rdoactv

Surgery date 3/28
Starting weight 206
Current weight 182
Energy to burn!! And feeling great.

The standard "3 wk stall". No worries. It can last a few days or even a couple of weeks, but you will get past it. Im 4 wks out and have been teetering with the same pound for a week now. Uping my Protein and cals a bit today. However, despite the scales determination not to move, I've lost up to 2 inches on most areas of my body. Good luck.

Olivia23 - great question. I absolutely STILL have restriction when it comes to dense Protein (chicken, especially, but beef, pork, salmon, even meatless Protein, like veggie/soy burgers/sausage, etc.) I have never been one to "test" my limits when it comes to post-sleeve eating. I have an *almost* un-natural fear of throwing up and I can say that in the last 2.5 years I have NOT thrown up. Not even once. Not even in the post-anethesia fog that sometimes can make people regurg. So I'm in the camp that tends to underfill my sleeve. When it comes to meals I generally do NOT eat any more than 3-4 oz of meat. I don't care what kind of meat it is (4oz of meat is my high limit.) If it is a meal (vs. a snack) I will include an oz of veggies and maybe an oz or less of carbs (I try to choose whole grain, brown rice, sweet potato, etc.) but overall I do restrict most carbs from my daily diet. If I'm really trying to lose I need >30g carbs, and if I'm "generous" with my carbs I will average >100g daily. So a typical meal for me never more than 5-6 oz of food TOTAL.
I eat about 1,200 calories a day. I definitely find that I have to MEASURE and ACCOUNT for my calories or it's incredibly easy to EAT MORE than what I need. I didn't go and have 80% of my stomach removed so that I could end up eating the same amount of food that I did BEFORE surgery, so I have to remember that, otherwise yes, it would be easy to eat more. You can out-eat any WLS any day any time. Sure, probably not in the first few months after surgery when your stomach is swollen, pissed off and you are terrified of a leak, but after you heal, you could graze your way through the day and eat probably every 20 minutes or so and get in enough calories to equal a pretty big eating day.
I have to say that for the most part I feel so lucky to eat small amounts of food. I do not feel like I'm starving all the time or that I NEED to eat more. I sometimes sit around and get angry that I can't eat more than 1,200-1,400 calories a day WITHOUT gaining, but then again this was the trade off for having surgery. Learning to live with less was an ultimate goal. So then I realize that I'm doing just fine and get over it and move on.
I hope that answers your question and if not please holler!

Great job! Glad to hear from a vet. Nice to know that if u slack, u can always jump back into making good choices.

So today is exactly 2.5 years since I was sleeved on October 22, 2010. It's hard to believe that 2.5 years have passed.
I used to have a ticker but since they took away external tickers I've been too lazy to go and make a new one here. I originally lost -100lbs at the 18 month mark, (all since surgery, I wasn't required to lose weight before surgery) and then I spent about 9 months regaining about 15-20lbs.
In January of this year I rededicated myself to this journey and now have lost -9lbs of my regain. Hoping to lose the next -10-12lbs and then keep going towards goal (when all is said and done I would like to lose another -20lbs from where I am right now.)
Not much to say, except this is the best thing I have ever done for myself and my health. My husband is also sleeved and is just a little over 2 years post-op. He has lost around 65-70lbs and has maintained that weight for over a year now.
We work out, we eat right (most of the time) and yep we work at it. Not a free ride, not the "easy way out" but a chance for us to have a do-over. We make daily choices to keep, maintain, or improve our health.
Here is my story in photos.

Its about 2 oz maybe a bit more. (Its gastrograffin) Dr. Kelly doesn't use barium because it can cause problems if it were to leak into the body cavity. Gastrograffin would absorb. It does taste horrid. But swallow it quickly, and have the SF gum ready for when its over. U got this Good luck and congrats!

Its about 2 oz maybe a bit more. (Its gastrograffin) Dr. Kelly doesn't use barium because it can cause problems if it were to leak into the body cavity. Gastrograffin would absorb. It does taste horrid. But swallow it quickly, and have the SF gum ready for when its over. U got this Good luck and congrats!

