blizair09

Are you allowed protein shakes on your plan at this point? If yes, I'd focus on getting in as much protein via shakes as you can. They are going to be your best bet at your current stage.

So you're saying that they know that you have days, at 6 months post-op, that you consume less than 300 calories? And they still want you to wait and come in? Wow. Just when I think that I have heard it all on here... If eating is problematic, then at least sip on protein shakes all day. That way you can at least get some nourishment in your body. I really do wish you the best.

If I drank that little, I would be dehydrated. Absolutely. My advice is to call your team and set up an appointment with the surgeon or his NP as soon as possible. You need to talk to them about your seriously low calorie intake and your issues meeting the protein and water goals. Good luck!

You have to meet those goals, even if you eat very small meals multiple times per day. You don't want your body to get used to such low calorie totals over a sustained period of time. Do you find that you're not hungry? I am having a hard time imagining anyone at this stage of the game existing on sub-500 calories per day. How much water are you drinking every day?

I was at about 1200 calories per day at 6 months, and now, at 7 months, I am closer to 1300 calories per day. I eat 7-8 times per day, about 2 hours apart. I was eating more than 500 calories within a few weeks post. In fact, looking over my food journal, I was averaging about 800 calories per day at 1 month post-op. I have to ask, how are you meeting your protein goals on such few calories? Are you still using shakes a lot?

In addition to my food journal, I keep a consumption record every day that plots out when I eat and drink (allowing for the 30 minute before and after eating buffer). I eat 7-8 times per day about 2 hours apart. I drink 32 oz of water after Meals 1 and 2, 16 oz of water after Meal 3, 16 oz of PowerAde Zero after Meal 5, and 8 oz of Powerade Zero mixed with 8 oz of water after Meal 7. It takes me about 12-14 hours to get it all in each day, but I do. I started doing this as soon as I was back on solid foods, and I have done it every day since. It is just routine now.

I remember the excitement of moving through the food stages. Each new food (well-cooked green beans, cottage cheese, string cheese, then eggs, then soft fish, etc., etc., etc.) brought some variety into the rather drab early post-op experience, and made me work harder to meet my protein and water goals. You'll probably find some new love for some of these foods. At 7 months post-op, I still have cottage cheese, string cheese, and well-cooked green beans every single day! Enjoy.

I told anyone and everyone. It has kept and will continue to keep me accountable!

I don't focus on being full. In fact, I avoid the full feeling. I eat specific amounts and when that's done, that's it. Even at 7 months post-op, I'll eat 3 oz of chicken with 1 oz of green beans, 3 oz of salmon with 1 oz of green beans, 2 oz of hamburger steak with 1 oz of green beans, or 4 oz of cottage cheese in a meal. I think my stomach capacity is more in the 6 oz range, so I am staying considerably under that in all of my meals. I eat about 7-8 times per day, approximately 2 hours apart. The multiple small meal strategy has worked really well for me.

Search "three week stall." You appear to be right in the middle of it. My advice is to stick to your plan, make meeting your protein and water goals your full-time job, and stay off of the scale for a while. Good luck!

My partner and I love cruising! Yes, there will be food everywhere, but the good news is, there is food everywhere. There is plenty of protein to be had on cruise ships. I know for a fact that Carnival has grilled chicken breast and grilled salmon available every night in the main dining room. I'm sure the others have something similar. The buffets always have lean protein and vegetables as well. The challenge is going to be staying away from the empty calories and carbs that will throw you off course. Also, I'd recommend bringing along some protein shakes or protein powder. I'm not sure what their rules are about the ready-made shakes, but since nothing like that is available on board (to my knowledge), I can't imagine that they wouldn't allow them to be brought aboard. Bon Voyage!!

How many calories are you taking in per day? Carbs? Protein? How much water are you drinking each day? What are you doing for exercise? Are you logging your food and drink? It very well might be a stall. They happen and happen frequently for me, but in order to give you any advice, it would be helpful to have some more information...

My insurance required me to do a six month doctor supervised diet program before they would pay for the surgery. I decided that since I had to do the diet program anyway, I might as well really apply myself and see how much I could lose pre-op. I lost 99 pounds (from 397 to 298) by the day of surgery. It was the best thing that I could have done for myself. I redefined my relationship with food, purged myself of carbs, and got into a positive mindset regarding eating and drinking before I had to deal with the realities of the surgery and the subsequent recovery. And it made the stalls that come along post-op SO MUCH EASIER to handle emotionally. (When my 3 week stall hit -- and it hits everyone -- I had lost 120 pounds, not just 20 pounds, and that made dealing with the stall much, much easier.) As of today, I have lost 193 pounds total. Without all my pre-op work, that total would only be 94 pounds. I am on the verge of my goal; without the pre-op work I did, I'd still have a long, long way to go. Good luck!

I eat 7-8 times per day, about 2 hours apart. I have 32 oz of water after Meal 1, another 32 oz of water after Meal 2, and another 16 oz of water after Meal 3. After Meal 5, I have 16 oz of PowerAde Zero Fruit Punch, and I have 8 oz of PowerAde Zero Fruit Punch mixed with 8 hours of water after Meal 7. That gets me to over 100 oz per day and allots for the 30 minutes before and after eating rule.

I have been keeping a daily consumption record since I had the surgery back in September to help me eat and drink as I should (and allow the time before and after eating before drinking). I eat 7-8 times per day, about 2 hours apart, and between that and the water, it takes me 12-14 hours every day. It is a commitment, for sure, and the record is the only way that I can keep up with it -- even at nearly 7 months out!

I would say that you need a minimum of 64 oz each day. Personally, I have 80 oz of water per day and another 32 oz of PowerAde Zero/water mix. That being said, ask your team, but I bet they say at least 64 oz.

I'm not a big water fan myself, but I make myself drink 80 oz per day. The rest of my fluid (around 32 oz additional) comes from mixing 8 oz of PowerAde Zero Fruit Punch with 8 oz of water. I have found that to be a pretty pleasant way to hydrate.

I do hydrotherapy (essentially a steam bath) at my spa several times a week. The NP told me to wait 2 weeks post-op to resume doing it. I assume swimming would be a similar timeline, although with the chlorine, it might be different. The best thing to do is ask your team.

Good for you! I started at 397 thirteen months ago today. Today, I weighed 206. Getting below 200 pounds will be a major accomplishment, and is in my immediate future, so I completely understand how you feel. Keep pressing on!!

I spent one night and was discharged mid-morning the next day. I have heard everything from a same-day discharge to one night to two nights. YMMV.

I struggled with serious fatigue for the first 8 weeks post-op. I took 6 weeks off from work, and fatigue continued to be a real issue for me those first 2 weeks back. I seriously took a nap every single afternoon for 6 weeks and wished I still could the 2 weeks following...

I took 6 weeks off after surgery. Physically (aside from fatigue), I could probably have gone back after 2-3 weeks if I would have had to, but I took the time to devote myself 100% to meeting my protein and water goals and to work through the first 3/4 of the food stages. The fatigue was significant for 8 weeks post-op. Even my first 2 weeks back to work, I struggled with it. My advice is to take as much time as your personal, professional, and financial situations will allow. Good luck!

How many calories are you taking in per day? Carbs? Protein? With that much exercise, it is vital that you are taking in enough fuel.

I'm curious. Is he overweight or obese himself? I wonder if he worries about what the "new you" will be like and how it might affect your relationship? Just a wondering... Regardless, I hope that he steps up as you move closer to your surgery date. Hang in there!