Supervixen116

Protect the pouch! The first three weeks were SO HARD. You can do this! I'm two years post-op and there were so many temptations and ways I could have ruined the chance I was given. Any time I think I want to eat, I go for a walk. It helps me reset my head.

I'm two years out and find that potatoes take up a lot of space. Today I had some potato salad with brisket, and I could only eat a couple of tablespoons. Like rice, I find that potato expands.

I went to a friend's 50th birthday party three weeks after my surgery and it was rough! I love beer, and to be there without being able to drink was a struggle. But, I made it through the night without a drink, and I did it knowing that some day I could probably have beer again. I didn't have a beer until six months post-op. I'm two years post-op and I have an occasional beer, but it's usually a stout because anything with carbonation bothers me. I've learned to savor my beer because you will be a total lightweight after surgery. I usually don't finish my pint, which still stuns me! Hang in there - you'll get to have alcohol again, and it will be worth the wait.

It took almost two years, but rice did me in. My friend, who had gastric sleeve two years before me, said I would throw up in six months. It took a year and a half, but it was rice. I had a great time at a sushi place and paid the price dearly. Rice expands. I should have know this, but I threw caution to the wind. Fair warning to those who eat something that is a carb. Lesson learned!

I moved as much as I could, but I didn't feel well enough to go back to work as a teacher until the third week out. My friend was out for two months (also a teacher). Everyone is different, so just listen to your body and do what you can to move around. It's important to avoid blood clots!

Welcome and congrats! I struggled for the first 5-6 weeks getting everything in and getting the timing right! Now, 7 months out, I look back at that time and wish I hadn't stressed so much over it! Just do what you can, and your body will eventually adjust and get to where it needs to be. It's in shock - you just had major surgery. It will all fall into place eventually!

I'm seven months out, and find that I can eat faster, but my body definitely lets me know when I'm going too fast. Listen to your gut (literally!), and just follow what it says. I find making that extra effort to keep it slow means eating less and getting to full more quickly.

Mine started falling out at about 5 months. I'm now at 6 months and it has stopped. No bald spots or anything, but much more than I was expecting!

I get what I refer to as the Bread Tingle - my nerve endings tingle after eating a little bread. I generally avoid bread, mainly in favor of getting my protein. I occasionally have a small piece of pizza, but don't eat the crust. I love turkey burgers, but I wrap them in lettuce and avoid the bun. Everyone is different, and as long as I continue to lose weight and get all of my water and protein in every day, a little bread once in a while won't be the end of me.

I had the same problem with my PCP. I got a new one and couldn't be happier!

I've been using Gold Bond Neck and Chest Firming Cream with great success!

Congrats! I'm looking forward to visiting One-derland soon!

I started with one cup of decaf at week 3 and went to regular coffee at week 6. No problems at all!

Love Premier! I'm almost three months out and drink at least one a day. I like the Vanilla or Chocolate for coffee creamer, then drink the rest of it in the late morning or afternoon. Strawberry and banana are my other favorites. I buy at Costco or Amazon.

I had surgery on a Tuesday and was out the rest of the week as well as the following week. I felt like I could have gone back the Thursday of that second week, but I'm glad I took the whole week. I'm a teacher, so the first few weeks back were pretty exhausting. I have a friend who ended up taking 6 weeks off because she was healing slowly and had little energy. Everyone is different.

About a month after surgery, I began getting small whiteheads and larger, raised acne on my temples and jawline. I changed my skincare line to one that fights acne, and it's gotten a lot better.

I burp 5 or 6 times about 15-20 minutes after I'm done eating.

No one will do this perfectly! We will all have our stumbles, and feeling that regret tells us that we still have the most important goal in mind - changing our habits and living a longer, happier life!

