ShoppGirl

That soup sounds delicious!! My meatballs don’t have sauce though so I have my fingers crossed that they turn out okay. Someone said veggies don’t freeze so well too but then others said they freeze just fine so I’m just trying it and then I will know for next time

Not sure if everyone else bought food processors for their purée phase but I’m having so much fun with mine. I made fresh guac and pico the other night for my Turkey tacos (sams the shell) and tonight I made skinny pesto sauce, which I’ve never made regular pesto sauce, but I think they pretty much just substituted a little bit of lemon juice for the olive oil oil or a little more lemon juice. It’s pretty delicious though with all the fresh ingredients.

Thanks. I am incredibly happy for you too. It’s almost unbelievable how much had changed I swear. But I’m loving every second of it and I’m glad to hear that you and your family are too. I can’t believe how much time I wasted either. I do not ever want to ever go back to those shackles that I put myself into. That just wasn’t living!!

I was literally going on here with plans to say something similar. I am a little over a month out and I have been walking since the beginning of the month. I feel SO INCREDIBLE!! Physically I have so much more energy and mentally I am just in a better mood. I went to UPS to do a bunch of returns I have collected during my recovery and went to the grocery and left there thinking well I got the packages done, found my reduced fat and special Romano Cheese I wanted and made it back before it rained. That felt like a win and made me feel happy. I am just noticing little tiny things to be positive about and I haven’t done that in years. I would’ve dwelled on the fact that the one thing was going to cost almost $15 to return because they wanted tracking and insurance plus I had to buy a box. I ended up just saying I would rather give it away for that but in the past I would’ve focused on that and been in a bad mood. Not sure if that makes sense but I just feel better and more upbeat. I am not even focused on the scale as much as I was with my sleeve. I already feel better. I’m just eating what I should and exercising and the weight will come off when it comes off. With my sleeve I didn’t exercise and I watched the scale every day. This time it’s different, I FEEL healthier and I am loving it!!

There are a handful of them that people recommended on here. I thought I couldn’t add recipes at first and before I figured it out I made a post asking for suggestions. It’s a post called macro tracking apps. Maybe check it out and see if any of those are available to you.

Ooh I am so sorry that you went through that, sounds awful. My hubby got it and thankfully he had been super careful around me since surgery for fear of just what happened to you. When he even thought he may be getting sick (just didn’t feel quite right) he told me so we could take precautions and he slept on the couch. Sure enough less than two days later he had it. I was fortunate enough that I didn’t have to go out much so him giving me something was my only real risk. I’m glad to hear that you are feeling a little better now, though. I couldn’t imagine a stomach flu with all of this. I was afraid of just coughing and sneezing but vomiting OMG. I do not envy you for that. How are you doing otherwise?

Awesome 👏🏻 It’s a really good feeling and it keeps going. It makes you feel even better about your food choices and your mood improves even further. I swear it’s like a miracle drug that snowballs but in a good way.

For the purée stage a food processor comes in handy and I got some tiny containers at dollar tree that were a little over two ounces that worked well to store leftovers. Tylenol, stool softeners, soluable fiber or milk of magnesia (or whatever combination your team recommends) and a good thermometer are good to have on hand as well as ice packs that you mentioned. I had one that is made for the lower back that comes with a belt like thing velcros around you with a pocket for the ice pack. It comes with two ice or heat packs (my team said no heat though). I got it on Amazon a long time ago for my back but I tried it for my tummy and it works. Great for icing while still being able to do things. The one I got is called magic gel. My waist was about 48” I think when I started and it just fit though so keep that in mind. It may fit up to 50?? Don’t stock up too much on the protein shakes because your tastes may change a bit and tastes for sweet stuff is a common change. Your dr may give you a stomach binder if you don’t get staples but if not ask if they have one or are okay with you ordering one (Amazon) if you feel like the jiggling is causing you pain. The compression really helped me. Also while you are in hospital you can ask for ice packs too. Other things that have really come in handy not for recovery but for a little later In the process were the Baritastic app which is free but familiarize yourself with it no so you can start logging your measurements and weight right before your start your preop diet. It sends reminders for your vitamins and you can log your fluids and moods (there is a little diary) and even your bowel movements. I also got a pair of Bluetooth headphones which make my exercise (walking) a lot more fun and a fitness watch is more important than the headphones. They have some on Amazon for like $20 my friend got one and says it works fine to log her heart rate and distance. The apple Watch has a fitness app that lets you set goals and stuff and it’s pretty user friendly. I have a much older one that I haven’t used in forever but I got it out and updated it and it works just fine. The cheaper ones may have a fitness app too I’m just not sure. That’s all I can think of for now. I’m sure others will think of some things I am forgetting.

