Inner Surfer Girl

This isn't a diet but you have to be focused on nutrition because you have so little room for food. Instead of the focus on minimizing calories that we were taught by our many, many diets, we have to change our focus to maximizing nutrition, particularly Protein. We have to get in all of your protein and fluids, every day. We have to take our Vitamins as directed. We have to exercise. It's not because we are on a diet, it's because we need to be healthy. This was on the bulletin board at my 6-month follow-up and I thought it was great advise.

Did you have a hernia repair? I would slow down, take smaller bites, chew well, and make sure you are weighing and measuring everything.

I don't know. Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

And when you are obese and get a sports injury you get a very helpful doctor who tells you they can't do anything to treat you because you need to lose weight. For some reason regular-sized people with the same sports injuries can be treated though. Just one of my biggest gripes.

Thanks, @MzB. I am glad this was helpful for you. I read a post this week (I wish I remember who said it), where someone talked about noticing how much her skin tightened up while she was on a stall. It just reminded me that stalls are when our bodies does the work of getting smaller.

Definitely talk to your surgeon. I don't know about pre-op, but I was told steroids cause leaks post-op.

They did put a patch behind my ear in the hospital, so that may be why I didn't experience nausea.

I certainly understand your struggle. I am glad to hear you are seeing a therapist. In addition to therapy, have you ever considered OA? If you go to their website, www.oa.org, you will find meeting lists (phone and in-person), podcasts, and literature. I also understand having a miserable job. Sometimes it's because the job/organization is not right, but sometimes it's because we are miserable and unhappy with our lives. You will have to do some soul searching, but if the job is not right you may just have to find something else. You don't have to quit today, but you can start working on a plan today to change jobs and find a job that works for you. In the meantime, are you getting in all your Protein, fluids, and Vitamins? Are you exercising? Do you journal? Do you pray/meditate? Do you have a trusted friend you can talk to? Do you have any hobbies? Do you volunteer? Get the junk out of your house, your desk, and/or your car, or wherever you keep it. If you don't have it you can't eat it. Keep participating here. Best of luck and keep us posted on how you are doing. .

Congratulations for taking that first step and seeking help. Where do you stand in the process? Have you attended a seminar and/or selected a surgeon? Most Bariatric Centers of Excellence have a psychologist on staff or have someone they can refer you to. If not, you may want to make an appointment with your PCP to talk about your depression. Since the process for getting WLS takes so long, you really need to seek treatment for depression now. I wish you the best of luck. You have already taken the hardest step: accepting that you need help and can't do it alone. This site is a great source of information, encouragement, and inspiration. Keep posting and participating and you will learn a lot.

Creamed honey might also be labelled whipped. I don't add sweeteners to food as a general rule, but the few times I do, I prefer honey or a bit of brown sugar, or even more rarely a tad of cane sugar. The only thing my surgeon told me to completely avoid is high fructose corn syrup.

Congratulations! This is awesome!

As someone who rarely cooks is it weird that I am ridiculously proud of myself for digging out my slow cooker this week? I have been thinking about investing in a 3 in 1 cooker, but since I rarely use my old-fashioned slow cooker I though I had better give it a whirl. I raised my pantry and used a can of black beans, two cans of Rotel tomatoes, one brick of Greek yogurt cream cheese, a few shakes of Mexican seasoning, and two frozen chicken thighs. I made it on Monday and will probably still be eating it this Friday. I still have chicken thighs. What EASY recipe should I try next?

Please do not compare yourself with other people. You will hit a stall about three weeks after surgery. Just focus on getting in all your Protein and fluids and stay off the scale!

Oh, no! Stay off the scale. Seriously. It will mess with your mind.

Best of luck with your surgery. My recommendation is that you do everything you are asked by your team, even if you think you can't including walking as soon as possible. When you get home make sure you get in all of your Protein and fluids every day as soon as you can, walk, and stay off of the scale.

Congratulations!

I am so sorry to hear that you have experienced difficulties. Based on what you mention about feeling and looking older I have to ask: Do you keep up with all of your Vitamins? Do you have labs checked regularly? Do you get enough Protein and fluids every day? I am not an expert, but it sounds like you are malnourished. What does your NUT and surgeon advise?

I agree. What is striking to me how little this is understood, not just by the general public, and by those of us who are obese, but most-importantly the medical community.

The best advice I can give is to follow your surgeon's program, make sure you get in all of your protein and fluids everyday, and walk.

I lost weight quickly after surgery, too but I started at a very high weight. Every body is different so you really can't compare yourself with others. As long as you are feeling good, are following your program, and getting in all your Protein and fluids, there really is nothing to worry about (in my opinion). Just realize that you will hit stalls and will not lose at a constant rate.

- April 20, 2015 - my starting BMI was off the charts. I don't remember the exact number but if you are on the computer (not the phone app) it is on my tracker. - absolutely.

My right leg is shrinking faster than my left (and my left has been larger than my right for a long time anyway). I don't think there is a predictable way we lose weight in the short term. I happen to believe that one of the reasons we have stalls, is so our body can redistribute our fat.

Stalling at about three weeks post-op is very common. Are you following your post-op plan? Are you getting in all your Protein and fluids every day? We need more information about what you are doing in order to offer advise.

Welcome and nice to meet you. I am glad you decided to post. Since you have been a lurker, you probably know this site is a great source of information, encouragement, and support. Were you prescribed a PPI? That might help with your sour stomach. Just keep sipping. Getting in all of your Protein and Fluid will help you heal as well as lose weight. It will get better.

You can make your pudding with Protein powder. That is a great way to get in your protein. I know it sucks, but you just have to keep drinking/sipping like it's your job. It will get easier.