heynowkc

I haven't really been craving sodas even though I would drink any type of soda (diet or otherwise) in my "past life" haha. The thing is that I get bored with Water sometimes, and since I am not a coffee drinker, other than hot herbal tea with truvia, I haven't found anything I like that much. So, after thinking about it for the past few weeks, I actually bought some of the diet sodastream syrups to mix with plain water (not carbonated). Just to see how they would taste. I have tried the "Diet Dr. Pete" flavor. (They also have diet root beer, cola zero, diet cola and diet orange I think! Maybe more?) It's pretty good and has no carbonation or calories. I figure it's no worse for me than those Crystal Light powder mixes or Mio liquid drink flavors. The problem is I usually find those way too citrus-y/tart for my tastes. I'm not opposed to citrus things but with the flavored powders it's kind of overpowering and actually sometimes bothers my throat in a way that's super hard to describe. Almost any flavor does this even if you only use a small amount of the powder. Anyway, the Diet Dr. Pete turned out pretty good. I have only had one glass, maybe 14-16 oz. worth. Definitely something I would recommend for a treat every now and then if you're wanting the flavor of diet soda (or just for more variety in drinks) but no carbonation. It's not cheap, about 5.99 for a small bottle, but the label says it makes about 50 8oz glasses worth. So overall it's not a bad price.

I have added you. I am heynowkc

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Recently switched from the Bariatric Advantage Multivitamin. Now I take GNC Women's Ultra Mega One Daily (but I take it twice a day per the dietitian's orders). They recently had a 50% off sale and so I bought 5 months worth! Watch out for sales.

Hey guys. Just checking in. I had surgery on Dec. 17th. I feel like I am in a stall/slow down period but I haven't stopped losing completely. I'm just losing a lot less than I was, but also because of the weather and being sick off and on, I've had a hard time getting to the gym. I have decided that this week I am going to go at least 5 days, I was getting 6-7 days in BEFORE surgery so this should be a cake-walk for me. I haven't done any strength training since surgery, so I'm going to start that today. Anyway, as for eating, the past couple of weeks I have noticed a discomfort whenever I eat. It's not the full feeling that comes after I have eaten all that I can, just an uncomfortable feeling that is hard to explain that starts right after the first bite of food, depending on the texture/consistency. Like if I eat yogurt (which I rarely do) I wouldn't feel it. But if I ate a bite of meat I definitely would. It is making eating a really unpleasant experience for me. But because I'm still clocking everything I eat, and very carefully measuring Protein, I still try and eat whatever I've portioned out for myself until I feel full. Maybe I shouldn't and should be giving my stomach a break. Maybe if I did that every now and then that weird feeling would go away? My capacity is very limited I think. I'm not sure what other people are eating per meal. I can eat about 2.5-3 ounces of food per meal and then if I eat any more than that I feel very uncomfortable. At the beginning I was SO careful so I didn't experience much nausea. But over the weekend I had an incident with a chicken and asparagus stir fry that didn't go down well. I honestly think it's because it was boneless skinless chicken breast and is a little bit tougher/more dry than other meats I've eaten, and I wasn't eating as slowly as I should so I may have eating one or two bites too many. I've lost about 60 lbs since surgery and 130 overall. (Lost 70 lbs before surgery.) Am feeling really good but am annoyed at the slowdown I've experienced over the last 3 weeks or so. I know this is normal and everyone experiences these slow downs and stalls, but I have so much weight to lose that I get nervous about my progress all the time. I think getting back to the gym, especially reincorporating strength training, will help! Oh! I forgot to add that I have been having real trouble with Protein shakes lately. Every now and then I would eat two bars instead of one shake and one bar per day. This past week I've almost exclusively eaten the bars instead of drinking the shakes. Now whenever I TRY to drink a shake it makes me completely nauseated!

Definitely check with your doc first, but if it's not already in any of the vitamins you're taking it's definitely worth it to look into it. My multivitamin (GNC's Women's Ultra Mega One A Day) already has 100% iron 200% zinc and 100% biotin. I take it twice daily because that's that my dietitian wants me to do. So I won't be taking EXTRA iron unless my numbers come back low. I don't know why this quoted you twice. I can't seem to delete one quote without messing up the formatting of the other.

