Escape_Pod

I bought a package of the "Big Train" low carb pancake mix at a local health food store, and I think it's fabulous. It definitely has a sort of whole-grain taste, but other than that the tast and texture are spot-on. 11g protein, 7g net carbs per serving, which is a little high, but I'm ok with it as an occasional treat. Sometimes I add some chopped pecans for a little extra protein - yum!

I've read on some surgeons' guidelines that long stalls are almost always attributable to too many carbs. Is it possible that's the case for you? (Mind you, I think surgeons can often be wrong, and mine's not worries about carbs at all, so take that for what it's worth...ha ha!). For me the keys to steady loss are exercise, getting enough protein (I aim for at least 80g / day) and low carbs (under 40g net carbs / day). So far so good.... (frantic knocking on wood). I usually get around 800 cal on non-workout days, closer to 1000 on days with heavy cardio.

I tried Stevia and thought it was pretty awful - very bitter. I do much better with Erythritol-based products like Truvia. Many sugar-free chocolates on the market use Maltilol, and I don't detect an "off" taste with those either, though some people find too much Maltilol causes them trouble with gas. And I disagree that your body treats them like sugar - diabetics will tell you they don't spike your blood sugar levels like sugar does, and for me, it's the spike and subsequent low afterwards that triggers cravings for more... and more... and MORE! Low carb is too big a component of my success for me to use real sugar, and with some of the newer substitutes and blends, I can't taste the difference, and neither can my husband, who doesn't do sugar-free anything!

I think some people with a higher starting BMI do need the extra help of the malabsorptive component of the gastric bypass. I do see a number of sleeve patients from my surgeon who are really struggling to continue to lose to their goal weights, and I wonder if they would have been better off with RNY. The sleeve has been great for me, though. Long-term, since the body adjusts and the malabsorption of calories declines, I think we can go toe to toe with the bypass patients. I'm also grateful not to be lactose intolerant (a common side effect of RNY), or to have to be afraid of the sugar content of all sorts of foods and condiments (peanut butter? bbq sauce?). However, the structure of the sleeve does make us more prone to problems with acid reflux, so it can be a poor choice for certain patients. Honestly, I'd rather have had RNY than still be at my starting weight, but I'm glad I was able have the sleeve.

First of all, congratulations on your progress! You've done GREAT, and you should absolutely celebrate that. Some of us lose more slowly than others, and I agree 100% that can be so frustrating! It makes it all the more important to focus on how far you've come, on the improvements you're seeing, and on why you're taking this journey. The only advice I'd offer is to watch the carbs. You may already be doing this, but I find that if I keep the carb count low that really helps me with keeping the scale moving. I aim for under 40g net carbs / day. If you're not doing it already, it might be worth a try, especially since your ability to exercise is limited. Also, how many grams of protein are you getting in a day? If your body isn't getting enough, you may be losing muscle mass, which will further slow your metabolism. Keep your chin up, you've made great strides!

One more pound down, 14 more to go to my personal goal. Yippee! I've been pretty hungry today - I really notice it more on days I take a rest from working out because I compensate by keeping my calories at the lower end of my range. Honestly, I hope the fact that I'm still losing fairly decently means at some point I'll be able to up my calories a little. Sigh...

Yesterday went well, I didn't snack between lunch and dinner, which is my weak time. I need to spend some time on the weekends cooking up some meals, especially for lunches. I'm bored with the things I've been eating, and my go-to lunch when I haven't planned ahead isn't dense enough to keep me satisfied until dinner.

I was in the same boat as you - complete insurance exclusion, so I had to self-pay. Absolutely worth every penny! I had no interest in the over-the-border option, and I considered it an absolute MUST to find a surgeon in my area who offered the BLIS insurance coverage (covers any related subsequent medical expenses for things like complications) - I didn't want any unpleasant surprises adding to my bill, or to have to fight with my insurance coverage over medical care for complications. I didn't end up needing it, but again, it was worth every penny for the peace of mind, plus, you know they won't work with a surgeon who has a higher rate of complications. There's no guaranty you won't eventually regain, but you'd have to work pretty hard at blowing off your surgeon's medical advice to end up back at your pre-op weight. If you can commit to eating protein first, not drinking with meals, avoiding empty calories, and preferably getting some exercise, you'll be fine!

