notmyname

Hey DC area friends. Does anyone have a support group they like it the DC area (meaning DC or close in suburbs)? I had my surgery at Virginia Hospital Center, but I HATE the support group there. Everyone just talks loudly over each other and it is super chaotic. I went a couple times before surgery and it stressed me out so much that I was nauseated afterwards - which I REALLY don't want post-surgery. I understand the need for support groups after surgery, particularly this soon after surgery. I just don't want to go to one that stresses me out this much. If anyone has one they like, do you mind sharing? Thanks!

Thanks. Those are both pretty far away from DC and I'm not a huge fan of driving.

This is a pretty recent thread on it that might have the info you're looking for:

They're typically fairly cheap at places like TJ Max/Marshalls, etc. They're usually in the exercise area.

Both mix well if you shake them well. The Syntrax can get kind of foamy, but give it a few minutes an the foam will go down. I find that the fruity Syntrax ones (like lemonade and fuzzy navel) taste better with ice. The unjury choc tastes better with milk. If you have a blender bottle (one of those bottles with the wire ball in it), they both work even better.

Hey all, so the Marie Kondo phenomenon combined with a lot of people having involuntary time off with the shutdown has led the local charity shops to be so overrun with donations that many aren't accepting more donations right now. I have a bunch of clothes I'd like to get out of my house, but my surgical group doesn't have a clothing exchange. I figure this is a long shot, but anyone know of a good bariatric clothing exchange in DC or close-in suburbs? And, apropos of nothing, I knew I'd need to get rid of clothing, but I also have a lot of kitchenware that I won't use anymore to donate - rice cooker, an enormous pan that I'll never be able to use again, canisters for flour/sugar, ice cream maker, etc. It just never occurred to me that this would lead to superfluous stuff in my kitchen (after my food clean out).

Mine's been weird too. A couple weeks ago, I was supposed to have my period. And had all of the hormonal signs I was going to have it (acne, bloating, cramps, etc), but then just didn't. I think our hormones are just going nutty and it does weird things to our cycles.

Thanks, I'll check. And most of the places like these are not currently accepting donations in the DC area. Many feds are taking the involuntary time off to clean out their houses. So the charities are full.

Once a week, I have an after work obligation and don't get home until 9 or 10. So for dinner I have a shake before my obligation. When I get home, I'm usually a little hungry, so since I've had all of my protein for the day, I eat 1/3 to 1/2 cup of cooked veggies. It is my FAVORITE day! I miss veggies too.

My NUT said 40g in a sitting is OK. But I've heard other limits, so no idea if she's right.

I'm about 2.5 months post-sleeve. I'm still at the point where the pouch is doing most of the work, but I know eventually that will change. I'd like to get myself as prepared as possible for good habits in the long term. I've heard that the book Beck Diet Solution is good for thinking about behavior modification. Has anyone read it post-WLS? Opinions? Does it work post surgery? Appreciate any thoughts anyone has! Thanks

Sleeved in late October and I have the same thing. Losing all my weight in my legs, butt, and boobs. I had to lose 50# before I dropped a pant size. My old pants still fit perfectly in the waist, and were droopy drawers in the butt and legs. Not at all how I lost in previous attempts (except the boobs - they're always the first to go). For example, my first month, I lost a half inch in my waist, 2.5 in my butt, and an inch in each thigh. way out of proportion to their original size. I can only hope that it'll eventually even out. I suspect that since I'm in my 40s, the belly weight will just come off slower. It did catch up a little in month 2 in terms of inches. I'll have to see at the end of the month how its looking now.

I hate being sick. Woke up at 4 AM with a sore throat and a fever. Focusing on liquids and vitamins today. Sincerely doubt I'll be able to get protein. And I had to cancel my therapist appointment and a bunch of fun stuff this weekend.

I was REALLY tired at 4.5 weeks. My doc said I'd start feeling better at 2 months, and he was right. At 3 weeks, I started back to the gym doing the treadmill for 30+ minutes, at 6 weeks I was cleared to start back with Pilates and working on strength training with my trainer. I feel 1000% better now (2.5 months out) than I did at 4.5 weeks - and I'm still eating less than 4oz of food 3x/day. It may be worth asking your NUT to see if there is anything different you need to do with your diet because you're a fitness instructor - I assume that means you're working out multiple times a day, which I know I am not.