I am a little over 2 months out (Dec 17th was surgery) and I haven't experienced hair loss yet. I have lost about 58lbs since surgery, and 127 since the beginning of October, so that's a LOT in just under 5 months time. I feel like I really should have started to lose by now... However, here's the thing: I have always had trouble with my periods -- since the last year of high school, and as a result have always had serious issues with anemia. One time I was so anemic that my hair started falling out, not in HUGE clumps, but enough to worry me and send me to the doc. It was discovered that I was so anemic I needed a blood transfusion. (This is the only out-patient transfusion I've had as a result of my period -- I'd been hospitalized twice before and had extensive transfusions both times.) Anyway, the ER doctor I originally went to was an idiot and just told me I was losing my hair. It was a clinic doctor I went to later that recognized that Iron DEFICIENCY is a major cause for hair loss and she checked for other symptoms, and sure enough, that was the problem. After this incident, I never had significant problems with hair loss again. Over the past several years I have had better health care and have been able to (mostly) keep my period under control and my iron levels are now in the normal range for the first time in YEARS. In the past, I have also had trouble getting enough Protein in throughout the week. Some days I did, some days I didn't. Prior to surgery, and after, I am (most days!) getting more protein in than I did pre-surgery which is great for my iron levels. Based on my experiences and correlating that to what the article said about iron deficiency, I really think the key is to keep an eye on your iron levels, take additional iron supplements if needed (they have types that are easier on the stomach) and see your regular doctor as often as you can to make sure your levels are OK. I obviously don't know this for sure, but I feel like if the Biotin, Water, protein, and Multivitamins don't seem to stave it off, then maybe a little extra iron will help!

This is an interesting topic. I'm lucky that everyone in my life has been supportive of my surgery. But I have read so many stories here of patients who are not so lucky. It's kind of hilarious to me that society pretty much across the board shuns "the easy way out" -- when the irony is that everywhere you look those same people are looking for the easy way out or the short-cut! Just look at all the dangerous drivers out there, speeding and weaving in and out of traffic at high speeds without turn signals, putting everyone around them in danger. And that's only one example. We all want a short cut to something, but nobody will necessarily admit it. It think it comes down to societal taboos. It's desirable to say "I earned this" or "I worked hard for this." Or "I crawled through the rubble and came out on top." We don't want to hear, "I hitched a ride on the express train to the top, cause it seemed easier and I just didn't have a lot of time." Unfortunately, WLS is not seen as 'crawling through the rubble.' It's seen as the 'express train.' And let's be honest, in many ways it is. You lose weight more rapidly, and more steadily than you would with any diet and exercise plan that doesn't require being sequestered by an invasive camera crew and being forced to exercise for 7 hours a day and yelled at by trained professionals and forced to wear revealing workout clothes you'd never in a million years wear on national television, until you get kicked off the show for not being good enough. But really, what is the alternative for most of us? Early death, countless (often deadly) medical problems, aches and pains, having to pay more medical expenses than our skinny counterparts, having to pay more for clothes, having to deal with the fact that you might not get that job that you're qualified for ten times over because someone skinnier than you applied and the hiring committee is unknowingly biased against overweight people, not getting to live your life fully or spend quality time with family because you can't keep up, can't ride the rides, etc. etc. etc. But those "don't take the easy way out" people will say that we deserve all of this. These are our just Desserts, pardon the expression. And really? I think that's what it comes down to. The attitude is: You got yourself this heavy, you should have to suffer the humiliation and the struggle that comes with it and you're never going to "learn your lesson" if you have surgery to "fix" your weight problem. I am not saying if you straight up ask someone who "disapproves" of WLS that they would admit to this attitude or even recognize it in themselves. They would have 400 other (unresearched) reasons why they disapprove. But I think that either way, this is the underlying reason for the disapproval. Despite the fact that after years or decades of struggle, this "easy way out" is the only thing that's gonna save our lives.

