Penpen

I know how you feel. I just blogged about getting back on track again. For me, I stopped writing everything down that I was taking in about a month or so ago. I've noticed that I've been eating more carbs but wasn't sure if I was over doing it. I really didn't think I was. Also, I was sort of keeping track of my Protein and Water in my head. Not a good idea! I was feeling as if I was out of control of my weight loss and it just felt chaotic! I haven't gained and am actually still losing but very slowly. So, I decided yesterday that today would be a new day and I set some new goals. One was to start recording my Protein, carbs, and calories for everything and also for my Water intake.

So, I did start recording everything this morning and had an "Aha" moment first thing. I took Tiffikins advice and even wrote down the calories and carbs from my Vitamins and supplements. Before Breakfast this is what I was planning on having:

2 chewable Calcium citrates

8 oz. regular coffee

1 Tbsp. sugar

2 tsp. coffee Mate Creamer

Here's the totals so far: 0 protein / 26 carbs / 128 calories

What?????

As I was blogging this in disbelief, my coffee sit about a foot away from me. Ewww, I wanted it so bad but just couldn't after seeing those numbers. That's almost my limit for carbs for one day AND no protein.

My suggestion is that when you're getting ready to put something into your mouth, write those numbers down. It will make you really think about whether not you really want to consume it. Just my 2 cents!

I am now at almost 3 months out and for a long time, I felt as though I was a slow loser....sometimes I still do. I'm now on my 3rd stall. But I'm already past my 3 month goal which was to lose 35% of my excess weight. That would have been 52.5 lbs. I'm now down 55 lbs. and still have about 2 weeks to go before I hit 3 months. Try not to get discouraged...I know that's hard because I get frustrated and discourage myself, even knowing all that I know at this point about stalls and such. At my last nutritional class, my dietitian gave me a whole new perspective on things. If you want to read about it, here it is: http://sliceofhealthyplease.blogspot.com/2011/08/excess-weight-and-goals-and-am-i-really.html

I hope this helps to encourage you! I was ready to throw my scale out the window and sometimes I still think that the dang thing is broken but eventually it starts going down and then I love my scale!

My first stall started at the end of week 2. It lasted for almost 4 weeks but then I dropped 15 lbs. in a week and a half. Then another stall....and the story goes on and on....lol...I'm now almost 3 months out and am in my 3rd wicked stall. Ugh! But since pre op, I've lost 55 lbs. So, hang in there...it will come off!

I was taking Vitamins and other supplements before surgery but I wish I had started taking them like a sleeved person would before surgery....2 calcuim citrate chews first thing in the morning....a couple of hours later, my chewable Multivitamin and my chewable Vitamin C....then around 4 p.m., another 2 Calcium citrate chews......then right before bed, another chewable Multivitamin and my acid reducer.

When I had surgery, I was so out of energy and between taking all the pain medication and nausea medication, it's hard to remember what to take and when.

Also, I would have started sipping my Water every couple of minutes...that was so hard to get used to after surgery. And struggled to stay hydrated.

And definitely don't over buy the Protein powder. Buy what you need for pre op and maybe just a little bit extra for right after surgery. My taste buds changed and even now at almost 3 months out, I almost gag when I have to drink one.....it even makes me sick to smell it. Before surgery, I thought it tasted pretty good and looked forward to it.

I just posted a picture of my surgery on my blog if you want to take a look at it. Yes, it's gross looking! But it may help you to understand it better. There's lots of videos out there, too, that actually show the surgery.

http://sliceofhealthyplease.blogspot.com/2011/09/pictures-of-my-stomach.html

Oh, forgot to put my height! I'm 5'4".

starting weight: 280

weight lost during 3.5 week pre-op diet: 25 lbs.

weight on day of surgery: 255

1st two weeks post-op I lost: 10 lbs.

Then I stalled for almost 4 weeks.

When I started losing again, I lost another 15 lbs. in 1.5 weeks.

Then I stalled again for 2-3 weeks.

Then I dropped 5 lbs.

That was back around 8/26. I know I'm losing inches because my clothes are fitting different but the scale doesn't like me at all. I'm not horribly upset about it because my 3 month goal was 35% of my excess weight which would have been 52.5 lbs. I still have about 2 weeks before I hit 3 months and I've already lost 55 lbs.

