stacyg1

I'm 19 months post surgery. I run 3x a week usually a minimum of 5 miles. I take a kickboxing class 2x a week and a weight lifting class 1-2x a week. I was working out more but because of some weird lab results I was ordered to dial it back a bit. I've been on this schedule for the past year

I am 17 months post surgery and am just now eating 1000-1200 calories a day (I know some vets have different experiences and ate more calories more quickly than I). I can't imagine being able to get 1200 calories a day in 2 months post surgery. Also my nutrient macros are much different than yours. I aim for 100 + grams of protein a day and I drink 90-100 oz of liquid a day. I've lost 130ish lbs on my plan (not that my plan is anything special or the only one that works). I would make a few suggestions: (1) check with your surgeon or NUT about the 1200 calories which seem more like a maintenance level and less like a weight loss level; (2) ditch the half cup mashed potatoes (and similar carb heavy foods that lack nutritional value) and substitute for a soft veggie if you still have room after eating your protein; (3) try reducing your calories to 1000 and see if it kick starts your weight loss. Since I was not a revision patient I don't know how that affects loss or calorie consumption so my advice may not apply to you at all. Good luck!

I had my gallbladder removed 8 months after my VSG. It was incredibly easy. Surgery was at 8:00 am I was discharged at 12:30 and home by 1:15. I was out of work 2 days and on an airplane for a business trip the 6th day after surgery. Even though they gave me pain meds for home I only took 1 pill the first night to sleep. I didn't even need Tylenol after the first day. I was a bit more tired for a few days after the surgery but my surgeon promised me it would be super easy and it was. Good luck!!

Every day. I have a few choices in rotation. My usual breakfast is 3 oz ground turkey with some spinach and .5oz shredded cheese. On days where I know my exercise is going to be more intense I eat overnight oats made with Greek yogurt, fair life milk and peanut butter. When I'm lazy and don't plan ahead I'll eat my left over dinner from the night before or a carton of light and fit greek yogurt with a tablespoon of PB2!

Yes. I'm 17 months post surgery and having problems with GERD I didn't have any problems before surgery. I'm taking protonix 40mg in the morning before breakfast, omeprazole 40 mg before dinner and Zantac 150 mg before bed. I have pressure from the acid 5-6 times a week and regurgitation 2-3 times a week. Even with my acid issues I wouldn't change a thing about my surgery

I have a few things: I typically order a protein heavy entree, either fish, chicken or beef. I stay away from the appetizers or kids menu since I'd rather order off the regular menu and have leftovers. I weigh/measure everything at home, but don't want to drag out a scale at a restaurant so, I always ask the server what the serving size of the protein I'm ordering is. So, if I order salmon and the server tells me the serving is a 6oz filet, I know I can eat 2/3 of it. Also, I always substitute veggies for the carb side that comes with most entrees. Finally, I play a more active role in where we go to eat. Before surgery, I was an "I don't care" girl because I knew I could eat anything. Now, I suggest places where I know I can get high quality, flavorful, nutritious food that fits in my plan

Los Angeles turkey trot 10k!

Oh I'm glad!!

Short answer. Yes.

You could always ask your surgeon or his/her office if they can recommend a PCP. If they have someone they work with regularly you shouldn't have as many issues with approval or recommendation. Good luck!

From the language you use, it seems like this is something you want to happen. If that's true, can I ask why? After you heal, you should feel completely normal, except for the fact that you won't be able to consume large amounts of food at one time. That's not to say you can't eat around your sleeve's capacity by grazing all day long. If you really aren't hoping to stretch out your sleeve, I apologize for reading too much into your post. If you did mean it the way I read it, I hope you can get to a place, either through your own reflection and experience or with the help of a therapist, where you can accept your new normal and work your sleeve for all it's worth. Once you accept the lifestyle change, the sleeved life is amazing!!! Good luck to you!

I also keep everything on a schedule. I have a 30 oz cup on my desk at work. I fill it when I get to the office and will not have lunch until it's empty. I refill after lunch and again in the afternoon. I usually go through 3-4 cups a day. Also, I constantly have a bottle of water with me, so if I'm driving, walking, etc I can drink. I usually average 90-100 oz of liquid a day

Well said VSGAnn. At the risk of offending any posters, adopting the mindset that you can eat until vomiting or not vomiting means you're not overeating is stupid. Not to sound like a broken record but to be successful you need to learn to eat appropriate serving sizes of nourishing food. Not eat to the point of vomit and call it good. Whether your method is eyeballing a serving size or (my preferred method) actually weighing your food, you need to develop a more proactive approach. Eating until that one last bite pushes you over the edge is not a good strategy in my humble opinion. I wish everyone luck and recognize that everyone has their own way of walking the WLS road, but to me eating past maximum capacity should be avoided!

