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I used MFP religiously to log everything during my loss phase, (mostly to make sure I was getting enough protein). I worked my calories up to 1000-1200 per day, (it was a struggle) with about 80g of Protein. I still supplement protein in maintenance and probably always will. I was burning 500-600 5 days per week in exercise. You DO need to feed your still healing body! Follow your team's instructions on how much. It DOES take a while to get back to full energy and "real food" will help a lot as far as maintaining a normal energy level.

I was told to wait at least 18 months which as far as I can tell has been good advice. I'd lost 95 pounds about 10 months in and have been watching my body continue to change tho my weight has been stable for the last 9 month or so. I'm 48 and carried 50-100 extra pounds since I was a kid. The skin sitch is actually better than I thought at this point. No overlapping anything, but lots of minor "puddling" and wrinkles on the legs and belly. Not sure if I'll do anything about it or not. Plastics are painful and an expensive proposition. I'd have no assistance from insurance as I can't prove medical necessity.

When you begin to add things that are likely to swell up like bread and biscuits, try your first taste without additional foods, (I know, Protein first, but don't over fill your stomach till you know how you tolerate bread if ya know what I mean). Today, I can eat 1 egg on 1/2 piece of toast or 1/2 biscuit, or 1/2 english muffin in a kind of open faced sandwich, but it fills me to the brim. The other 1/2... Forget about it!

When you begin to add things that are likely to swell up like bread and biscuits, try your first taste without additional foods, (I know, Protein first, but don't over fill your stomach till you know how you tolerate bread if ya know what I mean). Today, I can eat 1 egg on 1/2 piece of toast or 1/2 biscuit, or 1/2 english muffin in a kind of open faced sandwich, but it fills me to the brim. The other 1/2... Forget about it!

I was to be seen at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. Blood drawn at the 3 month, 6 month and 1 year mark. If you're not having problems, waiting another month should not be a huge deal. If you ARE having problems, there better be an emergency on call for your Doc's office in an emergency.

I was to be seen at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. Blood drawn at the 3 month, 6 month and 1 year mark. If you're not having problems, waiting another month should not be a huge deal. If you ARE having problems, there better be an emergency on call for your Doc's office in an emergency.

I was to be seen at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. Blood drawn at the 3 month, 6 month and 1 year mark. If you're not having problems, waiting another month should not be a huge deal. If you ARE having problems, there better be an emergency on call for your Doc's office in an emergency.

Not really. I count Protein grams (at least 75g per day) and counted calories (roughly) during my losing phase when I was told I wasn't getting enough food. I shot for 1000-1200 per day and just tried to balance the rest between fat and carbs in MFP, but never really paid much attention to anything besides protein.

I add a scoop of chocolate or vanilla whey to my morning coffee to make a latte. I choose PowerCrunch Protein Cookies or a Quest bar as a snack. I COULD (barely) get my 75+g of protein from food, but living on grilled chicken or another meat and nothing else 5 meals per day is just not how I choose to roll. I like variety and I can have it if I supplement. Plus I've found supplements I really like.

I had the same concerns. My doc does a 90% sleeve. That's... A LOT. I figured my chances were better living long term with 10% of my former stomach than all the weight related health problems I'd developed after I turned 40, (and that's when things really began to go down hill for me health wize). Today at 48, after about a 95 pound weight loss, I'm the healthiest I've ever been. Free from the 10 pre-op prescriptions for cholesterol, BP, anxiety and asthma with normal everything. If I have to drink a couple of Ensures a day when I'm a senior citizen, so be it!

