MinaT

Just from lurking here for so long, and reading everything I can for the past 7 months, I have followed so many people's pre-op and post-op posts. Those that seem to be on a stricter diet after surgery seem to have a better recovery rate, less complications and you hear about less stall issues, especially since they are introduced to new foods slowly. Those that get out of the box and start eating right away, seem to have more issues and more complication and post more why am I not losing like everyone else. There are always unexpected complications that happen, which cannot be controlled, but by and large, those that that realize this is a tool and it's up to them to control what they put in their mouth and when and do things the way it's meant to be done, seem to be far happier and are far more successful. What you do with your tool (the sleeve) will determine where you will be 2 months to a year down the road.

No, I am having some serious adhesions removed and a hernia repaired and removal of some polyps

Congrats and best wishes to you and good luck!! It's an exciting time for sure.

Added, thank you for the update!

Stalls can happen even on the pre-op shake plan. I gained 3 pounds this week on my pre-op shake diet. I drink 3 Protein shakes New directions plus my decaff tea and maybe one popsicle. I am drinking about 70 ounces of a Water a day. I exercise 2 hours on the gazelle and I walk 1 to 1-1/2 miles a day, plus every other day I have lifted weights. I started out 237 - gained 3 pounds in one day to 240 - hit 231 now i'm up to 233, yesterday I was 234!!!! I see people that lost 15-20 pounds on 2 week shakes. I You would think I would have lost more or even not gain, but it happens. Here's the stats for the last 10 days calories carbs fat protein sodium potassium Totals 624 34 19 79 1,984 2,170

The size has never even come up since I started this program in November and I'm getting sleeved on Monday. I guess maybe I'll be asking that before they knock me out lol.

Holy cow, did I repeat myself about 20 times in that above post lol!!! I miss my vitamins so much, I am so foggy since they cut me off all my vitamins and minerals I always take.

It's funny sometimes I am reading a post in another thread completely different and I see that they are on pre-op shakes and I have to hunt down the date or I notice someone that hasn't posted in this section so I add them and send them a note to check this area out. I am spending less time at my computer as I have a lot of pre-op things I want to accomplish and surgery is June 4th. Please if you notice someone not on the list, Post here for me, Again, I'm going in June 4th and am trying to keep up with the list the best I can, but if you see something let me know and if I can't get to it right away, please be patient. Silly me and my lists, I am sorry in advance if I can't keep up during surgery and immediately thereafter, but I will try if they get posted in this section.

Please remember that many people do not lose during the 1 week visit. Some retain Water and have more bloating, more inflammation and some people actually GAIN, I am pretty sure I will gain weight, I retain water easily and I'm off my water pills and I will be given a ton of fluids in an IV for four days. I am assuming I'll be nice and bloated and I have chronic inflammation. Go me! It's not going to be theend of the world, it will come off. Relax and cut yourself some slack right now. Don't expect to have the same results as those that drop 17 in a week or those that gain 8 in a week. I had a c-section and my son was 9lbs. 8 ounces Imagine having a child, not eating in 3 days, but just having fluids and gaining 15 pounds...it happened to me, it's normal.

I wish I could help you. I'm not really as addicted to food as much as some people seem to be, I have a hard time exercising since I get sick a lot. I also have an issue with chronically eating only once a day and I have no metabolism. I drink my calories in juices and I eat because I cook and it's more of a social aspect in our family. On and off steroids for issues like you are explaining has contributed a lot too. For me it's mind over matter, not being lazy and eating Breakfast and lunch so I don't load down on carbs at dinner and drink so many empty calories.

Added you aled and Pdubbaya23 looking forward to hearing your date. Wow so we're getting close.... June 1, 2012 BigGirlVee -- Dr. Coirin, Modesto, CA 2thenewme -- Dr. Jose Rodriguez, Mexico AChristie -- in Juarez

Lucky you. I've paid $600.00 so far out of pocket. $200.00 first fee when I met with the nutritionist at month 4 of pre-op. $200.00 on the first day of 2 hour meeting with the nurse nutritionist and they sent me home with 42 (14 day supply) of shakes for the pre-op diet. $200.00 on the last pre-op appointment with the head nurse, where I received my spirometer, my last testing orders. I get free appointments for life with the nutritionist, and the head nurse, free monthly group meetings for life, etc. discounts at a fitness club by my home. My insurance is 90/10 - and unfortunately medicare (my secondary) doesn't cover the sleeve yet, and since my surgeon changed hospitals from Methodist to St. Mary's they have to redo their Centers of Excellence Bariatric thing for medicare. I'm hoping medicare picks up all the ekgs, upper gi etc. I have heard nothing about tummy tuck or the pan(whateveritscalled) surgery. Thanks for the awesome information and wow - what great friends. I don't really have friends that live near me and truthfully only one friend and my parents know about the surgery. Looking forward to hearing more about your journey and being in the June 2012 club with you!

I was told not to take anything a week before my surgery, i quit them all Sunday. I'm wondering why.

Wow!! I have to be on clear liquid Protein for 2 weeks after surgery, then 4-5 weeks of full liquids before I even progress to pureed or soft food! Hard to believe what a huge difference there is in the diets different surgeons or bariatrics group let you go on . I'm going to stick with what my doctor is recommending so my stomach can fully heal.

