TipTop in TX

That is a good tip. The eating late has really done a job on me and contributed to my weight gain. Thanks for the reminder.

I have not gone through this but if this has been going on since 2017, I would definitely suggest seeing a Hematologist or a really good Internal Medicine doctor. Have they tested your water? Do you have copper pipes or brass faucets that might be corroded? Usually both those conditions are due to excess supplements. Do you work on a farm or industrial area which might have contaminated waste or products that may have contaminated your water or food? Have they checked for thyroid problems, genetics, or Wilson's disease? I'm sure your nutritionist has gone over the food that you eat. Recommended amount of copper in diet for nonpregnant adults is ~900 mcg to 1mg. Some copper-rich foods: Organ meats, shellfish, tofu, mushrooms, avocado, dark chocolate, some vegetables. Online I found that liver (1 slice = 67 grams) is VERY HIGH in copper and Vitamin A. Liver has 10.3 mg of copper and 6582 mcg of Vitamin A! 8 Foods That Are High in Copper (healthline.com) Foods high in vitamin A: 14 best sources and nutritional content (medicalnewstoday.com) I hope this helps and please let us know how it goes and how you are doing.

My VSG doctor required a therapist appointment prior to surgery. The main thing I remember her saying was the hard part starts at 18 months to 2 years post op. I remember thinking that after that amount of time, it should be routine and a habit, but she was right. My weight gain started about 2 1/2 years post op and got worse in 2020. Now I am also working on losing what I've gained using the 10-day pouch reset diet. I had been of BP for a couple of years, but got back on for the tips and support of the forum.

Hi soniadelbosque. Different doctors have different diet plans. Which surgery did you have? Most doctors will email you their plan if you have misplaced yours. I had VSG and I went online to look at the 5-day pouch reset and the 10-day pouch reset. I decided to do the 10-day reset because I felt the 10-days would get me under better control. I am 4 days in and have lost 4 lbs. I'm sure it's because it is mainly liquids for the first 3 days. The one I am doing does throw in a vegetable soup on the 2nd day that helps with the hunger. It really hasn't been bad though.

Hey SideEye. I want to chime in here. My VSG doctor also said I would have to take vitamins the rest of my life. After about 3 years I stopped them except for my Vitamin D because all my labs were fine. I get regular physicals and I am on top of that. I just had a bone density test last year and my primary doctor said I have osteoporosis, not osteopenia, OSTEOPOROSIS! He thinks that my stopping my Calcium and other vitamins contributed to this condition. I am now on medication for this because osteoporosis increases the risk of fractures, not just if you fall down. You've probably heard about people that sneeze and fracture a rib, probably osteoporosis! I am 5 years post VSG. I never got down to my goal weight, but the lowest I did get down to (148 lbs) was too low for me. I have gained about 23 lbs in the past year. This Monday I started the 10 day pouch reset diet. I have lost 4 lbs so far. YEAH! I have not felt motivated or felt as if I had the will power to do what I needed to do until this past Sunday. I was reading a book for book club (nothing to do with diet or exercise), but there was a passage that just hit me. I felt like dang, this girl had so gone through so much and had so many strikes against her and she could turn her life around, I can do it too! O.P. We know what we need to do. We've done it before. We just have to be focused, patient, and persistent. My realistic goal for myself is 1/2 to 1 lb/week and to increase my physical activity. I know with the support and encouragement of people on this forum and your desire to do better, you WILL succeed.

Foxbins, Thank you for sharing your journey. It has been so helpful.

@@DRKExpressions or anyone else, what is the brand of the protein water you posted? I could not make out the name. This may be just what I need. Thanks.

Ditto what Clementine Sky said, I wanted slower weight loss so my skin wouldn't get too saggy and maybe pop back better. I also have not lost hair yet (knock on wood). I am probably a slower loser because I did not ramp up my exercise routine. I was in school....that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. Anyway, I am 6 months post sleeve this week and I am just going to start doing more to tone up. I didn't want to do extreme exercise workouts and not be able or want to keep it up. I didn't want my body to think I had to do all that to lose or maintain. I do take all my Vitamins, but it took me 2-3 months to get in my Protein and Water. This has worked for me, but might be different for others.

Quest chocolate chip cookie dough, cookies and cream, chocolate brownie, peanut butter flavors, vanilla almond crunch are my favorites. You can get them at GNC or Amazon. They are pricier than most. Oh, almost forgot, Costco has their own brand - Kirkland and it has two flavors in the pack, chocolate chip cookie dough and chocolate brownie. They are cheaper, taste okay, but not as dense or filling or as good-tasting as the quest bars.

Here is another thread about this http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/374106-app-for-tracking-post-op-water-protein-food-exercise/?hl=%2Bfood+%2Btracker#entry4230549

I'd find out if your doctor has a vested interest in the lab, product , company or research being done. They are supposed to disclose that, but sometimes they don't. Ask for research regarding the claims and check reputable source sources for your research.

