randalljohn

Thanks for the feedback! I am exercising. I am going to have to watch the carbs. I've done better the past two days and have gone down a couple of pounds... and I am going to the gym at least three times a week.

Four months out and haven't lost any weight since August 1st--- have gained 5 pounds which makes me concerned, but I just need to get more disciplined. I have gotten into the habit of grazing throughout the day too much. My appetite is back right now and i wish it wasn't. This happen to anyone else?

Was doing great with my appetite, but I am starting to graze and i'm always wanting to snack. Anyone else have that problem? I know I need to get a grip on it and not get back into bad habits.

I have stayed away from carbonation completely since my surgery on April 19th. I was addicted to diet carbonated drinks of just about every kind. I was scared that I would stretch my sleeve with the carbonation, so I stopped drinking them. I do crave them once in a while, but I know I'm better off without ever going back to them.... plus I'm saving money just ordering water at restaurants!

i'm losing it ALL in my face and not in my gut!

What your are experiencing is completely normal. It will be very difficult to get all your protein initially. What I did the first week or two was to freeze protein shakes and then drink/eat them when they got frozen/slushy. Also, sugar-free popsicles are a good way to get fluid if you don't feel like drinking. Good luck! You're going to be fine, but it will take a while for your stomach to behave normally. Don't get discouraged.

I know what you mean, Star--- when you're out with people that have more food on their plate than I will eat in a week, I just want to tell them that they really don't need all of that. ( I may also be a little jealous that they can eat all of that and not gain weight).

Of course, I'm just kidding. Was watching ESPN today and they had competitive eating contests on and it was disgusting! I almost threw up watching it. Of course, I would lose because I would be able to eat only half a hot dog-- thank goodness!

I know this topic has been beat to death, but I have only told a few people and not even my own mother. There are so many people that look down on those who "have no self-control and resort to surgery." That is the way my family would view it and so do many who don't have a weight problem. I am not going to lie when someone flat-out asks if I had surgery ( which is really none of their business and they shouldn't ask)-- and that has happened and I have explained why I'm not advertising it. But it is getting more difficult because I have dropped 50 pounds in two months---and it's a pretty dramatic change when people you haven't seen in a while see you. I wish people didn't see the surgery as the "lazy way out", but I don't think the way skinny people see fat people is going to change any time soon.

Exhausting is right! I keep hoping this thread will die, but I guess I have just contributed to its life.

My doctor said I could eat whatever I could tolerate. I am at 7 weeks. I eat sugar free yogurt every morning for breakfast and sometimes a protein bar or shake mid-morning. I still do feel hungry, but when I eat, after a few bits, I am full. It is mostly trial and error to learn what you can eat and how quickly you can eat it. Eating slow is a challenge since I used to inhale my food. It has definitely been a learning experience. I didn't realize how addicted I was to food/eating.

i have not told most people. I did tell my direct boss at work and of course my wife and kids know. My parents would not agree with the decision that I made and most of my co-workers would see surgery as too drastic of a decision and have been judgmental of those who have had some kind of weight loss surgery. I do feel guilty when people ask me about my weight loss. Like most of you, I am telling people that I have cut way down on portions and I am eating high Protein, low carb. All that is true, of course. I don't talk about other medical procedures that I have had with anyone else as they are private and this weight loss surgery should be no different. Right now, I'm glad that I made the decision not to disclose it. I took only a few vacation days and was back at work very quickly.

I think I burp more when I eat too fast-- and therefore, too much. If it eat really slow, it's not as bad. But i'm definitely a burp machine right now. Hopefully, it will go away with time.

Thanks for the comments-- while I'm not happy that any of you are having a stall, it does help to know others are going through it and it is just part of the process! I told my wife to hide the scale from me so I won't be so obsessed to weigh all the time.

Well, just wanted to get some moral support here and see if others have had the same experience. I am 6 weeks post op-- lost 37 pounds in four weeks and have now gained 5 in the past two. I am being compliant diet-wise, though my doctor told me 3 weeks ago I could start adding normal foods, but that hasn't agreed with me so I am going back to mostly liquids and soft stuff. I'm probably not getting quite enough Water, but I'm trying. I am exercising- rejoined the gym, I'm feeling good and am starting to receive some compliments on my appearance. From what I read on the board, this kind of stall is normal, but it certainly is discouraging, especially when I gained a little bit back. I know (hope) I'll start losing again soon --- don't know how I couldn't with as little as I am able to eat! I am so impatient!! I'd be interested in your comments! Randall

I'm glad you're having a great week post-op!

I will be one month post-op on Saturday. Doctor said everything looked great when I went to see him two weeks post-op and I had no problems with nausea or throwing up. He said that I could start soft foods and even regular food as long as I chewed it up really well-- and that my body would tell me if I'm doing too much too soon. I have lost 34 pounds so far, which is great. I think I have been trying to eat too many normal foods and I'm just not ready yet. But I really am craving real food and I do take the time to really pulverize it before I swallow. The frustrating thing for me is that it isn't until 15 or 20 minutes after I eat that my body tells me that I over did it--- while you're eating, it seems to be going down great, but then later-- I am feeling like I need to throw up--- and sometimes do. I know I just need to back off of the regular foods and do more liquids.... and add the real food gradually. I never thought that I would miss eating so much-- I took out my mother-in-law and my family for Mother's Day to one of our favorite restaurants which was really difficult.... My old self would have devoured everything on the plate, but I was only able to enjoy a few bites and my 15 year old son took care of the rest This is teaching me a lot about my food addiction. I look forward to the day when I can eat normally and enjoy small portions of the foods that I love. I am interested in hearing your comments! Thanks, Randall

Just had to vent. I am craving real food so badly! The first few days after the surgery were a breeze and I was actually enjoying Jello, broth, then yogurt, pudding, etc, but now I am really sick of it! I know I have to see it through and I will, but the lack of variety is very frustrating. I want to eat something with texture!!

I am one-week post op. You must follow the post-op diet to be successful and not damage the surgery site as it takes time to heal. I won't say that I don't crave foods that I can't have, but I am not having hunger pains at all. In fact, I can't really believe how wonderful and filling that chicken broth and sugar-free Jello can be. There are things that my family is eating that really look delicious to me right now, but I am not about to screw this up.... it wouldn't just be cheating but would be medically damaging at this point. One day, I will be able to eat reasonable portions of the foods that I love. As I have seen said many times before, "Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels." There is no way that I would call this an easy process. Those that say that you are "cheating" by having this surgery must think that it's not difficult. ANYONE would lose weight following this structured diet. It is the reduced calorie amount that is causing the weight loss--- not that your smaller stomach makes you magically lose weight. The surgery changes your hunger which will give help with your willpower to accomplish what you couldn't on dieting alone. Don't give up! I almost backed out of the surgery myself because I kept thinking "i should be able to do this on my own", but I've never been able to. Now that I have had the surgery, I have the strength and willpower to stick with the plan. Good luck!

how much weight have you lost?

I'll probably have my wife hide our scale. I can see it may be an obsessive problem for me!

thanks for mentioning "My Fitness Pal"-- this is going to be an awesome tool. I was concerned that I was eating too much, but this is showing me exactly where I am in regard to calories and protein. Everyone should use this -- especially in the first few months after surgery.

Good luck! I hope everything goes as well for you as it has for me, so far! Keep us posted.

I LOVE the gummy vitamins. I also take calcium citrate in gummy form. Feels like I'm eating candy ( which is mostly true)-- vitamins in a candy base.