NMJG

Just bought some root beer extract and I put it in my vanilla shakes and almond milk. Tastes like root beer float Just thought I would share with folks bored of their regular protein flavors.

It's been two years now since my sleeve, and it's the best choice I ever made. My weight is stable +/-10 pounds or so, and it's relatively easy to take off weight that creeps up. I can eat pretty much all kinds of foods now. I still eat relatively small amounts, eat slowly and with small bites. I don't drink with my meals except a small sip now and then. I focus on low carb and high Protein meals. I eat plenty of fats. I still eat my protein first at every meal. I try to stay away from carbs, particularly refined carbs like breads, sugar, honey, rice, potatoes, corn, etc. I don't mean I never eat those things, but I try to limit it or I start to gain. How much can I eat? I can eat 5-6 ounces of meat and a 1/2 cup of vegetables at a meal. Sometimes I can eat more. I can eat a fair amount of salad, as lettuce doesn't seem to take up much room. I walk for exercise, take the stairs, and use a standing desk at work. This keeps my metabolism working better. I hate working out or gym classes. I still drink a lot of fluids and if I don't I get dehydrated very easily. I do drink alcohol, but I try to stay away from sugary cocktails with lots of fruit juice or sweet mixers. The first six months are the hardest. The next six months are difficult, but so much easier than the first. The second year things get much easier, but this is also a danger zone for a lot of people, I think. You must always be aware of what you eat. That said, it is easy to stay on track if you follow your rules: Eat your protein first Eat your vegetables second, and eat a good variety of them Enjoy fruit but limit it Avoid starches and sugars as much as possible (potatoes, rice, corn, bread, tortillas, Cereal, pasta) and save them for special occasions. pizza is my downfall. Keep up with your Water, Vitamins, and tests to insure you are not deficient When you want to drop some weight, do 3 days of Protein shakes. That will reset your sleeve. Then eat high protein/low carb until your excess is off. Once you are back at goal, slowly reintroduce foods back in and try to minimize those carbs to stay at goal. I'm happy to answer questions. Good luck to you all.

Good luck to you! I am sure you will do great!

Try Protein shakes for 3 days, it really works to reset your sleeve. Good luck!

Hi Amy, At which point are you referring to? Cheers, JG

I got in 70 grams a day and 10 glasses of water on average from the beginning. Nowadays I get in around 60-80 grams of protein and 8 glasses of liquid.

Hi Kathy, I went from 235-207 prior to surgery over about 8 months. It took from August to March (6 months) with the sleeve to get from 207 to my current weight 137. I walked 30 minutes a day 5 days a week, then as I felt better and my knees were better, I walked 45-60 minutes, 5 days a week. Nowadays (when the weather is good) I'll walk 60-90 minutes a day, 5 times a week. I also use a standing desk now and stand all day instead of sitting on my fat butt. I was never able to do that before, and it keeps my metabolism going.

Hey Kathy! Thanks! Hope all is well with you

Cut your carbs to under 20 per day and make sure you get all your Water in. That usually does the trick to restart your engine.

The first month sucks. Sending hugs! It will get better. . Thank you I have been trying to move around as much as possible I haven't had any pain meds since leaving the hospital .. Tomorrow is stage to modified full liquids for to weeks then my follow up appointment .. Been having weird leg episodes no pain or tenderness just tingling and heaviness sorry so long I feel so alone I ask questions on here I get a few responses I don't have face book... It's hard

I have found far better success with low carb vs low fat. In fact, I can eat really high fat and not gain at all. Carbs will pile the pounds on me, even in relatively small amounts. My body wants to store all those carbs away in case of famine.

I experienced this on occasion. I found it decreased over time. Then I got cold lol.

I walked at least once an hour. I also stopped the morphine quickly to avoid constipation on top of the surgery pain. Did Tylenol or Advil instead. Good luck!

I've drunk coffee for 35 years. Been off of it this past month since surgery. Tried decaf three times over the past week and each time I ended up not drinking it because it tasted nasty to me. This was at three different places, too. What things have you lost your taste for?

I had some pounds creep back after the holidays and started swimming laps, but I would be starving afterwards, so I wasn't losing weight. Found out that cold stimulates appetite, so now I'm soaking in the jacuzzi after my swim and it seems to help keep the ghrelin down. Also upping protein and cutting carbs. Still working on it.

Personally I do low carb, high fat, and I'm never hungry. I don't exercise much beyond a half hour walk each day. I Keep carbs below 20 g per meal, 60 per day. Those of you having trouble with hunger might give low carb a try.

I don't count calories, only carbs. I keep under 60 carbs per day and no more than 20 per meal. I eat high fat, so my calories are probably high.

I'm terrible with keeping up my supplements. I know I need to do it.

Best wishes to you. Sending hugs your way.

Dang! That's amazing progress. Keep it up!

Olive Garden will purée minestrone soup for you if you ask them to put it in a blender for you. It was such a treat when I was in purée stage.

I had the cough for months after surgery. Eventually it went away, but took a long time.

One year out and I can't tolerate shakes anymore, they give me diarrhea. They were a very useful breakfast and I miss that.

I would like to recommend an alternative. Try eating low carb and high fat. Cut out soda and beer. There are many low carb/high fat eating plans out there., just google it. Why is it different? You can pretty much eat what you want within the guidelines and as much as you want, the fats keep you satisfied, you don't feel like you are on a diet and you can even shop at costco. The best thing is that it works very well with the sleeve and makes losing and keeping the weight off very doable. Easy rules: NO bread, rice, Pasta, chips, Cereal, potatoes, sugary stuff, bananas, mangos, beer, soda LOTS of meats, chicken, fish, cheese, nuts, guacamole, Peanut Butter, cream cheese, bacon, eggs Fruit and vegs that are OK: leafy greens, cauliflower, broccoli, celery, rutabaga, bell peppers, tomatoes, any berries, cantaloupe etc Good luck, man.