Escape_Pod

Any surgery is scary, and I think all of us were scared, even those of us who wanted this really badly! But being obese has a lot of side effects too, right? If you're like most of us, you're already experiencing at least some of them - diabetes, high blood pressure, aching knees and joints, sleep apnea, etc. And carrying that extra weight will go right on being hard on your body, and put you at higher risk for health issues down the road. Weight loss surgery has risks, but so does not losing the weight! One of the reasons I preferred the sleeve was because I felt it had the least complications and side effects post-op. If there are particular potential side effects that worry you, perhaps it would help to talk to your surgeon about your concerns and his/her patient history. If you're not already talking to a surgeon, investigate weight loss surgery seminars in your area - most hospitals with a bariatric surgery program seem to offer them. I went to several to get different perspectives, and to get a feel for different surgeons.

Hello there fellow Washingtonian1! My biggest changes are what I eat, and my exercise routine. Now that I've lost the weight, it's so much easier to exercise, and I have the energy (and confidence!) to do whatever I want. I've been an avid hiker for years, but depending on my weight I didn't always have the energy to climb those alpine trails. Now it's just a question of how long I can be gone hiking when I have a husband at home who'd like to see me occasionally on a weekend! I took up running this spring, and I started working with a personal trainer last month to build in some strength training into my routine. I have visible biceps now!! And I'm no longer too ashamed to be seen in a public gym. I may not be the fastest, or the cutest, or the fittest, but I'm doing my thing, and I don't care what anyone else thinks. As far as food goes, I've found I'm definitely NOT an everything in moderation kind of girl, I'm just not very good at moderation. Slip off the wagon and give my body a good bit of carbs and/or sugar, and I'll be fighting cravings for a week. So, after more than a year I'm still very focused on protein, I start every day with a protein shake, have very few carbs, and I'm learning to make substitutions for the occasional treat. A girl's gotta have her brownies you know, they just have to be sugar free, low-carb brownies now!! I LOVE this new life. You will too!!

I use a heart rate monitor to try to get a better estimate of calories burned, since it's based on my personal effort, rather than a statistical average. That said, I still tried to live by the rule of thumb that if you're going to eat your workout calories, you should eat no more than half. (So, if you normally aim for 800 a day, and you burn 600 in a workout, half that is 300 + your normal 800 = maximum net 1100 calories for the day. Personally, I never thought it was wise to get down to really low net numbers, I think it begins to impact your metabolism which is counterproductive. Since I never hit a stall, I'd say that worked for me, but maybe I was just lucky.

I was envious of my husband's bbq chicken pizza one night, so I pureed some cooked chicken with a little broth, heated that, and then put a tiny bit of bbq sauce on top and a sprinkle of finely shredded cheddar. Looked pretty weird, but tasted yummy. I also was in the mood for something tangy, so I mixed up some sf lemon jello, with the hot water only (half the total water), then blended in about a cup of greek yogurt, then added a scoop of vanilla protein powder. Let it chill a bit to thicken, then blended some more to make it fluffy. Loved it, but at 2 tablespoons at a time, I ended up throwing out quite a bit because I figured the yogurt had a shelf life.

I started out with about 100 pounds to lose, and I lost on average 8 - 10 pounds the first few months (I lost about 15 pre-op as well). Don't worry, I'd agree you're doing fine. But the grazing will definitely slow you down later, so you want to nip that in the bud. Now's the time to be building really good, solid habits for when things get harder down the road!

