Diana_in_Philly

Try different temperatures for the water. I found that sometimes cold didn't hurt. Sometimes room temp, sometimes warm. Also, small sips. If I sipped to big, it hurt. Also, I found that adding flavor helped. Adding Crystal Light or Mio made a difference for me. I sleep on back, stomach and side. It wasn't really an issue. But, sip slowly. Don't try to guzzle water. Use a shot glass and sip a shot at a time.

My food scale. Small plates/bowls (kiddie size - cheap ones from Ikea). My Ninja blender. Oikos Triple Zero Yogurt (15 g protein in a serving) Fairlife Skim Milk (13 g protein in 8 ounces) Premier protein pre-mixed shakes (I liked their taste best) I still use all of these today, 15 months post op. Best of luck

Then, walk as best you can. Assuming your procedure was laparoscopic, it takes a good week to get rid of the gas and walking makes a difference. Getting in your water or whatever other liquids you are allowed is important, too. I'm sorry I had an easy recovery. I'm sorry you are having a rough time. It does get better. Do what you can, as you can. I didn't have a choice about getting better - I had to go back to work the Monday after surgery because if I don't work, I don't get paid. I don't get sick time, disability time or vacation time.

What the poster above said about walking -- move, move, move - at least once an hour get up and walk around the house. Much of the pain is the gas from the air they pump in so getting it out is key. I found that sitting in a chair with my feet up on an ottoman (I don't have a recliner) was helpful. Also, stay ahead of the pain and alternate her pain killer with Tylenol if her surgical team says that's ok. (Mine did, but I didn't use any pain meds after leaving the hospital - I have a very high pain threshold.) That first week sucks. It gets better. Hang in there.

I'm not sure of what you mean by non-protein diet. I was on full liquids with my proteins coming from shakes or Oikos Triple Zero yogurt in the first two weeks after surgery. My surgery was on a Tuesday. I came home Wednesday. By Saturday, I was at the gym riding a recumbent bike for an hour (slowly, but riding). I walked extensively and after my first post-op appointment - a week after surgery - I was cleared to do what I wanted in the gym so long as it didn't hurt - but not lifting more than 15 pounds in the first four weeks. I was doing cardio in the gym 2-3 times a week - walking on the treadmill, riding a recumbent bike. Are you getting enough water in? Dehydration can make you tired.

I was allowed Greek yogurt right after surgery, along with sugar free jello, pudding or popsicles/fudgesicles. I had those on hand along with chicken broth (I don't like beef), Vitamin Water Zero, some Crystal Light to flavor water and my protein shakes.

FWIW, I've had 2 kids by C-Section. This was a piece of cake. Surgery was Tuesday. Came home Wednesday by 2 pm. Worked from home Friday. Went to the gym to ride recumbent bike on Saturday (was OK'd by my team for gentle cardio) and was in the office on Monday. I had a bit of nausea on the way home in the car, but none after that. I really didn't have any pain - didn't take anything except tylenol once I got home. I was a little sore if I slept on my stomach. I was not allowed to lift more than 10 pounds until my post op visit 2 weeks after surgery. At that point, I was cleared to do whatever I wanted. Every time staff came in at the hospital to check vitals, etc., I walked at least three laps of the hospital floor. I think that helped. Best of luck.

Here's my alternative view. I told my husband, my two teen daughters who live with me and my best friend. That's it. Work just knew I was having a surgical procedure (it was all they were entitled to know) as well as how long I thought I'd be out. When people ask, I tell them I eat a very high protein, low carb, low sugar diet; I work out 10-15 hours a week and log everything in My Fitness Pal. Every last bit of that is true. I wouldn't tell people at work or elsewhere any of my other health issues/stories/resolutions, so I'm not sharing this one. My mother and sister don't know. I'm fine with that, but I'm very private about my health. Everyone is different.

