NtvTxn

I've had trouble with constipation since the beginning. I use Miralax off and on almost weekly. I don't have gas any more or less than I did before surgery, nothing has change...smell or the amount. Actually I think I have less gas than before. I attribute that to eating better.

Mine is gone too........my @ss is pretty much gone altogether, but I'm fine with it; it beats the alternative!!!

Congrats DisneyAddict!!!!!!! Doesn't it feel great to reach these "not even thought of goals"??!!! Do you have that little glob of fat between your shoulders, below your neck??!!! I did forever, my grandmother did too. I thought it just 'ran in the family'. It is GONE!!!!!!!!!! I was so self aware of it. I hated it, now it's gone. Something I did NOT expect. Keep up the good work and again, congratulations!!!!!!!!!!

Hi EvanMarks - I was just reading this thread (I'm a Native Texan) and came across your post. I was curious, how are things progressing with you? Have you decided or been approved for sleeve surgery? Good luck!!! NtvTxn

I know you know I meant STAY AWAY from things like crackers, sweets, cereals and full fat cream soups!!! I just wanted to clarify that!!!

Mo, Protein is soooo important, i cannot stress that enough!! I started each day and ended each day with a cup of skim milk. 16 grams right there. At 3 months I could get 60 grams of protein in with just food most of the time. If you CANNOT get in whatever your doctor recommends, then you'll have to supplement. I used the GNC bullets because they're only 3.5 oz and I could sip a little in the morning, a little at noon and then finish it off later in the day - hold my breath and it was not a huge deal. Anyway, I am 9 months out, but reached goal at just under five months. I have my 'bariatric Bible' and the list of foods that we were allowed at the different stages from just after surgery through 6 weeks. The 'mushy' stage, which we called 'soft food' was weeks 3 - 6. It of course included everything up to that point and also: oatmeal, cream of wheat, mashed sweet potatoes (occasionally). Potatoes ARE a carb, but sweet potatoes are not as bad as regualar, I cannot remember why though. I would have regular potatoes, steamed with salt and pepper once in a while....only about an eighth of a cup though. Crispy toasted whole wheat light bread. 1% cottage cheese (packed with proptein!!!) I call it the Breakfast of champions! Low Fat Ricotta cheese, low fat yogurt, (Greek yogurt is loaded with protein, add a stivia and sugar free jelly) egg, tuna packed in Water, (i add 2 TB of light mayo, 1/4 c has 13 grams of protein) that may be more than you can initially eat. shaved deli meat, ground turkey and beef. Steamed shrimp, soft fish, baked or broiled (i also grilled it wrapped in foild so it wouldn't be dry) I also ate chicken breast, skinless, baked but had to wrap it in foil to keep it MOIST!! Veggies, chew well or mash w/fork. Unsweetened applesauce and bananas. (fruits only occasionally, they are a 'treat') Margarine. The book says stay away from raw veggies until week six, stringy veggies such as asparagus. It also says stay away from broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower, but i ate them and they did not bother me. Of course crackers, sweets, cereals, full fat cream soups....stuff like that is a no brainer!!! Any questions.......just ask!!!! You'll do fine! Good luck!!!

You just recently had surgery! Your restriction is good, that is great!!! I am almost 9 months out and I can only eat a half cup at a time!! I hope it stays this way forever!!!! I reached goal in just under five months, I am eleven lbs under goal and could lose more!! I snack off and on during the afternoon to get in enough calories to maintain!!! During the end of my losing phase I was averaging 675 calories, but in the beginning, like you, (and i know this because I logged everything, still do) I got in between 350 and 500 calories per day. You do need to get in your Protein. I used the protein bullets from GNC because the shakes grossed me out and they were SOOOOO big. The bullets are only 3.5 oz. I'd sip a little in the morning, at noon and later in the day..........I'd hold my breath and just do it. They pack about 43 grams of protein. I had 2 cups of skim milk per day, that is another 16 grams plus it counts as liquid!!! A win/win. An egg is 6 grams. A fourth cup of 1% cottage cheese is 6.5 grams!! A fourth cup of tuna (in water) is 6.5 grams. I mix the can with 2 TB of light mayo. I keep a bag of frozen shrimp on hand and steam a couple of oz of shrimp for lunch. I'm not sure off the top of my head what that is, but that is a lot of protein!!! You can do it........and you do NOT need to be eating more and don't worry about the calories. I know I did the same thing. They said, don't worry. At one point the dietitian said I could start drinking 1% milk if I wanted to. I hit a stall or two just like everyone else, but all in all, I have been thrilled and very successful. Not quite 90 lbs and that is more than I had initially planned on losing!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!! I hope this helps!!!

