Sammi_Katt

WAY too much sugar. Try sticking to water or unsweet/stevia sweetened tea.

I was told nothing raw (including salad) until six months out. It would be in your diet plan that your dietitian or surgeon gave you, since everyone's is different. I've been craving one so badly as well, so I know the feeling.

I am VERY fortunate to work from home to begin with as a book editor, so I'm thankful that my job is not in danger. I've also been able to find food at our fancier stores (because the locals all swamp to the cheaper places like Smiths and Walmart instead) and have been able to keep eating healthy, too. Can say the empty streets are nice for 7-8am walks, though kinda eerie.

It happened to me for a while, too. I had low potassium levels, but it could also be because you are not getting enough water in. Once I got my potassium levels checked out (by a doctor) and corrected, and started drinking more water, they settled down.

A lot of the time, when I'm feeling hungry, I am actually just thirsty. Especially the more I exercised; yes, I eat around 600-800 calories a day, but I'm also getting closer to 96oz of water day on the heavy exercising days. It could be boredom or head hunger; you're still too early out from your surgery to be feeling true hunger. Try sipping some water and make sure you are filling up on proteins. If you're eating anything carby or just veggies, you'll not feel full as long as you should. Good job on getting to 10,000 steps. I know it's crappy to be hit with stuff right after surgery. ❤️

Still burp, especially if I accidentally overeat or eat something my stomach doesn't agree with. Heck, I even belch on purpose to relieve some gas build up I get. It's also better to just let it out; holding it in can hurt (at least it does for me). That goes for the other end, too.

Oh no, I feel for you. I had the same problem, and it was an allergic reaction to the surgical tape I had on my incisions. I ended up going to the doctor for a steroid injection (I am also allergic to benadryl...) and felt better after a few days once the adhesive was off.

It's trauma, honestly. I HAVE to weigh myself once a week, or I'll find myself obsessing over numbers. It's a hard habit to break, but it's better for your mental health to do it only once a week. The anxiety will come and go- it's the same anxieties I had when I was dieting before. I'd do really good, then get too relaxed and go back to more than what I was. I understand how it is; however, you pointed out you are staying in your macros, AND you're getting better with exercise. Stalls *are* going to happen, but they are not forever. You are doing so much better for yourself now than you were before, and you gotta hang in there. As I can see from your current loss, that is FANTASTIC. You are doing a great job- it will slow down a bit, but as long as you keep hitting those macros and exercise goals, you will do your body a world of good. If you are still having a hard time with the weigh ins, maybe take it back to only once a month for a little while? Maybe seeing the bigger number on the weight loss from 4 weeks instead of one might be a little more reassuring? And photos are always good. I, personally, cannot see my own weight loss until I look at photos. It's hard for me to believe. Take a deep breath, weigh yourself tomorrow, and know that you are doing so much good for your body now. ❤️

I was told to track the amount I eat (like 1/4-1/2c of food) rather than calories. As long as you're getting your protein and water in, that is what matters. Everyone loses weight differently- I know it's a bit disheartening for it to be "slow," but that's 23lbs in TWO months!! That's AMAZING! That's almost 4lbs a week. Just keep on trucking along, keep eating how your nutritionist told you, and if you're really concerned, get ahold of your nutritionist or surgery team and talk with them. But you are doing fantastic. ❤️

I started walking from day one, but I didn't do any harder exercises until I Was cleared (which for me, was 7 weeks because I had my gallbladder out four weeks after my sleeve). I'm sorry your friends are not being supportive; they're going off old biases and stigmas, though. It's been proven that this operation has been able to help a lot of people get to where they need to be. It's not a magical fix-all. It's a tool that you use to make sure YOU are successful in making yourself healthy, but you are still doing all the hard work. And you are losing weight! That's amazing still. Everyone loses differently; some people lose fast, some lose slow. You'll find a good rhythm and see what your body can do.

Hi, and welcome. ❤️ Congrats on your surgery, and good to hear you're doing well (That is fantastic for pre-op loss!) As for the hunger feeling, it could honestly be head hunger. It influences the body more than you think. When you start on protein and liquids, it will be a little more easy to distinguish; just plain liquids sometimes just drives people crazy and makes them feel "hungry," even when they're not. It gets even easier when you're eating actual food- for me, I missed the act of chewing, and once I was able to, the hunger that I was feeling stopped. I'm 10 (11? ...I can't count) weeks out now and still don't experience "hunger" anymore like I did during that pure liquid phase. I get what I think is hunger from time to time, but it turns out I'm usually just gassy or thirsty.

For me, I eat so slow to keep track. I don't feel "full" per se, but I do get a sensation of, "Huh, okay, one more bite... *chew chew chew* *can't swallow*" if I'm not paying attention. If I'm paying attention, I just stop when I'm starting to get the sensation I have before that, which... feels like being full but isn't the same as before? It's so weird.

