Airstream88

You won't start really feeling the restriction until you start eating solid foods. This is why you need to measure out your portions. Make sure you are getting in your fluids as well. I stayed home from work for 5 weeks and was still exhausted when I got home every day. Even though the incisions are healed on the outside, your insides are still healing up and your body is having to survive on 1/4th of the calories you probably ate pre-op.

Are you pre-op or post-op? If post-op, how many weeks since surgery. You need to give us more information!

If you are having Gastric Bypass, you will probably need additional Iron. I get 18mg Iron from my Multi-Vitamin and take an additional 60 mg every other day. I also take an additional 1000 U of Vitamin D.

I didn't make many recipes until I was cleared for regular food. For the soft stage I think I started eating yogurt with small bits of fruit, soft scrambled eggs, chili, meatballs with Low Sugar sauce, string cheese, and turkey lunch meat. i ate no veggies because there wasn't any room once I ate the protein.

You need to make your protein and water goals. 32 oz of water is not nearly enough. Water is very important to weight loss. Your body needs it to process the protein. Sip, sip, sip every chance you get. Try to get at least 48oz and up to the 64 oz when you start exercising.

I'm pretty sure there is a 15 - 20 pounds weight limitation for about 4 - 6 weeks.

I disclosed I was having Bariatric Surgery to the Short Term Disability representative and there were no issues. I probably applied about a month in advance. They took my information and then confirmed the details with the surgeon. I was off for 5 weeks. I told my boss 8 months in advance - once I started the process because I had to take off for all the various pre-op weight in appointments and tests.

Having Gastric Bypass surgery last October was the best thing I have ever done for myself. For years I swore I would never have WLS. But High Blood Pressure, borderline Type II diabetes, and bad knees to the point where I couldn't stand for more than 10 minutes, etc finally pushed me over the edge. I was looking at having to have 2 knee replacements and I figured 1 operation was better than two and if I still need the knee replacements at least the recovery would be 100% easier if I weighed less. I never felt full prior to surgery, now as long as I eat my protein first, I have that full feeling that keeps me from eating too much. At this point I can eat pretty much anything - even salad but I do avoid sugary desserts and fried foods so I don't have any dumping episodes. I can tell you that the fact I can walk 45 minutes without having to sit down and be in pain far outweighs the sadness I may feel occasionally about not being able to eat that chocolate mousse or fried chicken wing. I have so much more energy and my blood pressure medicine has been cut in half and no more borderline diabetes. I only wish I had done it years ago before the arthritis took hold in my knees, back and neck.

I think he is scared that something may happen to you based on how you said he picked the surgeon's brain about the risks and complications. Men don't like to show their feelings of fear, dependence and uncertainty so they come out in other, non-desirable, ways. Try to accept that he has ambivalent feelings concerning your surgery and find support elsewhere. I'm pretty sure he will come around after its done and he sees that you are alright. I think you are doing the right thing having it done now. I waited until I was 54 - after my knees were shot and arthritis had creeped into all my joints. I also had high blood pressure and was borderline Type 2 diabetic. Losing 114 pounds thus far has really helped with everything but my knees will be the same as before I gained all the weight.

You really need to consult with your nutritionist about the right protein levels for you. At 6 months out from bypass I eat around 1200 calories a day and my protein intake is 75 - 90g per day (85 - 90 on workout days). I generally don't count calories, just protein grams and fluid.

Thanks for sharing! You look great!

I only track protein grams and fluids. As long as I follow my NUT recommendations the carbs take care of themselves. I just can't get into micro-managing my food intake. There is more to life than worrying about every little bite going into my mouth.

Depends on what it is. I tend to measure things like cereal and milk until I can judge how much is a serving (3/4 cup, 1/2 cup, etc). I rarely measure meat as I pretty much can only eat 3 - 4 oz tops before I get full. I think it's good to measure once in a while to make sure you are staying within your Nutritionist's guidelines because I can definitely eat way more at 6 months than I could at 3 months. Don't want to stray too far off the norm.