Tiff, I've printed out what you said you're doing and I'm going to try to do that. I had been writing everything down but then stopped about a month or so ago. I'm very careful about what goes into my mouth but I couldn't say exactly how much Protein, carbs, and calories I'm taking in and I feel extremely guilty for that. I'm afraid that a lot of days, I'm barely getting 600 calories because I'm just hardly ever hungry. My body probably thinks I'm starving.

It will break and you will lose again. Hang in there! I'll be 3 months post op in about 2 weeks and I am now going through my 3rd stall. Ugh! I want to scream! I've tried everything to break them and nothing helps. So I will wait this one out, too...as long as the weight keeps coming off, I'm happy!

Okay all, I just posted pictures of my sleeve surgery on my blog if anyone is interested. It's not pretty! I'm so glad I don't look like that on the outside!

http://sliceofhealthyplease.blogspot.com/2011/09/pictures-of-my-stomach.html

Wow! So glad they found that and cut it out. That's so scary! Will they do more testing to make sure there is none remaining in her sleeve?

This is a very serious and important message to everyone. My sister who was sleeved on 08/30/11 without any prior complications or red flags, nor any surgical complications was told that a tiny tumor was found on the portion that is sent off automatic for pathology evaluation. Her pathology results came back two days ago and unfortunately it was a very rare form of stomach cancer, not seen inside the stomach during the required pre-EGD, but as a tiny bump on the outside of the removed portion the stomach. Her sleeve was LIFE SAVING in more than one way!!! Had she not had the Sleeve, this cancer could have been been devastating before it reared it's ugly head. She has many things to overcome on her journey, hopefully all will be ok. If you're at all curious, http://www.gistsuppo...hat-is-gist.php, The photo of the removed stomach is amazing. It looks like they ate a full course meal.

starting weight: 280

weight lost during 3.5 week pre-op diet: 25 lbs.

weight on day of surgery: 255

1st two weeks post-op I lost: 10 lbs.

Then I stalled for almost 4 weeks.

When I started losing again, I lost another 15 lbs. in 1.5 weeks.

Then I stalled again for 2-3 weeks.

Then I dropped 5 lbs.

That was back around 8/26. I know I'm losing inches because my clothes are fitting different but the scale doesn't like me at all. I'm not horribly upset about it because my 3 month goal was 35% of my excess weight which would have been 52.5 lbs. I still have about 2 weeks before I hit 3 months and I've already lost 55 lbs.

Tiff, I've printed out what you said you're doing and I'm going to try to do that. I had been writing everything down but then stopped about a month or so ago. I'm very careful about what goes into my mouth but I couldn't say exactly how much Protein, carbs, and calories I'm taking in and I feel extremely guilty for that. I'm afraid that a lot of days, I'm barely getting 600 calories because I'm just hardly ever hungry. My body probably thinks I'm starving.

Hi! I'm almost 3 months out and have already had 3 stalls. Ugh! But I'm actually past my 3 month goal.

During my 3.5 week pre-op diet, I lost 25 lbs. Then in the first 2 weeks post op, I lost 10 lbs. Then I stalled out for a whole 4 weeks. Then I started losing again and within a week and a half I lost 15 lbs. Then I stalled out again for 2-3 weeks. Then another 5 lbs. fell off over 2 days. And now, I've been in a stall since then....I think about 2-3 weeks.

Hope that helps.

I was on a 3.5 week pre-op diet. I lost 25 lbs. I started at 280 and the day of surgery I weighed 255.

My surgeon gave me a picture of mine. And now, you wonderful people gave me the idea to post it on my blog. I'll have to do that sometime this weekend. Thanks!

My surgeon said it was to shrink my fatty liver. Also, to help make the surgery faster and safer....and my recovery would be faster.

I just wanted to tell everyone, "Thank You!" for jumping on here and sharing your menu. I'm in the process of trying to read through them all.....wow, lots of good ideas! I hope this is helping everyone as much as it is helping me.

