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I'm a sleeve patient about 11 months out. I recently went to my doctor and I hadn't lost anything in 4 months. Apparently I've been grazing which has caused overeating. Yeah - guilty. Anyway, I'm now tracking my food intake on My Fitness Pal. It's great to keep me accountable for everything I put in my mouth. But, I wonder, how many calories/day should I be eating? I've been trying to stay at or under 1000/day. However, I'm 257 pounds, 45 years old and 5'3" tall. According to BMR calculations I should be eating at least 1857 calories/day. YIKES! Obviously I know that's too much. But, how many calories SHOULD I eat? I thought my nutritionist said 1000 to lose and 1200 to maintain. But, that seems to be too little and I know my organs need a certain caloric intake so they don't shut down. I do cardio and strength at least 4 days/week and a stretching class 1 day/week. So I'd say I'm moderately active. What have your doctors and/or nutritionists told you?

@@jstrong630 - when you're in the puree stage you don't really count calories or Protein. You're just trying to get your stomach healed from the surgery and not dehydrate. It's pretty common to not be able to eat or drink much for the first few weeks.

Perfect tips! Especially the biotene. You can't drink anything after surgery and until the next day when they do the leak test. So your mouth is horribly dry. The biotene will help. I like the eye mask and ear plugs. They put me in a room next to the nurse's station so it was bright and noisy. The morphine was the only thing that kept me sleeping, LOL! All the suggestions about comfy clothing, etc. are true. You'll really only be wearing the clothes in the car and you'll want to get into a huge nightgown when you get home and climb into bed. Keep in mind that what you're putting into your body the first week or two is nothing but liquid so that's pretty much all that will come out. So you'll have liquidy bowel movements for a week or two. Don't flip out, just get extra soft toilet paper - you'll be happy you did. Congratulations on your surgery! You're going to do great!

I'm with you. The BMI number is crazy. There are too many factors that go into it. My daughter's Tae Kwon Do instructor is 5'7" and 160 pounds and BMI says she's overweight. There's NO WAY! She's nothing but solid muscle. So, in my opinion, get to where you feel good. If you're happy at a size 6, then go with it. If you want more room in an 8, that's fine too. If you want to try for a size 4, try it. If you feel emaciated it's probably not the right weight for you. Bottom line, do you feel good? It sounds like you do. So good for you! That's really all that matters.

I need some advice. I've been taking a multi-Vitamin with Iron and Calcium as well as a B-12. My surgeon told me not to take the B12 pill but to get a sublingual B12 (under the tongue liquid). I got the sublingual and ever since I've been doing it, I get nauceous for at least a half hour after I take it. I started taking everything in the morning so I could take them with Breakfast. This morning I almost threw up it was so upsetting to my stomach. I had already eaten, but reached for a greek yogurt to see if it would help. It has, so I'm glad about that. Any advice from anyone who has experienced this? Oh, and good news, I had my vitamin levels checked Monday and everything is good - including the B vitamin. Apparently my thyroid level is at 2.7 - whatever that means (LOL) but my surgeon is happy. So the Vitamins must be working. Just need them to stop making me want to puke.

I had them before and after surgery. No issues. But, mine are on my shoulders, left breast, right wrist and foot. So, where I got them (aside from the breast) were not areas that there would be a lot of excess skin/fat. If you think about it, the places where you'll have "loose" skin will more likely be your stomach, breasts, thighs and upper arms. You'll lose fat on your back, but it's unlikely you'll have the loose skin on your upper back. I think you'll be okay. BUT, ask your tattoo artist. They will look at the area and give you a good assessment of what your expectations can be.

I take the sublingual B12 tablets that melt. The liquid sublingual made me sick. Apparently the pill form of B12 doesn't absorb the way it should which is why they give you the sublingual form. I also take Viactive calcium supplement which is a chocolate chew and so yummy. Just like BigGirlPanties it's my little indulgence.