I'm with you on this! Just 15 pounds to goal for me, and I know it's going to come off more slowly now. I need to kick the snacks out of my eating plan before they start to derail me, and get back to working on healthy habits.

Yep, being successful at keeping our weight LONG TERM will require that we eat differently than we used to. But isn't it worth it? I have this posted on my bulletin board as a daily reminder: I didn't have this surgery so I could eat whatever I want, whenever I want. I had this surgery so I could DO whatever I want, whenever I want & enjoy living & loving life.

Ugh ... holiday treats. Thank heavens it's a new year, and all our friends and coworkers will have resolved to lose weight and maybe they'll quit bringing in so many yummy temptations! We're all here to help whether you need a hug or a butt-kicking!

I'm sure this is overkill, but here's my list of things I bought right before or after surgery (copied from a post I made about a week post-op. Pkg of 100 1-oz plastic medicine cups - I used these in the hospital once they started me on liquids. The nurse would pour me 4 at the start of an hour to work on for that hour. It was really helpful to get in the habit of sipping and not try to swallow too much at once. The hospital sent me home with extras, but I had gotten a 100-pack at amazon for under $3. I think they're pretty handy to have in case your hospital doesn't use them. Step stool with handle - our bed at home is REALLY high, and this was an essential. Think about what might help when you're trying to get in and out of bed, up and down from a recliner, or a couch. It will be hard for you to bend or twist. Getting up from laying flat is pretty hard and can be pretty painful. A bunch of cocktail forks and tiny spoons (I got a 12-pack of "espresso spoons" on Amazon for under $20). I haven't used the forks yet, but the spoons have been great for taking SMALL bites of Jello, yogurt, soup, and other things on my post-op full liquid diet. No sugar added juice - the post-op bariatric liquid diet in the hospital was truly awful. I'm not used to using a lot of artificial sweeteners, so the crystal light was pretty awful. I don't know what kind of jello that was, but it seemed to be 5 times as strong and have 20 times as much food coloring as regular sugar free jello. I thought my tongue would be orange for a week. Fortunately, since no-sugar-added juice was on my surgeon's post-op Clear Liquids diet, the nurses were fine with my husband bringing them in. I honestly don't consider myself a picky eater, I can manage most of the Protein shakes, but the juice was essential. I also had him bring in good quality chicken broth - I was fine with the hospital broth by day 3, discharge day, but the first day post-op it tasted like liquid salt. I was blessed to have a husband who was there by my side every moment, and a microwave he could use down the hall. unjury chicken broth protein supplement - you're going to get REALLY tired of sweet Protein drinks. Electric mug warmer - whether it's the chicken broth or a Protein shake made into hot cocoa, something hot is a nice change, but it can't be over 130 degrees to begin with, or the protein curdles. Anything that will keep that mug hot for the hour plus it will take you to sip it is REALLY nice. Some kind of insulated travel mug - I make up a cold protein shake with milk for Breakfast or lunch, and again, if it's going to take me an hour to drink it, I'd like it to stay cold Extra ice packs - you're going to be sore, and it's really nice to be able to ice incisions and your swollen tummy. Honestly, my favorites are these "Kimberly-Clark Stay-Dry Ice Packs, Large" that I snagged from the hospital where they're considered single-use, so I figured they'd toss them when I left anyway. I have 3, and I've constantly filled them with ice cubes for the past 10 days. Unfortunately, at least on Amazon theyre EXPENSIVE because you have to buy a 50-pack. If you can request an ice pack now and then while you're in the hospital, maybe you can come home with some too. :tongue2: Small whisk - I've found this to be pretty essential for mixing the protein drinks. I wish I'd had 3 or more small whisks so I could toss them in the dishwasher afterwards. *** Liquid Tylenol *** - I happened to have this on hand because a friend told me she didn't need the narcotics after she got