InfiniteButterfly

Hamburger is my bane :/ I had a single bit last night and yeah...never again. Regular, lean beef I seem to be okay with, so long as it's very well cooked and tender. (maybe because the beef was in a sauce and fall-apart-tender and moist? The burger was broken down for taco meat, and wasn't dry, but blech). That and regular skim milk are the only things that have caused major distress so far.

I've always been interested in art, and I've been mildly successful freelancing (designing book covers, tattoos, etc), but I want to go farther. Comics, children's books...and I went back to school a month before my surgery to work toward achieving this goal. I am entirely self-taught, and I know I'm limited because of this, so I'm focused on learning to be more than I am artistically. Plus, with my focus on schooling, I don't even think about food. I was worried that I would have cravings and pillage the kitchen when I'm home alone, but I never bother going in there unless I need more Water =P It's nice to focus on something other than my next meal.

Right now? Usually a little chicken or fish, and if I have a bit of room left, some refried Beans or quinoa with cheese (I put a little shredded cheese on just about everything to boost the protein) I need to find more varied recipes. I was just approved for soft foods, so I have a lot more available to me now.

You can get healthier options at Starbucks (although i was very sad to see that even the non-fat, no whip varieties of some drinks still had too much sugar for me.) But their unsweetened ice tea has zero sugar in it. Ditto the coffees. Much as anywhere else, it is what you make of it.

I do this and feel so much better...I didn't know it had a name! On the other hand, just doubling your meds is very dangerous! Without a Dr's supervision (and blood test to monitor) it certainly is. Also, I'd forgotten about Water and soda. Some sources will say if you cut out regular soda it might be the answer to all diet things. Well....it is good, but not enough. My husband cut out regular soda several years ago (only drinks diet) and just tipped the scales recently at the highest weight of his life, over 270 lbs. And then there's the "drink more water, it will fill you up". In my experience, it's a good supplement to a meal and will hydrate, but if I just sit around drinking lots of water, my stomach starts growling and it leads inevitably to more hunger.... I cut out soda (regular and diet) several years ago. It didn't do a thing for me. (I was doubtful it would, considering I was already severely overweight).

At my last meeting with my NUT, I asked about millet and how it compared with quinoa as a possible replacement for rice, Pasta, etc. She said she had honestly never been asked that question, and was going to do some research on it. So I though I'd ask here...anyone have any experience with millet? Nutritionally, it seems to compare quite well to quinoa (it is missing only Lysine, and has very similar stats, nutritionally) So I was wondering if anyone has any experience with millet?

I'm almost to 5 weeks, and my NUT approved me for the soft food stage, which includes soft fruits. She made a special point that I could have melon, but said only a small cube or two because of the sugar (but that's the same she said about all fruits. Just have a small amount) Your NUT's advice may vary. I was just happy to be able to add some fresh fruits in since the farmer's markets are coming into full swing and I didn't want to miss some of my favorite fruits and veggies

That was my only experience previously. But it's apparently a staple grain in other countries (the sixth most important grain crop world-wide). I saw a bag of it when I was checking out Bob's Red Mill, and picked it up out of curiosity. I'm not quite up to the stage where I can eat it yet (the NUT said about four or five months that I could introduce rice, pasta or substitutes..but I would prefer healthier alternatives)

I had a lot of trouble with Protein Shakes. Everything tasted too sweet. Chike was the only one I was able to drink for quite a while, because I couldn't manage more than a sip or two of anything else. (and now I'm having the same reaction to Chike). Thankfully, I can have soft foods now so it's not as important, but it's so much easier to hit protein goals when I was able to drink a shake a day for one of my meals.

Reading things like this make me love my NUT. She doesn't really care for the artificial sweeteners in the Protein shakes (she does have dozens of different ones on a list she passes out, and each has what sweetener is used in them), and as I get away from the liquids and into soft foods, she's pushing more made-yourself whole foods. She would much rather I skip the processed stuff entirely or as much as possible.