For those who don’t have a support group the Baritastic app has a virtual support group. I just got a message that it’s tomorrow. I haven’t tried it but once you have the app you will get the message (probably for next month if I had to guess) you just have to click the link to register. The app is pretty awesome once you figure it out too. I am able to log eberything and see trends and my NP was really glad I had used it and was able to show her all my macros a week at a time at a glance. You can even log your moods and bowel movements. 😂 It takes a little while to figure out how to create recipes and log them but once you do you just select one serving or a half second at this point and it calculates it all for you. This works wonderfully with the stuff I made extra of and have frozen. Plus once I have added the majority of my recipes it already in there and I don’t have to log it again.

Did you not need calcium? I had the sleeve and was just revised to a sadI and with both I was prescribe 1500mg of calcium supplements.

I was just thinking of that while I was on my walk that maybe they could just keep doing nerve blocks for a little while. So glad you are getting some relief.

Important thing is that you figure out something that works for you and you do not dread doing. It needs to be a little bit fun for you whether it’s time to yourself so you can just think or you’re listening to a really good book on tape or whatever it is that you enjoy. it can even be a sport or something else entirely. Just move your body, but you’re never gonna stick to it if it is not desirable, which the treadmill was not my thing for sure I dreaded it every single day. I have no doubt that you will figure out what works for you.

When I had my sleeve I tried to do the treadmill and absolutely could not stick with it. This time I am walking outside. Not sure if that’s an option for you but it’s so much more entertaining. Things to look at, people to say hello to, and you can go different ways and plus it’s fresh air. It’s also easier on your knees. I also walk a bit inside. For both, headphones help with music and a fitness watch so you can log your progress. After my nighttime shower I just put my exercise clothes on and sleep in them. That way when I wake up I am already dressed and I jump up and walk a bit around the house while my coffee is going and chilling over the ice so I can make my “proffee.” It’s just like 15 minutes (started with 5) or so but it’s a good start to my day. Then, I try to do a few minutes a couple more times during the day so I do it when I take my calcium (I have a recurring alarm to remind me). Depending on your job you may be able to do this on breaks. In the evenings, I prepare dinner but then head out to walk, depending on the weather. I am now up to 45 minutes but I started at 15. This one I get sweaty so I shower and put my exercise clothes on again (I have two sets and wash the other one daily) and then I sit down for my dinner and chill with my hubby for a while before it’s bedtime and i start it all again the next morning For me, it’s also easier to make a habit of things if I do them everyday, at least for a while. Eventually things will come up so I don’t do it every night, I’m sure but until it’s a habit I do it daily. My goal is 30 minutes a day no matter what but I try to do as much more as I can. The PA (physicians assistant) was at my support group meeting and did a talk one night on fitness and he shared that 90 minutes of exercise a week (15 minutes a day for 6 days of the week) causes a 15% Drop in “all cause mortality.” My surgeon was there and said that surgery actually only creates an 11% change so it’s pretty incredible. This takes 25 minutes per day because you want to do a 5 minute warm up and a 5 minute cool down. During the 15 minutes your goal is a zone 2 heart rate. You calculate the zone 2 range by first subtracting your age from 220 that is your MAXIMUM heart rate. Then you multiply that number by 60% that’s the lower number of your range and 70% which is the upper number of our range. The example is a 40 year old. 220 - 40 = 180 (MAX). 180 X 60% = 108 and 180 X 70% = 126. The zone 2 heart rate range for this person is between 108 - 126 beats per minute. (The fitness watch will tell you your heart rate so you can check You can do it at the gym if that works better for you and you can of course break it into three 30 minute sessions instead of daily if you choose as long as you get 90 minutes per week minimum. Once I can add strength training I may actually do it this way and do my weights on the other days. For now I’m just worrying about the cardio part. I can tell you though, it is so absolutely worth it. Since I have been doing the exercise I feel incredible. My energy has increased tremendously and my mood is so much better. It’s an all around good thing and not that hard, really, once you set your mind to it and get a few days under your belt it gets easier. I have been very sedentary for YEARS and I can’t believe I didn’t start this exercise thing sooner. It’s seriously pretty great!! Ooh and I was told the same thing for weights. At 6 weeks I can lift more than 10 pounds but not weights. Especially if I didn’t lift them before surgery and would be straining. Even at two months I’m supposed to slowly work my way up but I think that’s probably advisable for anyone whether they had surgery or not. Also, my friend found a fitness watch on Amazon for $20. Doesn’t have to be a fancy expensive one, just need heart rate and steps or distance really to get started. And if you know anyone else who wants to do some exercise, my friend and I talk on the phone most nights while we are both walking around our own houses. She said she wants to do her exercise bike last night but it goes so much faster when we talk. I said we can still talk while you ride your bike it doesn’t matter if we’re doing the same thing. The person you’re talking to doesn’t even really have to be exercising. They just have to be willing to talk to you and encourage you to keep doing it music works pretty well as an alternative busy a couple of nights and I’ve just used my headphones from instead of talking on the phone. Some people listen to podcasts as well

