Inner Surfer Girl

If evening meals and grazing are challenges for you then talk to your NUT about strategies that will fit in your plan to help you through. Are you on a specific diet plan? You can stock up on easy-to prepare meals. For instance get a rotisserie chicken that you can use when you get home. You can keep yogurt, cottage cheese, string cheese in your refrigerator for Snacks. Keep a box of sf Popsicles in the freezer. Invest in a good Water bottle and keep it with you all the time and drink all day. Now is the time when you can start developing habits that you will rely on after surgery. Use the resource you have available to you (your NUT), this is one of the main reasons insurance companies require a supervised diet. Best of luck. It will get easier.

So, he didn't really say you couldn't do any exercises. Just not the kind you prefer. You definitely need to get your butt in a pool and swim and/or take some water aerobics classes. You will feel so much better. Who cares what you look like. You will be under water most of the time anyway.

Just watch the carb count of the shakes you choose. Body builders drink a lot of protein shakes but they tend to want to gain weight. Look at the carb to protein ratio carefully.

Try PB2, it blends pretty well in protein shakes.

The only thing you "did wrong" was get on the scale twice in one day and let it freak you out. You are doing great.

Based on what I learned from my surgeon and NUT and what is working well for me right now: Get all your Protein, everyday. Record your food so that you know that you are getting enough. Eat protein first and eat slowly, chewing thoroughly. Get all your fluids, everyday. Take all your Vitamins as directed. Exercise when cleared. Avoid or minimize processed starches (pasta, rice, bread, starchy vegetables) and high fructose corn syrup. Stay off the scale/weigh infrequently. You will stall but there really is nothing to DO about it but continue to follow your plan. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Use every resource available to you: this forum, your surgeon/bariatric team, a therapist, a support group (through your bariatric program and/or something like OA), a personal trainer and/or anything or anyone that will help you succeed.

Water bottles and small dishes. I have a small Japanese rice bowl I use for cottage cheese, yogurt, tuna, etc.

I haven't kept it a secret from anybody but, I don't mention it on social media, etc. Fortunately, I have received nothing but encouragement and well wishes from family and friends.

For the meals provided for meetings/conferences it is perfectly acceptable to talk with the person organizing your meeting and ask to speak with the person choosing the food. You can find out what the options are and make special requests if needed. You want to make sure that there are options for protein at every meal. Since its in Paris, they will probably have yogurt available for breakfasts but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

I am not a horseback rider (yet!) but there are several on here who have more insight. I would recommend you ask your surgeon. I think the concern would be how much you will need to engage your abdominal muscles. While your incisions are healing they want you to be very careful as to avoid hernias in the abdominal wall/incision sites. Sounds like an awesome trip!

Grilled cheese? Not getting in your Protein? Are you following any kind of post-op food plan at all? What does your NUT say? Are you eating protein first? Are minimizing/avoiding simple carbs/starches (bread, Pasta, rice)? Are you reaching your protein goal every day? Are you getting in all your fluids? Are you tracking your food so you know how much protein you are getting?

I would check with your doctor. You must be severely deficient if he is prescribing two bananas. Other foods, even if they have potassium, might not have enough.

I don't know, but I know that D is super important for WLS patients. My team had everyone start taking extra D the minute they began contemplating surgery. I do know that a D deficiency is becoming more and more common in the general population due to sunscreen use and just generally not getting enough sunlight.

Passing you a very nice, embroidered hanky and sending a virtual hug. They stand up much better than tissues.

So good to hear such a positive update.

Protein is critical for healing and weight loss. Will you stall if you get enough? Yes, most people have periodic stalls. We don't lose at a constant rate. Will you stall if you don't get enough? Absolutely.

It's great to hear that you are meeting with a nutritionist and have an appointment with a bariatric team. The research and advances in nutrition theory that have been done over the last 20-30 years may be helpful for you. Focusing on high-Protein, low carb, getting enough Water and exercising may be enough to help you be healthier with your existing tool, but it may need surgical enhancement. I hope the bariatric team can help come up with a good plan. Best of luck and keep us posted.

Aren't prunes by definition dry? Otherwise they would be plums. Just curious.

Yes, all your liquids count toward water (unless it's a diuretic like coffee or tea).

I got an insulated lunch bag and some ice packs just so I can take my snacks to the pool. If it weren't for snacks, I wouldn't get even close to my protein goal every day. Thanks for the article.

It will all be worth it. Someday soon this will all be a distant dream. The first few days really are the worst. You will be fine and just remember this is so you will be in the best shape possible for a safe surgery.

I didn't have to have a new sleep study to get the new adjustable machine.

I use a BI-Pap and had to make an appointment with my sleep doctor soon after surgery to adjust my settings. My machine was so old I was able to get a new one that automatically adjusts the pressure.

I didn't have a purée stage. Mine went from full liquids to soft foods. Your NUT can give you guidelines for the stages that they recommend.