McButterpants

For me, I think the surgery was the first steps in many. My weight was holding me back - holding me back from making changes in my life. I didn't expect much from myself and my family got used to me not feeling well or being tired and just not participating. 6 short weeks after surgery, I can already see things change. I have more energy - with that new energy, it's a new ballgame. I think you're also right in thinking more clearly - I think when you're healthier physically, a byproduct is a healthier mind. This surgery is a life changer! 2014 will be a great year!

Lookin' good! And you have a beautiful smile!!! Happy 2014 to you! Best of luck and keep rockin' that sleeve.

Look at you lookin' all sassy! Happy new year and congrats to you - you look great! Be proud.

Another great post, RJ. You mean the 5 food groups are not Candy, Cookies, Cakes, Pasta and pizza? I agree with you - the easiest part so far has been the physical recovery from surgery. I was totally ill-prepared for the emotional side of this journey. I was armed with facts about the surgery and knew what my post op diet looked like. I had not addressed my emotional issues - that's something I'm tackling right now and it's hard work. I'm relearning how to eat and what to eat. I have to pay attention when I eat and not mindlessly eat in front of the TV or computer. And, good lord, trying to figure out the feeding/drinking schedule!!!!!! At any rate - this is a great post and look forward to some great responses! I wish you and your family a very, very happy and HEALTHY New Year. You are one tough broad and I so respect you for all you've been through and for all you do on this forum. Take good care, my friend.

I had my six-week follow up with my local doctor yesterday – to say I’m happy is an understatement. Although I’ve complained about my weight loss in other posts and lamented about being a slow loser, I am happy with the way things are going. I don’t use my doctor’s numbers to track my weight because it’s inconsistent – they weigh with clothes on, sometimes shoes on (depends on the nurse), I wore heavy jeans yesterday compared to lighter capris the last time, etc. I use my Thursday weigh-ins on my home scale to track my loss. So, I’m down almost 41.8 pounds from my high weight and 24 since surgery. Wow! Writing that is surreal. My body fat has been decreased by 5% already and while I have lost some lean muscle mass, it’s not a concern right now, I just shouldn’t lose any more. Even more than the numbers, I can see physical differences in myself. Why do my fingers seem longer? OK, it’s that they no longer look like pork sausages that were masquerading as fingers! My shoes fit differently now and as a side benefit, I can actually reach down and tie them and not look like I’m steer wrestling trying to lift my right foot up to my left knee. I have a jaw line – you can actually define where my head ends and my neck begins. When I was driving down the road the other day, it felt like the seat was pushed further back than normal. It’s not like my legs grew…there was just more room between my belly and the steering wheel! I noticed the vanity in the bathroom the other day while brushing my teeth – I was standing closer to the sink, again, because my belly wasn’t in the way. I cross my legs (like a lady) all the time now, BECAUSE I CAN! There are many subtle, but very real changes that are happening to my body and I’m trying to bask in each and every one of them. This has been an amazing journey so far and it’s only the beginning. There will be lows, but there will also be lots of good things happening, too! I’m noticing some other changes as well. I feel more comfortable around other people. It is easier for me to strike up a conversation with a stranger. I used to be a fairly outgoing and chatty person. Since starting to gain weight about 15 years, I slowly became an introvert to the point where I would avoid talking to people I have known for years. I would pretend I didn’t see someone in the grocery store so I wouldn’t have to stop and talk to them. I would sit in the outfield during my son’s baseball games rather than the stands or by the other parents because I didn’t want to be around people. My social circle has been reduced to my family. In the past few weeks, that has changed. I’m slowly coming out of my shell. I caught myself smiling yesterday morning when I was walking into the hospital and a couple of people I crossed paths with smiled back and said “Hello.” I felt like they were reacting to me smiling and not having, what I assume was an “I’m pissed off at the world so go screw yourself” look I used to have. I discussed my diet with the doc as well. A few weeks ago I started to restrict my carbs because I thought it was the right thing to do. We always hear “carbs are bad” and I restricted mine down to between 20 and 30 per day. What I didn’t immediately connect was my very low energy level to the carb restriction. I didn’t feel good and I blamed it on coming down with a cold. I would come home from the gym and be completely exhausted and take a 60-minute nap. Understandably…I wasn’t giving my body enough fuel to get through the workout. I now realize carbs are an important part of our diet and they aren’t necessarily evil. Bad carbs (refined sugars and flours) are bad. Complex carbs like those found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains are great carbs and a necessary part of your diet. Once I increased my carbs to about 50/day, I started feeling so much better and have that increased energy that so many speak of after weight loss surgery. Increasing my carbs hasn’t changed my overall calorie count by much. I’m still taking in between 800-900 calories a day (on hard workout days I can go over 900 because I am truly hungry). I’m increasing my carbs by adding ¼ cup of fruit to my shakes, adding 1-2 tablespoons of refried Beans, or part of a Carb Balance tortilla to a meal. It’s amazing how different I feel now compared to a few days ago. Also looking forward, I now have no restrictions to my diet – that’s terrifying. I had the security the past 6 weeks of “I can’t have that because it’s not on my plan.” This is where that discipline comes in, right?!?! So, here are some of the high points from the meeting with the doctor yesterday: · Weight loss is good, more importantly, the 5% body fat reduction and minimal loss in lean muscle mass · Blood pressure is lower – 117/82. It hasn’t been that low in years. · Diet looking forward – no restrictions on what to eat; min 80 grams of Protein daily and 50 grams of carbs should be OK. · hair loss – I’m noticing some shedding (*gasp*). She OK’d Biotin and 1 gram of folic acid daily. There is so much debate on whether anything works, but I’m willing to try (she said the most important thing was the protein). · Real coffee is now approved, but only one cup per day. This makes me happy. I had to pinky promise I wouldn’t go back to my old habit of 3-5 cups per day. Honestly, I don't think I can fit more than one cup of coffee in a day! · Exercise - no limitations and start strength training as to not lose more lean muscle mass. · Constipation – ahhh the pooping (you know I wasn’t going to get thru an entire post with out a comment on the poo). I’ve been taking Colace and that’s the only thing that has helped. Per doc's orders, I need to cut back to one per day, then stop entirely. Doc wants Metamucil and more Fiber in my diet for a more natural approach. I wish everyone a very, very Happy New Year. 2014 is going to be a great year for us! Be safe!