I've traveled several times since surgery, for a week or more, though not internationally. Here are my strategies: (1) Pack protein powder. I usually mix up snack-size baggies of my morning concoction, which consists of a scoop of Unjury chocolate, 2T unsweetened cocoa powder, and a pinch of salt. When I'm making it, I blend it with warm unsweetened almond milk. I've nearly always been able to get almond milk when traveling, and in a pinch I can mix it into coffee. (I also pack a measuring cup and whisk, and if I won't have a microwave, an immersion heater.) (2) Pack protein bars - I LOVE the Quest protein bars. They travel really well (not prone to melting or crumbling). They're best when microwaved for a few seconds, but are fine at room temp, if a bit chewy. Really great stats. GNC stores are beginning to carry them, but I order online for best selection of flavors. The apple pie nuked for a few seconds and topped with SF whipped cream is heavenly! Ok.. getting off topic there... (3) Pack other protein sources, like nuts, protein pudding mix, Ostrim (I don't care for jerky). (4) For the flight, I've often filled the approved travel-size bottles people use for shampoo, etc. 2/3 full of water and frozen them. I send them through security like any other liquid, in the approved sized baggie, then they can go back in my insulated lunch bag. Then I can buy something at the airport like hard boiled eggs, cheese, a sandwich (ditch the bread) or a salad with chicken, and keep it cold until I'm ready to eat it on the flight. (4) I always try to get a small fridge in my room - most hotels can do this if you ask - some medications have to be refrigerated, so it's not an uncommon need for guests. When I get where I'm going, I can hit a local grocery for almond milk, lunch meat, and cheese, and some veggies - easy lunches, and sometimes dinners too. If you're going to be staying one place for several nights, you can mail / FedEx yourself a box with supplies. This can be great for items like ready-to-drink shakes. Just call the hotel to find out how it should be addressed.

Woohoo!!! Go Coops!!

Oh yeah, I remember those days, and the Actigal was absolutely the worst - it made me shudder every time, but I was SO motivated to take that one. Fortunately, it wasn't too long before I could start taking them whole. Hey, that's funny - I just noticed we had the same surgeon, no wonder! Dr. C. ROCKS!!

Oh yeah, I like those (Just the Cheese) when I want a crunchy snack. Unfortunately, I could easily eat several bags, so I have to be careful not to make them too convenient! I tried the popped ones hoping they'd make do when I was having a popcorn craving .... um ... not so much.

Really? Are surgeons not putting their patients on a preventative for gallstones?? Mine prescribes Actigall (aka Ursodiol) as a matter of course (unless you no longer have your gallbladder) for at least the first 6 months post-op. Gallstones are a pretty common side effect of rapid weight loss. I was more than happy to take a preventative - after WLS I wasn't in any hurry to have surgery again - for anything - EVER!

About that moodiness - I was told that your fat cells also store a lot of hormones, so when you're losing rapidly that all dumps into your bloodstream, which can make you pretty darned moody, not to mention major stress on your body and major life changes. Hang in there, it gets so much better! I'm just over 13 months post-op, and my life has changed so much! I now buy clothes when I really like something, not when I find something that fits reasonable well and doesn't look too bad. I don't have to settle any more. I've become extremely active - I took up running (who me? A runner??), started working with a personal trainer for strength training, and did a 10 mile hike today - was up at 5am to beat the crowds - I hike for the peace and solitude. I got a DEXA body scan as a "reward" for myself (also wanted to determine where I was at before working with the personal trainer. Amazingly, I'm in great shape, top 3-5% for my age group, depending on the various criteria, I was pretty thrilled! I've completely changed how and what I eat. I still have a monster sweet tooth, but it's amazingly well controlled with high-protein, low-carb, as long as I stick to it! I've found some great blogs that are helping me find satisfying, delicious substitutes for those foods I'm having a hard time giving up entirely. Overall, I'm so much more confident - I've always been a worrier and a people-pleaser, and now I have enough confidence in myself that I just don't care so much any more what random people think. I love my new life - I bet you will too!!

Wow, looks like you've got yourself an awesome, supportive spouse. I loved the video, and you look amazing. Congratulations on making goal!!

