Bobby46

Hello. I was sleeved on Aug 11. I can only speak about my experience, so this is strictly my opinion. I have struggled my whole life with food and weight. I turn to food when I'm bored, stressed, worried, happy and sad. Food was the center of my life for years. I am clearly addicted to it and the comfort it provides to me. I imagine most people who are significantly over weight have been so for many years. I developed horrible habits and a co-dependent relationship with food for decades. Again, I imagine most people in this boat are the same as me. Saying that....I truly believe that people gain weight after this surgery because breaking those habits, breaking that addiction never really goes away. Its going to be a life long battle even with surgery, period. Right now....8 weeks out from surgery.....I can eat a little more. I can eat sweets and carbs pretty easily. I think that if I don't get my habits under control and if I don't stay totally vigilant concerning my triggers and go-to, feel-good foods, then, yes, I can see myself gaining in the future. The surgery is a tool to use to control portions....it doesn't control what food you put in your body....you do. Yes, you will always have a smaller stomach to control the amount of food. But, if you are reaching for chocolate, chips and fried food....even in small amounts.....over time the weight can and will return.

Stuck too. I lost very quickly the first 3 1/2 weeks. Been slow going for the last 3 1/2. The past week I have been up and down the same 3 lbs. Very frustrating. I have an apt with my surgeon and nutritionist next week. Hoping to figure this out then.

I am 7 weeks out....only been eating whole foods for 3 weeks. The first 2 were awkward and simple. Third week out I am experimenting a little....a little....more. My favorite lunch right now is imitation crab mixed with less than a tbsp. of lite mayo and chipoltle mustard....just a little. I eat it on Special K Cracker Crisps....about 5 of them. It feels like I am eating something BAD. But its 6 grams of Protein, 125 cals. I am still struggling with getting in all my Water and veggies. But I am getting there. Last night I went putt putting with my son at a local icecream shop and had 2 bites of Cappuccino latte gelato and it was heaven. I refuse to have a list of "never" foods. I have dieted my entire life and I have gained it back over and over again because of the "never" foods. Deprivation is not a good thing. This surgery is a tool and I intend to use it as so. My tiny tummy allowed me to have a couple bites of gelato and stop! That's its purpose! So excited to be able to feel free to enjoy food! (another favorite....homemade turkey meatballs with a piece of cheese all melty in the middle...my son loves them too!)

Hello. Can you guys please post a typical day of eating for you? I am about 7 weeks out. I barely get 55 grams of Protein in. I am stuffed every time I eat. I honestly don't have much room for veggies. I have greenbeans or broccoli....very very very little with my dinner. I can't stand V8 juice. I'm just curious how you get the veggies in and how much you can typically eat at a meal. Thanks!

I had 1 little string like that coming out of one of the small sites. I clipped it off assuming it was suture material. Never had another one come thru. Glad its normal. Thought about it off and on while healing.

Ok. I'm 6 weeks out. Only on solid food for 2 weeks. Here is a typical day for me.... Greek yogurt 2hrs later a soft egg 2hrs later a deli slice of smoked turkey and a cheese stick 2hrs later 1/3 cup tuna salad 2hrs later laughing cow cheese wedge with a tablespoon of simply fruit spread 2hrs later a veggie burger pattie....not all of it Water in between these mini meals Is this it? I have no problem eating small meals forever. Not at all. My issue is that after everyone of my mini meals listed above I feel full. Again...its fine....for now. Will I ever be able to eat more than 1/4 c of food? I cant fit in veggies with my Protein at this point. Will it get better as I go along?

Haha! I am over a mth out now. But I remember day 4 texting my sister to tell her I pooped. I felt like a million bucks!

I'm 5 weeks out and I am not eating tons of protein and walking miles a day. I just started foods this week and I'm suppose to eat 6 times a day and drink 48oz of fluid..or more. I eat 4 times a day and drink about 40oz of fluid. I fight the fight everyday. I walk about 2 to 3 times a day on the weekends and just got okayed to clean the house. This still exhausts me....I could nap all weekend to be honest. Weekdays...just started back to work. I make dinner for my son....eat my 1/4 to 1/2 cup of protein with tiny bits of veggies and I'm ready to sleep. SO TIRED. I think this is more of the norm. More power to those who can do more. But this is my reality....no mile walks for me for a little while longer, I'm sure! I do the best I can each day and I pray the next day will be easier.....it's all I can do. I'm getting there!

