AliveAgain

May I ask what are your specific numbers? Calories, Protein, carbs, fluids? Are you exercising at all? I know it's hard when the scale stops moving, I've had more stalls than I can count. But they do pass, and it's always a mystery to me what made them happen in the first place. I think for me a lot of it is menstrual/hormonal. The scale slows down just before I start my TOM and until about 7-10 days in to the next cycle. They say the drop in hormones can slow it down, then rev back up when they start surging around ovulation. Keep to the plan, mix it up however you can (more protein, more fluids, more or different exercise) -- IT WILL HAPPEN FOR YOU!!

Hey there! I noticed you posted this in late May, but I wanted to let you know that I just posted a bunch of size 22 items I'm selling FOR DIRT CHEAP on Flickr. Feel free to peruse and see if there is anything you're interested in! I know the feeling, as currently have only eight tops and three bottoms that fit me Best of luck!

Thank you everyone who has replied so far! I will be marking things as sold and taking down the pics once the items are shipped and on their way! I'll be keeping the items posted for a while and continuing to add more pics as I take them!

My doctor said no pill for 30 days before/after due to risk of blood clot complications. Have you asked your doc of this is OK to do?

LOTS OF CLOTHES FOR SALE -- VERY CHEAP! Mostly size 20-22 bottoms, 1X and 2X tops, swimsuits, dresses, skirts! Some brand new, some barely worn 2-3 times! I have uploaded pictures of everything I'm selling and/or giving away to Flickr. This is my first time using the service, so please PERSONAL MESSAGE ME if the link does not work for you. I've set "asking prices" but am willing to discount for anyone looking to buy A LOT of items, even throw in items (t-shirts, etc) for free! You can search by "sets" on the right-hand side by size, type, season, etc. (the size is the first number in the title) Not looking to make a profit, just trying to cover the expenses of having to buy "newer" clothes myself Will most likely use PayPal for payment, but open to conversation. Willing to email, Skype, or speak with anyone with questions or wanting to talk about what they like! Will also be posting these items on Craigslist if you live in the San Jose,CA/Bay Area and would like to meet up in person. All clothes kept in a smoke-free home. Really hoping this will hep some of my friends on here as they progress on their journey. It is truly an exciting place to be in need of needing new clothes for work, home, or play! Much better if you're not having to do it at full price. Best of luck that you find something you like! Cheers, Emily

I've heard it's best to reintroduce alcohol at home as well because some of us will not react well with the new sleeve. I've heard it's common to get drunk off of just a few sips, or get flush and sweaty from the sugar alcohols. Sorry, can't speak from experience -- I don't care much for alcohol so not sure when, if ever, I'll try it again. But women in my support group talk about alcohol ALL THE TIME. Also, remember to count those (empty) calories! Red wine is the best, and measure. Most of us Americans "think" we know a glass of wine, but really the way we pour is more like 2-3 glasses (well over 8-10oz). But yes, please wait at least 6 weeks to 3 months!

Tight calves and plantar faciitis are the reasons for my heel pain. See a podiatrist to be sure. But what helped me were the Rubz massage ball for the foot, better shoes with Superfeet orthotics, and rolling/stretching the calves. Google foam rolling and ball rolling for those muscles, there are videos to show you how. These plus basic stretches could help.

I was a 40H in Lane Bryant bras at the time of surgery. I can't wear their bras now b/c I'm a 34 band size and the smallest they make is 38. However, I love their full-coverage bras so I had a tailor take in the band on two 38G bras. Cost $15 each. They work, for now, but the straps are a little uncomfortable b/c they rub under my armpits with the "smaller band." I dropped in band size first and fast losing about 4 inches in the first two months. The cup following a little bit here and there, then it's been back and forth ever since. It's hard to predict what you'll need in the future, but I'd bet you'll lose in your back-fat first. But remember the rule with bras: If you go down in a band size, you need to go up in a cup size unless you lose in both places at the same time. It's hard for some people to grasp, but it's true. I am wearing a 34H bra right now in the Freya brand, but can wear a 32G in the Aviana brand. Go figure. I would check out HerRoom. I've ordered over $2500 in bras and swimsuits trying to find one that works for my size. Unfortunately, their sizing charts are from the manufacturers and are not always accurate. But their customer service team has been very good to me with all the returns (I sent back easily $2200 worth of merchandise) and free shipping.

