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I had some similar issues to what you are describing. I'm no doctor, but it almost seems like it's possibly lactose intolerance combined with a bit of a stricture. I do not have any lactose intolerance issues, but I have been struggling with a stricture. I would vomit for weeks if I ate any chicken, fish, pork, etc. I was able to eat shrimp and scallops, but that was about it for "meat". I pretty much lived on cottage cheese and string cheese for months. At probably about 3.5 months it just got better - much, much better. I am almost 4.5 months out and I can now eat up to about 2 oz of chicken or port. It needs to be moist and I need to chew it like crazy, but it goes down pretty well. As always, I'd talk to your surgeon. Mine told me he thought my best course of action was just to ride the stricture out and see if it would resolve on its own (it did). He said if it got worse, or didn't go away, he would do a balloon dilation and fix it. He was also completely unconcerned that I was only getting about 300-350 calories a day. I was able to get in all my fluids and Protein (primarily through protein drinks).

@@JamieLogical Thanks for sharing Jamie. I also just completed Week 5, Day 1 (after a 2 week break due to some non-running related foot issue - didn't want to exacerbate it). Aside from my heart rate getting a little higher than usual, the 2 week break didn't seem to hurt me too badly. Anyway, it is getting very intimidating. I am trying to trust in the program, because honestly, I find these 5 minute runs easier than the 90 second runs at the beginning, so I'm obviously progressing. But the next run in 8 minutes, ok I think I can do that, but a 20 minute run??? I just don't know. Scary. What is really weird to me in W6D1 is only 5 minute runs with 3 minute walks. There must be a reason, it just escapes me. It's getting real now.

Made it!!! 198.9 this morning. It's surreal to see that '1' after so long. And it sure beats the hell out of seeing a '3' for so many years. I'm less than 3lbs from no longer being obese per BMI.

You might very well have a stricture, definitely talk to your doc about it. You are at right about the time a stricture could appear. And as James said, focus on you Protein and fluids. Drink your protein. If you have hard times keeping down fluids as well as food get to the doctor immediately. Again, to echo James, food is secondary, don't stress about it. I've been dealing with a stricture for about the last 3 months (mine came on about 4-5 weeks). I ate a lot of cottage cheese and cheese sticks. And drank a lot of protein. You can always have a stricture dilated if you have one. I chose to ride it out. I am now a little over 4 months out and it has just been starting to get better.

Yeah, most of the meat I've tried over the months has been in soups, but I still could keep no meat down until recently.

I am 4 months post-RNY and while things have gone extremely well for me (83lbs down since surgery, 130 lbs down overall) I have been struggling with a slight stricture. It hasn't been the end of the world. I can drink fluids fine and eat soft foods like cottage cheese, string cheese, etc. the only animal Protein I have been able to tolerate is shrimp and scallops. I can handle Beans and peas in Soups. Any other meat I've tried (chicken, fish, pork) has come right back up. It has been more of a mental thing than anything else. I am fine physically, but my choices are so limited, and if I'm in a situation where I must eat out, I have very, very few choices (if any). Anyway, I have been feeling "better" when I eat lately (had to describe) so I decided to grill up some chicken last night and give it a shot. I was able to eat 2.5 ounces of chicken. No issues! It felt great (and tasted delicious). Hard to describe how happy this makes me. I am super happy with the surgery, but am anxious to get back to a new "normal" state. One where I am not the freak who can't eat anything. I'll be happy to just be the guy that makes healthy choices and eats small portions!!

I had RNY 4 months ago. I was cleared for all exercise one month post op. So, I would say, how much muscle you lose is up to you. Follow your program, get your Protein in, hit the weights as soon as you are cleared by your doc and there should be no issues with muscle loss. Given I did not workout prior to surgery, I would say I most likely have muscle gain.

Getting closer. After being stuck around 208 for a couple of weeks I am 203.1 as of this morning.

That's the cheap part! Then you have to purchase the media.

This. Exactly this. You see people on this board struggling everyday with stalls. How many of those people would make it through without their band/sleeve/RNY? Almost none of us. I never would have. Looking back, that is always when I would quit. Quitting is no longer an option, so losing becomes so much simpler. Now maintenance, that's a different story. I'm not there yet, but I worry.

I use powdered Peanut Butter, but not PB2. I use a brand called Santa Cruz Organic Peanut Butter Powder which is available at Whole Foods. The only ingredient is crushed organic peanuts - no other additives. I use it in my morning Protein drink: 1/2 banana 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk 1/4 Cup PB Powder Cinnamon This Breakfast has 176 calories and 10.4g of protein. And this drink is absolutely delicious! This recipe is on the bag, although they call for a full banana, I only use a half.

It does seem as I approach 200 things have really been slow. I hit 208 back on July 9th, and I seem to be just holding there. I haven't weighed myself in a few days as I've been out of town, so I am hopeful when I return I will have started moving again. As always though, while I sit at the same weight, my body fat % goes down and my clothes start getting too loose. Like clockwork.

Funny timing. I was offered birthday cake 3 separate times today (3 different people stopped by). One of the times they actually brought a slice into my office and set it on my desk. It's all done with the best of intentions though. It's not their fault I was morbidly obese and am going through all this.

