Foreverblessedx3

I am 16 months out...lost 80 lbs within 10 months, about half what I needed to lose...now I seem to be going up and down the same 3-4 lbs... I seem to be stuck, but feel if I started eating nothing but Protein and vegis that I would lose again. I have had no problems with my surgery, I have never thrown up, or been sick.. to be honest other than the fact I can't eat and drink at same time or at least very little, I don't feel any different now. I feel most restriction with meat, but eat about anything I want...and that is the bad thing. I wish there were things I couldn't tolerate. Like carbs...that would be great! I am hoping with warmer weather I will be motivated to get active and start going down again.

I need to revise this: according to my Drs. Visit today, the don't allow Tramadol in the first six weeks, so if you are in that timeframe you may want to stick with Tylenol. I was sent home from surgery with tramadol, works great for me. I also use Tylenol once in a great while for sinus pain.

Don't watch the scale....I gain a few, then the next week drop 6lbs. I have never just steadily dropped weight, so I quit weighing often. Now I am @ a 54lb loss, today is 4 months.

Not yet, I will be 6 weeks out on thurs and waiting for my next orders when I see the doctor on Monday the 2nd. Right now my vegis are canned or like a baked sweet potato.

I absolutely have no regrets. I would recommend the surgery to anyone who needed it. I have had an easy time from what I can tell, with very little pain. I woke up in recovery and a short time realized that I needed to go to the bathroom. I sat up and thought "wow, very little pain" I walked pushing my IV to the bathroom, came out and asked to continue walking. I wanted to cough up the junk that settles in the chest during surgery. I only walked with a nurse in recovery, I was passed on to my room with the message "she is already walking fine by herself". I walked and walked the halls until they released me. I had nausea after coming home that day, but I think it was because I ate yogurt and it was day 2... I went back to clear fluids for a few days and have been fine every since. I have never gagged or thrown up, have no idea what the slime is that I read about. I did experience gas at times but walked it out. I can't say my stomach ever hurts, but I can tell when my stomach isn't agreeing with a food, so I quit... To me it is easy to listen to your body... So my advice would be to listen, and never force anything or eat anything you don't like or that isn't agreeing with you. There isn't a food out there that I like more than knowing I will finally be a healthy weight in the near future.... I am excited about my future. I eat out often, my husband enjoys that and I wouldn't want him to miss out (he's always been avg wt) so I go along and eat what is available for me. I've always eaten slow, he eats at a normal rate, so finally, we are finishing dinner @ same time since I eat so little. Thankfully Mexican is my favorite food and refried Beans was the first food I ate out. We go to the gym 4 times a week together, and my husband is my greatest encourager. I have found I am not interested even in the looks of fried foods whatsoever, there is no temptation there, and so many things taste sweet to me, I can't imagine a dessert like I used to. I do long for fresh vegetables but for now settle for V8. I will say that sometimes the smell of food makes me hungry... And wish they had done something with that lol. Only negative is I can't seem to get into cooking like I used to, I never followed recipes and tasted as I went. It was difficult @ Christmas trying to cook, and I make a mean Mac n cheese and to see my husband say "it doesn't taste like your Mac n cheese" And back to the kitchen I went to try and make it better... Gee how do I cook without tasting? I probably ate a whole meal while cooking prior to this.... But not that big of deal, my husband has been learning to cook. Oh, and BM's are not the same but I understand why. I haven't lost a huge amt of weight yet, but I can fly up and down my steps with no without pain and I was on my knees trying to reach something under my bed yesterday, I was crawling around and it hit me "you have not done this in a very long time" I am getting healthier and more fit and I wish This had been available 25 years ago. No regrets!

I have felt a little pressure to lose fast... I was told by my surgeon's PA that my weight loss was good, not as good as some, but it was fine (12 lbs @ 10 days out) I left thinking I would catch up by my 6 week visit, but it is 4 weeks later and I've lost 8... I go back the 2nd... I hope I've lost better, I've lost inches, and I'm pretty happy, but worried the dr won't think so. I'm doing a lot of water aerobics, getting my protein and fluids in... I think those docs do care about #'S I've lost 20 in 5 weeks. I think they want you to lose as much in what they call the honeymoon period... Well, this has been a great asset for me, but I am sure it will continue to take a lot of work.... Long past that period.

