NMJG

I averaged 10 pounds a month, then I averaged 4 lbs. a month, now it's down to a pound or two a month. As you say, the goal is keeping it off, and you sound like you are well on your way to do that.

Same for me, foods I can't tolerate induce some sort of unpleasant physical reaction. I can't tolerate foods with cinnamon oil or sour candies. It causes burning in my sleeve that is painful. When my sleeve was new, I couldn't tolerate raw fruit or vegetables. For example, I tried a few sliced strawberries and within 30 minutes had explosive diarrhea.

Tenshi, I feel for you. It's so easy to fall back, it is my greatest fear. Good luck to you, I wish you all the best getting back on track. One suggestion I discovered by accident, if you go on just Protein shakes for 3 days, it helps bring back your restriction. Maybe try that to kickstart yourself?

uggh. just went to the gym at work and did 20 minutes at 110 heartrate on the stationary bike. Lordy, I hate exercise LOL. I figure my BMR is around 1380. If I eat 1000 calories a day and do 300 calories of exercise a day, I *should* lose a pound a week, one would think. I've heard that HIIT is a good way to go. Guess I'll sign up for boot camp (eeek). It doesn't start for another month, though.

I agree, my walks are pretty sedate.

thanks, Irene, I was thinking about that. Honestly, I hate exercise LOL, but I am very good about getting my walks in. I was thinking that adding in something different would help move things along. I'd really like to get my fat butt into the pool and swim laps (did that when I was younger), but I can't seem to motivate myself to actually do it. Maybe a spin class? There is a boot camp class I can take this summer, but I'm afraid!

At 8 weeks i was doing around 500-600. Finally got to 800 and stayed there for the majority of my weightloss.

WTF? I am 53. Honey, you are NOT too old. There are lots of successful people on here into their 60's. You can do it, and I bet you rock that sleeve. That nurse is ignorant.

My go to is a tall decaf skinny mocha latte. 110 calories and 11 g protein. I don't have them often so it is a real treat when I get one.

It is hard and we have all been there. Do your best and don't give up. You will get it figured out. It gets better.

Thanks for posting it, Irene

@@swimbikerun Just keep answering on this thread, you'll be up to 100 in no time!

I always used Protein powder early on to get my protein. Never used NF milk powder. I don't really like it, nasty stuff For sleevers (I don't know about RnY), I think there is a different diet plan for every doctor out there. Some are low carb, some are low fat, some tell their patients not to worry about it and just get their protein in. Some people are able to manage <20 g of carbs a day. Some people shoot for a minimum of 130 g of carbs a day. It's all over the board. The important thing is to trust whoever your nut is and follow their plan. There is research to support almost any position you decide on. For sleevers, there is no biological restriction on sugar like it is for bypass. Some sleevers will dump (I've had that pleasure on occasion) but it is not a common problem with the sleeve.

If you search Forums for "packing list" several good threads come up with suggestions. Honestly, though, you need very little. My advice would be to include a heating pad to help manage pain and GasX strips. I found them invaluable.

yeah, I drink decaf on occasion and I can attest that it still has a small amount of caffeine, is still a bit diuretic, and still causes acid in the stomach. Not a great choice for sleevers, especially early on. I have it once a week or so. When I do have it, I count it towards my fluids. However, on those days, I almost always have to drink extra water because I'll get thirsty.

Hi, I'm JG and I'm a sugar addict. Sweets are my downfall. I am managing it, but I wish to heck I didn't like them. The first few months after surgery I didn't like sweets at all. What a blessing. By 6 months the demon was back. Ugghh. I can't have just one. I'll eat it until I'm sick or the candy is gone.

Coricidin is OK, I believe. It's OK with high blood pressure, too.

