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I'm 10 months (almost 11 months) post op Loop DS which involves a sleeved stomach (this particular surgery also has an intestinal bypass as well as shortening your small intestines). I'm able to eat between 6-7 oz. If I eat 8oz I feel nauseous, so that's not a good idea. I've been able to eat 6 oz since about 5 months out. It upped to 7 at around 8 months out. Your stomach CAN stretch back out. I wouldn't advise doing it on purpose though because it kind of defeats the purpose of the surgery, but you won't necessarily be stuck eating small amounts forever. As to eating foods from other countries it honestly depends on how you tolerate certain foods. For example, I can't eat wheat anymore because I dump. And it's not worth feeling like that. Even the smallest trace amount of wheat in something gives me unbearable nausea for a good hour. Also, moderation is key. When it comes to drinking with food they tell you not to because it makes the food go through you too fast and then you'll be hungry again sooner. Farther out I don't think it'll be a big deal if you drink on a special occasion but that fluid is going to take up space and won't be able to fit as much food.

Well, you are 63 years young! Upon seeing my results, my mom was so impressed and I got her a fitbit. At 67 (and retired), she started VERY slowly...and now, she's easily clearing 10k a day without even thinking of it. The idea is to set a small goal, keep it consistently and slowly add as your body leads you. You are too precious not to give your body as much cardio as you can get in. I always think about my car (I don't expect it to last over 10 years), and yet look at all the maintenance I do for it, oil, etc. What more my 1 body I get as a gift from God per lifetime. Every single step you take is worth it! I'm sure when you are well enough, the fighter in you will rise up and say "Oh Heck no! My life is just beginning!!!"

I usually make my protein shake with about 10 oz water and 2 oz 2% milk but today I was out of milk. So I grabbed my coconut coffee creamer and added that instead. Then I added the chocolate protein powder and gave it quick spin in the trusty ol magic bullet. I'm here to tell you it was SOOOOOOO good! Yummy yummy!!! You should try it!

Yes, my surgery was June 10 and I have a wave of nausea when I drink anything. But it passes as a continue to drink. I also don't like anything with flavor right now. So Water is all I can handle. I also noticed that I am excessively thirsty all the time. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Great job! I'm getting sleeved in 10 days and have about 100-120lbs to lose. If I can get anywhere close to that by the end of the year I'll be thrilled! Any advice for the newbies? HW: 330 lb SW: TBD 6/27/2017 CW: 302 lb GW: 180 lb VSG, Dr. Jawad, Orlando, FL

My work is somewhat physical and i asked my doctor today (I'm 10 day post-op) when would i be able to return to normal physical activity including carrying 20-30 lb here and there and some climbing on ladders and such. He told me to wait about a month post op. This "about a month" rule of thumb is assuming you went through a normal healing process with no complications,

Hi Wendy, I live in New Jersey (right on Delaware/Jersey border) and just had surgery on 7-10-08. I had my surgery at St. Francis in Wilmington, DE. My surgeon was Dr. Wynn of Chrias. Just wondering who is your doctor and where will you have the surgery? I had a wonderful experience at St. Francis, everyone was just terrific. Good luck and if you need any advice or refereces, I would be happy to help out.

Onederland is my goal now too! 19 lbs to go! I am excited as my loss has been moving along. Congratulations! I can't wait!

Got all my paper work today from my insurance and weight watchers!! I can start this week which I am going to on Thursday morning I am so excited to start but also really nervous honestly, I have to do 6 months which is 24weeks of WW, which will be broken up into two sessions and I have to attend at least 10 out of 12 meetings. Which ill be trying to go to all of them. And with each session I will need to lose 13lbs which is 26lbs in the 6 months (24wks) so I figure by November 28th I will be completely done with my weight watchers and I should be getting banded in December or beginning of January at the latest. so happy still can't believe this is really going to happen.

Congrats!! My date is 01/05/10

Since month 3 I've lost 10-12 lbs quickly then stalled for 2-3 weeks and then started the cycle over. It's frustrating but the loss does begin again. Don't panic, Kaehl. Try shaking things up as others have said. I broke my first stall by adding a protein snack and upping my calories. I just broke my most recent stall by upping water beyond the required 64 oz.

