bobt1

Hi there! Stalls are a bummer. I was sleeved on 3/28/2018 and had great success for the first 5 months. Down 25 pre-surgery and another 40 post surgery. Then I went into a stall that has dragged out over 5 months. So to get back on track I went back to my monthly group session about 3 weeks ago after missing 3-4 months. I received some inspiration when I saw my surgery buddy there and he had lost a total of 121. Then I went to see my doctor. My problem stems from overeating, plain and simple. The eating of everything came too easy and I increased the sizes of portions too much and too fast. So doctor wants me to return to 3 small meals daily with no more than 2 snacks especially watching carbs on the snacks. While I was focused on my carb count he suggested tracking calories for awhile to see how much I was eating overall. To get back into the action my plan returns me to my pre-surgery High Protein/Modified Carb diet of about 1500-1600 calories and 70-100 carbs a day. Many of my female peers say they had to stay around 70 carbs to keep losing. Also making sure to avoid evening or late night snacks. So it looks like I am breaking my stall and finally broke through a weight level where I had first hit 6 months ago. Now to keep working at it.

Wow! I am impressed and jealous of all of you; Hopeful, BeanieSprouts, NelliSleeve and CurleyQ you have been doing fantastic. Sleeved on March 28 and I haven't been on for a while probably because I've been stalled for 2-3 months and haven't felt like talking about it. BUT I seem to have broken it in just the last 2 weeks. Been snacking too much and not careful with portions or speed eating. Going back to basics: increase protein, increase liquid, lower carbs and slow down.

Here's my take and experience on the pre-op diet. The doctor wanted to see a 15-25 pound loss before surgery to shrink the liver. So he required a 1600 calorie high protein/modified carbohydrate diet, the same diet he asks all his patients to undertake. I started at 326 and by surgery date I was at 301. No special diet immediately before surgery except for a couple days of liquid diet to clean me out. Since I was 69 and on medicare I was required to have 4 visits with a nutritionist to get approval for surgery. So over the four months for these visits I followed the requested diet and lost the weight my surgeon requested. The nutritionist was certainly helpful but one could probably do it without that assistance if you are properly motivated. Having said that. I am attaching the diet plan and a couple items I typed up to make it easier to follow. Also tracked my intakes to ensure I was on target. High Protein Modified Carbohydrate Meal Plan.PDF Diet HP MC food categories.docx Diet HIGH PROTEIN modified carb.docx

Sounds like we are all different. Eggs was one of my early go to foods. Soft scrambled with a little milk mixed in to start. After a couple weeks I started adding some shredded cheese. The blended/pureed egg salad with only seasoning to start off. Then added a little pickle juice for more flavor and then grew to adding relish and onions.

I asked my surgeon about getting one and he told me absolutely not. They can cause more harm than good for most patients.

I too tried several chewables and found their sweetness almost sickening. Liquids were even worse for me. Two recommendations on Complete multivitamin in capsules: These can both be gotten with or without Iron, depending on what you want. Celebrate Bariatric Multivitamin requires 3 capsules a day and then the Procare Health Bariatric Multivitamins that come in a single capsule per day. As to calcium with vitamin D, look at the Life Extension Calcium Citrate with vitamin D3 in capsule form. I have found that soft chews for calcium/vitD from both Celebrate and Procare Health to be quite good but more expensive. I especially like the caramel from Procare to be my favorite. So I take a mix of the capsules and soft chews for some variety.

My doctor says NO to the ibuprofin. Are you taking for the pain relief or the sleep aid? If you need both try the Tylenol PM instead, if you want the sleep aid get one that stands alone and doesn't include the ibuprofin.

Anyone knowledgeable on vitamins/supplements have any feedback on TruCal Calcium compared to Calcium citrate? The Procare Health website claims TruCal bioavailability equal or similar to calcium citrate, any opinions? I am switching to their multivitamins because it is one capsule a day and considering their calcium supplement as well.

Also sleeved on 3/28 and I am experiencing the same slow going. down 25 pre-op and down 37 post-op, but the last 30 days just seem to be up and down. I thought I was past that stall but not really. We just need to keep working the plan. I switched my breakfast to just a protein shake the last couple days to see if it will help shake things up.

You are doing great and have no reason to be concerned as we are all different. Here's some reasons: Most are quoting loss since they started the process, not just since they had surgery. I started weight loss with presurgery diet starting at 326, surgery on 3/28 at 301 and currently at 264. So, total loss of 62 and loss since surgery of 37. Some reasons: Guys always lose faster than women. Not trying to be sexist, but that's what I hear at the group sessions I go to. There there is the starting point. I think those of us that started at 326 (112 lbs higher than your starting point) will see some faster results in the beginning, but that will slow especially as we go through the occasional stall. Exercise: I know I do better on days when I get in some good walking of more than a mile but am finding that a bit of a problem here in the heat or when it is raining like this week. I am joining a gym with an indoor track this week to at least get into an AC environment and eliminate that excuse. Your doing great , just keep it up.

