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i too added unflavored whey protein to everythin just to get it it and I felt so much better, like 3 days out my energy increased alot, the fluid is really important,I drank special k20 protein water from the pharmacy too.Good luck.

Something interesting I wanna share with you Weight Loss Stall or Plateau A weight loss stall or plateau is an extended period of time during reducing efforts where is there is no weight loss according to the scale and no loss of inches according to the tape measure. This is why it is so important to take your body measurements before surgery, so you'll have a reference as your weight loss progresses post-op. We suggest you take measurements of your chest, waist and hip, neck, upper arm, thigh and calf. Be aware it is very common for your weight loss to "stall" shortly after surgery. The reason for this below. The Inevitable Stall A "stall" a few weeks out is inevitable, and here's why. Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a saber tooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored. Breathe, and fuggedaboudit for a few days. What You Can Do About a Stall or Plateau If you are experiencing a post-op weight loss stall or plateau further out there are a few possible causes. First, check that are you really in a stall. If the scale has stopped moving you may be losing inches, so check your measurements. Too Many Carbs? Carbohydrates can start sneaking into your foods without you being aware of how quickly they are adding up.If you are struggling with your weight loss you may want to examine your daily carb count. You can try to keep your carbs under 50g a day and see if that makes a difference in your weight loss. Do not eat carbs before bedtime as it triggers insulin and initiates fat storage. There are some great web site resources you can use to keep track of what you are eating. Fit Day Spark People - If you join Spark People also join the DS group. Eating Enough? If you are under-eating or go more than 4-5 hours without eating, your body will shift into fasting mode, slow your metabolism and conserve your stored energy (fat). This can contribute to a weight loss stall or plateau. Make sure you are eating small meals or small Snacks throughout the day and also ensure you meet your daily Protein requirements. Try eating some protein with every meal or snack. For more information on protein requirements see our section on Protein. Drinking Enough? An adequate level of water in your body aids in the effective breakdown of fat. The daily minimum recommendation is 64 Fluid oz of water a day. If you are in ketosis you will need to drink even more water to ensure the ketones are flushed out of your system. You may also need more than the minimum amount of water if you are exercising or live in a warmer or dry environment. Exercising? Exercise can increase your metabolism and burn fat. Strength training will build muscles and will boost fat burning. In a stall you can try increasing your volume of exercise or changing up your routine to overcome a weight loss stall or plateau. If you have been doing mainly aerobic activity, try doing a bit of strength training, and if you have been doing mainly strength training, try an aerobic work-out. The High Fat - High Calorie Stall Buster Many Sleevers swear by the fat/calorie shock as an effective weight loss stall or plateau buster. Having a day of higher fat and calorie eating followed by a returning to consistent low carb eating can sometimes "shock" your body back into weight loss mode. Sent from my iPhone using VST

My goodness, I've been reading so much on calories and how much is too much or too little, I'm so confused. It doesn't help that my NUT didn't tell me how many to aim for, she just looked at me and said, "don't worry about it, no one else does." One minute I think 600-800 calories at 2months out is good (especially cos I struggle to take food in) but then I can't help but remember my nutrition classes about how eating under 1000-1200 cals can force you to conserve fat and slow the metabolic rate. The thing that confuses me is a lot of doctors tell their patients strictly not to go under 800 at certain points and I guess I'm confused at that number and not, say 1200? Usually, in normal circumstances, doctors may suggest 1500 calories, although it's very difficult to eat anywhere near that! I am slower with my weight loss than some others and I'm at 600-800 calories, exercise 30 minutes every day. Carbs vary from 15g to 50g and protein above 60, I take vitamins and drink a lot of water so I'm wondering...should I go up to 900/1000 calories? I remember being 180 pounds at 18 years old and taking 2 months to lose over 30 pounds, eating 1400 calories and exercising...and I weigh 260 pounds now...and the weight loss is similar. I've lost 28 pounds in 7 weeks, not including pre op weight loss, which was 9 pounds. Does that sound normal?

