Escape_Pod

You might check with your surgeon on this one, just because the kernel shells can be risky to you - they can get caught in the staple line is what I've been told. I miss popcorn too, it was a favorite of mine as well, but I really try to avoid it, even at 6 months out because I don't like to feed the carb monster. It's not something I can have just a little bit of without wanting more, an it can easily trigger more cravings for more carbs, which totally derails my weight loss. :-(

I think you're doing great! You can see my loss stats in my signature. I generally get around 800 calories, more on exercise days. I do aim to keep net carbs under 30 grams, though it has been higher over the past couple of weeks with some holiday treats. I start to panic if the scale hasn't moved in a week, but then it does....

Yeah, it's hard when the scale doesn't punish you for an off day, isn't it? I always feel like I've gotten away with something, but somewhere in my head I KNOW this is NOT going to work for me long term, and I need to develop better habits. We all have days when we eat more, and that's fine as long as it balances out, but I know I'm in deep doo-doo when it goes on for too many days in a row, or several times in the same week. When I have a day like that, I put in extra effort to keep carbs extra low for a week, avoid Snacks and any kind of sugar, maybe have an extra Protein shake to keep myself on track. That being said, it's Christmas, and I've definitely allowed myself to have some extra treats that aren't usually part of my plan. I just try to make sure they're balanced by extra exercise, or being more on program on the following days.

As you can tell from all the responses, this is very common, but I also think it would do you a world of good to spend some serious time thinking / reading / talking to someone about emotional eating, and ways to cope with it after surgery. I went through a personal rough period for about a year, and my emotional binge eating got WAY out of control, to the point where I was worried enough to find a therapist to work with. I'm sure I'll never be "cured", but I did get back to a better balance point and developed some strategies before I started the process of working towards surgery. As so many people talk about, the surgery only fixes your stomach, not your mind, and a lot of overeating is the head stuff. If you read the post-op forums, you'll see many people admitting to cheating, even very early after surgery, and expressing guilt and worry about whether they've hurt their new sleeve. The early weeks and months bring their own stresses, and if you're used to eating to dealing with feelings, it can be hard to stay on track. Granted, even a binge isn't nearly the quantity it is pre-op, but they're bad habits that can sidetrack you long term, and you want not just to get to goal, but to be able to stay there!! You can beat this, and get yourself back on track again, and it will be so worth it!

I alternate between c25k and stationary bike in the mornings, plus yoga at lunch twice a week. The yoga has been really great for a bit of strength training, but especially for helping my mind keep up with the physical changes in my body. It's sort of like I spend an hour twice a week getting reacquainted with the new me.

Several of the nutrition stores (gnc?) will take back even opened product you don't like, which helps if you have to experiment. It may help for you to make your shakes thinner at this point - that may go down easier. You might also experiment with hot / cold. My daily protein drink is hot cocoa, made with injury chocolate protein and unsweetened cocoa powder in warm milk. In the first few weeks post-op I got very tired of sweet things, so the unjury chicken soup powder was great too. Just take it easy and sip slowly. And remember, right after surgery everything is really swollen, so it will get better. First priority is getting your fluids in, then protein as you can. You're not going to get malnourished in one week, but you can end up in the hospital from dehydration! You may find your protein drink is just fine in a week or so.

I agree that in the early weeks, the calories will take care of themselves, as long as you're eating the right thing - protein first, avoid carbs. In fact, my nutritionist made it clear I should definitely be making my protein shakes with milk because I needed the extra calories. After the first couple of months I got serious about limiting carbs, so I switched from skim milk to almond milk (fewer calories and carbs, but also lower in protein). I keep my calories at around 800 per day, but that's NET - when I get a decent workout in I usually go higher. I'm very pleased with my steady rate of loss, even this close to goal, so it's working for me. (my surgeon is also thrilled - "speechless" was actually the term he used. He hasn't done as many sleeves, so I think he expected I'd lose more slowly!)

Veda, I think if you'll take a closer look at people's tickers on this site you'll find you're doing just fine! Yes there are people who lose pounds really quickly, but they're generally (1) men (da## their fast metabolisms!), (2) much higher BMI, or (3) much younger. Also, I think most of us have a certain number of "easy" pounds to lose - water retention, or whatever. Those of us who did a pre-op diet got those out off the way already. I started with a BMI of about 37 (before pre-op diet), and I averaged closer to 10 pounds a month loss. 6 months out, I'm in the normal BMI range, and less than 5 pounds from my surgeon's goal, and my losses are slowing a bit. You should also account for the usual 3rd week stall most people experience. In short, you're doing great!! I know it's more exciting to see the scale numbers plummet, but honestly, at your weight you've ot plenty of time to make it to goal. This part of your journey is really about developing the new habits with food that will help you STAY at goal in the years to come!! Slightly slower losses help minimize saggy skin too! Please, don't make yourself crazy trying to speed up your losses. Stick with the plan, get your protein in to help with healing, get some exercise in as you can to keep your metabolism going, and you'll do great!

