LittleLizzieLilliput

I'm 15 weeks post op this week! WOO HOO!! I've lost over 50 lbs so far. I had the VGS, Hiatal Hernia repair and Gallbladder removal. I was pretty weak post op and didn't really heal, get mobile, till 8 weeks. Food: This is a general look and the stuff I eat. I tend to eat the same things for years on end. I know it's weird. lol! I make everything at home and I use low fat, sugar substitutes and high protein whatevers I need to make the dishes. I put aside one day a week to do all my food prep. Usually Saturday or Sunday while I'm cleaning the house as well. I found that I have been far more successful when I make my own food and take the time to create really delicious flavorful dishes. Then when I'm hungry I'm excited to eat the food I made and I don't even think about going out and buy my meal. Breakfast: have low carb english muffin with 4 pieces of Hormel Black Label pre-cooked bacon heated, one slice low fat american cheese. This is my high fat meal. I have tried so many other breakfast things but this is the one that my new stomach digests the best and my tastebuds still like. Protein: 18g Fat: 16g Cal: 296 Lunch: 4 oz Homemade Butter Chicken (Indian dish, not much butter despite name, lol) Protein: 20g Fat: 10g Cal: 214 Snack: 4 oz Homemade Butter Chicken Protein: 20g Fat: 10g Cal: 214 Dinner: 4oz Homemade Chicken Teriyaki (I make my own teriyaki using splenda brown sugar, low sodium soy and real honey) Protein: 26g Fat: 4.5g Cal: 130 Exercise: I walk 20-30 minutes vigorously twice a day, 10 and 2 generally, I purchased an under the desk eliptical (https://wiki.ezvid.com/best-desk-ellipticals?id=adw&gclid=CjwKEAiA2abEBRCdx7PqqunM1CYSJABf3qva7xq2EINdf9gHKU-V7MNl197f-b-wrCB5-1Vwvw181RoCGJLw_wcB The one I have is the blue one in the middle) and use it all day. I also walk and run around all day at work and then go to all the hockey games here so I walk several blocks to and from the stadium 2-4 times a week. And then I am generally MUCH more active. I jump, run, move quickly and love to feel my muscles work so easily and it feels so GOOD. Size: I find that I am MORE excited about moving to a lower size than I am about a drop in weight. Started out as a size 24, I'm currently a size 18 about to shift to a size 16. OMG do I love seeing my ass look cute and perky in these tight jeans!!! lol! I find myself staring at my ass sometimes, I had no idea it was adorable. hahah!! Conceded? Maybe but the joy I get at seeing I have something cute I like about my body has been a great and wonderful part of this experience. Also, it seems I have a bit of an hourglass figure!! I had no idea really. It's amazing watching my body reveal itself to me. Seeing my bones and curves, my saggy places showing the frame underneath, the feel of my arms able to fold under my breasts and feel my ribs. To feel my pelvic bones pop out when I'm laying in bed. lol! John Mayer was RIGHT, my body is wonderland, but not quite the way he intended. hahah! Psychologically: This is where I feel I'm doing the best. WOW did I struggle. This was not an easy process for me. I didn't decided to do this. It was forced on me by my own morbid obesity. I was dying last year. My gallbladder, my pancreas, my kidneys. All bad. My gallbladder went bad, real bad, and they took months to figure it out. Once they did my doc just said to me "Look, do you want me to make this easy for you?" I said yes. She said "Just get the VGS and have your gallbladder out. You will feel 20 years younger and be off all these meds and I will rarely see you. You have the best insurance and will only pay $500 max out of pocket. Or you can just have your gallbladder out and die in the next 10 years." Well, it's hard to argue with that logic. In fact it was so hard to argue with it I had not choice but to just do it. Somewhat reluctantly. I was scared. This is a huge permanent choice but I realized then I'd used up all my time to do it "my way". I didn't have time left. I was dying. I was sick every day vomiting, in and out of the hospital. My mom and sister weren't happy with the choice, they were scared too. But we also knew I had to do something now if I wanted to change my future and have one. So after the surgery I struggled with the emotional loss of my stomach, my old way of life, my old way of soothing myself, my old way of being me. I was fine at first and then at 4 weeks when I was still so weak and healing and miserable I started crying and didn't stop for a week. I was in mourning and I realized I had to experience it all, I couldn't suppress my feelings anymore because that was killing me too. So I cried and I felt sorry for myself and I moped. And then a week later I moved to my next food stage, I realized I wasn't trapped, that I had options and I needed to give it more time. From that point on it's been wonderful. It's like I allowed myself to mourn and grieve and feel and then like a burned out forest meadow the fresh new sprout of green flowers start pushing up. Slowly that meadow, my emotional landscape, has bloomed. I am so happy now, I get so excited to go to work knowing I'm going to be taking two walk breaks and feeling so good walking. I love checking out my profile in the windows - something that I refused to do before. I'm smiling and laughing more and I'm beginning to consider dating again. My life is opening up like a flower and I love it. And it's only been 15 weeks!! My life is so much more, so much bigger than before. It's weird, the bigger I was the smaller my world became. The smaller I am the bigger my world is becoming.