I know just what you mean, and I admit the same thoughts go thru my head. But, I try to remind myself that not everyone who's obese is miserable, or even necessarily unhealthy. And I don't know anything about their life, what other challenges they may be in the process of conquering, or even if they're already on the journey, having lost 100 pounds to get where they're at now! And, for many people with insurance, myself included, there can be a complete exclusion for weight loss surgery. My insurance wouldn't have paid even if I'd been 600 pounds with a slew of co-morbidities. I'm very fortunate that self-pay was within my means. I think all we can do is be as honest as we're comfortable with about our surgery, and be open to discussing it with others. I kind of like the idea of a bumper sticker - Weight Loss Surgery saved my life - ask me about it! (not sure how my husband would feel driving my car though!) I'm also convinced this journey isn't easy, and you have to be ready and committed to the process. It is possible to fail at this, not to lose as much weight as hoped, or to regain a substantial amount. There's no way to help someone else be ready to make the necessary changes. Really, I wish I'd learned years ago the things I've learned since surgery about nutrition - that alone would have helped me enormously, and perhaps I could have avoided surgery entirely. Blessings on those who are brave enough to be so publicly involved in the WLS community, spreading the word to those who may just not know it's an option!

I order Protein pudding powder from diet direct.com. The roasted seaweeds everywhere these days - costco, trader joes, but also regular grocery stores and amazon.com. Good luck - we CAN do this!

If I can get my net carbs under 40 grams (ideally under 30) per day, resisting temptation gets a lot easier after the first 3-4 days. Those first days I just have to power through, using everything I can - chewing gum, lots of water, tea, you name it. I think of it as detoxing. It's hard, but once I get through it I feel so much better, and the sweets calling my name get a lot quieter. I've eliminated dairy milk (sub almond milk), pasta, rice, and potatoes from my diet. I found a low-carb bread that I can have half of slice of for an open faced sandwich at lunch for only 2 net carbs. I've found a soy protein chip I like to replace potato chips. I've discovered roasted seaweed is yummy and salty and helps when i crave popcorn. I almost never eat fruit - I know that approach isn't for everyone, but for me, a big part of this really is biochemical, and to my body, fruit IS sugar. Once I've detoxed, it's a combination of strategies. One is getting the temptations out of the house or at least out of sight and less convenient. Another is eating regularly throughout the day, high protein - letting myself get too hungry can lower my resistance. Another is paying attention to triggers, and trying to avoid them. I deal with stress directly, with deep breathing, a little walk around the office, and a soothing cup of tea. I avoid reading food blogs (I've become a big fan of low-carb, sugar-free blogs!) if I'm having a challenging day. And, I'm working on finding substitutes like the ones listed above that make me happy so I don't feel deprived of treats. Sugar free chocolate pb protein pudding is a regular treat for me (made with almond milk - regular milk is too many carbs!). I make a sugar free protein mocha frappuccino often in the afternoons. I made a low carb sugar free microwave molten chocolate hazelnut cake earlier this week that was AWESOME. Not exactly low cal, but not terrible, and with my workouts I have room for a couple of indulgences as long as they don't become daily habits. But the key for me seems to be watching the carbs so an indulgence doesn't send me into a binge cycle that goes on for days. This has worked for me. I'm below my surgeon's goal, and I never stalled until I started messing around with carbs again. I've read blogs by people who've managed to train themselves to enjoy anything in moderation. Maybe that would be possible for me, but right now having a stable weight and not binging is more important to me, and I'm willing to give up the sugar for alternatives, at least until I feel like I have more control.

