lollyfidy1965

This might sound crazy, but rather than eating food, why don't you try a protein shake for "dinner". Maybe your sleeve is agitated from working on food during the day, and needs something easier to work on later in the day. Remember, your sleeve is really still healing...you may need to be a little more gentle with it sometimes.

I totally understand, CO! The only cheese I've had since my surgery is Laughing Cow spreadable low-fat Swiss....in part because I don't trust my ability to manage the amount of other cheeses I'd eat. Cheese has long been a major love of mine.....and a major contributor of calories!

For Breakfast I typically have 8 oz of Muscle Milk Lite. (100 calls, 6 g carbs, 15 g protein) For lunch I'll have 1/4 cup of tuna fish, with 1/4 cup fat-free cottage cheese, or 2 TBSP hummus with 5 or 6 baby carrots. Other options are 2 oz deli turkey, ham, or chicken, with cottage cheese, or hummus. For dinner I'll have 2 oz of fish, or some other "dense" meat (pork chop, chicken, etc), with a little (less than 1/4 cup) of veggies. (An example...tonight I had 2 oz of deli turkey, 1/8 cup green Beans, 1/8 cup cooked carrots, and 2 beets. I ate all the meat, all but 3 of the green beans and carrots, and couldn't eat any of the beets.) For Snacks I'll have hummus and baby carrots (if I haven't had them with a meal), deli meat, part of a Quest Protein bar (maybe 1/4), 8 oz of Muscle Milk Lite, Gelatein 20 (a high-protein gelatin), 3 or 4 whole-grain crackers with a small wedge of spreadable low-fat cheese....something high in protein, or, at least, low-carb. Reality is, I'm just not able to eat that much in one setting. In order to meet my protein requirements, my focus has to be on getting protein....with small amounts of veggies mixed in for variety.

I'm 10 weeks post-op, and eat 3 "meals", plus 2 snacks...so I'm eating, as you say, every 2-3 hours, in VERY small amounts. Even with feeling like "I'm constantly eating," the reality is, I'm only eating between 550 and 650 calories/day...mostly protein (75-90 grams/day), and very low carbs (fewer than 30 grams/day). As long as your following your guidelines (amazing how we all have a different set!!), you should be ok. Best of luck!

When you do get around to trying string cheese, Weight Watchers low-fat string cheese is quite good.

The only thing I've found (to avoid the feelings you've described) is to eat tiny bites, chew them like mad, and eat VERY slowly (to give your body time to recognize, and tell you, when its "full"). I'm nearly 10 weeks post-op, and am still only able to eat 1/2 cup of food (say, 1/4 cup of tuna fish, with 1/4 cup of cottage cheese) at a time...and only 2 oz of dense protein ("meat") at a time...and it can take me as much as 45 minutes to an hour to eat that. The only time I feel that "I'm gonna die" feeling is when I rush eating....its truly miserable, and worth missing! Best of luck!

I realize every program has its own suggestions, but I've yet to see one discussed on here that recommends getting 3 times as many carbs as protein. I'm almost 10 weeks out, and average 75-90 grams of protein/day, and keep my carbs below 30 grams. (Think Atkins-like...high protein, low carb.)

Well....the only thing I can think of is an isolated issue. I'm dealing with a nasty (and multiple) muscle injuries in my left hip/leg, and would love to be able to take some Advil, to help with the inflammation. Unfortunately, that's a no-go... Other than that, I'm loving my sleeve, and the weight loss that comes with it!

You might want to check with your nutritionist regarding the amount of carbs vs Protein you're consuming. Best of luck

Its always the bowel movement (or lack thereof)!! ;-P

I've discovered 4C packets...they come in a variety of flavors, and I've yet to find one that I don't like. Propel Zero flavor packets are also good (the berry, at least), if you can find them. (The 4C is cheaper than both Propel Zero and MiO.) I also drink decaffeinated hazelnut coffee, a variety of hot tea flavors, and include my daily protein shake (for breakfast) in my fluid intake. I can't get past the aftertaste of Vitamin Water Zero, and Isopure (RTD) is absolutely hideous (but some like it...it might be worth a try, and you can kill two birds (liquid and protein) with it, if you can stand the taste). Best of luck!

Indeed. My weight loss runs in a cycle...a week losing 5-7 pounds, and 5-7 days stuck at the same weight. During those "off" weeks, I typically see changes in my measurements (I measure my neck, chest, waist and hips every couple of weeks, when I'm stalling). I've also found that my weight loss isn't directly correlated to my going to the gym. This past few days I've been unable to enjoy my usual gym routine (treadmill walking twice a day, and two hours of water aerobics 5 days/week), because of a major hip (muscular) injury....but I'm still losing at my normal "losing week" rate.

I've been dealing with a major hip (muscular) injury, and have experienced significant pain along with it. I've found Tylenol Cough and Sore Throat (a liquid product with regular strength tylenol in it) to be very effective. I've also taken the "Junior" strength tylenol (or the Walgreens version)...a chewable tablet. The grape flavor tastes like grape pixie-stix, but is sweetened with sucralose (sugar free). The children's tylenol suspension (liquid) is hideously sweet, and makes me gag. Make sure you check with your surgeon before taking anything new....you don't want to inadvertently damage your sleeve! Best of luck!

