Jenny12

Ok how much magnesium are you guys taking? One night I was desperately searching the internet for solutions (I refuse to take anymore laxatives) and kept coming across magnesium. After hours of reading I decided this was the cure! So I hopped in my car and went to walgreens. I got exactly what I thought I needed, but figured I would ask the pharmacist just to be safe. She said absolutely not that it would help me. and said try miralax (been there, done that, only had bloating and cramps) so I left defeated empty handed. but I'm not so sure she just wasn't clueless. So, about this magnesium....how much helps? At this point I don't think anything will help.

Is that expensive? I was only overweight for about 4 years, so I wonder how much damage was actually done to my metabolism.

Hi Vets! Having a little difficult time in maintaining. What a problem to have, right? Ha. Anyway, I am very curious if My Fitness Pal is correct in calculating how many calories you need to maintain. It allows you to add the type of work you do as well as your activity level. Instead of making my own numbers today for nutrition, I let it decide for me and it says a little over 1500 calories to maintain. I'm not eating this much ever. Maybe 1100-1200. I am 5'2" and 118 lbs. I was ok to maintain at 120 but have dipped down to 118. Nothing to be too concerned about, just trying to balance this out. So please let me know if MFP is correct with its numbers for you? And if not, what is the difference? Thank you!!!

I'm just jealous Colace actually works for you guys! Haha

I would definitely wait until you hit goal weight for this.

I'm having this issue big time and have been since surgery 11 months ago. I recently added two weeks ago a probiotic called VSL #3. It is behind the counter at certain pharmacies and is kept refrigerated (no prescription). It is billions and billions of good bacteria. The Rolls Royce in probiotics from my understanding. Right now I'm taking 5 a day (can take as many as 8) and 3 Colace a day. So far haven't really noticed much improvement.... But regardless, a good probiotic is good for the immune system. An enormous part of our immune system is located in our gut.

I'm 11 months out and I'd say I get hungry 3 hours after eating a meal that actually makes me feel full.

And I didn't necessarily mean you were not sticking to it, I was just simply asking why one would not. I understand it's hard. I went through it. Hang tough, it will be worth it if you stick to the plan. Doctors vary because each one is so different. One may be more comfortable working with a big fat liver in the way of your surgery, and yours may not be. You don't want your liver poked, trust me.

I'm glad you're feeling well. Just want to say to be careful with adding in the treats. I know now it seems like one bite is no big deal, and it probably isn't, but these tiny little habits that you develop now are what come back to bite you in the ass when you're a year or more out. I wish you great success, and you're so early out. Enjoy the ride!

Why would you not stick to your pre-op diet? You're about to have your stomach removed. That's a pretty serious thing. Do everything you can to ensure that you'll be healthy enough for the surgery and for the aftercare.

Oh no, not at all. I never had trouble with that. I don't have trouble with any foods actually, just that my actual tastes have changed a little.

Thank you for this post! This is a new feeling that I have been having lately myself. I'm 11 months out and have blown my EWL percentage out of the Water (I think I'm near 110% now). I have had great success with zero complications. I tell people if they ask how I lost weight, or if the timing is appropriate. I have been open about my surgery since I was pre-op, and I don't really have any regrets about that. Since I've had such success with no problems, I supported my boyfriend when he told me he was ready to do the surgery himself (in Mexico with Dr Alvarez). I had my surgery in the US. In the beginning when I was helping him plan everything (he is scheduled for January), I was excited for him. Now, I'm absolutely terrified. Of course I'm not telling him that though. I also feel that I was just lucky. That's all, just lucky. I'm so scared that he won't be as lucky and will have complications. I'm a nervous wreck about it honestly. Irrational as it may be, if he has problems, that will be on my conscience. In the first 6-8 months or so, if someone had asked if I actually RECOMMENDED this surgery, I would say hands down absolutely yes. But I wouldn't say that now. I wouldn't actually recommend it to anyone now. I'll share my experiences and all of that, but I don't feel comfortable recommending this surgery to anyone. Not just because of possible complications, but not everyone has such success honestly, and many people regain weight after the sleeve. You have to literally change your life and the way you eat. This new stomach isn't going to do all the work for you, maybe 50%. So I'll share my journey, but do I recommend the surgery to others? Absolutely not. Thank you for your post.

I love beef curry! I make a "skinny" version in my crockpot and it is delicious. I hated beef before surgery (especially steak), and now I crave it! Here is my lunch. I picked off the onions and roasted red peppers. I ate about half, and I also used no dressing. Another weird thing since surgery: I don't like dressing on my salads. I added a little extra feta cheese instead. I'm about 11 months out.

I average one treat, MAYBE two, a week. And it is a single serving of whatever it is. For example, yesterday I had 1/4 cup of dark chocolate covered prunes.

I've lost nearly 110% of my "excess weight," and eating normally to me now means eating healthy foods that fuel my body. I may have treats sometimes (earlier I had a serving of dark chocolate covered prunes! The horror!) but for the most part I try to stick to healthy protein and vegetables. It feels much more normal to me now, and I find myself naturally going for foods that benefit me. I feel like I've kinda trained my body and mind to be much more mindful of the types of food I allow into my body. This is the most "normal" I've ever felt.

Absolutely love that store! I'm wearing size 0 (!!!) perfect form pants from there right now! They are really cute for work.

I was just prescribed Linzess to try for constipation. Anyone had any luck with this? It's new. Took it this morning and so far nothing has happened. Has anyone tried Amitiza? Any experiences with either one?

Yeah, it's just terrible! I may ask about a prescription, but I really don't want to. Seems just as unhealthy as taking a bunch of laxatives all the time. I keep thinking it will get better...... But it just isn't, simple as that.

I'm 28. Mostly good genes. But I also started out At a light weight with a BMI of 37, and I was only overweight for about 4 years. That helps a lot! Thank you all for your comments

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I have been dealing with chronic constipation pretty much since I had surgery 11 months ago. I'm currently taking 12 Citrucel fiber capsules a day, 300 mg Colace, and a probiotic. Nothing helps except a handful of laxatives when I can't stand it anymore. I tried Miralax but all it did was make me bloated and gassy. Anyone having such a terrible time with this? I'd say it's a pretty extreme case.....I don't know what to do. Doc just says add more fiber, drink more water, take a stool softener......but obviously nothing is really helping!

No, no plastic surgery at all. My skin just bounced back. My inner thighs do have a little excess skin on them though. But not enough to pay to have it removed.

Hi fellow vet friends!!!! I am having my 1 year post op appointment with my surgeon in the morning. I won't be a year out til January 9, so I am doing it a tad early. Does anyone have any suggestions for questions I should ask him at this point? Anything you asked, anything you wish you had asked. I need to go in with a little list, otherwise he just comes in for a very quick chat and says good job, and that's it. Then later on I start thinking of things I wish I had asked!!! I want to have some good questions this time. Please help.