CoffeeGrinDR

I needed a kick in the ass this week, too. I've been down due to a break up and the anniversary of my sister's death approaching this weekend. Stressful bookends to the week...time to toss away any of the carbs I have let myself indulge in! Thanks y'all!!

To answer one of the original questions (based on my reading across bariatric materials) according to Brigham and Women's and Northwestern University hospital bariatric centers the average healing time for the stomach is about 40 days (42 at BWH and 38 from NU). Cornell describes asking patients to wait 6 weeks. Whatever anyone's tolerance most of the literature advises that your feeling of satiety will be skewed based on trauma to the stomach, swelling, and nerve damage. Perhaps this gets at the essence of the original question? I think in such situations we all have to define our own "normal" with an eye on the mean (average) circumstances to ensure safety. Personally, when internal organs are involved I tend toward a more cautious, conservative approach but to each their own.

I'm on board here in Denver, CO.

Awesome job! I signed up for a triathlon in September but it's a short one. The run part is only 3.1 miles (5k) and so I've started running. I can only do a few minutes at a time but it is more than I have ever done. I keep going for as long as I can and hope that the distance that I can run grows over time. I plan to add in the 12mile bike leg in April (so about 6 weeks from now) and when the weather warms up a bit. And then I'll add the 1/2 mile swim into the rotation. This has been a life goal for a while so even if I have to walk and even if I'm the slowest one in the group, I'm planning on finishing my triathlon on September 21st!

...every single day. Some days are easier than others. The first month was certainly an emotional roller coaster and physically draining. I'm just heading into week 6 and I finally feel like things are not SO out of control as they felt. This IS the head struggle everyone talks about. Not giving up hope, not losing focus, not giving in. I got up today and pushed myself on Protein. If this were someone ELSE that needed this kind of support to be successful I would give it. Why is it we don't give that kind of love and support to ourselves? So starting today I am becoming my own coach, my own best friend, my own mentor. When I get scared I think "I can't do this" or "I don't know what to do to be successful" or "there is something weird about me biologically, I'm not going to lose like everyone else." But every day we have to fight that back. I get so excited when I start to lose and I have gotten so down when it doesn't move. I've gotten much better about only weighing once a week. I'm now considering moving to only weighing ONCE a month (on my surgery date) to check in on on things. The head game is a KILLER. I'm not feeling sadness about eating I'm feeling impatient with myself. I have no patience for this. But I'm also struggling with a breakup and something in me thinks that losing the weight will make me stronger, less hurt somehow. Wow, we all have so much built up hurt over the years, don't we? I'm going back to see my therapist this week. It is time to do the emotional and head work to complement my sleeve and my nutrition work. I haven't figured out what works yet and it frustrates me. I want there to be a set formula that says if you do x you will get y. I workout and it seems like on the days I workout the scale doesn't move. I stick to protein and low calories and the scale doesn't move. And then when I do things I shouldn't (like put crackers in soup) the scale moves. This is a confusing process. Nothing feels consistent. My only remaining thought is that Water matters the most and on days I don't get enough I don't lose. So I'm now drinking water like it's medicine. This is not only about what I want to put in my body, it's about what I need to put in my body. Thanks for everyone out there who shares their struggles, their victories, their insights. I have no one right now and you all mean a lot to me - you help me get through the fight - everyday. -coffeegrinDr

When I was doing "Body for Life" his advice was to drink a full serving of Water then workout before eating and then be sure to have Protein within 30 minutes of exercise. Sometimes I think you have to listen to your body and just do what works for you...

I'm impressed with everyone's breakfasts! In order to ensure Protein I'm having 8oz of skinny chocolate milk (with DHA and Omega-3) and a scoop of unflavored whey Protein powder - about 24 grams of protein. I'll have an egg (scrambler) and a piece of turkey sausage for lunch and a few ounces of homemade chili for dinner. I find it really hard to eat early on in the day...hoping that will improve! Main goal is Water, water, water today at 5.5 weeks out!

Happy to report that I'm through my week 2/3 halt. It felt like I hit a wall there. I tripped right into my time of the month (yipee) so I'm just trucking along waiting for my poor body to settle down into a better routine. I think the "freak out" phase is over but the tired stick is still hitting me over the head. Granted, I had LONG days at work all last week but I barely moved out of bed this weekend I was so tired. I've had 10-11 hour nights of sleep since Friday. The past month I was averaging 5-6 hours each. Yowza. Can't wait to have more energy again. Here's to all of us who keep pushing through!

It's a breeze. if you're worried asked for an antiemetic beforehand...no need to suffer.

I was hungry for the first week after surgery and then it passed. I think it was actually my stomach settling post-surgery and/or acid rumblings. Take your anti-acids!

Linda is right. I was stressing out about the weight loss. I needed to let my body adjust (i'm only now into week 5) and stress was leading to me holding on to more weight. Stress is not our friend...nor is the scale. Also, make sure you are getting plenty of sleep!

