marycw1955

Thanks you for sharing your experience with the gallstones. I think any discomfort, especially post-op, should not be ignored...

Hi all. I'm reading so much about people stalling, but I haven't experienced that yet. My surgery was 6/25 and since my post op visit on 7/3 I have lost an additional 10 lbs. so, I'm averaging about 2.5 lbs a week and I'm fine with that. I actually prefer it slow and steady rather than periods of big drops and stalls. I have used a combination of minimal exercise (2-3 times a week of walking and swimming and 10 minutes of hand weights 3x a week. I have also mixed my food every day. I never have the same food 2 days in a row (except eggs) and my Nut has allowed me to have cereal Kashi or Special K with protein which has helped the process. Some times it feel that people may not be eating enough and overdoing the exercise with the hopes that the weight is just going to drop off instantly. This is a lifetime journey, so slow and steady wins the race. I have always been a great cook and eater and I've used my cooking ability to try new high protein recipes that are interesting and varied. I make a pot of marinara sauce and use it to make an Italian lentil soup (I add canned lentils and finely chopped celery and carrots for veggies) and also make turkey meatballs (adding egg and cheese for more protein) and place it over ricotta cheese (I also add an egg and grated cheese in that) for my traditional Sunday Italian dinner. While everyone around me is eating pasta and bread, I'm right at home with my own hi protein Italian dinner. You can also use the sauce to add shrimp, scallops, or any fish. Just wanted to share some ideas that have helped me. We will all get to our goals if we keep positive and motivated and support each other...good luck to everyone.

"My suggestion is to get your head straight before surgery - I was not prepared for the emotional part of this process. I researched enough about the procedure itself that I probably could have assisted the surgeon. I had to address my emotional eating issues while recovering and not able to eat. It's hard." This statement, to me, pretty much sums up the entire surgery scenario. It has already been studied and proven that this surgery will assist you in your weight loss journey. What most people struggle with is redefining their lives. food had become the focal point of our lives. As much as we kidded ourselves that family, work, etc were important, food was our best friend, lover, compadre. That's why we wanted more and more of it. We all need to put other things above food, things like our health, feeling and looking great, our families and friends. I am only 4 weeks out and the doctor told me yesterday that I had lost 24 lbs since my pre-op visit on 6/20. I had also lost 12 lbs during the pre-op diet. I know in my heart I would never have this weight loss I a year if I had not done this. These numbers are fine with me but more importantly, what I have lost is my relationship with food. I have walked by the shore boardwalk with the pizza, steak sandwiches, ice cream and just kept walking and smiling because I know those foods were not my friends, they were killing me slowly. I have tried to psychologically prepare myself for this journey and as others say, you have a good day and a bad day. But this surgery is now my best friend who is steering me away from those foods and towards a better life all around. I know it's a long road but I feel that we will all get there as long as you keep your eye on the prize. Best wishes to everyone who has made this trip and to others who are thinking about it.

Wow, I'm sorry to hear that. Did you doctor indicate the stones were a result of your weight loss?

I'm 58 and decided after 28 years of being overweight and yo-yo diets, I needed to do something drastic. I was sleeved on 6/25 and figured my experience was going to be so slow due to my age. I have lost about 25 pounds since my pre-op visit on 6-20 and 30 since I began this journey. I feel good about my decision and am adjusting to my new lifestyle. Everyone is different but I'm not attempting to have the body of a 21 year old, I'll be happy to get within 25 lbs of my doctor's goal. The surgery was the easiest part so far, the planning and time spent finding new and interesting proteins is the tougher part. But I think it's a great option for many people and I look forward to many healthy years ahead. Best of luck to you!!

My date was 6/25 so yesterday was 3 weeks...I'm doing well, down about 30 lbs since I began 6 mos ago and about 20 or so since surgery...I'm not doing any extensive exercising, just make it a point to get 30 minutes of movement in a day and a few minutes of 3lb hand weights every other day. My biggest complaint is lack of energy, I hope that comes back soon. A nurse I know says that is connected to the fact that anesthesia takes at least 4 weeks to exit your system. I'm not sure about that but I hope that's the reason. Looking forward to adding more foods to my diet next week, I'm getting bored.