That is hilarious! I'm due for a renewal next September - can't wait to make them change my weight! (I need to lose 24 more pounds to get to my lie!) Happy 2014 to you!

Here's the article from Butter's signature - it's a great read. It's long, but really worth it. Stalls really stink...but, they will happen. I just struggled thru a 2 weeks stall myself. It wasn't easy and I was mad most of the time. I'm hoping it's over. Weight Loss Stall or PlateauA weight loss stall or plateau is an extended period of time during reducing efforts where is there is no weight loss according to the scale and no loss of inches according to the tape measure. This is why it is so important to take your body measurements before surgery, so you'll have a reference as your weight loss progresses post-op. We suggest you take measurements of your chest, waist and hip, neck, upper arm, thigh and calf. Be aware it is very common for your weight loss to "stall" shortly after surgery. Diana explains the reason for this below. The Inevitable Stall By Diana C. A "stall" a few weeks out is inevitable, and here's why. Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a saber tooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored. Breathe, and fuggedaboudit for a few days. What You Can Do About a Stall or Plateau If you are experiencing a post-op weight loss stall or plateau further out there are a few possible causes. First, check that are you really in a stall. If the scale has stopped moving you may be losing inches, so check your measurements. Too Many Carbs? Carbohydrates can start sneaking into your foods without you being aware of how quickly they are adding up. For more information on carbs, see our section onCarbohydrates. If you are struggling with your weight loss you may want to examine your daily carb count. You can try to keep your carbs under 50g a day and see if that makes a difference in your weight loss. Do not eat carbs before bedtime as it triggers insulin and initiates fat storage. There are some great web site resources you can use to keep track of what you are eating. Fit Day Spark People - If you join Spark People also join the DS group. The Daily Plate Calorie King For more tips on keeping a food journal see the Personal Nutrition Guide. Eating Enough? If you are under-eating or go more than 4-5 hours without eating, your body will shift into fasting mode, slow your metabolism and conserve your stored energy (fat). This can contribute to a weight loss stall or plateau. Make sure you are eating small meals or small Snacks throughout the day and also ensure you meet your daily Protein requirements. Try eating some protein with every meal or snack. For more information on protein requirements see our section on Protein. Drinking Enough? An adequate level of water in your body aids in the effective breakdown of fat. The daily minimum recommendation is 64 Fluid oz of water a day. If you are in ketosis you will need to drink even more water to ensure the ketones are flushed out of your system. You may also need more than the minimum amount of water if you are exercising or live in a warmer or dry environment. Exercising? Exercise can increase your metabolism and burn fat. Strength training will build muscles and will boost fat burning. In a stall you can try increasing your volume of exercise or changing up your routine to overcome a weight loss stall or plateau. If you have been doing mainly aerobic activity, try doing a bit of strength training, and if you have been doing mainly strength training, try an aerobic work-out. The High Fat - High Calorie Stall BusterMany DSers swear by the fat/calorie shock as an effective weight loss stall or plateau buster. Having a day of higher fat and calorie eating followed by a returning to consistent low carb eating can sometimes "shock" your body back into weight loss mode.