Ok...I have a question. This is a sample day for me. I am a mth out. The first 4 weeks I was on full liquids. Did well on that. Was getting about 600 to 700 cals a day and about 60 oz of fluids. This week I was moved to food. I take fusion Vitamins 3 times a day. So, my day: Protein shake with 1/2 banana.....260 cals, 21 protein 1/4 cup of tuna mixed with very little lt. mayo.....100 cals, 7 protein triangle of laughing cow cheese....35 cals, 2 protein 2 ozs chicken and about 2 tbsps. mashed up green Beans.....200 cals, not sure but about 10 protein greek yogugurt.....100 cals, 12 protein If I'm lucky...2 bottles of Water This is all I can eat..I'm stuffed all day. That's only 695 cals and 52 grams protein and 40 oz of Fluid. I cant get in anymore food or water! And....I miss vegetables! Is this okay?

I was okayed for food Tuesday. Was so excited. But I have no idea what to eat! I still do a protein shake for breakfast because I cant get in that much meat/protein.....maybe an ounce at most. I am amazed at how little I eat but feel full! 1/4 c of cottage cheese and I'm stuffed. CRAZINESS! I'm okay with it.....its just so strange for me to eat so little and feel satisfied!! Blowing my mind I guess My Nut didn't eliminate any meats....she just said to make sure to eat soft meats, maybe with a little gravy and chew chew chew. I made meatloaf tonight.....gonna last forever!

Yes! I saw my doc 2 days ago and mentioned it. He didn't seem too concerned ....said it was completely normal after major surgery. Throw in low calorie intake and you are wiped out physically. He said it will improve. Crossing my fingers. I went back to work after 4 weeks (this Monday) and around 1:00 I really want a nap! Can't wait for this to get better!

Mine does that when I eat or drink too fast. Sometimes I just eat a few bites in a row without thinking. Still tiny bites but I have stop myself from going to the next bite too soon. No diarrhea ....just the nausea.

Don't take the pills. Not worth it. Slower weight loss it the safest way to go anyway. I lost 70lbs on Optifast once...took 6 mths....gained it all back within another 6 mths. I lost 50lbs on Phentermine once...took 3 mths.....guess what...put it all back on in 4 mths. I lost 70lbs on Weight Watchers once....took 14 mths.....kept it off for 11 years! Slower weight loss gives you more time to figure your self out, learn new habits and gives your body time to adjust and accept. Yes...WLS will take it off quicker for a lot of people....but it is also a tool that will help keep it off if you use it right. You are using it right!! Skip the pills my friend, you will be happy you did!

Hi all. I was sleeved on the 11th. The first 2 weeks after I walked a couple times a day....maybe 10 minutes each time. Walked around the house a bit. But it exhausted me. At my 2 week post op the Doc okayed longer walks each day and anything other than strength training. But...lucky me....he has his patients on 4 weeks of full liquids...bummer. Well....its been about 4 weeks now and I still cant walk more than 10 minutes. I just get so tired! I am only able to eat (drink) about 600 to 700 calories a day....which I know isn't enough to maintain energy. I also saw my endocrinologist and my thyroid med is not being absorbed like normal since I am now missing 80% of my stomach. Well this will cause exhaustion too! I am just tired all the time and I feel like a total slacker because I don't have the energy to exercise! I start back to work tomorrow and I'm afraid of being tired while working. I have a desk job and work on reports and such all day....worried about mental tiredness. Hoping the thyroid meds will kick in and I feel a difference tomorrow. Tuesday I can start eating real food so that should help too. Wish me luck!

Yes Yes Yes! I hate to tell the total number! Everyone asks....people I barely know! I am only about a month out and have lost about 27 to 29 lbs...depending on the day. I feel totally comfortable announcing it on this sight because I know we are all in the same boat. It's safe. But, telling everyone who asks is extremely uncomfortable. And....when you answer that question the next question they ask is "how much do you want to lose?" and then the comment "I never would have guessed you were that overweight!" Good Grief! I work with 90% woman....and lots of them....you tell one person and by lunch then entire building knows your business. Then I feel like everyone is staring and talking about me. Being over weight almost my entire life I was basically invisible.....bigger than most, but invisible to most. That was safe. Now I feel very vulnerable. I have never, could never and would never ask someone something so personal!

Hello. Sleeved on Aug 11th. I have been very fortunate....no pain, no problems. My doc has his patients on 4 weeks of full liquids....ugh!.....so sick of it. Can't wait to chew! They said that on my 4 week apt I will be able to start eating....that's next Tuesday the 9th. Can't wait! I am also on a stall. I lose 2lbs and then gain 2lbls then lose 2lbs and gain 2lbs.....and my eating (drinking) has not change one bit. So, I am trying to avoid the scale right now. The everyday weigh in has been frustrating so I plan to stay off of it until my next apt with the doc.

