LookingForward22

Today I’m starting my first day of week 3 post op (2nd week of purées). I had hoped by today I would have achieved one of my specific mini goals. I was hoping to end the month under 300 lbs. Seeing that “2” in front of my weight for the first time in nearly 20 yrs. was something have have dreamed about but always fell short of since crossing that 300 point. The closest I got to that on my own was 309. Started out strong loosing about 23 lbs my first week, only to hit a big stall during my second week. I was struggling on purées to hit my water, protein and calorie goals. I won’t lie, I was prepared for a stall week 3 - but not week 2. It was so frustrating hovering right at the mark 300 on the scales, but I refused to let myself get discouraged and focused how far I had come so far!! This morning I hopped on the scales and low and behold I had movement and I’m solidly under 300!!! It may only be just barely, but I’m at 298 and that feels soooooooooo good! There is nothing quite as motivating as hitting goals and making progress… even small goals. June 2021 - my heaviest was 382. I lost 50 pounds leading up to my pre op liquid diet. Another 10 pounds was lost on the liver shrining diet. Today I am 16 pounds away from having lost 100 pounds! I can’t even believe I am saying that!!! That seems attainably close for the first time ever (to loose 100 pounds!). I have a long way to go. My final goal is less of a number and more of a feeling of being healthy - what feels right … but I’m more motivated than ever to tick off these mini goals one at a time and get to maintenance.

Thank you! I’m dreading hitting that first fluctuation where I gain (the stall is bad enough) but I know it will happen - be it my hormones or transitioning food phases or whatever, but I’m trying to remember someone on the boards description of this journey being a jagged line with ups, plateaus and downs - more so than a straight line. Somehow that brings me some comfort to know that’s normal. Congratulations on the progress you made so far… please update when you hit that mini goal I can’t wait to help cheer you on to the next one!! One goal at a time - have faith - we will get there! ;)

I’m right there with you. I wasn’t prepared for a 2nd week stall, but today I had some movement and I’m now officially under 300! Still a long way to go - with many more stalls ahead of me I’m sure … but we can do this! Reach out if you need an ear or whatever. We are only a day apart in our sleeves and I think we are both looking to drop a similar amount of weight. Keep with it, you’ll break your stall and see that progress before you know it!!

My program wanted me to implement eating habits that would make the transition into the liquid diet & post-op eating plan easier… including a focus of protein, fluids and portion control. We also touched on my emotional eating some - but things happened and progressed so quickly … not as deeply as I would have ideally liked. BUT I have continued to work on those things post op and I’m really grateful for the time I had pre-op to help me get ready.

I’m beginning my 3rd week post op. So far I haven’t experienced “hunger” in the true sense of the word. I have had head hunger/cravings twice since my pre-op diet… both were when I had access to those foods (my kids birthday party and treats brought home from a fantasy football party) and they have taken me a little to work through, because it’s usually for things that would derail me if I had them right now. I’m happy to report I did not give in to the cravings. I have some mornings where I wake up feeling unsettled. If I wait to long to eat I don’t feel well (but if I eat to early I don’t feel well) - so those mornings I’ll start the day with 1/2 a shake (one full shake is to much right now) . That allows me the time to get ready for my day, take my meds & let them kick in and give me time to work on my water before having something to eat around 10:30. Since I don’t feel hungry - I try to work around a schedule for eating and drinking to help meet my goals. I tend to eat more than I should (by a bite or two) and then feel uncomfortable or my stomach hurts - if I don’t plan or eat mindfully… but it’s getting easier with experience and time (and I imagine that will continue).

Congratulations!!! What a wonderful and inspiring post. Thank you for sharing!

In my experience and opinion, take this as a good thing and the time to address any issues that might trip you up. The surgery can be a great tool, but the head hunger and the psychological component is equally important. A pass on to surgery with no real guidance was a big red flag and one of the reasons I left my first program. Without that guidance I didn’t think I could be successful. My new program had the guidance and support I felt I needed to be more successful. Mine was a three month program and there were times I wish it had been 6. I managed to get everything in… and feel fairly confident in my path. Best of luck. That time will fly by!!!

It’s best to check with them just to be safe… but it probably isn’t anything to worry about. Hope you get some answers and relief tomorrow.

Pre op and post op I had different things I could eat. After surgery I could have soups - purred and strained, and they helped a lot. I was also allowed juice (no sugar added) and I made popsicles out of them. Yogurt on occasion (but I have to limit my dairy)

I’ve been trying to layer things to make protein packed foods. Like: Chicken, eggs, nonfat yogurt & Mayo Refried beans, cheese, sour cream & non fat yogurt. I mix it up about a cup at a time and nibble it for a protein boost. I also found things like RealGood brand frozen food (grain free / gluten free) that taste great and have 25-32 of protein in them. I also split my shakes in half (not drinking them all at once. And space them through the day.

I have some small seromas that are sore on my main incision. I have been using ice and heat on the area (was told they are normal and as long as they aren’t showing signs of infection not to worry). The heat and ice helps a lot. That incisions the one that’s been tender from day one so I’m just rolling with it. Occasionally I take some Tylenol. My binder is getting a bit loose even pulled tight so I’m not wearing it as much but it does tend to feel better when I wear it. It’s just been super hot with it on and the warmer weather. I’d check with your dr to make sure they don’t want to see you and to see what they say.

I’ve been in a stall for the last week - with a calorie deficit. But I know it’s my body reacting to not meeting my goals and being too pooped really do anything because of the lack of calories. Hang on - we will move again. Just be patient (that is what I keep telling myself).

