Creekimp13

I had the easiest surgery ever. Zero nausea. None. Blew my mind. I was expecting to feel horrible. I felt terrific and walked miles on the ward the day of surgery. Took a shower at 7am, the next day, shampooed, dried and styled my hair, put makeup and street clothes on...and was ready to escape as soon as my doctor did morning rounds. Figured it couldn't hurt to look like I was ready to go home:) Worked like a charm and I got sprung:) Things I think that might have helped...I got up and walked as soon as I could and I kept walking every hour I was awake. I took as little pain meds as they'd let me. I'm not a fan of pain meds. I was a little uncomfortable, but so relieved to be on the other side and moving...that it didn't bother me much. My doc puts everyone on three different anti nausea medications. Whatever he's doing...it works. Least it did for me. Seriously...zero nausea. I have not vomited once in six months since surgery. My nurses were great. Felt well cared for and like people were paying good attention. Particularly, in surgery recovery...I had a terrific nurse who was really sympathetic and did lots of things to make me comfortable. She got me cold packs for my shoulder pain, let me eat ice chips, got me heated blankets, was cheerful and warm and encouraging.

So far my worst post op food experience has been corn on the cob. I love corn on the cob and have tried it twice...and both times have gotten the slimes and been uncomfortable...took 30 minutes to get it moving both times. First time, it was grilled on the cob. Second time, it was broken up cobs in a crab boil. Both times, it was delicious....but caused me problems. Not much else bothers me. In the beginning dry meats were tricky and needed broth, and I cut my steak up pretty small. I've eaten baked potato with the skin, pop corn, celery, raw fruits and veggies of all types at this point....with no problems. None of the typical foods that cause concern bother me. Nothing gives me problems....except corn on the cob I'll try again next summer.

I just used regular, had no issues with the sugar in it.

I got my wraps at Meijer...a big food store chain here. I've seen them at Walmart, and you can pick them up on Amazon pantry through the mail. Here's the amazon link...remember this price is for FOUR packages of 8 of them. They do freeze ok:) https://www.amazon.com/Banderita-Counter-Whole-Wheat-Wraps/dp/B0756PN4JH These are also awesome for sandwich wraps for packed lunches on the go.....I like to pack them with tomatoes, basil, balsamic syrup drizzle, lettuce, avacado and turkey bacon or fresh mozerella (or both) BLT wraps are a favorite.

For these guys...I use La Banderita Carb Counter whole wheat wraps for the tortillas. I'm not a carb counter...but these low carb whole wheat wraps taste great, only 50 calories per wrap, 4g of protein per wrap, and a whopping 11 grams of awesome dietary fiber per wrap! Go fiber! This recipe will make a BIG quesadilla. You'll only be able to eat a quarter to a half of it...so enlist help:) Throw one whole wheat tortilla wrap in a very hot pan. Top with the following: 2 T. Fresh chopped tomato 2 T. fresh chopped red onion 1 T. Black Beans 2 T. frozen sweet corn kernels. 1/4 cup of shredded reduced fat colby jack cheese Any kinda shredded meat that you like...chicken, pork, beef,...optional, but gives you extra protein bang for your buck and tastes great. (this is an awesome way to use up that little bit of grilled chicken/steak that you brought home from a restaurant cause you don't need a lot) Also great to eat these vegetarian style with just the cheese. Put another whole wheat tortilla wrap on top...cover to melt the cheese before you flip it....and cook both sides until it starts to brown and get crispy. Cut it into 8 wedges with a pizza cutter and serve with salsa, hot sauce, cilantro, gracamole, whatever you like on a quesadilla. Calories and protein for the whole recipe: Two whole wheat wraps 100 calories 8g protein 1/4 cup reduced fat colbyjack 90 calories 7g protein 2 T Black beans 80 calories 6g protein 2 T Tomatoes 4 calories 2 T Onion 8 calories 2 T Corn 20 calories 2 ounces Chicken Breast 94 calories 17g protein Total= 396 calories 38 grams of protein Remember... You'll only be able to eat a quarter to a half of one of these monsters. They're SUPER filling. 1/4 serving 99 calories 9.5 grams of protien 1/2 serving 198 calories 19 grams of protein Good family food, cause you can eat the fancy whole wheat wraps and the family can eat regular tortillas. Add other toppings. Maybe you like olives or cactus or hot peppers? Everyone make their own:) You could serve with refried beans, pico de gallo, lime, whatever your family enjoys.