It's only too soon if your body feels like it's too soon. If it is physically hurting you to do 10,000, try working up from 6,000 or 7,000. I can do 10,000 steps a day at 2 months out, but at 12 days, I was lucky to get 4,000. It's all up to the individual person, honestly. Now I'm using a bike and walking every day, and incorporating dance into my routine. Also remember that rest days ARE a thing, and you should take a day off just to let your muscles recuperate every once in a while, too. I workout 6 days a week now.

Yeaaa, itchy skin is a pain. I use the gold bond eczema cream to help with it, but I also take fish oil. It's really helped my skin a lot. Plus, drinking at least 72oz of water a day. Gotta stay hydrated, and your skin will love you for it. Congrats on the weight loss! That's fantastic!

Well, the recovery itself for me was about six weeks, BUT if you're talking about going back to work, I was up and walking around a few hours after surgery, and I was back to work (albeit, I have a desk job so I had to accommodate a little) after about five days. Everyone's pain tolerance is different, but I was on no pain medication except what they gave me during. You just can't do any heavy lifting or anything for a few weeks to give your muscles time to heal.

Just keep sipping and sipping. It's no fun going to the ER for dehydration. It'll get easier as you go- you're only four days out, but it does get easier every day. Just keep trying to get as much water in as you can. I hope you feel better soon, hon. Hang in there.

So the whey protein isolate protein shakes, despite saying "lactose free," can actually cause problems if you are lactose intolerant, which can develop after surgery. I was already lactose intolerant to start with, and though they say lactose free, they actually give me the same reaction I have with regular milk (bloating, gas, discomfort, etc.). It's quite possible; maybe see about switching to a veggie protein or bone broth protein and see if that helps?

So! I am almost 8 weeks out, and eating pretty well. I have a boost glucose control with protein shake 4-5 times a week, and hit my protein goals almost every day. However, I am having trouble finding snacks that I can have in between. Normally, I will do some peeled cucumber with laughing cow cheese or string cheese. I did find ostrim turkey sticks that are pretty tasty and healthy, too, but that's pretty limiting. I was wondering what other people do for snacks. I still can't eat beef (and no tuna- my stomach says NO!), but I was looking for good alternatives other than cheese that would be suitable for in between meal snacks. I have 1-2 a day so I can stay at 600 calories minimum. Thanks! ❤️

Try your best to see about getting a biotin supplement. It won't full on stop it, but it will help slow it down a bit. As for the multivitamin, I have one that is twice a day (the bariatric advantage brand), but the aftertaste is god awful. Bariatricpal store actually offers a one a day (I think they have both chewable and capsule), but I have no idea how large it is. I am planning to order that one next time because, I too, hate taking multivitamins so often and it also plays up with my stomach. If you can, try to take your multivitamin about 15 minutes before you eat a meal- for me, that seems to calm down some of the stomach upset that I've had. Just hang in there and keep taking them!

Wow, you can have popcorn??? I was told that was a no for me! Does it bother your sleeve at all?

I am getting between 72-96oz of water at the moment. I do log my calorie intake and I'm hitting around 600 a day, even with snacks built in. I have breakfast, a small snack, lunch, a small snack, and dinner, all while taking my vitamins and drinking in between. Still haven't experienced actual "hunger" except when I went 7 hours without eating, and that wasn't hunger as I remember it. Do you have to skin your grapes? I'm also only eating about 2-3oz at most of food still. I get full off 2oz really easily.

I was outpatient, but I was staying in a hotel for a few days afterwards. I took my clothes (comfortable and loose, and the softest shirts I had to wear), water bottles (easier to measure water that way), my handheld video game (I didn't actually use it; was either walking or sleeping), toiletries (toothpaste and toothbrush especially, because your mouth will taste gross and dry afterwards from being intubated), a slightly firm stuffed animal (I needed something to press against my abdomen for if I coughed or sneezed; it's not a fun experience if you do that right after surgery without some support... a pillow could work, too), headphones to listen to music with (just because it's nice to have something besides silence), and comfortable slippers to walk around in.

It's a hard habit to break. If I don't pay attention, I'll eat too fast and make myself sick. I ended up buying smaller utensils (think appetizer spoons and forks) to help me take smaller bites, and for a little while, I counted chews. Putting your fork or spoon down in between bites helps to slow you down a little too. You just gotta be careful so you don't overeat and make yourself ill.

It happens from time to time. I might forget that I can't chug anymore and do that. Most of the time, I'll feel nauseated for about five minutes and it'll pass, or I'll just spit up the water I drank.

You are 10 days post op. I am 7 weeks and I still can only eat 600 calories a day. You need to focus on your protein and water as much as possible. I know it's scary, but also try to weigh yourself only once a week so you don't obsess about the scale. Just try to feel better, and keep getting that water and protein in. If you are still super worried about it, contact your surgeon or your dietitian. They should be able to give you some peace of mind, as well, but mine had told me to focus on water and protein and not the calories for about six months. I only count mine so I can keep track of my protein intake. Try to take a deep breath and realize that you're on your way to being healthier and feeling better, and you just gotta hang in there. The people here are lovely and supportive- thank you for expressing your concerns so we can help. ❤️