HI, Today is my 7th week post surgery. I've lost 24 pounds but the last two weeks...nothing. I have my third post-op appointment next Thursday. My Dr. said he wanted me to loose 10 pounds by that appointment and I've only lost 3. I'm feeling a lot of pressure to "make weight" by next Thursday and it's really making me angry. I've spent my life being a slave to the scale and now that I've had the surgery, I just want to be good to my body and have a healthy attitude toward my weight loss and new eating habits. Thank you to anyone who reads this and has any wisdom or encouragement to share. I've never before participated in a site like this but I feel isolated because my schedule doesn't allow for me to join any support groups. Thanks again to all of you "out there"

I am 10 days sleeved and am now allowed to eat what you guys call mushies (blended food) fromage frais, cream soups etc. what's the difference between this and the next stage?

I'm on the 26th as well. This two week pre op diet is not easy. My starting weight was 303 and I am excited to get this going. There are some really good videos on YouTube if you have not checked them out yet. There's one guy who has the top 10 reasons to not have vsg surgery. This is a great video if you get time to check it out.

Well it is the end of my third week of liquid diet and it hasn't been all that bad even today and it was Thanksgiving. My kids were so sweet they are 19 and 15 they didn't want to have Thanksgiving at my mom's because they didn't want me to have to cook. I told them that I would be find and I would just drink my shake, because next Thanksgiving I would be able to eat and I may be smaller. You know it was not that bad. :cursing:

I had my first fill this afternoon by Jessie at Northwest Weight Loss Surgery and was in and out the door in 10 minutes...that included taking my shoes off, weighing-in and getting the fill! (My doctor does not have his patients do the barium/fluoroscope unless absolutely necessary. I don't know if that is trpical of most doctors or not). Amazingly, I did NOT feel a thing! She was done before I even knew she had done the procedure! (I was staring at the ceiling as she instructed me to do, reading the chart overhead.) The person who did my fill is one of the best in the US and wrote the book: [ame=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0595311148/qid=1130296666/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-8191535-1545448?v=glance&s=books]Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding: Achieving Permanent Weight Loss with Minimally Invasive Surgery[/ame] by Jessie H. Ahroni Ph.D. A. R. N. P. After filling me up with 1.5 cc she had me move to her office and drink about 5 ounces of Water before I could leave. I tolerated it well but could definitely tell there was a difference. My restriction has been pretty good so should be even better now! I pb'd this morning for the first time. I was running late so woofed down a few bites of scrambled Egg Beaters...wrong move! Took me 15 minutes to recover (burp..pb...burp...pb...burp) then off to the dentist I went...and of course I was now running late for my appointment...to have even more fun for the day...pb-ing and the dentist!!!! I could only eat a half cup of food for dinner tonight (I've been able to eat quite a bit more then that previously) and I felt satisfied so hopefully will start dropping pounds again. After a 27 pound loss, I went up a couple of pounds...eating too much soft food like cream Soup, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes (I know not the best idea!) and yogurt. I was eating meat and veges too but usually had one or two of the mushies with my meal. I can eat a cup of popcorn...no problem but bread is a no, no. I'm sure learning as I go. What a journey it is!!! I love it!

Oh my gosh I just got on here to post the exact same thing I am now 8 weeks out and have lost 22 pounds. But for the last 10 days I've been at 22 pounds. while my diet has not been absolutely perfect I'm averaging between 509 and 800 calories a day, how is it even physically possible that I am not losing weight my gosh if this is a plateau and I finally get over it I'm going to drop 10 pounds overnight hahaha. Sent from my moto z4 using BariatricPal mobile app

I had surgery on 9/19. I've lost about 30 lbs... But the last 3 weeks I have went up and down 2-3 lbs, not really losing any. I tried drinking more Water, adding more Protein and nothing seems to be working. I am so discouraged! I hate to have done this for nothing. Could something be messed up? Sent from my 5054N using the BariatricPal App

Sublingual (flavoured) vitamins. My B12 is sublingual cherry. My Iron is sublingual grape. My Centrum Multivitamin Men's 50+ is blueberry but not sublingual. SUBLINGUAL = under the tongue. i.e. stick it in your mouth and it melts under your tongue is 10-25 seconds. Some brands of sublingual vitamins use the TRADEMARK "Rapimelt". Rapid melting!