Really it's whatever you like and what is comfortable. But yes, high-intensity intervals is one of the best ways to lose weight. Just doing 45min on a treadmill all the time will work for a while, but you run the risk of repetitive injury and eventually it will not work as well as it once did. My personal trainer gets my heart rate up with simple things like marching, side-walking, lateral ball touches, plank toe taps, and mixes it up with some resistance band and weight work. She (personally) loves to get her heart rate up on the treadmill then get off to do some weight and core exercises, then back on the treadmill, repeat. I know trainers sound fancy and expensive, but (most) of them have good knowledge of what works. Or you can Google, probably find some videos. I liked working with mine because she helped me correct my form when it was slightly off, help prevent injuries, use of the wrong muscle group. I would highly suggest swimming, it's one of the best workouts for your overall body and gets (my) heart pumping more than treadmills.

It depends on where you are post-op and your doctor's goals. Mine gave me an IDEAL breakdown of 70-75% Protein, 10-20% good carbs (green veggies, fruits, some grain), and 5-10% healthy fats (olive oil, avocado, almonds). If you consider there are 4 calories in every gram of protein, and you're aiming for 70-90g of protein on say a 600-800 calorie diet (what most patients are for months 2-9), then it can be more like 45-60% depending on the day. Twenty percent sounds too low to get adequate protein

My appetite goes back and forth on me as well. Some meals I feel like I could eat a full 5-6oz amount of food before I feel full, and other days I'm full at 3oz. I know my appetite opens up after doing longer, more strenuous exercise. I also get that slightly bloated, distended feeling around the intestinal area for a few days after. I'm still eating the good stuff -- lean meats, green veggies, skip the fats, the refined carbs. There is no weight gain, in fact mixing it up from higher caloric days to lower seems to help break minor stalls. I wonder if when we eat "more" ounces the food is not digesting in the stomach enzymes enough before being pushed into the next stage? When food is not broken down enough, usually the intestines are unwilling or unable to grab all the nutrients and kind of wants to "get it out of here" faster. I told my husband I needed his help, since he's usually with me for every meal to make sure I get back to measuring. I got to a point I could eyeball 2oz of chicken, fish, steak on the nose. Same with veggies, yogurt, etc. But when eating out, other sleevers in my support group have told me to ALWAYS get an empty plate and measure your food before you take one bite. The worst things to do is to split with someone or order a full entree and not portion out what you will eat right then and there. My weakness is that my husband will order say, a bento box. I eat 4 pieces of sashimi, some edamame, then I'll have a little chicken teriyaki...oh and a bite of salad, maybe one piece of the roll he ordered as well (rice picked off)....did I mention I had a few sips of miso Soup before? Instead, I need to put what I SHOULD eat on a small plate and STICK TO IT without picking away at the box. The other thing I had to get back to doing was food journaling. I got off about a month ago because I started to rotate the same meals, Snacks, etc. so much I practically had the numbers memorized and I got comfortable. However, I think it's a good reminder to journal the meals and snacks before their even eaten. That way I know when to stop. Fact is, my stomach is pretty satisfied with 2-4oz of food, or about 200 calories. It's the head hunger that kicks in after that. Not always bad, just remembering what it's like to be at a summer cookout, having fun, letting my guard down, distracted with conversation. Does that make sense?

That is just ridiculous! But it's probably their way of covering the time the waitstaff spends on their table. Also sounds like their portions are (shocking) too big, and rather than address that they would rather pass the buck to their customers.

