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I had my six-week follow up with my local doctor yesterday – to say I’m happy is an understatement. Although I’ve complained about my weight loss in other posts and lamented about being a slow loser, I am happy with the way things are going. I don’t use my doctor’s numbers to track my weight because it’s inconsistent – they weigh with clothes on, sometimes shoes on (depends on the nurse), I wore heavy jeans yesterday compared to lighter capris the last time, etc. I use my Thursday weigh-ins on my home scale to track my loss. So, I’m down almost 41.8 pounds from my high weight and 24 since surgery. Wow! Writing that is surreal. My body fat has been decreased by 5% already and while I have lost some lean muscle mass, it’s not a concern right now, I just shouldn’t lose any more. Even more than the numbers, I can see physical differences in myself. Why do my fingers seem longer? OK, it’s that they no longer look like pork sausages that were masquerading as fingers! My shoes fit differently now and as a side benefit, I can actually reach down and tie them and not look like I’m steer wrestling trying to lift my right foot up to my left knee. I have a jaw line – you can actually define where my head ends and my neck begins. When I was driving down the road the other day, it felt like the seat was pushed further back than normal. It’s not like my legs grew…there was just more room between my belly and the steering wheel! I noticed the vanity in the bathroom the other day while brushing my teeth – I was standing closer to the sink, again, because my belly wasn’t in the way. I cross my legs (like a lady) all the time now, BECAUSE I CAN! There are many subtle, but very real changes that are happening to my body and I’m trying to bask in each and every one of them. This has been an amazing journey so far and it’s only the beginning. There will be lows, but there will also be lots of good things happening, too! I’m noticing some other changes as well. I feel more comfortable around other people. It is easier for me to strike up a conversation with a stranger. I used to be a fairly outgoing and chatty person. Since starting to gain weight about 15 years, I slowly became an introvert to the point where I would avoid talking to people I have known for years. I would pretend I didn’t see someone in the grocery store so I wouldn’t have to stop and talk to them. I would sit in the outfield during my son’s baseball games rather than the stands or by the other parents because I didn’t want to be around people. My social circle has been reduced to my family. In the past few weeks, that has changed. I’m slowly coming out of my shell. I caught myself smiling yesterday morning when I was walking into the hospital and a couple of people I crossed paths with smiled back and said “Hello.” I felt like they were reacting to me smiling and not having, what I assume was an “I’m pissed off at the world so go screw yourself” look I used to have. I discussed my diet with the doc as well. A few weeks ago I started to restrict my carbs because I thought it was the right thing to do. We always hear “carbs are bad” and I restricted mine down to between 20 and 30 per day. What I didn’t immediately connect was my very low energy level to the carb restriction. I didn’t feel good and I blamed it on coming down with a cold. I would come home from the gym and be completely exhausted and take a 60-minute nap. Understandably…I wasn’t giving my body enough fuel to get through the workout. I now realize carbs are an important part of our diet and they aren’t necessarily evil. Bad carbs (refined sugars and flours) are bad. Complex carbs like those found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains are great carbs and a necessary part of your diet. Once I increased my carbs to about 50/day, I started feeling so much better and have that increased energy that so many speak of after weight loss surgery. Increasing my carbs hasn’t changed my overall calorie count by much. I’m still taking in between 800-900 calories a day (on hard workout days I can go over 900 because I am truly hungry). I’m increasing my carbs by adding ¼ cup of fruit to my shakes, adding 1-2 tablespoons of refried Beans, or part of a Carb Balance tortilla to a meal. It’s amazing how different I feel now compared to a few days ago. Also looking forward, I now have no restrictions to my diet – that’s terrifying. I had the security the past 6 weeks of “I can’t have that because it’s not on my plan.” This is where that discipline comes in, right?!?! So, here are some of the high points from the meeting with the doctor yesterday: · Weight loss is good, more importantly, the 5% body fat reduction and minimal loss in lean muscle mass · Blood pressure is lower – 117/82. It hasn’t been that low in years. · Diet looking forward – no restrictions on what to eat; min 80 grams of Protein daily and 50 grams of carbs should be OK. · hair loss – I’m noticing some shedding (*gasp*). She OK’d Biotin and 1 gram of folic acid daily. There is so much debate on whether anything works, but I’m willing to try (she said the most important thing was the protein). · Real coffee is now approved, but only one cup per day. This makes me happy. I had to pinky promise I wouldn’t go back to my old habit of 3-5 cups per day. Honestly, I don't think I can fit more than one cup of coffee in a day! · Exercise - no limitations and start strength training as to not lose more lean muscle mass. · Constipation – ahhh the pooping (you know I wasn’t going to get thru an entire post with out a comment on the poo). I’ve been taking Colace and that’s the only thing that has helped. Per doc's orders, I need to cut back to one per day, then stop entirely. Doc wants Metamucil and more Fiber in my diet for a more natural approach. I wish everyone a very, very Happy New Year. 2014 is going to be a great year for us! Be safe!