Surgery August 11, home the next afternoon. No pain meds after coming home. Its been about 3 1/2 weeks now and I'm still very tired. Only nauseous late at night when I sip Water on an empty stomach....that quit when I started adding crystal light to it. But other than that I feel fantastic. Down 30lbs. Today I learned that I may be tired because my thyroid meds need to be adjusted. So its been pretty easy peasy for me! I could have easily gone back to work....desk job....the week after surgery but my insurance okayed 6 weeks! I'm only taking 4. I have other doctor and dentist appts lined up this week so I just rolled with it. Back to work on Monday Good luck!

Hello. Anxiety is normal. If its unbearable, talk to your primary doctor. Mine gave me Lexapro and it helped amazingly! I am 3 weeks post op now. I just want to tell you that if you trust your decision, trust your doctor, and are confident in the hospital you chose, then you can relax. They are professionals and have performed hundreds, if not thousands, of these surgeries, no doubt. I can also tell you that your experience is going to be uniquely yours. ( Read that last sentence again.....) Please, please, please do not read these threads about complications and assume that you are going to go thru the same issues. I can tell you that odds are in your favor. Complications are a very, very, very, low percentage. Keep in mind that people are reaching out for answers sometimes and those types of worries can dominate a lot of these threads. Look for positive threads...read some of the post op threads. The energy you are using on all this worry and anxiety is not necessary. Have faith, trust, believe and you will be just fine.

Immediately : ) You're only going to be getting a few hundred calories a day for a while. So you can count on that needle on the scale to start moving immediately. Drink as much Water as you can and you will take off that 3lbs pretty fast. I also gained 3lbs while in the hospital, they push the i.v. fluids, it was gone in 2 days time. I lost 11lbs in the first 2 weeks. I'm now out 2 weeks and 3 days and I'm down another 2lbs. Good luck!

Hello All. I had my 2 week post op apt today. I have lost a total of 26 lbs since the pre op apt. 11 of that is since the surgery...15 before surgery. I am trying really hard to keep in mind that it doesn't matter how much I lose on a day to day or week to week basis....it only matters that the number doesn't go up! My doc wants me to continue on a full liquid diet for 2 more weeks. I was bummed. I was really looking forward to pureed foods! But, I trust him. Good news is I can add some different things to my liquids now. I can add a little Peanut Butter or instant decaf coffee to my shakes now and some fruit as long as its pureed completely. I can also have pureed chili as long as its the consistency of Soup. So I dug into that for dinner!! So excited! lol

Hello. I like the progresso cheesy chicken enchilada cream soup.....any of the progresso cream soups are really good. Just skim out the chunks and Water it down a little....heat to 135 degrees and add some unflavored Protein. I mix the protein with a little water separately so there aren't any bits once its smooth I add it to the soup. Otherwise, its hard to mix directly in the soup when its hot. I also mix some cream of chicken and cream of mushroom together for a different flavor. Or broccoli cheese soup with cream of chicken. Just play with whats out there. Just strain. All pretty good. Today pureed Hormel chili with Beans until smooth and watered it down pretty good....16 grams of protein in it already. But, theres more Fiber in the chili so I didn't eat as much....but boy did it taste good! I don't get the light or fat free soups. At this point the calories we are getting are so low anyway and if you completely eliminate fat from your diet your hair and skin get super dry. And sometimes they add more sugar to a food when the fat is taken out so they don't lose flavor. Good Luck!

I would drink the Protein shakes, quite honestly. I am not a doctor, I am just 1 gastric sleeve patient in a sea of thousands. That being said, what I have learned from my doctor and nutritionist is that protein will help you heal and will keep you from getting hungry. And, 1 month on nothing but juice and toast very odd. You may be tempted to eat if you aren't feeling somewhat satisfied. Bread is a big no no according to everything I've been told over months of prep work for the surgery. A lot of doctors want their patients on a 1 or 2 week clear liquid diet right after surgery...mine didn't. My doctor ....who is considered one of the top WLS surgeons in the country.... said that Protein Shakes right after surgery does not hurt the new incisions in the stomach at all and they actually help to heal it faster.

Well. I read some old stuff on line about these type of bumps and they may be an allergic reaction to the anesthesia or to the stuff they put on your stomach before they operate. So, I put some anti itch cream on them and took a Benadryl. They are 90% better. Very little itch now. Hoping they completely disappear by tomorrow!

Hello. I was released from the hospital 1 day after surgery. All went really well. No issues. Then I noticed a little itching a couple days after surgery and assumed it was just dry skin from not drinking Water like I normally do. Didn't really look at it, just put some eucerin lotion on it. Now 5 days out from surgery and I have a rash of tiny red bumps all over both sides. Has anyone had this happen? Its not hives....I've had those. They are usually big welts that come and go. These are small red bumps, kind of like a heat rash. Super itchy.

Hello. Try mixing it with cream of chicken soup or cream of mushroom....or whatever creamed soup floats your boat (I'm on full liquids and have to pick out the chicken and mushroom bits) You don't notice the smell when its mixed with soup.