How far out are you? I starting adding mushies to soup (soft tofu, cooked mushrooms, very cooked asparagus) at about 4 weeks out. But not in the first 2 weeks post-op. Now, I eat Soups all the time. Preferably, you still want to limit HOW MUCH liquid makes up the soup and count it towards your meal. For example, I can eat about 4-5oz of solids comfortably now, so when I have soup I try to estimate that solids (chicken, veggies, etc.) make up about 3oz and the broth is about 2-3oz. If it's a heartier soup like a low-fat clam chowder, then I can usually only do about 4oz. Remember to chew the solids!

Hi everyone! I've posted before and have responded to a few individuals that I have literally 10 boxes of clothing to give-away and some items I'd like to sell. It's taken me a long time to gather them, take some pictures, and put into a format that should help everyone know what I have. I've attached a sample of the PDF I'm creating and would like to know (before I create the whole darn thing) if this format works for anyone interested. These are just the items I would like to sell (at a DEEP discount) because I never wore them and they still have the tags on them. Sadly, the store will not take them back. I have jeans (mostly Lane Bryant) in all kinds of shapes (barely worn, to slightly worn), capris, pants, skirts, top, sweaters, pajamas, even some bras if you're interested. I would say 75% of this stuff I'm willing to give away if you're willing to pay shipping. There are some items as mentioned, that I'd like to try to make a little bit of money to help go towards the clothes I need. I've been unemployed for six months and any little bit would help! Send me a personal message if you are SERIOUSLY interested!

I use SynTrax Nectar powders mixing in a Blender Bottle (you can find at Bed, Bath & Beyond) with some ice. Never clumps, always comes out smooth. Not sure you'll be able to purchase it before the weekend though, since I normally order from Amazon or my surgeon's office. They make great sample packs that are easy to throw in a purse or suitcase, too.

Decaffeinated teas are mostly green and black teas that have been decaffeinated through a special process. However they may still contain up to 3% of the original caffeine content. Herbal "teas" or Tisanes are any herbal infusions not made from Camellia Sinensis (tea plant). Tisanes may be made of flowers, leaves, fruits, seeds, roots etc. They are naturally 100% caffeine free. The examples of herbal teas are: Chamomile, Peppermint, Fruit Teas, Hibiscus, Lemon, Verbena, Rooibos (red tea).

Since I am NOT A DOCTOR, I would advise you to talk to your doctor first, make sure he's aware of you taking it. Most appreciate knowing about any herbal or homeopathic remedies. Especially since I do not know what medications you are taking or not taking!!! For my knee surgery, I was instructed to take Arnica Montana (30c dosage) Arnica Montana is available in health food stores. You want to purchase 30c tablets. Obtaining the correct dosage is important as it reflects the dilution. A 30x dosage is ten times more concentrated. Take two tablets, three times a day, for the first three days after surgery. Place the tablets under your tongue to dissolve about 15 minutes to 30 minutes before eating. Boiron is the most trusted brand I use. You may want to go with a slightly smaller dosage like 6c (that's what I use for basic bruising and strains). Do not use the topical Arnica (Traumeel, etc) on open cuts or incisions! You do not need a prescription, but again -- tell your doctor in case any medication he may have you on should have complications or may be compromised in effectiveness.

The only time I had to sip Water was the first two weeks. Then I could take bigger sips in the next few weeks. By about 5-6 weeks out, I was back to drinking water just like I did before surgery. Now I can take multiple sips in rapid succession, and I rarely "gulp" it down unless I'm out exercising in really warm weather. Isopure counts, but try it first. I couldn't stand the stuff, left a weird aftertaste in my mouth for hours like someone rubbed my tongue on dirt.

