lsereno

Hi Ddily, Another thing you might try is going back to the previous stage diet for a few days till things settle down. Then add foods back in one at a time and see which one, if any causes an issue. I had to go back to a previous stage a couple of times when I was reintroducing foods. If you were lactose intolerant post-op, it should have showed up the first time you had dairy instead of more than a month later. Are you eating more dairy now than you were previously? Lynda

I'm two years post-op and have been at goal for 15 months. I always swore if I managed to get to goal on WW again, I was going to teach after so I would stay at goal. I stay active on this forum to help me keep myself at goal and to help others. Lynda

I was only cleared for walking for the first six weeks. After that, I got the go ahead to resume strength training, but I was advised to avoid abdominal exercises for another month or so. Lynda

2 years out, 14 months at goal weight 8 a.m.: 12 oz. Soy Latte 9 a.m.: 2 oz. 98% fat free ham, 1 slice whole grain bread, 1 large apricot noon: lunch at a restaurant: 1/2 large dill pickle, 1/2 Club Sandwich with turkey,avocado, bacon. lettuce and tomato on white bread (removed middle piece of bread and didn't eat the crusts and edges of the remaining bread) 1/3 cup fruit 3 p.m.: 2 graham crackers, 2 T. Peanut Butter 5:30 p.m.: 1/4 dill pickle, guts of the remaining 1/4 club sandwich with a slice of low fat cheese and 1 slice 98% fat free ham on 1 slice whole wheat bread (hubby ate the other 1/4 sandwich) 7:00 p.m. graham cracker and 1 small apricot Before bed I will have a small snack (under 200 calories)

I agree with Melissa. Seeing a counselor is key to your success. Instead of focusing on juice, eat healthy. Solid Protein first. If you do, you will not have room for the bad stuff yet. Almost any restaurant will have something you can eat. Just modify it. Even a hamburger joint. Just eat the meat. Order an iced tea and sweeten with Splenda. Have the Soup if it is not cream-based. If you do nothing else, walk. Walking 30 minutes a day in the morning can help you focus on yourself. You deserve this time alone! Lynda

I'm two years out and I enjoy a wide variety of foods and drink. I live in the SF Bay Area, which is foodie heaven. It took me longer than some to be able to enjoy bread, spicy foods, and acidic foods but I'm all in now. Lynda

Here are some links to guides that I have saved from this forum over the years: The Cornell Weight Loss Surgery Program: Dietary Guidelines for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy http://www.cornellwe...gastrectomy.pdf Institute for Advanced Bariatric Surgery: Preparatory Surgery Guide http://www.laplose.c...urgeryGuide.pdf Institute for Advanced Bariatric Surgery: Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery Diet Guide http://www.laplose.c...veDietGuide.pdf Northwest Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: Laproscopic Gastric Sleeve Diet http://www.northwest...ectomy-diet.pdf Kaiser Fremont Bariatric Program Guide (this is my program's guide and it covers VSG and other WLS) http://mydoctor.kais...rics/binder.jsp Not sure this will work, but if it does, the first link is an guide from Dr. Criangle that was provided by another poster and the second is the Cornell guide, which I've also provided a weblink for above. Lynda

Well if you want to make your own, eggface has a ton of WLS friendly recipes: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2011/09/national-pancake-day.html For me, it's not worth it to bother cooking them. Lynda

Congrats! You look fabulous! Lynda

I love sweets too. I get my sugar fix by using Splenda to sweeten my non-fat greek yogurt. One of my fav ways to have it is topped with blueberries sweetened with Splenda. I also like a shake made of fat free greek yogurt, splash of OJ, couple of frozen strawberries, bigger splash of Water, and Splenda. Other sweet treats that don't dent the diet include sugarfree hot apple cider mix, diet lipton green tea with citrus, soy milk heated with a splash of Torini caramel syrup (also good with skim milk but I'm lactose intolerant post-op). Early out, the Protein shakes satisfied my sweet tooth. My fav was GNC's Optimum Nutrition 100% whey Gold Standard in French vanilla Creme. Lynda

I try to eat dinner later in the evening. Also, save a few calories and eat something filling. A glass of skim milk, a cup of fat free greek yogurt, low fat string cheese are all good after dinner snack options. I also have something hot to drink such as sugarfree hot cider, Sleepytime Tea, or decaf coffee. Make sure you are eating whole grains, lots of veggies, lean Protein, low or non-fat dairy, and a little fruit. These foods will stay with you longer and help keep you feeling full. Lynda

