Diana_in_Philly

I'm down 75 since April 2016 and 50 since surgery. I am very low carb. 60-90 grams of Protein a day any way I can get it while staying under 900 calories. Premier Protein shake in the morning (30G 120 cal), usually an Oikos Triple Zero Yogurt mid-morning for a snack (15 G - 120 cal). If I'm at home, lunch is 1/4 cup homemade egg or tuna salad. dinner is whatever I make for my family but in my size portions. So, if I cook pork chops and rice and a veg, I'll have 4 ounces of pork, one or two spoonfuls of rice and about 1/4 cup of veg. If I need a snack during the day, I'll grab a Quest Protein Bar (20G - 190 cal.) or mozzarella cheese sticks. Every once and a while I'll have a piece of whole wheat toast topped with egg or tuna salad. Tonight, I made a birthday dinner for my 14 year old daughter -- Penne with Vodka sauce and garlic bread. I didn't eat any of it. I had a yogurt, a slice of proscuitto and a mozzarella stick. And I didn't cry. Because I wanted that Pasta so bad. I still do.

This one work's well. I use it often. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/katie-lee/cauliflower-pizza-crust.html

Had surgery on Tuesday, went back to work on Monday, but I'm a desk jockey and only work in my office 2 days a week. I was working from home on Friday the week of surgery. I really depends on what you do and how you heal.

@@Chrisanna - I was pretty close to where you are now. I am 55. 5'3" and my high weight in April 2016 was 271.5. I went to my seminar and came away thinking LapBand. Then I talked to my surgeon (first visit May 11) and realized that the sleeve was what I needed. My surgery was on August 23. I was 246.9 on day of surgery. My insurance did not require a monitored weight loss, but my team did. I met with my doc, NUT and NP every month. I had a 2 week pre-op diet (mix of shakes and food) and a long class about my post op program. My 6 month visit is on February 9. Today, I'm 196 pounds. That 75 pounds from high weight and 50 pounds from day of surgery. There's lots of testing (endoscopy, possible colonoscopy, chest x-ray, bloodwork, psych evaluation, etc.) which has to get scheduled. Get your head in the right place and you are going to be fine. The sleeve has been the best thing that has happened to me. I now weigh slighlty more than I did when I got married 19 years ago (183 on my wedding day) and the last time I remember weighing this little was before I got pregnant with my oldest who is 17, so sometime in the last century. Best of luck on your journey.

While my insurance did not require any pre-op stuff, my bariatric team did. I had to attend an information session, then I could make an appointment with my surgeon. Info session in April, first appointment on May 11. My team required 3 months of monitored weight loss, monthly meetings with my nutritionist and nurse practitioner. I had to have an upper GI endoscopy to ensure no hernia needed repair and that there wasn't an ulcer in my stomach, attend one support group meeting, have my psych evaluation, blood work, chest x-ray, clearance by both pulmonary (I'm asthmatic) and cardiology all prior to surgery. My surgery was on August 23. That was just enough time to get all the testing done and all the insurance squared away. (There was also a pre-op class about the 2 week pre-op and the post-op diet.) Success for this is mostly in your head -- you need to have your head in the right place before you're surgery. If it's not, it's not going to work well for you. This is a tool. It's not magic. You need time to learn how to break a lifetime of bad eating patterns and learn how to deal with the issues you have had with food. You need to start getting active. You didn't post any of your stats in your profile, but when I started this journey, I was 271. Today, 5 months post-surgery, I'm 75 pounds lighter, total, 50 pounds since surgery. I wouldn't change a thing. If I had to wait, six months, I would have. This has changed my life in ways I cannot explain.

I didn't have any salad until about 8 weeks out -- I didn't eat it until after I had eaten all my Protein at dinner that night. I had room for about 3 bites. Even now, at 5 months post-op, I can eat about 1/2 cup of salad, at most. I do miss it. But check with your team. 5 1/2 weeks is pretty early out. I wasn't even on a full diet at that point.

Pre-surgery, I loved 5 Guys burgers and fries. I had surgery in August - and I can't stand the smell of a 5 Guys now. Can't do it. The only "fast food" I've had was some grilled nuggets from Chick-Fil-A. When I do go out to eat with my family, if I feel like a burger, I order it topless and eat it with a fork and knife and don't eat the bottom bun part. I just don't crave the fast food any more. I've had about 3 french fries off my husband's plate in the last five months, but that's about it. You may find that your tastes will change drastically after surgery.

Before surgery 44H. Wore my usual bra to the hospital. Wore it home. Didn't wear a bra while I was in the hospital. I was fine. (Now a 40DD).

The beginning is tough. I had to experiment to see what temp I could tolerate Water at. For a few days, it had to be luke warm. Then, it had to be very cold It was a moving target. The nausea could be from acid in your stomach. Are you taking a PPI or something like Protonix or Nexium? Ask your team about that. I think at about week 2, I was demoralized. But remember - your body has been through a huge trauma with the surgery. Be kind to yourself. Your emotions are going to be all over the place for a while, too. You can do this.