My office recommends yearly blood work and a yearly visit forever, too. They've also mentioned that some people disappear after a few years, but they're always glad to see you again if you want to return. I plan to go every year for at least five years cause I'm part of a study.

Glad you're headed home:) The diabetes could resolve with your new diet. Follow all your instructions and try not to be overwhelmed...you're on the right track and things should get better before long. Wishing you a quick recovery and great results:)

My group pushed us to eat 1000-1200 calories by week 3 after surgery if we could. The advice from different groups/doctors is radically different. I had no problem meeting my protein goals very early in the game, either. You're not broken, I promise.

I found an awesome water aerobics class at the YMCA in a heated therapy pool. Feels so good, I don't have to talk myself into it. I go to Sky Zone with my bestie and do their exercise class on trampolines....MASSIVE workout...but really fun. I've been doing all the yard work, which hubby appreciates. I get exercise, **** gets done...win win. Sometimes I don't want to drive anywhere to work out, so just throw in an old exercise DVD....I've been known to sweat to the oldies with Richard. LOL:) Circuit training in fun and has lots of diversity. You want to switch things up as much as you can...don't overuse the same muscles/do the same things too often... or your body will adapt and you'll get less bang for your buck.

I do Mayo Clinic Diet, so I eat lots of nuts:) The fats are high, but they're good fats...and nuts have lots of fiber. Nuts in general are an incredibly nutritious power food. Good stuff! Now, the down side (sorry).... nuts are delicious, but they're also "slider" foods (they'll move quickly through and might not give you a feeling of fullness) and they're insanely high in calories. It's very easy to break the calorie budget on nuts because you don't get that sensation of fullness. I think getting your Flamin' hot peanuts it totally ok....but I'd be REALLY careful with portion sizes. To get a feel for how quickly the calories add up with nuts, it might be helpful to measure out a whole package into little zip lock baggies of 200 calories each. Take one little baggie instead of the whole package. Also...consider the flavored Almonds. Almonds have higher protein and lower calories

I think nearly everyone has those fears. You can increase your odds of success by working hard to be consistent with your diet and exercise, work to resolve existing health issues (including emotional/mental health), get good quality adequate sleep, and build a good support network. Also, keep in mind that even if you don't get completely to goal....people who have weight loss surgery lose more weight and keep it off more permanently than people who do conventional diets. It really is your best shot and best odds for getting the best outcome and most health improvement longterm. It's a great tool. Best wishes, hoping you have great success:)

I love easy meals that are crowd pleasers. Here's my daughter's favorite. Boneless skinless chicken breasts. (I snip them into bit sized pieces with kitchen sheers straight into the pan out of the package..super quick and I don't have a raw chicken cutting board to bleach afterward. You can clip any gross parts back into the package and throw it away without raw chicken juice loose in your kitchen) Brown the chicken breasts bites in olive oil. Season with Montreal Steak Seasoning Original (I know...it's chicken...but trust me, you'll love this) Chop up one large green pepper, add to stir fry Chop up one medium sweet onion, add to stir fry Chop 8 ounces of fresh mushrooms. add to stir fry Chop one small zucchini 6 inches by 1 inch long....cut in half lengthwise and cut into slices. Chop one small yellow squash...same size as zucchini...cut in half lengthwise and cut into slices. Add zuchinni and squash to stir fry Add more Montreal Steak Seasonings to the veggies. Before I start making this, I start some brown rice in the rice cooker. I serve it over about a quarter cup of cooked brown rice. Rice is optional, but I like it better with a little rice. Super simple and my family loves this one. You can also cut everything up, and put it in a storage container to cook that evening....or throw in a cooler to take with you camping or to your brother in law's barbecue, so there's a healthy option. Throw a cast iron skillet on the fire, and you're in business. Easy Peasy. Have also had good luck putting this in tin foil pouches and throwing them right on the fire.

