CBT

I eat an energy ball (homemade) some mornings but every morning before I work out I drink a grande soy latte. The caffeine stimulates my metabolism and the soy milk is enough calories to keep me going. If it's a long session or I've been particularly hungry or low on calories in the last 48 hours, I eat. I eat oatmeal about 2 hours before. I'll eat an energy ball all the way up to the gym door if it's been that kind of morning. If I don't, my body will eat my lean muscle over fat. Lucky me, I said never. I used to work out on empty stomach. Until I met with the endocrinologist and his repeat testing revealed this. So I have to eat before and then high quality Protein with in 20 minutes of finishing. The last time I was tested I only had 4 pounds of muscle to make up. He said in WLS patients he currently has some with as much as 30#. But I lift a lot, RTC to help combat that. Any....not about lean muscle wasting.... (I make an no bake energy ball of raw oats, chia or flax seed, dark choc chips, local honey, Peanut Butter and a tsp of vanilla. Depending on the size you want, you can use a melon baller or a regular teaspoon to make balls. Refrigerate to harden. Nom nom nom.)

Did you use ice during recovery from plastic surgery? I'm reading conflicting opinions (imagine that). Interesting that I also read a surgeon explanation for why the patient instructions vary so widely. He said among having personal preferences that work for the surgeon and his patients, medical care is a biologic science not a physical science. So, the recommendations are made based on your biology as well as the preference of your surgeon and the standard of care guidelines. Makes sense.

I wonder about your fluids? Do you notice your hunger is impacted by how much water you're drinking?

Feel better soon! I'm down with the sickness too. I danced yesterday and over did it. Still doing some yoga and walking today. I made a BOMB soup today. Sooooooo good! Root veggies and chicken and spinach. Taking oregano oil, Reishi mushroom, loads of Vit C and turmeric. Using the sinus rinse is keeping I the head congestion in check. Happy happy happy about that. I must dance in the morning :-0

I just realized Jill was probably reading "DHA or Dhea" those are Omegas. DHEA is a hormone produced by the adrenals.

DHEA is NOT simply an Omega 3. I know this because the Endocrinologist and I had a discussion about its hormonal function before he put me on it. Before I started taking it, I read about it. (He put me on it in the hopes my body would protect lean muscle and mobile fat over muscle.) See below from National Institutes of Health: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/331.html To be safer, you really ought to do your own research based on the ingredients listed so you understand what you've got. I do think you can use almost everything on that list if it's from a good source and reputable lab. Would be awesome to use it. supplements are expensive! And the liquid forms may be better absorbed.

There's quite a bit in there you might use post op. How strong is the DHEA? My bariatric endocrinologist has me of DHEA. HE is particular about the quality, though. I use probiotics periodically to keep things healthy and for good gut immunity. Especially if I've had an antibiotic. The big question is the quality of the stuff in the box

Hang in there! At my consult the PS said your metabolism triples in this recovery and you need to eat a lot of protein to heal. She said post WLS patients get freaked out with no exercise and a need to drive up calories. She said you won't gain weight, "it's mentally hard but you just have to trust me." I have had two other non WLS related surgeries with long long recoveries and limited exercise. The second one was a major repair to my shoulder and I was hungry!!! So I ate. I still lost weight. I do trust this surgeon and it helps to know that she works often with my bariatric surgeon. They are two of the 6 co-owners of the surgery center. Any way, I'm rambling. If you're hungry you can eat. Your body needs it to heal all those internal layers. Thanks for posting. I'm preop PS so I'm really listening to everything

Walking is best until you're released by your surgeon for more. *Generally* surgeons don't want you on a machine/bike because of trauma from falling off.

Seems the litmus test is to reduce by about a liter and see how you feel/perform. You might just have a super dooper effective filtering system there Fiddle

I'm not giving you a hard time or being snarky. I'm curious as to why he's not asking us these questions? I ate very little variety in the beginning. Energy is low. My staples were premier RTD chocolate shakes, Greek yogurt, refried beans, puréed lentils, cottage cheese with blended salsa. I puréed soup. You can make anything mushy with enough chicken broth I had an aversion to sweet. Preferred savory. I craved protein.

Just really amazing! Wow!!!

See. That's not "exercise" that's just fun!