When trying to slim down, we're bombarded with what foods to eat and how much, but it's not the only thing you need to think about. Timing is important, too. For issues slimming down, check out the info below to see when to eat each meal and snack to optimize your weight-loss results.
Breakfast: Don't skip Breakfast, and be sure to eat your morning meal within an hour of waking to jump-start your metabolism, consuming 25 percent of your daily calories. Example: 7 a.m.
Morning snack: Eat two to three hours after breakfast. This will keep blood sugar levels stable to avoid the low-energy sluggishness that makes you reach for high-calorie treats. Snacking also prevents the famished feeling that makes you inhale way more calories at your next meal than you would if you weren't plagued by hunger pains. Stick to 150 calories or less, about five percent of your daily calories. Example: 9:30 a.m.
Lunch: Your midday meal should be eaten two to three hours after your morning snack. Try to make lunch your largest meal of the day. Consuming more calories midday than at breakfast or dinner ensures you have enough time to burn all those calories, about 40 percent of your total daily calories. Example: 12:30 p.m.
Afternoon snack: Enjoy your snack two to three hours after lunch. Stick to 150 calories or less, about five percent of your daily calories. Example: 3:30 p.m.
Dinner: Eat the last 25 percent of your daily calories at dinner, about two to three hours after your afternoon snack. Finish your evening meal two to three hours before going to bed. Eating too close to bedtime can raise your body temperature and your insulin and blood sugar levels, cause heartburn or digestive issues, and prevent the release of melatonin - all of which can interfere with the fat-burning benefits associated with getting a restful night's sleep. Example: 6:30 p.m.

Hmmmm.. It must get awfully tiring to have to fight everyday about the qualifications of your doctors and coordinators?
Have you guys ever thought about why this happens everyday here? What is the psychology behind it?
It's exhausting don't you think?
Is it possible that the all (most of them anyway)
Have good points and bad?
And it's ok whoever you pick and shouldn't have to put so much time and energy in defending your decision.
It makes me wonder if somewhere, in your mind you are not entirely comfortable with your choice and therefore need to compensate?

That if you keep touching it you will go blind!! Oops! Wrong forum.

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SW: 226
Date of Surgery: 202
CW: 142
Height: 5'2"
Feeling like I do: PRICELESS!

The photo at the top left is me at my heaviest (489lbs) and the photo on the bottom right hand corner is me today at my current weight of 260lbs.

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Surgery 3/28. My care at florence was also top notch. No problems. Nurses were good. Yes, the place is dated, but being renovated. Despite the older look and equipment, it was adequate and all in working order. I had all WLS patients in the rooms near me. I had Dr. Kelly, and while leak tests CAN be done at Florence, he prefers the newer and better images on the flouro camera at Hospital Angeles which is very modern, so he has it done there enroute to the hotel. Surgeon preference and wasnt a big deal.Wonderful personal experience, and would do it again at Florence.

I'm 18 weeks tomorrow, I took my before picture at 235 lbs, one week before my surgery, today's picture I'm at 178 lbs :-) when I had surgery I wore a size 18 and today I wear a size 13, I've never been this small in my life! Lol

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I have this picture that I hate of myself before surgery... I decided to try on the clothes I was wearing in the pic and what a difference! I'm so happy and excited! I love losing weight!
I've lost 58 pounds in 11 weeks.

This is my Friday.

It was tasty, I'm sure. I would however advise you are very aware of the nutritional value of what you're eating, so you go into these decisions fully informed (if you are already aware of this information, please take this in the spirit is is intended.....helpful enlightenment!).
Crunchy Taco Supreme®
Serving size - 113 g (4 oz)
Calories - 200
Calories from fat - 110 (55% of the total calorie count)
Saturated fat - 4.5g
Total fat - 12g
Trans fat - 0g
Cholesterol - 35mg
Sodium - 320mg
Carbohydrates - 15g
Dietary Fiber - 3g
Sugars - 2g
Protein - 9g
1. Generally speaking, at 8 weeks post-op, you may wish to get more Protein "bang for your buck". I strive for 10 g protein for every 100 calories (or roughly a 10% equivalent). This Taco Bell choice had only 4.5% equivalent ratio.
2. 1 taco used up about 1/3 of your day's suggested carbs at this point in your post-op plan (everyone's nutritional plan is different, but I'm using a common 50 carbs/day rule). And these were deep friend processed corn carbs, not the much preferred complex carbohydrates you would get from fresh vegetables or fruit (which I also avoided for the first 6 months).
3. 55% of the calories from this meal was fat! That isn't a problem as a "one-time" choice, but be aware and don't make it a habit. That can play havoc with your long-term health, cardiovascular status, and make your weight loss much more difficult.
4. Sodium is quite high at 320 mg (assuming you used no taco sauce, if you did, that would bump it up significantly higher!). Keep an eye on sodium as it is also dangerous and can hamper your recovery as well as your immediate and long-term goals.
I'm not saying don't enjoy a "treat" now and then. But early on, you need to work on developing good habits and avoiding temptation foods. Fast food is notoriously bad for you (even apparently healthy choices) and this close to your surgery you should be no where near a Taco Bell or any other fast food place. If you're serious about success (and I hope you are!), you must take steps every day to change your lifestyle (in dozens of different ways). Avoiding Taco Bell for the next year (at least) is a good start.

Will you move in with me please?

Holy Wow!! You look fabulous! Congrats!

oh, and AmandaRaeLeo... I *LOVE* this comment, I need to put it up at my office:
"If you mess up. Have a weak moment. "Cheat". Own it."