The New Kel

@@PorkChopExpress, Thanks for the help! When you mean my carbs and fat intake are flip flopped, you're saying that I should get closer to 25 carbs and lower the fat? My highest percentage of intake now is in Protein, then fat, then carbs last. Could I be shooting myself in the foot by restricting even good carbs? And I totally agree too with trial and error! @@Aggiemae, My protein has been ranging between 60-90 a day. I thought that was good...I might need to to up that? I know you are right about not calling it a stall. It's hard around the second week of no weight loss not to get a little stir crazy but I know, embrace it! :-) Actually for the first time in two weeks, I'm down one whole pound today, lol!

I'm 5 weeks out and I don't miss eating food like I did pre-surg at all. I don't even really like eating any foods at this stage, because I'm still healing and its usually uncomfortable. Looking forward to when I can eat 3 oz and not feel bad.

Good question! I'm only 5 weeks out. My husband said he sees (and feels ) the difference already. I've lost 35 lbs since beginning prep op diet and 15 since surgery.

Dumping syndrome reactions vary from person to person, but generally the symptoms are nausea, diarrhea, rapid heart rate, weakness, and sweats. Basically, you feel awful. Just diarrhea alone probably isn't dumping syndrome but a reaction to the pure fluids or Fluid Proteins not sitting well in your system.

Congratulations!! You and I have the same height/weight/goal stats. And like you, I'm looking forward to losing the 'obese' title. It's inspirational to see your success. Way to go!

That sounds good! It sounds better than the original Mojito! I'll definitely try that over the holidays I come from a family who loves, loves loves wine. Central Coast California winos, we are! So, scaling back or not participating will be interesting.

I'm 5 weeks out. A big pleasure in my adult life has been spending time in the kitchen creating meals that are unique, visually pleasing. Like chicken piccata with wine garlic sauce, etc. I would take pleasure creating it then enjoying a long dinner with my husband and a glass of wine. These days, I am back to creating these meals (but substituting healthier ingredients). The thing that bothers me is to have this lovely meal with all the aromas, sit down and only be able to eat literally two bites. I am happy to read that it gets better with time. Eventually I hope to be able to eat at least 4 oz or a cup.

Hi @@sk101 ! Welcome to the boards! I have found this to be a place with great resources, answers and support. What part of the country are you from?

I'm 5 weeks post op and can now fit into my favorite top, which I had put away in a box for the past two years. Also, despite my distaste for them, I'm drinking a shake every day, because I know it is best for me, allowing me to reach my Protein goals daily.

MyFittnessPal! Awesome ap. I plug in everything I eat and it lets me know where I stand throughout the day.

Nice yoga pants idea is a good one. It's weird how our bodies loose the fat differently at first. I am a month out and I've lot a lot in my top half, waist, boobs, and tummy. Bottom half has lost less than half of what the top half has lost Therefore I am starting to look like a pear, lol!

@@rolosmom7, I wouldn't worry too much about calories. Focus on Protein first, meet your protein goal daily, and meet your fluids goal daily. My NUT has assured me that those two factors play a much bigger role in fat burning than calorie counting. The full feeling is pretty normal, but I agree with LipstickLady. Don't even eat the bottom half of the bun. Also I found that hamburger and ground meats produce a more full feeling than soft (dark meat) chicken and fish. Try rotisserie chicken dark meat, the thighs are great. Add greek yogurt of a bit of mayo. cheese is another way to get protein in that goes down easy. I get all my protein in starting with a 30g shake in the morning, then the rest of the day I have things such as cottage cheese, cheddar cheese, yogurt, soft chicken, tuna with mayo, fish, soft cooked veggies, and peanut better. Here's a fun and yummy thing I discovered for a high protein snack: 1 or 2 tablespoons natural no sugar added Peanut Butter, next to a tablespoon of sugar free preserves (I love the apricot preserves). Use a small spoon to get a bit of both in each little bite. It takes just like a PBJ sandwich! I also wouldn't worry about a 2 lb gain. Weight can fluctuate quite a bit daily. Keep following the rules and the numbers will start moving again.

