Looking for help

[Quel 0]

Hello my name is Raquel and I had my surgery on July 28 and I am 5'8 1/2 the day of surgery I was at 269 and today I am 238. I am just looking for some advise and help. I have been stuck at this number for the past 2 weeks and don't know if this is a good thing. Am I on track or should I be down more than what I am. Looking for ideas to help me get on track. I am also having issues with using the restroom (#2) does anyone have any tips on that.

[mar5 5]

Hi Raquel,

I was sleeved a day before you on July 27th, and I am experiencing the exact same thing. The first four weeks I lost about 20 lbs then for the past three weeks my weight goes up and down and have only lost about 5 lbs since. I have seen on this board that that is normal. I just hope this stall ends very soon. I know the frustration you must be feeling. Just know that you are not alone.

I hope your stall ends soon. Good luck!

Maria

[SKCUNNINGHAM 298]

Quel - what are you eating and drinking? Are you keeping track of your Protein, carbs and liquids? Are you exercising? It's hard to give you ideas on what to do differently if you don't let us know those things.

About being constipated - the first thing you need to do is to make sure you are drinking sufficient fluids. You need to be drinking at least 60 ounces of Fluid per day (I try to get in 80). Nothing moves through your system well if you don't keep it hydrated.

Second, I don't know how much Fiber you are eating. Myself - I don't eat high Fiber foods except some veggies - so I take fiber supplements. I put one or two benefiber packets in my morning smoothie or in other drinks sometime during the day. You can take 3 a day with no problem. They are tastless, and even mix in Water or crystal lite with no problem.

Third - I need to utilize a stool softener to keep things moving along (again I think its because I don't eat high fiber high fat foods). I use Mylanta (again in my smoothie or a drink) most days (probably 5 out of 7 days). I also take about a tablespoon of flax oil every day. Mylanta isn't a laxative - it won't cause damage long-term. Doctors recommend it all the time for WLS patients.

My bathroom habits aren't like the were pre-surgery - but it makes sense they are not. Less going in, less going out. But with the fluids, fiber, Mylanta and flax oil I have achieved a regular, painless schedule. If you decide to try this, it will take a few days for your system to kick in and achieve whatever your new normal will be.

Good Luck!

[Quel 0]

Well I eat seafood for the most part such as tilapia (grilled and baked). I also eat chicken and sometimes beef not that much though. I don’t deal too well with beef so I stay away from it. I eat some Pasta from time to time but of course it’s not much. I work out at least 3 days a week for about an hour or a little longer. I don’t do much cardio I do mostly weights when I work out. I drink liquids but I hate Water but I try to add crystal light but I fill up so fast. I am losing more of inches at this time because I have went down 2 pants sizes but the weight has not went down. I am so nervous that I am doing something wrong or something is going on. I don’t want to mess up and I guess that is my biggest fear. Should I be doing more walking and cardio? Should I be drinking more or what? I don’t really know how to measure my food well. I don’t want to look like a failure so I am reaching out for help for who ever wants to help me…

[longer-life 139]

I am so nervous that I am doing something wrong or something is going on. I don’t want to mess up and I guess that is my biggest fear. Should I be doing more walking and cardio? Should I be drinking more or what? I don’t really know how to measure my food well.

I hope this helps you:

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/15469-diet-after-bariatric-surgery/page__p__131147__hl__%2Bbowel+%2Bsyndrome__fromsearch__1#entry131147

[Quel 0]

Hi Raquel,

I was sleeved a day before you on July 27th, and I am experiencing the exact same thing. The first four weeks I lost about 20 lbs then for the past three weeks my weight goes up and down and have only lost about 5 lbs since. I have seen on this board that that is normal. I just hope this stall ends very soon. I know the frustration you must be feeling. Just know that you are not alone.

I hope your stall ends soon. Good luck!

Maria

Thank you that makes me feel so much better. We are almost twins lol just a day apart lol. What are u eating now days and are u working out?

[SKCUNNINGHAM 298]

To help me learn to know how much I was eating - I got myself a simple digital food scale (from Bed Bath and Beyond - many places have them). It has a button to push to turn it on, and a flat place to put the food. If you set a dish on top of the flat place before you push the button, it registers as zero with the dish on top, so you can put the food directly in the bowl. I would measure an ounce of meat, then sit down and eat. If I finished the ounce, I would get another ounce, and so on. I started out being able to eat one, then two - now three before I get full. I find out for the type of Protein I'm eating what the Protein and calorie count is and convert that to the size portion I consume. I record everything I eat - still - and track my calories consumed, liquids ounces drunk, and the grams of protein, carb and fat.

I also use measuring cups to measure some foods (cottage cheese, etc). I use 1/4 c, 1/3 c. and 1/2 c.

I also bought a book that has all sorts of food listings (calories, Proteins and carbs). I have it setting next to my food journal. Also - you can find the nutrional value of almost anything by going to your browser and typing in the name of the food followed by nutriion. (for example: pork tenderloin nutrition). This will pull up all sorts of listings that provide the information. You will probably find one or two you like, and will go straight to them the next time.

It is really important to get as much liquid in as possible. You should sip continuously throughout the day - except for while you are eating and the 30 minutes after you eat food. It is very easy for sleeve patients to get dehydrated, and that causes all sorts of problems.

Walking and cardio is probably better for you during your early losing period than weight lifting.