I think you will do fine. To me, this was an easy surgery. My husband took me to the hospital and brought me home, but he worked the rest of the time. He doesn't cook, so by day after coming home, I was cooking for him, and 1 week after was Christmas, I had help from my daughter Christmas but i shopped for groceries and still cooked a big Christmas dinner, and did light housekeeping. I'm really independent and didn't ask for help unless I really couldn't reach something. I actually was happiest when everyone exited the house in the morning and left me alone. Lol I was embarrassed to have to ask a sales clerk to pick something up I dropped...I don't know if it was a mental block but I stared at it...bent over to pick it up and nah...not going there yet...so asked for help...hurt my pride a bit but she was very gracious and probably wondered why this idiot was out shopping after surgery but I looked at it as exercise. I did a lot of walking in stores and didn't have a driving restriction if I wasn't taking pain meds. I think I would actually prefer to be alone after surgery with someone checking in occasionally...that sounds peaceful.

I mix a premier chocolate protein shake with 2.5 cups fat free milk and about a half cup of unsweetened almond milk...I try to have this drank by 3-4 pm so I have most of my protein in and decent start on fluids. I don't like my chocolate milk thick, so this works for me. Premier is the only protein shake I was able to tolerate.

@BLERDgirl. I do good at the protein, getting 70 or so a day...have not hit 80 yet, however after drinking most of my protein, (36 oz) I drink a V8 (11 oz) daily and struggle getting in another 32 oz of water...average about 24 oz of water in addition to those liquids. I know I need to work on that...seems I drink all day. I need to step up exercise too...just walking and stationary bike right now...it is fridged here...ave 4 degrees most morn when I come to work

Thanks everyone... I was ready to call my NUT, I haven't lost in last 10 days, just been going up and down same 2 lbs... I know it is water fluctuation but can't figure out how I can be taking in so few calories and not losing. I'm using myfitness pal to track, counting everything that goes in my mouth. I will just keep at it then...makes me feel better.

I had surgery Thurs morn, was released Sat morning after. I took two weeks off through the holidays, it was plenty of time. I feel I could have gone back a little earlier. I am a billing anaylst and sit all day.

Sleeved 12-18 and went back to work on Monday. Doing really good, down 17lbs since surgery, kinda stalled since eating pureed foods...not sure why. Getting all my protein in, about 50 oz fluids in, so need to work harder on that. Tonight, I had chili that I put in my bullet, but it was too spicy...so took a zantac and tums..probably will wait on that kind for a while. Love refried beans and pureed vegis...joined the the gym, but it is 4 degrees out, just staying home w/exercise bike. Looking forward to this new year.

Thanks to those who replied to me..maybe I will get better @ posting/quoting. Today I did really well with sweet potato mashed up. I love Tuna and I only have one pureed stage and tuna/chicken canned is part of that. The tuna just doesn't settle...so won't try it again for a while. I will try the canned chicken in a few days...I am a little scared of meat. I am going to try an egg tomorrow, did anyone have a problem with eggs? I have eaten refried Beans (awesome) and cottage cheese, both go down well. I read a lot on here and thanks to all who have shared their experiences. I am so thankful for whomever posted to mix premier chocolate with milk...I am so appreciative. It works for me too! I starting to think I was going to just tolerate the Protein drinks. Again, thanks to all!

Thanks for the ideas.. I've just started puréed, and not everything is going down smooth... I have a good day and then next one where I think I will just drink for the rest of my life. Everything causes a commotion and rumbling inside.

I'm seven days post opt too, and I am on 2 oz for meals. It really surprises me that you have the ability to hold that much, I was told only 8 oz total ever....like 9 months down the road. I am fighting cravings, but mainly because I have sat through 2 Christmas dinners chomping on ice. I feel like I can eat, have the appetite for sure, but totally understand why I can't, so just hanging in there. Hope it gets better