I had terrible lower gas pain still at times four weeks out. I started Beano instead of gas x and what a difference that made.

Thanks all. I don't go for follow up for another 4 weeks. My surgery was done out of town so I need to travel for the follow up. Going to see my family doc. Were you all back at work 2 weeks post op? I'm wondering if its just too much for me to be back at work just yet.

Wow, I can imagine you would have mixed emotions over that. All in all, though, what a joyous surprise. You do still get to plan for a new life! A brand new precious life that has begun and will be making an appearance in about 9 months or so! <3

For me, I had to keep getting fills(6) until I felt I couldn't handle any more without being too tight/restricted. At 6 I was getting stuck often but I was never hungry. So, after 3 months of this I decided I was too tight so I got an adjustment of .5 less saline. I felt satisfied but not for as long. The Holidays were coming up so I opted to wait it out and didn't lose any weight for 6 months. So, I got a fill 2 months ago and now I'm back in the green zone. My mistake of taking saline out cost me at least 6 months in my journey. What I thought was too tight was just me not eating small enough and chewing enough. I hope I learned my lesson. Eating properly has been the most difficult part of this journey. tmf

Only one meal a day?! My nut said 3 meals a day...I try to adhere to that...even if they are small

6 weeks for me

I'm looking for some feedback on extreme bloating. I had my band inserted July 10/13 and I think my first few days of recovery were pretty normal but the last week or so I have had extreme pain from bloating. So much so that it has actually woken me up from deep sleep. I experience deep burning pain in the pit of my stomach and so much bloating that my stomach is actually distended. I look pregnant at times! It seems to clear up after about an hour with Tums but its so painful and my stomach gets so big. Has anyone else experienced this? When can I expect it to go away?

No, you really are not hungry. I promise. Your head is used to having food every x hours. It's just complaining. It doesn't hear your new tummy saying it's full. Just sip, sip, sip. It will catch up, I promise. It may take a week or so, but you truly are not hungry.

Research, research, research! Read everything you can find on the doctor you are considering and his patients. Also, youtube has loads of videos from patients who were sleeved in Mexico-you can PM them for more of their story as well. I'm very happy with the doctor I have chosen for my surgery (4 weeks away-so excited). You will find nearly everyone on the forum here is happy with the doctor they chose, so find what works best for you. You can also Google the clinics/hospitals these surgeons work out of and see films of the facilities on youtube (if that helps you decide). Definitely consider your health-if you have any extra risks-how does the doctor respond to those? I have 2 clotting disorders so would not choose anyone operating out of a clinic. I need a full hospital and a surgeon who knows how to handle my situation. Good luck with your search. Stay on the forum-it's full of great info and support

I'm right there with you, renebeau. I have started the six month weight loss program that my insurance requires - but my insurance is changing so my requirements might change. But I figure I want to see how I do with these six months. A life of no sushi is not appealing to me! I don't eat a ton of it - once a month or so - but never again? That seems harsh. I'm struggling with that idea. With the band, sliding backwards will be much harder. Without the band - there's nothing there telling me I'm going wrong. And you are right - if I could do it myself - wouldn't I have already AND kept it off? On the other hand - have I ever been this serious? I definitely want to ask these questions next week, though, when I go see my NP again - about sushi and rice. Really? Never? My surgeon says champagne and beer are ok - but to remember those are cheating calories because they just slide right through. It IS interesting how all the surgeons say such different things.

I had a poor reaction to the anesthesia as well! It was harsh having the dry heaves for hours after the surgery. I find I am full of gas as well at 3 days post op. I am trying to walk quite a bit and that helps move the gas out.

Tilt your neck/head back open your mouth slowly and close it slowly you could feel the workout on your neck do 5 reps of 10 like 3 times a day. I'm 30yrs old my insanity trainer told me to do that. I could feel it.

