simply just tried to ignore the head hunger desires during early stages post op, but lately when watching commercials or having reoccurring thoughts of chocolate or various cravings, those thoughts are very real desires that just won't go away. So, very nervously I decided to submit, but in a controlled manner. I cleared enough calorie space in my daily food intake to allow for satisfying a craving. I bought some Reeses pieces in the little minis. Later that evening I had a single serving which was 6 pieces. Boy did they taste good. Exactly like my craving tasted in my mind. Now the...but. A few minutes later the after taste was not all that pleasant. I kinda felt like they weren't that good afterwards. So, reflecting on that experience.......a few days later when the craving returned, I had them again to satisfy the craving. This time I only had two little minis. The taste was the same.....very enjoyable. The craving seems to be satisfied and there was not undesirable side effects later. So my conclusion was to not resist totally any and all cravings, but to allow just enough to satisfy the taste for it. No damage done to my daily guidelines and the cravings go away. The real trick is to remember the undesirable effects of too many and only partake of a small taste. Not allow the old habits of eating till the whole bag is gone. I know some will say to avoid the sweets and cravings at all costs. And while this may be the best advice for many, I'm just throwing out another option that may help as it does for me now.

Well, half way there in a little over 3 months. The food adjustments were not that hard, but trying to maintain the gym and exercise routine is another story. I have to prod myself every time to go and it takes me half way thru the sessions to get into the groove. While I can certainly tell I have lost weight, I think the real noticeable loss is going to be the second half on my way to goal. The psyche can be frustrating too.....Even though the first half of my weight loss seems to have flown by, anticipating at least another 3-6 months to lose the rest, still seems like a really long time. The real difference this time around is.....for the first time I feel I am in charge and losing in a healthy manner. I'm doing it and not some quickie pill or fad diet that will only be temporary. I don't have this sense of hurrying to a goal only to revert back to old eating habits. I am satisfied with the food choices I'm making now and I have found I can control any cravings in a limited way. Thanks to little "sleevie" it's just not worth it to use my limited daily food intake for junk. Always Protein first..........Sorry fatty stuff.....just no room left for you. Enjoy everyone.

Actually I doubt there is a way to really get an accurate and truthful evaluation of these type of questions. People just won't be honest. There is no upside to answering with a negative response. Everybody lies in the interest of being nice or just not hurting someone's feelings. (Thankfully no one can read minds) Even it they think they don't care about appearances, circumstances will dictate the answers most times. More so than verbalized ideals. In one given situation it might not matter and would be overlooked and yet with alternative choices in another circumstance it might be a deal breaker. Even attempting to point this out will probably get me flamed.....so it's just better to keep silent. We are a visual species.....Put a hot looking tight skinned body next to a attractive but excessive loose skinned one and it's a no brainer. The question really doesn't need to be asked. And regardless of that line of "I love you no matter how you look" . I'm not naive. I hate how the extra skin looks on me and if and when I can afford it, I'm ditching it pronto. Ok, I have my flame retardant suit on now.......fire away.

I have read many posts relating to issues like yours several months out and the gallbladder is typically the culprit. I am about where you are and while I had no pre-op concerns with my gallbladder, it's always in the back of my mind should any symptoms arise. Just food for thought.

Try to think of these first couple of weeks as babying your new sleeve and incisions. Healing time. Gentle liquids to keep you hydrated and be easier on the abused tissue. Don't be concerned about all the diet regimens right now. Later when you transition to soft, then solid foods and are allowed to start doing real exercises......that's when you can step it up a notch and pay closer attention to daily intakes. Just try to get in enough liquids so you don't get dehydrated or dizzy. Take it easy.

Ok, I'm putting this in my folder of posts I have read with this exact same line...........And I'm gonna have to get a bigger folder. Relax.......this is a long haul. Your body is really pissed off. You hacked it all up and deprived it of food and it is just trying to show you who's boss. It will give up soon and let go of the weight and you'll be on the road to a skinnier you like the rest of us. Oh, and one more thing. That same body will not give up with just one fight......It's gonna keep trying over and over to hang on to the remaining weight (stalls) and make you give up and feed it. Don't give in...........Hang in there and you'll make it to your goal.

Don't be in too big a rush to plan out the future. Your mind is in post-op mode and everything you think and do is related to what to eat and how much of this and that. It will settle down later. At the beginning I found that preparing meals and the such was extremely tedious and time consuming. Everything in such small portions and having to be so accurate. Number counting all the nutritional needs etc. I'm sure I drove everyone crazy with my obsession. Things will tend to fall into a more manageable routine later on and you will not pay so much attention to every detail. But to sum up......don't be in a hurry to discard the shakes just yet........they really come in handy for quickly jacking up the Protein. I even found myself missing them when I would run out.

