WhoKnows

Wow, you look fantastic! Congratulations!

@@jdmama911 I'm just not comfortable being "out" about it here. I live in Europe and obesity is much less of a problem, and weight loss surgery even less discussed than it is in the US, especially among younger people. The only people I know who have sought help with their weight, through surgery or otherwise, are all over forty, so not really in my demographic. Thus, like I said, I'm afraid if I said anything to one of the overweight people I see regularly (say at university), the whole thing would seem so foreign to them that their first reaction wouldn't be good. Of course I know they need to have that first reaction some time, but I really don't want people in the department talking about me. I'm afraid if people think it makes me lazy or a cheater, it could hurt my chances at support for PhD funding down the line. I mean, no one would ever openly say or do that, but we all know how subtle and even unconscious fat-phobia and discrimination can be.

I never had a pudding cup after surgery, but I do remember that all of a sudden after about four days I no longer had restriction with liquids. It was pretty over night. Just remember to measure your food. Just because you can eat a whole pudding cup in one sitting, doesn't mean you have to.

My surgeon told me soup shouldn't be a go to food, but it can be a good option at a restaurant or something if it's a healthy soup. He didn't give me an exact number, but I think once or twice a month, soup is ok.

This isn't something I've encountered yet since I'm only 5 weeks post-op, but it's something I have thought about. I've been relatively quiet about my surgery (only a few very close friends know), and as far as most people know, I'm just watching what I eat (pretty strictly) and exercising. But I've wondered what I'll say when a fat friend or acquaintance asks me. I feel like in that case, maybe I should be more honest. But it's a risk. On the one hand, he or she may say, "Well, that's cheating" and lose respect for me. Fine, I suppose, since anyone I really care about already knows; but I would be concerned about them telling other people. On the other hand, what if knowing I had surgery is a huge moment for them and leads them to do the same and really change their life? I just don't know.

Little mini fritatas (sp?) that you make in muffin tins. If you use just the egg whites and add some high Protein cheese, like low-fat (if you want) feta and mozzarella, it's a great little protein bomb. When we're farther out, we can also add veggies, like spinach and tomatoes. Also, tofu is super high protein and softer than meats, so I'm sure you could eat it now. Just make sure you learn how to cook it correctly. I hear a lot of people say how much they don't like tofu, but my guess is that about 80% of them just have never had it made well. This is my very favorite basic tofu recipe from an absolutely amazing cookbook called The Veganomicon: http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=519710 I usually make a little extra of the braising liquid for the end.

Don't worry, I just assumed it was a typo. I'm certain lylabelle would have just dropped that in there on purpose.

I think I found a trainer today! I heard about this gym through word of mouth, so I wrote an email asking for a consultation and got a call a little while later. In my email I was very open about everything, which the guy I spoke with (who runs the gym) said he really appreciated. Apparently, this place doesn't take everyone, only people who are really, really motivated. And he said to me that if having 85% of your stomach removed isn't motivation, then he doesn't know what is! He asked me so many questions about how I eat/ate, what my exercise and injury history is, about my family's medical history, just everything! Very thorough. He told me the gym offers several plans. I would go with the cheapest (159 Euro per month) which offers two semi-private training sessions a week in a small group (no more than 6) with other people who have similar goals. Most of the trainers are also physical therapists, which I really need. And he says their number one priority is avoiding injury (another major plus for me!). They also expect you to come work out at least two other days during the week in addition to the private or semi-private sessions, and he says if you don't, trainers will literally come find you! I also only live an 8 minute walk away, so I totally believe him! I'm going in on Monday to see the space and meet the team, and if it's a good fit, I'll sign a contract an get going right away! I'm so psyched! I just wanna get strong again!

@@devint Thanks for hooking us up for week 5!

@@hrhlaurie, I'm having the same problem. When I weighed on Monday I was down 16lb from surgery, and only four of those sixteen were from the past two weeks. I'm also doing really well on Protein and fluids, so I don't know what gives, but as long as we stick to the plan, there's no way it won't come off, even if it's slow. I had been hoping to be able to get a super short haircut (like an undercut or something - think David Lynch (or Miley Cyrus, ugh)) when the hair loss starts, but now I'm not sure if I will have lost enough. We'll see.

I don't know what you'd need to take Vitamins for that you wouldn't want to take extra anyway. Other than B12 (which really we should all be taking regardless), you can get everything from plant sources. And that's if you're vegan. If you're just vegetarian, it's even less of a problem.

