oldskoolsooz

I live in Brooklyn and swimming is a luxury.. even the ymca is pretty expensive! My pain management doctor recommended any type of activity in the water and I even did aqua therapy until the insurance stopped covering it..any other ideas? I will definitely be looking into a cost effective Pilates class which was also recommended but not until I've been cleared by my surgeon and lost more weight..

I got one jar at trader Joe's and a different one at pathmark..they're both good :-)

Thank you indigo for being so positive and reminding me of why I initially decided to have this surgery!! I'm going to see the surgeon and my nutritionist this week and they'll be drawing some blood. I have high blood pressure , hypothesis, diabetes and five herniated discs and I'm only 39 :-( hopefully some of my health issues will be better :-) even if I consider my 21 lbs slow it's still a great thing :-) so thank you again! For pammers, at five weeks out now I'm still having a heck of a time trying to get 60g of protein a day :-( I started freaking out a little so at the end of the day if I'm really low I have a muscle milk or yucky protein bar to compensate. Most days I'm consuming between 800-1050 calories which I'd on the high end compared to others on this forum..also I can eat..a lot again compared to other posters. I wish I wish lol..but we are still learning. Good luck..it'll get better I'm sure off it!

Threatening to shoot people even as a joke the first line of your post is really COUNTER PRODUCTIVE and rude.

I get hungry all day a couple hours after eating..at night before bed the hunger is strong. I eat my gummy vitamins which help lol :-) a popsicle which is 25 calories or a wedge of laughing cow cheese at 35 calories. Someone on this site advised me that if you're hungry and you're gonna eat try to stick to protein. Grits are carbs..you get hungry soon after eating it.

I felt truly horrible weeks 1,2, and 3! A lot of pain and foods was weird and even painful. I was a true mess..feeling depressed and angry and so so tired. I was told to eat liquids and pureed food only those three weeks. I only started to feel better after almost a month! But now at week 5 I'm finally smiling again. I checked with my doctor before surgery and he had told me vomiting is not normal and may actually hurt you/your stomach. I agree with the others who have posted. Get in to see your doctor asap. If he's not available, see your nutritionist..someone! Miserable and alone is not where you should be right now.

Hi there. I'm exactly 5 weeks post-op today yaaay! I had a very difficult first 2-3 weeks healing process but at 4 weeks I started to feel much better and now I feel pretty good. Im 5'2" and started my journey at 248 lbs on April 1st. I lost 10 lbs during the pre-op diet period and I was sleeved on May 1st. By June 1st I had lost 11 more lbs. I have lost a total of 21 lbs in two months. I can't say I'm not disappointed especially reading how so many people are losing so so so much faster :-( I try to remain positive and keep in mind that I'm losing and not gaining! Unfortunately Ive become hungry..not head hunger which I was prepared for tnx to this forum..but real hunger! I can eat quite a lot..a lot more than I expected or wanted in fact =-O I haven't tried to push the limit and get as full as I can. I follow the protein first, no water 15 mins before and 30 mins after rules. I'm still figuring it out i guess. I'm going to see my surgeon and have my follow up tomorrow and with my nutritionist on Thursday. Hopefully they will shed some light and help me get on a faster roll :-) tnx to everyone who has given advice and good luck to all of us!

Hi there. I'm exactly five weeks post-op today yaaay! I had a very difficult 2-3 weeks healing process but at 4 weeks I started to feel much better and now I feel pretty good. Im 5'2" and started my journey at 248 lbs on April 1st. I lost 10 lbs during the pre-op diet period and I was sleeved on May 1st. By June 1st I had lost 11 more lbs. I have lost a total of 21 lbs in two months. I can't say I'm not disappointed especially reading how do many people are losing so so so much faster :-( I try to remain positive and keep in mind that I'm losing and not gaining! Unfortunately Ive become hungry..not head hunger which I was prepared for tnx to this forum..but real hunger! I can also eat quite a lot..a lot more than I expected it wanted in fact =-O I haven't tried to push the limit and get as full as I can. I follow the protein first, no water 15 mins before and 30 mins after rules. I'm still figuring out out I'd guess. So here's the main question that I'm hoping y'all can help me with. I have three herniated discs in the lower back region and two around the neck area. I've had 3 horrible sciatic attacks in the last 5 years and cannot do exercises with heavier weights/Zuma /yoga etc. I CAN walk and have a treadmill now. Does anyone have any advice about exercises I can manage? Tnx in advance :-)

Hey you lost 21 lbs in a MONTH! that's awesome! It took me TWO months to lose that much :-( I'm trying to remain positive and not be unhappy because I'm ONLY down 21 lbs :-) I'm really happy for the posters who are losing so much so fast but I feel like I'm not making progress. It doesn't help that I'm hungry so often and I'm fighting food just as I was sitting the 100 diets before this surgery..its frustrating and a bit depressing..lucky I'm so stubborn :-) this too shall pass I hope! Good luck..to all of us :-)

I am five weeks out. I can eat a lot more than I thought I would be able to. Some days I feel as though my doctor didn't cut enough. I eat several times a day according to the rules. Protein first and at least 60g of it. I don't drink 15 mins before or 30 mins after eating. I never tried to push to see how much my stomach can take but I'm DEFINITELY not one of these 3 tablespoons 400 calories and I'm full people. I can still eat a lot and its up to me to control my intake..I felt full only one. It felt like a pressure between my ribs down my throat. I laid down and it went away in half an hour..everyone's different..I'm still learning ad I go :-)

Wow these are some great ideas! I'm five weeks out and I'm still trying to get the eating right. I've been inhaling way too many calories..about 1,000+ a day. For snack I've been having individually packaged 2oz hummus from Costco with two tablespoons of taziki yogurt&3 slices of roasted turkey from trader Joe's. I'm so going to try the fruit with almond butter and chicken skewer/sausages next! Tnx :-)

My starting weight was 248, I lost 10 lbs in April from a pre-op diet, had surgery May 1st and lost just 11lbs by June 1st. I am now 227. I will say that I have struggled with my hunger. I identified head hunger tnx to this forum early on and fight it but after the third week..I have been very physically hungry and able to eat way more than I thought I would :-( I do not push to fullness, I measure my food, don't drink 15 mins before or 30 mins after. It's been a struggle.

