BarnGirlWK

@@Kindle - I like your advice to @@JamieLogical. And what you advise is what I am currently doing. However, I have recently been instructed by my nutritionist that perhaps I need to curtail the carbs (even the good ones) in favour of Protein. I believe I said above somewhere that I cannot eat meat/protein alone. I like vegetables and they tolerate well and make me feel good. Having said that, there is room for improvement in using things like Protein Bars. Some of them have great protein content (22 g - 30 g), but some have very high carbohydrate content (like 24 g). If I could stick to protein shakes that have only about 2-4 g of carb, I think that will improve things, too. But, I agree that @@JamieLogical could shake things up, at least temporarily, by reducing protein and adding fruit and veg in manageable amounts.

@@snowkitten - thanks for opening up this topic. I'm eager to know the answers, too. I'm 6 1/2 months from surgery and have lost 47 pounds of the 100+ I need to drop . . . Too slow!

I'm sure I'm not at 100 g of Protein - almost never. And I'm not eating enough fat. Though, the fun thing is adding and experimenting with coconut oil with a touch of butter for extra deliciousness (when sautéing veg). My dietician says, eat the protein!! But . . . don't I also have to have veg??? I cannot eat meat alone. I am not eating noodles, bread, crackers, rice, etc. Not because I don't want to (not, really), but they make me feel perfectly awful if/when I do eat them. And they almost never stay in. Quinoa stays. Cooked veg (all of them) stay. Yay spaghetti squash and acorn squash! I have had potatoes the odd time; I have never really been a fan. And maybe because they are natural as they are, they are tolerated. Or maybe because they are 'something different' when I do have them. But I really don't have them. Protein and veg is my lunch and dinner almost always. Occasional Soups. Protein shake is my Breakfast almost always. I tolerate fish and seafood very, very, very well. Yummy.

@@JamieLogical Yes, August 24. The dietician is baffled, too. But, I still feel a lot of restriction. I'm definitely not over-eating, though likely under-eating for my exercise level. Makes me want to scream - "they" always have said, eat less, exercise more - that's the key!! Right! Not!

I've been at the same weight for 3 months+ and still have 50-60 pounds to lose. I know, I know, I know. There are benefits to slow loss. Your body needs to reset itself after a significant loss before it will allow more loss. It is better to have that weight off than on. However, In 6 1/2 months, I've lost 47 pounds. I'm at a total loss of 60 since pre-surgery. My expectations were way higher than this. Others who had the surgery at the same time are down more than 90 pounds. I so wish I was down 90 pounds as that would put me 10-20 away from my goal. I'm doing everything right. I have to keep the faith that it'll happen. And I'm still motivated.

Do they count as "Weight Loss Medications"? I researched and sourced injectable B Vitamins and have started self-injecting. I found a 'recipe' combining B6 and B12 in Dr. Bernstein style forum or blog and have been giving that a go. I'm not sure yet whether it is helping with my weight loss efforts. The scale did not move for me for about 3 months, and I still had a long way to go. And I've been avoiding the scale for quite some time. I got on the scale this week, and was down 6 pounds from the last time I tried . . . so, I'm not 100% sure.

@@mskiesha29 - Wow!! What is your total loss. My surgery was August 24, 2015. And sadly, I'm a slow loser. Only 47 pounds so far since surgery! Keep up the great work.

Welcome Jerry. You will meet many great people here and find all the support you need on all of the topics you mention in your introduction. Be excited about the change. Congratulations on making the decision. And best of luck to you.

