ButterflySeoul

I had my surgery in April of this year... went to the doctor last week to find out how my new lab work came back.. last year my cholesterol was 196, this year is 169 last year my a1c was 6.5, this year is 5.6 not sure what my fasting blood sugar was last year, but this year it was 98! My fasting number was always the hardest for me to get under control...even back years ago when I was on insulin and metformin, I still could never get it in the "normal" range...so seeing that 98 was fantastic... almost as good as seeing on the lab report in black and white "the patient is no longer diabetic"! Woohoo!! That had to be the best non-scale victory for me to date! My blood pressure was 106/64. I'm off my prilosec. I've gone from size 22/24w down to 16/18w in pants, shorts and bathingsuits.. shirts I can wear just regular XL and L instead of the 1X & 2X's that I had been in. My shoes are all falling off my feet..even my flipflops are too big lol. And soon I may need to get my wedding and engagement rings resized... that's crazy.. I was in a panic before surgery trying to get them off. I hadn't been able to get them off in at least 3 years. Now they're spinning on my finger all day long. And I went from the large fitbit band to the small one!

Congrats on your surgery how are you feeling? (besides hungry? lol) I think a lot of it is probably head hunger.. but I'm sure some of it is actual hunger too.. just hang in there! When I went to full liquids, besides the Protein shakes, I was allowed to have thinned cream of wheat -which I loved!! who would think cream of wheat would seem so exciting haha! It was also really good with some chocolate Protein powder sprinkled in... they (nutritionist) suggested sprinkling protein powder into just about everything.. also sugar free apple sauce, sugar free pudding, sugar free Jello (sf jello was way too sweet to me, so I wasn't able to do that), sf or no sugar added popsicles, thinned babyfood (couldn't bring myself to do that), or thinned and blended Soups. I used the magic bullet a lot to blend up soups and thinned them with Water or skim milk. I also used no sugar added carnation instant Breakfast, because sometimes the unjury protein powder just seemed to heavy in my stomach..that got easier as time went on. When I started adding more "real" foods, one of my favorites to put in the magic bullet or food processor was cooked turkey or chicken breast, tomato sauce, and cottage cheese (it has more protein than ricotta) and some shredded cheese. I'd just blend up a small amount-- maybe 1/4-1/2 cup... and would only be able to eat 1/4 cup for quite a while anyway. It tasted so good-- like eating a Pasta dish without the pasta, or a calzone without the dough.

Could you be gulping or drinking them too fast maybe? I might call the nutritionist and see if he/she has any advice..or your bariatric team. I wish I could be of more help with this! Goodluck!

What is allowed on your plan in week 4? Week 4 was still puree for me I think.. and I didn't have any sliming until I started eating "real" food..like Dub said in his reply-- with me I've only "slimed" if it's been something that I ate too quickly or too much of.. or something that just wasn't a good choice.. like when I was out to dinner with my hubby, and thought a buttery garlic parmesan chicken wing would be fine lol. It was not fine. And I'm ok never seeing or smelling another buttery garlic parmesan chicken wing for the rest of my life!

Maybe you can partially cook the carrot sticks, just to soften them up... peppers (yick those are my kryptonite lol) are probably soft enough. I did hummus a lot (still do).. but I just have it on it's own or with some cottage cheese.. I haven't really gone back to raw veggies yet. Maybe seedless cucumbers-- now I might have to get some of those tomorrow to go with my hummus! I don't think I had fruits until 3 months out either. As far as what else to eat-- just be aware that Proteins that you easily tolerated pre-surgery might not be tolerated as easily now... so ease into anything. I had surgery in April and still have trouble with beef.. though just today at a big cookout I was able to eat a 1/2 of a hamburger patty (no bun, and I just put mustard and pickles on it).. I can handle it in chili, because I think it's a moisture issue, so all of the "sauce" makes chili easier than a burger or steak anyway. I haven't had any issues with chicken, turkey, fish or shrimp. I did have a lot of trouble with tuna for a while-- which was really bumming me out, because it's my most favorite go-to food and always has been... now I'm thinking it might be the mayo more than the tuna itself. Pork I have always had trouble processing, ever since having my gallbladder out, so I'm not even really going there yet. I just found these cheese crisp things at walmart in the produce section the other day-- I haven't tried them yet, but you would use them like you would croutons, or when you need some crispy texture.

I didn't have tooth pain, but I had horrible throat pain. A lovely night nurse called the Dr. because it was so bad, and he said I could use chloraseptic spray-- that made a huge improvement.

It's been quite a few years since I had my gall bladder surgery, but I would say that was definitely easier than the sleeve. More incisions with the sleeve, more discomfort. But it's all very individual. The worst part of the sleeve surgery for me, wasn't the incisions in the stomach or pain in the stomach, it was the nausea and the sore throat from the tubes put in the throat- so my swallow study was awful. But once that was over with, and my throat started feeling better, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I was outside for a walk the day I got home from the hospital.

