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@Groovymommy you’re doing so great! Very happy for you and your success :) I continue to be on the slow end of things. I’m 11 weeks out today and just shy of 30lbs down. I went on vacation for a couple weeks and ate more than I should; and things I shouldn’t. I ate 1/2 a salad yesterday which was very surprising to me. Apparently my dr is known for making small pouches and yet I can eat about 3-4 ounces of things. More if the food is at all wet - like if it has sauces or salsa, dressing or anything like that. My dietician was not surprised by this. She said that the bad foods - anything fried, puffed, chips, super crunchy things, all of that condenses down pretty efficiently when you chew it so it slides. And you can eat a lot of it. Which is not good. I’m sharing because this was a nuance I didn’t realize before. The irony is that the snacks are easy to eat, and the healthy foods - like grilled chicken, are not. In short - headspace is very important. I need to work on that. Other than that - my labs are stellar. Everything is normal or in the “very healthy range”. I’m walking 4 miles a day 5-6 days a week. Getting in water and protein. My cholesterol dropped from 270 to 160. I’d like to be further down on the scale, but I know my food choices have hindered that. I have to refocus every day and work very hard to address emotional and recreation eating. Next up - strength training :) hope everyone else is doing well and staying safe!

Hi everyone so great to hear how everyone is doing and celebrate successes I’m 8 weeks out today, just shy of 23lbs down since surgery and am back in onederland. I had thought I would have lost more but am ultimately happy with the progress. I had read a few studies saying that by 4 months most folks have lost 1/2 of what they are ultimately going to lose so I’m trying to refocus to have the next 8 weeks just as or more successful. I was progressed to solid foods today - though I admit I’ve been eating some solids prior to today. I’m always surprised by what I can eat and how much - surprised and freaked out sometimes. Chicken breast comes right back up, but tacos? Totally fine. Anything that has a slider attached to it... salsa, soft cheese, sauce, etc... well, slides. I eat about 800-900 cals a day, 80-110g protein, 70+ oz water and walk between 3-5 miles a day. I am not one of the lucky who lost all hunger- I get hungry, and 2oz of food 3x a day doesn’t cut it. I usually eat 3-4. I had a bad week when my family came to visit where I snacked - that sucked. So I need to do more work on my head space.

@MaybeMeow nice job on the coffee choice! I had a few moments like that this week and didn’t choose so wisely. Apparently pirate booty causes me no trouble. Sigh

I’ve had a bizzare week. I’m not getting on the scale until this Friday but I suspect I haven’t lost much. I’ve been craving a ton of bad things and feel like I’m eating too much... and then apparently got a severe gout attack in my wrist / hand. I have never had gout, doesn’t run in my family, and never heard of this as an issue. But apparently it’s somewhat common? Has anyone else has this? omg the pain was horrible. Event went to the ER and cried for an hour. A full hour. No injury to my hand, Uric acid was low, but since we can’t take anti-inflammatories I got a 3 day dose of steroids and was told to “just watch it”. So I got that going for me. Lol

@Repeatingthoughts you might want to try making some unsweetened lattes- they basically save me. I used to tolerate premier protein but now it’s too sweet. So instead, I brew decaf coffee and use 3/4-1 cup Fairlife fat free milk with 1.5 scoops of gene-pro protein. That’s at least 29-32g of protein per latter with no sugar.

Well today I figured out that I can eat an ounce of chips and feel fine. So that sucks.

I just hit 4 weeks today. Increased my calories this week to 800. Still walking between 2-3 miles a day. Lost a little over 11lbs since surgery. That seems very slow, but surgeon said sometimes your body is still adjusting for a full 6 weeks and he’s seen other patients experience this and then it picks up or remains at a steady weight loss pace longer vs someone who loses a lot right away and the stalls for a long period of time or looses very very slowly after a few months. This is what I keep reminding myself. In the long run, I’m going to get there. As long as I don’t give up, and there are days and hours where I want to, and sometimes when I do - If I keep going and pick myself back up, I’ll get healthy.

That helps a lot. Thanks!

What did your dietician recommend going to? How many calories now vs. before?

I’m in the same boat. Only lost 10 lbs in the first 3 weeks and had a very strict protocol. 2 weeks of clear, 1 week full liquids and then mushies - only 2 ounces at a time and walking 2miles a day. Even my surgeon was surprised. I started walking 3 miles a day and said I wouldn’t weight myself for another 3 weeks because I know what Head games that does to me. I spend 3 days “cheating” with an .5- 1 oz of pirate booty because I felt like 2 ounces of food was nothing. Like what’s the point, it’s over in a few minutes or a few bites, and family dinners were / are hard. So I ate the pirate booty because it felt like a lot of chewing but didn’t have a problem going down. Even tried a few potato chips, which were waaaay to easy to go down. Then I freaked out because I could feel my bad habits coming back and I kept hearing the saying “those who find a way to cheat the bypass are the ones who fail”. So then I threw the both bags away. The head game is real.