I don't think it was your sleeve that wasn't working; I think it was your head. You said that you felt the restriction and continued to eat even though you felt full. The sleeve did it's job. The sleeve's job is to restrict the amount you can eat at one time. You can always eat around that by continuing to eat past your full point or eat at non-planned times. Also the sleeve does nothing to help you make good food choices which include not just what to eat (healthy, nourishing foods as opposed to junk) but how MUCH to eat. I consider myself lucky that since my surgery I haven't faced constant hunger. When I'm hungry it's usually 3-4 hours after my last meal and I eat. When I am faced with random hunger, I drink and 9 times out of 10 it goes away. When it doesn't, I accept it and eat a Protein rich snack. I am working very hard to eliminate any connection between guilt and shame and food. If I plan appropriately and eat the foods I should, there should be no guilt if I eat an extra snack. Hunger happens. I try to avoid overeating by knowing exactly how much food is on my plate and eating the appropriate amount (17 months out, that is 3/4 to 1 cup of food consisting usually of 3-4 oz of protein and the remainder veggies). I do that by weighing at home and asking the server the serving size when I order. So if they tell me a piece of fish is 6 oz, I can judge how much to put in my mouth and how much to either leave on the plate or box up to go. Don't feel guilty, just recognize what happened and put a plan into action to make sure it doesn't happen that often (I won't say never again, because we all have those days) again! That plan needs to be one that will work for you, be it going back to measuring everything and not having extra food on the plate to tempt you or something else. I know we have the same surgeon group, but that doesn't necessarily mean that what works for me will work for you. All I do know is that guilt won't make you feel better, but putting an action plan in place will. Good luck!!

I will be in on the exercise goal, but out on the weight loss goal. I don't find the two actually correspond. But I like the thought of a challenge to keep me on track. I will be at the gym 3x a week for an hour at a time. I'll also run at least 2z a week for a minimum of 45 minutes

This post hit home for me. I September of this year my Primary doc and surgeon together decided that I was malnourished and that the cause was my excessive exercise. They believe that the amount of calories I burn compared to the amount I take in was causing my cells to stop working properly. I was ordered to increase my calories, scale back my workouts and start seeing a therapist. Dealing with this issue has been incredibly difficult and a struggle every day. This is a real problem. Thanks for the post!

I've also never been a three meal a day person post surgery but rather 6 small meals. That actually makes it harder for me since I was already eating so many times a day. I have GREAT restriction. It's been a challenge to increase my calories without feeling completely stuffed all the time, but I'm getting better at it. The problem only arises when I have to eat back my calories. After the half yesterday my heart rate monitor said my calorie burn was 1396. I have had my resting expenditure tested and that's where they came up with the 1200 minimum a day. So, to stay on track I needed to eat my 1200 plus the 1396. There's pretty much no way for me to get in 2500+ calories. They told me I can spread it out over the week, but that means I have to juggle my workout schedule. It's definitely trial and error at this point I am about 3 lbs from goal (or I was when this issue first arose. They told me to stop weighing myself and I have. So I have no clue how close to goal I am. I think that once the problem resolves, I'll be totally happy at 1200-1500 cals a day for my activity level. I agree with you! I wish more people discussed this issue. I'm glad we're having this discussion. You're farther out than I am and a more accomplished athlete so I'm glad I can benefit from your trials (and errors). Thank you, truly for understanding my problem and your input!!

10 am may be too early for me. We are flying in but I can't remember the time If I can make it, I'll post what I'm wearing

Even if I don't run I'll probably come to support my brother so I'll look for you at the expo! It would be awesome to meet!!

Yes! I'm starting to. The whole thing I think started as a miscommunication between me and my surgeon. He knew that I was very active and was training for my first half marathon but when I asked to increase my calories, he told me to wait until my 1 year appt. So I was doing 15-20 miles a week, kick boxing and weight lifting while eating 800-900 calories a day. At my 1 year appt (2 days after my first 1/2 marathon) my labs were a DISASTER. My cholesterol which had always been perfect was (and is) around 310 and I'm showing signs of systemic inflammation. My surgeon got together with my primary care doc and the NUT and they decided a big chunk of my problem was that I was burning significantly more calories than I was taking in. They immediately upped me to 1200 calories, cut back my workout schedule and instructed me to eat back each and every calorie I burn. That has been difficult. It's hard to go from 850 a day to 1800-2000 a day (on plan) depending in activity level, but for my health, I'm trying. Also, I'm finding grazing is the easiest way to get my cals in, which scares me. I'd rather stick to planned meals/snacks. Did you have any problem with that mindset? When I confessed that I was doing 2 half marathons in 4 weeks he told me to google the calories burned on a 13 mile run (which I already knew) and decide what I should or should not do based on that info and my food consumption. He's mellowed slightly in subsequent emails but would definitely prefer if I don't run. I got an email from him the other day saying "there's always next year." So long story short, I'm more active but less healthy than before surgery and trying to take the necessary steps to get things back in balance. My surgeon's last message to me was if I hold up my end of the bargain and keep trying to get the nutrition in he'll make sure that things normalize so I can continue my activity level. I'm trying. Thanks for understanding my issues, it's been hard to get people to understand the problem. Until you've had Bariatric surgery and tried to have a very athletic life after, it's had to comprehend the nuances!!

I'll probably be there, I'm just not sure I'm going to run. I'll let you know for sure

I eat steak all the time! Had New York strip for dinner tonight!

I ran a half marathon today and improved my time by 20 minutes! It was a great run!!

Ran the Los Angeles rock and roll half marathon today. I took 20 minutes off of my last 1/2 marathon time so it was a good day!

No. My labs are out of control and they are concerned that it's because I'm becoming malnourished as a result of burning significantly more calories than I take in. They were also concerned because I ran the LA rock and roll 1/2 today and they were concerned that the Vegas run was too soon. We're still negotiating Vegas and hopefully I can run. I'm 17 months post surgery