BLERDgirl

Second the PPI recommendation. I would also suggest thinning any Soups you make to a watery consistency with low sodium broth. As for additional protein sources, Beans and spinach are good sources of protein, and Fiber. Black beans, lentils and split peas are my some of the higher protein beans. You can also look into non-soy vegan protein powders blend a little of those into your meals and it can help increase your protein intake. Different plans advance at different rates. This is the plan her doctor follows.

I'm a little over 5'2" and my starting weight was over 400. However I am more than twice your age. So far most of my lose skin appears to be on my lower half. I have been walking since day 1 and returned to the gym at 3 weeks post op. To be honest the lose skin doesn't worry or concern me. Once I hit goal. I'll access the situation and decide if I want to do plastics or not.

Not everyone gets a drain. It depends on the surgeon. However having had an abcess from a previous surgery that was so deep I had to have daily wound care for 2 weeks after it was lanced, I can honestly say a drain is a good thing. Mine was removed before I was discharged from the hospital. It's not painful. It's just another way to insure a positive surgical outcome. This is what it looks like The tubing will be inside and the bulb part will hang outside you body. A nurse will check and empty the Fluid. Like I said, it's really not a big deal. Just your surgeon being extra cautious.

I was never hungry or HANGRY. I am one of the few who actually gets full on Water so it was really important for me in the early stages to separate my eating and drinking. I may have experienced some head hunger, or an urge to snack, but I can honestly say I have never been ravenously hungry. There have been times when I had no appetite at all and had to eat on a schedule in order to remind myself to eat. I also do better planning at least one snack a day, but starving? Not even close.

No part of my life is on hold while I lose weight. I am just as social as I ever was.

14 mths out. I still eat under 1200 calories a day and no I am not starving at all. My relationship with food has changed for the better. This weekend I was out and a friend had brought these double chocolate brownies. Chocolate is my weakness but I had eaten my meal. I just wanted a taste. I took 1 bite and was completely satisfied with that. I felt happy that I could enjoy that one bite without feeling the need to go back and have a bigger piece. I have also found that on days when I don't go to the gym I have to work at eating at least 1000 calories. I'm simply not hungry. However if I eat under 1000 I don't lose. In short, I now feel like I eat to live not live to eat.

I live alone so the only time I have to worry is when my sister comes over with junk food. Thankfully most of what she likes I'm allergic to. She did come over with fresh Philly pretzels last week. I made her take them home.

Go for the walk during lunch. If you can manage to get up earlier, use the treadmill before work. You can also get one of those kids exercise dvds and do that with the little ones on the weekend. Otherwise I wouldn't worry about it. With 3 little guys, you're probably pretty active to begin with.

Hummus, ricotta bake. cottage cheese with fruit, oatmeal, grits, cauliflower mash. I added unflavored protein powder to the oatmeal, grits and cauliflower.

Increase you water to 64 ounces. Otherwise just continue to follow your program.

Mine healed/scabbed in about 2 weeks except for the largest one. That one took 3 weeks. I remember being annoyed because that last incision was what held me back from getting back in the pool.

I do a bean bowl. ¼ cup black Beans, salsa, shredded cheese, dice avocado. You can up the Protein by adding dollop of greak yogurt instead of cream cheese. Everything else is allowed on a soft diet and give you protein plus Fiber. As you progress to all foods cucumber and baked cheese chips are good alternative. I even read that some people bake pepperoni slices.

Regular as clockwork since day 5 post-op.

Sounds like you need a PPI like omeprazole/prilosec and perhaps something for nausea. Call your doctor.

Neither cauliflower nor quinoa are going to be the same. Same is not the point. They are healthier substitutions that you can season similarly. The problem with the "in moderation" theory is that people use that as an excuse to eat the bad foods anyway. Every day someone post on this board that they aren't losing and they say they only ate a certain thing "here and there". Truth is processed white rice is a carb and it's simply not a sleevers friend. I have eaten brown rice twice and black rice once since being sleeved. Black rice does offer some Protein, but it doesn't taste anything like white rice. I am one of those who can tolerate everything. I have yet to eat a food that made me sick. It means I have to decide every day not to eat certain things because I don't get the negative message throwing up from it. I would rethink the rice situation because it sounds like it's will be a slippery slope for you.

I was back in the pool at 3 weeks post-op with no restrictions. Juicing may offer a temporary weight loss like many fad diets, however it's mostly sugar, very little Protein and you lose most of the Fiber you would get from simply eating a piece a fruit. It's simply not a healthy weight loss option long term. What will work is eating small balanced meals. Your body had gone through major surgery and is likely still sorting itself out from all the changes, pain meds and IV fluids. Some people do experience big weight loss initially, but others are more slow and steady losers. Just make sure you hit those Fluid and protein goals and you should be okay.

You might want to try not thinking so much about what you can't have and focus on what you can have. Constantly thinking about rice is going to keep you unhappy. Some store sell cauliflower already shredded or riced. I've made quinoa using the seasonings I would use for rice (Goya sofrito and sazon), I then added my Beans and while it wasn't the same, it was satisfying. Even once you hit the regular food stage you're going to want to eat it sparingly. You need to start mentally preparing yourself for that. This is the part of the "lifestyle change" that comes with successful WLS.

3 slices easily. Now I can barely finish 1 but I rarely have it. All that bread sin't worth it for me. I saw a recipe for a pizza crust using cauliflower I may try but, honestly I don't really crave pizza now.

It's quite literally mind over matter. Do whatever you need to stay busy and not thinking of food. Drink water until you feel like you are going to float away. Stay away from processed foods; they only feed cravings. Eventually you will break the addiction.

If you can get to the pool. If you can tolerate water aerobics do so. If not try just walk laps in the pool. I have osteo in both knees. I realize they are different diagnosis, but aquafit classes really helped. The water helped keep me flexible and losing the weight really made a difference. Some doctors will allow pts to use NSAIDs in extreme cases but you have to be monitored closely because there is am increased risk of developing ulcers.

@ - I agree with your post, but I would have read Barbie for filth! There is never an excuse to police someone else's body no matter how "well intended."

Oops

@@Kindle is right. Taste is subjective. I love Isopure. I use the unflavored powder & the clear drink teas. Hated premier protein, EASI also like Orgain, Biochem vegan. Cvs brand and ProSource NoCarb. I added fresh fruit, almond butter, spinach fresh or frozen, Fage 0% Greek yogurt to my shakes for variety.

This is where you start to relearn skills. There are more things to do on the holiday;s that are no food related than your think. Movies are open, if you live somewhere you can walk around and look at the lights and displays do that. Where I live there are some nice hiking trails. Some of them are very easy and flat. A midnight walk is almost magical in the winter. If you are active, the ski lodges are open and much less crowded than normal. If you don't ski, snuggle in the lodge. Just bring your Water and sip, sip, sip. If you feel like you must eat as a family China town is almost always open. You can order miso Soup, egg drop soup or won ton soup. Just pass the chunky bits to the family.

These responses are why you need to speak with your NUT. Every program is different. I was 400 -600 calories for the first 3 mths, 600 - 800 until month 8. I now eat 1000 -1100 and I am 14mths out. My protein goal is 100 gms of protein an I work out 4 -6 days a week.