Patti K

I lost 42 pounds pre-surgery and only 20 post op. the sleeve didn't appear restrictive until I got to solid foods. Then it only seems to be when I eat meats. I get a bloated feeling when I eat breads and pasta (which I mostly try to avoid since I don't like that feeling lol). I lose more NOT tracking than when I track which probably stems from me curbing calories TOO much when I track. When I don't track I eat when I am hungry and stop when I am satisfied. I may eat every two hours but so be it. When I track I try and do St. V's 3 times a day rule and I always stall.

I was working with St. V's and had submitted to insurance using Ben-meir when he left. I stayed and had my surgery with Hassan. I was sleeved 7/31. I was overjoyed to nit have Ben-Meir. To me he seemed to have a "God" complex. He would change my life. HE would be the catalyst to a better future...not the SURGERY. Hassan was humble and down to Earth even though he was heavily sought by THREE hospitals. St. V got him and I couldn't be happier. I love the staff at St. V's. I also had Diane for a patient advocate and she put up with my crazy when United Healthcare made a big deal about the surgeon change. I think Hassan should have not done such a good job because I have had no problems and can eat anything! My only issue with St. V's stems from Hassan's PA. She can't let go of their old program. I am being told one way of doing things by the regular St V staff and she will tell me to do something else "but don't tell anyone she said that". It is confusing. St. V's has an amazing bariatric unit too! My night nurse, Renita, was amazing and so upbeat! And The day nurse, Mary Pat sent me a card at home and said to come back sothey could see my progress! I loved my whole experience from intake through discharge!!!

I felt the same way. I can drink a 32 oz water bottle in no time. But I didn't start feeling "full" until the solid food point. Also, I think the surgeon cut my sleeve bigger because I can eat a good amount sometimes. Well, a good amount for a sleever not a good amount like I used to! Lol. I am still losing though. Slower paced for me but I am ok with that if it helps me avoid excess skin!

You CAN experience real hunger. I explained the stomach pain I was feeling to my doc's PA because I wanted permission to take my acid reducer un the evenings as well. It is only acid if you feel it by your heart and gas if you feel it in a larger area of your abdomen than just focused on your stomach. My pain is central to my stomach and is a tightness, dull achey feeling. No burning or "fire" feeling. She said it is hunger and some people do still experience it after aurgery. Surgery does cut the stomach part that produces ghrelin but some people experience hunger pains anyways as the stomach will make itself known if your body is requiring food. Needless to say I did not get the ok to take an evening acid reducer, I got the ok to eat a small piece of cheese or 1 egg white or the like.

It is all the protein. My teeth are groos and my bf is always calling me on my breath. I just brushed and my mouth feels clammy and i know my breath is bad. It is all the protein. So it probably is ketosis.

I have never een on meds for my thyroid since it was still in the normal range, just on low. But I am kind of excited to see my resting MR.

Only lost one pound since 2 weeks ago. They are ordering a metabolism test. Great!

Bleh, I ate kore meat today and my fat content is higher than my protein. Gr! MFP can't calculate when you trim fat! My protein was only 29%

Well, yesterday I had carbs at 22% and protein and 43% and no losses. Actually gained a pound. And I walked a mile! Oh well, gotta be calm and let it happen on it's own.

I just noticed my percentage goals for carbs and protein are inverted from what we are finding works so I may jist work to invert those and see how that does!

Ok, on MFP I range from 21 grams of fat to my worst day of 42 (I ate 3 oz of pork steak which even though I cut the fat off MFP still counts it). Here is my program's plan for regular foods (which starts this coming Tuesday for me had I followed their timeline) 3 meals a day. 20 G of Protein AT LEAST per meal with a goal of 60-70 per day. Less than 40 G of carbs. No specific goal on fat, but remember to eat lean meats and cut fat off of fattier ones. Approximately 800 calories max a day. Their sample meal plan for this stage however includes a light Breakfast sandwich made with egg white, turkey sausage, and a whole wheat english muffin. According to MFP, this meal consists of 27.5 carbs, 250 calories, and only 12 grams of protein! This is using Thomases muffin, jimmy dean turkey sausage, and great value egg whites. This would leave me with only 13 carbs left forthe day and not enough protein in my first meal. Calculating this has seriously made me feel like my program has not considered their plan thoroughly. Although they are a center for excellence. The timeline is 2 weeks liquids (nothing particles or cream) 1 week thick liquids (include thin yogurt, cream soups) 1 week pureed foods (still pretty thin) 1 week mushy foods (applesauce consistency) 1 week soft foods (for some reason can include very very toasted bread chewed to a paste-like substance and iceburg lettuce) After 6 week appt can do all foods except: Pasta til month 4, corn, fresh fruits and veg until month 2, steak until 6 months, other lettuces in month 2, alcohol for 1 year, carbonated drinks 4 motnhs if ever. I think that is everything. Also, the NUTs give differing food intake advice from the PA. I haven't seen the surgeon since I was in the hospital. My program farms people through efficiently so the surgeon is not a very important part of the program after he performs the surgery. B

