mylighthouse

Yes, I think you might be right. Had seen several posts where people were not in maintainance yet but close to a year out and they were getting around 1200 a day and still losing. It is no longer working for me, and so starting today, I have planned out my meals for the next 3 days on myfitnesspal and I have lowered my calorie intake for each day to not exceed 1050 calories. I have also lowered my carbs to 20-30 grams per day. We will see how it goes. I may even find that 1000-1050 calories per day is a little too high. Thank you for your help.

That is fantastic! You're doing awesome, keep up the good work!

Thank you for doing this. Current weight 205. Goal weight 195. Today's date is 11/9.

Thank you for sharing this. It is wonderful and encouraging to hear about your success so many years after surgery. Congratulations.

Would like more replies on this topic because I have been stalled for 2 months myself. Well, to explain further, I am almost a year out from surgery and I have been bouncing between 200-206 pounds for 2 months. My starting weight was 312 on Nov 14, 2016. I am wondering the same thing as you, am3ie, and wondering if my body is done losing weight. I am 25-30 pounds from my goal. Tracking what I eat every day, getting 1000-1250 calories a day with 100 grams of protein and 30-40 grams of carbs for the last 4-5 months and prior to the past 2 months, the weight was falling off. Anyone got an idea/ experience with this that is near a year out? Anyone, anyone? Bueller? When was your surgery, am3ie? You look great by the way!

So sorry to hear about your sprained ankle. As a person who is dealing with a lot of pain because of 5 abdominal surgeries within the last 2 years, I pretty much cannot get much walking in for exercise. It stinks for sure. My doctor suggested that when I am laying in bed flat on my back, legs flat on the bed, to do leg lifts. You can also lay on your side and stomach to do them. I also know that when I was going through physical therapy after a big surgery, that you can sit in a chair and do lower leg lifts. You can also get a tension band and do arm exercises or if you have hand weights, use those to work out your arms when sitting. I hope your ankle feels better soon.

When I was on the pureed phase, I did mashed tilapia or chicken (from a can). The chicken went down really well when blended with mayo, or yogurt like a little chicken salad. Also did mashed up canned beans, pintos or black. Or refried beans. You can even add sour cream to them. Cottage cheese is a great source of protein. For the 2 weeks I was on pureed, I pretty much ate the same things. I also made a ricotta bake (search for theworldaccordingtoeggface). She has recipes for all bariatric stages and gives the nutrition facts with her recipes. Great resource. Everybody has a different plan, and I was thankful I could have more than 3 meals a day, because in the beginning, I could only eat 2oz of protein per meal.

I was diagnosed w/ moderate sleep apnea a couple of years ago. Have been on CPAP therapy since then. My weight when I started using it was around 330 pounds. I'm post op 11 months, weigh 200 pounds and need to lose 30-40 more. I still wear the full face mask. Once every couple of months or so, I get really tired early in the evening and fall asleep without my mask on. The last time that happened was a few weeks ago. My husband told me the next morning that I was snoring really bad. That makes think I still need CPAP therapy. Guess I won't know for awhile, not planning on spending money on another sleep study anytime soon. Personally, I think therapy should continue after surgery until it's proven that sleep apnea is no longer an issue. Better safe than sorry.

I love the taste of coffee, even if it's decaf. I wasn't cleared to have caffeine until 3 months post op, so I drank decaf until then. Started adding a cup of regular coffee at 3 months every morning for a couple of months. Now, at 11 months post op, I drink 3 cups of regular coffee every morning and then have decaf when I want it in the afternoon or evening.

I'm sorry to hear that you are in the hospital, hopefully you will be feeling better soon and you can go home. Yes, I used the non-flavored Isopure protein and found that it worked best in my decaf iced tea. It really helped me get that protein in the very early months following surgery. Feel better soon!

Agree with Berry. It is so easy to get dehydrated. I did in the beginning. Thankfully, when I went to the ER it wasn't severe dehydration. But it was enough that it kept me there for several hours with IV fluids. I also didn't do the protein shakes the first week. Just clear liquids. After the trip to the ER, I came up with some things that helped me get my liquids, because water always made me feel sick. I did decaf unsweetened iced tea, Crystal Light lemonade (0 sugar) and Powerade Zero (no sugar or calories). Also, when water finally went down okay, I found that the only way I could drink it without feeling sick was to pour it in a glass and add a ton of ice. For me, then and now (11 months post op), it has to be ice cold. Take good care of yourself and experiment with different liquids and broths.

Thank you, Berry. You have done amazingly too, especially in such a short amount of time! I do see that our stats are almost identical, even our starting weight. I am just squeezing into a 14 jeans, they are pretty snug. I have always been smaller on top, at the shoulders and waist, but big boobed. It is funny, in my 20's and 30's, everything stayed pretty tight and now, in my mid 40's, things are sagging and the only firm area is my waistline. I had open hernia surgery a few months ago that stemmed from a colon resection 2 years ago. Because of the constant pain, I have not been able to exercise AT ALL since my sleeve in November. I really think that has left me a saggy droopy mess. Below my waistline, I have an enormous bulge of fat. Lol I hope I can get rid of it someday. I sure do love stretchy blue jeans! And it really is crazy how sizes have changed over the years! Yes, it does feel great to have lost the weight. Best decision I could have made!

