Please take a minute~

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

If you can't stand the Protein Drinks get some Greek Yogurt. You can get flavored like blue berry or you can get plain and just mix in some sf cheesecake Jello instant pudding and some davinchi sf flavored Syrup. I like raspberry. It's yummy . Greek yogurt has more Protein than any other yogurt and it's yummy with the cheesecake pudding.

[Tiffykins 673]

How many carbs should we get post op as our diets progress?

During my losing stage, my guidelines were 30gr of carbs per day. I lost really fast, and my surgeon wanted me to slow down my loss so I added in more carbs and calories around 4-5 months out. But, I still rarely got in more than 50gr of carbs per day. I honestly didn't have room for carbs. Once I got into maintenance, I ate whatever I wanted, added juice for calories and carbs to get my weight loss to stop.

[myrori 55]

Thank you Tiff; you look fabulous!

[skeebo 1]

Tiffykins, you don't know what an encouragement you are! I can always count on you to lift me up. I had surgery Oct. 11th and have only lost about 10lbs. I also go up and down, especially since I started eating regular food! You made me realize that I am back to a fairly high sodium diet w/ too many carbs. I too am a "lightweight" having only about 40-50lbs still to lose and it is hard to come to grips with the fact that I am not going to lose quite as fast. I lost 50 lbs pre-surgery and expected it to come off at the same rate. Wrong!! Again, thanks for the reality check. I always look forward to your entries because I know that will be straightforward, yet encouraging!!

You aren't getting in enough clear fluids. Plus, all the sodium and carbs from the juices aren't helping either. You'll need to get some Protein in for energy and fat burning. You'll need to push in some clear fluids as well.

It's normal for people to stall at this stage, and you will lose. While I hate the word "lightweight" but with only 70lbs to lose, you aren't going to drop 30lbs the first month like I did with having 130ish pounds to lose. The less a person has to lose, typically, they lose at a slower rate.

What food stage are you on? When can you introduce mushy foods?

[Travis Goodnight MD FACS 3]

thanks vicki, I really appreciate the info and will try very hard to stay off the scale LOL....i didn't realize it took 6 weeks to get to 85%. wow... how long to 100 %??

Well, the tissues never get to 100% of their original strength so 85% is where we get. Of course the stomach completely heals and at 6 weeks, we consider people "fully healed". Hang in there. This isn't a short ride....it's forever.

Dr.G

[vicki s 146]

Well, the tissues never get to 100% of their original strength so 85% is where we get. Of course the stomach completely heals and at 6 weeks, we consider people "fully healed". Hang in there. This isn't a short ride....it's forever.

Dr.G

Thanks Dr G, for all the info you have supplied, if we never get 100% strength back, is there any way that our staple line can ever break in the future? It is really scary to know that there is such a long staple line that is weak now. Also, how long do i have to worry about a leak, my doctor says 3 weeks? thanks again, vicki

[NtvTxn 1,262]

I DONT WANT TO COMPLAIN, AND IM REALLY NOT, I AM JUST SOOOOO DISCOURAGED, MY SURGERY WAS NOV 1, AND I HAVE ONLY LOST 9 LBS...WELL MAYBE, CAUSE MY scale KEEPS GOING UP AND DOWN 2 LBS SO MAYBY ONLY 7. I DONT THINK I EVER SAW ANYONE LOSE ONLY 7 LBS EXCEPT ME.....AND I HAVEN'T LOST ANY SINCE THE FIRST WEEK, SO I HAVE BEEN AT A STALL FOR MY WHOLE 2ND WEEK....HERE IS WHAT I'M TAKING IN

PROTIEN shake 300 CAL

ORANGE juice 100 CAL

V8 juice 70 CAL

SKIM MILK 90 CAL

V8 fusion 100 CAL

SO SAY AROUND 700 CAL.. AM I DOING SOMETHING WRONG. I HAVEN'T MOVED AROUND A WHOLE LOT. FEEL WEAK AND DEPRESSED, BUT EVEN IF I AM NOT EXCERSISING WOULDN'T I STILL LOSE ON THIS AMT OF CAL..../?? SORRY ABOUT THE CAPS. FORGOT TO SHUT IT OFF....

