GrrlAnn

You can do it! I tell everyone this - in my experience the preop diet is SO much harder than postop restrictions! Stay strong and remember it's for the safety of your surgery and you are almost there! Sent from my XT1585 using BariatricPal mobile app

How does the taste compare to Atkins Lift? Sent from my XT1585 using BariatricPal mobile app

I'll share my surgeon's general guidance. I was encouraged to walk week 0-3. At 3 weeks postop I was cleared to do cardio. At 6 weeks I was cleared to do everything including weight lifting, core exercises, etc. Also you need to keep in mind your specific situation. Your overall health, BMI, age, diet stage, water intake, if you had complications, etc. Sent from my XT1585 using BariatricPal mobile app

Check out this calculator. It should tell you how much you were expected to lose with Gastric Sleeve. If you've already met or exceeded the predicted weight loss than you are doing great! http://www.obesitycoverage.com/weight-loss-surgeries/gastric-sleeve/gastric-sleeves-how-much-weight-will-i-lose

Was the 100 pound loss your own goal? Or was that the 60% excess body weight calculated by your surgeon?

It doesn't. I am allowed to have fruit now that I am 3 months out but it doesn't contribute to my protein goals so it only adds to my calorie count... I lump fruit in with my splurge/starch foods which I have infrequently. Sent from my XT1585 using BariatricPal mobile app

It will pass! I stalled for about six weeks then dropped 5 pounds suddenly and kept losing. I know it's hard to believe but it will start going down again. Even people with very poor eating habits lose weight in the first year. If you are sticking to plan, it will start coming off again. Sent from my XT1585 using BariatricPal mobile app

That was great! It's interesting that the prejudice isn't just a US problem. Sent from my XT1585 using BariatricPal mobile app

A surgeon in Michigan has an awesome YouTube video about this:

That seems unlikely... I'd call your GP to confirm the diagnosis...

My doctor's office moved me from protein shakes and water straight to soft foods. I did not have a pureed phase, so I used my blender twice. I shouldn't have bothered buying it.

I was only allowed (but strongly encouraged) to walk for the first two weeks. At my 2-3 week follow up appointment, I was cleared to do cardio. It wasn't until 6 weeks that I was cleared for everything else - core, weightlifting, etc. And I had lots of things in my favor - only 37 years old, BMI on the low side 41, otherwise very healthy, and was going to Bootcamp 4-5 days per week preop. So, if anyone would be cleared earlier I think I would have been one of them. I wouldn't push beyond what your doctor recommends. Recovery is key.

If you search the forum this is a very common occurrence. Your hormones go nuts after surgery and is very common to get a very strong period a few days postop. I think it's your body's way of saying pregnancy is not going to happen right now.

The psych was very clear at my doctor's office. You should aim to be 90% on plan all the time. Having a single meal where you went off plan is not the end of the world, it is enjoying life. Don't let a single indulgence lead to a string of bad choices. You have nothing to be ashamed of!

If you desperately miss your sugar free carbonated water, my advice would be to give it a shot. There is no nutrition impact since it's calorie free and you won't damage your insides at 8+ weeks out. You may be very uncomfortable but if you really love it, I think it's worth the risk.

Your coworker is misinformed. Few people lose "too much". On average RNY patients lose 70% of their EXCESS weight. You have to work hard to lose that much and very very hard to lose more than that.

It is wonderful! In preparation for life after surgery, I started going to Bootcamp 4-5 days a week. I had to stop for 6 weeks to allow my body to heal. During that time I lost about 25 lbs. After i got back into the swing of going again, it has been SO much easier than preop. It's still very hard but losing 40 lbs has really helped my knees and made all of the body weight exercises and cardio much easier. If I stay on this trajectory, I might crush my goal weight of 199... As an adult I've never been below 222... [emoji33]

My BMI was 42 (which is on the lower side - the higher the BMI the more you are expected to lose). I am down about 40 lbs and am THRILLED about it! [emoji3]

I also struggled to eat right on the weekends preop. I am about 3 months postop and I have found it is MUCH easier to stick to healthy eating postop. I still get cravings but I can squash them much more easily. Portion control is much easier too. It's still a lot of hard work but I am finding it to be much easier postop.

There is disagreement regarding your ability to stretch your stomach. I'd check out Dr. Matthew Weiner's YouTube channel (bariatric surgeon in Michigan). He has a video on "stomach stretching" and explains what is really happening.

I agree with previous posters. I also had second thoughts the few days before surgery. I think it's important to consider your reasons for having the surgery in the first place. I think it's easier to stick to the preop diet because it has a defined end date and your surgeon probably impressed upon you the importance of sticking to the diet to make the surgery safer. Neither of those factors will be in play if you cancel the surgery.

Eating too little can definitely make you stall. Stick to the nutrition guidance you were given - try not to go over OR under what they've advised you. I went under for several days and my nutritionist yelled at me. But there is nothing wrong with still getting most of your nutrition from shakes if that is easier for you. On another note, I was also afraid to move away from protein shakes. It's so easy to stay on target when your diet is so strict. Our doctor's office psych told us not to aim for perfection. She said to aim for 90% on plan 10% off. Otherwise, you'll burn out and go totally off plan. Good luck! The fact that you are worried means you'll do great.

Regarding apps - I LOVE Baritastic! It is specially meant for bariatric patients. It tracks everything - did, exercise, water, vitamins, measurements, etc. There is a timer for eating/drinking. You can run charts/graphs on everything - nutrition macros, weightloss, water intake, etc. It's the best thing ever!

If you know you are an emotional eater, I would definitely seek the help of a psych prior to surgery. The surgery won't fix that and you'll have to struggle against it postop. You need to do everything you can to make the surgery successful because you only get one shot.

I was told 3 weeks but I believe that is primarily for to pain management. If you feel up to it and are careful (and your partner will be careful too) I think you be fine.