My highest weight was 491 at the end of Sept 2014. I lost about 70 lbs in 2.5 months on my own, had surgery on 12/17/2014 at ~422lbs and have lost about 53 lbs in the two months since. (My 2 month anniversary was yesterday.) About 120 total. Very happy and know I have a long way to go but am super optimistic about getting there!

Thanks for this post. I joined Costco just because they are the only place to buy premier protein in anything bigger than an overpriced 4-pack around here and have not really figured out what else to use it for, haha. These suggestions are good!

Hey everyone! So glad I found this post! My username on myfitnesspal is: heynowkc I'd love to have some surgery pals there. Definitely let me know that you're from bariatric pal!

Thanks for your stories everyone. I'll be 2 months out this time next week. This thread is so encouraging!

Hey guys! I had gastric sleeve on Dec 17th and am very happy with my decision and my progress so far. But I did get to thinking... I have been tracking everything I eat in order to keep tabs on my Protein intake. An easy way to do this is by using myfitnesspal (although I do have a book I carry in my purse that I write everything down in too - when I remember!) And even though my nutritionist doesn't want me to track calories until 6 months or more out, myfitnesspal does this automatically when I'm logging my food, so it's hard to ignore! My intake can vary anywhere from at or around 500 calories per day, to at or around 700 calories per day depending on what I'm eating. The weight/measurement of the foods is basically the same, but sometimes the calories are higher depending on ingredients. My nutritionist recently encouraged eating full fat foods, yogurts, cheeses etc. because she says I need the fat to help me absorb as many vitamins/nutrients as possible, so for the past week my intake has been closer to the high end for that reason. (I was using all the low fat stuff before she told me this.) But EVEN on the high end of things, if I walked into a nutritionist's office and showed them my food log, especially given my weight, they would probably not be pleased with me, would tell me I have an eating disorder, and try and convince me that eating this amount of food at my (or any) weight is completely unhealthy. I was just wondering if I was the only one who ever had this thought? The phrase "surgically assisted anorexia" crossed my mind but is not something I agree with. I feel like it's a wonderful procedure that is going to (and has already) changed my life for the better. What I'm wondering, however, is why extreme portion control is demonized UNLESS It's done in conjunction with and after surgery? And if it's considered unhealthy by most, if not all, healthcare professionals, then why is it okay post-surgery? I presume the answer is because it's under the supervision of a physician, nutritionist, and in my case, an exercise specialist too. And if you're a compliant patient you're taking an armful of Vitamins every day on top of it. I wonder why is it ok for me but not for someone who hasn't had surgery? This is more of a philosophical question than a scientific one. I think I know the answer logically, but I do feel like there's a bit of a paradox in the fact that the same diet is either embraced or vilified by the medical community depending on the circumstances.

Surgery date was Dec 17th. I am going to try and do a 5K at the end of April here where I live. Gotta start somewhere!

I bought a Misfit Flash which is the newer/budget version of the Shine. It's made with plastic instead of metal but has all the same features as the Shine except it's "only" waterproof up to 30 meters. (All that deep sea diving I was planning to do!) The price is right at 49.99 from the manufacturer. I really love it and it works for me. I love that you can set it to track an activity automatically with one click instead of just tracking steps, I love that you don't have to charge it, I love that it's waterproof, I love that it tells time, I love that it intuitively tracks your sleep without you having to remember to tell it to, and I love how easy it is to wear and that you can choose between wearing it with the watch band or clipping it on your shoe for more accurate tracking of cycling/walking/using stationary machines. Basically, I just love it. The app and data analysis could be more detailed, but that's more for curiosity's sake than practicality. Plus! I got mine (coca cola red) for super cheap on amazon a little over a week ago. It was on sale for 36 bucks. Right now I think the black one is on sale over there. If anyone has a Misfit Flash or Misfit Shine don't hesitate to add me as a friend on the app. Username: heynowkc

