Finding_Stacy

Wow, Bliz. You're so close to goal. You've done phenomenal! Great job!! Was that whole loss within a year?

The waiting game is the worst. I had all my tests done before my first appointment on December 17th, 2016. It took two months before they finally got to my file, but once they submitted for approval, I got the acceptance in five hours. I think initially it's a slow haul, but soon it will fly by. Good luck!

I just came across this post again and was wondering how've you been doing?

You guys can eat wings that aren't breaded and pork rinds. They're both low carb foods.

Im 2.5 months out and weighed myself this morning and the scale was up 3 pounds. It's nothing to worry about. I eat 600-700 calories a day and know it's not really weight gain, it's just being human--and a woman. I'll lose two or three days in a row, stall for a few days, sometimes go up, even, and by the end of the week I'm back to my loss weight. Then, on the eighth day I'll have a two or three pound loss again. It can get frustrating and this is why they say only weigh yourself once a month, but I'm a scale addict.

I'm hoping to lose weight for my next cruise, too!

I've hit MCD several times since surgery. I usually get a plain grilled chicken patty (no bun). I usually can eat 3/4's of it then end up tossing it. I also got a cheeseburger with no bun and a plain sausage patty before. Now, these are all low carb options but they're still considered unhealthy. But when I'm desperate, I'm desperate.

Welcome to the club! I'm glad everything went smoothly.

Keep in mind that you're only 186.6 pounds. It's funny, that is the goal weight my doctor wants me at. Sigh, it feels like I'm never going to get there. But, when you only have 20-30 pounds to lose, the weight will come off much slower than if you had a couple hundred pounds to lose, like myself. I'm sure you're doing great. Don't beat yourself up too badly. I thought I was losing slowly last month, because I didn't see a change for a week, but then I saw seven the following week. But when I looked at my chart, I did lose 20 pounds my second month even though it felt like I only lost 10. It's all a mind game. Hang in there. If it were easy, then everyone would be doing it. This weight loss thing is for the brave of heart and the strong willed

I went on a cruise in April and my doctor made me hold off on the surgery until I got back. He wanted six weeks of no flying after surgery because of the risk of blood clots (even though I was on lovenox twice a day). I could've had it in February, but I ended up having the surgery two weeks after I got back in April--which actually worked out for the best. I'm a big believer in 'things happen for a reason'. If I were you, go on vacation and enjoy the pasta, pizza, and wine. Because, let me tell you, life changes in a big way afterwards. Good luck!

I don't see why not, especially if you're making it with egg and cinnamon. I can't comment on the digestibility of any kind of bread, low carb or other, since I have yet to eat any since my surgery. But it sounds healthy. What brand is it? I've never seen one that's only 6 carbs.

How did you all do? Anyone run off the table last minute? Look, I'm almost 6 weeks out and feel completely normal. I forgot how I used to eat before surgery, and have adapted to this way of life. No pain, lots of energy, and I feel great. Before my surgery, I read a ton on here that at five days post-op is when you start to feel better. That's all I kept concentrating on, and when five days post-op came and went, I concentrated on three weeks out because I read someone who said that's when they could sleep on their stomach again. And it's all true. This is only a small part of pain for a lifetime of rewards. It'll be over and done before you all know it.

Cheer up, buttercup. We've all been in a slump, or will be, at one time or another. It's exhausting having to be accountable for every single thing we put into our mouths and screw ups happen. How much did you gain? Women can fluctuate five to seven pounds each month, depending on their hormones. If you feel up to it, send me a private message on what you've been eating, or if you log it into a Fitbit, take a screen pic and send it. It might be nothing, it might be something. I feel slumpy today. I ate a hotdog today. Even though it's a low carb food (2 carbs), it's a terrible choice loaded with sodium and questionable ingredients. Oh, you know what I have been hooked on? Dunkin Donuts medium iced decaf coffee with 4 creams, 2 splendas, and a shot of unsweetened vanilla. It makes me sad that I do two coffees a day for the last couple of weeks. It adds 6-8 carbs a day that I could not be consuming if my coffee ways didn't suck me back in 😔.

It doesn't matter if you're 400 or 150, if you don't exercise, walking a mile is intense. My personal advice from past experience if you can walk a mile while having a conversation, then pick up your speed and add another mile or two. Once you can walk five miles easily, then start running. But if you jump right into trying to run a mile, or something equally strenuous when you're out of shape, you're only going to hurt yourself. Take it easy and start with what you can do and go up from there.

But look how much weight you lost and I bet you rarely crave anything outside of what you normally eat. Low carb is the key to curb those pesky cravings, giving us an abundance of energy, and keeps us emotionally balanced with fewer mood swings. You're doing great, Bliz!

I've always been strict with my carbs before and after surgery. The first couple of weeks I kept them below 10--some days below 5 (not intentionally). I ate sugar free, grain free and still do. The only carbs I have right now come from broccoli or my Premier Protein shakes. My doctor's plan is a 120 carbs a day, which is ridiculous. If I followed that, it would take me five years to get half of my weight off. So, right now I keep them under 20 net, I eat anywhere from 460-750 calories a day, drink 80+ounces of water, and my protein is +75.

