MichelleInCA

I can so relate to your story! I've lost 29 lbs and just flew this weekend. Where before I could barely fasten the belt and only by pulling very hard, this time it fastened easily! And even better I felt I wasn't impinging on the person next to me like I did before. It's so very embarrassing not to 'fit' between the arm rests, so your thighs touch the next person's. I've even paid for upgrades to have bigger seats to avoid that. If you think the tray is hard to flatten in coach, try the ones in biz class that go across your lap at the height of the armrests. Yikes!! Congrats!

I think I'm finally through my stall - must have been 3 weeks long! I think changing up the exercise and plain old patience worked. I'm accepting that I won't lose as fast as lots of folks, but as long as I keep losing, I can hang in there. Over the weekend I was out of town and eating every meal out. I made very good choices compare to my past behavior! I did end up eating some sweetened yogurt when there wasn't another choice -- sure didn't feel well after, either. Other times I ate too fast and had to rush to the bathroom to get rid what I'd overeaten. But I got some good workouts in and just walked a lot more than I normally do in my daily life. And I think that's what broke the stall, yay. Fingers crossed. A few weeks after surgery I started feeling hunger and got depressed that it was coming back so soon. But now it seems to be lessened again, so I guess the point is not to assume how you feel today is how you'll feel in a week! It's great hearing how you're all doing -- please keep posting!

I think mine was about 2 weeks. I wrote my own 'cover letter' in which I addressed every item in the surgery requirements, and the doc included it. My doctor's office was just clueless and not getting to it, so that's where I lost a lot of time. The first approval was for no overnight hospital stay, but the doc's office called and straightened it out right away.

I'm finding that my stalls (I've had several and I'm only 9 weeks post-op!) are at weights that I held for a long time in the past. Eg if I was at a weight for 6-8 months in the past, that's the weight where my stall is happening on the way down. Is anyone else finding that? I think I just broke through one that went on for 3 weeks. Geez, I sure hope so!

Welcome to the thread, momof2! Good to see you here. You're dong fantastic! I'm having a slower time but still very happy I had the surgery. 27 lbs lost is far better than 5 more gained!

Today is 7 weeks for me, and I've only lost 21 lbs since surgery. You folks are amazing with your losses! I'm eating 900-1000 cals, low carb, but maybe that's too much. I have to say I do get hungry, so I'm not sure what more I can cut out. I exercise 4 days per week - I need to up it to 5 or 6, I know. Anyway it's inspiring to see how well you're all doing!

I agree, it's no one's business, and I sure didn't want that kind of scrutiny where people would be looking for weight loss or whatever. I told the boss and secretary I would be out on sick leave for a 'procedure', and that it was nothing serious, so they wouldn't worry. I told them 10 work days, but I felt well enough to go back after about 6. I just told them I was feeling up to working, and that was the end of it. I work in an environment where people know better than to ask, eg we have strong HR policies. If you work in a rumor mill, you might need to get more creative. Only a couple of friends at work know about the surgery, and I'm happy about that so far. By the time they start noticing the weight loss, they'll have forgotten I was out for a week.

If you're having depression, perhaps you needs to see a psychiatrist, to be evaluated for medication? I can say getting on the right meds can really help, by reducing those very dark periods where you feel hopeless about your present and future. When you're feeling more hopeful, it will be easier to get back on a plan. JMO.

Yeah, finding friends is not obvious, is it? I Just did it and sent a friend request to you.

I accepted your request on MFP. Hopefully you can see my diaries, let me know if not. Great to have a pal on there, it will encourage me to log every day

That's funny, when I do treadmill I have the same experience -- I'm doing 2.8 mph and breathing hard. I look down and my legs are going so slowly compared to the person next to me. Even walking makes my knees sore, so I prefer this Precor step/elliptical combo thing that feels like running on foam. It doesn't hurt and really gets my heart going. I liked my FitBit until I washed it!. It works great for counting steps on the ground or on a treadmill, and it's good at knowing if you're climbing stairs. It doesn't pick up low-impact things very well -- like elliptical. It needs a 'jolt' to sense you've taken a step. It doesn't pick up biking at all, although if you put it in your sock it will sense some steps. I wish it could sense all types of exercise. I will probably get a new one anyway. It showed me how little I sometimes walked before surgery. My MFP name is mmeshow. I don't really know how the friend thing works but feel free to add me! What's your name so I know who to look for?

I use MFP -- it's really great. I used to have it connected to my FitBit until I washed the little guy, and now it's not working right. So MFP isn't showing my exercise but the calorie/protein/carb tracking is great. I admit I don't fill it out every day though. I have a nice exercise bike but I find it doesn't get my heart rate going fast enough. The various cardio machines at the gym work far better. It's just so darn boring! Once I'm in better shape I'd like to try some classes.

kpay10 Of my 23 lbs lost, 7 were from before surgery, so I'm not much ahead of you! Also since you lost so much before surgery, maybe the 'shock' aspect has already worn off? I would say 500 cals is quite low -- I'm at 700-800, and I could eat more! Do you feel hungry, eating so little? If you're on your feet all day, I can see why you can't risk more injury! I bet Water aerobics will be great for you. I hope your doctor has some good suggestions for you!

Hey there, wow, you're doing great! I've lost 23 lbs, so it's going pretty slowly, maybe 2.5 lbs/week. Saw the doc today and she said I need to bump up the exercise, and that my age means it'll go slower than when I was 30 (long ago!). I've been getting hungry in the afternoon, so she encouraged me to eat more solid food that will stay in there longer. I have to admit I don't like exercise any more than I did before surgery! But I did restart working out with my trainer this week. He'll keep me on a good path, but yeah, it's a struggle because I'm still tired and it's just will power getting me to the gym. It'll get better as I get lighter, I know.