I am almost 6 mths out and I had a mini corn on the cob after eating my protein. I could on eat about 1/2 of the mini, but did not have a bad reaction. I was on vacation and don't keep it in the house. I love corn, but don't plan on including it in my regular meals.

I am a book-reading fanatic. Before I went back to school to change careers, I read about 3 books/week, usually at the same time but different genres. I read all kinds of books, including westerns, biographies, SF, fantasy, historical romance, adventure, true crime, young adult (YA), horror, etc. Lately, I have been into a dystopian, apocalyptic, paranormal, zombie phase. It must be too much of Fear The Walking Dead, Mr. Robot and other like shows. Anyway, here are some of my favorite books and others I would recommend: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See - This backdrop of this book is Chinese culture during the time of foot binding. This is an excellent book I recommend to everybody! Cinder by Marissa Meyer is a good recommendation for @innersurfergirl. This is an alternative take on the Cinderella story. Quite interesting and is part of a series. I believe you can read the first five chapters for free as an e-book on Amazon. Old Man's War by John Scalzi. My hubbie recommended this to me several years ago, but I just avoided it. When I finally picked it up, I could not put it down. This is a great book. Ill Wind by Rachel Caine. This is the first book of a series. Premise - what if some people had power over the elements (fire, wind, earth, etc.) and were tasked with protecting the human race. This book also have jinn (genies). I recommend this series for those who may have never tried any science fiction. It's a nice way to ease into the genre. I selected it for one of my book clubs. Killing Floor by Lee Child is the first book in the Jack Reacher series. This is a kick butt male action/adventure series that is awesome. Great action. I've read the first 10 books in the series and they are well written. Jet by Russell Blake – Kindle version of book is FREE. Twenty-eight-year-old Jet was once a lethal operative before faking her own death and burying that identity forever. Somebody has found her though. Slow Burn – Zero Day by Bobby Adair. This is a zombie apocalypse book and is part of a series. You get to know the characters and there is some humor and weirdness in the book. I enjoyed them. They are generally $2.99 per book because they are independent writers on Amazon. Destiny (Rogue Angel series) by Alex Archer. I recommend the first 5-6 books in the series. It features a smart, kick-ass female. I believe subsequent books were written by other authors, even though the author name stayed the same. The quality of the writing for subsequent books was inconsistent. The Dragons of Autumn Wind by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman. This is pure fantasy - dragons, elves, mages, dwarfs, knights and more. It is part of the Dragonlance Chronicles series and were my first introduction into SF fantasy books and I still read them. Other authors I like in this genre are Salvatore My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. Also one of my favorites. Jodi writes stories that have integrate timely issues found in today's society and a way that keeps you reading. This is my favorite book so far by this author...AND it's not a series! The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. I actually did this one by audiobook while driving to work. It is about a boy with Asperger syndrome who is tangled up in an investigation of a neighbor's dog murder. Fascinating and the audiobook really made it come to life. The Stand by Stephen King. What woudl happen if a pandemic wiped out 98% of the world's population. Stephen King has written a classic. Don't let the thickness of the book scare you. You will find it hard to put down once you start reading it. The Gunslinger (Dark Tower I) by Stephen King. I think there is an updated version, but I like the original old version. It is an easier read. Enjoyed the book and there is supposed to be a movie or series coming out about it soon. Other Options · Poison Study by Maria Snyder · The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. Ditto this previous recommendation. The foreign language version of the movie is phenomenal · The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. Also recommend this previous recommendation by others You all have given me so many books to add to my collections to read. Hope something here peaks your interest.

My BMI was 39 and I had 2 co-morbidities so insurance paid for mine. My recovery was quick and mainly uneventful. The only complaint I had was difficulty drinking after my leak test post-op while I was in the hospital. I felt pain when I swallowed. Finally figured out that warm fluids worked better for me and I definitely had to sip. I could not drink anything and it took most of the night to get the right combination of pain med and nausea med to work for me. I stayed an extra day in the hospital because I did not want to go home until I could consistently sip. I did not want to come back for dehydration. I did not have to take any pain meds after the second day. I felt so good once I got home that I bent over to get a basket of clothes and had a muscle pull. That stopped me from overdoing it. LOL I was back at work/school in 4 days and felt fine. I was a little tired beause my calorie intake was different, but it wasn't too bad since I had to be on liquids for a week before I had surgery. The difference was before surgery I could drink as much as I wanted, but after surgery just sips. It took a couple of weeks for me to get in my Protein. I still have trouble getting in 64 oz of Fluid a day, but I can drink liquids now. I still can't and probably never will be able to chug a half bottle of Water, but it I can drink enough to quench my thirst. My surgery was in March and I am almost 5 months post op. I have lost 55 pounds. Hope this helps.

Fantastic and congratulations! Keep up the good work.

