LipstickLady

Nope. Go back to the beginning. Start your process over. Liquids for a few days then add in full Protein foods. No carbs, log everything and walk. Walking is free. You can jump start yourself and get back on track. I have no doubt.

I'm going to go ahead and throw out the the opinion that you are not a doctor or a nutritionist. I'm fairly certain you've not spoken with all surgeons out there and don't know everyone's plan. I may be wrong, but I'd wager on all this if I could.... At 6 months out, my doctor, NP and NUT all told me no more shakes. They wanted me to get my protein from "real" foods like meat, cheese and eggs. Shakes are to be used sparingly and only for occasional convenience. My doctor also allows coffee and caffeine. He allows real fat and real sugar. AND he suggests REAL WATER! Full bottles of it! What the what?! Imagine that! How in the world did you get the idea that you know what "most doctors" allow? Where did you get your level of expertise that allows you to chastise and shame people with a lot more knowledge than you? I'm no expert on anyone but me and I dare say the same is true for you. I'm floored.

Wow. Name calling? Rude much? Shame on you. Your post was practically incoherent but it seems as if you're saying not to have real sugar or artificial sweeteners. What, pray tell, do you suggest in all your expertise? I've had surgery, I've successfully reached my goals, I'm thin and healthy. I got here by eating real fat and *gasp* real AND artificial sweeteners. I know my body, you don't. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess you aren't a doctor. In fact, you are an obese man who, like the rest of us, needs (needed) WLS. If you are so all knowing, how'd you end up in this position? I hate to break it to you, but just as you say having bariatric surgery does not make you an expert, starting the process but not yet having it makes you even less of one.

Fact: You've chosen to have major elective surgery to help you combat your obesity. Fact: Your insides are still healing. You have a major staple line and are at huge risk for leaks, infection and damage to your staple line. Fact: You are eating foods that I'm fairly certain aren't on your food plan but can certainly cause a lot of damage to your newly cut stomach. What food stage are you on? At two weeks, I was still on mushies. I wasn't allowed to have nuts or seeds until almost three months out. Mashed potatoes are the only thing you listed that could be considered purée. I've never met a "low carb" plantain chip and those flax seed things and crunchy PB aren't low carb either. If you believe they are, you need to relearn your nutritional facts. You are already tired of being "sheltered"? Girl, you have a long road ahead of you. You want to be "normal"? Did your NUT not give you any preop info on what to expect right after surgery? "Normal" will come, but it's a while away and it's not the normal that got you to a point where you needed WLS. I won't throw the words denial or food addiction at you, but you need to step back and take a long hard look at what you are saying here. You used the word cheating for a reason. You are asking for help. You know if what you are doing is "right" or "wrong" -- you don't need a stranger on the Internet to tell you. Personally, I don't subscribe to the word cheating. I'm an adult making adult decisions. I choose to stick to plan or I choose not to. No "cheating" about it. If you are "cheating", the only person you are "cheating" is yourself. Self sabotage is a sad thing to do to yourself so soon in the game.

I'll be sure to run my "excuses", "lies", "reasons", and various other choices in who I tell and what I tell for your approval in the future because having walked in my shoes, I'm sure you know more about my life and my journey than I do.

Never did I say that WLS has nothing to do with my success. Nor do I fib. I'm not sure how much clearer I can be than that.

I have no idea what you are trying to say here.

I'm going to quote myself from earlier. It's amusing to me that the only judgmental people in my life about this surgery are those who are also WLS patients on a support board. HA!

Well now. You told me, didn't you?

