Mom2-3

Hey everybody. I just wanted to update. I am 1 month post-op and down 22lbs since day of surgery and 42lbs total from highest weight. Although I don't really see much of a change yet, my family says they can really tell. I am thrilled by that. I do have a question though. My dr. has recommended that I try to get in 1000-1200 calories daily. Does anybody else have that high of a requirement? I am having a really hard time doing that. At this point, I haven't been able to consume more than 650 calories in a day due to nausea and feeling extremely full. My goal is to have 75 grams of Protein as well. I try to get a lot of my protein from food sources, but being that I can't really eat much more than 3-4 tablespoons of any given food, that can be a little difficult. I have been trying to change my Protein shakes frequently cause I still haven't found one that I really enjoy. I have been doing a little protein shot that's about 3.8oz with 2 grams of protein for the last 2 weeks, but even that has been hard to choke down lately. Right now I have flavorless Protein powder that I try to sprinkle on my food and drinks which has been helping a little. What are your favorite protein shakes? I need some more options, lol! Also, my Dr. hasn't really given me any information regarding fat and carbs totals. Other than being low carb and fat, I'm not really sure of a min and max daily allowance. I know all Dr's are different, but would anybody be willing to share their requirements at 4 weeks out. Thanks so much for all the support! Living and learning day by day!

Thank you so much everybody for the advice. I too thought it seemed like a little much at this time. I will keep doing what I'm doing for now with a goal to be around 1000-1200 calories eventually. Right now, I'm still losing and don't feel like I need more calories. I will adjust my diet if I start seeing the weight loss slow down or stop. Once again, I really appreciate the advice.

Praying for a quick recovery!

They are called New whey liquid Protein. They come in grape and watermelon flavor, I believe. My husband found them at GNC, but I also found them at Walmart. I believe they are cheaper at Walmart. Plus they had it to where you could buy one individual bottle and try it before you buy a large box of them. I believe that Amazon sells them as well. Like I said, they aren't the best tasting alone, but mixing it with something else makes them taste much better! My husband, however, thinks they taste pretty good alone. To each their own, I guess. I was having a very hard time getting my protein in before I found those because I would get nauseated toward the end of every Protein shake I made so getting so much protein in from such a small bottle was great to me!

I eat Dannon light and Fit Greek blended yogurt. It's only 80calories and has 12g of Protein per serving. That is a staple for me. I eat it every morning for Breakfast. Also doing refried Beans with fat free sour cream blended really well tasted good. I can only do a couple bites, but it has a decent amount of protein per serving. I just got some frozen greek yogurt popsicles from costco today. They too are only 80 calories and have 6g of protein. I think they tasted pretty good. My biggest way of getting my protein in was from some protein shots that I found. To be honest, they don't taste that good at all by themself, but they are 180 calories and 42 grams of protein in a little 3.8 oz bottle. I mix about 1/2 of those with one glass of crystal light and sip on that in between meals and then I mix the other half later in the day. Hope this helps. Good luck

lovinglife28....I had my surgery on Jan 14, 2014, so I'm still pretty new at this. Weight is coming off, slow but still losing and better than I have ever done on my own. I'm not loving my sleeve yet, but I'm sure that will come more in time. Right now I'm still trying to recover and learn how to eat with my sleeve. It's a learning process, but I have faith that it will do like it's supposed to as long as I follow the plan. I see that your planning on having surgery soon. Best of luck to you.

I am from a tiny town about 1 hour east of Kansas City. How about you?

Ok everybody....I am 2 weeks post-op from having my sleeve done and still having a decent amount of pain. Would like to think of myself as having a pretty decent pain tolerance, but I just can't seem to get passed the pain. I have had a lap chole and was up and around later that day and I've even had a cesarean section and managed better than how I am feeling now. I had been taking my hydrocodone with an occasional dose of liquid motrin daily up until 2 days ago when I was finally able to stop taking the pain meds. I have been walking my treadmill and doing my elliptical for the last 3 days cause I thought I was finally starting to get passed the pain, but today I was in tears because of the pain after only walking 10 min. The pain is strictly on my left side of my abdomen and even hurts when I lightly touch my stomach. Today I have been having a little discomfort from drinking fluids as well. Concerned something may be wrong. Has anybody else experienced anything like this? If so any suggestions to get passed this hump? I am so ready to feel like my normal self again!

