RHCD

I hit my first stall basically at my 1 week post op. The needle really didn’t move again (except for the same lb) until just shy of my 4 week when I dropped 4 all at once. At this point I’m actually still eating mostly soft foods but have started branching out to “real” foods. I’ve also stopped weighing myself daily. While I’m not exactly on the same day I’m trying to limit myself to every few days as I’m needing some sort of feedback as I figure this out.

My stall started at basically 1 week postop and stayed within 1lb until just shy of my 4 week. Then I dropped again. I did keep measurements to compare against to help the mental side. I dropped a full dress size during this. I had a post op appt and my doc and nut during this and they were both happy with my progress. I knew and was honest on what things I was meeting (liquids) and where I wasn’t (protein/exercise). Be gentle with yourself but also honest. Some days you will knock it out of the park and others will be a struggle.

I am a fan of Nuzest Protein Powder as its pea protein that I use as a smoothie. Thankfully I can finally add fresh fruit to help the taste. I’ve also added egg white protein. (Fair warning it makes things eggy). I’ve had luck with non cow dairy like goat cheese. The first few weeks dairy was completely off for me but lately I’ve been able to add some back.

I’m a month out and trying to figure out how to pack foods on my list versus trying to find something in the cafeteria at work. Let alone I usually eat at my desk while working/conf calls what not. Taking a daily lunch is just not an option for me. I do better when I pack my own lunch. It’s a habit I’m trying to get in (most days at least). When I can walk extra during the day by either taking stairs, taking the long way to a meeting room etc. I also have my water bottle with me when ever I leave my desk. I try to drink a good portion during a meeting say 10 ozs over an hour meeting...

I tied a jacket around my waist. Like didn’t even think about it and did it. I can’t remember doing that in a very long time. Squealed and only had the dog looking at me weirdly.

My NUT and I have talked about the fact I really can’t stand artificial sweeteners or honestly most sweeteners. Most don’t sit well with me or taste way to sweet and or chemically. Short term I’m pretty much avoiding all of it with the exception of what’s in my protein shakes and or as part of some of my flavored teas. Protein shake wise I’m usually good to get one in but it’s takes me multiple hours. Tea wise the qty is so low it’ doesn’t even register. My meals now are pretty much savory and I’m totally okay with that. Longer term we are having the convo around fresh fruit. It makes smoothies drinkable for me let alone I love love love fresh berries. It’s one of the few things I’m completely unwilling to give up longer term. My NUT is actually okay with that. Of course I’m tempting fate and it’ll likely be one of the things my body can’t handle.

So yesterday I think between eating a little too much, maybe a little fast and also on the dry size. Well it wasn’t pretty. This is how you learn right? In lighter news I added some egg white protein to a blended soup...evidently when you heat it back up you basically get a very flavorful and tasty scrambled eggs.

I’m a week ahead of you and while I’m getting all my fluids I’m No where near my protein requirements. My dairy sensitivity has made most shakes off limits. Add in other stuff I’ve tried wayyy to sweet. I had fairly good energy 1 week post op but I can tell the lack of protein/ calories is contributing to my low energy. Puréed soups helped me get some of my protein needs and will likely help as I transition to soft foods.

Well I think I hit the infamous 1st plateau. I’ve been struggling to get my protein in as I just could not drink the shakes let alone the 2-3 needed in the FL stage. Being dairy sensitive my NUT and I knew the FL was going to be my biggest challenge. I tried switching to liquid protein flavored drinks but it’s seriously like drinking kool-aide a 6 year old made aka wayyyy too sweet. Liquid/blended soups have at least gotten me most of the way there but not the 70+ goal I should be getting. I’m so looking forward to the soft foods stage. I ordered a couple of Bariatric Cookbooks to help get my head around what a serving size is since we love to cook in our house. Now I just need to get my butt more active. Best thing: I get to take off my steri strips today! (Two week mark)

Good grief. This so shouldn’t have gotten this far. I’m glad you’re recovering but wow I’d be so pissed at my surgeon and team.

I went back virtual for two days at my one week mark. Physically back in the office on day 11. When virtual I was totally fine. My first day back I will admit I was tired like exhausted tired when I got home. I’ve been struggling getting my protein in but am basically at 64 oz of water and soups no problem. I’m sure not getting 8!jours I’d sleep didn’t help. Basically it’s doable it just depends on what type of office job you have and how you react to the surgery.

Right there with you. I’m doing a couple of wrap dresses from EShakti down a couple of sizes from my start. I figure I can make them pass for a good long while as I have to dress fairly professionally daily and hate looking frumpy. Hoping I can skate thru my accelerated phase during the summer with dresses, skirts and maybe professional looking capris. Suits I’m going to be hitting up a local plus size consignment shop. Let alone the lane Bryant clearance section in general. I’ve never had luck with thrift store pants cause I have a long inseam. I discovered yesterday my work pants (Nordstrom’s house brand) don’t have belt loops. I about cried as they were my plan for a few more weeks. I’m basically doing a clothing purge this weekend to see what I have at smaller sizes that I can salvage.