Hi all -- I was banded on August 29 - a week later (and 10 lbs less!) I'm so hungry I could eat my shoes. On past diets, I've been able to get away with a tablespoon of Peanut Butter - hits the spot without triggering overeating -- but I'm not sure that it would count as a "soft" food? Actually, I'm technically support to be on liquid Protein for another 2 weeks, but frankly, I'm hungry enough and feel sufficiently recovered that if PB falls under the mushie stage and people haven't had problems with it, then I'm willing to chance it! Thanks in advance for your advice! Danielle

I just took my protein powder in little zip bags to mix in my shaker bottle when I traveled.

I agree with the others. Start slow. Anything is more than not doing anything so let yourself be proud of that. Keep walking and then slowly add other intense exercising into the routine. During exercise, make sure to hydrate a lot and before a workout, I would eat something light like a protein bar or nuts. Something that will help fuel you but not weigh you down.

Isn't it interesting what we are learning about ourselves post surgery and as we adjust to life with a new tummy? I was afraid that my tastes would change and that maybe I wouldn't like my unjury Protein shakes anymore, or that spicy Chinese food would not taste good or that my new tummy wouldn't like it, or that I couldn't enjoy my favorite salads anymore. Fortunately for me, I still like my Unjury shakes, spicy Chinese (NO rice) does not upset my tummy and I can eat my favorite salads although it takes me at least 2 meals to eat a whole one (i.e. strawberry fields from Wendy's). Of course, with any solid foods my typical serving size is about 1/2 cup (yes, I measure), and a few things a little bit more. Still learning to navigate some of the portions/boundaries. Definitely a learning process. Sometimes just two bites of something is all that is needed to satisfy my taste for a particular food.

Hi All, I thought I'd share some of what I thought were the odder moments of surgery. First off was I had been in my room several hours before I noticed the gown I was wearing when I was willed in was a different one. Now I know during surgery we are all laid out like Sunday chicken but it still felt odd to think of someone undressing and redressing me! I also had something called an On Q pump an odd little gizmo that pumps in a novacaine type drug into your stomach area. The last was a bit of a NSV well not really but felt like it they came to take me to x-ray for the upper gi they brought this wheelchair big enough to almost fit two of me in it. The barium stuff was nasty as could be but with someone like me with bad reflux I was able to do it. Oh and a last bit of advice for anyone waiting on surgery, when they bring you your first liquid tray do not go crazy mixing in the unflavored Protein into every thing (G) Nancy

Are you writing down everything you eat? I am surprised sometimes as to the amount of calories I eat. When I see it on paper it helps me get things in hand. Are you eating the right things. I have to cut my carbs very low and up my Protein to lose weight. And finally, do you exercise? I have to walk an hour EVERYDAY to lose. I have the metabolism of a snail. If I don't exercise I don't lose. My Doc set a goal of 5 pounds a month for me. I wish I could lose more but I think considering my metabolism, it's probably the right number. I've also heard that it's not good to weigh every day but I admit that I do. And do you drink enough Fluid? I think that helps too. Good luck and hang in there.

hi...thanksallof you for your guidance and support....I did write down my calsand Protein....I am having around 40gms protein and around 1000 calories.. so I need to increase on both fronts.I do exercise daily for 40 mins....but otherwise my life is very sedentary....my movements are slowdue to arthritis. I willincrease my calorieand protein content and yes willwrite it down daily.....I tried only 3 meals...but my body is used to 3meals and2 Snacks since years...so maybe that is causing weight gain... Thanks all of you!!

I have tried putting ISOPURE unflavored whey protein in my Crystal Light Lemonade. I was pretty good - it had the texture of a smoothie.

Syntrax Nectar powders are very good -- you mix them with water. They have flavors like lemon iced tea, twisted cherry, fuzzy navel, and roadside lemonade. You can get sample packs to see which ones you like -- just google Syntrax Nectar samples and you'll get multiple options.

Thanks. I'm seeing a shrink, eating more Protein, staying way from starches, and moving my ass. I feel great!