home, and this is what she used instead. There's an adult version that I can't find at the grocery store, but is easy to find at a decent-sized drug store. I ended up with a migraine the evening I got home that wasn't controlled by the narcotics, and spent several hours fighting hard not to throw up. A call to the nurse confirmed it was ok to alternate liquid tylenol with the narcotics I have (be sure to double-check yourself though, some of the prescription narcotics contain acetaminophen, in which case it definitely would NOT be ok to mix). I was desperately glad to have had it on hand, and now that I'm off the good meds, I'm using it for occasional pain control. My diet once I got home from the hospital is full liquids for two weeks, including milk, yogurt, jello, and cream Soups, as well as the clear broths and juice that was ok on clear liquids. So, I've gone through a lot of skim milk. Jello and yogurt make me a bit nervous because they're so thick, so I haven't used those much. I've used quite a bit of chicken broth for thinning cream soups. I also have a clear mushroom broth that means the cream of mushroom actually tastes different than cream of potato, cream of chicken, etc. Both a pill crusher, and a pill-splitter. Some of my meds are large enough I'd have to swallow them in 8 pieces if I split them, but the Nexium is small enough I can just split it, which is a lot more palatable than crushing it and trying to choke down the powder. It's hard to get a good mouth rinse done if you can't swallow more than an ounce of Water at a time! Clothing-wise: slip-on shoes for going out for those important post-op walks, and I've pretty much lived in my yoga pants. I'm still pretty swollen, and my waist is still considerably larger than it was pre-op. Jeans are out of the question. Also, a nice warm robe and slippers. Used them in the hospital for my walks, and I've been FREEZING now and then since I got home. Less essential, but nice to have: Double-wall thermo espresso shot glasses - these definitely more optional, at this point I use the mug warmer, but I would have used them in the first few days when I was still portioning out 1-2 ounces at a time to sip on. Extra measuring cups - I mix up 8 oz milk and a scoop of Protein Powder in a measuring cup, it's nice to have extras so I can throw them in the dishwasher. At this point I'm mixing all my Protein Shakes with milk for the extra calories - that will stop as soon as I transition to purees, but without that I wouldn't even be getting 500 calories / day. Unfortunately, that means the chocolate isn't very chocolatey. Some unsweetened cocoa powder added in makes a much more satisfying hot cocoa. Variety is KEY! A bunch of sample packets of Syntrax nectar in a variet of flavors. They have things like lemon tea and fuzzy navel. I mix these occasionally with water when I can't stand the thought of another milk-mixed protein shake. BJs Bariatrics sells an 11-pack I think of sample sizes and you can pick which 11 flavors you want to try. I'm planning to make sure I have a bunch of these in my desk when I go back to work too so I can get my protein supplements in between meals. Whew - hope that helps! Good luck to you with your surgery!!

I'm six months out, and I still burp a lot more than I used to. I find it often happens because I'm eating or drinking too fast, but that may just be me...

<ul> <li>The size 10 jeans you bought just 3 weeks ago are now baggy! </li> <li>There's never anything good on the clearance rack, because there are lots of other skinny girls your size, and they beat you to it.</li> <li>The freezer is packed with leftovers, because you only eat a very little bit, so normal serving sizes become 4 meals, or more. And just forget those family-sized prepared entrees at Costco!!</li> </ul> <p>Yeah, life's "hard"! <img alt=":smilingface (52):" class="bbc_emoticon" height="42" src="http://cdn.verticalsleevetalk.com//public/style_emoticons/default/bananas/smilingface (52).gif" title=":smilingface (52):" width="33" /></p>

I've been intrigued by it, but I can't imagine I could be using enough cheese sauce on anything to really get much protein out of it. I loved mac 'n' cheese pre-op, but I won't eat pasta any more - carbs just trigger too many cravings for me, and I haven't been brave enough yet to try cauliflower as a substitute (I've always HATED cauliflower).

