esskay77

This is normal and will happen many times!! Stalls are just part of the process. Some people increase the amount of protein they have and that seems to move it. Otherwise, just keep doing the right thing (and stop weighing yourself!!) and you will get past the stall. Just make sure you are following all the basics. You'll do it! You will be fine

I don't have real answers, just wanted to say that I am in a similar boat. Had the surgery about 3 years ago, lost 100 pounds but need to lose more. I have also lost my mojo when it comes to doing this right. Need to get on track. Have you tried the 5-day Pouch test? I tried it once and it was fine but didn't "reset me." I don't know how to do this myself but what I want to tell you (or tell myself) is that vegetables aren't the big answer, just part of the answer. It's not like the old diets where eating veggies is the trick. Our trick is protein. Protein first,then if there is room, the next thing in is veggies. Chicken and shrimp are 2 of the really good things to eat. And chicken can be prepared 1,000 different ways. But, I would love to hear what others have to say.

That's why it is so hard to "just have a bite" or "just one time". It's not. Once you allow it, you will do it again. And again, and bigger. Trust me. Been there and still trying to shake it off. It's not worth it.

I am in my 50s and went back during the second week. I was off the pain meds pretty quickly since they were only making me nauseous. You can't drive while you take the pain meds. It does depend on a lot of things. One of those things is the type of job you have. I have a desk job so it made things easier. I was more tired than anything else--wasn't really in pain, I don't need to carry heavy things except my laptop but I think that was under the weight limit anyway. For me, personally, I feel that I heal better if I get back to a normal schedule of things. But that isn't for everyone. You have to know your body and your limits

This is very common. Just stay on your own yoga mat and do what you need to do for you.

It's still early days for you so consider it a goal, not necessarily something you will achieve just yet. But, you need to work hard to try to get there because you will eventually. I found that the Isopure drinks helped me get a lot of protein in. They are an acquired taste so beware. But they are 40 grams of protein, no sugar, no carbs and they also count towards your fluid intake! But, yogurt, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese (have you found the ricotta cheese bake recipe yet?), eggs, tuna and edamame are all very helpful. I still rely on those. ANd now I live on chicken and ground turkey, cooked in a variety of ways.

Broth was my item that tasted amazing.

I don't count calories. I only count grams of protein/fat/carbs. It is so much easier. Especially protein.

It is your body, your decision, working with your surgeon. You are an adult. But, just a note. I had gastric bypass. As long as I follow the plan, I never vomit. I do know some people who do but they are more the exception than the rule. Frankly, even when I'm off plan, I rarely vomit. Everyone has their own journey but I just don't want you to think that everyone who has the surgery vomits regularly and that it is normal. It MAY be normal for some people but I think for most of us, it is not. Best of luck on whatever you decide!

The surgery takes away your stomach hunger but not your head hunger which is what you are dealing with right now. It is normal but also a beast! Eventually, you will look back at this and laugh and wonder why it was such a big deal. But in the moment, it does feel like a big deal. I remember dreaming of biting into a chocolate frosted doughnut! I didn't have one and eventually, when I was able to start eating real food, that went away. Just hang in there and follow the plan--it is tough but you won;t regret it!! Best of luck

How do you count popcorn? Carbs?

Seems a little too soon for popcorn based on everything my doctor and nut say.

So many times!!

Carbs are my enemy and I don't always know how to handle them. First, I'm old school. Back when a carb was strictly a starch. Not a fruit or a veg. So, in my head when I hear carbs I may not be thinking the same thing everyone else is. Second, I try to avoid starches as much as possible but it's really hard. At work, when the company buys lunches (which luckily isn't that often), they get pizza. I try to make sure they get some with chicken on it so I just eat the toppings and throw the crust away. It is amazing how many times I am in a situation where the group food is pizza. Not just at work but in extra curricular activities/meetings, etc. It's almost always pizza. It's easy, it gets delivered, and it is fairly cheap when feeding a lot of people. And it is easy to eat on paper plates. I have a group of friends--one is a vegetarian, one doesn't eat seafood, I eat the way I am trying to eat here, etc. Again, Pasta always seems to be everyone's answer to what to bring to a dinner or brunch. In fact, it will happen today! I can guarantee the vegetarian will bring a vegetarian lasagna! Luckily, there will be scrambled eggs so I'll have that with some hot sauce on them. And then I'm good. Third, it seems that fruit and some veg are now considered carbs. I do have fruit and veg. For veg, I try to stay with celery, radishes, red and green peppers, onions, tomatoes. Those are all my go to veggies. I LOVE fruit but try to keep it to a minimum. But I don't freak out over too much fruit since it is a rare thing. Fourth. The one thing that really keeps me going on staying away from carbs as much as possible (though I do have some starch on occasion) is that before surgery, I had legs, ankles, and feet that were swollen with fluid--so swollen I could barely get my shoes on!! Lymphedema I guess it is called, or pitted edema actually. If I pressed my thumb into my leg/ankle/foot, it would stay pressed in for a bit after I removed my thumb. That is all gone now!!!!! This is the biggest thrill for me and it keeps me going. When I was in my late teens, early twenties, my legs/ankles/feet were my best asset and I have them back! You have no idea how "Huge" this is! (yes, pun intended). I attribute it to the carbs. I have stopped counting grams of anything so this topic made me realize I have to get back to basics and start counting again!! But I hate carbs, I fear carbs, I wish all the fun and easy food weren't carby.