My team was fine with black coffee with stevia within days of surgery, but we discussed it. I drink tons of coffee and knew not having it for weeks would kill me. So, ask your team. One of my favorite breakfasts is still 8 ounces of cold coffee, a scoop of caramel protein powder, a couple of squirts of sugar free chocolate syrup and ice. Into the blender and ta-da - caramel frappucino protein shake.

Start by flipping over your ID card and calling the number on the back or going to the website and signing in if you have on-line access to your insurance. Each plan varies. Good Luck.

I've met with my plastic surgeon and I'm thinking about it - When I have my clothes on, I look fine, except for my arms. The batwings are beyond amazing. And I have another 15 I'd like to lose. I exercise 5-7 hours a week, including competitive fencing so I need to schedule things so as not to screw up my competitive season. My surgeon says that he would do tummy tuck and panni at the same time (which he could get covered by my insurance) and the arms would be another 2 or 4K. Then, he suggested having the girls reduced and hitched up. (At my heaviest, I was a 42J - that J like John). I'm at 36DDD right now - he think's I'd be better off as a C and look more in proportion. Right now, I'm an 8 pants, but after surgery, even if I didn't lose another pound, I'd probably be a 6. I'm working with a personal trainer to reduce my body fat from about 34% down to about 26% - then I'll really make my decision. The survey needed a "not sure" category in answers.

Ok, so you had a bad day. Or few days. Look at why and go back to basics. Log everything you eat, eat protein first and drink 64 ounces of non-caloric liquid a day. Start with that. And then ask what caused me to get off track. Because surgery isn't a magic bullet. It is a tool for you to you. We are going to fall off the wagon from time to time. The key is getting back on again and moving it forward. Saturday night, I wend to a major party for a friend who was celebrating more than one milestone - a birthday with a 0 and a wedding anniversary with a 0. We've known each other for a very long time. I had wayyyyyy tooooooo much to drink. My hubby, love him, drove, but I blew through a boatload of calories drinking and ate all kinds of things I shouldn't have eaten. Sunday, I dusted myself off, drank a boat load of water, ate my 85 grams of protein and fenced for 3.5 hours in a tournament. I got back on the wagon. Ask why. And if you can't find the answers on your own, get help. This surgery only works if you're head is in the right place for the long term.

I've considered it and talked to plastic surgery. My plastic surgeon said that after he does the panni and tummy tuck, if I don't do a reduction I will look more lopsided than I do now. I'm 5'3", 166 lbs., wearing size 8 pants right now and likely to be a six at goal. Right now I'm a 36F or DD depending on bra. When I was my heaviest, I was a 42 J. I've had two kids, so right now my boobs are major saggy. My doc said he'd reduce and lift - probably leaving me with a 36 or 34 depending on my band size when I get to him) C. I'm good with that. I will likely have the abdominal work done in July 2018. I probably won't have boobs done until summer 2019.

I found that getting a personal trainer early on to help me set up a solid routine helped. At the gym right now, I work with my trainer 2x a month and do a leg routine one day a week, arms a second day and agility a third. I do yoga or Pilates at least once per week for flexibility. I've tried Zumba and its fun, but never seem to find a class that fits my schedule. I also fence (as in en garde) 5 hours a week. All the other training I do is to support my fencing. Best of luck.

Torani (https://www.torani.com/) sells tons of sugar free coffee- house syrups. I have a whole "bar" set up in my house. This morning was Quest Caramel Powder, Coffee, sugar free chocolate syrup and ice in the blender. Some days its chocolate protien powder, 1 tablespoon of PB2, sugar free caramel and coconut milk - hello Snickers. I have both chocolate and peppermint at home right now, along with coconut, salted caramel, vanilla, black cherry and lemon. I use the black cherry and lemon in iced tea. I use the others with shakes or hot or cold coffee.

Great work. I'm down 105 and was at a party recently where I ran into someone I have known for 20 years but hadn't seen in a year. She introduced herself to me - I reminded her of who I was. She was so embarrassed, she excused herself to get another drink.