The ladies gave good advice with their replies to this topic. Very interesting. I believe that I am definitely dealing with my mother being jealous and my friend as well. They both have reacted to my weight loss in different ways. My mother lives in the same town as I do, so we see each other often and talk a few times a week. Mom has been overweight since she was 40 and she's 73 now. I have watched her try and try to lose weight over the past 30 years, and she never does. I have never said anything negative to her. I would never tell her "you need to lose weight". However, over the years as my weight went up and down, she would tell me that I needed to lose weight, and I remember one time, she told me "you are fat", and I remember being shocked, because I weighed 160 at the time and I'm 5'7". I just ignored it, but it really hurt my feelings. Another thing that happens time and time again over the last 25 years is that when I lose enormous amounts of weight and get down to a normal size, she never, not even once in my life has given me encouragement or a compliment. It is really something else. At first, I didn't understand, but recently, after losing 134 pounds since last summer, I clued in to the idea that she might be jealous. I mean, afterall, she has never been able to lose weight. At all. I don't let this bother me anymore. Sometimes people can't say nice things because of their own insecurities. My friend who lives out of town, is a very nosey person. She always wants to know how much weight I've lost and what size jeans and tops I am wearing. She is over 300 pounds, which is where I started. When I told her this last time I talked to her that I started in a size 28 pants and am now in a 14, and from a 5X top to a 10/12, she said "ahhh, okay". She asked, so I told her, and that is all she said. I guess I was expecting my own mother and my close friend to say WOW or good job, or something nice. lol But I am 46 years old and I've learned I shouldn't really put expectations on people. Plus, I'm not looking for compliments, although they are nice to get. Anyway, that is my experience, but the good advice really came from the other ladies. Good luck with your surgery in a couple of weeks! I'm sure you're looking forward to it. It is a fun journey, but can sometimes be a difficult journey too, but it is so worth it.

I had my first drink (white wine-one glass) at 4 months post op. My team recommended I wait 4 months to try it. I have had it a few times since then, and am at 11 months post op now. Haven't had any in over 3 months, because I am currently taking tramadol and gabapentin for pain. The most I've allowed myself in one sitting is 3 glasses of wine, and it gave me a buzz. Maybe just a little more of a buzz than before surgery. I used to like beer, but haven't tried that, even though I do fine with carbobation. The only drawback I see, is that incorporating alcohol takes up my calories and carbs. I made room for this, however, when I chose to drink. Just resulted in me not being able to eat as much good food on the particular days that I drank. I agree that everyone will react to alcohol in different ways. You may or may not be able to tolerate it post op. I also think we should listen to our doctor/bariatric team on when to start drinking again, if allowed.

Cogratulations! You look fantastic!

Yes, my blood pressure has come way down over the last several months since surgery. I always used to be around 150/85. Now I am always around 100/65. I have never been put on blood pressure medication.

Wow! Way to go, you look super!

Eggs are not a dense protein. When you get to where you are cleared to eat solid, denser foods, like chicken, beef, pork, you will feel the restriction. Your sleeve is not broken. Just be patient, and when you get to denser foods, you will see.

Congratulations! I had my surgery November 14 of last year.

It is common not to have a bowel movement for several days after surgery. You are only taking in liquids at this point, plus you had major surgery, which slows things down. I would give it a couple more days and then if you want to take something, you can do a suppository like Yolanda mentioned, or you can safely take a dose of milk of magnesia or miralax.

Fun thread, read through all of the posts and will be repeating some of the things which others said. I drink right before meals instead of waiting 30 before eating. I drink at least 3 cups of regular coffee a day. I eat more than 4 times a day, mostly snacks such as 2oz turkey meat or almonds. Every couple of weeks or so, if I am in the mood for it, I have a glass of diet pepsi, since the sleeve, carbonation doesn't bother me at all. I've had a glass of white wine on several occasions. Since reaching 220 pounds, I have greatly raised my carbs to 50-80 grams a day, and the weight has been falling off, bringing me to 203lbs as of today. I weigh myself every day, have done so from day one. -11 months post op

Cogratulations, Gary! You and I had our surgery a week apart. Mine was 11-14, and I have lost 108 lbs, so we are very close in our weight loss. I started at 312, but my highest weight last summer was 334. Weight loss is slowing down for me too, but I'm still losing. Glad to hear that you are exercising, I need to work on that. Keep up the awesome work, you look great! Thank you for sharing.

I am just now up to 1000-1100 cal a day at 11 months. I know 1200 is about the amount of calories someone 9 months to year out needs to be at. You also said that you were staying below 1200 cal for one solid month, but what about now? If you're going above that at 4-5 months post op, then I can see why you wouldn't be losing weight. Plus you didn't mention how many carbs you are taking in, and I know that when my carbs went above 40 grams a day, I would not lose weight. I lose good weight when I keep my carbs between 20-30 grams a day. I always keep my protein at 100 grams a day. My nutritionist said to get at least 80 a day. So you eat clean, but you also sneak Pringles and ice cream, even just a few or a spoonful. Stop doing that. Carbs galore. The therapist idea is good. Protein first, 6oz is way too much if it's protein alone. I eat 3 oz protein per meal, and sometomes eat 3 oz protein as a snack, a few hour after a meal. Protein first, then a few bites of veggies. Log everything using an app like fitnesspal. You have the power to make good food choices. Then you will start seeing results.

When you are allowed to eat solid foods, do a search for "chicken crust pizza". The crust is made with raw chicken breast (ground to a pureed consistency) and cheese. May sound strange, but it is actually quite delicious. My husband and I made the pizza recipe and even he thought it tasted great, in fact, he ate most of it. It was nice to enjoy a small slice of this pizza for a meal. I think we made that when I was about 3 or 4 months post op. I enjoyed a slice each day for 3 lunches. Don't remember the nutrition info, but it only had a few carbs and was loaded with protein.

This sounds so strange to me. I was told by my surgeon and nutritionist that the sleeve stretching out is a myth. Also have read that it will not stretch out. I am almost a year out and can't eat more than 3 oz protein and a couple bites of veggies in one sitting. Probably about 1/2 cup of food, like you. I agree with the points that RickM made.