Crick

Really for me the most important things were my phone, charger, kindle, and night guard. I just wore the hospital gown and their socks for my walks. Wore the same clothes home I came to the hospital in (loose - nothing tight). The main helpful hint I will tell you is to have whomever is picking you up bring a pillow. You’ll want to put that under the seatbelt so it doesn’t touch your incisions directly. Saw that advise on here and so glad I followed it.

Keep in mind, that isn’t a real gain - your body just went through a major trauma. I “gained” 10 lbs 3 days post-op. It came off, and then some. They pump you full of fluids when you are hospitalized and your body is trying to adjust. I was on liquids for a week, then purée for 2 weeks. I would stick with strained soups and protein drinks and Greek yogurt. I would suggest starting with a quarter cup and see how it goes. Eat that very slowly and stay off the scale for a few weeks. Also, be sure to drink your water.

When I went for my mammogram a couple of weeks ago, the robe they gave me (one size fits most) was just swimming on me. I looked like a kid trying on my mom’s robe. It was such a nice change to not worry about something like that fitting!

I use bariatastic. It’s a lot easier to keep track of it on an app, for me.

Fingers crossed for you all. My surgery was in January and I was so worried that it would get postponed, so I feel your pain. It wasn’t, but I was worried right up until I checked in that morning.

So my primary focus is on getting protein first and foremost. Partially because it’s filling and partially because I am working out so much that I need the protein for my muscles. I eat 3 meals a day and usually 1 snack. I definitely try to avoid refined carbs for the most part. Now, I’m not going to lie - I’ve had a cookie 3 or 4 times, or a tiny scoop of gourmet ice cream, but those are occasional one-offs and not something I keep in my house. I’m currently at about 1200 calories a day. My breakfast is pretty boring - I either have chobani less sugar added Greek yogurt with a scoop of genepro protein powder, 15-16 raspberries or 10-12 blackberries, and 1/3 a cup of purely Elizabeth grain free granola, or half an “egg wrap” - which is using a low carb tortilla (I like the ole version), egg, grilled veggies (zucchini, red pepper, yellow pepper, red onion, zucchini and spinach), ground turkey sausage, and shredded mozzarella. Lunch and dinner are just dependent on what I’ve cooked - usually something like spinach stuffed chicken breasts, a fajita bowl (meat, a little cheese, grilled onions, and salsa), ground chicken burger, taco salad, etc. Snacks are usually one of the following - 3 apple slices with 2 TBS natural peanut butter (just peanuts - no sugar or salt), cashews, chicka boom popcorn (the sea salt one and I measure out 2 cups), or if I am short on protein, “protein pudding” - 1 sugar free pudding cup with a scoop of genepro protein powder. I do also throw in sugar free popsicles and sugar free fudgesicles (but those are part of the liquids and I don’t have to wait to drink after those). My goal is minimum 80 grams of protein. I still try to be low carb and low sugar but my net carbs are usually around 50-60. That is now - I was definitely lower early on - but trying not to be carb phobic of the good carbs now. I was extremely carb phobic at first. Have added more veggies and fruits in the last couple of months, but again, my #1 goal is protein.

300 calories a DAY? Holy crap that is entirely too low. You couldn’t even drink 2 protein shakes and eat nothing for that. Are you sure that isn’t a maximum per meal? I was definitely around 700-800 calories a day by month 4, at least. I’m closer to 1200 now because of all of the exercise I do and I’m still losing.