I am 3 weeks post op. I was one of those weirdos who was actually hungry up until almost two weeks post op. I was worried that the part about removing the hunger hormone leptin hadn't happened for me. Now, for the past week and at week 3, I can comfortably say I no longer feel hunger all day. in fact, I only feel it when I have gone too long without eating, like 4 hours or so. The mental obsession and mentally visualizing food is over. I still get occasional cravings but it's when I truly need to eat. AND, the best part is that I'm not depressed about not being able to eat cheeseburgers, etc anymore. Now I crave healthy protein! I'm just posting to let any new sleeves know that if you are hungry all the time, most likely it is a temporary condition and it will pass. Best wishes to all! Kel

I am one month post op, on "soft foods". I have been having discomfort with everything except for cottage cheese and yogurt. I'm on soft foods and even very soft chicken and fish gives me pain right where the esophagus meets the stomach opening. It is like a lot of pressure and makes eating difficult. It takes about 15-20 minutes until it passes into the stomach and pain subsides. I was fearful I had a structure. I just spoke to my surgeons nurse, who said it sounds exactly like spasms. Therefore she ordered Levson, a tablet I will take 15 minutes before meals. I was actually sent home with some, but thought it was for nausea. I am glad it's not a stricture. I'll start taking this stuff tonight before dinner and see how it goes.

It could be, since dumping syndrome affects people differently. For me, I got it after drinking Protein too fast (I was trying to get it over with, I don't like shakes). The symptoms were rapid heart beat, nausea, and diarrhea, and broke out in sweats. No fun.

Silly me, I was taking the Levson they sent me home with once in the morning, thinking it was for nausea. No wonder my Breakfast has never been a problem. I also have some meds they gave me marked specifically for nausea. But those make me fall asleep, lol.

A good book and Netflix

One month post op, I get between 600 and 850 calories a day.

I'm almost 5 weeks post op. I get 65-85 grams a day. One Protein shake-30 grams. Various other high protein soft foods fill in the remaining 35-55 a day.

Looks like I will taking it regularly too.. Anything to make eating less painful!

That is awesome! I bet it feels great to get that scale moving again. I am in the second week of a stall, which began on in week 3. Scale hasn't budged but my clothes are getting looser regardless. Thanks for the uplifting post!

Oh my!! I have gone online and researched the calories that are in foods that I USED to eat quite often. I must have been in quite a state of denial. I can't believe the calories in these foods! Plus the carbs and sugar. I know that as post WLS we don't focus on calories as much as +protein and -carbs/sugar, however I can see from this quick research that what I was consuming regularly pushed me WAY over what I needed in calories and carbs. I now track just about everything I eat. Someday I will relax and not track so much but it is helping me a lot right now. Here is a list of stuff I used to eat pre-surgery and when I was in complete denial. Starbucks Iced Lemon Pound Cake: 470 calories, 68 carbs (yikes). Starbucks chicken Artichoke on Ancient Grain Flatbreat (sounds healthy, right?) 510 calories, 37 carbs. McDonald's Big Mac: 563 calories, 44 carbs. (Hello, I'm Kel. I'm a recovering Big Mac Addict.) Jack-in-the-Box Portobello Mushroom Buttery Jack: 810 calories, 51 carbs. (!!!) Jack-in-the-Box Breakfast Platter: 640calories, 47 carbs. Jimmy Johns Club Tuna Sandwich: 1000 calories, 73 carbs. Snyders' of Hanover Honey Mustard Pretzel Pieces, 3 oz bag: 420 calories, 60 carbs. Einstein's Everything Bagel with Regular Cream Cheese: 430 calories, 60 carbs. Loaded Baked Potato w/sour cream, cheese and bacon bits: 535 calories, 62 carbs. And to think on any given day pre-surgery life I might have had 2 or 3 of these items. Sleeve life is truly a learning journey!

@@PorkChopExpress I just wanted to pop in and say I really like this sentence. I hadn't thought of it that way before now I will be visualizing this. I'm a visual person so in my mind I see the obese mind who used to be in control, and the new, real me now taking over. Thanks for this! OK....carry on

Hi I'm Nia and I'm too a recovering Big Mac addict with extra sauce Sent from my SM-G900T1 using the BariatricPal App Big Mac with extra sauce....yep, that was my thing. I wonder if I will ever truly forget about how indulgent that was, It was like a hit of heroin for an addict.

I'm sorry you are dealing with tricky insurance. I used to work in the insurance field, trying to get authorizations for medical procedures and treatments. It was a real eye opener. I learned that the smaller and more micro-managed insurance groups can basically write in any damn exclusion that want. It's awful and makes you realize that its all about money. Even a denial can be appealed though. And even a denial of the appeal can be appealed again! Sometimes with some insurance groups you have to go through several hoops. Which is unfortunate because all you're trying to do is get healthy, which will ultimately save them $ in the long run. Sigh....insurance stinks. Hang in there and if need be appeal, appeal, appeal!!