Wow - lucky you! I started seeing a lot of excess shedding almost immediately post-op, and at 6 months I still think I shed more than than I used to, but it's not as bad. I've always had very plentiful hair though, so nobody noticed but me.

Yum - sounds great (though if I cooked two 4-pound chickens, we'd be eating leftovers for 3 months! ) Sounds like you need to find yourself a new Protein shake though.... If you hate them that much you haven't found the right one yet!

Oh yeah, I take Actigall. It can also be called Ursodiol. I don't know about you, but I have no interest in having another laparoscopic surgery any time real soon if there's anything I can do to prevent it, so I'm more than happy to take a pill twice a day if it will help. A medical study in 2000 found that 71% percent of the patients who completed the study developed gallstones, and 67% had to have their gallbladders removed. I have a friend who had her gallbladder removed in the past year, and she's struggling with the new dietary restrictions post-op. I'm glad they don't remove it routinely, but having surgery later is also certainly something I'd rather avoid. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002248040196322X Taking Actigall / Ursodiol dramatically reduces you chances of having this problem, and it's only for 6 months or so (during the rapid weight loss phase). I only minded it when I was still having to crush my pills or break them open and mix them into applesauce or some such thing. The Actigall was pretty bitter, so I was thrilled once I could just swallow it.

Really, it's not about whether it comes back up or upsets your stomach. It's about the risk to your stapled stomach. PLEASE think carefully about what you put in your stomach while it's still healing!

It may not be necessary, but I splurge on the bariatric-formulated vitamins because it's my understanding they're made of the most absorbably versions of each nutrient. I buy the Unjury protein powder because I like the way it tastes. I also buy treats for myself from places like dietdirect, things like the protein pudding mixes because they're tasty and easy, and I don't think I could find something that would be similarly low-carb in a store.

I love her site too! It's a bit of work, but I sit down with her recipe and enter all the ingredients into MyFitnessPal (the app I use for tracking what I eat), put in the number of servings, and let it do the calculations.

I'm six months out, and my hunger never went away entirely, though it's not as bad as it used to be pre-op. The last few weeks I've been hungry more often, and I'm also finding it's more important for me to make sure I'm eating dense protein. I had tuna and cottage cheese for lunch yesterday and it really didn't keep me satisfied for very long. On the other hand, I had one of my favorite dinners last night - a couple of turkey meatballs with a bit of tomato sauce and lf cheese. I could only eat 1.5 of the meatballs. It's easy to get off track with temptations at the holidays, but if you go back to watching your carbs and focusing on dense protein, you can get to goal! Congratulations on your progress! I replaced my size 10s with size 8s a couple of weeks ago too - it's a fabulous feeling, isn't it?

Yes, search these forums for 3 week stall, and you'll find a bazillion posts. This is a VERY common point at which to stall. Don't worry - the scale will start to move again. Just try to focus on getting in your liquids and protein, and developing new habits. You'll do great!

My surgeon posts his post-op diet plans online. You can find the Sleeve guidance here (just ignore the dates for progression since your surgeon has you on a different timeline, but the food examples should be of some help: http://www.northwestobesitysurgery.com/pdf/sleeve-gastrectomy-diet.pdf

Day of I was at 218, now at 156. I get a good card work out 4-5 times a week and enjoy it (weird!), plus yoga for strength twice a week. Only about 4 pounds from my surgeon's goal, but I'd like to drop another 15 from there. Restriction is very good, but I struggle sometimes with wanting to eat more even when I'm full, which is something I'm working on. Staying low carb has helped me beat cravings for sweets 90% of the time. I average 800 calories a day, more when I get in a good card workout. Looking forward to hearing from more June sleevers!