ShoppGirl

Iceberg lettuce is hard to digest. The chopped kind is a little better but some people can’t tolerate it for quite a while.

I had my surgery March 9th and post surgery have lost only 40 pounds (55 including pre op). I have been stalled for about a month and am worried that I will not lose anymore. Fingers crossed the stall will break.

I am almost seven months out and knowing what I know now the first thing I would do would be to start seeing a bariatric therapist. I didn’t realize until AFTER I had the surgery that I struggle with emotional and boredom eating and no special diet, fasting coach or even surgery was going to help me lose weight and keep it off without the help of a bariatric therapist. And personally I wouldn’t have benefited from a fasting coach. I would have lost the weight and then gained it back like everything else I have tried and failed. That being said the two surgical options are both good it just depends on which one is right for you. Personally I could not have paid that much out of pocket so I would have had not choice but to go with the second option but only you know if you can afford to do it self pay. I wouldn’t base it on the follow up though, because you can seek out help from a nutritionist or dietician on your own and hopefully you will already have been working with a bariatric therapist if you need one and you can just continue to see them As needed. That’s basically what the continued care consists of. That and follow up visits with the surgery center to check labs for vitamin deficiencies and check in with how you are doing. You can always call and ask up Front but I’m sure if you are willing to pay you can see all those people as often as you want. All that being said I wouldn’t have wanted to wait years for surgery but if you are committed you should be able to start losing weight while you wait and it’s just less to have to lose later.

I was told that alcohol would hit me harder with the sleeve but I didn’t think it did either. I only drank one time and couldn’t really get much down cause without the “and coke” part of rum and Coke, it tastes pretty gross (I tried it with crystal light and didn’t like it at all). Anyways, people made it sound like one drink would get you buzzed and that was not the case for me either.

I wouldn’t be too concerned about them not being able to do the surgery, it’s more likely they would just have to convert to an open procedure and you would have a more difficult recovery than to have to delay the procedure entirely. If anything I would ask the dr if they think a longer pre op diet would be necessary. I honestly doubt it because they would have told you to do it already if they felt it was necessary. Honestly most people who are overweight enough to need this surgery have fatty liver (mostly undiagnosed).

I am not a wine drinker so I can’t help you there but I chose to tell some friends and family but everyone else I just say that I am eating low carb, protein first, smaller portions and exercising, etc. everything except the surgery part.

So jealous. That would definitely be a challenge though. Good you are getting your steps in and hopefully you are at least eating the right foods. If so I can’t see you gaining that much in a short trip. Enjoy it.

Well at least the government got something right for the military. 👍

I had the sleeve but I think soft food stage is similar. I had egga first than chicken and tuna salads, working my way up to nice moist fish.

So sorry for your loss. Your definitely getting a crash course in it but one thing that is crucial to this journey is to learn to go through life events without revolving them around food. If you have a hard time with it post surgery, maybe the teams bariatric therapist would be able to get you in. I am an emotional eater and a boredom eater and I know I would need a little extra help getting through something like that. My thoughts are with you and your family.

I’ve been lucky that not a lot of people have asked but there is no reason you can’t just say your seeing a nutritionists and meal planning/ cutting portion sizes and calories, protein first, etc and just leave out the surgery part.

I am six months out from the sleeve and I have enjoyed everything I ate preop. With RNY you are far more likely to dump than with the sleeve as you stated with sugar and grease but not everyone with RNY experienced dumping syndrome.

Omg that looks soooooo delicious.

I did not have heartburn prior to surgery and I still don’t. I didn’t have much pain with recovery at all and I can eat anything I ate before surgery at this point (I am 6 months out). I have lost 55 pounds. I am about 20 from goal (17 from normal BMI) and I have stalled for a month. I am hoping I haven’t put myself into maintenance cause I can see myself easily cutting my calories further but I would still consider the surgery a success if the loss stopped there as long as I can maintain it. I am currently in a size medium/ large and I haven’t been able to maintain this size in years. I am hopeful I am just stalled and the loss will pick up but like I said. I couldn’t do this on my own. I am so glad I did the surgery.

Premiere protein has a variety pack as well on Amazon.

Mixing the shakes with coffee like lizonaplane suggested is a good idea. The one shake I could stand that wasn’t too sweet post surgery was caffe latte by premiere protein. Not sure if that is available to you as I am in the US. (I got mine on Amazon). It also has caffeine which I was allowed immediately post op but some aren’t. The coffee will definitely cut down on the sweetness though.

Your preop diet may be all liquid but mine was 14 days of low calories with 2 days liquid. I was allowed meat, cheese and veggies on mine. Best to just wait and see what your clinic provides material wise to start.

Insurance is all different but I gained like 15 pounds during the six months and I was fine.

Well just so you know you don’t have to wait till you are so dehydrated you need the ER. Your dr can get you an appointment to go back to hospital as an out patient to get fluids. I had to do that. I just called and told them my urine was dark and they made the appointment.

I had issues with stuff tasting too sweet too and the fruit punch premiere protein drink was my go to because it wasn’t overly sweet to me. Not sure if it would work for you but it’s worth a try. I got mine on Amazon (because I knew my husband would drink it if I didn’t like it) but you may be able to find it in smaller quantity elsewhere. I know Walmart carries the premiere shakes. Not sure if they Carry their protein water.

I am six months out and I already incorporate healthy fats like avocado and nuts/ nut butters in moderation. As far as fasting goes and days with no protein the sleeve will not prohibit you from doing that. If anything it would make it easier because of less appetite. The surgeon may or not be on Board with it but I can’t imagine it has anything to do with the surgery, just personal preference of whether that is a healthy practice. I am pretty sure they would tell a non WLS patient the same things about the importance of protein. If that makes sense. If I were you I would at least meet with the surgeon or NP and ask them these questions though.

I wish I could’ve gone home same day. I was ready but they said I would have to stay two nights and I only stayed one.

Congratulations. Keep it up 👍

I was always allowed coffee. I’m fact they asked me if I wanted coffee on my lunch/dinner tray the day of surgery. I think it’s because caffeine is a diuretic though.

You are doing awesome. Congratulations.