Dr. Nick was my second choice. I had initially chosen him but I'm out of state and Friday was more convenient for me. Friday wasn't a surgery day for him so I went with Dr. Davidson. I was torn between the two anyway.....both outstanding 'Center of Excellence' doctors there in Dallas! Dr. Davidson has his patients on liquids for the first week then full liquids (nothing that won't go through a straw) for the following two. Things get better after that. There is a reason for their caution. Watch what you eat in the beginning, the honeymoon period is easy for most folks, this is the time to really change any bad habits you might have! Good luck and enjoy the journey!!! It's a fun ride!

Hi Chris - I'm a few days from being 9 months out. At this point I can eat anything I want. Carbonated drinks are suppose to be off limits forever. I have taken a few SIPS of my husband's coke when we were on vacation 2 weeks ago, but only a couple, they didn't bother me, but I have been through too much to break the rules more than that. I reached goal at just under 5 months. I've lost not quite 90 lbs. I do not drink while eating, I thought that would be THE most difficult thing for me, but it has not been difficult at all. The only time I drink anything while I am eating is when I am having a snack during the day (now days I am in maintenence and have to work to get in extra calories, so I am not worried about keeping it in my tummy longer to feel full). I'll have a cup of milk with my graham cracker and Peanut Butter once in a while. Right after surgery, the first couple of weeks, I could only eat an eighth of a cup of broth, maybe not quite that much. I was on liquids, the following week, I couldn't eat any more than that, but could add cream Soup.....NO chunkies though. I could also have yogurt. I'm not sure what else....'full liquids'. Week three was better and I could eat a tiny bit more, not a fourth of a cup, but more than an eighth. I could have shaved lunch meat, turkey, chicken and ham, cottage cheese (1%), a scrambled egg. I think i could have cripsy toast. I can't remember when I could start having chicken and other meat that was cooked wet....use fat free gravy or something, but at week six is when I could start introducing everything else. Just remember, Protein first, then veggies and fruit, breads, rice, Pasta, things like that last. I had a hard time with Protein shakes so I bought the bullets and sipped on those, a little in the morning, a little at noon and finished it off later in the day. They pack over 40 grams, I got the blue raspberry from GNC. It's only 3.5 oz. I started getting in all my protein from food at 2.5 months. I haven't felt real hunger since surgery. I guess around four months I started to feel what I call my "new hunger". It's an empty feeling. I never feel it in the morning, sometimes at lunch, usually if I go long enough I'll have it around dinner time.......it is NOTHING like real hunger and is something I CAN ignore. It lets me know that I probably should eat something, but it is nothing that normal people would call hunger!!! It is WONDERFUL. I still measure and weigh all my food when I'm at home. I can eat a half cup of things like cottage cheese or a casserole. I can eat 2 eggs now, I've been able to do that for a couple of months now. If I were just eating protein, I can eat 3 oz, maybe. If I'm eating a meal, for instance, I can eat 2.25 oz of meatloaf, and an eighth of a cup of cottage cheese and an eighth of a cup of a veggie. To me, this seems like a ton of food compared to what I was eating right after surgery, but compared to pre-op, it's nothing. My husband says I have the digestive tract of a field mouse now!! LOL You'll do great, good luck and feel free to ask any questions! NtvTxn

It definitely takes a while for our heads to catch up to what the doctor did to our tummies! I read in one of the forums to have our spouse, child or friend point out someone when we're at the mall or grocery store that is similar to our size. It puts it all into perspective. We do NOT see ourselves like others see us. I KNOW I'm smaller, others have called me tiny or skinny....it is hard for me to accept that....maybe some day, who knows, but never the less, I DO KNOW I'm smaller because my clothes, size 4 and 6 jeans, size S or M tops, tell me so.....when I look in the mirror, I do see a smaller person, and I know it is me. four months ago, I really had a hard time seeing me looking back. It does take time.

