justhere4theshow

I have been getting about 80 grams of protein, as much water as I can hold, and I eat a meal replacement bar for breakfast, for lunch I have greek yogurt with a scoop of protein powder, in the afternoon I get really hungry and I will usually have a small snack of chicken salad with about 5-6 Ritz cracker chips (which are less than 100 calories) and then for dinner I either just have a protein shake or chicken. I have snacked on some fruit here and there (fresh peaches) but I have pretty much stayed under 1200 calories which is what my surgeon advised. I feel like the surgery has literally had no effect at all. I have a call into my nutritionist. I can't take much more of this.

Greek yogurt is really good with a scoop of unflavored Unjury powder. Packs a good protein punch. It won't be long before you can spread your wings a bit. Just let your tummy heal. You'll get there.

Yes, you can! Keep your eyes on the prize, and keep posting. We'll be here to support you!

You really need to speak with Aetna. You don't want to waste time and resources if it won't help you in the end.

I encountered dumping syndrome years before I had WLS. I got it after my gallbladder was removed. If I ate too much fat and/or sugar, to the bathroom I would go! I am not eating added sugar or much fat anymore, so I doubt it will be an issue. So, if you lose your gallbladder you can dump regardless of having a sleeve, but I doubt you'll be able to eat enough of the stuff that causes a dump if you follow your program.

@@fatgirlsvelte, I find you to be an absolute delight! I loved your photos and hate to hear that you are being censored. I hope you'll stay around.

I am also 7 weeks post-op, and I have lost some and regained some (had to get IV fluids in the ER; 4lbs worth!) I feel like things are starting to move along better for me since I added more protein and started watching carbs. 23 pounds is a good amount to lose in our time-frame! We are barely healed, and it takes time. We didn't gain it overnight and it sure isn't coming off overnight. Be good to yourself, and hang in there. You're doing great!

I was sleeved on 5/23/16, and I have had similar struggles. I didn't really start seeing the scale move until I ate MORE. I was stressing about overeating the other day, and I lost 2.5 pounds not long after that. My Protein intake has greatly improved since I started adding unflavored unjury powder to my greek yogurt. I love it and it gets me to my protein goal much better than I was doing before. I feel like we just have to experiment a little and see what our bodies respond to. I can't have a lot of carbs, but that might not be a concern for you. I have just been trying to listen to my body and doing what my program says. I am a firm believer that we lose better when we eat a little more (healthy choices of course). We have to let our bodies know that they are not starving. I hope things turn around for you soon.

I don't think you'll always have diarrhea. I did at first, but now I tend to be more constipated. I have to make sure I get my fluids in and sometimes I have to use a mild laxative. Hopefully you'll find a happy medium between the two

I don't know if they carry Bariatric Advantage brand at GNC, but I can tell you how heavenly their Calcium/Vitamin D chews are! I have chocolate/peanut butter and I LOVE them. They are like candy, and they settle my stomach after I take my other pills. They sell them on Bariatric Pal.

I have gotten a couple of phone calls from a nurse at my insurance company. Very basic stuff like "How are you feeling?" and "Do you have any questions?" I didn't find it particularly useful, but it was a nice touch.

I don't need to add anything other than support; the folks who've already commented are giving you great advice. I just wanted to let you know that I went through the exact same thing as you. Your tummy hurts because it's doing some major repair after what it's been through. I was so convinced that I would never lose weight, that the surgery would surely fail just like all of my other attempts to lose weight have failed. I no longer believe that, because even though I am not dropping pound after pound as fast as I would like, my clothes are fitting looser and my face and hands are "deflating". We all lose in individual ways I suppose, and I find it fascinating that I have such tiny wrists now. My watch spins around on my wrist and my rings are all loose. Go figure. I hope you start to feel better soon. I know how hard it is, and how much you want to see that scale move. I am with you all the way on that one. Hang in there. It will get better. It just takes time.

