Katie713

Here's some information from The World According to Eggface....Shelly has all kinds of low carb post op recipes and other useful and humorous information! http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2010/02/spinach-artichoke-tortilla-pizza.html If you haven't already heard of Flat Out's, check out their website...they have great little pizza recipes too... http://www.flatoutbread.com/category/recipes/flatbread-wraps/grillin-pizza/

I would think once you are cleared to start eating normal foods these are fine to include in your diet. I plan on getting some at Sprouts soon to try out and see if I like them. They have been known to assist with the feeling of fullness and the absorbption of carbs. They don't taste like much, they take on the flavor of whatever to mix them into - and are tapioca like in texture. Perhaps research some ways you can work them into your diet. I am almost 5 months out so I know I can try them anytime. Here's some info: The gel that is formed in the stomach creates a physical barrier between carbohydrates and the digestive enzymes that break them down, thus slowing the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar. In addition to the obvious benefits for diabetics, this slowing in the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar offers the ability for creating endurance. Carbohydrates are the fuel for energy in our bodies. Prolonging their conversion into sugar stabilizes metabolic changes, diminishing the surges of highs and lows creating a longer duration in their fueling effects.

Joni....somehow as we move forward, hopefully we are learning from our mistakes and as long as we can see it clearly, those things that derail us from our goals, will not have the power over our us that they did before we embarked on this journey. I stopped buying crackers - they were my slider food and called out to me from the cupboard. I was preferring crackers and cheese for dinner, wheat thins with tuna for lunch, I kept going back for 3-4 when I felt those little grumblings in my stomach. I have a lot of those. This is my second week without crackers and I survived and lost 2.5 pounds breaking my most recent stall. Next week when I shop, I will purchase Snacks that will not derail my weight loss diet. I know I will snack, so best to prepare for it. Next week I will make some hard boiled eggs so that I can whip up a quick batch of deviled eggs, I'm going to prepare lots of chopped veggies and a nice spinach dip made from a low-cal recipe on skinnytaste.com and all kinds of olives, some nuts. This moving toward a lower carb diet takes time to figure out based on my palette. I have to do better at menu planning. I have tons of great low-carb recipes just have to pull them out and get the ingredients on hand. Old habits do die hard, and the same foods we used to prepare don't work so well these days, and there are times when I am staring into the fridge wondering what the heck to eat. Planning + Action = Results ! Take care girlfriend....we are on the right road to success...we just have to stay the course!!!

Bariatric Advantage has a line of delicious calcium citrate chews. I take Cal-trate tablets (mini tabs) but plan to change to the chews after I finish my current bottle, my girlfriend shared a few samples of the chews and they were so good - almost like a little treat but without the sugar.

Are you worried about the surgery or the dietary changes or both? I am a bit over 4 months out and I can eat most foods, but in very small portions. I have to work at eating the right things so I am realizing I have to stay focused while in this stage post-op since this is the period where the highest percentage of weight will be lost. I have had to deal with my relationship with food as well, and cannot turn to food the way I used to. The best part is feeling so much healthier and being able to walk for miles, have flexibility, no headaches, being able to tie my shoes and fit into a booth, and no longer having to shop at the big girl stores. It is worth the work it takes to lose the weight. The journey has alot of meaning to me too, I am finally a priority!! My kids all know this too, and are proud of me!!

There are indeed some people that get a leak weeks after surgery, and sometimes there is no easy way to tell why this happens. People who have band to sleeve revisions seem to have issues - perhaps because of tissue erosion from the band that changes the density of the stomach tissue and it has to heal properly. Others no doubt overwhelm the sleeve by eating too much or having carbonated beverages that expand the stomach before it's properly healed. The stages of eating are there for a reason...it makes sense to go err on the side of caution and go easy.

jules58 - Good for you, you've had or will soon have your surgery! Take it slow and easy, that is my best advice. Set yourself up for success with all the things you need to get through the various stages of eating. Not sure what recommendations you have in Oz - but for most of us here in the U.S. we start with a few days of Clear Liquids, then full liquids, then pureed/soft diet and finally regular foods with a focus on healthy eating, Protein first, then veggies, then whole grain starches. I seem to lose best with a low carb diet. Hope you continue to do well and feeling good about surgery. Feel free to chat with us anytime!! I had surgery 4/6/12 and am doing well.