Like so many, especially us seniors, our social lives revolve around food and eating out. My wife has been supportive but she is also anxious about the changes to our lives that will be coming about because of my upcoming sleeve surgery. I think she envisions having to be in liquid or pureed diet modes forever or that her eating normally in front of me will be detrimental to me. Our common social theme is that we have date night once a week where we go to the movies followed by dinner out. We might eat out maybe 3 times a week. Nothing fancy but nice restaurants with an occasional splurge for a special occasion. When we get with friends it is usually over a meal out as well. So here are my questions to those of you that have been through WLS and are 6 months or more post-op: When were you able to start eating out? What kinds of restaurants did you find it easiest to be successful in? Did you have a "strategy" in approaching eating out? While I understand the diet requirements going forward when were you able to eat a normal meal at home? Meaning a meal that would have a protein, vegetable and maybe a starch at one sitting. Smaller servings certainly. I guess maybe the real question is when could I expect to eat some of the same things for dinner my wife could or would eat? Thanks for any help or tips you might have. They will help me and my wife feel more comfortable with this journey.

Protein can be added to soups. Lots of Soups go easily in the blender. I used mostly canned vegetable and veg beef. Also made a homemade Soup called "Souper easy Mexican Bean Soup" that was great, wife liked it very much without the blending. Recipe out on internet. I would simply blend up enough for 3-4 servings and package them in individual servings of say 4-5 oz each. Baby oatmeal or even blended regular oatmeal works real well. Cottage cheese became a favorite even blended with some No Sugar added peaches. Pureed tuna salad and chicken salad worked real well. I think a key is finding a truly "No Flavor and taste free" Protein that you can add to anything. I tried several of the non-flavored versions of brand Proteins but they always added some vanilla taste to anything I mixed them with. Didn't always go well as I did throw more than 1 item away. I finally found GENEPRO, a truly tasteless Protein Powder. You can mix 1 TBsp of the powder for 30 gm protein into plain Water with no taste. While it seems much more expensive per ounce it really isn't per serving. I usually add 1 or 2 tsp (10gms protein each) to things I need or want more protein from with no change in taste. Bottom line, I can now add protein to anything I want to, even my decaf coffee.

Lots of Soups go easily in the blender. I used mostly canned vegetable and veg beef. Also made a homemade Soup called "Souper easy Mexican Bean Soup" that was great, wife liked it very much without the blending. Recipe out on internet. I would simply blend up enough for 3-4 servings and package them in individual servings of say 4-5 oz each. Baby oatmeal or even blended regular oatmeal works real well I think a key is finding a truly "No Flavor and taste free" Protein that you can add to anything. I tried several of the non-flavored versions of brand Proteins but they always added some vanilla taste to anything I mixed them with. Didn't always go well as I did throw more than 1 item away. I finally found GENEPRO, a truly tasteless Protein Powder. You can mix 1 TBsp of the powder for 30 gm protein into plain Water with no taste. While it seems much more expensive per ounce it really isn't per serving. I usually add 1 or 2 tsp (10gms protein each) to things I need or want more protein from with no change in taste. Bottom line, I can now add protein to anything I want to, even my decaf coffee.

An update from the originator of this stream: I am now 7 weeks out from surgery and my wife and I have shared many of the same thoughts. She was afraid to eat in front of me but I finally convinced her it was not a problem. I just use my small plates, eat slowly and after 46 years of marriage she finally finishes eating most of her meal before me. We were both concerned about having to give up our favorite recreation, eating out. We have been out to eat 4-5 times in last 3 weeks and easily found food to eat. Enchiladas can be opened to eat the shredded chicken and refried Beans, grilled or broiled fish goes down easy, shredded pork and chopped brisket go down easily. Mashed potatoes and thoroughly chewed french fires have worked well, and there is always soft scrambled eggs with some hash browns. I seem to be able to eat more than many that write in here, but I also take home plenty of left overs. I typically am eating 4 oz of Protein with small portions of starch and vegetables. I now have confidence that I kind find something satisfying to eat anywhere we might want to go. So I am no longer worried about Life After and eating out.

Lots of soups go easily in the blender. I used mostly canned vegetable and veg beef. Also made a homemade soup called "Souper easy Mexican Bean Soup" that was great, wife liked it very much without the blending. Recipe out on internet. I would simply blend up enough for 3-4 servings and package them in individual servings of say 4-5 oz each. Baby oatmeal or even blended regular oatmeal works real well I think a key is finding a truly "No Flavor and taste free" protein that you can add to anything. I tried several of the non-flavored versions of brand proteins but they always added some vanilla taste to anything I mixed them with. Didn't always go well as I did throw more than 1 item away. I finally found GenePro, a truly tasteless protein powder. You can mix 1 TBsp of the powder for 30 gm protein into plain water with no taste. While it seems much more expensive per ounce it really isn't per serving. I usually add 1 or 2 tsp (10gms protein each) to things I need or want more protein from with no change in taste. Bottom line, I can now add protein to anything I want to, even my decaf coffee or wasted calories like corn flakes or Rice Krispies.

