2ndSpring

I totally agree - being active here really helps keep me focused and on track. Its a daily reminder of what I need to do - and DAMN, it is very easy to get derailed it you stop paying attention. @gwbicster - you are awesome! so many people post questions and then aren't open to the answers. You have an open mind and curiosity about what it takes to succeed. I predict that you are going to be very successful !! and in a few months, you'll be paying it forward to the next wave of people getting surgery.

I'm happy that you reached out and posted openly about what's been going on for you. We've all struggled with the same issues. I don't want to sound like I have it all figured out, because I still have to fight old habits and urges every day, but here is my best advice......... Use these short few months right after surgery to radically change your relationship with food. You can be moderate later on when you are at or near goal. The new habits you make now will be a lifesaver when you are further down the road and your body lets you eat a lot more. Have a plan for each meal ahead of time - don't get caught in a situation where you have no good choices. It is ok to do whatever you need to do in any situation, like bringing food with you, or turning down food that others have made. LOL, even if it is your favorite aunt and she made it "just for you". When you get to solids, always focus on protein first. Stay away from bread, pasta, rice, potatoes while you are losing - they trigger cravings, get digested way too fast and use up too much valuable real estate in your stomach. Pay attention to the no drinking after eating rule. Not because of rumors that it can stretch out your stomach - that has been debunked. But rather because liquids will wash food out of your stomach and you want to keep that full and satisfied feeling as long as you can. It is ok to be hungry in between meals. I used to be so afraid of being hungry and was amazed to learn that it goes away if you ignore it for like 10 minutes or so. I tell myself that it is ok and that I will eat again in X hours at my next meal. Log and track your food and measure out your portions on a food scale. I use my tracker for today only, to see how I am doing towards my daily goals - and then I never look at it again. I get crazy in the head when I try to do long term tracking. Whatever works for you. Best of luck on your journey!! I am rooting for you.

Julie, I hope you are feeling better. I had the same thing happen. I got an IV at the doctors office on the 1 week visit. what helped me was not drinking very cold water in the first few weeks. It was making my stomach constrict and there were just not enough hours in the day to sip that much. Feel Better!!!

Wow, the time is flying by. Your surgiversary! congrats I'm up for the 22nd or the 5th. That coffee shop in babylon that we met at a while back was nice, unless if Jack is coming straight from work, then we should find somewhere in Nassau.

haha! and then second breakfast is followed by elevensies.

Nope. What helped me stay hydrated was hot tea that I let cool off a bit. I used either decaf or herbal and unsweetened. I know, eww-unsweetened, LOL, but you get used to it. broth counts too.

I'm so happy for you. good luck on the 25th!

The first few weeks after surgery are tough, physically and mentally. it is a really big surgery for your body to recover from. Those little holes on the outside don't reflect the huge changes inside. Your insides are sore and inflamed right now. Fatigue, low energy and mild depression are common and will go away as the weeks pass. Looking back, I remember starting to feel a little better every day right around the 3 week mark, so I think you are past the worst of it. I promise you that it gets better, so much better

I over prepared and spent a lot of money on things I didn't use, such as a variety of ice cube trays to freeze broth. Your tastes may change after surgery so don't stock up on protein powders for the long haul because your favorite today may taste gross tomorrow. The first few days will be all about hydration so a good water bottle with ounce markings so you can keep track is important. For the protein shakes, I found a blender bottle worked well to mix up the powder (and you don't have to wash the blender!). I bought a 3-pack of the 20 ounce size. I found that getting the protein shake down was easier when I mixed it 50/50 with water/almond milk. it made it a little creamier and easier to tolerate. Chewable or liquid vitamins. If you are on any medications, review sizes with your doctor ahead of time. I was sent home with a prescription painkiller and once that was done, I didn't need any over the counter pain relievers. You need to get up and walk, so make sure you can put your walking shoes on without bending over. A food scale for once you start solids

Great analogy. What really resonated was that we still have to do the hard work of the climb, but without the boulder that was holding us back. thanks for posting it. I am going to keep this visual in my mind today.

Congrats! that is a huge victory!

I am sorry you took it like that. I was definitely not trying to educate you on ways to fail. I was hoping to explain to you the difference between those who are statistically average and those who lose more than the average. You are correct that the statistical averages that are quoted include huge variability and are not predictive of any one individual's success. I had hoped to explain why and what you need to understand going into this so that you are not one of the statistically average. What is predictive of an individual's long term success is less about what cohort you are in and more about the permanency of the lifestyle changes you undertake after surgery. It is hard work and not everyone is willing to take that path, hence the variability in loss rates.