Hi Sweet Susie, I tried all kinds of method, i went back to liquid diet for 3 days, just on Protein shake.. then the scaled moved, but it went back up, and even higher prior to the liquid diet by a couple of pounds, then i started excercising like mad for more than a month.. didnt move.. nope.. I control my intake at 800 cal MAX, and that is if im on a good day, the rest of the time, im usually at 600cal... Recently, due to the rain here, i stopped excercising, try to eat more, and my scale moved.. i stop obsessing with the pounds i lost, so i havent stepped on the scale for about 2 weeks now, but i did notice my tummy is shrinking.. its flatter now.. Sorry, my story doesn't seem to be telling you anything, just thoguht i'll share with you.. but that said, i think everyone is different, you just got to try different methods, give it time, and you';ll eventually find what your body wants.. And i really think eating less than 800 cal is not going to help. perhaps you should up you intake to 1000... see how it works out for you? Good Luck!

In our bodies, the liver stores carbohydrate in the form of glycogen. We draw on it when our blood sugar is too low---so it's a great mechanism to maintain homeostasis. However, too much stored glycogen causes the liver to become engorged/enlarged. The purpose of the preop diet is to deplete the liver's glycogen stores. This shrinks the liver in size, and makes it easier and safer for the surgeon to manipulate tools during banding. Carbohydrate, including sugar, is limited during the preop diet to spur the liver to release its glycogen stores. (If you don't eat the carbs/sugar, then glycogen is released by the liver to keep your blood sugar steady.) If choosing between foods, I'd opt for Splenda over sugar during the preop diet; your doctor can give you more specific guidelines about how many grams of carb to which to limit yourself, if you need them. (Mine just spelled out exactly what I could eat: 2 Protein shakes/day--with <10 g carb each---4 ounces of lean protein and 1/2 cup nonstarchy veggies each day. Plus up to 2 servings each of broth, sugar-free popsicles, and sugar-free Jello. So maybe a total of 35-50 g carb, max.)

I have NEVER been able to do any artificial sweeteners. Always have an after taste and I always would get a headache whenever I would try them. So I was worried that that would hinder me in my journey. So far so good. I would love to be able to use some of the sugar free syrups to mix things up with my shakes a bit but no can do. I am in AZ and right now it is rather chilly in the morning and evenings. I love it. This is my favorite weather time of the year. Oh where was I.....oh yea artificial sweeteners. Well I have been making myself hot decaf tea in the mornings with my unflavored Protein powder and drinking that to warm up a bit and then usually having another smaller cup at night when we are watching TV. Well last night I decided to try Splenda in my tea. My husband always uses that in his coffee and it was the ONLY thing I hadn't tried yet. Well surprise surprise........I was able to drink my tea NO weird aftertaste and NO headache!! WOO HOO!! So this morning I tried it again in my 24oz of hot decaf tea with Protein Powder. Again yummy!!! I am so happy about this, that now I at least have something to use. So I here sit enjoying my hot decaf tea w/protein, checking around on here to see what's up, and then I will be getting ready and heading to the gym. The sun is shining, we are not buried under snow, I feel good, weight is coming off......I think it's a good day!!

Yes! It's due to the high protein. Exchanging fat for muscles. You don't lose weight, but you get smaller..muscle takes up less room then fat. That old saying that muscle weighs more then fat is not true...a pound of fat and a pound of fat are both still a pound...but it sure takes up less room! Lol

Ok, so I finally hit the dreaded stall after 18 weeks post op. I have lost a great deal and am feeling really good about where I am but this is where I was afraid I would get stuck. I am now at the lowest weight I reached when killing myself to diet and exercise about 2 years ago. I know that my goal is 110 and it is achievable given that I am 5' tall and I know I have lots of flab on the lower half to lose. Seems like I am experiencing more restriction these days and pretty much don't care to eat so I am hoping that maybe I need to be much more deliberate with my Protein as I have been in the past. I would really like to be at goal by Christmas. I am also going to start working out more (right now only going once a week). I am happy that I am not gaining! But then again, not sure how I could with the little amount that I eat. Very happy with my sleeve, just need to get motivated to work this to my advantage now and actually see my weight get to my goal and stay there!

Ahh you guys were right I'm slowly starting to feel better! Thank you. It's hard getting these liquids in and every time I try to get some protein in my body wants to come to a complete stop. Your first week how much liquids were you able to get in?