I would invite you to stop judging what other are eating. It's no more your business what they're eating than it is their business what you choose to eat pre-op or post op. Let it go and you'll be much saner through this experience. You'll choose to do what you choose to do post op, but consider a long term strategy that includes not trying to be "perfect". Seriously, there are no "good" or "bad" foods! There IS abusing nutritionally shallow or high calorie foods which is what got most of us into the situation where we felt we needed to take the risk of WLS. Some choose to "swear off all bad foods" forever and that works for them, but I'm one of those who chooses not to "diet" post op. I dieted for 40 years and it got me nothing but a cycle of guilt, food obsession, giving in, rinse, repeat. I eat the occasional corn dog. I eat the occasional chicken strip. I eat the occasional desert, but typically only a bite or two. I lost well and maintain well by making high quality food choices about 80% of the time and not feeling one bit guilty about the other 20%! It's given me a freedom from food addiction that I didn't think was possible. For me, anyway the key is never overeating and maintaining good habits and balance in all things.

I was getting 1000-1200 calories during my losing period. I was recording everything I ate then, mostly to ensure I hit my protein goals and understood what nutrition I was getting. IMHO, low calorie is not a sustainable plan. I worked, (and it WAS WORK early on to boost my calories above 1000, to help set my metabolism in the most manageable place I could get it for long term success. I lost steadily, but not speedily and reached a 95 pound loss to land in my goal range in abound 9 months. I've been maintaining for about 9 months now, no longer food logging and its not "easy" but it is manageable. As long as I make quality choices 80% of the time and maintain an exercise routine, it works for me. Balance. Is. Key.

My chronic asthma was finally correctly diagnosed and treated as a result of my pre-op EGD. They put me on Omeprazole immediately which helped. They fixed the hernia during my sleeve. Post op, I had to up my dose to twice per day. Things were much worse the first month post op but then rapidly improved with healing and weight loss. Still take it 2x per day but thinking I should maybe cut back the morning dose. Last time I tried that I didn't have symptoms but felt extra hungry so I went back on.

I did a lot of lunch meat at that stage. Slice of turkey wrapped around a bit of cheese with a dab of hummus in the middle. Lots of chili, (make it mild to start) and other home made soups with lots of protein. IF I get veggies today, they are usually in soup\sauce or I munch them for a snack. It's not that I don't tolerate them, there just isn't room at mealtime. Sometimes I crave salad and I'll get spinach salad at the salad bar for lunch. As for protein supplements, I throw a scoop of whey in my coffee every morning for a "latte". I miss the flavor when it's not there now, LOL, and sometimes do a PowerCrunch or Quest bar in the afternoon. It's RARE that I go for a traditional protein "shake". Maybe if it's REALLY hot in the summer and its been blended with ice!

Agree with don't stock up on anything. Your tastes are likely to change. Have enough to get you through the first week or two post op. After that you'll be well enough to shop for what sounds good, (probably nothing will sound good for a while btw). Stay off the scale until your first post op appointment, then weigh no more or less than once per week. Don't let yourself get focused on the scale moving. You. Will. Stall. If you're only weighing once per week, it'll not be as noticeable. Besides, if the scale going down is your main motivation, what will keep you motivated to maintain the changes you worked so hard for when you hit goal? When you "don't feel like"... whatever. Exercising, getting your Protein, taking your supplements, put your big girl panties on and remember you are an adult that made a decision to do the best thing for your health. Make a commitment to your own after care. Protein, getting enough calories, Vitamins, etc., these are PRESCRIPTIONS for you now. You wouldn't let your kid skip their medicine because they don't feel like taking it or don't like the way it tastes. Don't allow yourself to do that either. Be kind to yourself. If you follow your team's instructions, you'll do fine. Set SMART goals around behaviors you can absolutely control. (Google SMART goals if you're unfamiliar) I will exercise x minutes per day x times per week. I will get x grams of protein. Not I will lose x # of pounds this week or be a size xx by some date. This is not really in your control, but your behaviors are.

It's a GREAT plan to avoid the scale for a while! In the first place, many people gain a few pounds the first week after due to fluids they received\swelling, etc. I chose to wait to weigh in at my first post-op appointment, then weigh at home no more or less than once per week. The scale is a tool we use to check in for feedback. If we abuse it and turn it in to our main motivator, how are we supposed to stay motivated once we reach maintenance when it's SUPPOSED to stop moving downward? I still weigh once per week and record it, (its the only logging I do anymore). I'm 5'6 and I like to hang out around 140 pounds. If I bounce 5 pounds too high, I adjust my intake for a week or so until I'm back where I belong. Haven't had the experience of being too low, but the premise is the same. It's worked so far for me anyway!