I'm at 5 weeks out. Some days, I have a ton of energy. Most days, it's all I can do to get at least 1/2 an hour of exercise in. And I've been taking a little nap daily. The doctor said energy levels will return, and be patient. Yes, I wish I could walk and cycle as much as I had pre-surgery, but I know my body's not done healing (and believe me, I can tell when I overdo it) Those days when I'm full of energy? There doesn't seem to be enough work needing done around the house to keep me busy.

I had my gallbladder out in 2006, no issues with diarrhea then. Post-sleeve surgery? Well...when the only thing you take in is liquid or mashed, that's pretty much what comes out, and it's normal (according to my CRNP). My surgeon often recommends getting the gall bladder out and the same time as WLS if patients still have it. He said it can make things easier.

I honestly think a meeting with a nutrition counselor will be your best bet. For me, Starbucks is something I am choosing to not have going forward because it's a HUGE amount of sugar in a relatively small drink, and frankly, I have better uses for the small amount of calories I'm allowed. Maybe when I'm further out (I'm only 5 weeks post-op right now, so I have about 500 calories I'm working with daily, and I'm not going to put 200 calories and 21 g sugar from one drink into me) It's about making smart choices and the best decisions possible for my new lifestyle. And yes, my tastes have changed dramatically. I couldn't eat a popsicle with 10g sugar in it (I tried a lick when I ran out of SF, and even though 10g sugar is a low amount, the sweet was overwhelmingly horrid) I'm not saying that I won't someday in the future decide I can't live without a non-fat no whip unsweetened green tea frappucino...but it would be an extremely rare treat. Honestly, I was never asked what my diet plans were at my psych evaluation. We talked more about why the surgery was important to me and what I hoped to accomplish with it (and my answers were mostly health-based, because I have co-morbidities, I've spent my entire life overweight and I want to be healthy.) But you won't necessarily know a lot of these things until you begin with your bariatric team and attend NUT counseling. I had one solo meeting (prior to ever talking to my psych) and two group sessions to discuss food plans for post-surgery.

I do 20-30 minutes of yoga every morning (low impact). Other than that, walking or cycling. I'm aiming for 6k steps daily currently. I was trying for 10K, and hit it for about a week post-surgery, but it really drained me so the doctor actually suggested cutting back just slightly until my body can tolerate more exercise (my hips are really off too since I've started losing, since my balance isn't quite up to par.) I also do light weights MWF (3 sets, 12 reps dumbbell curls and presses for now. More to be added)

I just pushed past the dread "three week stall" (which actually hit around 2 weeks out for me, and lasted maybe 10 days?) I knew it was coming (having seen so many posting about it on here), but it's still frustrating to experience, especially when you're doing everything right. My stall broke when I managed to boost my calories slightly for the day. I went from around 400 to 550-600, and that seemed to kick my losing back into gear.

I look froward to small foods filling me up! It's probably good that your stomach no longer tolerates those things. I kind of hope the same thing happens to me so I can kick the habit. I wouldn't mind at all if it were unhealthy foods my body doesn't tolerate. I'm mostly lactose intolerant (I can eat some cheese without issue, but milk and Greek yogurt set me off badly), can't eat most meats (although I'm learning to like fish...I haven't cooked it a lot in the past). I definitely appreciate that most foods are on my no-eat list though. It definitely makes it easier to avoid sweets and whatnot when you have zero taste for them any more.

The Starbucks is something you would not be able to have post-surgery. Definitely not immediately, and with the amount of sugar in even the non-fat varieties, it's definitely a very, very occasional treat (if even that. I used to LOVE non-fat, no-whip green tea frappucinos pre-surgery. I took one look at the sugars post-surgery and said goodbye forever) The iced tea, I would assume is more down to the caffeine than the sweetened/unsweetened part. Some doctors are very, very picky about caffeine consumption (I was very lucky that mine is an "as tolerated", but he still wants me drinking no more than a cup of coffee worth in a day at the present). But these are things that a nutritionist would go over with you during your WLS journey, and the bariatric team during your weigh-ins. I thought I knew a lot about nutrition and weight loss too...before I started learning that the post-WLS mindset isn't the same as following a diet. It's a full-out lifestyle change. If you feel the assessment to be unfair, the by all means seek a second opinion (your WLS office should have psychiatrists that they work with. I know my office has one person they use in particular, who deals exclusively with WLS patients both pre and post-surgery. I know I've continued seeing her and a lot of the other patients opt to as well. She's as useful of a tool as the WLS itself ) And honestly, if your goal post-surgery is to follow Weight Watchers? I don't know that it's nutritionally sound for a bariatric patient. You would need to discuss that with a nutrition counselor (I know from when I tried Weight Watchers that there was a helluva lot of food that I couldn't possibly eat post-surgery or likely ever)