I know this isn't a 'diet' - it's a new way of life, but I treated it as a diet until I reached goal. NOTHING sweet passed my lips until then, and as far as fast food, I was forced a couple of times to eat at McDonalds, due to realizing at the mall one day that I had not eaten. At 1 PM I was feeling funny, I was in the dressing room, got dressed real quick and went to the food court. I knew from reading their nutritional info what the little cheese burger was, so I got it and ate just the meat and cheese....I was about three months out, so I wasn't able to eat the entire 2 oz burger, but I ate what I could. It was Protein. No bun for me. I have eaten the fresco taco at Taco Bell since reaching goal, but only take a small bite or two of the flour tortilla and then eat the insides. One is all I can eat. Fast food is not something I made a habit of pre-op, I sure don't want to do it now! I do eat Mexican food, at sit down restaurants. No chips, EVER. I can eat one half an enchilada and about a TB of refried Beans and a TB or 2 of rice...or one enchilada. It's wonderful. I need the calories now since I'm in maintenence and having a hard time stopping the weight loss!! Go figure!

I lost weight so quickly that I "missed" a couple of dresses, cute dresses, that i had in my closet from a few years ago! They were like new!!! I couldn't believe it. Both were a size 18....and I went from a 20 to a size 16 in a blink of an eye in seemed, I tried them on and they were way to baggy to wear. I was shocked. Excited and sad all at the same time!! Oh well......I've donated so many clothes it is unreal. I finally have two new wardrobes. One for this winter and now I have a new one started and almost finished for this spring/summer! It's a lot more fun to shop!

Amazing!! Congrats!!!! You look great!

Am Matthew - you look GREAT, Kudos to you. I know you feel wonderful and have to be very proud of yourself. Before you know it, you'll be at goal. Do you recognize yourself? It took me a while to really know it was me that I was looking at in the mirror.....I'd have my husband or daughter find someone at the mall or grocery store that was a similar size and point them out. I read that on one of the forums, it helps to get an idea of what we REALLY look like to others. Have fun, enjoy the journey!!

I just bought two new pair of Capris for this summer....size 4. My jeans are a size 4 and size 6. (both from GAP but different styles) I never wore a size 4 OR 6 in high school!!!! What a thrill at age 51!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shopping is fun, fun, fun!!!!!!!!

Tiffikins - you know what this means!! It means that when we were wearing the 1XL, 2XL or whatever....oh, and the 18's - 24's, they were probably even larger. That is alarming, isn't it??!!! We've come a long way! I'm ok with it!

Brian66 - First of all, I don't think major surgery to have approx. 85% of our stomachs removed is the "easy way out" - but I know there are some who do think that. I say.....so what!! My husband, for years told our children when they'd say so 'n so said such and such about me...."as long as you know the truth, so what, they can say or think whatever they want, you cannot change what somebody else thinks" That is true!! I really think that people who DO think that are ones that are envious....that is just my humble opinion! <br /><br /><br />

Stcyt - I had this too, my grandmother did as well. I thought it was a 'family' thing, but now that I've lost all my weight, it's gone. I was thrilled. It was very noticeable.

Protein hints!! Cottage cheese, the Breakfast of champions; tuna, add a couple of TB to a can; baked Cod or Haddock; baked pork tenderloin - all high in protein!!!