HMK715: Thanks for the great post! I feel very much the same although I've only been sleeved since 6/25. I am adjusting to my new way of life but the realization that food can no longer be my crutch has finally sunken in. Even though people get that "look" when they find out I had surgery, I know this decision is the best thing I could ever have done for myself. I'm quite a bit older than you, but I think we all have that common denominator. Continued success and thanks for the post!!

I was sleeved on 6/25 and for the most part, things have been good. I'm in Phase 2 of pureed foods but having some difficulty getting any pureed meats down, so I've been relying on eggs, Soup, yogurt and Protein drinks to get me by. Trouble is, I have very little energy and my job is quite demanding mentally, and my concentration is not where it needs to be. I took about 8 days after surgery off, but maybe I should have taken another week. I'm functioning but just barely. I don't start Phase 3 until 6/24 and that seems a long time away right now. I'm also in a bit of a stall, losing about 2 lbs since my post op visit on 7/3. My total loss since pre-op on 6/20 is about 19 lbs and total of almost 30 since my pre-op diet. All in all, I'm very happy with my progress and I now understand that this life change will be successful. I wish all of you continued success and it's nice to have a place to compare notes with people who understand. I'm tired of trying to explain this process and the end result to skinny people...lol

I tried to start early and wound up throwing up in the parking lot of Whole Foods. So I am sticking to the rules! :-) Thanks for the good advice. I will stick to Soup and yogurt....

I can relate totally from my first week. I have been drinking the protein drinks for months in preparation for surgery and had no problems. Since surgery I have to force them down and have skipped the third one a few times because the thought made me gag. It's better now, but I am changing them by using coconut milk, muscle milk light and other new liquids. That really helps give them a different taste...

I was sleeved on 6/25, on a liquid diet for 7 days and now on puréed until July 21st. I have started to push the envelope towards soft foods because I'm bored with the limited menu of blended items that I can actually stand. My doctor is on vacation, so I have to stay this phase an extra few days until I can see him. My stomach is tolerating everything pretty well but I don't want to cause any damage. Has anyone started the next phase without doctors or nutritionist's ok?

I was shocked today when I began eating a container of yogurt and before I knew it, I had consumed the entire 5.3 oz . Up until today, a few spoonfuls filled me...anyone have a similar experience? I am 10 days post op and 3 days on Phase 2. I did not have my 3rd protein drink of the day, so maybe that's why I had so much room in my pouch? I'm confused.

Everyday will get a little better. I stopped taking the Tylenol with codeine that my dr prescribed and bought extra strength liquid Tylenol so I wouldn't feel sleepy and rundown. The more you sleep the less fluids you can consume. Hang in there and try and push through it.

I too have "hunger" but as you stated, once I have a few bites, I'm full again...I experimented with ricotta cheese by adding my homemade tomato sauce...pretended it was lasagna!! It filled me up and was a whole lot better than awful puréed meats. I decided after having black bean soup for lunch and the ricotta for dinner, that I will concentrate on other types of proteins during this second phase. Not the same as having my old 4th of July BBQ but I'm very happy that I had this procedure because with each small victory, I feel in total control.

I went back to work yesterday. I work a busy desk job so I thought I "what the heck, I'm sitting, so how bad could it be". I actually worked a longer day than usual trying to catch up and when I got home, I realized how exhausted I was. I ate my dinner, had a cup of coffee and I basically passed out on my couch and slept from 8 pm to 6:30 this morning! I Never sleep like that! I think that even though many of us feel great we have to keep in mind that our bodies and minds have just been through a trauma and we should give ourselves enough time to get our strength back. In addition, we no longer are fueled the same way (thankfully!) so for awhile we may have limitations in our ability to function at full speed.