Start with one tablespoon of food. This was the feeling I would get if I tried to eat too much. Literally the food is backing up into your esophagus. Chew half of the tablespoon of food until it is the consistency of applesauce in your mouth then swallow. Wait a few minutes and have another bite. It should take you 30 minutes to eat a meal, minimum. Do not mix drinking with eating. But, also do check with your team. It could be something else.

Your team will give you a plan - follow it. I'm five months out and down 72 pounds. I have about 50 to go. In the first 4-6 weeks, your main goals are to get your Protein and fluids in. Once you are on "normal" food, then you have to start playing the calories/protein game. I try to get 60-90 grams of protein a day and stay under 900 calories (up from 800 last month when I hit a stall.) The number of calories is affected by alot of things - how active you are, your starting weight, etc. You will have a special session with your nutrition team prior to surgery to lay out your pre-surgery and post-surgery eating plan. Do what you're team says and you'll be fine.

I would toss a little shredded cheese in with my scrambled eggs. Also, finely mashed (with a fork) egg salad or tuna salad. I'm not a refried Beans person, so I didn't try that. (It's a texture thing for me.) The Ricotta Bake is amazing. I think I lived on that for the first week I was on purees. Also, Oikos Triple Zero Greek Yogurt (15 grams protein) - personally, I love the coconut creme and salted caramel flavors. Just had a strawberry one for breakfast today. You'll find your way. You may find that stuff you liked pre-surgery, you don't like now.

The first 4-6 weeks suck. Your body is healing, your emotions are all over the place. You have to find a new way to cope with emotions because you can't eat them. The only regret I have IS NOT HAVING DONE THIS 10 YEARS AGO. I'm so sorry that I deprived my children and my husband of the person I could be - mobile and not in pain. I still have about 50 pounds to go to my personal goal, but I'm down 70 pounds since April and 45 since Surgery in August. Once you get back to the point of being able to eat the same food as a rest of your family, you'll feel a lot better. When everyone was eating roasted chicken and I was slurping Soup, it was tough to maintain my dignity. Hang in there.

Tuna salad, egg salad, chicken salad -- just chew them up really well. You should be able to get them at any deli near your hotel. Scrambled eggs, poached eggs, applesauce, any kind of Soup you can tolerate. In a pinch, mashed potatoes, oatmeal. You just have to have a plan. You've got this!

2 c-sections - 1999 and 2003. The sleeve was a walk in the park. I went into the hospital Tuesday morning at 6 am and left Wednesday at 1 pm. I could bend over and tie my shoes, I could walk without using an IV pole to stand up straight. I didn't use any pain meds other than tylenol when I got home and 1 or 2 doses of an anti-nasuea med (I have trouble with nausea from anesthesia.) I was back at work on Monday morning (I'm a desk jockey who is in the office 2x a week.)

@Little_Lulu - remember that it will take your body at least 6-8 weeks to heal from the surgery - for the excess fluids and swelling to come down. Your body has been through a major trauma. Do you realize how much Water you are retaining now from the IV fluids yet? Do you know how much water weighs? It will take some time. Be kind to yourself. Some days you will see changes on the scale, others you will see them with the tape. Right after surgery, my measurements went up due to Fluid retention and I was actually "bigger" than before surgery. For what it's worth, I have steadily lost weight since my surgery on August 23. I am now down 70 pounds from my high weight in April 2016 and 45 pounds since surgery. I am 1 pound away from Onederland. I haven't been this thin since I was between child 1 and child 2 (15 years ago). Was I perfect over the holidays - no. Am I getting back on track now, yes. But be kind to yourself and let your body heal. Drink what you can. Get in your Protein -- that is so important. Get in your fluids. Walk, stretch and move your body. And try to be patient. You didn't get to your high weight in two or three weeks - so its not going to disappear that fast. Please be patient with yourself. This is a journey -- it is a marathon not a sprint.

I've been taking all my Vitamins and supplements from day one - never missed one. Now almost 5 months out. In the last month, I have been losing handfuls of hair. I've added Biotin. I was wondering the same thing. I've always been over my Protein and Water goals since day 1 post op so, I don't know what "damage" I could have done @JamieLogical. Today in the shower there was enough to put on a baby's head! Now, I know that when I have had surgery in the past, my body has reacted this same way. I'm waiting to hear back from my team with their take because I don't want to be the skinny bald woman!

I'm now almost 5 months out. For the first two months, I had a real hard time with plain Water. It had to have flavor. I drank lots of Vitamin Water Zero and water with Crystal Light or 4C Light packets in it. Could not drink plain water - unless it was almost lukewarm. Before surgery I would drink almost a gallon a day. Now. I can drink - even chug - water again, but I'm cautious because it can sometimes upset my tummy. Keep trying different temperatures and try adding flavor - it might help. Good luck.