They can give you a valium or something before they start in on the IV and pre-surgery prep. Ask for it early if you're worried. They'll not want to give you too much as you need to be lucid to consent to surgery! They came in, took my BP, had a look at my vitals and were like, "you're chill as you can be". Offered it to me and I passed. Once my mind is made up, it's made up! I was just excited the day had finally come! Fast forward a year and 1/2 to life now... taking NONE of my 10 diff pre-op meds with normal BP, cholesterol, sugars, no asthma and normal sleep. Maintaining a 95ish pound weight loss for 7 or 8 months or so. Maintaining an active lifestyle and social life! Size 4 skinny Rock Revivals on my butt! Eating what I like in small quantities and NOT being obsessed with food! Life. Is. Good!

This may sound a bit harsh, but when you let them cut 80%-90% of your stomach out so you could get healthy, you signed up for a lifetime of after care that includes a prescription for exercise, (sound like you're doing GREAT there!), and fueling your body for its maximum health. That part includes eating well and getting vitamin\mineral supplements and Protein. All plans are a bit different in the amounts, but I haven't heard of one yet that down't stress these things. So do yourself a favor, put your big girl panties on and commit to ALL of your after care with the same chutzpah you've applied to your exercise routine! When I "just don't wanna", I re-read the sentiment below to help motivate me to do what I know I need to do. I've seen ti posted in several places, but I got it here: http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/backontracktogether/discussion/4491168/THERES-NO-CRYING-IN-BASEBALL-Wise-words-about-WLS/ THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!!! By: Leilani That's the sentiment (scenario) that comes to mind sometimes when I hear some of the comments from people who've already had the surgery. In case you haven't made the connection, that's a line Tom Hanks made famous in the movie "A League Of Their Own." Resorting to tears or just giving up every time the going gets tough. Or your sick of taking Vitamins, getting in protein is hard, Water doesn't taste good, etc. That kinda' thinking is NOT going to make you successful or keep you healthy. ENOUGH already! It's time to LOVE yourself enough to get "TOUGH" wtih your aftercare. Your longterm health is worth it!! Success comes with a backbone, NOT a wishbone! First and foremost, you have to keep it POSITIVE. As with everything in life, if you think you can't - you WON'T! Simple enough? I have to wonder when "we" (as adults) finally take ownershipfor our actions, our life and our health? We have been given a gift, a second chance to actually LIVE life again instead of merely existing on the sidelines. It's up to each of us to do that as healthy and productively as possible. We're ALL statistics waiting to happen and the insurance companies are chomping at the bit. The bean counters are eager to drop Weight Loss Surgery ("WLS") from the policies; some already have. Don't you know that any negative feedback thrown into the mix only strengthens their cause? I may not be able to control every thing that happens to my body after WLS, but most things I can. I CHOOSE to take control and I will be a positive statistic when the numbers get counted. We live in a spoiled society, expecting everything in life to come with a buncha really cool choices. Well, guess what? When it comes to your health, you're not always going to get a choice. You either DO IT and stay healthy, or you DON'T and your body pays the price. The way I saw it, I had a 90 day healing and adjusting period after surgery. My 'super morbidly obese' body had more than enough stores to survive the learning curve. In turn, it gave me plenty of time to heal, adjust and learn. For those of you OVER 90 days Post-Op, the probation period is over - its time to get serious and LIVE what you've learned. * You say you can't get in enough liquids throughout the day, don't like the taste of water, or just keep forgetting? -- TOUGH! It's not an option anymore. Find a way to do it, get suggestions and tips from others in support groups, message boards, etc. Read, learn and JUST DO IT!! Why do you think there is a choice here? * You say you don't like the big horse pill type vitamins, or the tart chalky chewables? ... it's just too many to bother with? Or maybe you just can't remember to take them? -- TOUGH! You gave up the option NOT to take vitamins when you agreed to have your insides rerouted. FIND a way to get them in; crushed, minced, chopped, liquified, in a shake, etc. No exceptions, your health depends on it. * Protein is a must. So you can't get it all in via foods and you don't like the way the shakes taste? -- TOUGH! Either get it through your meals (and there are a gazillion food choices out there) or supplement it with protein shakes and bars. Trust me, I don't drink my Protein Shake every morning because I think it tastes like a chocolate blizzard from Dairy Queen. I've tried many varieties over the last 2 years. I'd even venture to say 25 of the top sellers/flavors have crossed my lips. For the record? I've yet to find one that is as 'delicious' as boasted by the distributor. So what. I still drink one every morning. My HEALTH dictates that I need "X" grams of protein per day. If I'm not getting enough from my meals then I supplement a shake. 'Nuff said. This surgery is a gift, I owe it to me and everyone else fighting the approval process, to do it right! I will continue to choke down my vitamins, my water and my protein every single day, for the REST OF MY LIFE. Some days will be easier than others, regardless, no days will be missed. It's all about discipline. Create a routine, set a timer, develop a pattern, tie a string around your finger, glue a note on your forehead, whatever it takes. You're an adult - take responsibility! If this surgery doesn't slap a back bone into you, not much will.