Really......you just had surgery and your go to place for medical advice is an online forum of strangers. Call your doctor.!! Do not rely on medical advice from a forum. Whether or not someone else experienced something or not is of no consequence to your individual situation. Get professional advice.

The other signs are still to come. You're being careful right now..........Just wait till later when you're in a hurry or forget to eat slow, (eating fast is a hard habit to break) and you fork it down too quick........then you will know "too full". Not much you can do then but just be uncomfortable till it passes. I measure all my food to be sure of portion size, but if I eat too fast, it still gets me.

Actually, I'm not cheating. Cheating would be if I in fact did eat the whole bag or ate these type foods to excess. As I said above, I did not do that. I simply satisfied a taste craving without the need to binge. In my case, it was a means to maintain control of my eating. It's perfectly acceptable to eat foods that have carbs and sugars and the sort and still maintain a healthy diet. It just must be in very limited and controlled amounts. However, if you feel that attempting any trigger foods would be to slippery a slope and risk blowing the whole diet, that is understandable too. I surprised myself in my ability to eat just two little pieces and be satisfied. Who knew.

I have not done juicing very much yet. But your thought of using the unflavored Protein mix gives me thoughts of trying it more. I have used the Isopure unflavored mix in other dishes, but have not been pleased with the results. While there is no noticeable taste from the mix, it does not mix well when any food is heated. (It clumps terribly) Plus they say heating nullifies the protein effect of the mix. Additionally, trying to get in enough mix to add a decent amount of protein usually changes the consistency of very small portions (3 ounces) of food. So I have this big jug of unflavored protein mix just taking up counter space now. I think I'll give the juicing idea a shot. smoothies and juices add quite a bit of liquid and you can't have too much liquid.

This is probably the most common concern of newly sleeved members. The entire weight loss journey will be variable. There are going to be alot of unpredictable sensations and stalls and concerns, but in the end.....you eat less, exercise and the weight comes off. I have found by charting a graph of my losses that I lose one or two or a few pounds and then plateau anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks with no loss and then resume losing a few again. Over and over and over. At first it ticked me off and was frustrating. Now I expect it and pay little attention to the time factor. After a while I look up and notice.....wow, I have lost 40 then 50 then 60 etc. It just keeps going. Relax. Try to ignore any lulls or stalls. Your body will adapt and then resume losing.

Omaha tenderloin tips in a mushroom gravy sauce in one of my favorite "high protein" meals nowadays. And surprisingly 3 ounces is very satisfying.

At 40 bmi, I doubt a week liquid diet will change much about how easy your recovery. However, there's no time like the present to get started on a change. I will suggest that regardless of whatever pre-op liquid diet, a good cleanse (magnesium citrate or the like) the day before surgery will help considerably in recovery. good luck

The pre-op ideas surrounding food desires and WLS will take some time and experience to settle into realities. You may or may not actually give up certain foods depending on both your choices and if you tastes change post-op. And even if your taste does change, it may not last. With the sleeve, I have found there is nothing I cannot have. That being said, I have chosen not to have alot of foods as I simply do not miss them as much as I thought I would.

mmmhffffmmmm.........<------ trying to keep my mouth shut. Ok, I'll lay off the "what you're eating". Do you have any idea what size bougie your surgeon used? Have you had a follow up appointment yet with your surgeon? Do you weigh or measure your food. (guess not if you're eating cheeseburgers/fries) <------ see that, oops, (couldn't keep my mouth shut.) How long did you do liquids post-op? Are you experiencing any feeling of fullness...ie: chest pressure, coughing, hic-ups, pain? Are you drinking fluids when you eat? These are all things pertinent to how much you are supposed to eat and the limits of the sleeve. You can certainly exceed those limits. I don't know what answers you expect to receive from this forum. If your sleeve is too big, you need to take that up with your surgeon. If you are not following guidelines.......as you put it......"If I could eat right on my own, I wouldn't have needed the sleeve". That is true, but the sleeve still demands guidelines or it will not work. If you think it will do the whole job, you have been misinformed. This may not be what you want to hear, but it's the reality. Sorry. If I were you, I'd schedule a serious discussion with your surgeon and express your concerns to him. Good luck

I picked other because I just haven't had the desire to visit a restaurant at all. If and when I do, I don't feel I would have any issues as I have been eating anything I want. I just expect I'll take most of my food home in a doggie bag.

You've got quite a long staple line on your remaining stomach. Stretching that incision could cause a leak or worse. You might even have some hernia repairs as well, which would also be vulnerable to rupturing. The surgeon will probably advise you to not do any heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for a few weeks. It would be in your best interest to follow that advice. Give you body a chance to heal. The bike will still be there.