Pepperoni Chips!! I put a couple of folded paper towels on a paper plate and lay out pepperoni slices on them. Pop in the microwave for about 1 minute (depending on the number of slices - nuke them until they stop sizzling). More "crispy" than "crunchy", but a nice snack. Even better for you if you use turkey pepperoni. You can also make cheese "chips", though I usually do those in the oven. Just use a search engine, or search this site for cheese chips (add low carb if you're searching Bing or Google). The World According to Eggface has a recipe for crunch baked garbanzo beans, but I haven't tried it yet - it's on my list to try some time when I'm home.

I suspect you'll find that as you lose the weight you'll have more energy and exercise will seem more appealing. Remember, you don't have to be using equipment or hanging out at a gym. You may just turn on the radio and dance like a wild woman for 30 minutes! This early out your main job is to let yourself heal, and walking is GREAT. As you continue losing weight, you want to make sure your body is burning fat and not muscle, and that's where exercise really helps. Muscle is going to help keep your metabolism high, which is so important in helping you reach goal, and to maintain long term! Try to keep an open mind about exercise, and look for things you can do to incorporate more movement into your day in a way that you enjoy.

I just wanted to add a small suggestion for those who are wanting to reduce carbs. After a couple of months I switched from milk to almond milk in my shakes. It still gives me something creamier than using water, but it's lower in carbs and calories. Just make sure you buy the unsweetened. I use vanilla unsweetened. For those of you who are only a few weeks out, though, I still think milk's a good idea, in part because it helps boost your protein intake. Besides, you're eating so little, you really need the extra calories.

Clothes are a pretty frequent reward for me, out of sheer necessity. I also got myself a heart rate monitor to use with my workouts, which has been really motivating.

chicken, Ham & Swiss Rolls http://www.bariatriceating.com/BErecipes/recipefiles/chicken--turkey/chicken-ham--swiss-rolls/90/index.html Chicken, Ham & Swiss Rolls Pounding the chicken breast makes it very tender plus the ham and cheese keep it juicy and moist. If you need a dipping sauce, a small dollop of equal parts Dijon mustard and mayonnaise works well and adds flavor. 4 small skinless boneless chicken breast halves Dijon or whole grained mustard 4 slices deli ham 4 slices Swiss cheese 1 tablespoon butter, melted ¼ cup Panko or fresh breadcrumbs (1 slice of sandwich bread pulsed in the food processor) Preheat oven to 350°F. Place each chicken breast half between two pieces of plastic wrap; working from the center to the edges, lightly pound with the flat side of a meat mallet or the bottom of a small heavy skillet to a uniform ¼ inch thickness. Remove plastic wrap. Place one slice of ham and one slice of cheese on each chicken piece then smear with mustard; fold in the sides and roll up jelly-roll style, securing both ends with toothpicks. Arrange chicken rolls in a shallow baking dish; brush with melted butter and sprinkle with the fresh or Panko crumbs. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until chicken rolls are cooked though. Cut each roll into ½ inch thick slices and fan out on individual plates. WLS ½ roll portion, about 4 ounces: Calories 157, fat 7 g, carbs 2 g, Protein 20 g Serves 4

I have a recipe for chicken breast wrapped around cheese, ham, and a little mustard, baked with panko crumbs on the top - YUM! And so easy, takes me under 30 minutes total, and my husband loves it too. I also do turkey meatballs a lot - two microwaved with a tablespoon or so of jarred spaghetti sauce and a generous sprinkling of cheese - dinner in a minute right out of the freezer.

I don't really like the way bread feels in my tummy any more - it just sort of goes "kerplunk", which is a good thing, since I try to stay low carb. You may find once you've tried it you won't miss it either. However, I did buy a couple of loaves of bread from Julian Bakery - my local health food store carries it in the frozen foods. It's really low carb, and the slices are small. I really like the sourdough with sesame seeds - generally just half a slice toasted to make an open-face tuna sandwich is very satisfying. I also have a loaf of cinnamon bread from them but I haven't tried it yet. They're pricey, but I keep them in the freezer and just take out a slice at at time as needed. I also buy the La Tortilla Factory small multigrain low carb tortillas - 50 calories, 3g net carbs. I put sandwich fillings on them, fold them in half and toast them briefly under the broiler. In fact, I'm eating a goat cheese, turkey, cranberry one right now. They also work great as "pizza" crust on friday movie nights.