I lost about 50 prior to my liquid diet and another 10 on that. I noticed in how my cloth fit, especially my waist band (big gaps). And then how shirts fit (arms and shoulders). I lost another 23 the first week post surgery and see it in my face. But I noticed this week my bra cups have more room… so it seems to be coming off all over.

I was in my second week (today is day 1 of week 3) and I’m seemingly in a stall. I had been loosing up to my liquid diet (small amounts). Lost about 10 (despite starting my period the night before surgery) in the pre-op liquid diet. Then I lost 23 pounds my first week. Once I started purées I found it harder to make protein/calorie/water goals and I hit a stall. So I’m hoping that I can get out of that stall soon. I hear the first month is the biggest loss and the first 3 months are when you see your most progress so hopefully I will get back on track soon.

So the other day I was not having a good day. I just was super tired. I’ve been struggling to meet my goals - I think I’m in a stall and I was just feeling not great. There were ice cream and cookies in the house due to leftovers from a fantasy football coming home. I really wanted just a bit - but I knew that I shouldn’t. My husband - very sweetly said “I love you and I don’t want you to do anything to derail your progress… if you need me to, I’ll get rid of them”. (He asked me if he should bring them home and I said yea because the kids had friends over - so I knew they would eat them. I know that was hard for him (he never wants to tell me no about anything.) - but that kinda snapped me out of my head hunger and I’ve haven’t had any issue being around the snacks since. It felt good to know I have his support and he will help me when I need it. And it’s awesome to know that I can can resist temptation and make good choices when I am faced with temptation - not because I “have to” but because I want to.

Not quite 2 weeks out and have been dealing with this also. Keep hydrated and moving. It helps. I was regularly taking Miralax, alone it didn’t do much. Used a dulcolax suppository and that helped a little. Added in Colace (two in the morning and one in the evening). That’s helping a little. Once I got to purée I took oatmeal and blended it with either a fruit cup or applesauce to increase my fiber. Things are moving slowly…. But kinda moving.

I have some small capsules I take ok as is (my vitamin D) … and smaller pills that go down ok. Most of my supplements and vitamins are chewable though. They were easier for me

I think I know what’s going on and I just wanted to check in to see if this sounds like others experience. I lost about 10 pounds pre-op liquid (despite getting my period the day before surgery). I had also been loosing weight prior to starting the liquid diet. The first week after surgery I dropped 23 pounds! I started purées This past Wednesday and I’ve been struggling with my protein goals and my calories are a little low - trying to make sure I stay hydrated has been my priority and I’m having trouble getting it all I haven’t really lost any weight since starting purées, but I’m assuming the big drop initially and not hitting protein and calorie goals - my body is in a stall until I can work that out. Does that sound right? I’m hoping as I go through the next week - I can adjust and see some movement. I’m trying not to stress about it because I know this can happen - I just wasn’t expecting it quite yet. Any advice?

In my program I started my multi, vitamin b & d but I’m suppose to wait until my blood work and followup to start my calcium. I know I have low D, I was taking the B before my bariatric consult and I started the multi before my surgery (with ok) to make sure I could tolerate it.

My plan is very balanced and does include carbs, but I have to measure and track or it can get out of wack quickly. I focus on proteins first, then veggies and carbs. My goal is 75 or more grams of protein per day. More than 64 oz of water and a calorie goal between 800-1200.

I had sleeve and a hernia repair. I also had mild reflux symptoms since Nov 2020 that was being treated with meds 2x a day. I asked my surgeon why sleeve, since I had reflux prior - why not bypass. She felt my reflux, being relatively recent and mild, would be addressed by my hernia repair. She explained her reasons for suggesting sleeve over bypass for me, all which made sense with her explanation so I went with her recommendation. I’m less than 2 weeks out but so far I’m very happy with my decision.

Oh no! That doesn’t sound comfortable either! Now I’m watching the clock waiting for time to pass so I can drink again.

Ugh … it’s VERY warm here and I was working in a room without ac, so I’ve been pushing water. I stopped to eat and wasn’t thinking and took a drink! That didn’t feel great. It wasn’t a lot but enough to not sit well. I’m patient trying to wait and hope that it will settle, hoping it wasn’t enough to flush my stomach. That’s a mistake I won’t soon make again (I hope).

Everyone is different, but this is my experience. I was given meds before surgery to help with after. Immediately after surgery I had gas pain, as expected. It was notable, but manageable and it disappeared quickly. In the hospital they gave me a muscle relaxer (made me sleepy), medicine for nerve pain (had that for three days post release), and Tylenol. I also woke up from surgery with a binder on. I was walking and moving pretty easily that day, I was sore… but honestly once the gas pain dissipated, it was really manageable. I was there over night, and walking pretty normally by discharge. I’d say I mostly had discomfort - certainly pain if I moved around to quickly (bend or reach) but it was not sustained. I also used heat packs in the hospital and shortly after - and ice packs on my incision where my stomach came out and over areas of the nerve pain. Today I’m 10 days out… I still experience some mild nerve pain (but not bad at all). Of my 5 incisions, only the one where the removal was is at all tender around the incisions area - but that’s more of an intense bruise feeling. I still wear my binder as it helps keep the skin pulling but I carry a lot of my weight in my abdomen. I take Tylenol occasionally - but really needed all the time.

Edit that recipe - to boost the protein I had 4.8 oz of chicken in that - not 3. That was my fault. I started with 3 and added more and forgot. 4.8 I think is the “serving” amount from that can.