I agree with what has been posted. Both of my stalls have resulted in my clothes fitting better and my scale also registers a couple of % point drop in body fat during stalls.

I noticed post surgery that norcos had much less effect than prior. Interestingly, the liquid version seemed much stronger at the same dosage. I can't explain the biology/pharmacology, but that was definitely my anecdotal experience.

My instructions said no alcohol for 3 months. At about 3.5 months I had about 3 ounces of Bourbon over a couple hour period. It ended badly. Safe to say I won't be doing that again for another few months or more. Not that I'm a huge drinker and had plans to start drinking regularly, but it was a major deterrent.

Your post was awesome. I loved it. I actually thought to myself: man, there has been a lot of fighting and negativity around here lately. And lots of people talking about making this site better, more supportive, more positive, but this woman is just making it happen. Keep it up. We need you.

Edit: Sorry, the whole thread didn't load. I see this was posted many times!!

I was also told by my doctor that shrimp can be difficult (he said it was fine, just a warning). Ironically, at 3.5 months out I can't tolerate much at all, but shrimp and scallops go down great. Other than that I eat mainly cottage cheese and cheese sticks. Finally able to get some non-meat Soups down as well. Meat is pretty much a no go for me. But the moral of the story is to tell you that even someone who has a very hard time with a lot of foods can handle shrimp and scallops, which are your fave!! Oh yeah, and I told my doc about the shrimp, he just shrugged and said this is why food guidelines are so difficult for the doctor and the patient. Because everyone varies so much!

I started at 333, but figure that's close enough to 350 to chime in here. I have never gotten more than about 600 calories in a day. I have a slight stricture and really, really struggle with solid foods. I get my 60g or Protein and 64oz, just like you. My average calorie intake is about 300-500. I have had no issue dropping weight. I had the 3 week stall at the beginning, but have had no further stalls so far. I'm just over 3 months out now. I've been losing about 20lbs a months (including this month). I'm down a total of 118lbs. 46 lost in the 6 weeks pre-surgery, 72 lbs lost in the 3 months post-surgery.

Isopure is $5.50 a bottle at my local GNCs but they are always buy 3, get one free. I have found lucky Vitamin.com to be the cheapest place to buy them. If you buy 2 cases it's enough to qualify for free shipping and the price is around $3 a bottle or so. I personally prefer the Orange and the Grape. Don't get me wrong, they are not delicious, but I like them better than the alternatives.

I will chime in on going to Salvation Army and Goodwill in nice areas. I have found myself shopping there a ton post-surgery. Granted, I'm male, so your mileage may vary. I have plenty of Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Talbots, etc shirts, all in great shape, all less than $15. Sure, you can get shirts for $15 new at retail, but you won't get these brands for anywhere near it. I also have multiple pairs of Lucky jeans and Gardeur Jeans, also for under $15. These suckers retail for $100-$200 a pair. I never shopped at either of these stores in my life, but am hooked now. I probably have the cheapest, yet most expensive wardrobe I've ever owned right now. Oh yeah, I actually had an emergency need for some nicer clothes, so I was able to pick up a Jos A Banks sport coat and a Brooks Brothers shirt for about $25.

Yeah, I'll second this one. Awesome song. Great lyrics.

Well, I ain't always right but I've never been wrong Seldom turns out the way it does in a song Once in a while you get shown the light In the strangest of places if you look at it right Grateful Dead Scarlet Begonias

Thanks for your thoughtful feedback @@Djmohr . Can I just say OH MY GOD YES to my body continuing to lose weight from my forearms and legs, which are starting to look like chicken arms/legs, but stubbornly refuses to take weight off my gut where I now carry the vast majority of my excess fat! I know the stricture will get resolved one way or another, I'm just impatient about it. The doctor said he would be willing to dilate it if gets worse or is bothering me too much. He also said I will look back in a year and wish I had it back There is probably some truth to that! That's why I'm trying to just stick it out for awhile. It sucks and causes me pain/vomiting, but man is it an extremely effective weight loss tool. Right now, I rarely ever get over 600 calories a day. I probably average 400-550. I know that freaks a lot of people out, but my doctor is totally fine with it as long as I meet my Protein and Fluid goals. Even getting that many calories is a lot of work, and some days I admit to throwing in the towel, drinking my protein, and only getting maybe 300 calories in a day. But I fight the good fight most days. People also seem to marvel at how you have energy at that caloric intake, but I have more energy now than I have had maybe ever. Especially these last few weeks. I feel almost stir crazy when sitting around in the evening, like my body is telling me to MOVE. Even after I've worked out in the AM and taken the dog for a walk in the PM, my body still wants to MOVE. So it's getting energy from somewhere - stored fat I guess. At my goal of 185 I'm still "overweight" per BMI, but I don't think I'm "normal" weight until like 164 lbs. It is just so hard to believe I would look good at 164, but who knows. I'm already getting a lot of "are you sure you want to lose more weight", which is ridiculous given I am still considered obese for another 20+ lbs. Thanks for sharing about maintenance, can't say it really eases my fears any, but I appreciate the insight! Maybe by the time I get to maintenance you'll have it down pat, and can dispense some learnin' on me.