My husband did all the cooking during my 6 weeks post-op. I know. I am spoiled. Ha ha. But I did cook some this last week, right after my 6 weeks was up. We typically split the cooking with each of us doing it 3-4 times a week. I will say cooking after 6 weeks wasn't hard. Granted I could have some regular food then. But I still was making stuff for them that I couldn't have,and it wasn't hard at all.

I was told 3 months & you'll know b/c you are in alot of pain

My doc said at 3 weeks you're pretty much out of the woods.

Three weeks is the high risk period. Stomach is completely healed after four weeks.

Your internal staple line is not healed at four weeks. Your stomache internally takes 6 to 8 weeks to resolve swelling and irritation. Leaks are found as far out as three months. As general guide is three months, I say general because we all heal at different rates.

Dr. Garcia does 3 tests as well.

okay this is my third attempt to reply - three times a charm right? Hello all - I'm still here barely. I was banded Feb. 16, 2009 and weighed 265 lbs (5'8") and as of this past January weighed 132 lbs. I was pleased so far except I had started having horrible night coughs - along with the occasional spit up and could barely eat anything anymore. So band doc took some out and said to get upper GI/fluoro. I was feelling a little better but still had occasional throw up session and still some night coughing. Early March I had upper GI and band slipped. I almost had a heart attack. On one hand I was so relieved because I had not felt like myself in two months which I started a new job at that time and kept thinking it was the stress of the job and I couldn't hack it. I swear I had never felt so out of sorts - not myself as I did for those two months. On the other hand, what do you mean it's slipped...fix it. So they said so much of my stomach was so far up above my band they had to do revision surgery and since my port stuck out about 6 inches out of my rib cage like a gigantic alien goose egg they could fix it at that time and they would do this fast. So I thought okay, maybe for a reason would certainly explain a few things and I could get egg fixed. So I had surgery last Tuesday NIGHT (6:00 pm - no drink/water/food since midnight before and waiting all day - can you tell I am impatient ???) Woke up Tuesday night to hear "WE TOOK IT OUT." WHAT??????????? Why? It was best - your stomach needs to rest. So I ended up staying overnight in excrutiating pain - about 50 x worse than the first time around which doc says is bc maybe I was 120 lbs heavier - idk ok. I have follow up in two weeks and I am still a little bit of disbelief. I weighed 139.2 day of surgery and yesterday 152. How does that happen? I have had nothing but Clear liquids since Wed am. My stomach is swollen but I am baffled in very many ways. Now what? Am I going to have to go through this pain agan IF they get it approved by my insurance not to mention although I have insurance I still am responsible for some of the costs which include doc visits, portions of fees, hospital stays, etc... I am open to any ideas/comments/suggestions/feedback - anything. You wouldn't know it by this 'bitchpost' but I am generally a very positive person, did yoga, chants, positive thoughts etc right before the surgery all positive imagery - took supplements/vitamins that were appropriate etc... So, How's everyone else doing?

Probably not, if they don't cover bariatric procedures you are probably looking at going back to MX. Are you sure you need surgical correction? Did they unfill your band and put you on liquids for a few weeks? That usually fixes a slip.

Why should you be ashamed. You're making your life better with having surgery. My surgery is next week and everyone knows about it at work. I have had questions from day one of telling people. I just feel that the stigma is that people don't really understand it. If it bothers you, try to eat elsewhere or just educate them. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I decided to weigh in once every two weeks... But don't obsess over it. I was 298 in June by the time I started my two week per op diet I was 285 then on the day of surgery I was 264 today at 2 months out I'm at 240. Which I feel ecstatic about.. But in inches I've gone from a tight 26 to a perfect fitting 20 in 2 months....I guess I see my success through my clothing more so than the numbers.. The weight will come off. I track my food to see calories fat sugars carbs and protein and do my daily things.. Every time I look at the scale it does go down even if its not much.. I just figure it didn't take two months to gain all this weight so it's not gonna take two months to lose it all! I have myself 12 months to get to a goal I feel comfortable at.. I didn't put a real number or size on it.. I just figured when I get there I'd know!