Babbs

What a wonderfully honest post.

You'll figure it out. Somehow we all did. If it makes you feel any better, it does get easier when you can actually start eating real food. The stage you're going through is definitely one of the harder stages for sure.

Got it. You're good. This is a learning process, and none of us are perfect, believe me. We have ALL made mistakes! And that person who was saying 'congrats' was just being a shit disturber and was trying to enable dangerous behavior. I don't tolerate it. In real life or online.

Eggface has some great ideas on this page: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2007/08/pureed-foods.html

Let me tell ya a little "chew and spit" story. My husband had the bypass 10.5 years ago, where forums like these would encourage that kind of behavior. Back in those days, it seemed to be all about finding ways to eat around the surgery for a lot of people. Really emotionally healthy, right? Well, a week or 2 out from surgery, his cravings got the best of him and he grabbed a peice of steak to chew and spit. It didn't go well. He inadvertently swallowed the steak, and immediately knew something was wrong. I had to rush him to the ER where he needed a scope to dislodge the steak from his esophagus. I'm not saying that's going to happen to you, but that's why it's so important to follow your surgeons orders (no surgeon would condone that behavior) so your tiny new tummy can heal properly. Like someone said above, even the residual acid from chewing and the juice from the food itself can be harmful and irritate the line of staples you have going all the way across the remaining stomach.

Says the newbie who has no idea what they are talking about.

Long story short? I was 47, the Queen of dieting and losing weight but could never keep it off for more than a year. I did that several times until I just gave up and got to 235 pounds. Being in my 40's, it was effecting my health. Blood pressure and blood sugar through the roof and put on meds. The last straw. Two plus years later, 90+ pounds down and maintaining for over a year. I'm in the best shape and health of my life. Off all medications except something for GERD, perfect blood pressure and blood work numbers, resting heart rate in the 50's. I can run 2 miles and do 130 levels of stairs on the Stair Climber....sometimes on the same day. I look and feel like I'm in my 30's. Is it easy? Not at all. I have to ALWAYS be vigilant about how much I'm moving and what I'm putting into my mouth. Is it worth it? Absolutely!

I say eat/drink as much Fluid stuff (Jello, Popsicles etc) as you want, but as far as food type stuff like Soup, eat on a schedule. In between be drinking something. That's what worked for me. It will get easier once you go to actual food food. The chewing and actual density of the food seems to satisfy better and squelch those pesky cravings. I would still try to always eat on a schedule, including Snacks if allowed. That has worked like a charm for me and found I was never really hungry when I did that. Hang in there! Old habits can be hard to break, but with persistence and consistency it can be done!

Great post.

Did you try putting unflavored Protein powder into broth or strained creamed soups? That helped me a lot during the liquid phase. Great point. I found myself going to fancier grocery stores just so I could get some of their gourmet soups form the deli. That really helped me get through that 6 weeks! Unfortunately, it's turned me off to Soup now forever

Chewing food is SO IMPORTANT after surgery. I would get your dental work done before hand so you have nice healthy teeth to chew with.

I agree with the leaving out the bacon, too. May be too crispy for your little tummy.

Yes, I absolutely missed food at that stage! And I was forced to do liquids for 6 weeks because of a GERD issue. The first refried beans and cheese was in the pureed stage was HEAVEN.

I think it looks pretty good. chicken breast can be a bit hard to swallow at first, but it seems it would have enough moisture in that recipe. I like thighs instead for that reason. I made a crock pot Mexican chicken thing using salsa, thighs and cream cheese that was pretty good in the mushy phase. Also, if you don't like mayo, Greek Yogurt is a good substitute for mayo in many things. Extra Protein, too.

I eat food every day. Why would I miss it? Do I miss making a complete gluttonous pig of myself with it? Not in the least!

You'll be okay. I didn't even have a pre op diet, but stick with yours per your surgeons orders, ESPECIALLY a couple days before surgery. That being said, failure to prepare is preparing to fail, especially post op. The best way to ensure success post op is to be prepared for all the situations life will throw at us from just....living. Too many of those "things happen" situations gets people right back where they started. You, and only you, are in complete control of your success. Don't ever think anything different.

I was 3 months out my first Thanksgiving. I just had a tiny spoonful of each thing and was satisfied. I even lost a couple of pounds the day after because I think I shocked my body a bit with the carbs, lol.

If you struggle with reflux or GERD, I would highly suggest the bypass. 9 times out of 10 it gets worse after the sleeve. That is the one and only reason I ever regretted having the sleeve as opposed to the bypass. But it's controlled with meds, so no biggie.

I don't feel much like a surgery patient anymore, but health and fitness are still definitely front and center for me (luckily!) Not for the absolute love of it, but for the sheer purpose of keeping the weight off. Don't get me wrong, I love feeling healthy and strong, but it takes a lot of work! I am also totally comfortable knowing that this is my life now. I can't say I've lost friends or family because of the weight loss. If anything it's made me a happier, more confident person, thus being pretty fun to be around. I like that aspect of me, too! For now I feel like I got this. Until I don't. And when and if that time comes, I'll deal with it using the nuggets of knowledge I've aquired over the last 2+ years. I know I'm in it for the long haul.

@@Hammer_Down We don't need people like you on these forums. Now take your no nonsense, common sense, perfectly sane posts and be gone! You're stinking up the joint!

The sleeve can makes GERD worse. It did for me. Even after I've lost all my excess weight, I am still be treated for it. Treatment is working okay for me, so no biggie. In hindsight, I probably would have gone with the RNY in hopes it would have cured it. Otherwise very happy with my sleeve.

Yes, please do. And make sure you post about how you disapprove of this thread before you stop reading. Like anybody cares, anyway.

I had a raging headache the whole time I was on that damn pain pump! I had to beg for then to stop it and give me Tylenol for the headache! At that point the headache was making me more miserable than anything!

Amazing post. And so true. As someone who has been involved with 12 Step programs like AA most of my life, believe you me, there is none of that nonsense going on when someone in a meeting admits they 'slipped'. There's no coddling, head patting or excusing the behavior. There's just "Get your sh*t together, man, or you're going to DIE".

If that's the case, then why do people who have surgery lose weight? It's because of the calorie deficit. None of us obviously had enough of one to lose weight and keep it off before surgery. I'll be the first one to admit it. I ate like crap and sat on my ass, therefore I was fat. Now I eat less, eat healthy, and no longer sit on my ass all the time, therefore I'm not fat. I agree with you that there are factors that make losing weight more difficult, but let's not sugar coat it. Sometimes those factors are nothing but excuses. After all, you didn't see people in concentration camps who were fat because of depression or PCOS.