Hey there! I'm a little over a year out from surgery at Evergreen in Kirkland. Recovery in the hospital was more painful than anticipated, but not bad - I just read too many breezy posts about how it didn't hurt at all and people didn't feel like they'd had surgery. NOT my experience! But it was smooth sailing - no complications, no vomiting, no food intolerances, and no stalls until the very end! I'm about 7 pounds below my surgeon's goal, about 3 pounds above my personal goal - I would have been there by now but I've been ditzing around since about March with carbs and slider foods that lead me into a full scale sugar cycle that I spend several weeks digging back out of ... rinse ... repeat.... Believe it or not, though, I do think I'm learning from the experience. I'm eating clean again, feeling great, working with a personal training, and I know I'm going to make it to goal. I'm so close! I went from a size 22-24 to 6-8 depending on the brand. More importantly, I have the strength and energy to do whatever I want to! I hike, and run, and I started strength training last week with a personal trainer. I couldn't be happier. My advice? Follow your surgeon's plan and don't cheat. The post-op diet can be really hard, but this is your best opportunity to make a clean break from the old habits that made you overweight. Right after surgery you can't eat hardly anything, you don't feel very well, and your life is upside down. You have to build your eating habits from the ground up. DO IT RIGHT! Honestly, the further out you are, the bigger the temptations are to eat the wrong things, and the harder it is to stick to those good habits. The more practice you get in doing it right from the starting line, the stronger you'll be when temptations build. Commit to getting some exercise as often as you possibly can. You want to conserve the muscle you have to keep your metabolism up as you lose and make your body burn fat instead. As you get stronger and thinner, you'll be able to build on that, and with any luck you'll come out the other side being able to eat a decent number of calories in maintenance. Believe me, eventually your hunger will return, and you'll want to have room in your diet for foods that will keep you satisfied and happy. Feel free to send me a private message if you have questions or if I can help! I've loved this journey, I love being thin, and strong, and healthy. You're going to love it too!

Hi all, I mostly lurk here, but I do read regularly because I find the persistence you all show to be so inspiring! I've been struggling to reach my personal goal (am about 7 pounds under my surgeon's goal), but it's mostly because I've been fighting with old habits. I get WAY off track eating junk for a few days, gain 5 pounds, and spend 3 weeks trying to get back under control and taking it off again. Clearly this isn't a matter of allowing myself the occasional treat. This is flirting with the edge of the cliff, and I've got to sort this out if I want to stay at this weight! I know part of it is emotional eating (I have binge tendencies), but I'm finding that carbs play a huge role in it for me. If I can kick carbs and sugar for 4-5 days, staying on track gets a WHOLE lot easier for me, even under extreme stress. Anyhow... y'all are looking fabulous, and I always get a lot out of the conversations here. Thanks. :-)

Wow, how did you find a low-carb-advocating nutritionist?!? Mine told me I needed 100 grams of carbs a day, minimum, for brain function, and I just smiled and nodded, and vowed never to go back. That many carbs a day sends me into total binge mode, and my sweet tooth takes over. For snacks, I eat cheese, or a small handful of almonds (you can get all sorts of yummy flavors - cinnamon, parmesan-herb, etc.), or roasted seaweed (satisfies the salty cravings), veggies and hummus, or half of a low-carb protein bar (I like the Quest bars - they taste great, are high in protein, and average 2-4 grams of non-fiber carbs (so, they may have 20 grams of carbs, but it's almost all fiber. You can go that route if you're counting net grams.) I also sometimes make cheese "crisps" in the microwave, or pepperoni crisps. Watch the milk, those carbs can add up fast. I switched to almond milk early on to get my carb count down. It's just as good in protein shakes. (I make a protein hot cocoa with it every morning). I also order a powdered pudding mix from DietDirect that will actually gel into pudding with almond milk (SF jello pudding won't), which is great for my sweet tooth. Now that it's summer I'm also loving protein mocha frappuccino / soft serve. I mix a scoop of Click mocha protein, 1/2 cup almond milk, and ice, and blend the heck out of it in my ninja. Depending on the milk / ice balance it comes out either thin like a frappuccino or thick almost like soft serve ice cream. Gets me through the afternoon! Click protein powder is a bit higher in carbs, but you could probably achieve the same effect with a lower-carb chocolate protein or the Premier ready-to-drink from Costco with some instant coffee / Starbucks Via blended in. You can do this!!