HW 271.5 SW 246.9 CW 205.8 Goal 150. Surgeon's goal (70% of excess weight) 179. So I'm 26 pounds from my surgeon's goal. Surgery was August 23. That 179 puts me about where I was when my hubby and I got married 19 years ago. My main goal right now is to be in onederland by New Year's. I've lost 65.7 pounds. I am sometimes disappointed with myself, but I need to cut myself some slack and just stay with the program.

Live in Manayunk. Had surgery 8/23 at Pennsylvania Hospital with Dr. Wernsing.

You are headed down the right road. I'm 55. Had surgery in August. HW 271.5 (4/16) SW 246.9 CW 205.1. I'm about 50 pounds from goal and I should easily be there by the time my oldest graduates from high school in June and my youngest graduates from 8th grade the week prior. I was tired of being tired. I was tired of being in pain from carrying the extra weight. I was depressed because I looked like a freak. I didn't want to be the fat mom anymore. This was the best decision I ever made. I'm wearing clothes I haven't worn since before I was pregnant with my oldest. I was scared before surgery and I'll be honest the first few weeks on liquid and purees are a challenge, but it was worth all of it.

Sleeved 8/23/16 - HW 271.5 (4/16) SW 246.9 CW 205.1 From size 20-22 pants to size 14-12 right now. About 50 pounds to goal. If you are not already using it, use My Fitness Pal and track every ounce of food and Water that goes into your body. It keeps you honest. I weigh myself daily. (Some people do weekly but I find daily keeps me honest.) Make sure you have healthy options in the house so you never have to be looking around for a snack. Try different kinds of Protein powders now in the small sample sizes to see which ones you like or don't like and start experimenting with shakes. Pre-surgery for three months I did a Protein shake every morning for Breakfast -- and worked on playing with flavors, fruit, coffee-house syrups, etc. Start exercising - walk around the block, swim, join a gym. move your body and schedule time for it. Plan rewards for various weight goals -- 25 pounds - new lipstick? 50 pounds - new dress? Start a private pinterest board with fashions you want to try as you get thinner Research thrift and consignment shops in your area - you are going to need them. If you don't have a good scale, buy one. (I have a Withings, which sends my weight directly to My Fitness Pal. Consider purchasing a fitness tracker. (I use a Garmin Vivosmart HR and love it. I think it's much better than the Fitbit models.) Get your head in the right place - the surgery isn't going to solve any problem you may have with emotional eating - if that's part of your issue, get help now - work with a therapist or other counselor. Get a good pair of sneakers. Start by walking a little more now. Park 15 spaces away from the grocery store this week. 25 spaces next week. It's all incremental. Protein is your friend. Start counting your grams of protein. After surgery, your rules will likely be protein first, everything else after. I average 60-90 grams of protein a day and I eat about 800 calories a day now. Oikos Triple Zero Greek Yogurt and Fairlife Skim Milk are your friends. I'm at the point now where I can eat anything, even bread, but I don't. Sometimes I'll have half a slice of whole wheat toast. Barilla makes a high protein Pasta (yellow box) which is really good. Once you get a surgery date, find a group here on BP to chat with that are all having surgery in the same month. Attend your hospital or clinic's support group meetings regularly. Best of luck with finding the new you. I wish I had done this 15 years ago.

I told a few very good friends I knew would be supportive and my husband and two teenagers. That was it. Didn't tell my sister or my mother - I knew they would both not be supportive. When they say negative things or are less than supportive or start making medical statements, just ask them where they got their MD and if they would like to talk to your surgeon who thinks surgery is right for you. One of my daughters was hesitant (she's 13) and I think it was fear about my having surgery. We talked through it and now, she's fine with it and giving me fashion advice.

Sleeved 8/23/16. HW 271.5 SW 246.9 CW 205.1 I'll be in onerdland by Christmas. I'm 55. I wish I had done this shortly after the birth of my second child 13 years ago. I had been almost crippled by pain in my knees (I need them replaced). They still hurt, but not nearly as bad - I don't need narcotics for the pain. I have more energy. I don't have clothes - I'm spending a lot of time in thrift shops because I'm dropping through sizes in about a month. Started at size 20-22 pants now hovering between 14 and 12. I have about 50 pounds to my goal. I was scared when I started - the week before surgery I almost backed out. This was the second best decision I've ever made. (Marrying my hubby was the best!)

I had surgery 8/23 and had lost about 20 pounds from my high weight to surgery day. So stuff was getting big. As I have "outgrown" clothes, I have put them immediately into a bag for Salvation Army or consignment, as appropriate. I was buying stuff on sale, as I had a closet that ranged from 20-10, but a few years ago I tossed most of my 14s. Yesterday I bought three pairs of pants at Kohls because my pants were all falling off -- I needed something to wear to work. I'm 12 weeks out and down 60 pounds from my high weight. (59 and change, but at this point, I'm calling it 60). The three pairs of pants I just bought will likely fit my 17 year old daughter, so I don't feel bad about paying "real" money for them rather than bargains. I've kept a lot of my summer dresses because they were loose and flowy and I think they'll be OK, but if not, I'll just toss them in the spring. Toss them once they are too big. You are never going back there.