So far so good with my husband. He is loving the new me - likes that he can get his arms around me and that we can fit together in one of the twin beds in our Airstream travel trailer! But mostly he is happy that I am healthier and can move around much better and that I have more energy.

I'm 6 months out and I have way more energy than I did prior to surgery. Before surgery I would plop down in the recliner after eating dinner. Post surgery I'm cleaning up, working on craft and household projects. Are you eating enough? Getting in all your protein? At 6 months I'm eating 1000 - 1200 calories, but was around 800-1000 at 4-5 months.

When did you have surgery? 400-500 calories doesn't sound like enough, especially if you are exercising. Are you making your protein and fluid goals? At 8 -10 weeks I was eating 600-800 calories and now at 6 months I'm eating between 1000 - 1200 per my surgeon's and NUTs recommendations

No

Totally agree about protein bars and protein shakes. Was so happy when I could eat real food. I can make my protein goal by eating 3 oz of protein at 4 of my 5 mini meals. I eat the Sargento Balanced Breaks and cheese slices when on the go.

You paid out of pocket for this surgery. Why? Did you have health issues? If so, when you want to eat those foods ask yourself this: Is this food worth dying for? If you knew that piece of pizza would kill you the next day, would you still eat it? I was basically a carb eater pre-op as well. WLS does not prevent you from putting the bad foods in your mouth though it should limit the amount (but it doesn't for slider foods like crackers, chips, etc) That's why you MUST eat your PROTEIN first so your new stomach will feel full. You should not put a carb in your mouth until you have eaten your protein because if you don't you will not be getting the nutrition you need and your body will take it from your muscles.

Yes I started to feel hunger after the first month - but only after about 3 hours. Any hunger during that 3 hours is usually because I need to drink more fluid or I didn't eat enough dense protein or I'm bored. My NUT has her patients eating 5 mini-meals a day - that really helps with not getting that starving hunger feeling.

My cholesterol was under 200 to begin with, but my old/new stats are as follows: Total - 177 - 109 LDL - 109 - 49 My HDL didn't change. My blood sugar has dropped below 100, out of the pre-diabetic range.

I am almost at 6 months. I eat out a lot. I don't tolerate protein shakes or bars so I had to learn to eat real food. So I just order entrees with eggs, grilled chicken, grilled or steamed shrimp, filet mignon, pulled chicken (no BBQ sauce), fish, burger wrapped in lettuce (or without the roll), meatballs, hummus and veggies, etc. I try to choose sides that I can eat - like sauteed zucchini, tomatoes, green beans, Caeser or greek salad (no dressing), etc. I am able to eat about 3 - 4 oz of protein and a few bites of veggies. Sometimes hubby and I share a meal. For lunch you could have a turkey or roast beef sandwich without the bread.

I was in the same situation. My surgeon removed my gallbladder during my Gastric Bypass. I didn't have any additional issues post-op except for a change in stool color which I believe is a result of having no gallbladder.

Because studies have proven that our bodies fight us tooth and nail to put the weight back on. I can tell you that this small tummy I now have gives me the full feeling I never experienced prior to surgery. It keeps me from overeating if I follow plan and eat the protein first. I will never again be able to eat a whole plate of food from Outback along with 1/2 a blooming onion - just not possible and I am so grateful for that.

I have a card I bought years ago that says: 'the great thing is, Once we let go of being everything, we have the opportunity to be gloriously ourselves" "The real secret to the fabulous life is to Live imperfectly with great delight" I already have the melting thighs, droopy boobs, batwings, and wrinkly neck . BUT, what I want more than anything is to retire and travel the country in our Airstream Travel Trailer with my husband. So I've chosen to let go of plastic surgery because it's more important for me to save that money for these travels with my husband (who is 15 years older than I am) then to look good in a bathing suit or shorts.