It's summer and I love fresh fruit. I had my VSG on 3-16-16. I have been following my plan and am still losing weight, just a little bit slower. I attribute that mainly to not doing much exercise. I walk about 4 times per week about 1 to 1-1/2 miles. I eat about 70-90 grams of Protein and my calorie intake is about 800-900 per day. Because of the fruit I have been eating, my carb intake is around 60-75 grams. When I don't eat fruit, it is about 25-35 grams. When I eat watermelon, I count it as part of my Fluid intake since it is 90% Water. I have never been able to get in 64 oz of fluid since my surgery, even with my Protein shakes. Most of the time fluid intake is about 40-50 oz per day. I have only recently, in the past month or so, been able to drink water vs. sipping it. I don't eat any refined carbs, so no bread, rice, Pasta, pastries, sugar, etc. Is eating fruit something I should be concerned about? Should I be limiting my fruit intake to stay within a certain carb gram amount at 3 1/2 months postop? The only thing I really eat that increases my carb intake is the fresh fruit and my Quest Protein Bars. Any tips or comments are appreciated. Thanks!

I had a week of clear liquids +1 protein shake a day. I never cheated. My thought was if I couldn't do this for a week, I had no business having the surgery. The first 3 days were challenging, but after that I was fine. The sugar free Popsicles saved me.

@outsideMatch Inside- thanks so much for the link to recipes. I didn't even know this was here on the site.

My NUT called me back. As long as I eat Protein first, fruit is fine. She also says at my stage, which is almost 4 months, that 75 g of carbohydrates is fine per day and my 850 calories is right on target. She said it's important that we have carbohydrates because that gives us energy we need to be able to function well. She said fruit is a better option than refined carbohydrates like bread, Pasta, etc. and she was glad I wasn't eating that. Just thought I would update my post. Thanks everybody. P.s. I asked her about the protein also, Protein shakes and Protein Bars and she was OK with that even though she preferred that I get it from food. One thing she did say was taking in too much protein daily might cause issues with kidney function so she wanted me to stay between 65 and 75g per day as a female. That was good to know.

I'm the weird one - I like the strawberry most days. Vanilla is my favorite, but the heated up chocolate is awesome when it's cold. I think I'll run to Walmart to see if they have the banana and caramel flavor so.

I am almost 4 months out and I still drink protein shakes. GNC has a 100% whey protein that is unflavored that I have used some. You might just try different ones. GNC carries other brands besides their own and some of them come in small sample packets.

I do. I use the Lose It app. It keeps me on track because without it I would forget certain foods I eat and have a difficult time keeping up with my fluid and protein intake.

Hey sgc, Yeah it's kind of sad I'm questioning eating fruit. I am not anti-carb, just some kinds of carb. I COULD just eat fruit all day in the summer - I love it so much. My main concern is that I don't want to overdo it on fruit. I mean if I could get my Protein in and just eat fruit the rest of the day - I would. I have a call into my NUT and will see what she says.

You all have been so helpful. @@Bufflehead, @daisy68 - how depressing, but you are right. I really like my Quest bars and I consider them a great way to get my Protein in while getting the closest to a cookie. They are not a slider for me and actually fill me up, like a Meal Replacement. It's hard to beat the convenience, but I will definitely cut back on them since I could easily eat one every day. @@gary5862 - I love cherries too, but am eating mostly watermelons and nectarines. Oh wait, and strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, plums, peaches... @daisy68 – I eat about 1 or 2 servings of fruit about 4 times per week. A serving being one fruit (plum, peach) or serving (cantaloupe, cherries – about ½ cup). Sometimes with watermelon I might do a cup as a serving. I generally chart it as a snack because I don’t usually eat it with my regular meal. @@ocgirl15 and @KristenLe– so you actually eat your fruit WITH your protein meal? @@daniotra – That is what my NUT initially said, I was just struggling with how many carbs the fruit was costing me. Sometimes I eat the fruit as a snack without eating any protein first. So are you suggesting always eat protein before eating any fruit? @@jess9395 – The Quest bars are very convenient when I am on the go or realize I haven’t eaten. They are not a slider for me either. I have to consider what Bufflehead was saying though because I do consider the chocolate chip cookie dough one a treat! Thank you for the specifics about each type of fruit. It took me a minute to realize what you meant by stone fruit. LOL. I don’t do net carbs. @@lessismore4me – I’ll check glycemic for the fruits I eat mostly, which is watermelon and cherries right now, but wait...also grapes, cantaloupe, honeydew. I used to eat a lot of bananas before surgery, but hardly ever eat them now. @@kmorri – I probably drink a Protein shake every day, just so I can get my protein in. I can only eat about 3 oz of food protein before I am too full. I do love fish though. I have a new bottle that keeps my Water cold for 24 hours and have definitely been drinking more water in the last few days since buying it. P.S. I just weighed myself. I lost almost 3 lbs since last week! I love fruit! SaveSave

I am keeping sweaters and cardigans that are not too big, but my pants are falling down so I am getting rid of them. Like aussiegirl81, I know frequently get cold since my sleeve.