I don’t know but here is the recipe - I use the paprika app to store all my recipes. I use about 3 cloves of fresh garlic though - it’s probably a bit more than a tsp but I think it gives it a great flavor. Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts Main Courses Ingredients: 4 chicken breasts 1 T. olive oil 1 t. paprika 1 t. salt, divided ¼ t. garlic powder ¼ t. onion powder 4 oz. cream cheese, softened ¼ c. parmesan cheese 2 T. mayonnaise 1 ½ c. fresh chopped spinach 1 t. garlic, minced ½ t. red pepper flakes Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 375°. 2. Place chicken breasts on cutting board and drizzle with olive oil. 3. Add paprika, ½ t salt, garlic powder, and onion powder to a small bowl and stir. Sprinkle evenly on chicken. 4. Cut a pocket into the side of each breast and set aside. 5. Add cream cheese, parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, spinach, garlic, red pepper flakes, and ½ t salt to a small bowl and stir well. 6. Spoon the spinach mixture into each chicken breast evenly. 7. Place the chicken in a 9x13 baking dish. Bake uncovered for 25-30 min or until cooked thoroughly.

When I had surgery in mid-January, I had about 80 lbs of excess weight going by my height - I’m 5 ft 5.5 inches which I round up to 5 6, so 155 would put me at a normal BMI. (I had lost 70 lbs on my own pre-surgery). By 6 months, I had lost all of that plus another 5 lbs. Again, these are averages - you can lose a lot more than that or lose a lot less. Stick to the eating plan and exercise and you’ll be fine.

7 months and 6 days post-op, and I’ve hit my goal! I lost around 70 lbs pre-op (and over 50 of that before surgery consult in late October of last year - COVID scared me into finally getting motivated to really do something about the weight). Pictures are from fall of 2019, second is about 2 weeks post op, and then the last is from early this week. Thinking of adjusting my goal down another 10 lbs or so as I still want to lose some more, but this is the lowest adult weight I have been. Need to start saving for plastics. I will say, the changes are more noticeable now - even 5 lbs can make a difference. I also started doing strength training about 10 weeks post-op (once I was fully vaccinated) and that has made a MASSIVE difference. I did a body scan and from late March when I started to mid-July (my most recent scan), I lost 35 lbs, which I knew from my scale, but I actually gained 6.5 lbs of muscle and lost 17% body fat. Want to continue to build that muscle and tone and now thinking lose another 10 or so. We shall see. But for today, I celebrate hitting my goal, especially since everyone at the surgeon’s office said not to set it at that, as most folks only lose 60-70% of their excess weight. Of course, they also only want me to eat plant-based, and that’s not happening either. It’s definitely Fri-YAY!

Spinach stuffed chicken breasts. This was a new recipe to me and very good! I ate about half of the top one.

Exactly. My surgeon told me 60-65% of excess weight was what to expect. She recommended sleeve for where I was (around a 40-41 BMI when I had my first consult) and for the fact you are unlikely to have dumping issues or absorption issues. However, before she made the final decision I had to do an endoscopy to show that I didn’t have reflux issues or that would mean bypass. As Luna Girl said, you have to commit to follow the plan and change you eating habits. I did not stray from the pre-op or post-op diet stages, and only ate the things that were appropriate for each stage. Now I’m not going to lie - I’ve had a cookie here or there or a small ice cream a few times - but I log everything and I have one on occasion as a special treat - I don’t eat 6 cookies in one sitting - actually, I don’t think I’ve even had 6 cookies in total since surgery! And I was probably 5 months along before I had any of those things in small doses. Surgery is a tool - not a magic bullet - and I think sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of that. The last thing I will say is that my only regret is not doing this sooner. You’ve already done the hardest part in taking the first step - stick with it and good luck on your journey!

I am working with a trainer once a week. She has me working on basically everything, and then I work out another 3 times a week without her. She has me focusing on arms and core in particular right now, as I have a lot of leg strength and I really need to build arm/core strength. She also has me trying to really work on the glutes as that will help me get stronger all over. On the days I work out with her, I usually do 20 min ride on my Peloton bike, and on my cardio only days, I do 45-60 min on the bike. I would love to get back to walking outside but it’s too hellaciously hot here to do that.

I haven’t had my second set of bloodwork results yet, but when I did my first ones (about 3.5/4 months post-op), my liver enzyme values were really high. The clinic wasn’t the least bit worried. They told me that with the sleeve, the first bloodwork typically has really weird liver values but it usually levels off after the first few months.