Yes, we have a portion and taste problem here in the US! Internationally, I used to laugh at serving sizes being so small down to the tiny-child glasses for juice or soda. But the food was so FLAVORFUL! Now I truly see portions for what they are -- TOO MUCH for anyone! Even sugary caffeinated drinks, why would anyone ever need more than a small (tall) size? There is this psychological notion that we NEED the caffeine to get through the day, when really it's just a bad cycle of getting a quick sugar rush then a crash thinking we need more. Mexican food used to be one of my favorite meals, now not so much. It's because what I loved were the carbs. The giant amount of lard-cooked refried beans, oil-soaked Spanish rice, mounds of guacamole (good fat, but highly caloric), fried tortilla chip, sour cream, and the refined-flour-tortilla burrito with cheese sauce. Butter, cream, oil: Oh my!!

I have one, but have yet to use it when I'm with people other than my husband because he's the only one who knows I had the surgery. And I've done all the tricks: To-go box before eating, sharing with my husband (we do this at most meals), telling them it's quite delicious and I'm very satisfied. Once, we got the bento box at our fave sushi place -- I eat the sashimi and some edamame. The waitress asked if I wanted to order an extra soup/rice since it only comes with one. I was very nice, told her "No thank you, I'm not that hungry" and she brought it anyway. She said, "I don't want you to be hungry!" I was perplexed as though she thought I would get enraged and take it out on her after declining. Ugh, I know it's something I'll always have to deal with. Maybe it has to do with where I live, customer service seems to be on the decline everywhere I go lately not just in the food industry.

Sorry, just realized the article was cached on my computer and may not work for you. Here is a copy/paste of the content: Weight Loss Stall or Plateau A weight loss stall or plateau is an extended period of time during reducing efforts where is there is no weight loss according to the scale and no loss of inches according to the tape measure. This is why it is so important to take your body measurements before surgery, so you'll have a reference as your weight loss progresses post-op. We suggest you take measurements of your chest, waist and hip, neck, upper arm, thigh and calf. Be aware it is very common for your weight loss to "stall" shortly after surgery. Diana explains the reason for this below. The Inevitable Stall By Diana C. A "stall" a few weeks out is inevitable, and here's why. Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a saber tooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored. Breathe, and fuggedaboudit for a few days. What You Can Do About a Stall or Plateau If you are experiencing a post-op weight loss stall or plateau further out there are a few possible causes. First, check that are you really in a stall. If the scale has stopped moving you may be losing inches, so check your measurements. Too Many Carbs? Carbohydrates can start sneaking into your foods without you being aware of how quickly they are adding up. For more information on carbs, see our section on Carbohydrates. If you are struggling with your weight loss you may want to examine your daily carb count. You can try to keep your carbs under 50g a day and see if that makes a difference in your weight loss. Do not eat carbs before bedtime as it triggers insulin and initiates fat storage. There are some great web site resources you can use to keep track of what you are eating. Fit Day Spark People - If you join Spark People also join the DS group. The Daily Plate Calorie King For more tips on keeping a food journal see the Personal Nutrition Guide. Eating Enough? If you are under-eating or go more than 4-5 hours without eating, your body will shift into fasting mode, slow your metabolism and conserve your stored energy (fat). This can contribute to a weight loss stall or plateau. Make sure you are eating small meals or small Snacks throughout the day and also ensure you meet your daily Protein requirements. Try eating some protein with every meal or snack. For more information on protein requirements see our section on Protein. Drinking Enough? An adequate level of water in your body aids in the effective breakdown of fat. The daily minimum recommendation is 64 Fluid oz of water a day. If you are in ketosis you will need to drink even more water to ensure the ketones are flushed out of your system. You may also need more than the minimum amount of water if you are exercising or live in a warmer or dry environment. Exercising? Exercise can increase your metabolism and burn fat. Strength training will build muscles and will boost fat burning. In a stall you can try increasing your volume of exercise or changing up your routine to overcome a weight loss stall or plateau. If you have been doing mainly aerobic activity, try doing a bit of strength training, and if you have been doing mainly strength training, try an aerobic work-out. The High Fat - High Calorie Stall Buster Many DSers swear by the fat/calorie shock as an effective weight loss stall or plateau buster. Having a day of higher fat and calorie eating followed by a returning to consistent low carb eating can sometimes "shock" your body back into weight loss mode.