Hi all, I am going for my first pre op nutritionist appt on Friday. I will be taking a 3 day food diary as well as a list of meds. My NUT told me on the phone that she will be going over the pre and post op diets with me. I'm a total OCD planner and have my handy notebook with me..I have made a list of questions but I'm wondering if anyone can throw out some questions that I could ask her or info that may be helpful. So far I have 1. How much protein/carbs pre/post surgery 2. Vitamins 3. Preventing hairloss or decreasing Anything helps! Xoxo

I probably didn't walk as much as others that got in there protein from the beginning. But, I could not tolerate any of the Protein drinks, mixes, even the ready to drink made me sick, or the taste was horrific. When I first came home, I was pumped full of nutrients and calories through a pic line, and that gave me what I needed initially. I only went about 3 weeks without getting in my protein. Obviously, I didn't jump into 60 grams per day when I first hit mushies because restriction is extremely obvious on mushies. I had to work my way up. I took my Vitamins and supplements religiously, and wasn't willing to miss those. Overall, I had a super slow recovery due to my complications, but I don't necessarily think going without the full 60grams of protein per day set me back anymore than I already was. Hope that makes sense.

Depending on what you are supposed to do post-op and for how long determines what you should do next. I felt like I was starving on day 3 post-op. I kept trying to do the Protein shakes but I couldn't deal with the sweetness of mine anymore. Only being able to have either sweet or salty was driving me nuts. I started on soft foods early. I made an omelet from 2 large eggs, some fat free milk, and 1 slice of cheese. I ate it VERY slowly to make sure I could eat it at all. It went down fine. So I kept eating the omelet. After I had 1/2 of it, I was able to throw it away. (Proudest moment ever!). I slowly started to eat soft, mushy foods the rest of the week. Mostly I have a 1 egg omelet and that's it for Breakfast. Tuna or chicken salad for lunch. Chicken, ground beef, ground turkey for dinner. I keep soft foods in the house and stick with those that have lots of protein. I go for my first fill on Thursday and I'm practically eating normally now. If I find that I'm still hungry, I try to figure out if it's head hunger or real hunger. At the suggestion of someone else from here today, I started a myfitnesspal account to track my food. The thing to remember is, that site (from what I've seen so far) does not factor in that you have a band so your food level is restricted. I was shocked that according to the site that I am not eating anywhere near enough in a day. I'm not even hitting the minimum of 1200 calories. Myfitnesspal will help you track your calories and your protein. Bonus tip: DO NOT EAT FRUITS WITH SKINS! They do not digest and could cause more harm than good. Making healthier choices is what all this is about. Concentrate on that and every time you have to eat, make the best choice you can. You will have moments where you slip up, recognize that you slipped up and what you can do about it in the future. Also, listen to your doc. If you are comfortable with trying soft foods early, stick with stuff that is protein packed. It will help you stay fuller longer, help you heal faster, and will help you feel included. Try to keep down to the appropriate portion size too. Best of luck to you.

The premade shakes worked best for me to insure the Protein. I used Atkins, Nutrilife and Premier. The Premier has 30 protein compared to 15 for the other two. I liked the chocolate flavor in all three. They are 11 oz and it would take me about 2 hours to drink it. In the beginning, I sometimes had two of those a day. I filled it around that with potato Soup, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, yogurt, SF chocolate pudding (LOL). I was fortunate that I was able to go from clears to full to mushy by the end of the first week, and felt great. Be cautious, use common sense and do what makes your stomach and you feel the best. Good Luck!!

Congrats on your sleeve. The only thing that helped me was walking. I walked ALL THE TIME. I had my sleeve done on the 12th and am now walking 3-5 miles a day...not all at once, I break it up between 4-5 walks. It is the ONLY thing that helped get the gas out and I also think it helped me heal much faster than I expected to. It's been almost 10 days, and I am already getting my protein and liquids in. When I started, I couldn't even get an ounce of liquid in me with out feeling "overly full" and bloated. So, I say walk as much as you can....where ever you can. I live in a Condo and my first two days home, i walked in circles until the gas moved and I felt better. Good luck and let us know how you are doing!!!

I was allowed three 8 oz protein shakes a day, plus one of each of the following: sugar free jello, 6 oz low-fat and no sugar added yogurt OR 4 oz fat free cottage cheese, 3 ounces of fruit or sugar free applesauce. The nutritionist told me I could have one extra protein shake if I was really hungry. Plus all the water, crystal lite or other non-sweetened, non-caffinated beverages I wanted. It was pretty strict, but I lost 15 pounds over the two weeks!