Eerrrr....wait to see what your surgeon says. That's a strange recommendation....the eval says you're a good candidate. The type of surgery is up to you and your surgeon. Don't stress.

Totally normal to second guess surgery. It's scary stepping into the unknown. Don't dwell on what you won't have. Think about what you will have Hunger is often confused with acid for up to 6 months post op. I totally agree with previous poster^^^. You won't be starving. You'll be learning. Hope you find some peace and calm before your surgery

If you get cramps when you're not working out or heart palpitations, you probably need to have labs. Esp given how burned out you were feeling last week. You also can get cramps from dehydration. On days with a lot of cardio, I drink vitamin water zero full strength. I usually dilute it with regular water. You're so good at researching info. You'll figure it out.

There's a lot that goes into that question post op 1 year. Are you hungry? Do you exercise? Are you losing? Are you making daily protein requirement? Are you close to goal?

I am still losing about two-three pounds a month. I'm pretty dang small/petite so I'm looking for input from you all about how you arrived at goal? Did your body just stop losing? Did you make an effort to increase calories? I've always said my body will decide. I didn't have a personal goal weight. My surgeon's goal was 170. I'm 140 and 5'2". Size small/x-small and 4 jeans. I work out 5 days a week 60-75 minutes. How I eat and exercise all feels very comfortable and easy to me. I like my lifestyle. It feels healthy and balanced. If I want to go for insurance to cover PS, I have to be stable weight for 6 months! I must be close. If your weight loss slowed down like mine, how long before you stopped losing and found that bounce?

Kinda like a spinal. When I had my rotator cuff repaired they gave me a nerve block in my neck. I felt nothing for 24 hours. It was awesome and freaky. Made everything after that super manageable. I don't have any ibuprofen restrictions and that's what really works best for me. I'll ask at the preop. I'm just curious what they'll do since I'm staying over night....

The plastic surgeon really talked this point you're making through with me. She said my metabolism would TRIPLE in recovery! She also said if I didn't stop losing now, I'd lose too much during recovery even though I'm not working out because I can not eat enough to keep up with that metabolism. So...I've been meal planning and making lists for DH so he can grab stuff from New Seasons (like Whole Foods) deli and meat counters to keep me fed. I do feel fortunate to have had some experience with surgery since I've had 2since VSG and I kinda know I really have to make it mental. I've got lots of crafts I can do while recovering but still.... I don't think I have a carb monster anymore either. Case in point, my kids ate cinnamon sugar pretzels today, which I used to love, and I got nothing. I did not want any. Mostly, I'm eating by the clock. I do get hungry but not enough to eat 1800-2000+ calories every day. I really want to eat for wellness.

Did you guys have a pain block?

Im wondering if Dr Harris even does lower body lifts? This was a limitation of surgeons in my area. So if they don't do them, they don't offer them as an option. I'm not speaking against Dr Harris. It's just worth knowing as you get consults and consider options.

So I just marinated some pork because this thread got me going on Thai: Sliced pork Sweet soy sauce While grain mustard Chili garlic sauce Ginger Cilantro Basil Mint Green onion Red cabbage Red chili flakes Marinate min 30mins. Stir fry high heat. Will be spicy. (You can add a tablespoon of peanut butter and some coconut milk while cooking if you really want that flavor)

Water Vitamin water/sobe Soy milk Peanut butter on anything. Lol. (Celery, apples) Nuts Cottage cheese and salsa (not chunky) Cheese and multigrain pita chips Pre packaged veggie snacks Hard boiled egg with balsamic Left overs

Hi everyone! What a great thread. So many good things coming up here. I'm grateful to see people talking about shame and whatnot. So refreshing, actually. You all are right to be cautious of trainers who don't listen to you. You know when something isn't right. The stress on joints from obesity is part of the problem but most of us could have benched 160# with each leg from carry so much weight! The issue is the muscle and tendon and ligament damage that happens when fat packs around it and then gets soaked in estrogen. Fat and estrogen are attracted and estrogen breaks down muscle Fiber. That why abdominal fat is so dangerous (heart is a muscle) and we need tummy tucks. The fat gets in and around everything. The insulator that it is. It grows around the intestines, attacks estrogen and the abdominal muscles start to fail and separate. So yeah, go slow and strong. Respect the inner warrior! And I forgot the reminder: ligaments and tendon do not get blood supply. That is why they (knees) take so so so long to heal!