Thanks so much for that information newfoundlove. I am on day 10 of pre-op shakes and I was forced to stop on Sunday my flaxseed oil (for my dry eyes and heart) and my glucosamine chondritan, calcium, magnesium, vit. d, zinc, Multivitamin & my furosemide (Water pill). Yesterday I had a hissy because I gained 2 pounds in one day on 3 shakes...really? I was more tired yesterday than any day so far but I completely forgotten that Sunday I quit taking my Vitamins and water pill and I'm sort of suffering because of the lack of vitamins and I have water retention because of how much water I drink and I have not had water pills. All I can think of is I can't wait to get on my multivitamin and my flaxseed and glucosamine because my joints, eyes and body is suffering already lol.

Always remember full liquids still must consist of at least 80 grams of Protein. If you don't get your protein, at month 3 and 4 your hair will be paying a serious price. We all have to suffer the dreaded 3-4 month post-op hair issue, you can make it less dramatic by getting in all your protein. As stated above, still watch out for empty calories and empty nutrition foods and high sodium content, it will just make the weight loss that much slower.

Added Tonibugg - and was wondering when your surgery is Trcyprkr70?

I was confused on this too. I have surgery on the 4th and they made me quit all my Vitamins so I wasn't sure when I'm allowed back on them. I definitely would like to get on the multi-Vitamin, Biotin and b-12 as soon after surgery as I can.

The skim milk during the pre-op adds too many unnecessary calories etc. so you have to mix it with water. I always add ice to drinks and mix it in the magic bullet. Hard to believe we are getting so close to our first few Sleevers.

It takes a lot of courage to make a post like this, so that's a huge step. You pretty much laid it out there what the problem is. You have been snacking and not drinking Protein shakes and eating healthy. Make yourself accountable. If you used to chart your food on Myfitnesspal.com or some other start doing it. Start visually becoming accountable for what you put in your mouth. If you see it on paper, it becomes real. Start counting your Water, and start moving again. Not sure what it cost you or your insurance for this surgery, not sure how much pain you endured, but think about that next time snacking becomes an option. There's no more surgery after this one, except hip, knee replacement, etc. plus doctor's bills for sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes if you don't correct your ways now the scale WILL eventually start going up. Good luck and I wish you the best. You know what to do, lots of people here to help you and encourage you.

I agree with PdX. In the end the decision is yours. I still have to buy food for my family that I cannot eat. They eat it, heck I even have to cook it, but I have changed the way I buy food now. Many of us are busy and though what you say may be true, at this very second in your life, that it's cheaper, faster & easier to buy McDonald's than it is to buy chicken and fresh vegetables and grill. Make homemade soups, chili's. Take the cost of this surgery, health care, doctor's visits that you will inevitably have to deal with like some of us that are older and you will see which is actually, faster, cheaper & easier. After the surgery it will still be cheaper, faster & easier to buy McDonalds, once you are in your 40's like me and have spent easily 100,000 going to Cardiologist, Rheumatologist, Neurologist, Internists, as I sit and think of all the hours I spend in waiting rooms, all the money on prescriptions, surgeries I may end up needing in the future, like hips, knees, neck, I realize, what is really important. Your boyfriend got used to doing this for you, because he thought it made you happy. That or you have to realize you are allowing him to help you sabotage your efforts. Good luck and I hope today is an easier day.

Sending thoughts and prayers to all May 30 sleevers.

Sending you prayers, it's not normal, hopefully they can figure it out and get you back on the road to healing and feeling better.

The easiest to use is most definitely myfitnesspal.com. It's free and works. I've tried fitday.com but it has a lot of bells and whistles but it not as easy as myfitnesspal.com which charts your food and it has some neat features. If you cook yourself you can input your ingredients and do a recipe, so you know your own values of your homemade Soups, chili's and chop suey's like I do. I've used it for six months. Always check thoroughly the listings because some people will put "egg salad" but if you don't know what ingredients they are using, then you can't go by it, but it's easy to do it yourself by the ingredients you use. Most restaurants have their foods listed, like Red Lobster, Potbelly, Wendy's etc. so it's super easy. If you eat the same foods every day it's easy to pick and chose your foods you ate previously. With Myfitnesspal you can get the app for your phone too. It's easy to chart your Water etc. You can also chart your cardio and strength training too. If you need more help with information on exercise calorie expenditures, I use http://www.nutribase.com/exercala.htm at times if I can't find it. Remember never to follow myfitnesspal.com recommended daily suggestion for Calories, Carbs, Proteins, Fat because if you do, there's good chance you will gain weight. Make sure you get your 80 grams of Protein, stay about 800 calories and about 45 grams of carbs or whatever your doctor recommends. ps I'm on the shake pre-op phase and I still chart that and my water every day to keep up with it.

I'm 5'3" - I know people that are 5'3" and get away with weighing 105 pounds, and I look better at about 130-135 any less I look gaunt because I am built solid and muscular. Then again I thought for a while if I could only be 200 again, I would be so happy.