Like FluffxChix, at 6 weeks, I was cleared to start trying everything. But my doc said to try no more than one new food a day. that way, if something did upset my pouch, I'd know what it was. I'm about 2.5 months out, and there are still things I can't quite eat, even though I'm cleared for anything.

I told 1 person at work. I lead a division of 30 - at our monthly meeting, I just said that I was fine, but was going to be out for 2-4 weeks, some of that teleworking. Nobody has asked. @Swanton_Bomb - I'm fairly sure that your boss can't ask what kind of surgery. And I don't lie. I just tell people I'm fine and its personal. The one person who asked if I lost weight I just looked at him for a beat or two too long for comfort and told him that asking about other people's bodies is not OK in the work place. I may have a leg up because I've made clear in the past not to ask personal questions of people, or talk about other people's bodies, because of something else that happened in our workplace. So I doubt my employees would ask anyway.

I found a phychologist who specializes in weight issues with a sub specialty in weight loss surgery. It has been SO helpful. She understands all the emotional things that happen after having surgery and all of the emotional/mental things that need to be dealt with to make surgery successful. I highly recommend seeing if someone like that exists around you. And, if not, if there is someone you can find that does skype appointments. Good luck!

Liquid: Premier protein, unjury powders, syntrax nectar powders (I like variety - and syntrax has some that are more fruity than chocolate, like lemonade and fuzzy navel - they have a trial pack you can buy). Milk (fairlife - more protein), greek yogurt (oikos triple 0 - would think out with milk. Note that some people aren't allowed yogurt on liquid phase) Pureed foods: I made a bunch of this stuff before and froze it: tomato soup, black beans (I just cooked, added some broth, and pureed), pureed sweet potatoes, pureed spinach. cottage cheese, yogurt, hummus, eggs (note, some folks dont do well with eggs at this stage), stuff to make eggface's ricotta bake (google it - ricotta, parm, mozzarella, pasta sauce, egg. I liked to add in some pureed spinach for flavor) Soft foods: tilapia, egg salad, zucchini, green beans, tuna (I tried tuna and it did not work for me, but it does for some. Good luck!

I think the first one should be of "excess body weight" - right? Otherwise that would be scary!!

I'd also say think about whether you like him/her. I've found seeing a therapist regularly (once a month) to be much more helpful than seeing my nutritionist.

I had my 3 month post-op last week (even though I'm not at 3 months until the 29th). So far, I've lost 64.5 total, 57.2 since the pre-op diet, and 43.2 since surgery. Averaging 3.1 lbs weekly - including the week after surgery when I lost 8 and a coupe weeks when I lost 1-2. Lost 34.2% of my excess weight. So far, I'm pretty pleased with my progress. I have reflux (not a big surprise, but sucks anyway) and my hair has started to fall out (I have curly hair and I've lost a couple of complete curls). But, other than the fact that I can't yet eat cruciferous veggies, I'm doing well. I miss eating more veggies (I'm a pescatarian and my dinners used to be huge stir fries), but I'm slowly able to increase my veg intake. So, all in all, so far, so good. A couple weeks ago a friend asked if I was happy with my decision. I had to answer that I really won't know for a couple years. For me, it's pretty easy to be happy with these early easy losses. The proof will be if I can use this tool to keep it off.

One service I love, but can't use anymore because I live alone and don't eat enough, is Hungry HArvest. Its a fruit/veggie delivery service that looks for food that would otherwise be tossed - generally because its "ugly" or stupid things like the store ordered 8oz packs and the farm accidentally packed 16oz packs, so the store won't take them. They also donate food to people on SNAP. Their whole mission is to end food waste and hunger. Unlike most CSAs, you can choose (within what they have available) what veggies/fruit you want, you can start/stop/pause anytime, and the food is so fresh and good. Now that I just can't eat that much, it makes no sense for me, and I hate that I have to buy my veg from the supermarket (until our farmer's markets open back up in spring).

Call the doc - I'm about 2.5 months from surgery and have reflux. They gave me a second med for the reflux and it has helped. They may be able to change your meds or give you something else. He did say that just because I have reflux now, doeesn't mean it is forever. Good luck!

There are some good ideas in this thread. I'm also thinking about starting the Beck Diet Solution book, which is supposed to be about changing habits (vs. really being a diet). I haven't read it, so not really an endorsement, but a friend really liked it.

My recollection is that it was immediate, but this was a few years ago, so my memory may be faulty.