Yes, this is normal for EVERYONE. It's why so many of those diet pill/gimmick companies can claim "lose 20 pounds in two weeks!" or the like. This article is very good at explaining weight loss stalls and plateaus. Potassium also gets depleted in the water weight stored, that's why it's normal to feel wiped out in the first month after surgery -- and to make sure to take vitamins, drink plenty of fluids, and stay on stop of mineral levels (electrolytes) with your surgeon, doctor, or NUT!

My surgeon never gave me a pre-op diet, just directions to lower the carbs, go high protein, and try to lose 10-15 pounds before surgery. He said the most important thing is to shrink the liver to allow better access to the stomach and reduce chances of complications. It's also a chance to practice what you'll have to do more stringently after surgery, so that you don't go into emotional shock in the first two phases after surgery (liquids and full liquids). So I just dieted like normal with salads, veggies, no soda, cut out sugary stuff, ate lots of chicken, tried out a few protein shakes. But I still made time to have some of my favorites, just in very small bites. Then of course, clears 24 hours before surgery for anesthesia reasons.

Before I jump into this rant, I want to let everyone know that many years ago I worked as a waitress. I know that it is some of the hardest work I've ever done, physically. The incentive is to "sell up" by selling alcoholic drinks, sides, pushing Desserts. They are making a living, and I respect that very much. That being said, can we talk about the art of listening to your customer? Unfortunately, I come from family and friends who love getting together and eating out. And I should note most of them are at very healthy, ideal weights so I'm usually the "biggest" in the group. But whether they are extremely athletic or just have amazing genes, they can order the fried app, burger with fries and a few beers. I don't mind, the food is not the problem. I'm still in that great place where I'm rarely hungry and don't have cravings. Sometimes just seeing fried foods or the smell of greasy stuff can turn my stomach now. Call me lucky? But what happens is that for some reason I'm the one the waitstaff likes to focus on. I'm the one that they ask, "Just the side salad with chicken? Are you sure that's all you want?" Or when I order the grilled shrimp appetizer, and ask them to hold the butter during cooking (please use olive oil) -- and they show up with the full entree with rice or mashed potato side. When I ask WTH, I get, "I'm sorry I thought that's what you wanted." When I'm thinking in my head, that I'm positive I said "appetizer" and even pointed to that section on the menu. Even when I order the side salad, I get the full meal portion. WTH? "I asked if it was going to be your meal and you said yes, so I figured you meant to order this one and not the side." They are all accommodating when I correct them, which I have to do in front of everyone, calling more attention to my new eating habits. They don't charge for the larger thing, take it back, etc. When they don't, I'm then trying to eat my 3-4oz of food, leaving what looks like an entire meal untouched on my plate, and I get the "Is everything OK with your meal?" question multiple times during the meal, again in front of everyone. I get it. People are human, they make mistakes. But I do not remember waitstaff getting my order wrong so often before surgery. Of course, I'm presuming they're thinking, "The fat girl will not be happy with that little food, I'll give her more." But that's a slippery slope to presume their motivations. I'm reaching a place where I don't look forward to these occasions, of eating out. It's not about the food, it's about how what/how little I'm eating is such a focus. I've used the "I don't feel well" or "I'm not that hungry" excuses, it gets me by, but it's getting old. Has this happened with anyone else?

I've been using Arnica orally and topically for years for anything from small bruises, sore muscles, and yes after surgery (knee and VSG). It is homeopathic, has very few if any reactions with other medicines, and is nearly impossible to overdose. And since it's sublingual, no worries about upsetting the stomach. It's hard to say how much of a difference it really makes since I don't have a control to compare it to (only one of me), but it helped after my knee surgery. Do make sure you take the right dosage for your situation.