Hi surgery twins! Down 26 lbs. and feeling great! Just cleaned out my closet last night, and as I was trying things on, I couldn't believe how large and baggy things were looking on me! I'm down two sizes, so now I'm not trying to hide under my clothes. It's so weird to me! I'm still trying to figure out my routine of food. I start with coffee with protein shake as my creamer and add a scoop of collagen protein. The bat wings on my arms are getting noticeable, but I was expecting that because I'm 49 and I have no illusions about my lack of elasticity. I do a piece of cheese or yogurt for morning snack. A green drink (veggies only) with more protein powder for lunch. Afternoon snack is the rest of my protein shake, then dinner is chicken, fish, meatballs, or a sausage. In between all of that is water. I had some bread a couple of weeks ago, and my stomach got super grumbly. This week, I'm going to switch out the juice on a few days for some salads. I've had a little beer (stout only) and a little wine, but I don't feel I need it like I used to pre-op. I had a small piece of pizza last night for the first time, but only got through a few bites. I used to have pizza every Friday night, but like so many other things, I don't miss it and don't care if I ever have it again. Also super weird to me that I feel that way! I'll admit that I wish I was losing more than 1-2 lbs. a week, but I also haven't been this size in a VERY long time! I keep telling myself that slow and steady wins the race! I'm walking 1.5 miles every day. I belong to a gym, but haven't been in years. That's my next big "add" to my routine. Although, I might quit the gym and start going to yoga. I'm looking for strength/core building, and I like yoga way better than germy machines! I was cold all of the time for the first six weeks, but that seems to be subsiding. Three weeks ago, my face started breaking out with tiny whiteheads, which has never happened before. My energy is good at the beginning of the week, but fades by Friday. Keep on truckin', everyone!

I was sleeved 12/31 and have not looked back! I was incredibly apprehensive before the surgery, thinking I would miss out on enjoying food. Turns out, I wasn't enjoying food, but using it as a way to dull my self-loathing. I also used to drink a lot of wine and beer. Now, I have no desire for making a quick stop at the drive-thru, or pouring a glass of beer or wine every night. That to me is absolutely weird! Now that I have lost weight, feel better, and have a brighter outlook, I don't feel the emotional pull towards the destructive habits. I also haven't felt hunger. I definitely feel full, and have learned exactly when to stop. I haven't come across anything that I can't eat, and I haven't thrown up. I have had an occasional glass of wine or a beer, but it's hard to imbibe when your priority is to eat protein. There's just no room or time for empty calories. The weeks after the surgery were a little rough with three weeks of liquid, then three weeks of mush, but they are a distant memory. I am enjoying less knee pain, better sleep, and I felt my hip bone emerge this week! And I too, cannot wait to sit on the beach again!

Down 26 lbs. since sleeve on 12/31. I've lost every week - sometimes a pound, sometimes more. I only weigh myself once a week - Weigh-in Wednesday! Walking 1.5 miles every morning. Mixing collagen protein powder into my coffee and mixing regular protein powder into a green juice (no fruit) every day. I get in a protein shake every day by using some of it as creamer and drinking the rest in the afternoon as a snack. My goal is 89g of protein daily. Also, down a shirt size and two pant sizes. I keep track of everything on the Baritastic app, which I believe is the biggest key to my success!

I'm a month out from surgery and down 20 pounds. I've got two more weeks of puree to go, then real food! Down a pant size as well. Protein shakes are my friend - I have to get 89g in every day. Calorie intake is about 800-900 a day.

I use Baritastic, which is free. Very happy with it. It pairs with your FitBit and wireless scale.

I have Anthem and they required six nutrition classes. The key was to do one class a month and not finish the six months early, or I would have to start over again. So, my first class was March 21, and my last class had to be after October 21. I imagine it would be the same structure with seeing a doctor.

Hang in there, Rosy! I echo what everyone said about staying with liquids for a while. You've had a large portion of a major organ removed, and your body needs time to heal. Your new Baby Yoda stomach can't handle too much right now. I had a few tough days after the surgery mentally because I am so used to sitting down in front of the TV or with a book and snacking away. Or when bored, I used to automatically reach for food. Now that isn't an option, so I became quickly frustrated and went down into the "why did I do this" hole. After a few days of sitting down with a protein shake or Oikos Triple Zero yogurt instead, I'm starting to feel better about breaking my bad habits for good. And no regrets. I realized I have to create new, healthy habits. It took me about a week to turn the corner on that.