Puja

MsSkinniness, I don't have any advice for you, and I cannot imagine how difficult this must be! Does your surgeon's office have a counselor that could perhaps help you sort through this and find a positive way to acclimate to these changes? Either way, everyone on here is always available to offer you support! Perhaps another member who has also conquered demons from their past on their road to health will be able to swoop in on this with some words of experience.

CowgirlJane, this may sound silly, but you express your thoughts so clearly and eloquently! I really enjoy reading your posts. Thank you, again, for starting this thread. Everyone gives really positive vibes, despite having their own internal battles going on. It's amazing and humbling.

I find it amazing how each and every one of us ends up doing some serious soul-searching on our journey towards health. We not only face our old demons, but also find new ones along the way... It's not that I'm unhappy. I'm actually incredibly happy and satisfied! Losing weight seems to have opened up so many doors for me, and taught me so much about myself. I love being healthy. However, oddly enough, it has also brought about many insecurities. "Why is this person wanting to be friends with me now, after so many years of giving me the cold shoulder? Do I look "normal" now, or am I still being perceived as someone that is overweight? Am I actually good at socializing, now that people want to talk to me?" It's odd, because I was always very social, and always had people wanting to be in my company... somehow, though, I never doubted myself or the people around me until I lost weight. I figured if someone was talking to me, it was because I genuinely had a great personality, and there was no ulterior motive. But now, it seems like people are talking to me because I look a certain way, rather than because of what I have to offer to the conversation. I feel colder now than before, unlike CowGirlJane. I might not actually be, but I feel like I am. When I meet someone new, I'm always thinking in my head "Hey! I used to be fat! You're being tricked into thinking I'm normal!". I feel like I need to give a disclaimer! Isn't it odd how I still feel like this isn't actually me? I have days where I don't recognize my body and face.. but then I also have days where I don't recognize my old body and face in pre-op pictures. It's like I'm stuck in a limbo. Perhaps it's because I'm so terrified that I will start gaining weight again? Well, for what it's worth, this surgery was the best decision I ever made. Aside from the self-doubt and criticism, it has put me on the road to health, and improved the health of my family members, as well. I know that one day I will be able to take this experience and put it to good use in helping people I come across in my practice (I'll be applying to become a medical resident at the end of this year). I'm not sure if my train of thought makes sense, because I didn't quite stop to organize. I have lots more going on in my head, but this is all for now. Thank you again, for starting this thread! I'm really enjoying what everyone has to offer!

I spent a few months in the phase where I didn't recognize myself, and was constantly surprised at my shadow, my pictures, or how small my clothes looked. Then, I hit a point where the new me seemed "normal", and all those old pictures of me seemed surreal, and I would wonder who that girl was... Today, I look at myself in the mirror and actually have the tendency to feel "fat" or "unattractive". Even though I hit a normal BMI several months ago and have maintained that weight between 5 pounds up or down, I'm constantly terrified that I will slip up and gain it back. I don't want to go back to that old me that I no longer recognize, but I still have difficulties accepting the current me. It's so odd to feel like a stranger in my own body!

I've had days where I was close to 2000, and it was also most likely due to the calories in alcohol! I try my best not to feel guilty after days like that, because the point of this surgery was to feel NORMAL. Of course, that's easier said than done. The problem with alcohol is it also increases my chances for snacking on finger foods without thinking twice. So, 3 glasses of wine add up to almost 500 calories. Add in some finger foods, and that's almost a whole day's worth of calories in a single evening. Is it worth it to allow myself that once in a while? Totally.

How odd. I was going to suggest B12 right off the bat, until you mentioned that was in range. Still, try taking a multi B-complex before you drink next time and see how you feel. I don't think it's just dehydration, because that would correct the following day when you increase your Water intake. Are either of you on any medications? How is your blood sugar?

I think I responded to this in the other forum, but I generally work in 3 servings of fruits or veggies a day. I eat meals every 2.5 to 3 hours, so that I can get away with eating a little less Protein per meal, and still hitting 60 grams in a day. It does take planning, though. I spend about 20 minutes every morning packing my meals for the day. I eat cheese with grapes, cheese melted over broccoli, apple or strawberries with PB2, lentils with veggies, fruit with greek yogurt, etc. My meals are around 10-15 grams of protein each. I don't eat meat, so I don't know how that sits in your tummy.

Dez, it's odd that you should be so low while taking the sublingual supplementation. I sincerely hope that this doesn't sound rude or condescending, but did anyone explain to you about the proper procedure of placing the tablet, and how long to wait for it to dissolve before swallowing? Edit: Oops! I just realized you were taking your dosage once a week, and now it has been upped to every day. Hope it works out.

Good luck! Keep getting your levels checked every so often to make sure you're in range.