Today, my husband worked. I'm usually not good when he works on the weekends. I am out of control with sleep and food. The same is true of today. I slept until 10:00. Then I realized I had to drive about 20 miles to pay a bill, so I made breakfast and ran out the door. Later I went out for lunch by myself and met up with him after that. breakfast-one egg yolk, two slices of bacon, no drink lunch-1/2 order nachos, one hotdog, no bread, w/ garnishes, 12 oz RC dinner-salsa, wine cooler, taste of soup that I just made-veal w/ tomato, onion, rice, corn exercise-walked for 50 minutes at Proksa Park in Berwyn :confused:

Hi Everyone, My name is Sara I am 35 years old, I am in Pre Surgery Mode, I have started my pre weight loss back in December 2009 I started at 321lbs as of today 1/19/2010 I have lost 15 lbs on my own, it is difficult but wow worth every pound lost. :wink2: I have struggled with weight most of my life, I love food nd being married to a latino man and a huge family fixing awsome mexican food every day no wonder I am over weight. I want to let anyone know that I m here for anyone that wnt to become my new friend and want to join the jouney of weight loss with me. :confused:

Hello all, I was just banded on 10/3 and started my soft food diet this weekend. I am having a hard time with it. Everything I swallow it seems I can feel going down and it is not a pleasant feeling. I chew like crazy but I almost want to go back to liquids because this feeling is awful. I have even gotten stuck a few times and the sheer desperation of it is terrible. Do you all experience this? Will it go away?? Any suggestions??

I was reading a blog from a person who also had WLS. It inspired me to write a blog and well, then I thought...why not post it here..maybe there are others feeling these things but, not talking about it. This speaks to people who are post op. I am hoping this doesn't come out offensive. It's honest feelings ..and after reading Mick's it inspired me to write the words that are felt but, guilt makes me sometimes keep them in. 1. The buffet thing. Mick talked about it. When going to a buffet it's about getting the monies worth. I grew up poor...so, I am all about getting my monies worth. When I go to a Water park...I get there when it opens and I don't leave until it closes. So, I have endurance. Many people say to me "Shawna, let me know because I'll bring my own car." Yeap, I am a big on getting my *monies worth*. This is why since my band I do not go to buffets. It's not only a place to fail...but, truly what are we paying? Are we really getting our *monies worth* We also get, Obesity, diabetes, doc visits, clogged arteries, that end up on the plate. It also may add a sprinkle of an early death. I realized one day when at a Chinese buffet...no one in there was in healthy shape. That was a big eye opener. 2. food addiction... I am a big believer that this does exist. I know so many people who do not believe food addiction is real but, they are either in denial or clueless because they never had to deal with it. It becomes the escape, comforter, reward, etc just like a drug. Emotionally food can take on many personalities/fixes and feelings. I know I am a food addict...with a band. I guess I am kind of like an alcoholic with a sponsor?? It helps but, it's up to me. I wish there was a place near me ... an O.A. because I would go. I need a food sponsor... a buddy...I have them virtually but, here at home I lack the resources...so, I guess I am an addict without a person sponsor but, my band is helping me. (I'm sorry if you have dealt with the AA etc. I am using an analogy and haven't had to deal with that addiction...but, I do believe food can be comparable.) 3. The feelings some of us have after surgery when we watch someone in our old self shoes. I don't have this yet. When I read some blogs I see people angry as they watch someone eating like they used to. Screaming within when mom has biscuits, gravy, steak, and thirds. Right now I am in a different stage. I don't get enraged...I feel pity. I want to say "You should get a band" but, I don't. I feel like I have the cure for something but, it's taboo to share...oh and mega rude. I find myself saying in my mind "if they too could get one they would know how good it feels to have hope." Specifically though, lets talk about the anger stage. I know others who feel anger, frustration, etc when they see this after they have had surgery and lost weight. I think the reason for these feelings is...it's hard to watch someone else slowly kill themselves like *the person angry did* before surgery. I guess maybe it's like a drug addict who is recovered watching someone else pick up a meth pipe and go into the role they once played. It's very hard. It is a reminder of the old ways and the person doesn't like the old them (I agree with not liking the old person. that feeling I know well) Another perspective and comparison...I go back to my youth, I was a teen I was in an abusive relationship. I stayed for years, thought I didn't have no other way, had no self esteem, and gave up the dream of happy and love. I woke up though... I got out, got healthy, became strong, etc. Now, with a loving husband, 3 awesome kids, the thought of allowing someone to degrade me or hit me...seems so unimaginable! I now know what respect, love, and true happiness feels like ...So, I have a really hard time watching women/men stay in such relationships...I especially have a hard time when they have kids. I have to take myself out of these situations because I can't watch it. Oh, the back of my mind *gets it* the whole abuse syndrome, low selfesteem, etc but, the healthy me knows it's sooo worthless. When people get healthy with eating..maybe it's like leaving an abusive relationship?! So, we get angry when we see it! We can't watch the self abuse...because we know what it feels like to get help and find a new way to comfort, Celebrate etc. (I'm not perfect at this yet...still have times when I fall..especially around that time of the month) The reality is like drugs, abuse, etc Food also carries a death scare, health problems, worthlessness, and in the end hanging onto this life style leaves emptiness and the continuing of chasing a fleeting satisfaction, comfort, etc that food gives. I think many of us feel these things...anger/frustration or like me pity but, we dont' talk about it. We feel guilty. 4. My issue at hand. *food frustration* and wanting to hoard. I'll explain it. I watch those around me eat, I watch how big of bites people take, how they just swallow it with barely chewing, how they keep shoving it in even when they said "Oh, man I am full" and I see me. There is mindless eating that I see...the person doesn't look at the plate, they just shovel or pick it up. This one is very hard on me because since surgery I share plates with people. I can't eat a whole serving (well, people without band serving not a restaurant) and because I take my time, chew, relax, ...well I miss out. The other person eats the whole plate and I am stuck not feeling full. I finally said something because I was harboring anger...I said "I feel like the last kid out of a family of 10 to be ladling out my soup! I am hungry and you ate the food without even watching it, dividing it, realizing I had 2 shrimp out of 20...I think you are mindless eating...just sticking it in and not taking inventory." I know that sounds mean...but, I was starving in the shadows. This is after 5 months of it happening. I couldn't take it...I felt as if I was being taken advantage of. It's been a dangerous situation too...because it creates new issues for me to overcome. I find myself demanding my own plate (this person thinks it helps save dishes to spoon my portion on their plate) and I find myself hiding food (this is a bad thing.) I hide things I know I can eat because if I don't...well, I go without eating. My puddings are hid, my shrimp, my plums, my chicken from last night, etc. So, now I find myself hoarding food. It scares me to know I am hoarding. It also feels awful when I am looking at a cupboard of bread that people could eat but, I can't and my shrimp are gone. These are some issues with WLS...I guess I just don't hear a lot about. I guess I realize I may be ripped for talking about them..but, it does feel good to get everything out. I guess I am inspired and learn a lot from reading peoples blogs.