I'm don't consume much fruit either, mostly because I watch carbs / sugar so carefully, and to your body, fruit = sugar. I know many people find they can add fruit back in without it triggering cravings, but I just wanted to sound a note of caution for those whose systems may be more carb sensitive. If nothing else, you may find it's wise to combine the fruit with a protein source, like a slice of cheese or greek yogurt.

Oh, and three weeks post-op is a very common time to experience your first stall - your body is in full panic mode! Hang in there, the numbers on the scale will drop again soon!

First of all, please be careful about progressing with food beyond your surgeon's plan! At 3 weeks post-op your staple line is still healing and will be for quite some time. You don't want to get anything caught in it, or have something not sit well and be heaving it back up! Your nerve endings are still healing, so your body isn't really able to send you good hungry / full signals now, which is why it's so important not to be eating more at once than directed. Again, you don't want to hurt yourself! Thicker liquids (like shakes, creamy soups, thinned yogurt, etc.) will help with a sensation of fullness, and of course you should be sipping, sipping, sipping on liquids all day to stay hydrated. That should also help you stay full. I second the suggestion of an antacid - acid problems are very common after sleeve surgery, particularly early on, and can feel a lot like hunger. If all else fails, call your surgeon's office and ask for advice! I can guarantee you won't be the first.

If you crave salty, have you tried roasted seaweed snacks? They totally hit the spot for me when I want something salty, and a package is just 30 calories, 1g carbs, 1g protein. I get them by the case now from Costco, but you can find singles packs at Trader Joes or many grocery stores. I LOVE popcorn, but it can send me off on a carb bender. Sigh.... There are some really yummy savory roasted almond packs out there too - one with parmesan and herbs that I liked, but a little was plenty for me.

I have a terrible time with sugar and carbs as well. I tried sugar free candies and chocolates, but found they just reinforced the habit of snacking. For me, what helps the most is getting my eating back to really high protein, really low carb (I aim for 40 grams or lower). The first few days are the hardest, but then the carbs are out of my system and the cravings go away. When I have the urge to eat, I try something like hot tea or iced coffee. For sweet treats I stick to protein-based things. For example, I buy the Click mocha protein, and make a mid-afternoon soft-serve with almond milk, a scoop of protein, and crushed ice in a blender. Or, I buy instant protein pudding and make that for dessert. But especially for the first 3-4 days of low-carbing I really have to watch anything with a sweet flavor or it leads me down the path to trouble. I know I'm going to struggle with this forever, but there are so many great low-carb, sugar-free recipe blogs out there, and I know I can make substitutes that will keep me from a carb/sugar binge but not leave me feeling deprived. It's a balancing act for sure!

I was told to look for something that was 100% whey protein isolate (because it's better absorbed than whey protein concentrate and other protein forms). Personally, I like the Unjury brands, but you have to buy them online. You can jazz them up by adding things like PB2 (powdered peanut butter), unsweetened cocoa powder, a tablespoon or so of sugar free pudding mix, or sugar free syrups like they use at coffee shops (you'll see a very few flavors, usually Torani brand at grocery stores, places like Cost Plus World Market generally have a bigger selection of the sugar free flavors, or you can go crazy and order online). When I was trying things out, I ordered a bunch of single-serve packets. BJs Bariatrics does single packets of the Nectar brand. Vitalady.com does single-serve of a bunch of different brands.

I had a hard time with string cheese - I love the flavor, but it just didn't sit well in my stomach. Early post-op I was in favor of anything NOT sweet. Potato soup was a big hit. I also made a protein fluff - mix sugar free instant jello (any flavor) with 1/2 the hot water indicated on the box, and make up the other half with greek yogurt, mix well. Then, add a scoop of protein powder (I used vanilla) and mix well. Refrigerate until it starts to gel, then mix with a hand mixer more. It gave me something with a little more substance, but still really gentle on my healing stomach. Hang in there, you'll be back to more solid food soon, but you still have a healing staple line, and you don't want to get anything caught in it, or have something not go down well and be heaving it back up again!