Slow FE is a good, small Iron pill that is time-released. I take Flintstones chewable multi-Vitamins with Iron -- they are the only ones I've found that have Iron. Then I take my B Vitamin at a different time, once per week. I take Calcium and Vitamin D at different times each day from the iron. I think you're not supposed to mix iron with calcium but really I have no idea! I've also heard Protein is very important. But then the nutritionist said they don't really know why rapid weight loss causes hair loss in some people. I don't think it's completely understood medically.

Are you taking iron, too? My doc has me on 200% recommended daily dose/day to prevent hair loss. Some (most?) multivitamins don't have iron so you may need a separate supplement.

I don't think bell peppers would count as part of a liquid diet. They want your digestive system to rest. I don't believe you'll feel well enough to go out of town only 3 days after surgery. I was still tired and in some pain then, not in the mood to go on a road trip. You'll just be figuring out how to drink the thicker liquids too, at least I was. It sounds like you're having a bit of a hard time facing the life changes that will come from this surgery. Maybe you can talk to a professional about your concerns, to make sure you're really ready?

Hi there kpay10, when you say you can't get in all your liquids and Protein, do you mean you just can't drink/eat enough? I'm finding I can eat a lot more than a tablespoon, if I eat slowly. Today for lunch I had some soft scrambled egg whites with no trouble. I'm trying some solid foods too, like a bit of chicken tonight when I was hosting a dinner party (so tired). I think I'm easily getting enough protein. Water is more of a struggle because I forget. My weight loss is still pretty slow, but every day or every other day I see a a half-pound change so I guess I need to be grateful for that. Every pound is a battle, but it all adds up! I've been out to eat a couple of times now with friends. Both times I ordered well but overate before I realized it. Not to the point of being sick, but definitely not comfortable for half an hour after. So I need to adjust my strategies for eating out, certainly. Is anyone else eating out yet?

My nutritionist said to look for shakes with more than 10g of protein, and less than 10g of carbs. Other than that they don't really care which ones. Hard part is finding one you like!

miss mojo I'm sorry you're having some regrets, and I'm sure that's temporary! One thing my surgeon suggested is to 'prime the pump' before eating by taking one bite and waiting a few minutes for the rest. It helps get your esophagus muscles moving, I guess. I haven't tried a bit of bread -- the classes said don't do it because it swells. That's the one thing I crave -- a piece of toast with butter! I did try tuna, but I put it in the food processor with a bit of lf mayo and mustard. It was quite creamy. Thanks for the recipe, kpay10, that sounds yummy! I've saved it to try. My stall finally stopped today with a 1/2 lb loss. So that's something

Hi kpay10, I guess my experience is going a bit differently! I'm finding it's not that hard to get in my Protein and Water. In fact I'm wondering if I'm overeating already, although my diary tracking says I'm around 700 cals. But I haven't lost any weight since Tuesday, so I'm sort of bummed. I know it's normal, blah blah, but when it happens it's still depressing, given I'm eating half of what I did before surgery! Today I was able to eat a cup of egg-white scrambled with no problem in about 20 mins. I feel that's too much food volume to be able to fit in there so easily. Oh well, I'm still sticking to the plan perfectly, except I had 3 prunes yesterday in an attempt to dislodge my colon's contents, haha. I had a cup of real coffee today (sorry NUT!) and that did it, yay! I'm using Bariatric Advantage chewable calcium and I like it - caramel flavored. I went back to the gym last night for the first time and did 25 mins on the elliptical, which I was pleased with for the first time doing real cardio since surgery. One thing I'm struggling with is complete lack of social life. Now that I'm bringing my lunch to work, I don't go out with my colleagues. And my close friends know I can't eat anything fun so I'm not getting invited to dinners either. Waahhh, oh well, I know it's temporary and I'll be able to join them soon for most restaurants.

Thanks kpay10, I will get some Unjury unflavored and give it a try.

Is unjury unflavored really mild? I just bought some Garden of Life Raw Protein, unflavored. Others love it but I don't like it at all. It's made from rice husks and tastes like dirt. That's the second unflavored one I've hated, after the Be Protein. I wish there were one that was truly tasteless and blended well with hot or cold.

Oh, I have to try tuna salad tonight -- did you put yours in the blender as recommended? I have constipation too. Not horrible, but not good either. Doc said try Fiber first and Miralax if that doesn't work. I got some fiber gummies, but they seem to have a small effect. If I want to go fast I can try some hummus again but that's probably not a healthy way to clear out the pipes, haha. I've only lost 8 lbs since surgery, so you're not the only slow one. I've always been a slow loser and now I'm 54, so I'm trying not to obsess either. It's hard not to weigh every day -- you want to see results from all this caloric restriction! Doc said she wants to see 3-4 lbs/week. If I'm getting 3 or below, then I need to exercise more. If only I had some energy to do some serious exercise, but I don't yet. I'm back at work since last Thursday. I like having that distraction, or I think about food constantly. I can't say my brain is working that well, though. Good enough I guess

How's everyone? I saw my surgeon today, and she gave me permission to start with the pureed stage. I came right home and mixed refried Beans with broth and a bit of lf cheese. It was so yummy! She wants me to stay with Protein shakes every morning but I'm going to try some soft egg whites, because I'm beyond tired of the protein shakes! How is everyone doing?