worm2872

Hello! I have been traveling a lot for work and I kinda missed being on the board for a while. Well, I am 7 months out and down to 183 from 275 when I started this journey and 115 from my highest. I have lost 80 since surgery. I am kinda a slow loser but I am ok with that. I went from a size 2X 22 to a L 10/12. I still have a way to go since I am only 5'5. I have been 'blessed' with a cast Iron pouch. I can eat almost anything so I have to do this with self control. I don't really dump. Greasy food causes me horrible stomach pains but I had issue before surgery, now they are worse. And I mean this is from a few teenie tastes of hashbrowns. But sugar and bread are not issues for me. Darn! LOL The last few months I have been up and down on the scale but this is normal for some of us, frustrating, but normal. At this point, I am afraid everyday I will not lose another pound. I am hungry a lot not so it's hard not to snack all the time esp with PMS. Same ole troubles just a bit more control now. I am telling you this (esp the newbies) so you understand this is not a 'fix' it really is a TOOL to help us. Not everyone dumps. I have really had a great journey. Well, after they fixed my blocked intestine. Darn surgical staples!! That was an experience. Anyway, I feel great and I look better. I still really struggle with exercise. I always will. Long hours at work and then I can say I am lazy when it comes to it. So I try to do things around the house to keep moving. I am much better than I was before. I still have about 40 pounds to lose to be in the 'normal' BMI range. I don't know if I will ever get there but I will take it day by day.

Honestly, this is the worst part. The approval wait. It will be ok and keep on them. I had Aetna and they never even looked at my paperwork for two weeks. Once I got involved, I had approval in about 24 hours. Good luck

That's great! It all will go so quick now. Just try to relax.

You are doing well but I would talk to your Dr and your Nutritionist. Do you journal?

Congrats! For the most part, each day gets better. The heating pad and the lazy boy were my best friends. Take it slow. :-)

I was told once I was off pain meds. Be very careful. I drove about a week out and actually reinjured myself. It sounds funny but you don't realize how many muscles you use.

Matrix Mint Cookie shake Syntrax Nectar chocolate truffle shake (I still use this 7 months out!!) Baratric Advantage Iron chews in chocolate raspberry (Never had an iron issue so worth the price to me and VERY good. I still use these) Dannon Light Greek yogurt in vanilla (I lived on this. 12g of protein) Unjury Chicken Broth (Esp awesome in the winter or light snack) Unsweetened Almond Milk in Vanilla (I can drink milk but I like this for a change and when we need milk :-) I keep a box around at all times. I hate soy so this is an option for folks)

Well, I think I was at about 1/2 or two months out. I had to travel for work and needed something portable. And for shopping as well. :-) I still do shakes and I am at 7 months. The first bar I used was Pure Portein chocolate. Low in sugar and carbs. It is also very soft so I let it melt in my mouth. I think I ate 1/4. Waited. Then tried the other 1/4. Only could do a 1/2 bar at a time.

Oh I gained about 18 pounds from two back to back surgeries. I only lost about 20 pounds the first month and about ten a month for the next five. It is a slow process for me but IT WILL HAPPEN. The hardest thing was to NOT compare myself to others. We are all going for the same goal but all will have VERY different journeys. I have a cast iron stomach and don't dump. I am hungry all the time now (7 months out) but the surgery is a great tool to help keep me on track. You will have gains, stalls but overall you will be AMAZED at the losses. As SoccerMom stated, patience grasshopper. (For those of you too young, this is from Kung Fu

Dave, I started using MFP about August of last year. I missed a few days after my surgery but have not missed a day since. You are right, it is the best one I have ever used and the app is great. Logging is what keeps me on track. I log the good, the bad and the ugly. And yes, some days are really ugly. But to your point, then I scale back for a few days. I am also an everyday weigher which I know people frown upon and I can see why. If I don't keep myself accountable, I wander off track. I lost about 80 pounds on my own about ten years ago and when I swayed from the scale and logging, it all came back and more. No accountability.

They will get you fix up. We are lucky, PGH has some great Dr. I was with Dr. McCloskey at Magee on 11/19/12.

How many calories are you eating? Yes, the protein is important but so are carbs and calories for energy esp if you work out a lot. Check with your dr and/or nut.

WTG! I'm so happy for you! How has your weight loss been the last few months? I'm at 7 months and have slowed down a good bit. I am hoping to keep losing. :-)

Shannalee, I am sooo proud of you! I have watched your journey and you are doing great! 65 pounds is amazing! I know how you feel about the 'feeling good in your skin'. The most amazing part of my journey is not feeling like a 'outcast'. In some ways it makes me mad how people now react to me but I am so blessed to have made it this far. Also, thank you so much for your kind words! I am sooo glad I was able to help in any way. Don't ever hesitate to reach out. Congrats and good luck to you!!!

I would call your Dr. An 8 week stall at 5 months is odd. I stall all the time but usually only for a 2-3 weeks then a drop. How many calorie are you eating per day? Are you too low?

Yes research, research, research!!! I have never even had any surgeries but the more I knew the easier it was. You knew what to expect. You can do this. I am a HUGE chicken and I made it. Some days the road is not easy or down right nasty but it is great overall. This is a great place to be and was a life savor for me. Good luck to you. Oh and by the way, not all Dr require the pre-op liquid diet.

Well, you should be OK but if you have complications you may not feel up to it. Not sure if you are driving or flying. I was at about 263 at surgery and I dropped about 22 pounds the first month. I am kinda a slow loser but was still on track. Good luck!

They are a life savor. Also, try sleeping in a lazy boy if you have one. I also LOVED my heating pad. It was a life savor the first month.

MY BF had this happen a few months out as well. I try to drink some everyday to keep it in my system. However, I do drink SF vanilla almond milk.

Nursie, I am just like you! I'm over 7 months out and can eat all the time too esp now with PMS I am a bottomless pit!!!! Never dumping, just greasy foods hate me but they did before surgery. I have MFP set at 900 but I am averaging about 1000 now. My dr. said I should be between 1100-1200. That scares me but I know folks that eat 1300 at our stage and others that eat 500. The 500 scares me too. I'd pass out. Anyway, I just hope I continue to lose and I do keep logging.

I travel for work a lot. The problem is the schedule they have you on. I would try to get out of it with a DR note. I was soo tired at that point. It could be done but I know my Dr would not have cleared me.

Yes, prayers and hugs. You can get through this!!

OH BabyGirl!! I had something similar. My intestines fused from one of the staples and yes, NOTHING can get through. It was AWFUL!!! You think you are going to die. The ER Dr thought I had over eaten at Thanksgiving. No Dude, I was vomiting. It's so freaking scary. But once the operated again, I was fine. SOOO glad you are OK!!!

I can do a super thin crust or I make a tortilla pizza. I crisp the tortilla before I put the toppings on it and make it like a cracker with light cheese and turkey pepporoni. I am 7 months out and have been using this as my 'lazy' dinner for a while now. I also do a light BBQ sauce, grilled chicken and light cheese.