Hi Will, Some good advice has been offered here. I'll give you some of my two cents if you are interested: Eat fajitas! You are in Austin, home of excellent fajitas. Just skip the tortillas, chips and rice. Try the Texican Cafe. They will fill you up with all sorts of meaty TexMex deliciousness and you won't be hungry at all. Have the leftovers for lunch the next day. Try a Whataburger Green Chile Cheeseburger without the bun (and no fries). Will fill you up and is tasty. Go to the big Whole Foods on 6th and Lamar and get fresh sashimi at the lunch bar (far back right side near the fish dept). Fill up on that awesomeness. If you are still hungry, stop by the ginormous salad bar on the other side of the store. Just avoid croutons, potatoes, and other starchy add-ins for your salad. Barbecue! Drive out to Lockhart on a Saturday to Kreuz or Smitty's for bbq prime rib, ham, sausage, brisket, and ribs. I don't think they even serve sauce (real Texas bbq doesn't need sauce) and there are no utensils, just eat with your hands. Avoid the bread and potato salad, but coleslaw, sauerkraut and Beans are great. You will be full and guilt-free. This is some of the best bbq on the planet, don't miss it. I am 8 1/2 months out myself. I changed my diet to eat more fats because fats keep away hunger a long time. I kept my Protein and calories the same, but switching the make up of my meals to nearly half my calories from fat and 10-15% from carbs made a difference for me in satiety. I have whole milk and regular cheese, cream in my coffee, regular salad dressing, guacamole, bacon. Not everyone follows a high fat diet, but I have found it works well and there is a lot of research to back it up if you google it. I also dig into veggies a lot, salads, and berries. These are all filling, low calorie, and low carb, and help keep me on plan. Good luck to you!

Not everyone gets a catheter. I did not. Did they say you would have one?

I'm cruising in a month. Here is a thread I posted - some excellent responses on it. I do plan to drink alcohol, maybe one a day. I do expect to eat off plan, but I'll stick with Protein first so that it will fill me up and limit the sliders and sweets. I'm going to try and avoid grazing. I will do shipboard exercise classes and hit the gym, walk the ship (and ashore) and get in my normal 10,000 steps a day. It's OK if I don't lose, I don't expect to. But, I don't want to gain, either. Have fun, everyone!

Great post! I love celeriac. I don't use it for Protein, though, I use it as a potato substitute. Basically, anything I would do with a potato I do with celeriac for a low carb/low calorie version. You can mash it with butter and milk, roast it, microwave it, serve it au gratin... Chayote squash (or mirliton) is also a good potato alternative, as are rutabagas. If you wanted to use it for a high protein dish, maybe make Shepherd's Pie? For the base, brown up some ground meat (beef or lamb or turkey) with some minced onion. Add a few tablespoons Water to make a broth and cook it down a bit. Season to taste. Put in an oven proof dish. Top it with mashed celeriac. Brown in a hot oven for 15 minutes or so and serve. When you eat it, be sure to dig down and eat the meat first so you don't get full on celeriac

I had never heard of them so I looked it up. I personally would stay away because they are almost double the calories and triple the carbs for one serving with only 15 g Protein, compared to other brands. So many brands are only 150 calories for 20-30 g of protein. One rule of thumb a lot of sleevers use is no more than 10 calories per gram of protein. If you search on here for Protein powder you will find hundreds of suggestions. Good luck.

I saw my dr last week and he told me no plastics until I am at least 18 months out from surgery so things have time to stabilize. Bummer I hate the wrinkly flabby stuff. EV1988, I am very happy for you. I wish you a speedy recovery. How about some pics?

I got it at Walmart. I bought Watkins brand, although there are other brands out there, too.

I used to drink 3-4 glasses of Water every meal. I thought this was going to be the hardest thing for me after WLS. But I got used to it and I don't even think about it anymore. I drink up to about 5-10 minutes before a meal and then wait about an hour afterwards. I've gotten to the point where I can feel if it's OK to start drinking again and most of the food has left the sleeve. For me, if I drink with food or too soon afterwards I feel very nauseous and the liquid bubbles back up my esophagus. Believe, me, I am not tempted at all to drink with meals now. The worst of it is no wine with meals if we are at a nice restaurant. So if I am having wine, I have it early and make sure I'm done before the food comes. If there is any left I give it to someone else at the table. I tell the server to make sure my wine comes well before the food. If it doesn't get there until the food arrives, I send it back. I'm so high maintenance