I was cleared for weights after 6 weeks. It was probably about 10 weeks post-op that I started with weights - I would have started earlier, but was waiting until I was fully vaccinated before going into a gym (even masked up). I can tell a major difference from the weights - did a bod pod scan when I started it and then again a month ago - so from end of March to mid-July I lost 35 lbs but I gained 6.5 lbs of muscle and lost 17% body fat. Definitely makes a huge difference as my weight loss is slowing to a crawl at this stage - still can see progress when I take measurements.

Wow what a difference! I still have a few pounds to go to my goal (although I am thinking of lowering another 10 lbs) and I know I want plastic surgery because of all the excess skin. May I ask, how much weight did you lose from the plastic surgery itself? And how did you know you got to the point where you couldn’t get any further without PS?

For me, the biggest issue is waiting an hour after eating before drinking (supposed to stop drinking 30 min before eating, which I usually do, but sometimes that is more like 15-20 min). I knew it going in but I didn’t realize how difficult it would be. I honestly thought not drinking while eating would be harder. But after I eat, I feel like I am watching the clock for that hour to pass, especially once I get past the first 20-30 min.

I use the vanilla core power shakes (but the ones that are 30 g of protein) and often will add in some PB2 powder - so it tastes like drinking peanut butter (plus it gives you more protein).

So I thought I would upgrade my scale - got a Withings smart scale to be able to track my weight/muscle mass/water weight, etc. I hopped on my old scale first and then the new one right after (I only weigh once a week to avoid any mind games) - and the new one is 1.8 lbs higher than the old (on the same flooring and all). I know it’s not a true “gain”, but especially at this point, 1.8 lbs is a lot and it’s depressing to see in Baritastic app that my weight went up a little. I’m so close to my initial goal (which I am thinking of adjusting down another 10 lbs) so it’s really tough. I know, it’s a one time uptick but still, I haven’t had it go in the wrong direction. I’m trying to console myself with the fact that I lost another 4 inches overall from last month’s measurements, but I still hate seeing that gain in the app. I try to keep telling myself all the right things - your weight can fluctuate, it’s not a real gain, etc., but needed to vent and I have no one to vent to here, other than my puppies, and they don’t care, lol.

I like the vanilla core power by fairlife - I use PB2 powder in it so it tastes like drinking peanut butter. Yum. Bonus - it isn’t a “sweet” taste - I got tired of all the sweetness of the protein shakes.

I actually just got a new DL and am waiting to get my passport back - I was so much heavier in my pictures and I was afraid, especially with the passport, that I’d have trouble going anywhere because that doesn’t look remotely like me now!

I have been dealing with pain in that area but only when sitting. I had a road trip a couple of weeks ago and I was practically in tears by the end. I’ve bought a cushion but it doesn’t help much. It’s sooo frustrating to lose all this weight (not to goal yet but getting close) and be in more pain now than I ever was before. And even at my heaviest I was pretty active. Sitting is just the worst now.

I actually lost around 70 pre-op but I did over 50 of that on my own before I even met with the surgeon. I think when I met with the surgeon for the first time in late October I had lost around 53 lbs (COVID scared me so that’s what kickstarted me trying to lose weight). I lost close to another 20 after meeting with the surgeon but to be honest 10 of those were on the pre-op diet. I didn’t work as hard at trying to lose weight around the holidays as I wanted to enjoy and had some food funerals (didn’t stuff myself but didn’t restrict as much as I did prior to meeting with the surgeon).

Rao’s is absolutely the best. I figure since I’m not eating that much spending the extra for good marinara is worth it.

I have UHC as well. That’s not true about the surgeon, or at least it wasn’t for me. Now to speak to the surgeon, they first had to get pre-approval from insurance (just verifying that I was eligible). When I met with the surgeon for the first time in late October, I was able to tell them about a wellness program I was doing. They were able to use those records so I didn’t have to do the 6 month thing. I had surgery in early January (could have had it earlier but wanted to enjoy Christmas).