Someone in my surgical support group does marathons - she had RNY, which means she has the added complication of having to worry about dumping on the energy goo some people use. There's also a gal that runs a daily exercise thread on another forum I participate in that had RNY, and she does triathlons! So, I'd say it's definitely possible. I'm hoping to work up to a half marathon this year.

Poached eggs are one of my favorite breakfast options at this point! I make them at work though, in the microwave, in a coffee cup of water - a method I found online. Amazingly, it works pretty well (though they're sometimes a bit overcooked, and I have experienced the very occasional egg explosion). I add about a teaspoon of hollandaise sauce from Trader Joes - yum!

Hang in there Rosy! Yes, some surgeons are a lot stricter than others, and sometimes it stinks to be one of their patients. But I looked at it this way (in between grouching when I was at your stage - ha ha!)... my stomach was just cut and sewn. It's angry, and healing. Anything that bears a resemblance to food means it has to work to digest it, work it's just not up to at the moment. Also, many people don't tolerate thicker liquids or mushies well, leading to vomiting, which is really hard on the stomach. Putting a strain on that new stomach, can increase the risk of a leak. By keeping their post-op progression really strict, the surgeon dramatically lowers their post-op complication rate (for compliant patients), and puts you on a solid path of developing new, healthy habits - habits you'll need down the road as your capacity for food inevitable increases, and your appetite (nearly inevitably) returns. All that said, yes, it makes the early days extremely unpleasant and exhausting. Add to that the fact that you're naturally more emotional post-op between the anesthesia still working its way out of your system, your body reacting hormonally to the trauma you just put it through, and the hormones being released as you burn fat, and it makes for some pretty crazy days. You can do it though, and it's really in your best interest to do it, if you can manage it. It's only a few days. Welcome to the "losers' bench!"

Honestly, I don't think you can really talk about an "average" in any meaningful way. We ALL want to know we're "on track", and losing as fast as we should, but there are LOTS of factors that play into your weight loss speed. Men generally lose faster than women. Younger people generally lose faster than older people. Higher BMI people generally lose faster than lower BMI. If you lost some on a pre-op diet, you won't lose as fast as those who are just starting out. And then there's the matter of how much and what you're eating, and how much you're exercising! My best advice is to try not compare your progress to others, just do what you're supposed to, and be patient with your body. That being said, I started out about where you did (and I'm 5'8"), and I average about 10 lbs / month, but I lost more than 20 on a pre-op diet. I'd agree with your surgeon, I think you're doing great!

I'll admit - most mornings I have some kind of eggs for breakfast. I really watch carbs, so it's hard to come up with much else, but I do like microwave protein "cake" - The World According to Eggface has a lot of variations: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2010/04/that-takes-cake.html Her recipes make 4 servings for me at this stage, so I only have to take the time to make it once a week. For leftovers I usually pop a slice in the toaster, maybe top with cream cheese or something. Right now I'm loving the pumpkin spice one, topped with a little pumpkin cream cheese from Trader Joes - yum! Do you like pancakes? The Big Train mix is great! Again, I find they do fine as leftovers, just popped in the toaster to reheat.

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your story - you look fabulous. I adore the last photo - it totally expresses the JOY.

I've bookmarked a few websites I think are great for recipes - The World According to Eggface, Linda Farnsworth's Eating Well, Living Thin, and All Day I Dream About Food (not bariatric-surgery specific, but low-carb, sugar-free). I recently bought Low Carbing Among Friends, but haven't had a chance to try recipes yet.

Could your vitamin D levels be low? It's not uncommon this time of year (though perhaps you Texas have less of an issue that those of us in rainy Seattle!), and D can play a big factor in energy levels. Are you getting enough protein? How's your caloric intake?

I was planning to get a B Complex rather than just B1, but my other B vitamin levels are great, in fact, my B12 runs high.

I just found out I'm low on thiamine as well, though I take a good quality bariatric-formulated multi-Vitamin that contains something like 400% of the daily recommended value, and I do eat egg yolks which are supposedly a good source. I find this very odd. I realize we're not getting thiamine from enriched carb sources, but it seems like I ought to at least be getting what I need from my multivitamin. I'm so glad I pushed to have labs done - my surgeon doesn't have that many sleeve patients, and he doesn't routinely do lab work because "there's no malabsorption". Thiamin deficiency can be very serious, so I'll have to make sure to mention it to him the next time I'm in. Since I'm pretty sure my primary care physician just ran routine labs, I'm wondering if there's anything else specific I should request when I have labs done. Most of the medical literature "out there" on this topic is focused on bypass patients. Anyway, thanks Meg, it's good to know I'm not alone. I've been feeling less energetic lately, but I thought perhaps it was just post-workout tiredness, as I've been progressing through C25K. Hopefully in a couple of weeks I'll see a difference!