OMG - I laughed at that. I have never talked about, thought about or tried to poop so much in my life! It's like the doctor removed my "Poop talk filter" when he removed my stomach. I am very fortunate - he's a great guy. Sometimes you need a reminder...this was mine. Oh yeah, he got lucky yesterday...twice!

hey i sent you a pm just want to make sure you got it lol Weird - I didn't get one from you. (Happened yesterday with someone else as well...) Anyway, I messaged you - we can see if that works.

I was nervous about that at first since so many doctor's require a multiple day visit. I was self-pay so I traveled to Las Vegas and we rented a condo. It was much nicer to recover in the comfort of the condo and having my husband there really watching me. As California Kelly mentions above - I do better on my "home turf"...it wasn't home, but much better than the hospital! We stayed a whole week after surgery because I'm a nervous Nellie - that was overkill, but there's worse places to spend 10 days than Vegas, right? You will be surprised at how quickly you start to recover. I was up and walking around the halls about 20 minutes after I left recovery. Walking was the best thing for me and I think it helped me recover faster. Best of luck!

I make my sheperd's pie with veggies - make sure if you have vegetables that they are cooked thru.

I'm 6+ weeks out and getting 800-900 per day. I usually get the minimum of 80 grams of Protein the doc wants and I'm doing well on the fluids. Ree: are you getting enough protein?

I had my surgery as an outpatient - in at 6:30 out at noon the same day. I'm not sure I would have been ready to fly the next day, though. If it's direct, you're not going to be trying to get a connection...you may be OK. And I agree with the above...pack shake mix, more than you need in case you get stuck somewhere.

You definitely get the Gold Star today!!!!! Congrats!

First...you're a mom of 4 under 8 - that classifies you as a Hero! Second...look at those cheeks! Gorgeous! Wishing you continued success!

I agree with mistysj above - see if it goes away with an acid reducer. I don't take one daily, only when I feel it. Stay on track with the doc's plan - this is an important time. Redirect to a different activity than eating...go for a walk, call a friend, anything to keep you out of the kitchen. Best of luck to you!

Metamucil worked for me immediately after surgery. I also have been taking Colace - this has worked the best, but it's not a long term solution per my doctor. She wants me to go back to Metamucil.

I was cleared for walking immediately after surgery - I was told to walk as much as you can as often as you can. I got tired very fast - like at the 1/3 of a mile mark. I worked up to a mile about one week out. At 6 weeks I can do 3-4 miles at one time. You should always follow what your surgeon's direction.

Things are better for me since losing 40+ pounds. Good luck!

I just had my 6 week appointment today and asked the doc the same question! I'm happy to report that she, too, said ONE cup of coffee is OK. She made me pinky promise I wouldn't go back to my old ways of 3-5 cups of regular coffee, though. (I went thru horrible withdrawals 4 weeks prior to surgery.) Honestly, prior to this I would have an occasional cup if I was constipated and couldn't get things "moving" with other methods. I say "bottoms up"!!!!!!!!!

Peggy - when did you have surgery?

Propel Zero is my drink of choice these days - grape, berry, orange, strawberry kiwi. I drank plain Water all the time pre-op. The day after surgery I tried to drink water and it was like it hand sand in it or something. Got dehydrated on day 3 which was horrible. Vitamin Water Zero works sometimes - others, it's way to sweet.

OK - so you're at 40% Protein / 40% fat / 20% carbs? I'm close to that when I'm at 40-50 grams of carbs. It's been a huge difference for me in the past couple of days. My doc was a bit surprised when I told her I was 20-30 carbs and working about 60+ minutes a day. She said, "No wonder you're tired!"

Hang in there and keep working hard - even if it is with the crappy insurance industry! 2014 is going to be your year! You got this.

Hi, GG. So to clarify, are your carbs and Protein equal? Want to make sure I'm reading that correctly. Right now - I'm doing a min of 80 grams of protein and 40-50 carbs daily. I restricted my carbs for a couple of weeks, keeping them at 20-30 and felt like I had no energy. Once I increased, I immediately felt better. Thanks!