lsereno

I started soft foods Tuesday afternoon. I try to get in 1 cup of Water or other liquids every hour unless it's mealtime. I miss a few because I'm doing something outside the house (even though I take it with me) or when I have an afternoon nap. It is a real struggle to get in 8 cups of Fluid. At this point, I am forcing water and food to meet my hydration and fluid goals. I guess I am lucker than most because I don't get nauseated. I do have to take really small sips though. Basically, as soon as I finish drinking one thing, I get something else going. Here's a typical day for me: Wake at 6 a.m. 6 a.m. : 1 cup ice water 6:45: Head out for walk with friends, take rest of first cup of water with me. 8:00 Have i cup decaf coffee with friend after walk. 9:00: 3 oz. tuna with 1 T mayo and two saltines (45 minutes to eat) 10:15 1 cup ice water 11:00 Shopping with hubby, take rest of 10 a.m. water with me. 1:30 Back from shopping: 3 oz. turkey meatloaf, 1 strawberry (25 minutes to eat) 2:30 1 cup water with crystal lite lemonaide 3:00 2 hour nap 5:00 Wake up and finish drink from 2:30. 5:45 1 cup water with crystal lite 6:30 3 oz shrimp, 1/8 c. baked potato (30 minutes to eat) 7:30 1 cup water 8:45 1/2 cup pureed strawberries with splenda, 1 scoop unflavored

You're welcome.! Someone else posted it on another thread awhile back. I have a very complete program from Kaiser, but it is fun to see what other programs look like. Lynda

Maybe even further up the Peninsula than Sunnyvale depending on the cities everyone is from. All us post-ops can all get one appetizer and share! I'm off to eat dinner on my second day of soft food. I'm getting down 3 oz. per meal, but it takes me 30-45 minutes and I feel as stuffed as a Christmas Goose after. I just want away from the Protein Drinks ASAP. Lynda

Kaiser Fremont guidelines are 400-600 calories per day during Stage III (soft foods), which generally lasts from Week3-6 and I think 800 per day for Stage IV (All foods) during the active losing phase and then 1200-1500 calories per day when you reach goal. Lynda

For first two weeks, I was restricted to: No stretching, twisting, or straining of core muscles No lifting over 10 pounds Walking and riding bike OK. At my two week checkup, my Dr. said I can begin to resume workouts and lifting heavier weights. He said to pace myself, with the goal of being back to full-strength workouts and lifting in one month (6 weeks post-op). Lynda

I had the best luck with unjury Protein powders. Seemed to cause less gas and diarrhea in the first couple of weeks. Lynda

I just had my first post-op (2 weeks out). I've lost 7 lbs. since surgery, 38 lbs. pre-op diet. I'm averaging between 400 and 600 calories a day. There are some good guides out there. Check out the ones on VSG FAQ: http://vsgfaq.wordpress.com/ I got advanced to soft foods today. I enjoyed 3 oz. of Jennie-O turkey meatloaf for lunch and at dinner and a low-fat cheese stick for a snack. I set my timer and took one minute for each small bite. I chewed most bites in about 30 seconds, but I gave it another 30 seconds before taking the next bite. Lynda

Hi all, My week's goal and progress so far: Monday: Ride bike 2-3 miles, walk 1 mile with hubby. I walked 1 mile with hubby and we washed the dog at the self-serve dog wash. Tuesday: Walk 3-4 miles with my walking group. I made it about 2 miles. Had to turn back early. Walked another mile with my husband in the evening. Wednesday: Follow along with Sit and Be Fit class that I recorded from PBS. It's 8:30 p.m. I am going to go follow along with this class right now because I don't want to be a slug today. Even though I feel like it. My big incision is a little sore today. I saw the Dr. today for my first post-op and I am cleared for more activity including working out and lifting more than 1- lbs. Dr. said just don't do it if it hurts and don't go crazy-build back up slowly. Thursday: Walk 3-4 miles with my walking group. Friday: Follow along with Sit and Be Fit class that I recorded from PBS. Ride bike 2-3 miles, walk 1 mile with hubby. Saturday: Day off! Sunday: Longer bike ride with friends. Forgot I have a big community event to organize on Sunday, so I'll be walking and biking all over my neighborhood.

