LAG50

@@D.Lo please try not to stress/depress over food/family/friends....and the perceived "fun". You can still enjoy all - just differently and healthier. Focus on the fellowship rather than the food. That's easier said that done at this time, but it will get better. This whole surgery is/was about you getting and staying well/healthy/happy. Please try not to allow yourself to be confused that life ends with the surgery. Its just the beginning. Get counseling if you can. If you can't - keep writing to us who have and are in counseling. I'm sure we would be happy to share what we've learned. There are also lots of Bariatric reading materials that will get you through the stress/depression stage.

Well, I'm off to be Sleeved... Not sure if I'll have a short Sleeve or long Sleeve, but one thing is for sure - when I leave - I will have a Sleeve. I am SO ready.

Today is day 8 post op and I'm feeling great! Lost about 10lbs this week, eating my stage 2 foods & go for my 2wk post op appt on 11-6. Life is good.

Great news!

Hopefully your doctor today will understand your need for additional rest. I certainly understand income, as some of us don't get paid unless we go to work. If that is an issue, or even if it's not, if you HAVE to go back to work, at lease ask for a modified duty schedule/routine....e.g. one hour on the floor - one hour off. Or, two hours on the floor and two hours off. Or, a half day of work for a week. Best suggestion is to push for, at least, another week off. Feeling hopeful for you...

Yep; my surgeon put me on an acid blocker for the first few months. To my knowledge - Tums is probably the weaker of the over-the-counter stuff. You want something that will neutralize/prevent it, preferably, before it happens. If you don't have access to your surgeon anymore - any drugstore pharmacist can make a recommendation for a good OTC product. They can also alert you to interactions with any existing medications you may be on. I take something, daily, that will be negatively affected by acid relieving products; so I have to take the acid stuff 2hrs after my regular meds or 12hrs before. Not a big deal since we've go 24hrs to work with. The idea is to get the acid meds going and consistent for a while to build up in your system to help avoid the painful symptoms. Also, don't eat late, don't lay down anytime soon after you eat, etc. And I also read where the surgery could, unfortunately, make acid worse than it was before....or make it appear when you've never had it before. Best Wishes..

@@Bcteal I WISH I had a problem with taste...lol...maybe that would be easier. EVERYTHING tastes great to me now...lol.

Please don't sacrifice your Protein goals for calorie intake. You need that protein to make, pretty much, everything in you work/grow/function. While I did read in my program references to weigh daily, I know there will come a time when I will hate doing it (hence, "stalls"). Right now (being at the very beginning of my program) I do weigh daily. Once I get out of the nutrition "stages" and to the final/forever after food "stage", I will definitely only weigh once per week.....if that. I know the scale can become an addiction, and, well - I've got enough of those to deal with. I WILL NOT allow myself to become addicted to weighing/the scale. At my age and place in life - it really is about how I feel and how my clothes fit (inches) and toning up where I've lost. Keep up the great work. Keep sharing. Oh, and the next time I see "Party" attached to your name I will know not to break a fingernail trying to get to your post....lololol. I mean I fell for it hook, line and sinker...lol.

Hi Elaraye, My program reference says: General Nutrition Guidelines: Calories: 700-900/day Protein: 60-80 grams per day from low fat sourcess Carbohydrates: 100 grams per day from fruits and veggetables Fat: Limint to 30-40 grams per day: choose more mono-and polyunsaturated fats Fluids: 64oz per day minimum 75% of each meal should be Protein 25% should be shared between veggies, fruits with a very small amount of starch (well toasted bread, crackers, or potato only.

Generally, laxatives only affect you for the first 12-24hrs while your system is emptying out. Once it's empty - you're better able to control your bathroom breaks at work. If you've been cutting back your eating and have been on some degree of a pre-op meal plan, there's not much to come out. Don't quote me, but if you do your prep when you get home from work - things will move that evening/overnight. You may be okay by morning....certainly you shouldn't need more than one day away from the office....if that.

Are you willing to bump down your calories per day? When you said less than 1000 it caught my attention. I'm only a week out and still on full liquids, but, even when I get on to stages 3 and 4 I don't see in my meal plan where I will be eating anything close to 1000 calories. 600-800 at best. Again, because I'm still a newbie I may be blowing smoke about what I'm "gonna" do and what should be happening when I do it. So, I'm not attempting to give advice because I lack real life experience. I'm just coming from my book-study standpoint of the meal plan. Try bumping down 100 calories per day. Stay true to your meal plan eating your Proteins first, then veggies and the fruit if you have room left. Drink, at least, 64oz, etc. BTW, your exercise routine sounds great. I can't wait till I can develop a routine like that. Good luck, stay strong & be well..

