Diana_in_Philly

Hey, All! 5'3" High weight - April 2016 -- 271.5 Surgery 8/23/16 at 246.9. Current weight 173. Goal around 150 - I'll see how I look at that point. I'm almost 11 months out.

Try Oikos Triple Zero Yogurt. 15 g protein and 0 carbs and sugar. I, personally, like the coconut creme and orange creme. The Peach is tasty, too.

Ask your surgeon's office to appeal and speak with a bariatric surgeon for review. S/he is entitled to have a physician in the speciality make the decision on care and not just a case manager who is paid to keep costs down. Best of luck.

I'm 5'3". High weight April 2016 271.5. Today, 10 months post surgery (8/23/16) I am 173. I have lost 98 pounds in less than a year an people don't recognize me. I'm 55 years old, work full time, have two teen daughters and a husband. I had the sleeve. I went in the hospital on Tuesday, was home Wednesday and back a work on Monday (I'm a desk jockey.) I was 246.9 at surgery. I have lost more than 70% of my excess weight - which by my practice's standards, I can shift to maintenance now, but I'd like to get close to 150 before I go to maintenance. Now, I can walk for miles without pain in my knees. Last year around Memorial Day, I couldn't finish the campus tour at the University of Pittsburgh - it was too far, too many hills, too hot. Was at campus last week with my daughter for freshman orientation - parked the car on Wednesday and didn't move it until check out on Friday - walked 5 miles a day and then went to work out in the gym. Yes, it is major surgery, but it is laparascopic - you will have three or four small incisions in your belly. As compared to the two C-sections I had for my daughters - this was a walk in the park. Here's what before and after look like for me - the before photo was April 2016. The after photo was about 6 weeks ago - I'm down another few pounds since that photo. I'm your height. You decide.

Please remember that your body is going to spend six weeks after surgery healing itself. It may be holding onto things. Give your body time to heal and be patient. It has had major trauma. The weight loss will come. I know that it is so hard to be patient at this point. When I was 3 weeks out, I was 600-700 calories until I was about 6 months out. Maybe you need to take your calories back? Check with your team. They may be able to provide guidance.

Please don't take this as me being a Debbie Downer, but the way my life has worked, I have learned that I can't count on anyone to support me. Many may say they will, but very few do. My husband has been a solid support, but now that I'm 25 pounds from goal, he is suggesting we eat and do things that are not good for my new lifestyle. Therefore, buck up, Sister -- you've got this. You got yourself this far and will go all the way. While it is nice to have some help from others, this is something you need to do. You are fierce. You are stronger than you think. You've got this,

I was back in the gym three weeks after surgery doing my full routine. My team just told me to listen to my body and be careful with lifting that involved my core. I was doing 45 minutes to an hour on the recumbent bike and then a full weight circuit on the machines (not much by way of free weights until I was 6 weeks out.) If you do it and your body feels oK, then do it more. Just be careful with any abdominal stretching. If it hurts, stop.

Are you on a PPI like protonix? At that point, the stomach acids started rumbling with a vengeance and felt like hunger to me. I had forgotten to renew my PPI Rx and it hit like a truck. Even now, 10 months out, if I don't take the PPI, the acid feels like pre-op "hunger" to me.

What specifically are your worries? The five year old is at a great age to be a "helper" when you get home from the hospital. The issue with the 2 year old may be that you won't be able to lift him/her for a few weeks. But when my youngest was 2, I had major surgery and couldn't do a lot (I was in a cast on my right ankle for 8 weeks and the first two weeks I was completely non weightbearing.) I just reminded her over and over that mommy had a boo boo and we had to do things differently. They are pretty adaptable at that age. And your hubby can probably do way more than you think. Granted, my kids were way older when I had this surgery - they are 14 and 17, but my hubs still had to do more than usual for a week or two. However, I had a laparoscopic sleeve and was back to work less than a week after surgery. (I'm a desk jockey.)

I didn't move up to 1,000 calories until I was about 3 months post op. I had a hard time getting in 600-700 at the start. My goals at your stage were pretty straightforward - 60-90 grams of protein daily. 64 ounces of water daily. 30 minutes of exercise daily. If it had more than 10 g of sugar in a serving, don't eat it. My diet at that point was mostly Oikos Triple Zero yogurts, shakes and soups. When I added soft foods, I averaged under 25 grams of carbs a day. If you're not eating bread or wheat based products, you aren't going to wind up with many carbs. I am 10 months out. I eat 1,000 calories a day. 70-90 grams of protein and 64 ounces of water minimum. I still keep my sugar under 10g per serving unless it is fruit - I get one fruit a day. Today, I will probably be closer to 90G protein because I'll be fencing for 2.5 hours tonight. Count your protein and water/fluid - and you'll be in pretty good shape until you get to eating all foods.

Does your hospital or surgeon offer support groups? Our team here has support groups meeting at the various hospitals about once a week for both newbies and vets. Look into something like that. There are also boards that are specific to the state you live in which might have some resources.

I'm 10 months out. Down almost 100 pounds. Weigh less now than I did when I got married to my husband 20 years ago. Go to a seminar at the hospital you are considering using (most require it as part of the process) and learn a little more. Here's what I can tell you. Last year at this time, my daughter was looking at the University of Pittsburgh and I couldn't walk the half mile from the hotel to campus. I could not complete the campus tour. I was a mess. (I knew I was going to have surgery at that point, but did not know when other than late summer, early fall). I was at Pitt for three days. I parked the car at the hotel and didn't move it until we checked out. I walked miles and miles and was never tired. I ran a 5k on Sunday. (Never again - I've learned I hate running). I've inspired my girls to lose weight. I'm in better shape now than I have been in 20 years. You are right, it is a tool. You have to change your habits, but it helps. Physically, I cannot consume the amount of food I used to at a meal. I eat my 3-5 ounces of protein and a bit of a vegetable and I'm full. If I eat too much, I feel ill. Best of luck in making your decision.