I'm in San Jose too. If we get enough South Bay people, maybe we can organize a get together down here. I will be thinking of you Monday. Where are you getting sleeved? Lynda

Ha! Great minds think alike! Today I bought a package of Jennie-O Turkey Meatloaf, http://www.jennieo.com/products/SoEasyEntrees/turkeymeatloaf.aspx. It looks like it's pretty much heat and eat. I hope to be tearing into two ounces of it tomorrow after I return from my first post-op appt, at which I expect to be advanced to mushies. And I bought a peach and some canned in fruit juice peaches too. Lynda

Yeah sizing sucks! I bought a large summer dress at Walmart and had to return it for a medium. I need it a little small because I won't be wearing it for a month. In normal sizes, I am wearing between a 1x and a 2x, or 16W-18W. Sheesh! Lynda

I'm with Kaiser NorCal and when we first join the bariatric program we get the "bible". It includes a chapter on nutrition and they recommend a cooler emergency kit for times when you are out. They suggest drinks such as bottled Water and crystal light "on the go" packets, sweet Snacks, such as unsweetened applesauce cups and fruit, and food items such as lunch meat, boiled eggs, string cheese, tuna packs, beef Jerky, edamame, and dried vegetables. For me, I think shelf-stable foods are easier to grab and go with for long days and easy to eat snacks, such as string cheese and a banana for shorter trips. I'm a little more used to packing snacks because I've spent several years on the Weight Watchers treadmill and I tried to pack food for road trips so I wouldn't be stuck with only bad choices. I've found a string cheese will be OK in the purse for a few hours. I used to pack a sandwich that I might not eat for a couple of hours too. I mean, heaven forbid! I'm older than a lot of people on these boards and we used to take our lunch to school, let it sit for 4 hours (we didn't have cooler packs in those days) and then merrily eat our egg salad, tuna salad, or lunch meat sandwiches. Lynda

I'm only two weeks out but here's a couple of things I've done: Pre surgery: Bought a 1500 piece jigsaw puzzle. If I get bored, I work on it a little. Made myself a feel better kit for when I got home: Little tray to hold stuff on the bed, good smelling candle I hadn't used in a while, spiffy new lip balm and lotion I bought for hospital, recorded some sappy stuff on TV Post surgery: Bought a couple of inexpensive shirts at Walmart in two sizes: one a little snug and one size smaller. These shirts are under $4 each. Bought a silly magazine because I went grocery shopping with hubby and I didn't get anything else. (I was already stocked up on the items I'm allowed to have.) Hang on these boards reading other's stories and realizing I am not alone. Stay uber-clean and well groomed. Helps when I look in the mirror and don't scare myself :-) Getting some fresh air and sunshine, even if it's just sitting in the backyard 15 minutes. Saying no to volunteer work if I'm already tired. I have had a couple of urges, even though I don't really want to eat anything. My hubby had popcorn and I really missed having any even though the thought of eating any turned my stomach. Yesterday I was bored and watching TV and I thought: I want a salty snack! Again, the idea of actually eating the snack still kinda makes me sick, but the first urge was there. Lynda

I gained 15 lbs. from the IV fluids. It put a bit of a stretch on my skin to do it overnight, but at least I wasn't worried about being dehydrated when I got home from the hospital. It took 8 days for the Water to work its way out of my system. Lynda

Hi all, I'm two weeks out today, and so far, I found my plan for this week may be overly ambitious! I'm working on it, but haven't made my fitness goals for the first two days so far: Monday: Ride bike 2-3 miles, walk 1 mile with hubby. I walked 1 mile with hubby and we washed the dog at the self-serve dog wash. Tuesday: Walk 3-4 miles with my walking group. I made it about 2 miles. Had to turn back early. I'm going to try the Sit and Be Fit class this afternoon. Wednesday: Follow along with Sit and Be Fit class that I recorded from PBS. Thursday: Walk 3-4 miles with my walking group. Friday: Follow along with Sit and Be Fit class that I recorded from PBS. Ride bike 2-3 miles, walk 1 mile with hubby. Saturday: Day off! Sunday: Longer bike ride with friends.