Keep in mind you don't have very much weight to lose, if you're indeed 174 right now, and you've already taken off 31--which is fantastic. You're not going to lose at the same rate as someone like myself who was starting at 225 pounds to lose. I think you're right on track with eating and drinking. That's where I'm at right now and I'm a month out. I remember being shocked, and a little sad, when I was able to eat a cup of yogurt or drink a protein shake within a half hour. Liquids pretty much go right through your stomach, and you can eat more yogurt than, lets say, chicken breast. Once you start eating real meat and real food, you'll find that you eat less than the soft stuff, feel full longer, and will probably start losing again. Our bodies just need a break around 2-3 weeks, but keep the water up, up, up and it will pick up again.

I should've had bariatric surgery ten years ago, but back then the options were only rny and lapband, pretty much. I never liked what they do to the stomach in both procedures. I think as time's gone on, the doctor's realized that the removal of the stomach is the only true way to get long term effects. With the Rny, they just staple off a small portion, which can lead to massive scarring, hernias, and stomach stretching down the road. With the sleeve, like someone said before, it's a relatively new procedure so it's not responsible of a doctor, or anyone, to compare any surgery with it on a long term basis. I'm in a research study right now because doctors are noticing that when patients get the sleeve done, diabetes reverses itself almost immediately even before any major weight loss is performed. There's a positive hormonal change when they remove the stomach out of a person's body and they're just now starting to discover even more benefits to this procedure. With the RNY there's no reduced ghrelin hormone, which causes hunger. With the sleeve it is greatly reduced, causing patients to feel less hungry more often. If I were you, and I was basically choosing between a malabsorption surgery and the sleeve, the RNY would be off the table. It's an archaic surgery. In five years it will probably be as obsolete as the lapband has become. It seems the doctors are moving towards the Duodenal Switch (DS) surgery for the malabsorption aspect. It has greater weight loss than any surgery available, and so far, patients keep a record 90% of their excess weight off for life. That's what the doctors wanted me to have since I had 225 pounds to lose. My doctor does it laparoscopically, but he likes to do the surgery in two parts. Sleeve first, then if I find myself needing more help, I can have the second part done that changes the digestive system ( I'm against malabsorption surgeries, so that's a no go for me). As my sleeve goes, I've lost 34 pounds since the day of my surgery and I love, love, love it. No regrets. None.

Ladddaay (read this with a terrible Jerry Lewis impression) How've you been? Thanks, but I never really did pre-op dieting. I was/am in the research program so they just gave me their meal plan three nights before surgery, for two days, and then they put me on liquids 24 hours before my surgery. I mean, I think I lost six pounds..but nothing drastic like you and so many here. And physically fit exes with a side of arrogant @sshole--yeah, I had one of those too. I used to have to be around him all the time, but thankfully I havent seen him in three years since my daughter graduated high school. I should've dropped him in College when he told me to join a gym because I was 140. i hope you're doing well and kicking mucho @ss!!!!

I've thought of that so much before my surgery. I knew I won't remember how I feel right now, or a month ago. In fact, a few weeks before my surgery I was sitting at a four way stop in my car and looked down at myself. I looked at how my stomach touched the steering wheel and tried hard to burn this image of how uncomfortable it felt at that moment sitting in that seat. Because I knew in one year I'll be at this same four way stop, in this same seat, with all this room between my flat (flatter) stomach and I won't remember how I used to feel a year ago. Does that make sense? I know, I've gone all weird on you.

Thank you so much! I'm finally feeling really good. Almost a month out and down 32 pounds. I'm afraid next month I might only be down ten, but trying to not think like that and focusing on getting stronger and healthier. I have to say, it is weird that months before my surgery I was seeing 'Any January surgeries out there' or "February sleevers?'. It felt my surgery would never come in April. And now, it's 'June sleevers?' or 'September surgeries?'. I'm sure it's gotta be a little bizarre for you being a year out and how fast time goes.

Thankfully, my insurance didn't require one.

Although I approve of the idea of doing something to help change your relationship with food, I don't understand why weight watchers. Is that a low carb lifestyle? I thought weight watchers is geared more towards low fat, than low carb. Why get someone used to eating one way, when they'll completely have to change after the surgery? After the surgery, you'll be eating a low carb lifestyle. If you want to do yourself a huge favor before surgery, break yourself of the carbs beforehand. I'm three weeks out and eat only protein. I don't eat bread or starchy foods. I don't eat sugar, potatoes, corn, bread, low fat, etc.

Ok, first of all I just want to say that I'm not judging. I'm honestly curious. I had my surgery 4/24 and know how restriction feels like when I eat 3.1 ounces of chicken. It hurts. Bad. I can eat 2.9 ounces, sometimes 3, but an ounce over and I'm in pain. My question is, does it take you all day to eat three slices? An hour? Three hours? I'm genuinely curious.

Congratulations and welcome! I'm curious. What brand of shakes are you using? For instance, the Premier Protein shakes have 30 grams of protein per shake. Are you not finishing even one shake a day? Have you tried eggs or chicken yet? Does that hurt your stomach too? I'm just trying to figure out how you can get more protein in, because your body and skin needs that, and water, for proper healing and shrinking. You can always get the unflavored protein powder to add to your yogurts. I feel like anymore I survive on chicken breasts. I sometimes eat my oikos triple zero vanilla yogurt, but really do eat my protein first, then that other stuff. Either way, it's hard meeting these protein goals some days. For me, I got my period the night I came home from the hospital, so I was bloated and gassy anyway.