blizair09

I have lost an average adult man so far. That's pretty cool. My goal is 2 bloodhounds plus a sperm whale's brain plus 1 pound. Cool list -- thanks for posting!

If you are having this much trouble, maybe you should go back to protein shakes for a few days. If you can't stomach a Premier Protein ready-made shake (my favorite), then try some Isopure No-Carb mixed with water. I didn't like that as much back when I was at that stage, but they were a little thinner than the Premier. Meeting your protein and water goals is key to success in this journey. Do whatever you have to do to meet these goals... Good luck!

You might also try unsweetened almond milk. It isn't my thing, but I know several people that like it. I stick to water (mostly), PowerAde Zero (fruit punch is my favorite), iced tea, and hot tea (especially when I am traveling).

If you're thirsty, drink water. Aim for 64 oz or more per day, even if you have to sip constantly to get there. Good luck!

Days 1 and 2 post-op were horrible for me, but by Day 3, I started to rebound. Hang in there, focus on meeting your protein and water goals, and walk as much as you can. These actions will help you to feel better more than anything. Good luck!

I just stay away from all things carbonated. I was the biggest Diet Coke addict ever pre-op. And now that I have had it completely out of my system for about 7 months, there is no way I can bring it (or anything else carbonated) back. Aside from the discomfort, if I have a taste, I'll be back to full-blown consumption in no time. I have the same situation with carbs, and that is why I keep those to 20 grams or less each day. Good luck!

Meeting your protein and water goals everyday is so important. This will speed your healing, and is a key to success in this journey long term. Just do whatever you have to do to meet these goals -- even if that means sipping on protein shakes and water consistently throughout the day. Nothing about this journey is easy, and if you want to be successful, you have to find a way to make it work. Good luck!

I like Premier Protein chocolate flavor. I don't have to use them much now (mostly when traveling), but they have been my go-to protein shake all along.

@Hoping052017 My partner and I have been together for over 8 years. When we met (we were friends for a couple of years before we started dating), and after we started dating, we were a normal size (I weighed about 220 at the time, and he weighed about 180). We steadily gained weight together with me maxing out at 397 and him at 315. Now he weighs about 200 and I weigh about 210. He is done with his weight loss and I still have a little more I want to lose. We have loved each other all along, and I am so thankful for him. Taking all this weight off together made the whole journey even more meaningful. What is difficult for us now is the attention we get when we do decide to go out. Gay men are a breed of their own. It is hilarious the guys that will trip over stools to get to us now when a year ago, they wouldn't have even said hello. We have both been out of that side of the gay world for a while, so the aggressive nature of the whole thing is almost new to us, even though we've been in the game before (albeit a long time ago). All this is to say that I understand your hesitations about people and their intentions. The right one will eventually come along, and I wish you the best as you seek to find him.

I completely understand how you feel. I was a nervous wreck that day and nothing could have made me feel differently. Just know that it was all much easier than I was expecting it to be. The first few days after are unpleasant, but you'll rebound quickly. I'm sending good thoughts your way. Good luck!

Changing your relationship with food is the only way to be successful in this journey long term. If the sweets are still an issue for you (i.e., the temptation is too difficult to overcome), then you need to talk to a professional about it. The only way you are going to be successful is to do what you need to do regardless of what is around you or what other people are eating. Good luck!

Walk as much and as often as you can. It makes a HUGE difference!

Persistence and old-fashioned grit and determination are necessary to be successful in this journey. My advice is to buckle down and just do what you are supposed to do. Trust me, it doesn't get easier as you go along. Yes, the liquid part of the journey is among the worst parts of it, but having to make the right decisions about food and drink will be a necessary part of the journey from here on out.

Stalls are no fun, but they are a part of this journey. And they only get more prevalent the further along that you get. My recommendation is to stick to your plan, to focus on meeting your protein and water goals, and to stay off of the scale if it is going to upset you.

Stalls are part of the journey, and there isn't much you can do about it. I just keep to my plan and eventually the scale will move again. I know this isn't exciting advice, but there isn't much you can do about it.

Even though it is hard, you have to push yourself to meet your protein and water goals. Do this even if you have to take sips consistently throughout the day. This will help you to feel better. Also, are you walking at all? That also makes you feel better. I had fatigue problems for a solid 2 months post-op, but it got better slowly but surely. The early days post-op are very tough, but the more you push yourself to get water and protein in and get up and moving, the faster you will heal. Good luck!

Stalls are really common during this journey. This won't be the last one. If you cave every time you have a stall, you won't ever be successful long term. So my advice is to just keep to your plan, meet your protein and water goals, and stay away from the carbs. Aside from all of that, at 8 weeks post-op, eating a bagel could be dangerous. Please don't do it.

I'm 6.5 months post-op, and I still struggle with constipation. If I haven't gone in 3 days, I take Milk of Magnesia, and it usually does the trick. I had a pretty bad episode with it last week, so I am going to touch base with my team to talk about it. I wish I could say that it gets better, but in my case, it has been pretty much the same since I came home from the hospital. Good luck!

I just returned from a 9 day work trip. My partner was able to go with me, so we drove from New Orleans to Tampa. For the travel day to Florida, I pre-made all the normal things that I would eat in a day (7 small meals spaced about 2 hours apart), and packed a cooler with ice. We stopped and I used the microwave at various convenience stores along the way to heat things up as I needed to. During the week, I had to rely on Premier Protein shakes to make sure I met my protein requirements. I brought along a bag full of 3 oz portions of chicken I had cooked and froze as well as a container of green beans that I had made. I went to the store and bought string cheese and cottage cheese, so I had plenty of options. On the way home, I mostly ate string cheese, lean turkey lunch meat, and ParmCrisps at my eating times, along with 2 protein shakes. With a little planning, it is possible to keep to your routines while you are away, but it requires a commitment! Good luck and enjoy your vacation.

At about 6.5 months post-op, I eat about 3 oz of meat (chicken, pork, hamburger, or salmon) and 1 oz of green beans in one of my meals. I can eat 2 oz of meat (chicken or pork) folded into 1 scrambled egg in one of my meals, and I can eat 4 oz of cottage cheese with 1 T of sugar-free strawberry preserves in one of my meals. My stomach capacity is bigger than that because I never feel overly full. That is what I allow myself to have to keep to my daily routines. So, I eat 7 times per day, about 2 hours apart. This comes out to about 1200 calories, 20 grams of carbs, and 100-120 grams of protein. In between the eating, I get in about 100 oz of water and 16 oz of PowerAde Zero to meet my fluid requirements. Good luck!

My ability to take in fluids rebounded really quickly after surgery. I was already drinking semi-normally after just a few weeks, while others on this forum still report difficulties after several months. You must be healing nicely which is a great thing! Good luck!

That's not weird, at all! When I started this journey with my six-month pre-op diet program almost 13 months ago, I made a list of milestones (26 of them in all). When I hit one of the milestones, I notate that on my list along with the date. It keeps me motivated and makes me happy. And some of them are the little things like what you mentioned! (And to be honest, those are the best ones!) Good luck as you continue your journey!

This is actually an old post. I have lost almost 190 pounds at this point. I follow a low carb/high protein/high healthy fat way of eating. I have been doing that for over a year now. It is the key to my success.