Berry78

I have the sleeve. Got it done in Mexico with Dr. Illan.

The scale can sometimes be stubborn during our journey. It's important to have other metrics of success. Changing clothing sizes is always fun, but when we're in the bigger sizes we can lose several inches before having to buy new ones. The tape measure is a great tool to add to your arsenal. Try not to measure too often. Once a week to once a month may be enough. It's good to measure in several spots. Chest, waist, hip, maybe arms or legs. Women should measure their chest while wearing a bra. The waist measurement needs special care. Don't measure at the belly button necessarily. As things deflate, they tend to head south, and the measurement won't seem to change... but its because you're measuring some vertical distance too. Learned that one the hard way on my hubby and myself. Find the area in your side where your ribs and hipbone almost touch. That is your natural waist, and measure there, in a mirror, keeping the tape horizontal. You'll likely be above your belly button. (For me, it's almost 6 inches above!). The hip measurement is also going to change the area of your bottom that you measure. I originally measured at the middle of the cheek, now I'm at the top.

Oh, yes! No illusion! Be sure to use the tape measure every now and then for another way to check progress. Sometimes when we're in bigger clothing sizes we can lose several inches before having to buy new ones. Another thing.. don't always measure only at the belly button. As things deflate, they tend to head south, and the measurement won't seem to change... but its because you're measuring some vertical distance too. Learned that one the hard way on my hubby and myself. Find the area in your side where your ribs and hipbone almost touch. That is your natural waist, and measure there, in a mirror, keeping the tape horizontal. You'll likely be above your belly button. (For me, it's almost 6 inches above!). You know, I'm gonna put this info in a new post since not everyone looks at stall posts...

Oh, man! Huge congratulations, and what an inspiration!

Full. Time. Job

They should also look at your gallbladder while they're at it. Good luck!

Aww, this is the worst of it. Keep on walking and using your breathing exerciser (if you have one). Congrats on being on the other side!

At this point, I think the OP's picture has the right expression.

Halloween permits candy on my personal "plan".. not my doc's recommendation.. I'm 7 months out so can try what I want. I haven't had candy since surgery, so had no idea what would work. (I did have fudge, but it wasnt good). Tried a small bite of twizzler, and baby tummy hated it! Tried a small bite of York peppermint patty.. that was a mistake... horrible horrible mint..kinda burned! Those were my favorites preop, too! 3rd times the charm. Tried a Payday, and it was super good (better than preop). Ate the whole thing.. it was one of those little 3 inch long ones... snack size or something. No more candy until Easter!

Very cool. Ok, so I guess we should make the distinction between fish oil supplements and eating fish. Supplements.. it's hard to know if the oils are fresh. But for people (especially kids) that refuse to eat fish, supplements are probably better than none. A lot of the studies with less than favorable results had people taking 3-5g of oil a day. The supplements in my fridge are 2g for the recommended daily consumption.. so it's possible those studies were proving that there is a maximum. I'm always trying to minimize pills where possible, so of course fish is better. I did come across a study that showed canned and fried tuna retained virtually zero DHA. Boiling for 10 minutes retained almost all of it. (I had a sneaking suspicion that how fish is cooked makes a difference). Other types of fish don't seem as sensitive. So much for all of us eating canned tuna as a health food!

350 cal is fine for a week out. I didn't get nearly that many. Calories don't matter this early.. spend your time counting fluid and protein. You're doing great!

I wanna, wanna, wanna hear the new info!(*jumping up and down*) Everything I've come across says we need more than we usually get (but your example of 8oz per person for a week sounds spot-on for the current recommendations).

"Both biotin and pantothenic acid–vitamin B5—are absorbed from the intestines via the same receptors,” she explained. “When taking biotin supplements, the amount of biotin in the gut far outweighs the quantity of vitamin B5, thereby leading to a relative vitamin B5 deficiency" Not sure who "she" is, but there is always good reason not to take excess vitamins. That's why I recommended cutting out the extra biotin.

At 12 weeks out, you might be able to do without the shakes. Protein can come from food. Yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs, nuts/seeds, beans, tofu, meat, seafood, etc. You are getting biotin in your One A Days, so I'd drop that, but you need to add calcium citrate (500mg two or three times a day) and 500mcg B-12 once a day. I agree with the above. Double up on the One A Days (making them 4-A-Days!) Lol.

I think it's still gas from the surgery. My tummy was super loud for the first month, then things gradually became more normal.

It's called the "3 week stall". Happens to almost everyone. Can last for a week or two. Stalls are a normal part of the journey, as are day to day weight fluctuations. Scale will even go up a few pounds. Don't fret.. there is nothing you have done to cause it, and no way to prevent it. Stick to your plan and have faith. Stalls are a problem if 5+ weeks pass with no change, and your measurements haven't changed. Many times we shrink while the scale holds steady.

Lots of times bariatric docs don't seem to like taking on other surgeons' patients. That's why I recommend switching types of docs.... but you can try...

Well, I wouldn't wait a month to contact them. Tell them you are having a lot of trouble eating, and are sliming, and you are concerned about a stricture. They should squeeze you in. If they refuse, then contact your family doc and get referred to a GI specialist (assuming you need a referral).

They can repair it. (If it were me, I would prefer a repair to a conversion to bypass).

You are definitely getting plenty of those oils.. I might be concerned about mercury exposure. Here is a detailed article. It's a long, but worthwhile read for anyone that consumes fish. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=103

I did! Last year was a 10 for exertion, this year was about a 5. Only difference was getting that weight off! Amazing! Oh and my shirt isn't "dirty" (I'm embarrased)..I got paint on it when I did the wall this summer (anyone notice the different color?)

It could be food intolerance, like lactose.. but if it's happening with EVERYTHING, then put a call in to your surgeon. You very well may have a stricture. (That's where scar tissue forms and pulls everything tight. A part of your stomach gets too narrow, and the food doesn't want to go down).

It was around the same time that I noticed the scale fell into the same pattern. 1 pound each week, then suddenly drop a bunch quickly. It's fine and normal. Your appetite may be less because of things have now mostly healed and stomach irritation can actually cause you to feel hungry. (That's why we keep telling people that are hungry postop.. make sure you're on an acid med). Just keep on meeting your goals, and everything sounds great! You are actually getting beyond the main stricture period as well, but it's always good to keep in mind if you notice a sharp decrease in the amount you can eat at a meal.. to pay attention. (Like, "I used to be able to eat 4 oz of this, but now can only ever eat 2") that's a red flag.

I see you're about 4 weeks postop. The following is applicable whenever your stages get to these points. Personally I would drink broth (without chunks) as a beverage. Which means I could eat a meal after waiting just a few minutes after the broth. (I had no problems eating about 5 minutes after drinking a few ounces. If I drank a big cupful, then I couldn't eat for a while). Don't take bites of food, and sip on your drink in between. Just don't. Drink, wait as long as necessary to eat comfortably, then eat. If the broth is full of chunks (like chicken noodle soup), then it is a meal. Measure out about 3- 4oz and try that. Stop when full. If you want to stay full for a while, drink the broth out of the soup first, then munch on the chunks. And if it's thick soup like chili or beef stew, again, it's a meal.

Oh, Fluff