I drink about 1/2 a cup to a cup of coffee a day. I put one tablespoon of sugar and a little bit of dry cream in it. I never finish the whole thing. I haven't had any problems with acid...I take one chewable Pepcid AC Complete at night. Without that, I'm not sure if it would cause issues with acid reflux.

How is everyone doing with coffee? I thought it may be too acidic after surgery but I would love to add some Decaf to my shakes!

Franny, wow, that sounds like a long time. I had to wait until 6 weeks out. I really haven't had any problems except with hamburger meat. If it isn't cooked just right, it seems rubbery while I'm chewing it. As if I can't break it down enough with my teeth. It grosses me out! So the only way I will eat it, is if it is super tender and easy to chew. Maybe there's a reason in your own personal journey that your surgeon doesn't want you eating red meats. Give him a call. It doesn't hurt to ask.

I notice that a lot of people are eating red meat early, i.e. hamburger. My doctor said I can't have red meat for 4 to 5 months. Has anyone else been on a restriction from red meat this long?

Pre-op...I lost 25 lbs. First two weeks post op, I lost another 10 lbs. Then it happened, my first stall! It lasted for about 4 weeks. The scale would NOT budge at all! I wanted to scream! I blogged about how I thought my surgery was pointless! I read a bunch about others having stalls but still believed that in my case, it would never end! Then, after the 4th week of the nasty stall, I started dropping again. Within a week and a half, I lost another 15 lbs. Then I stalled again! So quick ... ugh! But this time, I felt like it might just pass once again. Finally, about 8/1/11 or so, I dropped another 5 lbs. over a 2-3 day time span. And now, I'm in the mist of another stall! My surgeon's office said that it would be like a staircase, you go down a step (or a chunk of weight), then you'd stay right there for a while. Then all the sudden, you'd take another step down (or another chunk of weight off). I'm now almost 3 months out (in about 2 more weeks) and have lost 55 lbs. which is more than my 3 month goal which is a loss of 35% of my excess weight (52.5 lbs.). So I think I'm doing pretty good considering!

I'm really bad about sticking to a given schedule. I told myself about a month ago that I would start measuring myself weekly just so I could see the movement over time. Well, I should have known better, I'm just not good at making sure I do that unless it's something super important. Not that this isn't important, just that it's a choice. So for me, I only do it when I'm in a stall and need encouragement. I measured myself right after I started my pre-op diet. Then twice since surgery. I'm almost 3 months out and as of 8/29/11 I had lost a total of 26.5 inches. I think I've lost more since then because my shirts are even loser on me now. Anyways, just my 2 cents!

Also, I forgot to tell you that I am now down 55 lbs. which is more than my 3 month goal. I still have a couple of weeks to go before I hit 3 months. I still have many days were I feel like I'm a very slow loser but if I'm reaching the goals before the goal date, then I think I'm doing pretty good. Hang in there! It will happen for you.

Sorry I haven't changed my ticker or updated my blog with my new weight, just haven't had time.

Hi! I'm now almost 3 months out and I know exactly how you feel but your weight will come off. Please read my post on goals, slow losing, weight loss, and comparing ourselves to others. I hope this helps.

http://sliceofhealthyplease.blogspot.com/2011/08/excess-weight-and-goals-and-am-i-really.html

Hi! I'm now almost 3 months out and I know exactly how you feel but your weight will come off. Please read my post on goals, slow losing, weight loss, and comparing ourselves to others. I hope this helps.

http://sliceofhealthyplease.blogspot.com/2011/08/excess-weight-and-goals-and-am-i-really.html

I saw the nurse practioner one week out. Then I've been back 3 times for nutritional classes and weigh in. I'm scheduled to see my surgeon in a couple of weeks which I will then be 3 months out.

I drank very small amounts of coffee after about a week or two out. Now I drink about a cup a day and have no problems.

Thanks all! More ideas are welcome too!

I love the ideas so far, this is great! Keep 'em coming!

Maria from Michigan, I have the same baked tortilla crusted lime fillet of Tilapia from costco in my freezer. It's really good except I kind of burned myself out of them for a while.

Something I enjoy having is tuna (in water), a little bit of Micracle Whip, chopped apples, and some chopped walnuts. Yum! I've even eaten this for breakfast. You can substitute canned chicken for the tuna for a variation.