I'm only 9 months post-op, so still have more to lose, but here is my experience to date. Prior to surgery, my cravings were constant, my satiety was very low and I was always hungry. So I would eat a lot at one sitting to get full and satisfied and then want something else a short time after. I was constantly eating. If someone asked if I wanted to go out to dinner, but I had just eaten, I would have gone anyway and had a second meal. After surgery, my body no longer works against me. I am satisfied with my 5 ounce meal. I don't eat again until my next scheduled meal and can be on my merry way doing something else in between meals without food occupying my every thought. But......Head hunger is still there and is a constant battle for me. those old behaviors are still there waiting for me to open the door just a crack. The surgery prevents us from eating too much at once, but enterprising individuals can quickly figure ways around that. For example, you can eat small meals every hour all through the day. Or you could eat ice cream for dinner. After the 6 month mark, it becomes easy to lose your way if you are not careful. That is why the stats are the way they are. Everyone is successful at first. Those who put in the work at the beginning to make lasting changes about their relationship with food and create new habits to rely on later are more successful long term. Those who rely on the surgery to do all the work, lose the statistical 60-70% in the first year and then put a little back on. You'll need to do some soul searching about your relationship with food and if you can let it go. there is no right or wrong, just be aware of yourself. If you think that you will not be able to change your relationship, and the surgery will be the main tool, then you may need to pay attention to the statistics. If you are open to behavior change and some really hard work , then the stats may be less important. You are off to a great start by asking questions and doing research. Best of luck with whatever surgery you choose. We are all here for you.

You are totally on the right track. the head games is where all the most important work gets done. I had a ton of last meals too. I lost my mind actually and ate everything in sight. Ha! I can't remember today a single thing that was so important back then. You are going into this with a great mindset and will be amazed how after surgery, it becomes so much easier (haha, not easy, just easier) because your body won't be fighting you.

I don't usually post a strong opinion on any nutrition topic because everyone's journey is different and there are multiple paths to success. However, I feel strongly enough about this that I gotta come out and say it......refined carbs like bread, rolls and pasta should be avoided during weight loss. They trigger cravings and head hunger, they slide through too quickly, and they take up room that should be allocated to food that provides nutrition. A big part of how WLS promotes success is our new ability to feel full and satisfied on less. If your stomach empties shortly after eating, then the tool's effectiveness is undermined. Also, my experience has been that my desire for them is stronger than the satisfaction from eating them. I had the flu a few months back and doc's advice was to eat simple carbs for a day or 2 because my body needed them temporarily. I was psyched. FREE PASS!!! I ordered lo mein and thought it would be delicious. But it was gummy and tasteless. I guess I used to inhale it so fast (and with a ton of duck sauce and crushed up fried wonton noodles sprinkled on top) that I never noticed it wasn't that good to start with.

Hi Laney, I would love to get together. The 15th is no good for me, but I can make any other day work.

Beautiful! and you look younger too - bonus

@Roux-en-McClanahan this is off topic, but OMG, I love your screen name!!! it is so funny and creative

the bariatric chewable vitamins are kind of gross tasting, right? I had such fond memories of flintstones vitamins and thought they would taste like that, but alas, no. I was approved for a regular vitamin at about 3 months. I use garden of life. for a few months, I broke the pill in half, but now swallow it whole.

the fact that you acknowledged your feelings and came here and talked about them instead of turning to food is such a huge accomplishment. Count this as a NSV - non-scale victory!!!

LOL, no, she saw a physician nutritionist at her gastro's office. First they tried her on the antibiotic that treats SIBO, but it hurt her stomach, so they tried the diet as a plan B. the first few days are really rough and she did have a lot of physical symptoms as her body adjusted, like headaches. She pretty much stayed in bed to sleep through those first few days. But after the adjustment, she felt really good. The part she struggled with the most (after the headaches wore off) was not being able to eat onions and garlic. stay on track 100% or else you won't be able to tell what is triggering. But you don't have to eat anything you don't like. Hang in there!

my daughter suffers from this. she had some success with a FODMAP diet. It didn't get rid of the SIBO, but lessened her symptoms.

Hair loss is temporary. It started for me around the start of month 4 and lasted for a maybe 3 months. I was just at the salon yesterday getting my roots done and noticed as she sectioned my hair that I had a ton of 1-2 inch long hair hidden in between layers. Here is a great post from another member that explains it in detail: https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/384412-post-surgery-hair-loss-explained/ One of the biggest things I looked forward to was losing my 40DD, so I can't help you on that one. I'm halfway there and already my clothes lay nicer, my shoulders don't hurt from straps and backaches are less. I would love to be a C. perky would be nice too, but you can't have it all LOL

Well said!!!

I don't enjoy cooking. I also want to minimize my time spent food shopping. But i've learned the hard way that I am much more successful on weeks that I cook vs weeks that I wing it. Leftovers are my new friends! I make 2 or 3 different vegetables on the weekend and that is enough to last me the rest of the week. Then at dinner, I just need to make a quick protein. Dinner leftovers are then tomorrow's lunch. Frozen shrimp and scallops take only a few minutes to defrost and cook. I also made and froze some foods for quick grabs - like "quiche" made with almond flour crust, a batch of baked falafel, and some soups.