Yup. Too much of a good thing is never actually good! Your doctor should have told you to reduce the B12 a bit. Try every other day instead of every day. I would even go down to twice a week, maybe.

Laura-ven is right in her statement about the B12 being more of a necessity in gastric bypass patients. There is a certain part of our stomach that absorbs the Vitamin, and having a lot of our stomach removed can make it possible for us to become deficient in B12. sublingual B12 bypasses the stomach absorption and gets absorbed directly into the bloodstream, which is why we are prescribed that kind, specifically. I've heard of many bariatric patients that do not maintain an ideal diet with a variety of foods, and become dependent on daily Vitamins. At the same time, I myself have a much healthier diet now than I ever did before, and only take vitamins as a precaution. The last time I had my labs done, my B12 was higher than necessary, so I cut down my tablet to twice a week. Long story short, it is out of the norm that you were not prescribed B12. If your labs look good, however, no worries! Yay for you!

Curvy Girl, 80 pounds is amazing! Good for you, and keep up the great work. Sazzygirl, you should speak to your doctor about that! Make sure to take small bites, chew well, and space out your bites well.

My surgeon gave me an outline of 15 minutes before meals, and 30 minutes after meals. You are getting in a lot more liquids than I am, so good for you! I get in 8 glasses of water, and 1.5 cups of milk. I do feel like I am constantly eating or drinking something at times, but I'm studying right now, which makes it easier. I'll have to see how it goes once I start working! I'm still a slowish drinker, but can now finish a cup of water in maybe 5 to 10 min, where it used to take me 15 minutes before.

I am almost a year and a half out (time flies!), and get in around 1200-1500 calories a day. I stopped tracking my calories and Proteins about 4 months ago, but still make quick mental tallies throughout the day. I aim for 60 grams of Protein. I eat every 2.5 to 3 hours, and keep my portions to around 5 oz. Early morning: 2 glasses of Water Breakfast: 1 boiled egg, and 2 Andes chocolate mints Post - breakfast: 2 glasses of water, half a cup of milk with instant coffee 1st Lunch: 2 oz of low fat cheese with 2 to 3 oz of grapes Post - lunch: 2 glasses of water, another half cup of milk with instant coffee 2nd Lunch: 4 oz of fruit with 24 gms of PB2 OR 4 oz greek yogurt with 1oz of granola Post - lunch: 2 glasses of water, another half cup of milk with instant coffee Dinner: 4 to 5 oz lentils with 1 to 2 oz of cooked veggies I aim to get in 3 to 4 servings of veggies, so try to include a small amount with at least 3 meals. If I feel a little low on energy between meals, I turn to nuts or a bit of chocolate. I also do low fat muffins and breads every so often.

I worked up to 100 posts, just so that I could post in this thread! Now that I am here, though, I realize my thoughts are not all that collected. So, instead, I'd like to say "thank you" to all of you who are sharing!! It's liberating to read these posts, and see so many that have gone through, or are going through similar experiences, and finding yourselves. I'm 15 months out, and learn something new about myself ever day. This journey is about so much more than losing weight! Thank you for this thread!

Not eating can definitely make acid worse. Your body is tuned to start secreting acid at the mere thought of food, to prepare for digestion of a meal. If your body is hungry, the acid will soon follow! I rarely had acid issues pre-op, and started having them post-op. I made a few changes to help that: I ate ever 2 to 3 hours, had small meals, chewed my food to a mushy pulp, and ate slowly with small bites. I also tried to initially avoid the acidic trigger foods like spices or tomatoes. Eating Protein will give the acid something to work on, since carbs break down and flush out of your stomach right away. Try cottage cheese, or greek yogurt, if you are still on mushies. If you are on solids, try some eggs or Beans. (I'm vegetarian, so I have no experience with meat)

To eat! Your body still needs that baseline nutrition to keep itself running efficiently. Eating less than what is recommended will not only slow down your healing, but also your metabolism and weight loss. Like Chris says, don't compare! Everyone is different!

Many people confuse acid reflux for hunger... but some also confused hunger for reflux! Maybe your body actually is hungry. My doctor gave me a good tip on figuring out whether or not I'm hungry - imagine eating a boiled egg. If you can picture yourself wanting to eat a boiled egg, and truly enjoying it, chances are that you need food. Of course, it's not always a fool-proof method, but it has worked for me. I often get acid issues when I go too long without eating, and then eat too fast, which leads to more reflux. Try to listen to your body, and don't let yourself "be hungry", if your body is asking for food. At 4 weeks out, you must be on soft foods, or semi-solid foods. Eat every few hours, and keep up the protein!