I’m 3 weeks out tomorrow. Not doing too well. On mushies now. Threw up today. Haven’t lost much weight - like still single digits. Not sure how that’s possible, especially on a super strict diet. My surgeon says to start lifting weights in another week to get my metabolism up. I thought this was supposed to be the honeymoon phase but not seeing the progress. Hoping something accelerates or even if I keep this pace up for long time, then overall it doesn’t matter. But from all other research and stories, this is supposed to be the rapid phase right? Single digits 3 weeks out is not rapid

I’m 19 days post op. I was on clear liquids plus protein shakes for 14 days. Then full liquids for another 5 days.

Mushies start tomorrow. 2 days earlier than I thought. And thank goodness because I’m going nut. Yesterday I had French onion soup at an alarmingly fast rate. And put some croutons in it. And today I had two chicken wing flats - with the skin off. I’m concerned I’m going to mess something up. Have to get my head straight.

Thanks! I’m trying to focus on small wins, because it’s so easy for me to see what sucks lol. Follow up is next Thursday. For water - what helps me is carrying around this thermal stainless steel water bottle everywhere. It has a little button that opens the spout vs. using a straw and Keeps water ice cold for 12 hours. That’s absolutely essential to me. Has to be cold. The other thing I did initially was take out 4 bottles of water and put them on the counter with the date. Then I’d fill my thermal up with them vs. using the water in the fridge. The individual water bottles served as goals and as I emptied one, I’d crush it, put it in recycling and saw it as an accomplishment - kind of like checking something off the list. I did that for a week maybe. Now I just use the filtered water from the fridge because I know I’m drinking more than 64 oz.

Update for me: I’m 14 days post op and finally graduated to full liquid. That means yogurts, pudding, blended soups, and shakes I can make myself. 7 more days and then mushies. The most exciting thing, however, was I just took my last shot. 2 weeks of shots 2x a day in the stomach was awful. I haven’t weighed myself. I know I’ve lost some, but I won’t weigh myself until my 1st post op next week. Trying not to obsess over #s which I know I will do. The last 2 weeks have been very hard. Finally started to be more regular, getting some strength up; and being able to eat a few more things is pretty awesome. My program seems to be one of the very strict ones, which I’m told is because the surgeon makes things smaller and tighter than others (I guess). And he uses what seems like a ton of preventative meds. On the good side - I’ve had very little pain. Constipation was OMG for the 1st week - like epically awful, but I’ve had no trouble drinking water, getting my 64+ oz in plus 75g protein so I’m thankful for that. I’ve started to get more burpy in the last few days - hoping that subsided at some point. But overall, I’m in so much better Spirits today then I was even a few days ago. For anyone else struggling; it gets better 7 more days until the next progress point

@Groovymommy our plans sound very similar. Except mine requires walking. I started my vitamins yesterday too - and sooo agree that the chews make big difference. I’m 7 days post op too and was feeling pretty weak for a couple days there. The dietician said to up the protein for me as well and also suggested adding in Gatorade 2 (and only gatorade 2) to help with some electrolytes. I still have not gone #2, so I’m mixing miralax into that G2. So glad you’re feeling better.

@MaybeMeow how are you doing, sister? Faring well? Ok?

They don’t have us tracking but that’s basically the math. 50-60g protein a day, liquids only. That’s 2 shakes, 320 cal total.

Ugh... it’s day 5 and I’m starting to get hungry. Getting water in fine, protein down. But another 9 days of basically 300 calories not including exercise is crushing.

Lol it’s an On-Q ball. Myon-Q.com. It’s attached to a catheter to your stomach and helps with nerve pain.

Ooh that does not sound fun. I love me some avocado. :/

Q-ball is external. I’m sorry you’re in so much pain. Can your doc rx something? I’m not one for taking stuff but this time around I decided to do what my doc said, which means taking all the things lol. I need to poop to. That’s the thing I’m worried about being on so much pain meds. They can really affect that. I’m tooting so that’s good; but you know.

@MaybeMeow - im so glad you’re feeling better and finding what works for you. You’re so strong, I know you’ll find your routine very soon. For me, this is day 3. I’ve been able to get water down fine - 40 oz so far today, plus 1.5 shakes and some broth. A jello cup - I use them as chasers to the aweful meds. So about 48g protein today. My after care says we have walk 2 miles a day. Does anyone else have that? Seems like a lot to me so soon. I got 1.25 in in two walks (0.5 & 0.75) but man after that second I was beat. Just stone cold out of it. The on-q ball is for nerve pain around the incision I guess. There’s another med for sharp nerve pain too. What does everyone’s restriction feel like? Do you feel like you’ve hit it yet? I felt pretty bloated after that broth (miso) but I probably drank it too fast. Is that bloated or the restriction? I have no idea...

Home now. I’m not going to lie - being in the hospital alone...sucked. Just plain sucked. My last nurse was not awesome. I had a fall bracelet and she insisted I go walking alone, among other things. And they weren’t even busy. But at least I’m home now. Anyone else go home with 1/2 a pharmacy? I’m on the on-q ball too that someone noted earlier.

Ah a I hope you get to progress to new foods soon too! What type of protein are you taking? I’m hanging in - wrapping up work to take extended leave. My surgery is Friday. Trying to stay focused on not eating anything solid. My doc has us on clear liquids plus shakes for 2 weeks lost op; then a week of yogurts, then 5 weeks of Mushies. Sigh