I would ask if you can schedule for the beginning of November. I delayed my surgery and I am so glad that I did. I was approved for surgery in January and could have had my surgery in early February, but I asked to postpone it to April 6th because I had to move March 1st to a new apartment and I had a work commitment (conference) on April 4th & 5th. I was able to "handle" all of my business and then have my surgery and take a month off work. I am so glad I did this, and the surgeon is constantly booking in advance. Do what works for you!!

My surgery was 4/6/12 and went like clockwork too. Be grateful you can swallow and take in liquids. You feel "normal" but once you get home you will begin to realize that your limitations can be quite challenging at first. You will probably not have much of an apetite at first at all, but you will still have to make sure you get your liquids, Protein and Vitamins in. Take it slow and easy and follow your doctors recommendations! Good Luck!!

Lookin good girlfriend! Awesome job!!

Good going Happy Camper! What an inspiration you are!! You go girl !!

How did you doctors appointment go? Were you able to address your heartburn situation? If so, what was the remedy suggested?

In the first few weeks post op, after eating I had to rest and usually had a quick nap, it's like digesting food became this tremendous chore for my body. Two hiccups and I'm done. My family gets a kick out of this. You won't have a BM right away. When you do have one keep one thing in mind..."liquid In - Liquid Out"....after you start full Protein and solids, you will have the opposite problem, be prepared with extra Fiber, fruit or prune juice (works like a charm) hair loss is normally and ongoing during weight loss

I'm struggling too - going back and forth 2 pounds in the last month. Ugh! After my next payday I am stocking up for a solid month of extremely low carb options with plenty of healthy snack items. I have hunger, head hunger and real hunger. I am finally staying away from crackers, that was beginning to reveal itself as a total slider food for me. I have to get my focus back, I have about 45 pounds to goal and I am committed to losing it - I didn't do all this work to stop losing at this point! Let's support each other in this process!!

For some reason the english muffin is very dry and dense and not very tolerable for most people. I often have an egg with canadian bacon combo at home to get the taste I crave without the carbs.

There were some in my group that did not make the 10% and still had surgery, but most were encouraged to lose at least 5% during the 12 week program and the final 5% before surgery - working in conjunction with the surgeons office. I made my 10% by the surgeon's appointment, then he told me not to gain anything before surgery or it may be cancelled. I lost another few pounds just to be on the safe side.

I didn't have to do anything special, as I lost weight, the back fat dwindled down just like the abdominal and other body fat. You body uses it fat stores all over the body. I do resistance training on my upper body regularly but I've lost everywhere on my body - even my feet!!

You are right tracey, they heal completely and grow over the titanium staples. This healing takes time though, and that is why, like any new wound, we are more vulnerable to leaks if we over-fill our small stomachs before they have had time to fully heal.

I have also felt this at times, usually when I am dehydrated and logically I think this is a tremendous change for our bodies without much of our food supply. When I feel like that, I get hydrated ASAP, followed by a healthy snack with mostly protein and some carbohydrate to stabilize my body. I am not diabetic, but I seem to need more carbs than some to feel healthy.

Sour Cream really helps.

You can do this girl. Walk, walk, walk every day...and drink lots of water. If you are still hungry at mealtimes, fill up with veggies then eat your meal, for lunch I used to eat 1/2 package of baby carrots, then my meal (Lean Cuisine or a sandwich or salad) then follow with a big navel orange or an apple. Keep yourself full and you won't need to cheat. I always had some SF jello in the house and lite cool whip or Weight Watchers frozen ice cream bars if I needed a sweet. Stay in your calorie range and the weight will come off. Don't get discouraged, just keep focused.

Kaiser in Los Angeles requires the 12 week Options Program, then referral to the surgeon if you meet the criteria, which is participating in the program, keeping food logs and losing 10% before surgery. Perhaps your Kaiser program is not so stringent??

How long until your doctor/nutritionist wants you to move to stage 3, pureed/soft foods? This makes a huge difference in your energy level and nutrition. During this stage hot cereal (thinned out) is great with some non-fat milk, a few teaspoons of cottage cheese with canned fruit like pears, refried beans with melted cheese, mashed potatoes with gravy & canned (very soft) chicken, yogurt.

Please check out this thread: If You Had The Choice - Would You Do It Again? Also...check out the profile and posts from Kat1 who had surgery with complications in Mexico, including surgeon's name and outcome of notification of complications once state side.

My surgery only took 35 minutes. I had no drain tube whatsoever. I healed up quickly and have not had any complications. The doctor said that surgery usually takes about one hour, but that surprisingly, I was very easy to operate on. I guess I was one of the lucky ones!!