cabstewart

Fostermama: I have had dark chocolate (two small squares) with no problem. It sounds like you have a flu. Hope you feel better fast

Xmarycontrary: I agree those cookbooks look great!

All: Thanks so much for the all the kind words and input. I can see that we all have slightly different ways of getting to the same end result - a healthy weight. I also wonder if maybe we are being told carbs should be limited because our medical professionals are afraid we will slip back into our old ways of eating to excess. I, like some of you, don't want to feel like I have to "diet" the rest of my life. I also want to make sure I make my weight goal and maintain a healthy weight. So, after reading your posts I feel like I will take my surgeon's words with a grain of salt and try to relax a little bit. I am a rule follower - so it upset me that I was found lacking. But I have to keep remembering that this plan is for the long haul and I need to incorporate some of the foods I like in addition to the Protein. We'll see how it goes this week as I am a teacher on spring break! What would we do without each other? Take care, and thanks for all your posts!

All: I need your help and feedback. Has anyone else become obsessed with tracking their food? I track everything I eat, I think about food all the time. I feel a little obsessed. My goals are 60-90 grams of protein a day, no more than 60 grams of carbs a day, and no more than 1000 calories. I am often hungry in the 3 hours between small meals, but I don't eat extra. I was starting to calm down, but when I went to my 3 mo. visit my surgeon kinda corrected me for eating things like a 1/2 a banana or a 1/2 apple, or 1/2 an English muffin, or popcorn (all of which fit into eating no more than 60 grams of carbs a day). He mentioned the word Paleo - which is definitely not the diet on the booklet they give out. I went away from that check-in pretty depressed. Especially when the Dr. said I would be eating like this for the rest of my life. Now, I knew that I would not be going back to my bad habits of eating cake and cookies (and I don't cheat now), but somehow the idea of having to track everything and worry about eating a banana was not what I pictured in my future. I work out 3 times a week (40 mins. swimming laps, or 35 mins. on the treadmill at 3.8 speed, or 35 mins. on elliptical). I also do the bad thing of weighing myself everyday. Most weeks I see a drop of about 2 lbs. This week I went down, then up and am now going back down. Constipation has been an issue. I am a little worried that I'm too fixated on this, but I can't stop thinking about my food and weight loss. I guess I feel that I have made this major change in my life and I want it to work consistently, really want to be back to what I consider "normal" life. How many calories are you all eating per day? Are you hungry (actual stomach growling) between meals? Is anyone else sorta fixated on this? I feel like I'm waiting for my life to start again and feeling a little depressed. Thanks for your feedback.

Yes, I found popcorn too, I make it at home - air popped but with 1 Tbs. melted butter. I only eat it on days that I have worked out. I increased my carbs about 3 weeks ago because of the foggy brain feeling. I am averaging about 60 carbs a day, no more than 900-1000 calories a day. I'm still losing, not as fast as some of you, but I feel better now. Today I swam laps for 40 mins. - swimming the crawl - I love swimming! Anyone else losing hair? I still am.

I felt the exact same way! I'm a full time student so I need my brain! The problem is I really don't like white carbs so I get a lot of good carbs through whole wheat crackers and match that with a high Protein cheese. It has helped a lot. I haven't lost any hair. I'm sure if you keep upping your calories you'll stop losing hair. I've also heard frolic acid is good for prevention!! Fostermama: Thanks for the feedback. How many calories do you average a day? How many grams of carbs?

Are any of you who consume about 600 calories feeling fuzzy headed? Is anyone else losing hair? I work and I have sometimes felt fuzzy headed at work since the surgery. In the last few weeks I have also started losing hair. I've read the reasons why we lose hair, but does this bother anybody else? It seems that if we were eating healthy we should not be losing hair! A friend of mine who counseled anorexics said that the symptoms I mentioned above are often felt by anorexics when they are starving themselves. I also work out 3x a week. 25 mins on the tread mill - 1.5 miles, and a round of the weight machines. In response I increased my calories to about 800-900 (mostly through protein- 4 oz per meal, but also through some healthy carbs). On the days I have some carbs I feel more clear headed.

I go to the gym three days a week. Cardio (either elliptical, swimming or treadmill) for about 30 mins. then weight machines circuit. I have only been back for a couple of weeks.

Andrew0929: Have you tried the gummy fiber chews to help with constipation? My physician's assistant recommended them when I was constipated. I chew two gummies a day and have not had any more problems. I got the chews at Walmart so they must have them everywhere. The PA said that many people who previously did not need to add fiber now do because our diet is lacking it.

Hi All: I've subscribed to a fellow sleever's youtube series of videos and have enjoyed hearing from her and thought I would share her link with you all. This link is from about week 21, but she has been posting since she had surgery. Her youtube screen name is 1 Gorgeous Godzilla. She posts a new video almost every week. She has been through the ups and downs that we all talk about and has such a positive spirit that I thought that some of you might enjoy her videos too. BTW I've been in a stall for almost two weeks now, didn't think it would upset me, but its starting to get me down. I know it will pass.... but I wish it would pass soon! I am eating what I am supposed to and I just wish my body would cooperate! I started going to the gym this week. Swam laps for 20 mins. today - I'm sore!

It probably shouldn't be a surprise at this point that our doctors and their NUTs all have a different plan for what we can eat and when we can eat it. My Dr. says no alcohol for one year (they also warn that we will much more susceptible to alcohol with our smaller stomachs). At this point my Dr. has sleevers on somewhat soft foods- mostly protein (meat loaf, meats that aren't stringy, cottage cheese, cheese, cauliflower, green beans, refried beans, etc., no corn, peas and other carb based veggies) from weeks 4-8. I can really only get the protein part of my meal in at this point and the PA at the Drs office said that was fine as long as I was taking the vitamins. I really enjoyed reading the information from the Brigham hospital, it seemed similar to what my Dr recommends. The alcohol will be much harder for me come summer and our beach trip! Like others, I have been in a stall for about a week now, this too will pass!