Meetups.com is a great place to expand your circle and meet folks with similar interests without it being a "dating site".

Some days I feel like I look amazing, some I feel like a busted can o biscuits. Body image is a funny thing. As for the grazing on nuts, etc. I'll put them in a dish which helps, or store then at home and bring only one serving to work as my snack so I can't over do it. If I still find I don't have control, I'll give up a particular snack for a while and find a new fav. One that comes in a single serve package so I'm not tempted to graze.

Scoop of chocolate or vanilla whey shaken in my coffee every morning. Home made protein "cookies" my current fav has vanilla whey, oats, maple syrup eggs and almond butter Plain old milk Quest bars PowerCrunch bars, (I like them frozen). The chocolate mint ones taste like the girl scout cookies

I didn't lose hair. It's NOT a given for everyone! I honestly can't tell you why either... Like many others who did lose hair, I got my 80g of protein per day, took biotin and the rest of my supplements and ate 1000-1200 calories per day with exercise all during my loss phase. Sometimes I think it's a crap shoot on the hair loss.

Monthly visits? For how long? The schedule laid out for me was 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months (with blood work), 6 months (with blood work) 1 year(with blood work), and once per year every year after with blood work. I went to appointments thru my 6 month follow up with perfect labs. When my year came up, my program had fallen apart, surgeon and nurse coordinator left while at the same time I found out I'd reached the lifetime cap for bariatric coverage, (bariatric labs are not covered ever again). I couldn't see spending the $$$ out of pocket at that point when my labs from a few months earlier were perfect and I'm not having any issues. I've decided to follow up with my PCP at my yearly physical which will include the labs I'd need anyway and it will go down as free "well care" at that point, not bariatric follow up. Personal opinion... You should make sure you're blood work is good 3-6 months post op. WHO you do that with IMHO is less important. If I'd gone to Mexico and was not having any issues, I'd be ordering up some labs to check in at least once in the first year and be monitored by my PCP at my physical every year after. I'm not a medical professional, that's just how I'm handling my own situation.

Mine were itchy as well. I also had "glue", (which is the best IMHO if you're not allergic. Just much cleaner and no dirty steristrips hanging on for weeks). Funny thing is even more than a year out they itch sometimes. Just a scar tissue thing, I guess.

BREAK the grazing habit! I'm struggling with this myself right now. Eating several times per day is fine as long as it's mindful eating and you're staying within your nutritional targets. What I'm doing to break the habit is just not having things like trail mix around me right now. I manage snacks perfectly fine as long as they're pre-portioned, like a protein bar or something in a single serve package so that's what I'm using for snacks right now.