I accidentally posted before I was done and am cooking also so here are the deets.... The reason I didn't follow the program. They wanted two weeks of liquids only. broth, Water, Protein shakes, milk. No Soups no particles of any kind so not even tomato!!!! I was STARVING at day 4 post op! I was already having no triuble getting fluids and protein so didn't understand the hunger (taking omoprezole) so I had to have something with substance. Then at soft foods they complained that I ate lunch meat. What?!? Their timelines don't seem to follow anyone else's on here. I am intaking less than 40g of carbs, 60+ grams (usually the +) protein, and 85-100+ oz of water. I work out 4-5 days a week doing a mile or two walk or a leslie sansone video so 20-45 minutes. I went to the rec yesterday. Swam and did elliptical. Granted before the NUT discussed carbs I was intaking 75+ grams. But every idea she gave for strained liquid stage (another two weeks that I couldn't wait through) was all carbs...milky oatmeal, thinned chili with Beans....etc. so there it is. I eat about 1/2c to a cup (depending on what it is) 3-4 times a day (dr wants 1 c 3 times a day ONLY) but I am weak and tired if I only eat 3 times a day. I feel better at 4-5 times a day

If you have a smart phone they have apps to help you eat slower. Look up bite timers. My doc says aeal should be no less than 20 and no more than 30 minutes. My timer is set for one minute between bites. Most of the time I am done before the 30 min mark as i am full. Portion control stops overeating and the timer helps me slow it down! Hope that helps!

I had the same info from my bariatric program. And they said I was probably stretching my sleeve or causing a leak! I think they are super mean to try and scare people. i have literally had very few problems. All foods are fine (except Pasta swells in my belly). I have only had one time (today) where I felt awful because i was caught up in the conversation (at a labor day cookout) and didn't listen to my sleeve. I was laid out for 30 minutes feeling miserable (not like I binged at a buffet but like the flu) and then I was fine. Otherwise, I have had no prblems. I have reduced my carb intake since my dr appt., but I notice that when they do the post-op classes and give food ideas for each stage, they specify carb heavy foods! Like puree included milk thinned oatmeal pureed. What is the difference if I chose grits over oatmeal? Same carbs. So now I eat mainly meat, cheese, and veg. Less than 40g of carbs a day.

How many calorie are you eating? My Physician Asst said sice i had only lost 18 lbs in the firr moth that I was eating too many calories at 800. However, allthe stall posts seem to work out more with an INCREASE in cals than a cut in cals. I cut to 500 which is where she said I should be eating now and I lost 5 more lbs and then stalled again. Gr! I hate feeling "not good enough". Why can't the fact that I have lost anything be a positive? Gr again!!!

I have gotten back into cooking shows since my sleeve. I can actually watch and NOT be hungry allte time! AND I watch US of Bacon and All You Can Eat and both disgust me that food service attracts us likes moths to a flame. There is a restaurant called Heart Attack Grill or somethig in Vegas where u eat free if you are over 350 pounds and they spank you if you don't finish your food. And their burgers are named Bypass burger like Single double triple and quadruple bypass!!!! Crazy!!!!

Your Dr should not be putting such ideas into your head. This is not an exact science. Everyone loses differently.

As I am the person who "complained about my NUT getting upset" I am going to weigh in: my NUT got upset because I deviated from the food progression, NOT MY DIET. Some foods are necessary in the beginning for the food progression that are carbs (such as thinned oatmeal - a carb, pureed chili or beans - also carbs) and to get my protein and feeling of fullness I skipped purees and went to soft foods to be able to ingest eggs, chicken, etc. and to eat with my family as I am not rich and can't afford separate meals in groceries. In doing so, I also incorporated more carbs in the last two weeks (let's admit it, carbs, like potatoes, are cheaper than proteins) and we had to discuss and revise my eating plan. My post was about how adamant they were that I skipped purees...not my weight loss or if I was "wasting my sleeve" as has been implied. I felt ok progressing more quickly due to reading posts of other people on here with less strict food progressions than my program so didn't understand their anger. I am sorry you aren't losing to your liking. I am not losing to THEIR liking but I am still happy to be LOSING! However, my post has nothing to do with your issue and I didn't come here to be judged. Thank you for your "support" but in reality you could have ranted about your lack of weight loss without bringing me into it. On that note: your body is in starvation mode and sometimes will slow to try and maintain calories. Add a little good fat (like olive oil for cooking) or increase calories by a small amount (50-100) and add in a few more minutes of exercise to conpensate and this may help. All advice from my physician assistant, because my surgeon is so busy with surgeries I haven't seen him since he said I could leave the hospital. Glad to know yours answers email.

Did you all tell your NUTs and PA's about experimenting? I did today at my 4 week follow up and you would think I told the world about Fight Club (sorry movie reference: rule #1 do NOT talk about Fight Club)! I have been eating to high of carbs and we discussed it but they acted like I broke all 10 commandments on Easter Sunday. It was a little dramatic. And I haven't had an issue with anything I have tried (haven't tried gelato lol) so if I have beenfine what is the big deal? I have been careful and listened to my sleeve. I never feel uncomfortable or bloated or full even. Ugh!!! I get to "satisfied" like I could be done and I just stop.

Men can be babies. And they don't like change. My man is so unsure of where he will fit in to my thinner life (we got together 18 months ago and I was fat then too) and he is giving me a lot of push back and no support...but it is HIS fear of losing me that is closing him off. Your man may joke about his MAN TITS as a way to make you feel better about your weight. He may not necessarily feel that he needs to change but wants you to know he isn't perfect either. Let him know his conplaining isn't helping but stressing you instead. Have a good long talk with him. I had to. And so far (we actually broke up overnight a few nights ago) he has been more supportive.

My school is online too and they have a service when lfe events happen. Check and see if your school does. When I had to do coubseling seasions pre surgery the service found me a counselor and I got 4 free throgh the service and they will help me find someone in my neighborhood who goes by income when my insurance switches back to having the deductible again in January (due to my surgery meeting my out of pcket the rest of this year is free)