Beta carotene?

CW: 305 GW: 289 3-17-14

I started back to work 5 days post op and was doing well...and then felt like I hit a wall of tired last week. I'm mid-week 3 and resting as much as possible. Just totally worn out. Working on Water and sleep and hoping that by the end of the week I will have more energy. I don't know how anyone was able to work out in the first month. Every time I do it just wipes me out from exhaustion.

I'm 3 weeks out from surgery (about 24 days). I'm in the three week stall and I am ok. Am I struggling with Water and Protein? Yes. Am I not getting enough sleep? Yes. Am I exhausted and not getting my daily exercise in? Yes. Am I depressed? No. Why? Because I adjust, I do better each day. Each day I push myself. If there is something that is outside the scope of what I should be eating I throw it out. I don't put it away for later, I just chuck it out. I added strength training (resistance) to my routine and I know I'm retaining water because of it. Instead of having a melt down I will continue with the light resistance training 3x a week. Why? Because it makes me feel better: stronger, healthier, like I'm advancing. When I weighed in this morning my weight was UP (and I wanted to freak out but I didn't). I know it is because of water retention (and lack of water). My rational brain is fighting to keep me calm. I couldn't sleep well last night but I woke up and came here to read and find solace in the community. And though sleepy I found reason to keep taking steps forward. Even though it nauseates me in the mornings I'm working on my water. I had a tsp of Peanut Butter and am working on a Protein shake right now. I am separated from my significant other and I slid on my water and protein focus because of that last week. Also, I have been stressed and so my body is holding on to everything; I can feel it (isn't that a funny thing?). But still, I nap when I find the relaxation and I wake up ready to keep going. Now, I have resistance bands at home and my treadmill arrives tomorrow. I watched weight of the nation last night and I didn't feel like such a failure. Just another warrior on this path with the rest of you. I forgot myself in the fog of my sadness: I forgot I am not alone, I forgot that this is not a journey of days but of months and years. And so, even though I am tired, hope wakes here. Thank you. Because of all of you and the strength you show; because of all of you and the weakness we share; because I took the leap off the cliff and it is time to trust my wings and fly. As I ponder the struggles of this journey I keep reminding myself: no matter if you trip or stumble, just get up, keep going, hope remains.

I'm in! It will be the start of my second month...looking forward to the company and support.

I'm working hard to eat clean, get my Protein and Water in, walking, and keep track of things. So why is it that I'm only two weeks out and my weight loss hasn't moved since the end of week 1? I know the three week stall is something that is of common lore but I stalled right at the start of week 2. I feel like it is a shifting dynamic and people say: do what you are supposed to do. By all counts I am doing what I am "supposed" to do. I can feel that my body is stressed and holding on so I'm working on getting as much water in as possible as well as extra sleep. I find it difficult to ingest protein in the mornings due to nausea. Not much is appealing to me in terms of food. The bigger thing is my fear of failing after the lap-band failure. I feel stressed about losing weight: this was a big financial investment and I am devoting so much energy and attention to these efforts. I'm going to incorporate eggs/egg whites so I might be able to get some more protein in. Today I have such a mixture of emotions -- frustration and anger -- with that darn number on the scale. I only weigh once a week and I'm getting ready to put the thing away completely for a while. It's superbowl Sunday in Bronco country and I'll be going to a party where there will be very little to nothing I can eat. I'm feeling stressed about that as well. All this stress cannot be aiding in the weight loss process. Is it possible to follow the rules and fail?

You all give great advice. The superbowl was fine - everyone was so distraught over the broncos it really didn't matter I know I need to amp up my Water intake, still struggling with that. Otherwise keeping the course and the scale is now up on the top shelf of the closet. My treadmill arrives tomorrow. I bought that instead of a couch so I can do work on the computer and walk instead of sitting. Game on.

I find that sucralose products give me a headache. I figure anything that gives me a headache is not a great idea. So...I am a bit disappointed by this but I will focus on a sucralose free diet. I keep stevia around...we'll see how long.

thanks for your thoughts! Jus to clarify: not worried about not eating...have been out to social occasions and fine with that. It's more the attention of not eating amidst others. I don't have problems being around other people eating (happens everyday at work). Thanks for your messages...I'm going to go for a stroll...just for relaxation

I read a recent article (I want to say it was the Journal on Bariatrics) that indicated one research study found that glue was the optimal intervention on leaks instead of a "surgical" response. Hope it goes well for you.

I'm taking an awesome chewable. It's like a treat.

For whatever reason (I think the pH balance) I find Fiji Water much easier going down than anything else.

I take a chewable iron supp that tastes much better than I expected. From Nature's Plus - seems to do the trick.

I'm now opting for unflavored protein to mix into things. I just can't take the sweet taste of things anymore. Fascinating.