Imlosing it, I completely understand where you are coming from! I was overweight my whole life (it's awesome to say that in the past tense), and felt like there was always someone watching my plate to see what I ate or how much of it I ate. That paranoia continued on post-op, and is still there, even though I hit goal a few months ago. But you know what I realized? A lot of these people who seem to be overly concerned about my dietary intake actually genuinely care for me, and don't know how else to show their support. It was me who assumed someone was still trying to criticize me or my food choices. Now, it's very heartwarming when someone makes a special dish that they think I can eat. Most people don't actually know the ins and outs of the surgery, they don't realize that I can eat whatever I want. My boyfriend's mum saw me sipping on a Protein shake a week out of surgery, and thought that was how I would live the rest of my life. So, the next time I visited her, she had stocked her cupboards with juices and protein powders. It irritated me, but I realized she was trying to be supportive in her own way. So, I sat her down and explained to her how I would slowly incorporate normal foods back into my diet. I live with my parents, and my dad still asks me when I will eat "like a normal person". He doesn't want to ruffle my feathers, he just wants to make sure I'm happy and satisfied with the variety in my diet. Of course, this lady you are working with might seriously be an evil woman who wants to put you down and upset you...but there is also the possibility that she respects your decision, and wants to help you out. Good luck to you!

I feel like the best thing about having had this surgery is that now I can think of food all day, and not feel guilty. I look forward to my meals, I surf recipe blogs, and I make mental notes of things I want to eat. All without feeling like a horrible person!! I cook more than ever, I eat a lot more variety, and some times I even feel like I eat more than I did pre-op. Of course, I make much better choices, and I'm all the happier for it I can walk around in public with food now, without thinking that the world is staring at me or judging me for eating!

I love to eat still, and I'm super happy about it! Like JerseyGirl, I'm happy to finally be feeling satisfied, with healthier foods and smaller portions. AngelaMarie, I eat every 2.5 to 3 hours, and I like it that way. It helps me stay energetic, satisfied, and keeps my metabolism up. I get lots of variety during the day, which helps keep me from snacking. Of course, you have to ask yourself if you are eating just because you can, because you are thirsty, or because you are genuinely hungry. Like SummersGirl, I find myself craving more salty than sweet, but I figure that's a good thing! I still enjoy dessert, but it's easier to stop eating it after a few bites.

Gettinmeback, you'll be fine, as long as you stay vigilant! Yogurt is going to go down easier, because it's not exactly a solid, and there is no Fiber in it. Try to add an ounce of granola, and it will make a big difference. I can easily put in 5 oz, sometimes 6, but I stay conscious and continue to weigh my meals. I still track everything. The difference between now and before the sleeve, is that now you are aware of your eating and you are in control! You have the ability to control what goes into your mouth, and how much of it. The sleeve will help you, as long as you work with it.

Thank you, Ms Skinniness! It's sucky to hear that no one in the class asked you for advice... I suppose I might have been in their position once upon a time. It's hard to take that next step towards health, unless you're 100% ready. Until then, it's sort of intimidating to see others who have taken the leap towards a new lifestyle. Is your Diabetes under control, or at least manageable, after having surgery?

Sleeve of Steel! It's exciting to see a post from you! Your posts were a big boost to my willpower and confidence when I first had the surgery. I was always on the forum when I started out, and have only recently come back to see what is new. I'm currently 16 months out. I was given a healthy weight range from 115-125 (for my height), and have managed to stay within that so far. Just like you, I have some days where I can eat loads, and other days where I really feel the restriction. I still weigh my foods, and limit meals to 4 or 5 ounces, depending on the food. I don't count calories as much, but I make sure to get in a minimum of 60 Proteins, and aim for 1000-1500 calories a day. I stopped tracking on fatsecret, and mostly track everything in my head. It's like second-nature now. I've recently started introducing more healthy fats and carbs into my diet, and have found a new love for non-processed, natural foods. I feel much more normal with the surgery than I did without, interestingly enough. Ms. Skinniness, I've found myself grazing and taking in more sugar, as well!! I have to catch myself every so often, and remind myself to keep busy if I'm bored, or eat a proper meal if my body is telling me it's hungry. I eat every 2.5 to 3 hours, to keep from grazing. This sleeve has not only helped me stay healthy, but also everyone around me! They try to follow my habits, and ask me for nutrition ideas. It's so surreal. I feel blessed! I was asked to write a patient testimonial for my doctor's website, which was super exciting! http://www.oliakcenter.com/sleeve-gastrectomy/testimonials/ (I'm at the very bottom)

I drink 8 glasses of Water a day, and have a dry mouth often. It's worst when I wake up! I really haven't found a solution yet, other than to always have a bottle of water with me. I make sure to drink 2 glasses of water after waking up, and 2 glasses between each meal. Hopefully someone else on here will have an explanation or solution!