this would be one to ask your NUT. There's little to no Protein in V8, so I don't think it would necessarily be appropriate at the start. After that? I don't know. It's not one of the foods/beverages listed on any of my paperwork ASIDE from the pre-surgery liquid diet (I was allowed 1 cup per day) It would definitely not be appropriate during the clear liquid phase, and I know my stomach couldn't have handled it during full liquids either

Most favorite: The small amount of food that satisfies me Least favorite: all the foods my body no longer tolerates (the good foods that I would actually be allowed to eat were my body not so freaking finicky now)

I guess I'm really lucky, because for the most part, I don't crave a whole lot of what the rest of the family is eating (there are a few exceptions...french fries, tortilla chips...I crave salty foods) I just started my soft phase and learned that hamburger meat is a no-go for now That made me a little sad. But mostly, anything with a strong smell makes my stomach roil, and it's hard to have a craving for something that's making you physically nauseous. It really wasn't too bad on puree, and it will hopefully be easier still now that I'm able to have soft foods. I still won't be eating the french fries and tortillas, but having more taste and texture in what I can have will hopefully curb any wants I have.

It was a lot harder to avoid temptation before surgery. Post-surgery? I'm ultra-sensitive to smells right now, and the smell of most restaurants make me really nauseous. Which I suppose is a good thing...I rarely have cravings. I think the only thing I've had a real craving for since the surgery was Chinese food (I walked by one on my way home to lunch...but I was only a week out at that point so it was easy to avoid), and for tortilla chips when I was dishing them up for the kids last night. I haven't done well with anything that has a strong flavor or scent. (including too-sweet Protein shakes)

My NUT actually said straws are okay as long as you're careful (I drank from a straw the other day with no ill effect, but I was taking tiny sips) She said that the no straws is a general guideline because it makes a lot of people uncomfortable, but if you try it and are okay, it's perfectly fine with her. (pretty much echoed what my doctor said when I asked if I would be okay to use my Camelback with a bite-valve on my longer bike rides. He said "Try it, if it works, good. If you're in discomfort, stop)

I used rubbing alcohol for mine as well. Nail polish remover works as well, but tends to smell worse.

My NUT mentioned today how much she dislikes the artificial sweeteners (she pointed out that SF stuff is permitted on the bariatric center's diet plan, but the artificial sweeteners often cause problems with people as well, so she doesn't recommend them beyond saying they're okay if you can tolerate them) I do eat SF popsicles, but I can barely tolerate most sweeteners any more. I used to use Splenda in coffee, now the artificial flavor makes me gag. Ditto the SF creamers and other SF things. The popsicles are the only SF thing I've managed that hasn't made me ill (my NUT was perfectly okay with that, and suggested making my own popsicles with natural ingredients. I need to find me some recipes that don't have all the artificial crap in them)

I remember the "drink vinegar and melt fat" (I actually tried that, because I like the taste of vinegar. In small amounts). It just made me sick and nauseous enough that I couldn't eat (which I more than made up for when I did eat. The eat only cabbage (blech). Drink 8 oz of Water before eating and you'll fill up faster and lose weight. I've heard a lot of silly advice over the years, none of which worked (and some of which was likely dangerous) I was lucky enough that my doctor didn't argue when I said I wanted WLS. He's seen me for the past six or so years struggling with my weight even though I exercise and try to eat right (no pop, no fried foods...but I'm a grazer and an emotional eater). I had mild success on the South Beach Diet, but couldn't sustain it past a few months because I was very weak with carbs. He actually offered sound advice beyond "eat less, exercise more", but without the therapy and WLS tool, I just couldn't do it.