I would say that if you fear you are not eating ENOUGH, then go ahead and count your calories for a few days. Then if it seems off, maybe adjust? My guess is that if you're eating regular foods by now, I'd say that under 400 calories might be a little low, my Protein supplements alone come to 320 - 360 calories, if that's ALL I ate all day I'd just need to eat a half a cheese stick to get to 400. The best thing you can do is check with your NUT tell them what you've been eating daily (not necessarily a calorie count) and if they seem concerned then maybe you need to add some protein or something? They will give you ideas I am sure. Stalls are supposed to be normal, and I think they're supposed to be frustrating too. I am lucky that I have been losing most weeks (only 1 week with a stall). But I'm not that far out yet, I'm sure my day is coming. However I do know that some of the best advice that I found for breaking a diet plateau (pre-surgery) was to increase your calorie intake for a few days while taking a break from the gym, then go back to your regular schedule! That might work for you. Increasing the volume you eat is practically impossible (from my experience) with my new sleeve, but you can always just consume more high-calorie items for few days,... marathon that TV show on Netflix you've been putting off instead of hitting the gym so hard, take off your fitness tracker,... then go back to normal and see if it gives you a little jump start?

From what I've read though it doesn't really "stop" working or ever go back to your normal size. So I'm not sure. It's probably not that it would "stop" working for me but because of my starting weight I could have more difficulties than others getting to a reasonable goal weight? Idk! I am not worried about it. I just have to keep my gym bag packed!

My nutritionist said just keep track of Protein and make sure I'm getting enough in - so I track with myfitnesspal (and also a notebook in my purse for easy reference). She said not to count calories (or worry about calories) until 6 months out or more. Even though I'm not supposed to, with myfitnesspal it keeps track of my calories and I'm usually somewhere in the 500s-700s. I eat three small meals a day and two protein supplements (one shake and one bar). No Snacks. My surgery was Dec. 17th.

Thabk you for all of your insights. @@joatsaint thanks for breaking down what you were able to eat as you went along. While I know it will vary from person to person, that is good info to know. @@Thinkingthinner1109 I too lost a lot of weight prior to surgery. I lost 70 lbs in 2.5 months. I was cutting way back but was probably eating 1200 calories a day. Only occasionally dipping below that. But I was exercising like mad. 6-7 days per week with 5-6 of those days being at the gym swimming or strength training. Almost 2 months post surgery I haven't worked back up to that vigorous of a workout routine.

Honestly I just used a tiny no-spill cup (like toddlers use) that had the ounces measured on the side. The first thing I did in the morning was fill it up with 8 oz of water (or 4 oz of 100% juice mixed with 4 oz of water) and I made sure to drink throughout the day. I think having the measurements right there on the cup was very helpful for me personally. Drinking made me nauseated for a long time after surgery and sometimes still can! It's really hard at first but try and set an alarm on your phone and make sure to drink a few ounces every time it goes off. You'll get it all in eventually. You're only one week out and it's only going to get easier. OH! Editing to add that I find warm beverages easier to drink. If you're allowed herbal non caffeinated tea, try some hot tea! That will help you get your fluids in. Even heating up 4 oz of apple juice (100%) mixed with 4 oz of water is good. Some people boil their water in a tea kettle and drink that to help it go down without nausea.

Honestly, one week post op I was still focusing on getting in all my fluids by the end of the day and since I was still at home recovering I didn't have a particular schedule. Now that I have been back to work for a month and have transitioned to regular foods. I'm still trying to figure out my schedule! I have a long commute and so I have learned that I just can't eat Breakfast before work anymore or I get completely "off schedule" and am very "empty" by the time I get home.

My surgeon says no alcoholic beverages for 1 year post op.

I don't believe that her complications had anything to do with her genes! Or yours for that matter. Not to mention that they are two completely different surgeries and 2001 was 14 (!!!!!!) years ago and a lot has changed since then! If this is the right thing for you do not let them talk you out of it or worry you with negative thoughts. If you have already made this decision, the best thing to do is to let them know that the decision has been made so any conversation about it should only be about ways to support you and help you through it!

Good question. My surgeon has suggested I may "need" to convert in a few years since I have so much weight to lose and "could" stall out (in a permanent type way) but I am determined not to need it! *runs to the gym* I'd be curious to know the answer too.

Some regional (or even familial) slang varies. I had a friend who used the word "heaps" a lot. As in "I ate heaps/a heap of chips last night." I think it just means "a lot."