I agree with the other poster that they are way too high in sugar. Check with your dietician on what your doctor recommends. A large portion of that 180 calories is the sugar. Your 10 g protein are only 40 calories. I try to minimize fat, salt, and sugar. For Protein shakes, ready to drink type, I use Worldwide Protein Shakes. They come in 21 and 35g protein. Cheapest place to get them is Trader Joe's. Target has started carrying the 21g recently in 4 packs, around $6, in vanilla, chocolate, and Cookies n' Cream. Trader Joe sells both 21 and 35 in just Chocolate and Vanilla. The 21's are about $1.69 each and the 35's about $2.29. Vitamin Shoppe only carries the 35's but in all the flavors (Vanilla, Chocolate, strawberry, banana Cream an Cookies n' Cream). Individually they are $2.79 each but if you buy a 12 pack for $27.99 that works out to about $2.33 each, pretty close to Trader Joe's. I order them online at vitaminshoppe.com and they often have specials with free shipping or if you sign up for their rewards program you get coupons for money off orders. GNC carries 35's in Vanilla and Chocolate in the stores, all flavors online, but they are the most expensive, $2.99 a can. WW shakes only have 1g sugar in the 35's (I get them from Vitamin Shoppe), 1g fat, 0.5 sat fat, 10mg cholesterol, 2g carbs in the 160 cal flavors and 140 of those calories are protein. Some of the flavors are 170 cals and maybe have anothe g of sugar but I don't think any are more than 3. I am reading from the can of Vanilla that I drank today. If you are looking for a way to get in more protein, I would suggest the WW shakes, plus you are getting very little sugar and fat. Oh and the sodium on the can of Vanilla is 150mg and Potassium 240mg. I have trouble with low potassium so I am always looking for stuff that has more of that than sodium. I hope this helps, and good luck on your journey. Please feel free to share the above info with your dietician. I used them before and after surgery I still drink them at least 5 days a week. I bring them to work and have them first thing. You may find you are tighter in the morning after a few fills, and this works for me. I wait about an hour then have Breakfast, usually protein Cereal from kaysnaturals.com and/or yogurt (I mix my own--fat free Greek yogurt from Trader Joe--comes in 2 cup container--22 g protein per cup 0 fat, 6g sugar--I divide into four half cup servings--11 g protein 0 fat 3 sugar--for fruit I mix in Smuckers sugar free preserves 10 cal tbsp, plus some cinnamon) So with the shake (35), cereal (10) and yogurt (11) I manage 56g protein before lunch.