Hi mnbsleeve, Dr. told me I could ride my bike as long as I didn't fall off! It feels great even though I tire pretty quickly still. Hope you get the clearance to get on yours before the full month is up. Lynda

Bert, I will be thinking of you on Wednesday and sending healing thoughts your way! I'm just two weeks ahead of you! Get your rest and enjoy a healthy meal if you are not on the liquid diet some doctors prescribe. Lynda

1) Why do people choose the gastric bypass verses sleeve? This seems like a better way to go I chose VSG because it is restrictive only. Bypass also causes malabsorption. And with VSG you can take anti inflammatory drugs, there are no food restrictions after you heal up from the surgery, and you can enjoy a drink or two here and there. 2) Was the surgery painful? Not for me. I was sore afterwards, but the pain meds kept it well under control if I didn't do anything crazy like pick stuff up off the ground or sleep on my side. Still a little sore if I hunch over when sitting down. 3) How long were you down? (I have two small kids so Im wondering how long till I could pick them up? My doc has me on lifting restriction: no more than 10 lbs. But I'm only two weeks out. If you don't get an answer here and you can't find one when searching through previous posts, then I would re-ask this question on another board. This one is a bit more "buried" so people may not have seen your question. 4) Did your spouse benefit from your surgery( did your family also lose weight? Yes, my hubby began losing weight as soon as I started the pre-op diet. 5) How much can you eat REALLY?? about 6 months to a year out Can't answer this one cuz I am only two weeks out, but I know there are plenty of answers to this if you search the previous posts. Also look at Eggfaces site. She often posts what she eats during the day: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ 6) I cant find any statistics on long term weight loss. Im terrified to gain back. Anyone know what success is like after a year or two out?? First year is still considered the "honeymoon" period so most people are close to their lowest weights then. Two years out and beyond: I'm not sure what the statistics are. 7) Do you know anyone who has gained weight back from sleeve? 8) Any regrets? No. 9) If you had to self pay would you? I thought about it, but can't say for sure. I was terrified that as self-pay, I would have a complication that would not be covered under my insurance. But at the same time, I know that if I didn't have the operation, I was looking at a shortened life span. So I think I would have done it even if my insurance didn't cover it. Lynda

Moms - gotta love them!! Congrats on size 16 non-spandex!! Better enjoy them before they get too big :-) My Mom bought me a dress and a darling top years ago during one of my failed weight loss attempts. At the time, both were just "a little" too small. Of course, over they years they became WAY too small. I can't wait to get into them and let my Mom know her encouragement and support finally paid off! Lynda

I just use my regular blender and I'm fine with that. So if you have a blender and don't want another appliance, I would skip the bullet. However, if you don't already have a blender, the bullet is a good choice for the kind of blending tasks you will be doing. The bullet got a terrible review from Better Homes and Gardens, but the convenience of making your drink right in the cup makes up for the fact that it can't blend a frozen margarita as well as a conventional blender. Lynda

Hi Joy, I recommend taking the Magnesium Citrate sooner rather than later. I drank mine about 4 p.m. and didn't go poo till about 11 p.m. and didn't finish till about midnight. I will be thinking of you tomorrow and sending healing thoughts your way! Lynda

Congrats! So many outsiders think WLS is all about fitting in a smaller size, but for those of us who have been stuck in an outsize body for years, we know the real joys! You and your daughter look so happy and joyous- the pictures brought a smile to my face and make this dreaded recovery time easier to bear. Thank you for sharing your victories with us! Lynda

Also check the hotel where you will stay post-surgery. They may have a hotel safe you could use. Lynda

Bob, I'll be thinking of you over the next few days and sending healing thoughts your way on Tuesday! Best wishes for a speedy recovery! You'll be on the loser's bench before you know it! Lynda

Thanks for this! I hate my Protein powder. Maybe the lemons will do a better job of hiding the taste. Lynda