GBLady41

Wls patients need more protein than non-wls patients. Our nutritional needs have changed.

I agree with@talkingmountain, except want to add that another essential is that it must connect to iPhone, iWatch steps and HR app, and actually have burned calories for weight training. I use MFP and I like it. So this app must be like that but better. I like MFP's variety of cardio exercises and the calories burned. I don't need a reminder about taking vitamins because I use vitamin patches. Exporting information to a spreadsheet is a want, not a need. I need to be able to enter a recipe name and the database be able to pull it from the internet, give me the accurate amount of carbs, calories, protein, etc. instead of having to put in the recipe items one by one. It needs to be able to access Pinterest (a lot of the recipes I want to try is on Pinterest) as well as the internet. I'd like to be able to scan a barcode if typing it in doesn't work. It has to be like MFP in the ability to have databases including restaurants and their current menus in order to get accurate results. I also like MFP because you can join challenges, it tells you when you go over a nutrient, and gives you badges for accomplishments. I need those. They are a big help.

Pre-op 298 lbs/BMI was 47/Size 22/24 Current 161 lbs/BMI is 25/Size 8/10?

Good article. The only thing that makes me think twice is the example of a child flying from couch to couch and being told to 'get off that couch now!' - instead of 'look at how strong and powerful you are' and how saying the first thing automatically starts a wound in a child. I disagree with that. I wasn't allowed to jump on the furniture. But I was allowed to have a cape on and go through the house acting like a superhero if I wanted to. And a parent can say both things while at the same time teaching their child that jumping on furniture is not accepted, and how big and strong he or she is. I certainly don't think that allowing a child to jump on furniture is going to keep them from forming a wound - emotional, physical, or otherwise. As a parent myself, I don't allow children to jump on my furniture. That certainly doesn't cause wounds in children. Maybe a better example would be a child skinning their knee, and a parent saying 'don't cry! Crying is for babies,' versus a parent saying 'let me take a look at it. It's ok. We'll fix it.' Or something to that effect.

Still too many carbs for me. Maybe once I get to weight maintenance mode.

The only thing you can do is to continue to model healthy eating in front of her. You didn't 'build' these bad habits in her. She chose to eat the bad foods. You didn't give yourself a way out...you took a course of action that can give you your life back. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. That's the best thing you and your husband can do. Her limitations in activity could be a great talking point to help her to limit her own portions, because doing so would help her to be more active with less weight. And finally, helping yourself is definitely NOT hurting your child. She supports you so she knows what this means to you and her father. As a parent, the best you can do is give examples of how to live, how to eat, how to be healthy, etc. My child is 19 and I had surgery last December. She supports me. She's also going through her own identity crisis. She sees me eating healthy, but she doesn't. Counseling may help, but understand that she has to find her own way. Change is always hard. But she will bounce back. And she's 13....having touchy points come with the territory. She needs to know that with her good choices, she can soon be going with you to different stores because she has lost weight. It's all about choices.

I get at least 100 grams of protein a day, and at least 134 oz of fluids a day. Protein and fluids are the most important things to get. And the more active you are, the more protein and fluids you need. As far as calories, it's more about what you're eating, not the number of calories. If you are eating a lot of protein, veggies, good things, you are fueling your body. It doesn't matter how many calories you're eating. I'm almost seven months post op and I still eat between 700 and 800 calories a day. And I'm very active. And still losing weight every week. I tried to eat more calories but it didn't help me at all. I will continue to eat the same amount of calories as long as I'm fueling my body.

And for sleeve patients as well.

I think what it really is is understanding that the US and Canada are not countries with a high standard of medical care. There is better care in Europe compared to the US. As far as Tijuana being this dangerous place, I was there. I wasn't in any danger at all. I took my daughter. She wasn't in any danger at all. Bottom line - there are cities in the US that are a lot more dangerous. But...to each his own...if you want to spend more money and receive less care and get discharged 24 hours after your surgery and hope you can get in touch with your surgeon and/or nutritionist in a decent amount of time when you have a question, have it in the states. At the end of the day, you have to be happy with your choice.

I'm not so sure about that. I believe I had my surgery around 12. Our flight landed around 8:13 am. We were taken to the hospital, filled out paperwork, was taken to my hospital room, changed, had IV put in, blood tests and x-rays done, given anxiety medication, then was being wheeled back for surgery. I think the surgery time depends on when you arrive. But I know I definitely didn't wait until after 2pm.

I had to lose 5% of my heaviest weight, which was 298 lbs. So I had to lose basically 14 lbs in six months. It took me all six months to lose that 14 lbs, due to having PCOS. I couldn't exercise so it was all diet. It was the toughest six months of my life. But it also helped me to learn how to persevere and get it done. That experience has helped me with my eating lifestyle now.