My kiddo sprained her ankle at college and found one of those wheeled book bags really helped. LL Bean makes a sturdy one. Maybe something like that would help in early days after surgery? When traveling, plan for medical complications. It's rare, particularly in someone young and healthy, but strictures happen...margin leaks happen...obstructions happen. Have a plan in place, find a bariatric doctor where you're going to at least have a phone number, and traveler's health insurance for emergencies. I would be extremely careful with alcohol and run the experiment at home first to know how you react.

Eat more. 400-600 calories per day is probably signaling your body to take hormonal measures to prevent starvation. http://www.coachcalorie.com/not-eating-enough-calories-to-lose-weight/ My program encourages us to eat 1000-1200 calories per day as soon as possible after surgery to avoid these setbacks. Also, because when we get the metabolic reset from surgery...we want to reset to a livable calorie level...not a starvation level. (I've eaten 1000-1200 calories per day since week three and will stay at this calorie level until maintenance) I understand your fears of failure, but it's a good idea to think of the whole marathon...supporting and building your long term forever diet and your long term metabolism.....not just trying to sprint to your goal at any cost. Patience and consistency are your friends! Best wishes and good luck!

About a pound for the veggies listed. Feeds four people, easily. If you've got a big crowd, double it up:)

People have a lot of weird misconceptions about how fast they'll lose weight and how much weight they'll lose after weight loss surgery. Would be nice if the seminars did a better job of presenting this information factually up front. Mine did, but it seems like a lot of folks feel mislead when they're a few months out. Statistically, most people will lose on one side or the other of about 60% of their excess weight in 18 months. This is the average result. Most people will maintain a 55% of excess weight weight loss three years after surgery...which beats the hell out of the results of conventional dieting. Some people will hit goal and lose 100% of their excess weight....which is awesome! Some people will never reach a 50% loss of excess weight and end up feeling defeated. Obviously, if you work hard, follow your diet, follow a good exercise program and have good support...your odds of reaching goal go up. The biggest part is compliance, for sure. But there's also a biological component. Diabetics have a tougher time. Metabolic syndrome folks have a tougher time. Older folks have a tougher time. PCOD folks have a tougher time. Mental health issues can make things harder. Certain necessary medications can make things harder. People with limited mobility have a tougher time. Youth helps. Good general health helps. A good support system helps. No two people have the same experience with this wild ride.

Nope, it doesn't. Wouldn't it be cool if it did? But nope...you've gotta fight for every pound of loss. You have to religiously stick to your calorie goal, which sucks because recording every single thing that goes in your mouth is a HUGE pain in the arse...but it's necessary. A necessary, boring, redundant, irritating evil. Did I mention necessary, though? Log that food. Every bite. Yes, it sucks. I'm sorry. You have to move, too. Exercise like it's a prescription. Don't miss doses. Don't go crazy, but do challenge yourself, whatever your fitness level is. Keep moving. Fight the good fight. You can do this.

This statement concerns me. Scheduling delays happen. They're part of life. While I understand they're frustrating...treating your surgery this disposably in the face of what amounts to a minor inconvenience gives me some pause for concern. No criticism meant. Could you possibly be looking for an excuse to back out?

Ok...I'm doing math now... Your surgery was March 28. Which means you got pregnant like...two and a half weeks after your surgery!!!!! Good grief, woman, you're braver than me to be having full on sex that soon! ACK! And you wrote that 5 days ago!...so you were really having sex LESS than two weeks after surgery. Shakin my head over here.... I'm not sure if I'm horrified or really impressed! Congrats on the kiddo! Having a kid...has been one of the best parts of my life. Woudn't have missed it for anything. Best wishes:)

One quarter of a baked potato is only 40 calories, and one gram of Protein to boot:) I still eat them...a quarter at a time. And the skin, too. Yum! Your plate looks delicious! With or without the potato...it's a winner:)

Glad your appointment went well! Frustr8, I wish you every success and am crossing my fingers for you for a rapid approval. You've been working toward this for a long time. I think it's time the fates cut you a break and got you a surgery date. God help them if they don't! Whatever else you might be, Frustr8.... you're no quitter. Wishing you great rewards for your patience and tenacity.