Hahahaha I know the feeling. Just stay strong and connected we will do fine.

dtiller I emailed my Nutritionist this morning and also found this info online. I will compare what she says to this article. Just fyi in case you're interested. The optimum amount of Protein per meal for muscle building -- about 30 grams, according to one study -- is sometimes quoted as the maximum amount you can absorb, but the two are not related. Rapidly absorbed protein boosts muscle protein synthesis after exercise, but one way or another, your body typically absorbs most of the protein you eat. Dietary Protein Absorption Before your body can absorb Proteins, digestive enzymes in your stomach and small intestine break them apart into amino acids. As amino acids come into contact with the lining of your small intestine, transporters carry them through the intestinal lining, where two things can happen: They can gain access to your bloodstream or they can be used by tissues in your gut. Whichever path they take, proteins are now successfully absorbed. More than 90 percent of all the protein you consume is absorbed, reports the European food Information Council. Absorption Rate Amino acids are absorbed at the rate of 1.3 grams to 10 grams an hour, according to a report in the “International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism” in April 2006. A large percentage is absorbed because partially digested food is in the small intestine for hours. In addition to your overall health, several factors influence the absorption rate. Protein drinks are absorbed more rapidly than protein consumed with fiber-containing foods because Fiber slows down nutrient absorption. Protein hydrolysates, which are proteins broken into smaller pieces of amino acids, are absorbed more quickly than whole proteins. Whey protein is absorbed at a fast pace, while casein is digested at a moderate rate.

dtill.. Thank YOU for the Protein info. I wasn't aware of that (maximum absorption at one time) and will ask my dietitian for her opinion. Gotta love learning/comparing notes. I think I just posted on a/the general October Sleever's area. Are you connected there also? I'm still trying to figure out how to navigate all the different areas, so I'm not sure where it is exactly....lol.....or what it's really called. Maybe you'll see my post if you're following there also. I'm also on full liquids for another week or two. I don't think I'm progressing faster - I just think "full liquids" include puddings, custards, applesauce, etc. Later..

Hey All; Thanks for this post. As I'm still learning this site - I tend to get lost...or just stop trying to navigate through things. My phone and my desktop computer seem completely different when accessing here...blah, blah. I tend to check in with my 10/20/14 crew daily, but I will also recommend we all jump over here also....or, perhaps they're already here and the joke is on me...lol. So anyway - today is day 7 post op for me. I have my RN phone follow-up today, and I have nothing but good news for her. I have my MD post-op on 11/6. I feel that I've done quite well this week. I'm on day 5 of my full liquids. Today = 10lbs post op weight loss for me. I wasn't sure if my gastro issues were from the nonfat milk I mix with my Protein shake or just from getting used to eating again. Yesterday I resolved that it was the milk and am now trialing with Almond Breeze and Soy milk. I think that should do the trick for most of the symptoms. I had a little grumbling yesterday and now wonder if it was the pudding that remains in my meal plan. I'll continue to try isolating/connecting the symptoms with the food....one-by-one....until I figure it all out. I'm getting my walks in; post-op I'm averaging 1-2 miles per day....usually with 2-3 short walks. Still trying to regulate my sleep. This past week I just slept when the urge came, and I'm a little off. This week I'm gonna try to nap less during the day and sleep at night; wish me luck. My full liquids are doing fine. I don't cook and am not creative so I'm sticking with the pre-packaged sugar-free puddings, Trader Joe's boxed creamier Soups, low fat cottage cheese, sugar free apple sauce, etc. While I seem to get full with each meal, I found/find myself getting super hungry between meals - which are approx 4-5hrs apart. So I'm conducting a little "timing" study by setting my stopwatch for, at least, one minute between spoonfuls to pace myself, and, as my dietitian says - to allow my stomach time to tell my brain I'm full/satisfied. Hopefully this will help alleviate the super hungries between meals. Other than that - I try to breathe....lol....walk, relax, meditate, chat on-line with you all, etc, to keep my mind off of my 'apparent' hunger. I'm not one to cheat/snack, so I'm not worried about overeating. I'm just trying to re-train my brain to NOT feel hungry when I'm - uh - not hungry. Clear as mud? LOL. I am now following this area/thread/site....whatever it is....and will remain in touch.

Great dtiller! I get a jump on my protein with my protein drink meal replacement. I use Body Fortress Super Advanced Whey Protein (powder) and mix it with 8 oz of almond or soy milk. Because we really need our protein right now my Dietician recommended two scoops of the powder which equals 60 g of protein. 8oz of nonfat milk adds an additional 10 grams of protein. So whether I have my protein shake at breakfast, lunch or dinner - that meal equals approximately 70 g of protein by itself. On day three of my full liquid meal plan I decided to give up on milk, as the "after symptoms" were too severe. I guess I have become lactose intolerant with the surgery. As such, I'm toggling between soy milk and almond milk. Soy milk offers almost the same amount of protein but almond milk only offers about 2 g of protein per eight oz serving. I said all that to say that you can get a real jump on your protein intake by using a different protein drink. For my other two meals of the day I always include Greek yogurt or cottage cheese - both of which are high in protein. This routine keeps me between 70 and 80 g of protein each day. Today = 10lbs loss for me post-op. Keep up the good work!

Okay everyone; how are you doing? I slept most of today, but don't think I saw that anyone checked in. We are at 1wk post-op tomorrow. Happy Anniversary to us! I have my phone call with the RN tomorrow morning to check in. I think I've got nothing but good news for her. Got a couple of walks in with my pups = 1.2mi. Nice 75 degrees in Northern California. Ummmm......that is all. Good Night.....God Bless.