Yes it sure sounds like you've answered your own questions... now to do something about it It sounds like you're in a post-surgery slump and just need to pick yourself up and get doing what you need to do, before you feel worse than just fatigue. You may want to start back from the beginning with Protein shakes and liquids just to hit that "reset" button, and to get in some optimal protein that your body really needs. Best of luck to you!

I've been so busy that I forgot to check in on Monday.. but I'm still the same weight as last time- 220.5 can't complain though- I only missed my goal by .5 so even though I'm in what I hope is just a mini-stall, I'm ok with that lol.

Two pirates meet 
in a bar. The first one has a patch over one eye, 
a hook for a hand, and a wooden peg leg. “Ye gads, matey,” says the second one. “What happened to ya?” “Me pirate ship was attacked, and a lucky shot lopped off me leg. So now I got me a wooden peg.” “And yer hand?” “When me ship sank, a shark bit me hand off. So now I got me a hook.” “OK, but what’s with the eye patch?” “I was standin’ on a dock, and the biggest seagull I ever saw poops right in me eye.” “But ya don’t go blind from no seagull poop.” “True,” he says. “But it was me first day with the hook.”

220.5

Medium!! Isn't that awesome?! Congrats! My NSV is size this week too. I finally couldn't take the bagginess anymore and took myself to get some shorts, wearing the same size 24 capris that I was wearing last summer-- but were getting ridiculously baggy. I have been losing a lot recently, so I didn't want to spend a bunch on new clothes that might not fit next month, so I went to the salvation army store and searched high and low for shorts and capris that I liked.. I could only find one pair that were size 20 but looked smaller, I got 4 size 18 and 5 in size 16 so I would have some stuff on hand. I got home and tried everything on-- the 18's were the perfect fit! And the 16's are closer to fitting than I ever thought they would be. I can see them on the horizon

For anyone who doesn't have a fitbit yet, but has wanted just a basic one as an intro-- I went to BJ's today and the flex is on sale! I bought my fitbit flex there last August-- it was $94 and came with 3 large bands and one small one (red, black, green, and small black).. the exact same one with the bonus bands is on sale for $46 or $49-- I forget which.. but wow! Great deal either way! I bought a set for my father today to give him for his birthday. Hubby is getting my flex, and I upgraded today to the Alta. I love the sleek look of it.. didn't really care about a heart rate monitor.. and I love that it just asked me if I want to go for a stroll lol.

going to be away from my scale for a few days-- so here's my weigh in early: 222.6

My favorite..I sing this song to my little guy. Rachel Platten Better Place I'll tell the world, I'll sing a song It's a better place since you came along Since you came along Your touch is sunlight through the trees Your kisses are the ocean breeze Everything's alright when you're with me And I hold my favorite thing I hold the love that you bring But it feels like I've opened my eyes again And the colors are golden and bright again There's a song in my heart, I feel like I belong It's a better place since you came along It's a better place since you came along I see the whole world in your eyes It's like I've known you all my life We just feel so right So I pour my heart into your hands It's like you really understand You love the way I am And I hold my favorite thing I hold the happiness you bring But it feels like I've opened my eyes again And the colors are golden and bright again And the sun paints the skies and the wind sings our song It's a better place since you came along It's a better place since you came along Now I'm alright Now I'm alright Everything's alright 'Cause it feels like I've opened my eyes again And the colors are golden and bright again There's a song in my heart, I feel like I belong It's a better place since you came along It's a better place since you came along

How much Protein are you getting in? Maybe try upping your protein and switch up your exercise a bit. Stalls happen..that's usually when you'll see the inches dropping.

Yes-- I got myself a fitbit flex right after my 1st appointment to start this process last August.. I love it!

Yes! I would much prefer to keep my fat feet and loose more booty, because already I have 3 pairs of expensive clogs (only shoes I wear for work and even for walking) that are now too big-- and just broke out my favorite pair of flipflops yesterday only to discover that they're way too big too! I'm so glad that this is my last week at school, so I don't have to worry too much about clogs again until September.. I don't dare go out now and get any new ones, just incase my feet keep shrinking! Maybe I should give my sneakers another chance, and see if I can walk in them pain-free like I do in my clogs. I hadn't been able to get my wedding and engagement rings off for at least the last 3 years.. finally the very night before my scope I was able to get them off, I was panicking that I wouldn't be able to, and they'd have to be cut off for surgery lol. Now they're spinning on my finger all day long. I'm going to have to get them sized soon, or just put them away for a bit, so I don't lose them, until my fingers are done shrinking as well.

225.2 this morning!

I know... that's why I said that I think the op might have a change in her thoughts about portion size once she realizes the actual portion sizes of things post-surgery.. it's one thing to read about them, and a whole different thing when you're taking a bite or two of anything and already feeling full, kwim? I obviously haven't seen her medical records or know if she has any co-morbid conditions (besides thyroid that she mentioned) but my point was that the surgery doesn't just restrict portions. The changes in the gut hormones are also a pretty major factor. That's the only part of your post that I was disagreeing with-- when you said "that's ALL surgery does". I think it does a lot more than just restrict portions for you.