I like the Special K Multigrain crackers: http://www.specialk.com/crackers/multi-grain/ I also like Rye Krisp Sesame http://www.rykrisp.com/flavors/sesame/ and the Dr, Kracker pumpkin Seed Crackers http://drkracker.com/our-products/crispbreads/pumpkin-seed-cheddar/ Lynda

I didn't do well with starchy foods early out so I didn't try a bite of pancakes or waffles till I was about a year out. I now occasionally enjoy the whole grain frozen waffles. I'm two years out. I like to have two with 1/2 bananna and Mrs. Butterworth's sugar free syrup. I don't eat them often. They do not keep me full as long as 100% whole grain. But nice for a treat. I've had a few bites of pancake too, but haven't tried eating a whole one. Lynda

My program specifically mentioned that lots of people had issues with starches. I love really good bread and I did eat a bite of crust if we were out at a restaurant with great bread. My program recommended saltine crackers or very-well toasted bread. I didn't eat much bread, rice, Pasta, or potatoes till I was at least six months out. After about a year out, I could eat it without issues (not much though). Lynda

I like oatmeal. We were allowed whole grains in the losing phase in my program, but I didn't eat oatmeal till after I was at goal because it didn't sit well for the first year. I like it now. I use Quaker Old Fashioned and cook it in the microwave. I use 1/4 cup oatmeal, about 2/3 cup Water, and I often add berries or a little fruit before cooking. Couple chopped strawberries or a small chopped apricot are a couple of favs. I sweeten with Splenda and add a dash of salt. I do like mine with a little soymilk too, but it's good without since that is not on your program. Lyna

I've lost about 120. I've been at goal for 14 months. I do have to be careful. I weigh myself every morning. Lynda

I ate sashimi about a month out. I didn't eat rice until about 6 months out, and then I didn't eat much. It did not sit well at first. Now I enjoy sushi, but I often leave part of the rice uneaten. Lynda

I drank Lipton Diet Green Tea with Citrus pretty soon after surgery. It sat well. I also drank Sleepy Time Chamomile tea. I counted it as a Fluid, since there is less caffeine than decaf coffee, but every program is different. Lynda

Lucky you are not a girl! With salty foods and the right time of the month, a girl can go up several pounds in a day. Lynda

One thing to expect is feeling pretty miserable post-op. Some lucky people never feel the emotional pain, but plenty do. A lot of hormones are swirling around, pain meds add a little to the mix, and it's just plain tough the first few weeks. You will get better. You will enjoy food again. Hunker down and baby yourself. You deserve it! Buy a new nightie, or lotion, or perfume. Order that over-priced whatever you've been denying yourself. Dream up something fun to do when you are feeling better. Something only a skinnier person can do easily, because you will be that person! Lynda

Hey NannieG, the only thing that works for me as far as exercise goes is I gotta do it, whatever it is, first thing. I walk 3-4 days per week for at least an hour, leaving my house before 7 a.m As far as late night Snacks, the more I have the more I want of junk food. If I manage to snack on greek yogurt cheesecake pudding (greek yogurt, whipped cream cheese, splenda, frozen blueberries, and a crumbled graham cracker) or have soy milk and Cereal, that fills me up enough I stop it. It is going to be a life time struggle for me too. I'm hoping that, just like when I quit smoking, it gets easier as the years go by. When I'm really working it, I weigh and measure all foods and track calories and Protein on a white board on my fridge door. I also track fluids because if I'm drinking as much as I should, I have less room for junk. Lynda

Probably just a timing thing. Lynda

Yeah! They didn't schedule any of my other appts till after orientation. At the end of orientation, we were all scheduled a 3 hr. appt. to meet with a surgeon, nutritionist, and case manager if we wanted the surgery. After that, we could schedule the pscyh appt. Lynda

I'm two years out. I've felt a pretty normal full for so long I can't remember when it changed. Not that painful, I'm gonna puke feeling I got too easily at first, but just an feeling of being full. One that I had to eat a lot to get to pre-op. I think my poor stomach was stretched to the size of a basketball. Lynda

I used a clock with a second hand. Chew for 30 seconds, swallow, wait 30 seconds and then take another bite. Lynda