Inner Surfer Girl

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change https://www.amazon.com/dp/1451639619/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_MzZwwbV8NM5HR

What Color Is Your Parachute? 2016: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers https://www.amazon.com/dp/160774662X/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_htZwwbEGMQDA4

Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Live https://www.amazon.com/dp/0812932188/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_mrZwwbXMQR4W3

P.S., I'll come up with more suggestions but if you want to talk about this off-line feel free to PM me.

I think it was right around four weeks.

This is such a great question! I am excited for you. My goal in the next year is to be able to return to work (I have been on disability) so I am right there with you. I also have a background in training and development and love to see people find their passion. You can start at your local library. Some good, classic books I would recommend are: What Color is My Parachute, and Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow. I need to look up some other titles for you. Martha Beck has some good ones (check out her website, too). Strengths Finder is another good book/assessment tool. Productivity classics like Steven Covey's Seven Habits are also really helpful in helping you "find your passion". I would recommend that you do a couple of different things. Get a notebook/journal so you can start capturing your ideas. As you read through career transition books take the assessments and answer the questions as they are asked. Make a vision board of what you want your life to look like. I assume you are in the US? Go to the USA Jobs website. There are lots of resources for exploring careers and doing self-assessments. You can look up interesting jobs and see requirements, salary ranges, outlooks, etc. Talk to a career counselor. You may be able to find someone at a local community college, library, or even church or other community group. Your state's labor department/employment center is a great place to start. If you have been unable to work because of disability, your state's vocational rehab office may also be able to help. Ask some trusted friends to tell you what they can see you doing as a career. You may be surprised at what they can see you doing! Take some classes. Look for community education classes through your local library, community college, art center, church, or other community education venue. Online classes are useful, but if you attend in-person classes then you will meet interesting people and improve your network. Is there something you have always wanted to do or learn? Are you afraid of doing something uncomfortable? Now would be a great time to: join Toastmasters, take a stand-up comedy or improv class, art class, dance class, or other experience that will shake up your usual day-to-day routine. Don't let this overwhelm you. Like preparing for WLS surgery, it helps to have a plan, but then take it one step and one day at a time.

I was sleeved and take soft gels (just my D3). I was just told no gummies.

Stalls are a normal, natural and necessary part of the process. The first questions to ask when you experience a stall are: are you following your program; are you tracking your food; are you reaching your Protein and Fluid goals every day; are you taking your Vitamins and supplements as directed; and are you exercising? If you are unhappy with your progress or unsure about what your program requires, then definitely touch base with your NUT. Otherwise, keep in mind that you will experience stalls and if they drive you crazy the best course of action may be to stay off the scale. Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

I am so sorry you are experiencing this but hope they can get to the bottom of your issue. (This is for the benefit of other people reading this later), but, why in the world did you wait until you were in the ER and 10 days after discharge to call your surgeon? Didn he or she not give you a 24-hour phone number to call if you were experiencing difficulties?

Most everyone stalls at three weeks post-op. After that, I don't know if there is any specific pattern. I have "heard" you will probably stall when you change food phases. I have "heard" you will probably stall when you get to a weight that you have spent a long time at in the past. I just know that stalls are a normal, natural, and necessary part of the process, and that if you plan to lose a significant amount of weight you are going to stall along the way. Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

I don't know that there is a typical duration. Our bodies are so different and constantly changing through this process that there is no really predictable rate of weight loss. You may notice rapid physical changes when the scale isn't moving. Just follow your plan and stay off the scale if it is driving you crazy. http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

I take a D+K dot that I get from Drugstore.com. I can't remember the brand, but it is a Bariatric label. I THINK there is potassium in my multivitamin without me actually looking at it. One thing my surgeon suggested was to take the Vitamin and supplement list to your pharmacist (when they aren't busy) and get them to help you find the Vitamins if you are having trouble figuring out which ones to use. Since I shop on drugstore.com a lot, I was able to find everything with the search function. Edited to add because I skimmed your question too quickly: I am required additional K (more than is in my regular multivitamin but not an additional potassium).

30-40 grams of Protein is extremely low. No wonder you are hungry. What is your protein goal? Mine is 100 grams a day for life. I rarely see one lower than 70-80 grams. You have received some great advice. Even on Clear liquids you need to get in your protein. Try bone broth (it has more protein than regular broth), Isopure, Syntrax Nectars, ProtiDiet Liquid beverage concentrates, and other clear liquids. Also talk to your NUT. My surgeon allowed Premier Protein even during my clear phase because it is so thin. In addition, are you taking a PPI to help with stomach acid.

I was able to take all my meds just fine after surgery without crushing or breaking them apart. The only one I split was because the dose was half a tablet. Talk to your surgeon if you are unsure about what you can take. My surgeon reviewed all my meds and told me what to take and not take the day of surgery, etc.

My main exercise was walking just after surgery. After I was cleared to get in the pool (after my incisions had healed over) was when I really started "exercising". I started with water aerobics and then later added lap swimming.

I agree that going back to basics and making sure you are getting in all of your Protein and Fluid would be a great start. I would also suggest you make an appointment with your NUT.

It would really depend on your protein goal. Since mine is 100 grams a day, I would have to have 35 grams of protein a meal (which is just not realistic for me). I can see it being possible if your protein goal was 70 grams. But, 70 grams is really low.

You really can't go by the numbers on the scale soon a after surgery: you are full of IV fluids, swollen from surgery, and in general flux. Just focus on getting in all of your Protein and fluids. It's hard but you have to keep at it. Just keep sipping, follow your plan, and stay off the scale.

Congratulations! Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful, inspirational, educational, and inspiring story.

Welcome and congratulations! It sounds like you are doing great!

I don't think it would be too late. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just use a good body oil or belly balm. I like Palmer's cocoa bitter and/or Palmer's cocoa oil. They both have vitamin e, and smell good.

Ideas? Stick to single-serving size packaging if you choose to buy something prepackaged. Better alternatives/choices: Protein Bar Protein shake Nuts Edame Dried Veggies Dried fruit Fresh fruit cheese Protein chips or Snacks (I like Mr. Cheese O's, and Kay's Naturals lately). Jerky Peanut Butter Think protein first and I'm sure you can come up with some good ideas.

I haven't had any major hair loss, but I did cut off my hair soon after surgery. I've worn my hair long for decades so it was a big step. It was one of the best decisions I have made.

You don't get bonus points for not eating. As a matter of fact, getting enough nutrition is critical for healing and weight loss. Not eating, restricting, and other disordered eating habits are counterproductive and dangerous.

This should be something you ask your surgeon.