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess maybe I am just doing too much. I really haven't done much at all except for small walking periods until a couple of days ago. But even then I haven't done more than 5min on the elliptical and 10min on the treadmill at a time. I just wanted to get my body used to doing more before I have to go back to work. I am a nurse that works 12 hour shifts and spend pretty much the whole time walking and moving around. (Sometimes nurses are the worst patients, lol) Starting to feel like I might not be ready to go back next week. I guess I will take it back a little and see if that helps and if I continue to have more pain I'll give the Dr. a call tomorrow. Once again, thanks for the suggestions and input.

Yep, I'm from a small town about 30 min east of Kansas City. And you?

I had my surgery Jan 14, 2014. I was down 23lbs with the pre-op diet, but I currently weigh 5lbs more now then I did the day of surgery. I know I have been having a hard time getting my Protein in. I started my pureed foods today and was full after only 3 bites of cream of wheat. I am just concerned I am not losing anything yet. Did I do all of this for nothing? Is it common to be up weight following surgery? Anybody else dealing with the same thing? Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

I am so sorry you are at a place right now where you are starting to debate your decision. I too went through the negative emotions as well. Just remember how UNselfish you are being by getting the surgery done. It is hard work....nothing about it is easy, but it will be so worth it not only for you, but your family. They too will reap the rewards....they will earn a healthier, happier and more active mom/wife. It can help to give you your life back and keep you around longer for your kids and hubby. Keep your chin up girl. You got this!!

Wanted to update everybody.....just as everybody told me, the added weight was just from IV fluids. I am now a full week out and have lost the extra 5lbs as well as an additional 6lbs! I am over the moon excited. Plus I have been able to get my Protein in with no problem now. I found some protein shots with 42grams of protein in a mere 3oz bottle. Not the best flavor alone, but adding it to my crystal light has been tolerable maybe even good. I do one of those a day and then get the rest of my protein from food sources to get my total to 60grams as my Dr. has instructed. Once again thanks for all the support. And for those that also have a difficult time getting the protein in, you should definitely try the shots.

I am 5 days out and just curious when people started to include exercise. I have been walking since the day of surgery. Not much at any given point but walked the halls in the hospital 6x the day of surgery and post-op day one. Since I have been home, I have been walking a lot around the house to stay active, but still not a lot at one time. Today, however, I took my kids on a short walk....3 blocks. When we got home, I felt so worn out and in quite a bit of pain. I know physical activity is an important aspect with weight loss and I want to make sure I include it in my daily activities, but I want to make sure I don't do too much too soon yet at the same time I don't want to cut myself short and think that I shouldn't do something because I am recovering from surgery. My directions from my surgeon didn't go beyond walking so just a little curious when to start doing more. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks so much in advance.

What an inspiration!!! Congrats to you....that is wonderful news. I don't know about you, but that is my biggest motivation for doing the sleeve....greater health and ability to spend more precious time with my kiddos and hubby. The looks are just a bonus. Sounds like you are on the right track. Way to go!!!

Thank you everybody for the great support. I figured it had a lot to do with the IV Fluid just wasn't for sure if anybody else experienced the same thing. As far as starting the pureed food, I have strictly been on Clear liquids and Protein shakes until this point. My Dr. has you do nothing the day of surgery then start clear liquids and Protein Shakes from day 1-day 4 and pureed/full liquid foods from day 5-22. Until today, I wasn't even allowed to have yogurt which I'm sure is why I was having such a difficult time getting my protein in. With pureed foods, at least I can get protein from food sources as well as shakes which is what my Dr prefers. So choosing cream of wheat was a way of having some protein through a food source. It is crazy though how different Dr's view's can be. Even from my Dr and her partner there were differences so I expect us all to have a different journey as far as when to introduce stages of food. It is great to hear that I am not alone in not losing so quickly. I had just been reading different posts where people were talking about losing 12lbs and such the first week and I was feeling like perhaps I was doing something wrong. Once again, thanks so much for the great support and input!

Hey everybody. I'm new to this, but I love having this available for all the support. I am scheduled for Jan 14....less than 36 hours away!! So very excited, yet nervous at the same time. I have been on my liquid diet since 1/1 and have lost 11 lbs with that. At first, I found it very difficult. I felt nauseous, lightheaded, weak and just plain hungry, but after about 6 days, it started to become easier. I have included many people in my journey. My entire family...mom, sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents etc are aware of my surgery as well as a few close friends and the majority of my co-workers. I'm an RN, so I have found great support through my work relationships. And as far as my family, I needed them to know. It was important to me to have all that I could support and rally around me during this time. Not to mention a few extra prayers are always welcomed. I look forward to hearing about everybody's soon to be successes. Here's to the skinnier and healthier you in 2014!!!