Wow! You sound just like me! In fact, I was so worried that I called the nutritionist and made an appointment to make sure I was doing everything right. Your body is going to freak out after surgery and think it needs to retain everything. Eventually it will let go. I know it's easy to say not to weigh yourself, but don't weigh yourself. Put the scale in your car. Give it to a friend. Better yet, smash it with a hammer. LOL! Our surgeons focus on the weight and the BMI but those are NOT the only measurements of health. They're just the best ones they can use. We have so much more at our disposal! For example, how do your clothes feel? Are they looser? Can you cross your legs yet? Do you not gasp for breath when you climb up the stairs? These are what we call "NSVs" - non-scale victories. Have a friend or family member measure you - your thigh circumference, your arms, your waist, your neck, etc. Then in a week measure again. GUARANTEED you'll see those go down. When you work out your body builds muscle which uses the fat for energy. Muscle weighs more than fat. So, you may be losing 5 pounds of fat but gaining 6 pounds of muscle. That's ok as long as the fat is going away. If you don't believe that, ask your butcher to give you 2 cuts of beef that look the same (same size) - one with a lot of fat, one without. Hold one in each hand. Guaranteed the cut of beef with less fat is heavier than the one with more fat. Like Proudgrammy said, everyone is different. Keep in mind on this forum that people are not always honest (insert shocked face here). My starting weight, for example, is the weight I started out at when I started this journey with my lap band 5 years ago. So my weight lost isn't what I've lost since surgery. Although I input the information correctly on the system, that's not the way it's showing on my profile. I've hit plateaus - I'm in one right now. But, I'm keeping up with what I need to do. Eating right, exercising, etc. I feel fantastic. Am I still overweight? Sure. But I feel incredible. I'll never be 300 pounds again. Heck, I'll never be 265 pounds again. Will I stay at 258? Maybe - although I doubt it. I'm happy with what I've done. Don't know if my surgeon will be but whatever. I know that I'm more than a number on a scale. Hang in there. You're doing great. Throw that rotten scale away.

I had a band to sleeve revision and the incision where he took out the band was really sore for a couple of weeks. If you're concerned, call your doc. Trust me, there's no question he/she hasn't heard. They are there to not only do surgery, but also to support you in your journey. No question is "silly". It's your body and you have the right to ask questions. By the way, CONGRATULATIONS!

LOTS! Yes, your stomach will rumble. To the point where your loved ones will go, "Is that YOU?" Your first few weeks you'll be constipated then have diahrrea. It's common. You're only putting in liquid so that's all that'll come out. Once you get on solids you'll probably need to start taking Fiber because of all that. Some foods will be noisier than others and you'll figure out which ones do that. I've found ones that are more dense (like ground meat, deli meat, etc.) vs. "sliders" (i.e. yogurt, mashed potatoes, etc.) are not as noisy because your stomach isn't working that hard at digesting them. Personally I don't burp but every now and then I hiccup. If I hiccup that means I've had too much. What other questions?

Take Protein bars with you. Keep them with you at all times. If you're on deck by the pool and you're hungry, the temptation will be lower to go in to the buffet than to stay where you are and snack on a Protein Bar. Also, take fruit with you on sight seeing trips. You can pick it up at the buffet on your way off the ship. Water, water, water. Remember, this is vacation. So enjoy yourself. Have realistic expectations - maybe think "I won't lose weight this week, but I also won't gain". You'll be walking a lot. Maybe try to take the stairs instead of the elevator whenever you go anywhere on the ship. Most ships have tracks and/or fitness rooms so you can exercise while on board. Eat slowly, thoughtfully, and don't overdo it. You're going to do great!

My doc said when you're on a liquid diet, you're liquid in/liquid out. So nothing to be surprised about. It will normalize. You will need to take fiber supplements eventually to make everything regular. Just make sure you're putting in as much as you're putting out so you don't get dehydrated.

I have heard of other people having chest pain because of the gas floating up to their chest after surgery. Haven't heard of a neck swelling, though. There are so many things that could cause it - the throat tube, the anesthesia, the gas, etc. She needs to go back to the hospital where she had the surgery and have them contact her surgeon for a consult.

I'm like Marfar7, I had the sleeve done about 5 years ago and the sleeve was barely known about. I also wanted to do something that wouldn't remove part of my body or reroute anything. I figured it was the least invasive procedure - and it still is. It just wasn't effective for me. Please understand, the lap band is effective for many people. I liken it to Nicorette gum or hypnosis for smokers. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Same with the band. To be honest, I think I needed to go through the trials and tribulations I had with the lap band before I got the sleeve. I'm more honest with myself now and I know what it takes to succeed and/or to fail.

