catwoman7

enjoy it while it lasts - hunger comes back for the vast majority of us, and then it gets a lot more challenging to stick to the plan. My hunger came back after about five months. It varies - anywhere from a couple of months up to a year or so out. There are a few lucky souls whose hunger never comes back, but for most of us, it eventually does...

my immediate family knew as well as a few close friends, but that's about it. I became slightly more open about it as time went on, but it's still something I don't share with everyone.

my husband was home that first week and it was great having him there to get things for me, etc, but I probably could have managed on my own if I had to. Other than it being sort of a struggle to get in and out of bed the first couple of days (very sore abs!), I got around OK and felt fine.

I had a desk job at the time (I'm retired now). I took off three weeks, but I probably could have gone back after two. I felt OK and was doing things like driving again - although I was still pretty tired and still trying to figure out the eating thing - what would sit well with my stomach, etc. I'm glad for the third week because of that, but again, if I had to, I could have gone back after two.

me too!! I could easily be vegetarian, but vegan would be a struggle - I'd have a REALLY hard time giving up dairy!

I can maintain my weight if I keep my calorie intake at or below 1700/day. If I go north of that too many times in a week, my weight starts heading up. I don't pay much attention to my macros, although I probably should. I do have to average 100+ grams of protein a day because we learned fairly soon after surgery that I malabsorb it (I might have before surgery, too - but we don't know because they never did a baseline on protein). If I get less than that, my prealbumin level tanks. as far as carbs, I'm almost always in the 100-150 range (which is way more than I was eating in weight loss mode). But then, I'm not particularly carb sensitive - I know a lot of us ARE, so if that were the case with me, I'd still be watching my carb intake. I don't pay any attention to fats at all. As long as whatever I eat throughout the day fits into my calorie range, I'm good!

the first few weeks were a little touch and go for me, but I can tolerate anything now except super fatty meals (fish and chips? No way - I'd be in the bathroom all night). I've never had dumping syndrome, food stuck, or any of that. the struggle never stops. I'm in maintenance now and have been for 2.5 years. I have to watch my intake and my weight like a hawk, because the few times I've loosened up, I've gained weight. And at a normal BMI, it takes FOREVER to lose even 10 lbs!

I consistently have over 100 grams a day because I malabsorb it (my prealbumin level tanks if I don't average at least 100 grams a day). The above poster is right - too much can be hard on your kidneys, but a day of going over once in awhile is not going to matter. You'd have to be getting way too much pretty consistently to cause damage, I would think. If you go over once or twice a week, I wouldn't worry about it. If you do find yourself consistently going over, then he's right - you could just stop supplementing because you may be at the point where you're getting enough protein through your food.

yes - it's pretty common. Mine was negative, but then, I quit smoking 25 years ago, so...

I'm one of the few people who doesn't like Premier Protein. I could taste the protein in it. Ugh. My go-tos were Syntrax and Unjury brand, but those are whey protein. If I were you, I'd just go to a GNC or Vitamin Shoppe and pick up some individual packets to see if there are any you like. It's more expensive getting them by the packet, but then, buying a $30 tub of something you hate and therefore don't drink is even *more* expensive.. btw - several companies make unflavored protein. The two I mentioned do. I believe Quest does, too. I've seen other brands as well. Not they're unflavored - but not necessarily flavorless. They do have a slight taste to them - but no flavors like chocolate added to them.

$29.99 is cheap for a bathing suit. Go for it!

I didn't start focusing on calories until I was a few months out. Before then, if you're following your plan, you're really not eating enough to worry about calories. I was aware of my caloric intake because I was logging everything I was eating, but I only focused on protein and fluids for the first few months.

that's pretty common. I was pretty tired all the time for the first month or so. It'll pass...

I'm surprised they didn't tell you that. I had GERD even before surgery, so my surgeon recommended RNY due to that. But not everyone who gets the sleeve has GERD issues - and sometimes it does go away after awhile.

I agree with everything she said. I think it's good to go back to basics (dense protein first, then lots of non-starchy veggies - they're both very filling!!). I couldn't do 600-800 kcal this far out. It would be way too restrictive for me, and I'd just be setting myself up for a binge. Everyone's caloric needs are different. I start losing weight if I drop down to 1500 or below - but YMMV. Start tracking your food and see where you're averaging calorie-wise, and then drop down 100-200 calories and see if you start to lose. If a week or two goes by and you're not losing anything, then drop down another 100-200 calories. Rinse and repeat. A lot of it is trial and error. At some point, you'll find your sweet spot where you start losing again.

yep - it meets all the recommendations of the American Society of Bariatric & Metabolic Surgeons (ASBMS). I have to take it twice a day, though (some bariatric formulated ones you only have to take once a day, I think...)

I take Centrum (or the generic equivalent - CVS and Walgreens both have generics). I took the chewable version the first couple of months, then switched over to the regular tablet.

yes - that can be a side effect of the sleeve. It may go away (you're still pretty early out), but then again, it might not.

pretty much everyone has their first stall sometime during the first month after surgery, so yes - that's normal. I stalled weeks 2 and 3. My weight loss started up again during week 4, and I dropped like 6-8 lbs practically overnight.

RNY here - but the diets are pretty much the same. Nuts weren't on my plan that early out (I can eat them now, though). They may be on yours, although I'd say that would be unusual. Most people are on full liquids or purees at three weeks out. I'd follow your plan because your stomach is still healing - you don't want to do anything to injure it. If your surgeon approves nuts at this juncture, then so be it.

Your tool should still work. It'll take going back to the basics - protein first, then non-starchy vegetables. Limit fruit and whole-grain carbs. Avoid simple carbs. Weigh, measure, and log everything you eat. No drinking with eating. I haven't gained all my weight back, but there have been a couple of times when 10 lbs snuck on that I had to take off. It takes a lot longer than it does immediately after WLS, but with hard work, it DOES come off...

Flintstones are still recommended by some bariatric surgeons, but they aren't the best option. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons does not recommend multivitamins that are formulated for children. Those formulated specifically for bariatric patients are a good choice, but if you want a standard, readily available vitamin, a lot of bariatric patients have good luck with Centrum (or a generic equivalent), too. Any multi that meets the ASMBS requirements is fine: https://asmbs.org/app/uploads/2008/09/ASMBS-Nutritional-Guidelines-2016-Update.pdf

me too - I had two strictures - one at four weeks out and the other at eight weeks out

you were pumped full of IV fluids in the hospital -- plus those fluid bags contain a lot of sodium (among other things). Those two things alone can increase blood pressure. It should go down once you get rid of all those fluids....should be back down soon.

nope