As an alternate though....you might want to make sure what you're experiencing isn't acid reflux. Even if you're on one medication for acid, you may find yourself having "breakthrough" reflux. I came home from the hospital on liquid Zantac, and started having breakthrough reflux around 3 weeks post-op. My surgeon added a daily Prevacid solutab, and problem solved!! Many people experience acid reflux after surgery, and the sensation is very like that of "hunger". Best of luck to you!!

I'm almost 10 weeks out, and haven't experienced anything like "hunger" since the day of surgery. I use a "Diet Minder" food/exercise journal to plan my meals for the day, and make sure I stick to it. If I didn't schedule my intake, I could very easily go all day without eating (and that would be bad!). Congrats on your surgery, and best of luck to you!!

I "stall" about every 7-10 days, and it typically lasts 5-7 days, then I start losing again, and will lose 5-7 pounds in the next week. I've run through this cycle several times now, and have come to accept it as "normal" (so it doesn't cause me stress when I get stuck for a few days). This week is a "losing" week, and I am losing...even though I'm grounded from going to the gym, because of a nasty hip injury. Best of luck!

Alcohol is an absolute no-no, according to my program. I'd play it safe, and check with your surgeon. Happy birthday!

I would definitely check with your nutritionist. Personally, I was on full liquids from day 7 post-op until the third week. After advancing to soft foods for a week I developed breakthrough acid reflux. At that point my surgeon added Prevacid to my meds, and put me back on full liquids for three more weeks! I've learned to go very slowly when reintroducing solid foods....nothing matters more than taking care of my new best friend (my sleeve)!! If nothing else, follow your gut, and do full liquids until you feel more comfortable with the idea of adding more solid foods. You'll not hurt yourself by being more conservative than your surgeon suggests. Best of luck to you!

At a month post-op I was still on full liquids....perhaps your baby sleeve just isn't ready for anything solid yet (regardless of how well you chew it). I'd check with my surgeon/nutritionist, and see if going back to liquids might help. As for it getting better, at 9 weeks post-op, I'd say yes...it will get better. I'm still only able to eat about two ounces of dense Protein at a time, but can often combine it with a little cottage cheese, or hummus, with a couple baby carrots, in order to get some flavor variety. Granted, it takes me upwards of an hour to eat it....but that could be time spent sitting at the table, enjoying the company of your family! I deal with cold food, too...my solution has been to eat things that I can still enjoy, even after it cools off. Don't rush your baby sleeve....take it slowly, and take good care of it...so it can be the magnificent tool it's intended to be!! Best of luck to you!

I use Flintstones Complete, and have had no problems. Check with your surgeon before taking "gummy" vitamins...."gummy" anything is on my forbidden list. (If you don't understand why, put a gummy bear in a glass of water and see what happens!!). Best of luck to you.

Some time ago I spotted the name of a company that makes/sells single serving, low-carb pizzas. It was in a post on this site, but I can't find it now. If you're familiar with this product, please share the name with me! Many thanks!!

I came home from the hospital on liquid Zantac twice a day. 3weeks later I started having breakthrough acid reflux, so the dr added a Prevacid solutab once a day. I've been great since the second dose of Prevacid. I wouldn't recommend taking anything OTC without clearing it with your surgeon first. Best of luck!

I would suggest you seek help through therapy to conquer your impulses. Also, regarding your kids, they can like healthier foods, and will only benefit from having harmful things removed from the home. They may not "like" getting healthier eating habits now, but certainly they will appreciate it down the road. Best of luck.

Have you considered discussing this with your parents...and a family therapist? Perhaps your dad could gain some understanding that way. Also...what would the harm be in giving a more traditional attempt one last try...with your father's knowledge...to show him that it just doesn't work for you? (Of course,you would need to make it a genuine effort...not just pay lip service to it.). After all, this surgery isn't magic....the sleeve doesn't "lose the weight for you". It requires careful and deliberate changes to eating habits, and lots of hard work, physically (exercising)....the same things required in a more traditional approach. The only difference is a (possible) reduction in appetite, and a decreased capacity (in terms of the amount you can eat at a time). It isn't fool proof....you can continue to make bad food choices, and you can choose to not exercise...and you can fail to lose as much as you would like, or worse, even gain more. Perhaps the two of you can meet in the middle, and go forward together, instead of spending years feeling like you have to lie to him in order to be happy. Best of luck to you!

You could always go back to protein shakes...lots of protein, low carbs. I'm debating what to do on Yom Kippur...this year will be my first, post-surgery, and that's a "hard" fast (nothing to eat or drink, from an hour before sundown to the following sundown). Fortunately, Judaism requires people to skip a fast if they need to eat/drink for health reasons. Maybe I'll just do liquids that day, and use protein shakes instead of eating. Lots to think about!