Oh, and don't be afraid to research public/private meetings such as food Addicts Anonymous, or Compulsive Over-eaters Anonymous, etc. Those are real illnesses with real solutions. If we don't ever acknowledge that that may be us - we may never get past first base. Clear as mud?

I read the book also........and it really helped me. The catch is that you must apply what you learn. I also was in regular attendance at support groups before my surgery. Its great to ask all these questions of real life people who have been where you are. They will give you real life strategies to be successful. One of your goals should be to learn/practice the lifestyle before you have the surgery. I used the meal plan and attended support groups a couple of months before I had the surgery. That way I knew what I needed to do to be successful. I knew how to eat/measure/portion control, etc. I knew my feelings/cravings/concerns were normal and learned how to deal with them before the surgery. The goal is not to be perfect, because none of us will ever be. The goal is to learn how to capitalize on your good times and how to work through your bad.. Hope this helps and encourages you. Best wishes.

My doc prescribed an antacid that I must take for the first several months. I'm sure it should be the same for everyone, at least, until your system is stable. I don't think they work when taken periodically, I think you must take them daily. As some don't do well with other meds you may be taking, I would ask your local pharmacist. I would definitely be taking one. I also read that the procedure could, possibly, increase symptoms of reflux. You may be one of those folks. Sorry to hear about your brother. I think we all have the fear of regaining weight. We all understand that the surgery is just a piece of the puzzle. Some call it a tool. It is not the ultimate "fix it" for weight loss. It must be accompanied by strict diet and exercise to be successful. And if the exercise portion is not possible - I imagine the diet part would have to be even more strict and compliant. Most of us should have also bee taught that while the surgery restricts our ability to eat as much as we used to - it does not eliminate our cravings or urge to eat as we have most of our lives. That is purely emotional and must be approached as such. The procedure doesn't fail us - we fail the procedure/program. Encourage brother to find comply with the meal plan. Encourage him to find something/anything in the way of exercise. Even chair exercising is out there as well as Water exercise which is virtually no impact on the foot. Be strong and stay connected to forums such as this. You will both do well. It just takes work and commitment in addition to the surgery. Best wishes to you and bro..

My fairly inexpensive Nutribullet does the trick quite nicely. I imagine they all get the job done whether lesser of higher priced. Some may do it in 30 seconds while others do it in 1 minute.

Yep. I start in the bed but end up back in my chair & eventually falling asleep there.

Okay; all that is fine....as long as you're back home , safe & able to rest. My sleep is a little off as far as times, so I have just resolved to sleep whenever it hits me. In fact - it's 9pm in California and I'm just waking up from my afternoon nap....lol. I guess it's gonna be a long night. My tummy is still tender so I've been sleeping mostly in my recliner. I also have one of those hospital-type beds at home and am able to sorta sit up (head up/feet up) while in the bed. Certainly not laying flat....on back or stomach yet. Give it time. I'm also not shy with the pain Meds. If I need it - I take it. I'm on day 3 of phase 2 and have now figured our that I'm gonna have to give up milk. Today was my most symptomatic day after drinking my protein shake mixed with milk. I'm doing great with water, crystal light, plain yogurt, cream soups, applesauce, etc. I'm amazed at not being able to finish a quarter cup of soup, yogurt & custard. So I do my protein first, then my soup. If I can't get my pudding/custard down it's no great loss. Got my total walking for each day up to about a mile. That's usually a total of 3-4 walks.....my two 4-legged babies help with that although their pulling has been an issue.....blah blah blah....overall feeling pretty great.

There he is! Losing in Alaska, great to hear from you. How are you? Back home yet? Cough it up Bro.

Great to hear from you dtiller1147. Glad you're home and resting well. Glad you had a textbook perfect procedure (I think I heard the same thing from my doc, but I was still a little dopey when I think I heard it). I think I musta had the stuck lip action also due to dry-mouth. It kind of felt like I had a forming cold sore at first, but nothing developed. Then, as the day went on I realized the "sticking" action again...lol. Yes! Oh thank heaven for ice chips - which, by the way, I wasn't allowed to swallow...lol. How do you manage that? But I did. Oh, and the mouth 'swab' came in handy a few times. Rest well my friend and enjoy being home. I tell ya - there's no place like it! Sipping on Water as I line up my little quarter-cup sized Breakfast bowls. On today's menu = 1/4c nonfat cottage cheese, and 1/4c plain nonfat greek yogurt; for a grand total of 13ish grams of lovely lean Protein. lunch = 2 scoops of Body Fortress Super Advanced whey Protein "chocolate" shake with 8oz of nonfat milk....for a whopping 69g of lean/healthy protein. And dinner will include 1/4 cup pureed Soup....a choice of 4 fabulous flavors from Trader Joe's.. 1/4c sugar free pudding...perhaps vanilla or maybe chocolate; and 1/4c of greek yogurt. I'm feeling the love already. Don't forget to walk if only around the house. I was cracking myself up walking laps around my 500 sq ft studio apt last night. It was like turning around in circles....lol.