Hi there! I agree with the others who say - UP your Protein and I'd Water down the OJ to 50/50 also I'd cut out the vFusion totally. Look at the sugar content, if it's what a friend suggested to me.....it is way more than you should be drinking, it's more than I'd want to give to my grandson! My dietitian suggests no calorie drinks unless it is an occasional 100% no sugar added fruit juice, and they don't like us to have that on a regular basis. I have had 2 glasses of skim milk every day since I came home from the hospital, it counts as liquids and protein....but I'd re-evaluate everything else that is NOT Protein. Get in some broth and MORE protein. You'll have stalls, but I'd eliminate everything that might sabatage your weight loss!!! Good luck!!!! Enjoy the journey!

[Travis Goodnight MD FACS 3]

Thanks Dr G, for all the info you have supplied, if we never get 100% strength back, is there any way that our staple line can ever break in the future? It is really scary to know that there is such a long staple line that is weak now. Also, how long do i have to worry about a leak, my doctor says 3 weeks? thanks again, vicki

There really is no chance of the staple line "breaking" down the road. The staples hold the stomach together while it heals so once it's healed, it's healed.

Most leaks happen in the first 5-7 days. That's my biggest worry point which is why many of us require liquids that first week. One of the biggest risk of leaks is overdistending the new sleeve...difficult to do that with liquids alone (although not impossible).

Occasionally, leaks are seen 2-5 weeks out from surgery but that is definitely a rare finding and often we wonder if there was a very tiny leak early on that slowly enlarged until it became "clinically relevant".

[vicki s 146]

There really is no chance of the staple line "breaking" down the road. The staples hold the stomach together while it heals so once it's healed, it's healed.

Most leaks happen in the first 5-7 days. That's my biggest worry point which is why many of us require liquids that first week. One of the biggest risk of leaks is overdistending the new sleeve...difficult to do that with liquids alone (although not impossible).

Occasionally, leaks are seen 2-5 weeks out from surgery but that is definitely a rare finding and often we wonder if there was a very tiny leak early on that slowly enlarged until it became "clinically relevant".

thanks again Dr G, and welcome to the site, I am assuming you have had the surgery, if so, good luck to you and feel better soon, vicki

[NtvTxn 1,262]

vicki,

I tell my patients to avoid the scale for at least the first 2 weeks. It's tough to do but the scale is worthless during that time and can be discouraging.

In fact, it takes your body a minimum of 6 weeks to get to 85% healed (which is where we want it). The first 2 weeks are filled with significant Fluid shifts and marked changes in your body's metabolism. Your body is used to getting 2500 calories per day (or more) and all of a sudden it's getting 800-1200kcal. Your body doesn't like that. It was very comfortable at 100lbs overweight (or whatever you were) and an old, and I believe true, theory is the "set-point". Your body was happy at its former weight and will do everything it can to conserve that.

You will win this battle. Just stick with it. Try to not obsess about the scale, especially the first 6 weeks.

Dr.G

Shoot Doc, I was only getting a about 400 calories, at best and I'd bet for the first couple of weeks I got only about 300 calories! I'm five month out and reached my goal just under five months....I was averaging 675 calories earlier this month. I was getting ALL my Protein (60 - 75 grams per day) through food...and had been since two months out. I've never had hair issues either! Now that I'm "maintaining" my dietitian has me adding in calories, which has been a challenge since I cannot possibly eat more at a meal, so I am not 'snacking' or adding another small meal. It goes against the life style changes I'd made, but I had to do it or else I would keep losing. Now I am eating 750 - 850 a day and that keeps me between 146 and 148....so far it's working, but I'm new at it! She told me to up my calories to 800 and 1200, I'd have to find what worked....that's a big difference!! This is a great journey!! I did not weigh for the first two weeks except at the doctor's office....I was at a beach house, out of state! Now I weigh every single morning....but I do not worry about going up or down a lb or two, that is normal....I just want to keep up with it! I'm obsessive like that!