I love the Quest Bars. A lot. They're kind of thick and some people aren't crazy about them. But I like them. The raspberry white chocolate is my favorite. I also love the Power Crunch bars. They are so delicious!!! A couple of things to keep in mind with Protein bars: Remember to keep the protein high and carbs low. If you look at other Protein Bars, the carbs can be more than twice the protein grams. That's a no-no. Power Crunch and Quest have the highest concentration of protein and lowest concentration of carbs of any I have found. Don't have more than 1/day. They're yummy so it's easy to look at them as candy bars. They're not. Eat them slowly. The slower you eat, the more full you get. The more full you get, the less "hunger" you have. The less hunger you have, the less you eat overall.

I lost 15 pounds after surgery. Not a fluke. Keep in mind you had 2 days where you didn't eat or drink anything and weeks ahead of time where you were on a liquid diet. Plus, your body takes a couple of days to show the pounds lost. So, part of that 11 may have truly been lost before your surgery but didn't show up on the scale until after it. There are a bunch of enviornmental factors too that may be playing a part. Your scale also might not be callibrated like the hospital's scale. Either way, WELCOME TO ONEDERLAND!!! Regardless of what happens, you'll never be 219 pounds again. Keep focused on that.

Billie70, I totally understand where you're coming from. I did the same thing. ALL THE TIME. Last week I went on a business trip and didn't have a scale. I thought I'd go nuts, but didn't. I kept following my plan, even though it was hard because I ate out for each meal. When I got home I thought, "Wow, I wonder what I'm going to weigh!" I stepped on the scale and it hadn't moved. I was gone for 5 days. I was so disgusted I put the scale away and didn't look at it again. I stepped on it today which is a week after I got back from the trip and guess what? I was down 3 pounds! Not only did I not obsess about the scale, I didn't see the day over day losses. So when I did weigh, it was a big deal! The point is, if you do something over and over and over again, it loses it's magic. Seeing the scale not move over 5 days isn't as magical as seeing it move 3 pounds in 2 weeks. I don't obsess over the scale anymore since my trip. It, like the sleeve, is only a tool. If you want some immediate satisfaction, go into your closet and look for a pair of pants 1 size smaller than what you think you are. Try to put them on. I bet they fit! I bet you can shopping in your own closet for clothes you haven't worn for 5 years! Talk about immediate gratification!!!! Good luck!

Yes, Miralax is the key. You will eventually poop but it's going to be all liquid (sorry to be graphic - it is what it is). Exlax is a stimulant and not good for your digestive system. Once you start eating solids and taking Vitamins, you'll need to add a Fiber pill to your diet to keep you regular. I like the idea of the ice chips - that should help. I wouldn't do gum or anything like that.

Just a word of advice - if you do give into your cravings, I guarantee your body's reaction will be so awful you won't do it again. I craved Cookies. Bad. I finally gave into temptation about 2 weeks after I went on solids. BAD mistake. I was so miserable. Spent the evening in the bathroom, if you know what I mean. I agree your stomach is trying to pull a fast one on you. One thing I learned in this journey is that sugar is addictive. Once you start in the morning, you can't stop all day. So if you put sugar in your coffee, you will crave sugar all ..... day...... long. UGH! Also, artificial sweetener (Equal, Sweet N Low, etc.) all produce the SAME EFFECT in your brain as sugar does. Your brain can't tell the difference. So, if you put Equal in your coffee in the morning, you will crave sweets all.....day.......long. And carbs. It's vicious I tell you.....VICIOUS! LOL!!! My understanding is that Stevia doesn't do that to you. I need to try it. But, for you, this may be the key to why you're having those cravings? Good luck. You can do it!!!!

I'm about 4 months out and started losing. I started taking Biotin about 2 weeks ago and it seems to have stopped. I was fine with a little bit of loss - until my hair dresser said, "Wow! You are getting thin!" I guess it is what it is. She said it's pretty typical with weight loss at the rate we are losing. You can also expect to lose hair when you have a baby, have anesthesia, have any kind of major change in your body, etc. It seems exacerbated with the weight loss, though. But that's ok. Perhaps it'll show on the scale for me. LOL!