You should wait until those foods are on your approved list. Which will be after you are on full foods I think. I'm sure God will understand.

I had the VGS, hernia repair and gallbladder removal. It took me 8 weeks to not have pain while walking. Most take just a few weeks. But you had major surgery. Don't expect it to just go away quickly. Someone said that each incision wound is like a stab wound, and then you have to heal from the whole "taking out 80% of your stomach" thing. lol! Give yourself time. Your tummy is healing and swollen. It's gonna need a little time to get better. But it does get better every day. Keep walking to work the gas out from your body and sip sip sip. Good luck and congratulations on doing this!!

I plateau every few weeks. I'm 4 months out. But my measurements keep dropping.

Just think of your future Valentines days and forgo the sweets this year.

I'm pretty sure my nighttime hunger is real hunger, not head hunger. I try to drink as much water before bed as possible but I generally just go to bed pretty hungry. But it's my new hunger, not my old hunger, so it doesn't have the same demands to be filled. Does that makes sense?

I should but I haven't. I try to deal with all my emotional issues as they come up. That's been the way I deal with it. If I'm angry I just let myself be angry, mad, sad, depressed, etc. Growing up we weren't allowed negative emotions so I was trained to not express them and to leave the family until I could be happy. I am now learning to reverse that by allowing myself these negative emotions. When I went to the pre-surgical psych appointment that is mandated I was SOOO nervous. The guy almost made me cry a few times pressing on sensitive topics. He told me he fully approves my surgeries and suggested I seek out therapy afterwards. lol! I haven't yet. It's too scary yet. I'll give myself more time...(lies lies lies. hahah!)

It's important to keep your carbs low for each meal. 15 grams is the target I was given. Make sure you aren't getting too much sodium either, that causes Water retention. Keep the fluids going, get at least the 64oz and get in all your Protein. And walk walk walk. I did some fluctuations as well. See, our bodies don't like to lose weight this quickly. Our metabolism thinks something's wrong, that you are starving to death. So what it does is sllllloooooooowwwww doooooooowwwwwnnnn to a crawl. Then when you start adding more calories, carbs and fat your body goes "OH GOODIE!! Let's STORE THIS!" and bamn, a lb or a few. So it's super important you follow the plan. It takes about 3 years for our metabolisms to bounce back. That's why it's so important to follow the eating guidelines for the next few years. We can gain back our weight really easily because our metabolism doesn't really get what we are doing to it. lol

when did your doc say you could ge3t back into the gym? I was giving a 12 week restriction but I had Gallbladder removal, VGS and hernia repair. This is something your doctor needs to give you guidelines on. I'm at 4 months post op and I still an very tender in my abdominal area. In fact today I was walking around like I was holding in my guts cause 3 of my incision sites were achey. lol! Or, my stab wounds as I like to call them. I've been given the all clear but I still can't work my abs. I want to try Yoga though!! This reminds me of that so maybe I'll sign up for a beginner class! I always wanted to do it but was too embarrassed about my size.

I still only drink room temp water now. I got so trained during recovery that's all I want now.

I waited till I was 3 months post op. Careful though as it has a lot of carbs and fat. Carbs are a diet killer. But I love it! lol! I have probably about a tablespoon every other day or so.

It's hard to eat much right now, your tummy is still swollen. Right now you are only on liquids. Just sip sip sip. Once you go to the pureed foods you will start to feel and understand what your new "full" feels like but it takes time. For Pureed food keep it to 2 ozs. I could barely get that much in at the time but I always measured and now I still do to make sure I get 4oz. In the first few weeks it is very difficult to reach our Water and Protein goals. The object is to just keep trying to obtain it. Keep a journal/log of your intakes. I did that for the first 3 months, written down, just to make sure I was slowly increasing my intake. I was able to hit my 64oz water and 90oz protein goal after 12 weeks but I just kept trying. My doc said that was the right way to do it. Also, don't hesitate to call your docs office. I was a complete and utter nuisance to them for the first 8 weeks. *shrugs* oh well. lol! It's my health and life on the line, if I had to call 3 times in one day with questions, I did. I'd call and talk to Casme, the front office Nurse, and be all, "Hi, it's MMMEEE again! This time I want to know ...." lol! The other tip the doc told me is to just keep trying. He said that I'm healing right now and what doesn't work one day may work the next. So just keep sipping - and remember the Protein shakes doubly count towards both your protein and liquid goals.

oh man that is AMAZING!! you look fantastic, such hard work, great job!!!!!!!!!!!

I felt like there was an alien controlling my body between the back of my throat and the bottom of my stomach for the first 12 weeks or so. It was a mystery and I'm sorry you are going through it as well, but it does heal. I hated swallowing for that entire time. But now I've leveled out to my new normal. I'm 4 months post op.