Yea I had breast implants years ago and don’t recall that being extra painful either but everyone I have talked to says that plastics are extremely painful in comparison. I really think it varies from procedure to procedure though. I had two weight loss surgeries with the same surgeon and one I went home next day at my request on no pain meds and tbis one I was there for 5 days because they couldn’t control the pain. Why? Who knows but it was night and day different.

So I am day 6 into soft food and I am very quickly remembering how much food I wasted with my sleeve since my hubby eats like a bird too and it’s just us. I am going to try freezing stuff this time. I made Turkey meatballs and lean beef chili and froze them already but I’m wondering if I can freeze the Turkey Taco filling I made last night. I assume the Guacamole and Pico I will just have to make less next time but I would like to at least freeze the meat if I can. Is there a trick to it or will the freezer ziplocks work?

I agree with @SleeveToBypass2023 about your pain. If you insist on not taking anything, though, reach out to your dr and ask about opioid alternative. I know that Tumeric is supposed to help with inflammation and of course Tylenol and ice can help some but they have other alternatives.

Had my one month post op appointment today and I showed her my food tracking summary of all my macros and told her what I’ve been doing on my fitness and she was very please. Said my weight loss is excellent and my food choices are perfect. She wants me to increase a little bit to add a little more protein and carbs because I’m so active now but other than that everything is fine. I cannot believe how amazing I feel you guys. I have not had this level of energy since I was a teenager and I’m not just eating but ENJOYING foods that I never liked before!! The fresh ingredients is seriously the trick. It’s more work but it makes things taste so much better.

Thanks 😊

Today was my one month post op appointment and I gave her my phone with the summary of all my macros for the past week since I’ve been on soft food and a “normal” portion size (3/4 cup) and told her my current steps and she was really happy. I was worried that since my stomach was not operated on and I can tolerate foods and the larger portion of the range that I was eating too much for a month out and she said that with my level of activity I actually need to increase my protein a bit and the carbs as well and that my calories were fine to go up with that. She said that my loss is excellent and to keep doing what I’m doing just to increase my protein to 90g. She even said that I can add more veggies and some other foods as tolerated. I was worried about trying like asparagus and corn or rice paper (I’ve been craving spring rolls since I seen a recipe while on purée). I had already done my grocery order for this week and was going after there to pick it up so I added them rice papers to my cart for next weeks grocery run. I went ahead and scheduled my appointment for next month but she said that if I am still doing this well I can reschedule to my three month for my labs. I’m pretty excited! I did not feel like this after my sleeve. I feel like I have a handle on this, I am actually enjoying the healthier foods and the exercise. My energy's and my mood have improved tremendously. .

@Justarwaxx I am so glad you got the reassurance that you need. It’s funny because everyone has heard of the “bypass” or WLS but when you talk about WLS or any type people always lump them all into one group and most people call them all the bypass (unless they are an actual patient but even then most aren’t real familiar with all of the surgeries in terms of specifics). Some people, even educated ones, don’t know anything other than it makes you lose weight. I had a Doctor (not a medical Doctor thank God) ask me if I was worried i wouldn’t lose all of my weight why I didn’t just ask them to take more out!’ Like all things in life until you have a reason to know you just don’t know.

I got mine and I didn’t weigh it but it comes with the batteries separate (not installed). I wonder if that’s the difference. Just three AAA’s though.

Thanks for that. How long do things usually keep without preservatives? The meatball recipe said one month For them but I wasn’t sure so I just wrote the current date as opposed to the expiration date. How can you tell if they are not good? Is there a smell or something when it defrosts if it’s no longer good?

OP I do not know of any EU brands but US Amazon has quite a few brands if you have Amazon.

It seems to be pretty standard to require a multi vitamin and the calcium citrate that you mentioned. Most programs require labs around 3 months and will add things like magnesium or B12 or ADEK supplements as needed. All of the bariatric vitamins are pretty close with the exception of the amount of iron and the ones for SADI/DS which are higher ADEK and higher iron. Of course they are not exact. My suggestion is to bring the bottle with you of whichever one you do settle on to your post op appointment and just make sure they are okay with it and to bring it with you to your follow up from your labs so they can see if your vitamin does contain whatever you may be low in.

You totally deserve to brag. You look amazing. You earned it!!