I figured I could beat a dead horse with this; I found it in an article I was reading on Reader's Digest about food manufacturing. It made me sad: “People think crackers are healthy, but in many ways, they’re as bad for you as chips. Your typical cracker is made with refined grains and flavoring built around fat, salt, and sugar. Then preservatives are often added so the crackers can sit on the shelf for a year. Also, whole-grain crackers are rare. Ninety-nine percent of crackers out there are a treat.” Bruce Bradley, former marketing executive for General Mills
and author of Fat Profits

I completely agree with @her1981. You really just have to figure out what works for you. We are all different and respond to things differently. I personally can't stop once I start eating crackers. I hate saltines, but I can down a box of Club crackers in a day and a half! I find that I have to keep my carbs pretty low if I want to lose. That's not to say I will never have another cracker, but for now I am mainly concerned with losing all the weight I can during the honeymoon phase.

"And yes, there have been people who go in for surgery, and the surgeon closes them back up and sends them home for having a liver that is still too large". I mentioned the consequences of not shrinking the liver enough. My point was to address the psychology of "cheating" and how it affects outcomes.

The pre-op diet is not all about shrinking the liver. It's about whether or not you can make a change as directed by your physician. Your chances of success after WLS largely depends on your ability to change your eating to what is recommended to you by the professionals, not to "do the best you can". If you are struggling this much prior to surgery, you might need to do some soul-searching as to whether or not you are willing to change and to what extent. If you cheat before you even have your surgery, what happens when you are post-op and cheat? You don't lose weight. Don't put all your faith into the surgery enforcing the changes that are necessary; you can absolutely eat around your sleeve/pouch. You have to be 100% commited to the program prescribed for you. Lots of little cheats add up quickly. And yes, there have been people who go in for surgery, and the surgeon closes them back up and sends them home for having a liver that is still too large. Please don't take this as me being mean, I really do understand how hard it is; I was on liquids only for 2 weeks pre-op and 3 weeks post-op. I did 5 weeks of liquids because I wanted my surgery AND I wanted it to work. Best of luck to you! You can do anything you set your mind to!!

Wow, seven pages about crackers. I can't believe how controversial certain topics can get on here...Maybe I'm just a little too practical for all the debating, but I follow my program. Period. If I have a question about my program, I call the people who made my program. But that's just me...

I started my period in the hospital, again after 2 weeks, and then again last week. I have had tubal ligation, but I take BCP for cycle regularity and less bleeding with fibroids. This has been insane; my hormones must be really wacked.

I wouldn't do it myself, and here's why: Sugar craves sugar. You're setting yourself up for a big struggle for one or two pieces of candy...it's a slippery slope, and to me it's just not worth it. You can sneak in a lot of calories before you know it! You're better off eating your favorite fruit if you must have something sweet. Good luck to you!

I had a huge epiphany this morning. While I feel like I will never lose this weight, I know I will. I lost 2 more pounds, and if that is all I lose in a week or two, it's still pretty good. I don't have to lose every single day to know that I am succeeding. All I have to do is stay on the program, and my body will do the rest! Thanks to all of you for taking the time to give me words of wisdom and support.

I think I had it all figured out in my head that since everything went so smoothly for me pre-op, that it would just continue and be magical until I reached goal...Yeah, right. I never expected to do better pre-op than I have post-op. I find it to be very odd, quite honestly. I am so glad I had the surgery, and I still very much see it as a blessing. I was just so unprepared for it to be harder to lose after surgery!!! And I don't care what anybody says, it is very possible to be physically hungry after the sleeve. I am on a PPI which has worked like a charm. I still get hunger pain. I know what it feels like to be physically hungry. I still have head hunger, too, but I know the difference. It's all very strange and wonderful and maddening, LOL.

Thank you, @@Djmohr!!!

Thank you all SO much. You really made me feel better!

I wanted to reach out to you and see how you're doing--I too was sleeved on 5/23 and I am in a big stall. I lost weight better when I was pre-op! I know it's a whole different ballgame now, though. Hope you are well.

If you post something here asking for advice, it becomes a part of the ongoing discussion. I think the bacon refuses to die because people were just shocked, quite frankly. It will run it's course eventually. That's all I have to say about that.