jhope71

Dry meat is really hard to get down, especially grilled. You need moisture, either from fat/oil or broth. Ground meat might go down easier, too. Try simmering your meat in broth to cook it, instead of grilling it.

I made sugar-free pudding using a protein shake as the milk. Try that, if you're cleared for things like that.

Welcome! I'm just down the road from you in Aiken, SC. I had the bypass done in April. You'll find lots of info and support here. Good luck with your journey!

I swallow less air with a straw, personally. If I drink, I have a bad habit of "gulping" and taking big swallows. Straws let me take smaller sips, and I only get the liquid in the straw, not air. Everyone's different, though!

I don't know how your program's rules are, but I'd be honest about everything, if I were you. That's the point of tracking. List what you eat, see what works, admit when you mess up, see what *does* work, etc. You're human, and you're gonna mess up on this journey. We all do. It's just that post-op the consequences are more serious, in that you can easily get sick if you eat off plan. But pre-op is the time for learning, for building good habits, for working on your diet and exercise so you're off to a good start post-op. Hang in there!

I've got PCOS. I've been off metformin and spironolactone since surgery (4/10/17) and have lost 50 lbs so far. I didn't think it would work for me, either! I've never been able to lose more than 30 lbs at a time, no matter what I tried, so I'm thrilled with my RNY results so far. Best of luck to you!

Totally normal! I've lost inches this whole time despite a few stalls. This week, for the first time, I lost weight without losing inches. Weird! I think it's just our bodies adjusting at their own paces. I personally take any kind of loss as a victory, whether it happens when it's "supposed to" or not. :-)

I went from daily to every four days. Magnesium has helped me get to every three days. Remember we're just not eating as much as we used to, so we won't poop as much. Still, it's a tough adjustment for some of us. Miralax helps, too.

Gentle reminder - carbs turn to sugar in the bloodstream. ALL carbs. If you're insulin resistant or diabetic like a lot of us are (or were pre-surgery), your body can and will overreact to the sugar in foods. It cranks out extra insulin to handle the sugar, the insulin that goes unused turns to fat. Fruits and vegetables are the preferred sources of carbs for us because they have real fiber, and other vitamins and minerals along with them. It's not empty carbs like bread, rice, potatoes, sweets, which might have the same carb count but a LOT less nutritional value. I agree with Jess9395. They're just not the best choice for bariatric patients. Maybe an occasional treat once you hit maintenance, but unnecessary for most of us in the losing phase, despite what doctors and nutritionists "allow."

I've had diet soda occasionally (three months out). Cans are way too carbonated, and hurt to drink. Fountain drinks (like from a drive-thru) are "flatter" and haven't given me any trouble. I don't make it a habit, though. Maybe once every couple of weeks, for a treat.

I'm sorry you've had so much trouble. I'm only three months out and my bathroom habits changed a lot after surgery. I went from daily to every four days. I started taking magnesium supplements recently, and now I'm every three days, so it's getting better. I'm losing again, too. You might want to try that along with the stool softeners. Hope you feel better soon.

You have to drink, so I'm hoping you just mean what happens if you take bigger swallows? Nothing, really. It hurts for a few minutes if you gulp a BIG mouthful but that's all. I didn't sip tiny sips for too long, and was drinking normal-sized swallows within a few days.

I was told just 30 minutes after, not before AND after. Every nutritionist is different, but I'd think after is more important, anyway. I drink right up to, and sometimes sneak a sip while I'm eating just to clear my palate (don't tell LOL). The 30-minute wait after is main one to watch.

Totally normal to be nervous. I've been under five times. Once I woke up nauseous, the other times it was just like waking up from sleep. Every person is different, but remember the anesthesiologists do this for a living and are well-trained to take care of you. Best of luck with your surgery!

Honestly? That's what got a lot of us this fat to begin with. I'm planning on avoiding those foods as much as I can til I'm in maintenance. They're trigger foods for me. My nutritionist/surgeon puts their patients on a strict low-carb, high-protein plan, and that seems to be the case for most bariatric patients, from my research.

It may slow down, or you may be fine. Either way, great attitude to have. Best of luck with the surgery & recovery!

I've had a hysterectomy, so I don't get periods anymore (yay) but my other symptoms went a little crazy after surgery. My skin got oilier, acne popped up, mood swings, stuff like that. Our hormones do swing around a little during weight loss, and after such a dramatic change to the body.

It's in the Apple store. I use an iphone, too. It's official name is Baritastic - Bariatric Tracker. Try searching for bariatric trackers and see if it shows up.

Baritastic is a great app designed just for folks like us. You can set protein, calorie, carb goals, track water, add in exercise, all that good stuff.

Baritastic is a tracking app made just for bariatric patients. I've been using it for a couple months now.

I went on a cruise last year, before I even thought of surgery. Yes, food is everywhere so temptation is everywhere, but there are lots of healthy options. Free water and tea, lots of meat and veggies/salad bars, and the portions at the formal dinner aren't super-huge. I remember our ship (Carnival) had a mongolian grill where you could pick out your meat and veggies and they'd cook it to your specifications. As for the excursions, you can pick one that includes some exercise. We did one where we hiked a mile or two in the jungle, then went rafting through caves. There were biking excursions, longer hikes, swimming/snorkeling, all kinds of stuff to do. Have fun!

Are you keeping your ovaries, or having everything removed? If you have it all taken out, you could slow down losing as you adjust to menopause, but it shouldn't affect you long-term. I had a hysterectomy several years ago, but kept my ovaries. I just had my gastric bypass a couple of months ago, and everything seems fine now. I still ovulate, so I stall a little here and there at certain times of the month, but other than that it's normal. My advice would be to remember your overall health. There's probably a reason your doctor is recommending the hysterectomy, so don't ignore that even though you want to lose weight! Ignoring women's health issues can lead to bigger problems down the road. Good luck!

I had a giant hiatal hernia repaired at the same time as my gastric bypass. My gallbladder came out several years ago, so that wasn't a problem. I'd do them all at once if I were you. Lots of people have gallbladder problems after WLS, so you'll head that off at the pass. And for me, the hernia was the main reason for my surgery, and the gastric bypass was easy to do at the same time. The hiatal repair was the hardest part of my recovery. It hurt to breathe fully for the first week or so, and get comfortable. Eventually the swelling went down, the pain went away, and I feel better than ever now.

I'm in the same boat. I think there are just some of us who lose slower. I track my weight and I'm down seven pounds in the past month, but it's been a slow trickle. I've been stuck around 233/234 for over a week now. As long as it's not going back up, I'm trying to accept it for what it is. Hopefully it'll give my skin time to adjust, too.

Most folks hit a stall around the third week after surgery, so you're right on schedule. Also, us women can "gain" water weight easily at certain times. Two pounds isn't a huge amount, and mine has fluctuated that much several times in the two months since surgery. Hang in there, keep drinking, walk walk walk and you'll do fine!