blizair09

I am confused. Why would you put your body through the trauma of surgery to just want to "stretch the sleeve and eat and drink (wine) as always"? Even if you haven't had long-term weight problems, something caused you to rapidly gain weight. If you return to your behaviors from that time frame, wouldn't you just re-gain the weight? (And could you imagine how that would make you feel?) You can still eat and drink with your friends in moderation while respecting the limits that the sleeve puts on you. Wouldn't that give you the best of both worlds? Good luck.

My plan recommends having several small meals per day. It is all about meeting Protein and water goals. In my experience, it would be next to impossible to get all of the protein in by only eating 3 times. Bottom line -- seek out guidance from your surgeon/nutritionist/etc. They know your situation better than anyone.

My pleasure. Good luck!

I'm not a fan of the water drinking, either. But I have 48 oz after the first time I eat and then another 48 oz after the second time (I allow a little more time between those meals to account for the drinking), and then I sip on and off the rest of the day. I just like getting as much of it out of the way in the morning as I can. I average about 120 oz per day.

My pleasure. Good luck!

I haven't had any hunger issues, but I, like most people, hit a stall at the beginning of week 3 post-op. It lasted about 2 weeks, and then the scale began to move again. Your body just needs a chance to catch up to the rapid weight loss.

I eat 8 times per day -- about an hour and a half apart. Given the small amounts I can eat, and accounting for the 30 minutes dry period before/after drinking, it takes that long to get all of the Protein in. It ends up being 800-900 calories, less than 20 grams of carbs, and 90-100 grams of protein when it's all said and done for the day. The key is that you are meeting your protein and Water goals -- however that comes to be.

I have BCBS Anthem. They required six monthly visits with the surgeon's nurse practitioner, 1 visit with the nutritionist, a psych evaluation, and a medical clearance from my PCP. The surgeon's staff took really detailed notes on my weight loss each month of the six months and submitted all of that documentation (it was a binder full of stuff). Nothing could be submitted until everything had been completed. lost 100 pounds during my six month pre-op program, was at exactly a 40 BMI on the day of surgery, and I was approved. It took 2 weeks from when they submitted the paperwork for BCBS to approve it.

Awesome. Congratulations!

In the first week or two post-op, I slept all the time. Fatigue remained a significant issue for me until about six weeks post-op. I still have my moments (exercise hits me differently depending on the day) even now (2 months post-op on Monday), but it is finally better for the most part.

Once I was able to add in salmon at Week 6, I was able to get all of my Protein in with no shakes. Now that I have progressed through all of the food stages, it is even easier to do so. The only time I have had a protein shake in the last few weeks was a day I was going to be flying all day, and it was just easier to front load a shake before I headed to the airport. To do this, I have to eat about 8 times in a day -- an hour-and-a-half apart. I can only eat about 2 oz of meat with 1 oz of green Beans at a time. The only thing I can eat more of is cottage cheese. I can eat about 4 oz of that.

I agree with @@Dub completely. I lost almost 100 pounds in the six months leading up to my surgery. It was the best thing I ever did for myself. I was as prepared as I could possibly have been for the surgery and post-op life. My recovery has been practically seamless, and I have transitioned beautifully into my post-op routines and continued weight loss. I don't think my post-op journey would have been the way it has been without having done all of that hard work on the front end. Good luck!

I have found that there is no rhyme or reason to it. I have lost 8 pounds in a week; I have lost 1 pound in a week, and I have lost everything in between. In my experience, there is just nothing linear about this journey, but as long as the weight is trending downward and I am meeting my Protein and Water goals every day, I have faith in the process. Good luck!

I thought this was a post about the canned meat -- pretty novel for Thanksgiving day. :-)

I'll echo that you need to do everything you can to get more Protein and calories in, and broth with unflavored protein powder will probably be the best way to do so. Sip on it all day if you have to. I started feeling much better when my protein and calorie levels came out of the basement! About your husband -- I don't know you or your relationship and I am a stranger on the internet, but I can't even fathom one's life partner saying that something troublesome "is not my problem." Seriously, what a douche. If my partner said something like that to me about anything (whether I brought it on myself or not), he'd be sleeping at the Hilton... I hope the coming days find a solution and an improvement in your situation. Good luck!

@@RussT The stall starting around Week 3 post-op is really common. It hit me right on schedule at the beginning of Week 3, and lasted for 2 weeks. After that, the weight steadily started coming off again. Even during my pre-op diet (when I started at nearly 400 pounds), I had plateaus here and there. The body has to take a moment to catch up with itself during these periods of rapid weight loss. Just keep following your plan and meeting your Protein and Water goals. I know how hard it is to be patient sometimes, but the scale will start moving again soon. Good luck!

What a cool post. Enjoy your grandchildren and happy Thanksgiving!

My plan allowed me to add salmon and other fish Week 6, and chicken, ground beef, and turkey Week 7. I added bacon back into Breakfast last week, too. The only thing they advise to wait on is steak, with a recommendation of 4-6 months. I haven't had any problems with any of the meats at all. I eat about 2 oz at a time. Have you talked to your team about your body's reaction to meat? If so, what did they say about it?

I never really had any pain with the incisions; however, at about 6 weeks post-op, the incision inside my belly button began to ooze this clear Fluid mixed with blood. I ended up having to take an antibiotic for a week, and it cleared right up, and now it is back to smooth sailing.

You are right. There is so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I still have a ways to go yet, but I stand in sheer amazement at the progress made so far and I am ready to move forward and make my dreams a reality. Lisa, you are an inspiration, and your progress and success drives me to press on with my own journey. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

I echo the others' sentiment about staying away from carbonated drinks. I do miss diet coke, but I know that it is a bad idea for me. (And I was so addicted to diet coke -- and caffeine in general -- for so long, it is nice to have that monkey off of my back!)

Wow! That's awesome! So how many carbs per day? I'm doing 30g carbs - 100g Protein and healthy fat too. Doc said I'm not doing Atkins so I don't get to eat a bunch of unhealthy saturated fat. I have less than 20 grams of carbs per day (usually around 15 grams).

I did low carb/high protein/high healthy fat for the duration of my six-month, insurance-required pre-op diet program. I lost 99 pounds by the day of surgery. I have followed the same thing post-op throughout the food stages and have lost another 37 pounds since the surgery on September 28.

Good definition! The one thing that many people still miss with regard to the sleeve is that grit, perseverance, willpower, and personal responsibility are key ingredients to success and that it simply will not work longterm without them.

Congratulations! And good for you for taking the time to get yourself routed in your new routines!! I went back last Monday after 6.5 weeks. I am so glad that I took the time!