I wouldn't say I'm having mood swings. I mostly feel pretty good. I just find myself tearing up a lot more when I watch movies or the news or something. Also, trouble feeling motivated to do my school work...

I'm down 16lb since surgery.

Yes to tearing up!

@@devint, maybe I need to be eating more. Our Protein is the same, but you're higher on everything else and you've lost twice as much. I'll try and get some Beans in today.

The best thing you can do is lead by example. However, I disagree with others about it only being your problem if your family's habits begin to affect you. Yes, ultimately it's your choice, but all of us know the concept of "willpower" is misleading. If it were simply about "willpower," most of us wouldn't have needed this surgery. If you were heroine addict who had undergone an extensive therapy treatment and were now clean, but your loved ones still used in front of you, wouldn't that be a problem? If you were a formed smoker and your partner chain smoked with you in the room, we'd agree that's a problem as well. You can't make your family change their habits, but you can ask them to help you keep certain things out of sight and out of mind. This may mean them adjusting what they order when you go out to eat together. I think that's a reasonable request.

What are everyone's nutritional stats right now? With Cronometer I'm able to see my average micro and macro nutrient intake for the week. Right now my rundown is as such: Calories: 528 Protein: 75.5g Carbs: 12.3g Fat: 20g As far as micronutrients go, I'm doing ok, but I can see I need more omega6, magnesium and potassium. But I'm good on Water. Drinking hasn't been an issue. But I've also seen a real slow in weight loss the past two weeks or so. I've only lost 16lb since surgery (I'll be four weeks out on Wednesday) and over the last two weeks it's just been 4lb. I was hoping it'd be at least 20 after four weeks, but oh well. I'll start going to the gym and building muscle in July, and I'll try to get my calories up to 700. I'd like to get in more Protein, and maybe more good fats as well.

@@DSMCasey, I actually know what you mean, and for me, it's not head hunger. I eat during the day on a schedule, but at night when I'm in bed I feel a sort of rumbly emptiness in my stomach. It feels like a really dulled down hunger, sort of the equivalent of how pain feels really dulled when you're on a good pain killer, but you still know it's there. It doesn't bother me, and since I know I've already gotten in all my Protein, I just ignore it. But I do hope it doesn't get too much worse as I get further out from surgery.

@@devint I'm vegetarian, so I don't use fish oil. There are other sources of omegas if the fishiness is unpleasant for you. I take capsules with oil from algae. They also make me feel a bit nauseated, but only for about three or four minutes, but that's with any pill; there's no smell or taste or anything. The brand is German, but I know you could get something similar in the US.

@@devint I'm dry brushing as well. I dry brush pretty hard before I shower (so about every other day) and I moisturize every day. I had some difficulty here finding a firming lotion though. No one I spoke to in the German stores had any clue what that was, so I took something for pregnant women instead. I figured it's a similar principle? I mix it with an oil I got from Kiels (I forget which one) and almond oil. I'm thinking of switching the lotion to the coco butter lotion from the Body Shop though and mixing that with the oils instead. The lotion I got at the pharmacy was really expensive. I wouldn't mind the price if I knew it had the things I need, like elastin and Vitamin e, but, like I said, no one was very helpful in that respect. I'm also trying to make sure I get in all my Vitamins and good fats. I'm fine on Omega 3s, but I need some Omega 6s.

HW: 265 SW: 252 CW: 239

"The only reason most people are fat is because they drink soda" - my skinny friend said to me, someone who practically never drank soda (or my calories in general).

I asked my surgeon how many calories a day I should be aiming for, and he told me there was no minimum. I can't imagine getting 800 right now unless I really stepped it up with more fats. Right now I'm averaging between 500-600 calories and 70-75g of Protein (and all vegetarian: don't let them tell you it's not possible!). I hope to get to 80g a day by the end of the month. The nutritionist I want to see has not gotten back to me about an appointment, however, and I don't know if she'll tell me something different. Honestly, from here I mostly just want very clear instructions about when to take which supplements. There's so much conflicting information.

Wow, amazing results! I'll keep his name in mind for when I need it in a few years!

All the more reason to switch from radio to podcasts (or at least NPR) and to ditch the TV and just use Netflix or something on the computer. We can't shut ourselves off from ads entirely, but we can definitely minimize it. Also, I suggest installing Adblock Plus on your browser: https://adblockplus.org/en/chrome