I had no complications. I still felt like crap because I HAD JUST HAD MAJOR SURGERY. Let's remember this. Your body is going to go through a major shock. You appear to be young. I was 55 when I had my surgery in August. I have a pretty extensive health history. I was walking around the floor of the hospital within hours of my surgery and did laps every hour to combat the gas. Nerves are OK. In fact, if you weren't scared it would be concerning. This is major surgery -- granted one with few complications and a high success rate -- but keep in mind that its going to take 6 weeks, minimum for your body to heal. It was about 4 months before I started to feel normal. But slowly but surely you will feel better . Won't losing the weight be better than the health risks you will face -- diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, joint problems? I'm down almost 100 pounds in less than a year. It was worth it.

Please remember that it will take your body a minimum of 6 weeks to heal from the surgery. It is using a tremendous amount of energy to heal from the major shock that it has just undergone. Your body is still healing. You may still be carrying fluid from the IVs. Try to stop with the pain meds at this point. See if Tylenol will handle the pain at night. Try it one night to see if it works. The sooner you are off the narcotics and doing more things - other than just walking, you'll be feeling better. Try changing up what you are eating, keeping in the same calorie range - change your breakfast. Make sure you are getting all your water. Most importantly, give your body time to adjust. You didn't gain all the weight in 3 weeks. It's not going to come off in huge amounts in 3 weeks. Try to be patient. You 've got this.

I do shakes in the morning - I make them at home and bring them with - Fairlife Skim Milk, protein powder and about a cup of fruit. Oikos Triple Zero Yogurt. Cheese sticks (cheddar, mozzarella, etc.). Almonds. I'm 10 months out and use a small cooler bag for work because I don't have access to a fridge.

Please make sure you are drinking enough water. Those are symptoms of dehydration which can be very serious. You've got this - two more days of ick for a lifetime of amazing. You can do it.

I have a Ninja I bought at Costco. I bought extra cups from Ninja directly. The cups are easy to take to work. It's loud, but does an amazing job with fresh fruit.

Yes - you are losing your insulation! I was always the warm one and going through my own personal summer all year round and now I always carry a sweater. I'm down 96 pounds and boy, does it make a difference.

Keep busy - do the shore tours. Eat only at meal times. Keep yourself hydrated with lots of water - flavor it with fruit -I'm sure the bartenders will be happy to do that for you. Work out in the fitness center. Do activities around the ship. Don't go near the buffets unless it is meal time. Keep a positive attitude. You've got this.

Starting 271.5 Surgery 246.9 (8/23/16) Month 5 - 196 Current 173 28% of high weight (which was 3 months prior to surgery) 20% of surgery weight 61% of excess weight overall.

Top photo - April 21, 2016 with my daughter at her junior prom. 271.5 Bottom photo - May 25, 2017 with my daughter before senior prom - 173 Would do it again in a minute. Have another 20-25 to go before I'm done. Surgery was 8/23/16

I''m nine months out. I can eat about 4-5 ounces of protein. Last night we went to Capital Grille (old-school style steakhouse) to celebrate my older daughter's high school graduation. I split a shrimp cocktail with my sister (I had 2 shrimp and told her to have 3) and ordered a gorgonzola crusted NY Strip with port wine reduction. I ate about 2 ounces of steak (after the shrimp) and about 1/4 cup of creamed spinach. I had a taste of my daughter's coconut creme pie. We all brought everything home and reheated for dinner tonight - I was able to give 3 ounces of my leftover steak to my husband for dinner tonight. I just order things I can take home or make peace with leaving it behind. (I don't like to reheat fish - it never tastes the same to me.)

Try different temperatures - sometimes warm was better than cold, sometimes the opposite. Sometimes with flavor (e.g. crystal light), sometimes plain. Sometimes tea, sometimes coffee, sometimes broth. Keep experimenting. If you are clearly not close to your goal for protein and water (I was told to use 60 grams and 64 ounces as my marks, with my shakes counting toward my ounces) call your team. Dehydration can be a big problem. Try some sugar free popsicles, too.

I'm a desk jockey who can work from home when I need or want to, but -- Surgery was Tuesday, discharged Wednesday around 1 pm. Worked full day from home on Friday. Went into the office and did a full office day on Monday. Really depends on you, how you deal with pain (if you have any) and your work.

Pre-surgery, I was a water chugger, so sipping killed me the first week or so. You will find out very quickly if you take too big of a sip or drink - your stomach will let you know. I found I had to try water at different temperatures, but would make sure I was drinking at least one cup of water (8 ounces) per hour during the day. Sometimes warm, sometimes cold. Sometimes flavored. Sometimes plain. After about 3 weeks, I was able to drink normally again. To this day, I keep a water bottle at my desk - 24 ounces - I consume it completely twice during the course of the work day. That gets me to 48 of my 64 ounces without even trying! As for protein - when I was on liquids, I made sure I had 2-3 shakes a day - Premier protein shakes are 30g protein - so 2 of those met my goal. Now, it's protein first - I still have a shake in the morning - this morning's was 2 ounces strawberries, 2 ounces blueberries, cup of coconut milk and scoop of protein powder (under 200 calories and 25g. protein.) I shoot for 70-90 grams of protein a day. A 15 gram yogurt is up for the start of lunch in a bit - that will get me to 40 grams before I have any meat or cheese today! Write everything down and keep track. It helps.