That moment where you had your first “oh wow life really is different now? “ Yeah I had that this weekend. I’m on day 10/11 in the post op liquid phase (and struggling but that’s a different post). I had to go buy belts for my pants because they were getting droopy. First time for that. First time hanging out with friends and while it’s not unusual for us to bring our own foods because of what ever diet/ gastric thing one of us is dealing with. I literally smelled food and that while that smells good I really don’t want any (grilled burgers). Like literally didn’t have the feed me now response I was so used to. I was content with my blended soup and jello I brought. First time for that. One of my friends commented on how much brighter/upbeat I seemed too. Next first: The Mr and I went out for errands and are finished the night up with a show. I put on a shirt and it just felt weird and baggy. This was a shirt I have like two or three of and a month ago wore regularly. I actually went and changed to into something less baggy. While out and about we had time to kill and went to one of our favorite restaurants. I knew I could get an awesome soup that the broth would be tasty and would blend up nicely once I got home. I ate really slow and barely made a dent. I think I was full (still figuring that part out) and stopped to get the rest to go. I also laughed when they gave me this big ole soup spoon that I knew was bigger than I should have per bite and instead used the teaspoon. A couple more firsts there. I know I’m going to lean on these NSV for the eventual plateau. What were some of your firsts?

ems067 - I’m impressed you’re already eating normalish food. We’re sleeved the same day I am struggling get my liquids in let alone proteins in. I don’t get soft foods until 5/19. I’m hoping some different things I ordered help me get there as some of the stuff I bought before and had no issue with are either tasting funny (bone broth) or giving me a bad reaction (protein water with whey isolate). Good news is I’m taking no pain meds and haven’t since Friday night. I still am getting up every few hours but that’s not unnormal in my household.

I’m vague at what I want numbers wise at the “end”. I know I want under 200 and that’s my goal #1. After that I want to be in straight sizes and honestly I think that puts me in the 170s maybe 160s? Single digit sizes are easily sub 160 and I kinda remember being there in my early teens when I worked at a summer camp and literally walked miles per day. I’m 5’8” with a fairly stocky build and long legs to give you a better idea. My team is confident that sub 200 lbs is totally doable. Non plus is too but gets into stretch goals. Single digits puts me on the lower likelyhood, again doable and realistic but much more work. They are supportive but are also wanting me to not set myself up for failure with something that’s too extreme. We haven’t talked final BMI numbers which I’m grateful for.

I went to the fancy grocery store and bought a whole bunch of their deli soups. (they make in house). They sell hot soup but you can also buy in their deli case in a sealed cold bag. I have to avoid dairy so anything cream of was right out. I’m blending/pureeing it to eat. I’m so glad I have something non sweet to eat. I’m probably going to add some protein powder to help get my protein count up.

I just had the sleeve done . Prior to my decision I’d researched the hell out of it and the malabsorption issue was the determining factor. I I’ve had several friends across the county and a coworker who’ve all had the sleeve with varying levels of success. I was able to ask very point blank questions and got honest answers.

Just out of curiosity how big is the plate? I’m 6days post op and trying to wrap my head around using smaller plates. And looks tasty!

ems067 - I’m impressed you’re already eating normalish food. We’re sleeved the same day I am struggling get my liquids in let alone proteins in. I don’t get soft foods until 5/19. I’m hoping some different things I ordered help me get there as some of the stuff I bought before and had no issue with are either tasting funny (bone broth) or giving me a bad reaction (protein water with whey isolate). Good news is I’m taking no pain meds and haven’t since Friday night. I still am getting up every few hours but that’s not unnormal in my household.

I’m finding I could do whey isolate in protein water preop but now post op it’s a big ole nope. Tomorrow I transition to non clear liquids so I’m hoping I can switch back to protein shakes that are pea protein based (Nuzest clean lean protein). They are at the lower end of my protein requirements but if they don’t send me to bathroom with lactose issues I’m happy.

I tried a whole bunch of protein waters, shakes, what not to figure out what I could stand for both pre op and post op liquid phases. I added bone broth so I’d get something savory during post op phase and glad I did.

Mostly just an introduction: Had my sleeve done yesterday (4/25) and just got home from the clinic this morning. I basically came home and feel asleep for four hours as I had interrupted sleep all night (My o2 levels were fine when I was awake but went boarderline when fell asleep). Now trying to get all the fluids down and go on regular walks. Looking at what I left for the day and my old brain says totally easy. So working thru that. Preop diet I lost almost 20 lbs. which kinda floored me.