I am 7 weeks out from surgery and my wife and I have shared many of the same thoughts. She was afraid to eat in front of me but I finally convinced her it was not a problem. I just use my small plates, eat slowly and after 46 years of marriage she finally finishes eating most of her meal before me. We were both concerned about having to give up our favorite recreation, eating out. We have been out to eat 4-5 times in last 3 weeks and easily found food to eat. Enchiladas can be opened to eat the shredded chicken and refried beans, grilled or broiled fish goes down easy, shredded pork and chopped brisket go down easily. Mashed potatoes and thoroughly chewed french fires have worked well, and there is always soft scrambled eggs with some hash browns. I seem to be able to eat more than many that write in here, but I also take home plenty of left overs. I typically am eating 4 oz of protein with small portions of starch and vegetables.

I did experience a stall at 3-4 weeks after surgery that lasted almost 3 weeks. It was also accompanied by intermittent constipation. Started taking Miralax at doctor recommendation. Constipation resolved and stall broken at about the same time. I attend a monthly group meeting of sleeve patients and the consensus there is that stalls are real and can occur from time to time. Most say an increase in exercise or even attention to quantities being eaten can break the stall and get you on the road again.

Friday update. Sleeved Mar 28- now down 37 since surgery and 62 overall since start of process. Down 6-8 inches in waist size and down from 3XB shirt size to XXL. Already got rid of the clothes I was wearing before surgery, the 2XB and 3X sizes that I was storing in the closet and had to buy some cheap shorts and shirts that I can wear for now. Trying to wait until at least year end before I buy much in the way of clothes. I told my wife I will actually go shopping with her for the holidays instead of buying everything online. I was slowed by a stall of almost 3 weeks and had constipation issues, but those finally broke about 8-9 days ago. Miralax has become my friend after my 5 week followup with surgeon. He convinced me that Miralax was the way to go even if needed for a long term and absolutely NO supplemental or extra fiber other than what I eat. Per his explanation, most people don't take it long enough to do any real good. He recommends at least 10 days at the recommended dosage and then 10 days taking every other day to ween off it. If necessary it can be taken long term with no ill effects. Should you go into diarrhea, don't stop but simply take every other day until it clears. About the fiber, He explained that after the gastric sleeve the body would have major problems balancing internal fluid levels against any extra fiber ingested causing, not helping, constipation issues.

I'll join the Friday weigh -in. Hit 272 this morning finally breaking my stall of 2 weeks. I am convinced constipation played a role in the stall but with a couple days of Miralax recommended by my surgeon hopefully we are moving on. That's down 28 since surgery on 3/28.

The only pattern I've found so far is that a stall and constipation seem to go together. At least for me.

I think there is a lot of stalls going on for March sleevers. 3/28 sleeve here and I have been mostly in a stall for about 11 days since 3/11. I lost 25lbs in the two weeks after surgery but since then I've been stalled, even gained a few lbs which I have since gotten rid of and about 1 pound more. Too early to declare victory over this stall, but I can hope. I am thinking lack of bowel movements might have something to do with it? I seem to go only every 5-7 days. I am eating plenty of protein, not just shakes. Are you folks finding this typical or do I need to be doing something about it?

Made myself and pureed. I agree 7 oz was way too much (I didn't eat it, only half) but I thought I was only scooping 4oz. I guess I'll just follow my new rule. If liquid/pours equal liquid measure, if it doesn't pour I'll weigh it.

Question on portion size - Sleeved on 3/28 Started Pureed stage yesterday and didn’t take long to come up with another question. When measuring portions of something more solid than liquids like a tuna or chicken salad, Should I be measuring volume or weight? I scooped ½ cup of chicken salad for my dinner but it sure looked like a lot sitting on the plate. I measured the weight and it weighed more like 7 oz. Which should we be using?

I am switching back to pills/capsules. Sleeved 3/28 and bought a whole bunch of liquids and different chewables to carry me through the first 6 months. BUT my tastes have changed and those that were palatable before the surgery are just sickening to me now. I have poured the liquid MV, Calcium and Iron down the drain after just 3 or 4 days. The SOFT CHEW calcium from Celebrate tastes pretty good to me in some flavors, but not all. Can't go wrong with the caramel. I tried the chewable tablets for MV, Iron and Calcium for about 10 days, but now can't even stand their odor let alone the sweet taste. So back to researching. I am now settling for MV Capsules from Celebrate, Citrical NEW SHAPE/size MINI's for Calcium Citrate and going to the Zahler's Iron complex capsules. They are all of a size my surgeon approved of, just have to take one at a time.

Sleeved on 3/28 and doing pretty well. Today is my first days on pureed diet and I had a very soft scrambled egg this morning and it was great. Based on a sleeve group attendee I tried GENEPRO protein and it is tasteless just as he indicated. It's great to have this protein that I can mix with other stuff without adding a vanilla flavoring. I am finding my tastes on some things have changed, The Premier Protein water that had been my go to during liquid stage became unpalatable for me. Way to sweet and left a metallic type taste and even felt like a coating in my mouth. One day without it and thats all gone. Also I can no longer handle the chewable calcium tabs and multivitamin chewable that I was planning to use. They just taste way too sweet. But I'll find others.