My team is on board with a modified Mayo Clinic Diet being a terrific post surgical diet. I hit the protein goals set by my team (60+ grams a day) and hit the calorie goals set by my team (1200 per day). That's pretty much all I worry about. (and exercise goals) I do eat some very lean meat, but I also eat beans, whole grain bread, brown rice, white potatoes and a lot of fruits. A lot of people gasp because Mayo is very carb heavy....but it's good carbs...and there's a difference. There are some great ways to get protein from food people think of only as carbs. Whole wheat english muffin= 120 calories and 5 grams of PROTEIN. Baked Idaho potato= 160 calories and 4.3 grams of PROTEIN. Legume protein pasta= 190 calories and 10 grams of PROTEIN. (this stuff is SO good and you won't miss regular pasta, I swear) One cup of black beans= 227 calories and 15 grams of PROTEIN (black bean brownies made with splenda, oats and almond flour are fantastic with strawberries and raspberries) One cup of cooked oatmeal = 150 calories and 6grams of PROTEIN I don't really eat simple refined carbs as part of my daily diet anymore. They're special occasion sweets and I have some strict rules about them. (tiny portions, witnesses, out of the house, special occasions only) But yep...eating a balanced bariatric diet doesn't have to mean never eating carbs again. You have to be careful about the refined simple carbs for sure....but not all carbs are bad nutrition. I also eat tofu, mushrooms, nuts and seeds for protein. I like to get at least half of my protein from plant based sources. Mediterranean diet and Japanese Diet are heavy in plant based protein, fish, nuts and seeds, complex carbs, fruits and veggies...just like Mayo Clinic....and they are associated with the people who have the longest lifespans and the least heart disease and cancer. And you do have to count calories. My calorie goal is 1200 per day. I try not to fudge it. Most days I'm on target. Also, my team stresses exercise almost as much as diet. My exercise goals are written on a prescription pad at every visit. We're told to consider exercise essential medicine. Don't skip doses. LOL:) Most important thing is working with a nutritionist who is on the same page you are and a team that is invested in your long term success.

Have had my sleeve nearly six months. Have never regretted it. Not even one day. Not even one moment. I went into this process expecting to lose one side or the other of 60% of my excess weight in 18 months....because that is the average result of the surgery. I knew it would be hard. Mentally and physically. I knew I'd have moments, and I knew I was taking a certain amount of risk. I was extremely lucky and had a very easy surgery. I've also been lucky to have a very knowledgeable, ethical medical team. Losing 60 pounds...would have been good enough. It would have been a significant improvement to my health and I was absolutely grateful for that much help. At just six months out, I've lost about 88% of my excess weight, and am still losing. I am off my blood pressure meds, my diuretic, my antidepressent. My blood sugar is normal. My cholesterol is terrific. My nutrition bloodwork is great so far, no malabsorption issues. My arthritis feels better. My energy is off the chart. I feel amazing. I also have to credit The Mayo Clinic Diet... my forever diet. And a terrific team of people at my clinic, and my at-home support people...most especially my hubby, my bestie and my daughter. No regrets:)

The only time I've ever had "the slimes/foamies/etc" is when I've eaten food that got a little bit stuck or had a slower, harder time moving through. Had it happen once when I ate steak. Have had it happen twice on corn on the cob which irritates me no end cause I love corn on the cob and now I'm a little afraid to eat it. Had it happen once with baked chicken that was too dry. Just a nasty sensation that things couldn't move through. And don't make the mistake of taking a sip of water! Oh Gods no....that will not help you. It will make it ten times worse since that water has no where to go and will sit there and turn to slime. Bleh. What worked for me when I got a case of stuck slimes.....is walking and breathing deep. If you breath deep...your diaphragm will put a little pressure on your stomach and this will encourage peristalsis and hopefully get things moving. Don't drink or eat anything else until the sensation passes. Walk, stretch, breath deep. The few times I've had it....if I do this it goes away pretty quick.

This is why basing your life around your diet (instead of your diet around your life) is a very bad idea. It can go too far. It can cause harm. You can trade one eating disorder for another. Don't let your diet become your life. You're more than food and fitness. Trying your best, celebrating every victory, and working hard toward a balanced healthy lifestyle are terrific things. Becoming fixated on diet, making it your whole identity....not so much. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3596455/ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/publications/psychiatry_newsletter/hopkins_brainwise___winter_2015/bariatric_surgery_and_eating_disorders Turn obsession into compassion. Turn extremism into balance. Live and let live. You'll live longer.