I have a couple of different questions. LIke others asked, Over what period of time and what are you eating? Also, and this is the most important, our bodies can be a mystery at some points. Our metabolisms don't like to lose weight this rapidly and will slow down to a crawl. That's part of why it's so important to maintain your post surgical diet for a long period of time. I eat the same things every day, I've always been that way. But some weeks I'll lose nothing, I've gone up and down but then I drop 8-10 lbs and then it levels off and then drops again. We are each different. As long as you stay with the plan, eat mostly Protein, Water, keep carbs to 15 grams or under per meal and walk walk walk, it WILL work for us. But we are technically starving our bodies of calories and it no likey so it fights back sometimes.

I didn't take prilosec for the first month and it was hell. I almost choked to death one night when I aspirated on it. It was terrifying. And then I was coughing up acid from my lungs for over a day. It was horrific. I called my doc and apparently they forgot to tell me all about the antacids. I had to crush them for the first 3 months though because I wasn't allowed to take pills. I also used Pepcid AC Chewables. LOVED the berry Flavored ones. I used those for an On-The-Spot solution. I'm at 4 months now and just take the daily Prilosec.

There is a ton of hormones stored in our fat and as we use the fat those hormones kind of flood the system. I personally haven't had a 2 week period but they were longer and heavier the first 3 months. I think it's due to those hormones. It's always better to the get doctors All Clear. glad you are going to see your gyno, that's perfect!

WOW!!! That's fantastic!!!!!! Such a good job, hard work and dedication. You rock!

Darima, I'm glad you are going to look into some therapy sessions. That's really great, I think she would be quite proud of you. I can't imagine your loss. I just know that it's important to talk to someone. Alcohol might help with your immediate feelings but what it also does is hurts your body and is just pushing away the pain, putting it on layaway. Please know you can just message me and I'll be here to talk. I check this site a few times every day. I'm giving you a big hug filled with compassion and love.

Ok! So what it's important to know is that you have goals of 80-90g protein each day and at least 64 oz of water. But you are just out of suregry and in recovery. It's highly unlikely you will hit your goals for weeks yet. Just keep trying. Keep a journal or log of all your intakes. Make sure you are slowly increasing each day. You WILL get there, it just takes time and you are only 5 days out. My doc said to keep trying and focus on the goals but understand we can't reach them right away. Our tummies are just too new and swollen. However, you send in your second post that you aren't drinking your shakes or water. What are you eating/drinking and at what frequency? It's one thing to not hit your goals but it's another to be not taking in anything. You will get very sick that way. Do you log your intakes? If so what does the last few days look like?

Thank you for the reminder and I'm 'so glad you are mostly OK!! I try to drink from morning to night. I'm gonna get something like this to keep better track. Right now I'm just drinking and guessing. Thank you for this! https://www.amazon.com/Measuring-Tracker-Non-Toxic-Plastic-Product/dp/B01N4PEIB7/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1486503083&sr=8-9&keywords=water+bottles+that+track+intake

I've kept my T&A so far, thank god. Though they both suffer from sag and gravity. I will be getting the full wind-up when I have this skin removed. And by that I mean I'm gonna have them just start twisting the skin in the back till I'm all taut and tight from toes to nose! hahaha!! I plan on having nipples that point to the sky and a butt that can still hold a drink on it. A girl has to have goals.

I'd get on a shake diet. I'd take my calories down to 1200 at the most, 1000 maybe even. You will be getting far less than that post surgery. Good to get used to it now. Calorie restriction will do the trick!

WIthout the PPI there is a strong chance you will form an ulcer, which I've just been reading about unfortunately, and found out they could bleed out and kill you! Make sure if you don't' take a PPI you are taking something else to control the acid. And that something needs to really work. Acid reflux also causes esophageal cancer, pain, inability to sleep, lung infections when the acid seeps up your throat and you aspirate on it (not even joking, happened to me 2 weeks post op and almost drowned/choked to death while sleeping. not fun.) There are lots of ways for us to die on this journey, most of them due to the morbid obesity we inflicted onto our bodies to the point we ended up needing life saving surgery. Finally, the extra acid in your new tummy ends up feeling like hunger so a lot of us were miserable, in pain and hungry until we started taking the PPI's. As long as you are understanding of all these things and make safe healthy choices, it should be fine. Just keep an eye out for all this stuff.

Ok, here's what I did, go and buy a crap load of different protein shakes. Go to GNC or something like that and just get a bunch of them. Because what you liked before may not be the same after. Make sure to get some that is like chicken soup as well. You will want sweet and savory. It's important to fulfill both flavor profiles for cravings. Get a few different types of bottled water, again, the same reason. Get your crystal lights, your flavored waters. Get Gas-x strips to help get the gas out post surgery, get liquid Tylenol as you can't take pills for 12 weeks post op (or I couldn't at least), get Prilosec or Previcid - whatever antacids your doc recommends (call now and find out so you can just stock up. Ask when you can take and how). Make sure to get the items on your approved diet list for the first two weeks or so, that way you have options. Good luck! This is an interesting and life changing journey, The first steps are not easy so please try to not get too discouraged in the first month post surgery. You most-likely won't drop much right away because your body is in shock and healing. Try to keep in mind the first few weeks are about recuperating and recovery, not weightloss. Good luck again and congratulations!