Wombat: I have not had the 2 AM issue, but twice I could not go to sleep because my stomach felt so hollow. What I have done is drink 3 oz of skim milk which filled me up and provided more protein. It seems like 6 pm is too early to stop eating. Can you eat something like cottage cheese or cheese or something later to hold you overnight?

Sabrina: I weighed 216 on the day of surgery (ht. 5' 81/2", age 57) and was weighed today at the Drs. office at 193, so 23 lbs. in 5 weeks. But I think everyone's loss is going to be dependent on many things like metabolism, working out vs. not, age, male vs. female, genetics, etc. I think it would be hard to compare with others. I didn't start out with as much weight as some others, but I had high blood pressure (now normal), high cholesterol (not yet tested again) and sleep apnea (have to wait awhile to see if I can get rid of the machine). My family also has a history of type 2 diabetes, so, I feel very happy with my weight loss as it is making a difference. I mentioned to the physician's assistant today that I was disappointed that I have not gone down a pants size yet (my old pants are loose, but I have not lost as much in my waist), the PA said not to worry, different parts of the body change at different rates…. so I guess I'm ok with that as well. We have to keep remembering that it will happen. We just have to keep consistent with the program of eating the right things and drinking our liquids. It will happen! I also drink 1 premier protein drink every day. I buy them at Sams.

Are you guys doing measurements each week and pictures? I haven't been good about that.

Right on!

Hi Karen: Here's my interpretation of the symbols. CW= Current weight SW= Surgery weight HW= High weight

Hi: HW: 230 SW: 216 CW: 195.2

Thanks for all the ideas for getting more liquids in! I downloaded an interval timer on my phone and have had it on at work today. I've done much better today! I also like the idea of the water holster! Please tell us where you got it.

Hey All: I am looking for some ideas... I had surgery on 12/16, back to work on 01/02. I am feeling fine but concerned because the amount of liquids I am getting in on work days has dropped significantly. I work in a high school as a career counselor and testing coordinator and it involves a lot of multitasking, interruptions and not a steady schedule all day. The bottom line is that I am probably only getting in about 35-40 oz. of liquid each day (most of it when I get home at night). Sometimes I only urinate once a day at work (would have been every two hours before surgery). The urine is dark. I am not having any pain and I feel fine. My weight is going down slowly each week (have lost a total of 20 lbs. since surgery), but I know that not having fluid is bad for your kidneys. Has anyone found a tool that will beep or remind you to drink. I have an iPhone, but cannot find a tool that you can set to automatically beep to remind you to drink. The perfect tool to me would be something that beeps twice, that you don't have to reset, and then 15 mins. later beeps again. Any other ideas for remembering to drink when you work in a fast paced environment? Funny thing is I never forget to eat! LOL! I am on foods like eggs, meat loaf, etc. and I think I am getting most of what I need in that area along with 30 gr. of protein from a protein shake (those 11 oz. counted in the fluid though). I hope to hear some ideas from you all. Thanks!

I agree with the others, this is your time, he need know nothing. I can totally understand how you feel as my Mother was the one who hated my weight growing up (she passed away in 2001). You are never too old to want your parent's approval, but know this, he is wrong and mean to treat his own daughter badly. You can love him for other reasons, but you don't have to put up with anyone treating you badly! Take a deep breath and take it easy. If he is rude, show him the door! We're behind you!

Sorry to be dense but what is "ONEDERLAND"?

fostermama: My NUT says starting week 4, which you have passed, that you can have soft lettuce (I am thinking Spring Mix in the bags)! Since others are saying No, maybe you should check with your NUT. I haven't tried salad yet myself. I have enough trouble getting all the protein in!

Brazillian: I have chewable vitamins for bariatric use. Bariatric Fusion multivitamin - several flavors - I have orange cream Bariatric Advantage Calcium Citrate 500 mg - Chewy bite - Carmel flavored (almost tastes like candy) Solaray sugar free B-Complex chewable - orange flavor They taste great and are easy to get down.

I must not have had this "stitch" as I have no pain on the left side or anywhere and never heard a "pop". I am back at work and occassionally carry items heavier than 5 lbs. there. I also have forgotten and picked up one of my dogs @ 21 lbs. Do you think all surgeons make this stitch? BTW back to work on 01/02/14, today was the 3rd day back at work…for those feeling bad, take heart, because if you would have told me I could do well at work after my surgery on 12/16 - and even a at Christmas, I would have laughed! Its hard to believe that we can get by all day working after eating 450-600 calories all day! I feel tired but not as tired as I thought. More tired today because I stayed up to watch the first episode of "Downton Abbey" last night, LOL. I'm sorry to hear that some of you are still having such pain. What do your Drs say about this?

Jaynedeath: I was sleeved on 12/16, at first I had a lot of problems getting any liquid down. It took a few days for the change but now I have no problems. When I was panicking about not getting liquids in, the nutritionist at my Dr.'s office recommended trying different things (many people seem to have problems with water at first). So I tried Propel Zero and it went better, he also recommended trying broth, and the warmness of it helped. The bottom line according to the NUT is that the 64 oz is just a goal, do the best you can. For me at the beginning I had a really hard time, now I can drink 3-4 oz at a time with no pain. Good luck, and if your progress is like mine, you will be amazed at what a difference a week makes!