Happy to say I am on Phase 2 as of today. Had a great doctors visit and found out I am 17 lbs down since my pre-op visit on 6/20, my surgery date was 6/25. I was happy all the incisions are clean and bandages off.. Can't wait until my belly is smaller so I can look down at my torso and see the incisions instead of looking in the mirror. As I anticipated, puréed foods are not the most exciting in the world, so I need to put my creative cooking skills into gear. My treat for the day is my first cup of real coffee (only 1 per day) in 3 weeks but I left it black and added anise extract, so I feel like I'm having expresso with Sambuca in it!! Was one of my favorite restaurant post dinner drink, so having discovered this on day 1 of phase 2 has made me thrilled. Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!!

Really? I think 23 pounds in a month is fantastic!! You might want to ask your Nut if you need to add some calories since your body may feel like it's starving even if you don't feel it. It then holds on to fat longer so maybe you need a kick start. But again, 23 pounds is great in my world. Keep up the good work!!

I think that the scale isn't the only thing that shows progress but of course, that's what we all look at. I haven't seen the dr yet but I know from my clothes that I am losing weight. The important thing for me is that I have gotten through week 1, feel great and for the first time in about a century, I can't use food as my go to anymore. If I'm stressed, i need to exercise, if I'm lonely i need to get involved with people, if i didn't get enough love growing up, I need to get over it. No more excuses for me. I wish everyone great success in your journeys regardless if how you measure progress.

That is fantastic!! I feel the milestones are going to be so special. I go for my post op on Thursday and can't wait. I feel great as well but I'm ready to get off this liquid diet. I know puréed foods aren't exciting, but I can't wait !!

I am only 6 days post op but I've been thinking about this scenario for awhile. I started this journey at 252, BMI of 44. From nutritionist advice and pre-op diet, my surgery weight was 238 and at 6 days out, I am at 229. My personal goal weight is 155-160 which should bring my BMI to around 25. I have not met with the surgeon yet, but at my age of 58, I don't expect some of the extreme weight loss numbers that I have read here. I also believe in having a few extra pounds on me in case I get the flu or bronchitis (which I' m susceptible to). I feel I will be happy being a few extra pounds over the recommended charts since I don't want to look sickly. Has anyone has this type of concern or conversation with their surgeon?

Doesn't muscle milk have a lot of sugar in it? I recall looking at it a couple of years for my mother who needed a supplement to her diet but was also diabetic. I can't remember for sure, but I believe I didn't buy. It due to sugar content...

Don't second guess your decision. I am on day 6 of post-op and am on a liquid diet. I haven't felt this good in over 20 years. The surgery had 1-2 days of minimal discomfort. I have been home for 4 days and haven't even looked at the pain meds. I'm drinking my liquids, Protein shakes and Vitamins and for someone who hasn't eaten anything in 7 days, I have more energy than I did a month ago. I'm down 10 pounds since the surgery. I'm not hungry and actually take greater joy in cooking now than I did before. I guess it's my way to rebuild my relationship with food, and this is the first stage. There's never going to be a better time or way to change your life. You can do it, believe me, you will!! Good luck sweetie!!

Wow surprised that they would recommend cocoa. My surgeons were pretty emphatic that i avoid caffeine since it hinders the healing of the stomach. But, i guess every dr has their own theory. Please let us know if it works because I would love to have a remedy.

Day 4 has been so much better than yesterday. I am not as sore, but my stomach is still a bit bloated which I imagine is normal? I went to the drugstore with my daughter and bought a liquid antacid and liquid Tylenol and that has helped me a great deal. I'm still napping for about 2 hours, something I've never done before, but it makes me feel rejuvenated. Still getting used to my relationship with my new stomach and like all relationships, we are taking it slow and getting used to each other. ????

Sorry you feel that way, Jessie...it seems as if you have been very successful with your procedure, (or at least your numbers indicate that). Could it be your expectations post surgery have not been realized? I have often read on this site that people are not comfortable with their "new" selves. They miss the food as a comfort, social vehicle or just something that has defined them for years. This site has helped me prepare for that scenario if and when it comes. Food can no longer be the focal point of my life, I need to find a healthy and creative alternative. I am on Day 4 of post op, so I have a long way to go. This site has given me great advice especially for things at the doctor doesn't always address. I never would have made this decision without the advice and support of many posters on this blog. I wish you the very best in your continued journey.