I'm actually glad you asked the question and I'm even more glad that you handled the responses so well! You must be an awesome person. I think we have all asked ourselves these questions but were too afraid to ask it out loud. Partially because we already know the answers! lol Anyway, best of luck and always try to decide if you are having stomach hunger or head hunger! Head hunger is a beast and will play with your mind!!!

Always check with your doctor of course! I do remember feeling nauseous but it went away as soon as I stopped taking the pain meds. I didin't really need the pain meds anyway. But your mileage may vary and as I said, only your doctor/nurse can really advise you on this.

I've had it but didn't care for it. Same with Siggi's. My NUT did approve it though but mostly suggests Oikos Triple Zero in the black containers. No added sugar and no added artificial sweeteners. Though I have to say my favorite yogurt is the Dannon Greek Light and Fit cherry flavored. But I do have the Oikos as well. And I do have the plain non fat greek yogurt but put in some fruit.

So, at the risk of repeating what others have said... don't count calories!!! Continue to count the grams of Protein, etc, not calories. That's the old way and can mess with your head. Counting grams of protein is so much easier!!! And more accurate for our needs. You will have stalls, just power through them. Keep doing what you need to do, don't weigh yourself quite as much and it will pass. Do what you had been doing before. Don't freak out about starvation mode. If you are getting in your protein and Water like you said you are, then you are fine. If you need to add a bit of protein, then do it. You can probably up it a bit but if you can't handle it right now, you are still good. Just ride the wave through this stall. It will pass. You will have other stalls as well. THat's normal! Best of luck!

@ I have always been wondering about soups/stews! First time I heard anyone say that though it is what I kind of thought. I do have soups/stews. I make homemade chicken Soup but I no longer put noodles in it. I just make sure I put more chicken in it. I surprisingly don't miss the noodles as much as I thought I would, as far as taste goes. In my head, though, it just seems weird to not have noodles but I'm not giving in!! lol. I usually make my own stock too which is why I have so much chicken available to put in. I usually roast a chicken and then make a stock from the carcass then add almost all the chicken to the soup since I don't eat chicken sandwiches anymore, which is what I used to do with the leftovers. Sometimes I'll just make the stock and put it in the freezer for another day or use it in a stir fry, etc.

I have not had fries and I will not have fries (keeping my fingers crossed that I hold to this!!). I have had some fast food but it is a dangerous thing to do. When I do, I try to make the best choices. I sometimes go to a subshop and get a Steak and cheese with onions and peppers but NO BUN! I eat it with a fork. I avoid McDonald's because if you give in once, it opens the door to do it more and McDonald's is something I have no control over. Obviously, it is best if you never partake in fast food but as you said, you already know that. So, when you do, try to stick to Protein as much as possible. Don't eat the fries, don't eat the bun, that sort of thing. I can tell you right now that you are in that awkward phase where all you are thinking of is food. That does go away for quite a while. I personally think it is best to follow the rules really strictly throughout the first 2 years and lose as much as you can while you can. Because you can and will gain weight later if you go back to eating these foods.

I was told it was a forever thing, though if I need to be flexible it's the during and afterwards that is most important.

I was told not to touch it but I do find that Crystal Light Orange flavor gives me that orange juice taste. Love that stuff

@@snimmon They said no shakes until real food? That's the opposite of what I was told. I was told to have shakes until I get to real food and then try to get all my protein from real food. You might want to check back in with them to see if what you heard was correct.

Congrats and welcome!

I was always wondering the same thing because they are very specific when they say no white sugar, no white flour. If they say no white sugar, it seems like brown sugar would be ok. lol I never tried it but.... thought about it! lol Thanks to the person who explained it!