Yeesh. I finally waded through your wall of text and picked out a few nauseatingly old points to address. No, I don't share my WLS with everyone and no, that does not make me a liar. It's not my responsibility to educate people on WLS. Never did I sign a piece of paper or swear an oath taking on that task. I pick and choose who I want to "educate" but even then, I choose what details I want to share with them. Just as it is not my job to preach my faith, my ethics or my morals, it is not my job to preach elective surgery. People are backing out at am "alarming rate"? Oh the eff well. Not my concern. If they aren't ready, I am certainly not going to be the one to "talk them into it". Again, not my job, not my responsibility, none of my business. This is a decision to be made between an individual, their loved ones and their health care PROFESSIONAL. I don't **NEED** to be anything to anyone but myself and my family. My best friend is thinking about this surgery and medically, I am sure her doctor has told her she needs to have it. She's unsure and afraid. I will NOT talk her into it, I will not discuss it unless she wants to. This is HER decision 100%. If she were to suffer a complication I don't want that to lay on my conscience. As for being offended by your words? Snicker. I find your assumptions on my duties amusing at best. It will be a cold day in Hades before I allow a stranger on the internet be my moral and ethical guide.

Walk off the gas pains. The more you walk, the faster they will go away. Yeah, it sucks until about three weeks post op. Then, all of a sudden, the fog lifts, the haze clears and your energy comes back. Hang in there! It's not like you have a choice.

Not everyone "cares" about it and not everyone feels that way, either. I'm not "hiding" anything, nor do I "worry" that someone might "find out". Yeesh! Here we go again. <eyeroll> IF YOU DON'T DO IT **MY WAY**, YOU ARE DISHONEST!! It's amusing to me that the only judgmental people in my life about this surgery are those who are also WLS patients on a support board. HA!

"ONLY" 10 pounds?

I find myself hungry at bedtime, too, and I am 18 months out. If I don't eat something, I wake up really hungry. I have found that the best, longest lasting solution to my hunger is beef Jerky. It takes a long time to chew, it's dense Protein and it's flavorful so it cures any cravings.

I always thought I preferred cold over hot, too. But this is BONE CHILLING cold. All the time. I still prefer thin over fat, though, so...

Wait! Your MOM did your surgery?? WOW!!! Yeah, uhmmm.... HA! Move your body, you will feel better. You will eventually be able to eat. You will eventually be able to drink. (Well, I can't and I'm 18 months out, but MOST people can.) Find a hobby to master in the next few days. Knit some scarves for Christmas. Hell! Get your Christmas shopping done while you are off! Shopping, walking, big job done, THREE WAY WIN!! You'll be fine. And much thinner by the new year!!!

:faint: Let your doctor know you "researched it online and it's OK"?? EEEEK! Just because you read it on the internet doesn't mean it's true. I was allowed to take gasx but the gas you are experiencing isn't really affected by the strips. Your gas is not inside your belly, it's in your body cavity and all you can do is walk it off. I walked literally for hours after my surgery and I had very little pain once I got moving. I would never dream of telling you to go against your doctor's orders, especially right after surgery. Call me a crazy rule follower, but if something went wrong, I would forever question myself if I didn't listen to the person I entrusted my life to.

I did as well but the smell of those things does drift.

I'm surprised a hospital would allow that. My daughter has asthma and is highly sensitive to air fresheners of any kind. That would kill her breathing.

38 pounds in 5 weeks is fabulous! I'm missing the slowness here...

TJMaxx.

The gurgling stops after 5-6 weeks.

No judgement, just opinion based on the facts you presented.

Sounds like a bunch of excuses to me. You don't need good weather, a treadmill or a bike to exercise. You can do squats, sit ups, push ups, jump rope, jog in place, walk the stairs, do yoga, pilates, or just walk the halls for free and with no equipment. Your husband's lay-off (sorry about that -- I know it's stressful) and excessive eating has no bearing on you either. Unless he is holding you down and force feeding you, what he puts in his mouth is not adding to your caloric intake. I know I sound harsh but facts are facts. If you are serious about losing weight and utilizing your WLS, you have to take accountability for your actions. You can exercise, you can eat right, you can track. If you choose not to, that's OK, that's your right, but if you are serious about getting to a healthy weight, the excuses stop now and you do what you know you need to do to get where you want to be. Best of luck to you!

Many people retain a lot of Water post op because you are pumped full of saline during and after surgery. Be patient and follow plan. I know it's easier said than done, but you will lose.