I had my surgery with A Lighter Me and Dr. Elias Ortiz. There were a few things that I was not happy about, though are not necessarily related to the surgery itself. Dr. Ortiz was somewhat arrogant, in my opinion. He was assisted by Dr. Morales, who was an absolute sweetheart. Dr. Morales made the 'house call' to the hotel once we were released from the hospital. I had a room mate in my hospital room. Not intentionally, actually. She was picked up at the airport at the same time as me. We went from the airport to the hospital for the initial check-up, EKG, and blood tests. Then, we were taken to the hotel. The next day, we were picked up together. I believe that it was just a mis-belief by the A Lighter Me staff that she and I were 'friends' and were there 'together'. So, when they asked if we wanted a room together, we both felt like it was either each other or a stranger, we agreed to it. Of course, that all changed when we realized that nobody else had a room mate (aside from those who had a 'support person' along with them). Neither of us did. My room mate in the hospital was getting a different surgery than mine. Mine was VSG and hers was a revision of some sort OR a bypass. There was a lot of discussion with her around it. And she discussed some of it with me. First problem showed itself when Dr. Ortiz and team spoke 'unfiltered' with her in front of me, including her current weight and other personal details. Not cool. But then, if they thought we were 'friends' . . . Good for her, she called them on discussing her personal details too publicly. Even though they brought us to the hospital early on that Sunday morning, and even though they told us we would be first in surgery that day, we were not. And because neither of us had eaten since the early evening before, that was a long time to be waiting. They took her to surgery before me, but not until late afternoon. And so it follows that she came back first. Here's the problem that irks me the most: When I woke up after surgery, I was in her hospital bed and she was in mine!! Prior to surgery that day, she had been under her covers whereas I had only lounged on top of mine!!! And yes, I freaked out!! I was NOT impressed. IN. THE. LEAST! In fact., I was furious! Not at HER! She had as much control of it as I did - none! I was angry with the staff for putting us back in the wrong beds! And, yes, I really questioned Dr. Ortiz when he came to our room due to my outburst as to whether I got the surgery I was supposed to get, and that made her question him in the same manner about the surgery she got! I was not impressed. Yes, the staff, once they understood what the issue was (language barrier), changed the bedding and such. AND they moved my room mate to another room of her own. Good gawd!! Really?? As I said, these things are not necessarily related to the surgery itself, but to the overall experience. I have had no complications, no pain, no illness or anything related to my surgery. I did very well with the ice chips at the hospital. With tea and broth at the hotel. And I walked to WalMart (twice) from the hotel. I felt absolutely fine. It was six months yesterday since my surgery and I have lost only 47 pounds in that time. So, I am very disappointed with that. Others who I met at the hospital in Tijuana at that same timeframe have lost in excess of 90 pounds. So . . .

Two days ago and you're already trying Protein drinks? I understand that everyone's post surgery diet is (slightly) different, but I'm sure I was on clear fluids and broth only for about the first five days. Protein Drinks were introduced early, but not within 2 days. Yes, it gets better. Yes, gurgling is absolutely normal. Congratulations on this very exciting first step.

I am 5'9"ish. I have come up with an initial goal weight of 165 pounds. Not for any particular reason other than to write one down. I am not big-boned (though many 'kind' people have used that excuse for me on my behalf). I am a regular exerciser, but not an athlete. I have people who look at me and cannot believe I still have more than 50 pounds to lose. However, I am aware that 50 pounds will make a difference - and yet may not be enough to have me as 'slim'. I have resigned myself to the fact that I may never be thin. And after being overweight for all of my adult life, I'm perfectly okay with that. I, too, want to be health-risk free. I do not want to be diabetic. I do not want to have high blood pressure. I do not want complications with feet and knees and hips that are the direct result of carrying too much weight. And I want to be happy in the skin I'm in.

Thanks, Alex. I think this will be a popular forum. Dating and relationships are hard, anyway, and perhaps 'unique' for plus-size individuals. Now, shrinking plus-size people must have new experiences to discuss, new situations, and some non-scale victories, too. Great idea.

Congratulations! Enjoy the success!! And celebrations are always appropriate!

I am over five months out from surgery and have not seen the scale move in about three months. Yes, that's right. And further to discussions with the nutritionist and the after care staff, it seems likely that I am not getting enough Protein (and fat) into my every day eating. So, I re-committed to one protein shake a day and either another protein shake or a protein bar, if needed, depending on my level of exercise. And I am exercising quite a bit. Not fanatically, but more than my body is allowing to release weight. I have some Quest bars. I use unjury Protein shakes, and others. Some make me gag; others are more tolerable.