I'm a desk jockey. I have the ability to work from home, as well. My surgery was on a Tuesday, I was home on Wednesday by 2 pm. Friday, I worked about half a day from home. Monday I was in the office. Tuesday, worked from home, then back to the grind. I didn't have any pain after I left the hospital. I had a little nausea on Thursday and was tired - mostly, I think from anesthesia. (But, as an FYI, I was only able to take 6 weeks off after my second c-section due to work scheduling - so I've learned to recover quickly.)

Today, I did an hour of reformer based Pilates and then did 45 minutes of strength training, including dead lifts and sled pushing. And I'm spending some time with my older daughter who is home from college for the weekend.

Two months out I was barely eating 2 ounces of protein and a couple of tablespoons of a vegetable. Follow the plan your team gave you. Weigh and measure - it will help. Even now, I can't eat a "balanced" diet. Yesterday, we ate at a lovely restaurant. I ordered a Caesar salad to start and had about five bites. The server was worried I didn't like it. I said I was saving room. I had a huge piece of prime rib, of which I ate about 3 ounces and the rest went home in a take home box. I had one spoonful of each side. I had two bites of the dessert I was served. (It was a three course, prix fix meal). I'm 15 months out. Sometimes, I can eat 5-6 ounces of protein if I don't eat anything else. I can't eat more than about 1/2 of a very small baked potato and if I eat that, I don't wind up getting my protein in. Who told you that you have a poor diet? Was it a member of your medical team? If not, tell them you are on the Narnia diet - its Narnia business.

My team ok'd gummy vitamins if I also took an iron supplement. I was having trouble with the vitamin pills. It's made a world of difference for me.

Don't be afraid of your local running store - its the best thing you can do for your feet. Do keep track of your mileage on your shoes.

What does your team say? I was not allowed fruit until I was about 4 months out - mostly sugar, little fiber and lots of carbs. At about 6 weeks out (where you are) I was just going to all foods and not eating more than about 400-600 calories a day. Since I needed to get at least 60 grams of protein, I wasn't wasting 100 calories on fruit when I could be eating something with protein. usually, if anything, i would throw 1/4 cup of frozen fruit - usually strawberries, into my morning protein shake for some variety.

My pre-op was the same (except no clear for 2 days prior). You can eat some turkey at the table on Thanksgiving so you aren't sitting there with a lean cuisine. you can also have some salad with vinegar as a dressing. 3 ounces of Turkey breast is 96 calories. So you have some wiggle room to add some turkey. Don't have gravy, don't have stuffing, don't have mashed potatoes. If you have fresh veggies at the table (roasted brussel sprouts, asparagus, green beans without the cream of mushroom) you could have those as your half cup of veggies. The key to the pre-op diet is to limit fat intake - so be cautious and you can enjoy with your family at the table.

I had a sleeve, not RNY, at age 55 last year. I lost hair starting at month 4 but it started coming back around month 9. I have fairly thick hair so it wasn't noticeable. I have lots of excess skin - like catwoman7, but had my first plastics consult about two weeks ago. I'll likely have a panni and tummy tuck over the summer. The batwings, for me, are the worst. For a few months my face and neck looked really saggy, but that changed at about a year out. I look 15 years younger - no one believes I'm 56 now. I still have another 15 to go. Best of luck.

I told my husband and my two teen daughters and two very good friends. That was it. Didn't tell my mother, my sister or anyone else. When people ask how I lost the weight, I stick with the truth - I have been working with a medical team I write down everything I eat I eat between 60-100 grams of protein at day I drink at least 64 ounces of water a day I work out for 9-10 hours a week, including 5 hours fencing, an hour of Pilates and strength training. It's been really hard work I pretty much don't eat bread, white flour, sugar or carbonated things any more. All of that is true. I told my office I needed to have a procedure and left it at that and implied, without saying anything, that it was "female" surgery which stopped anyone from asking more. (Besides, legally, they can only ask how long you will be out per your doctor and whether you will have restrictions when you return.). My girls were 17 and 13 when I had my surgery. I told them this was something that was not discussed outside our family - ever. They haven't said a word, as far as I know.