I had the sleeve done at the end of November, 2013. It was a band to sleeve revision. I was what I would have called a "slow loser" but found out some things I was doing wrong. So, I changed some of what I was doing - went to 1000 calories/day, added fruits and vegetables to my diet instead of just Protein and began walking and working out some. Now, I know you're going to say, "If you're working out you're adding muscle which weighs more than fat." Ok, I'm not working out THAT hard. A couple of weeks ago I had an NSV by getting into size 20 clothes from a size 26/28. I hit the 40 pound loss mark in 4 months. I was feeling really good. But things have changed. I'm still in a 20, which I'm happy about. But I'm losing my hair. The one thing that I have ALWAYS prided myself on. Even when I was over 300 pounds, my hair always looked good. It was healthy, bouncy and in really good shape. Then, pieces of it started coming out when I showered. I'd go to soap myself up and have to remove strands of hair from the bar of soap. I thought, "Well, that's the price of bariatric surgery I suppose." I started taking Biotin after reading some messages on here. I also made sure I got at least 60 grams or more of protein a day and have been averaging over 60 grams a day for over a month now. I thought it probably wasn't as bad as I was making it out to be. Then, I went to my hair dresser for a cut yesterday. She started washing my hair and said, "Oh my, you're really getting thin." My daughter is getting married in 2 months and my hairdresser said we may have to get a hair piece to help cover up some of thinness if it doesn't get any better. What?!?!?!?!?!? Are you frickin' kidding me? Oh, and it gets worse. I stepped on the scale this morning and was 3 pounds heavier!! WHAT?!?!?!!?!?!?!? I've been following my diet strictly and haven't gone over 1000 calories. I've looked at the snack cakes in my daughter's snack drawer and walked away. ARE YOU FRICKIN' KIDDING ME?!?!?!? 3 POUNDS?!?!?!!?!?!? And this is after a 2 week plateau. I'm ready to give up. I know this weight didn't come on over night but I really expected more than 40 pounds in 4 months. And, I know that we all have weight fluctuations but mine have only been a pound here and there. 3 pounds? Higher??? That's crazy. If I was cheating, sure, I can see that. But I'm not. I'm a bit fed up. I don't want to hear about losing inches vs. pounds and changing things up. I've done that. I guess I just want to bitch and complain. Has anyone else gone through this mental torture and how did you get your HEAD back in the game? I'm beating myself and my sleeve up right now. I need a mental kick in the ass. Any advice?

I got on a plane today. A Southwest Airlines plane. Any of you who have been over 300 pounds know that their seats are small and their seatbelts are even smaller. I FASTENED THE SEATBELT WITHOUT AN EXTENDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And, I didn't have to have the arm rest up!!!! I am so frickin' thrilled!!!!!!!!!!!! Since the scale isn't moving for me, these NSVs are a true blessing and make me smile from ear to ear!

AWESOME!!!

I have been extremely blessed to be with a man for over 20 years who has supported me during my ups (over 100 pounds gained in the past 20 years) and my downs (60 pounds down with weight watchers, Jenny Craig, lap band and any other diet fad I could get my hands on). He has never said a word. I have done all of the leg work for the band and the sleeve but I'm doing it for me, not him. Like the one poster, I want to be around for my kids. My husband is a smoker and, let's face it, he won't be here. We have a 21 year old and a 20 year old (who is autistic). The 21 year old has her whole life ahead of her and we were facing her taking on her sister's care far too early in her life if neither of us changed. I have to be there for both of our girls. If my husband chooses to quit smoking, that's fantastic and I'll support him. Just like he's supported me. We have a friend who is going through a similar struggle with her BF. He told her he didn't know if he would want to be with her if she lost too much weight because he likes heavy women. And, honestly, he was afraid she would leave him if she lost the weight and found a smaller guy to be with (he's larger, though not as large as she is). I would tell your boyfriend that you really appreciate his honesty and his feelings towards you getting the surgery. Having that kind of open communication is SO crucial to any relationship. If you two remain together and, maybe, one day get married (I hope it's legal for everyone soon!!!), I guarantee that there are going to be numerous decisions that you two won't see eye to eye on. One thing I learned early on in my relationship is that sometimes you have to agree to disagree. And that may be where the two of you stand with it. He doesn't have to agree with your decision, and he certainly doesn't have to like it. But, he can love you as much as you love him and support you in anything you do. Let him know that you don't know what the future holds but that you hope he will stand by your side and love you. Know that no matter what happens, and whatever YOUR choice is, you have friendship and support at Bariatric Pal. I definitely couldn't get through every day without these people who have been there and done that before me.

I'm with you on MFP telling you what your weight will be if you do the same thing for 5 weeks in a row. Really?!?! I'm probably not going to eat the same things and do the same things day after day after day. hahahaha! OK - I wanted to be sure that's what you were referring to and not something else about MFP. Thanks!