My reply... "Thanks girl!" [emoji16]

I'm really not sure where you are getting your information from concerning Mexico. Their standards are at least as high if not higher than in the US or Canada. I had my bariatric surgery in Mexico and had one of the best bariatric surgeons in Mexico, who is now an International Member of ASMBS (American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery). Also, the hospital (Oasis of Hope-a full service hospital, not a clinic) where I had my surgery had very skilled and educated surgical staff, doctors, and nurses, who were more attentive than in the US. They came to the room when I hit the nurse button. They didn't ask me what was wrong on the speaker; they came to my room. The company I went through also had valets that checked on me and my companion to make sure we were doing fine. I stayed in the hospital for three days, then went to the hotel, where I was visited both days by a doctor to make sure I was progressing well. That kind of care doesn't exist in the US. It was the best hospital and subsequent care I have ever received, bar none. Not to mention the fact that whenever I have questions, for the rest of my life, I can get in touch with my surgeon and nutritionist, via email or Skype, and get my questions answered within 24 hours. More than likely, I will go to Mexico, through the same company to get my plastic surgery as well, because I know I will be well taken care of. My bariatric surgeon is Dr. Selim Illan, and the company I went through is Bariatricpal Team Mx.

If I remember correctly, it took my drain incision a few weeks to fully heal. It had a scab over it. I kept a bandaid over it until it fully healed, mainly to keep myself from scratching the scab off (incisions were sometimes itchy). If it's not red, inflamed, and not leaking, I would say it's normal. However, you may want to ask your surgeon this just to make sure.

Congratulations!!! [emoji322]

I'm on the Depo shot. Very happy I don't have to take bc pills.

Make sure you are chewing completely and that it is liquid level before you swallow. That will help with getting food down. But as@Tarver11 has mentioned, there are important reasons why we are not supposed to drink while eating. http://blog.riversidesurgicalweightloss.com/blog/bid/324869/5-Post-Bariatric-Surgery-Diet-Rules-You-Can-t-Break http://www.laparoscopic.md/sleeve/what-digestive-changes-occur-after-gastric-sleeve-surgery

I don't eat protein bars. Too many carbs and too much sugar.

Everyone is different. After my surgery, when I was told to get acquainted with my full feeling, I just ate (or drank) very slowly, giving the liquid time to hit my stomach. After a few small spoonfuls, I felt it. It felt like my pouch was expanded to capacity, and one of my nostrils, usually my right, would start to run. And I would stop. It's still that way now, except my right nostril doesn't usually run.

The 1,000 calories is a bit much. I'm six and a half months out and I don't get 800 calories. But I do get in at least 134 oz of fluids, most of which is water, and over 100 grams of protein a day. So I'm fueling my body, which is the most important thing. The other suggestions are good, especially the more active you get.

The only thing I can suggest is that you talk to your doctor. Maybe some testing to determine what meds you actually can take should be done.

Who is your surgeon in Mexico? I ask because I had MGB surgery in Mexico and my surgeon would NEVER do a DS on someone with only 30 lbs to lose. Have you had your doctor do a EGD to see if there is a problem with the sleeve you had done before? It sounds like a nutrition issue. What are you eating? Are you getting in your protein? Your fluids? How are your eating habits? Because exercise is important, but most of your weight loss will happen because of your diet, not your exercise. So just because you weren't able to do as much exercise, unless you have health issues other than your knee (endocrine problems), there is no reason why your sleeve shouldn't be working for you. Getting a DS when you are not a good candidate for one can not only NOT work, it can be life threatening. I would NOT trust ANY surgeon who would even suggest doing a DS on you. Your husband should be worried. It is NOT a good idea.

I used to work out years ago, first with a personal trainer to show me what to do and what to work on. He put me through a machine weight cycle, and I learned the basics. Years later, and post op, when I get my energy back and was cleared by my nutritionist to start weight training (at six weeks), I started doing the things I did years ago. Most exercises I do 3 sets of 10, upper and lower body, and I weight train twice a week. There are a few exercises where I do 4 or more sets, usually my lower body, because my legs take need more and they respond a lot faster than my upper. But I do more upper body exercises than lower, since I have severe knee issues and can't do very many lower body exercises that I used to do (leg curls, leg extensions, squats) Those exercises can be counterproductive for certain knee issues, especially severe issues. I also do cardio 5 days a week. When I started weight training again, I kept the weights at the same for a few weeks, to reintroduce my body to weight training again. One rule I have learned as far as increasing weight is, if I can do all of my sets with no struggle, it's time to increase. It also depends on what the increase is. If it's 5 lbs, I will increase it as soon as I'm no longer struggling with the number of sets I do. If it's 10 lbs, I may wait one week, then try all of my sets at the next weight level. The leg press exercise I do increases 20 lbs at a time. So, especially with my knee issues, I will wait for at least 2 weeks before I increase the weight. It's a balance of strengthening the muscles around my knees without causing more issues. I just wanted to give you different ideas about weight training, so you don't feel like you have to do 4 sets of every exercise. You can start off with 2 sets of 8 or 3 sets of 12. It's really up to you. I also am using machines as opposed to free weights. So know you can do that also. And one of my treats after every work out is to go into the dry sauna and stretch and loosen those muscles up before I leave. That's my reward for getting out of the house and working out. I love to work out. [emoji2][emoji41][emoji854][emoji4]

MyFitnessPal has a nutritional chart and it is free. I use it everyday to make sure my macros are fine.

I'm in the process of getting it back. I really didn't lose any hair. Just a little thinning in one area.