Sassy, This shouldn't be this diffcult. Let me ask you something, are you taking calcium citrate like most of us are instructed to take? If you take a multi that does not have calcium, then you can take it at the same time you take your calcium is what I was told. The B-12 isn't a daily dose, is it? (is yours sub-linguel?) sp? What doseage of calcium are you taking? Initially I was taking two multis per day and I took them both at one time, I can't see what difference it makes. I'd look into taking the multi with the calcium and just divide the other stuff up and take some with every dose of calcium. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Becca, Do you weigh your food? At 7 weeks out I would guess you ate a little too much. When it feels 'stuck' to me, or feels like I'm 'full' up to my chest....even at eight months out, it is because I've eaten a little too much. I'd say at 7 weeks out, an oz of Protein is about all you can eat without experiencing what you did. Get a little scale. I am STILL weighing my meat and measuring my spaghetti, cottage cheese, veggies etc. I'm not hungry, not real hunger, plus I keep an on line food log. I want to keep up with my protein and calories. It's what works for me. I haven't found anything I can't eat, but be careful with Pasta, it doesn't take a lot to fill you up. Good luck!

We waited a week.......my husband was really careful, he was scared he'd hurt me. I had to say, that the second time, the largest incision did oooze a little, but no big deal. Don't strain, be careful and go for it. Like someone said earlier....the more weight that comes off, the better "it" gets!

Miralax is what my doctor's office recommended. It is now not considered a laxative. I have needed something from early on. I use this 'as needed' - every seven to ten days I'll take it two or three days and then I'm fine for five to seven! I guess with all the protein and all the calcium, it is what it is!

I've been at goal since the first week of this past Nov. I am slowly but surely realizing they were right at the seminar before surgery. This is NOT a diet, it is a way of life. At 8.5 months out, I have a lot of restriction, I can eat a half cup of food; not quite two eggs or 2 oz of Protein along with a few bites of a veggie and maybe an eighth cup of cottage cheese. I love this tool. The hardest thing for me is realizing that I can share a slice of pumpkin bread at Star Bucks with my husband without guilt. I can and I MUST eat off and on during the day to keep from losing more weight. I am very aware of everything I put in my mouth. Not junk like Twinkies and Ding Dongs, milk shakes or ice cream. I didn't do anything like that before surgery, but I am currently addicted to Natural Peanut Butter and graham crackers. Maintence has been the tricky part to me, nobody said it could be hard to stop losing. Anyway, my point is, I had a aww haaa moment when I figured out, this is how naturally thin people eat....they have a small piece of cake, or have a couple of Snacks in the afternoons without guilt. They order what they want, eat a smaller amount than WE sleevers use to eat, about what we can eat now probably.....and don't give it a second thought. I have a friend who has always been thin. She has NEVER been on a diet, eats anything she wants and never thinks about it. She does not ever overeat, ever! I am learning to feel this way and think this way.....I barely eat anything it seems. I look back at what I use to eat and I eat like a bird now. I look at what other people order, what two people at one table will order and am in shock!!!! Hey y'all....that use to be us!!

I really don't think our new tummies stretch much; if they will/do - we'd have to work at it and for me, it would be really uncomfortable. I DO know where you're coming from though. I too obsess over this and other things like waking up one day and my hunger has returned, but in the back of my mind, I'm pretty sure I'm worrying for no reason! At the seminar we were told that it would 'stretch' 10% - 15% from just after post-op...but you have to remember how little it is when we get out of surgery! My doctor left me with a 3 oz stomach!! So after it relaxes, heals and reaches it's full capcity, that really isn't much. The first couple of weeks post-op, I could only eat an eighth of a cup of broth, some times less, and then mushies I did good to eat an eighth of a cup that second week. Now at eight months out, I can eat a half cup of cottage cheese or spaghetti or a half an English muffin with a slice of American cheese. Those are examples. I can almost eat two eggs but I can eat 1 egg with a piece of toast. This seems like a TON of food to me when I think back to what I was eating!! I will STILL ask my husband, "did I eat a lot? " He thinks I'm nuts, I'm sure of it!! LOL You are not alone....I've been at goal since the last week of Nov and I could lose MORE weight. I still worry!!!