I was sleeved May 1st. I lost 10 lbs pre-op and 11 lbs this month. That's "only" 21 lbs total. I'm pretty bummed that I seem to be losing slower than everyone else that's every been sleeved..lol..but i try to keep in mind that at least I'm losing..sigh..slow and steady..?

Pre-op April 1, I was 248. At date of surgery May 1, I was 238. As of June 1 I am 226. In two months (pre-surgery diet included) I've lost 22 lbs..about 11 pounds a month..I feel like that's slow but I try not to be upset and keep in mind at least I'm losing!!

Hi..to answer your question..I am in between my fourth and fifth week post surgery..I have moved on from strictly pureed foods to mostly "real foods". It seems the only thing I'm not supposed to eat according to my doctor are: raw veggies..chunks of meat like steak etc and soft bread. I do not drink 15 mins before or 30 mins after my meals. I have a follow up appt with both my surgeon and my nutritionist this week. Hopefully they will shed some light on this predicament. I try very hard to consume a few ounces of this or that per meal.. always protein first but I'm still eating much more than I feel I should be able to. It's difficult to get the 60g protein in daily so I have added a half muscle milk and a half protein bar to my daily routine though it's pretty caloric :-( dunno..

Hi ladies :-) My surgeon said no pregnancy until the 18 month mark..so I'm looking into the different options..here's a bit about me. I'm 39 years old, 5'2", starting weight at pre-op was 250..I lost 10 lbs pre-op. I was sleeved may 1st and am now at 228. I've been stalled for three weeks :-( Anyway my experience with birth control is the pill which was a very bad experience. It made me psycho..sad and depressed and I gained a lot of weight AND I would be stressed about forgetting to take them. I think the hormones affect me badly. My husband and I have been using condoms and I want something safer. I don't want any chance of s mistake happening! I've read quite a bit on this site regarding both of the iuds..the under the arm stick..the ring. Please share your experiences post-op, your decision and how it's going. Ps..I don't have children but would like to, tho I'm really pushing it at 40+ years..

Hi jennlg2! I hope you're feeling more positive today. Firstly I'd like to point out that you're still losing weight and that's the most important thing. Second, my two cents, try and stay away from fast food joints..they're bad for you. And lastly, when at all possible have your homemade "go to" easy foods on hand whether its tuna..protein bar..ricotta bake lol..anything! If you're going to fill a largish sleeve fill it with protein. I got that advice from a nice lady on this site. I'm almost five weeks out and can eat everything and it seems a lot of it :-( I was feeling really sad and cheated that the sleeve wasn't restricting me like advertised! I had head hunger but now I recognize the difference and know that I actually get hungry..total bummer..and to top it off I haven't lost any weight since one week post op and even gained two pounds this week. But you know what!? The sleeve is a tool. We need to learn how to use it, take advantage of it and most importantly CONTROL OUR MINDS AND ACTIONS! It's hard..it's a downer but it's up to you too make it work :-) I'm totally pms and wanting to eat everything in sight..I'm going to eat tuna and cheese instead. Tomorrow? I don't know but for this bit of hunger..I'm in control? Lol! Good luck and thank all of you for listening and helping :-)

All these previous posts are helpful..I'll just add a couple extra thoughts I didn't see mentioned..canned chili of which there are many varieties..with a dollop of light sour cream..deviled ham and/or chicken..hard boiled egg salad chopped to oblivion with light mayo..cream of wheat..grits..

Thank you so much Richard! For some reason Google wasn't helping me regarding this topic! my questions are now answered at least regarding protein :-) I can obsess about other things again lol..

At first I minded the loss of time and extra pain points but now that I'm feeling less messed up im feeling more positive. I had an unfortunate mayonnaise incident during which I gained 6 pounds lol two weeks ago so I have to laugh! Sigh..live and learn. Right now I'm just concerned that some days I can sit and eat a meal that I could've eaten before the surgery! All healthy but so much! I plan to do the cottage cheese test Saturday morning for sure..I'm haven't lost a pound in two weeks :-(

Thx kapu! My Nut was really insistent that I get off protein shakes and start eating"real food" immediately. I have found it very difficult to keep up with my protein by following her instructions..I'm going back to one shake more a day even if they are pretty caloric..

Hello..im still not filled up on information about protein and why it's protein protein protein! I get..Thx to Richard that we need it or we lose muscle..feel weak etc..but what happens..anything else? I feel like a tremendous amount of stress is put on us to "get enough protein". Why? Does the lack of it make our hair fall out? Encourage infection? What's the deal?

Serendipity..I am eating that and then some! The 2 tablespoons and I'm full crowd really started me panicking..overthinking and doubting so thank you for sharing :-) its still really in the game..I'm goinrg to find my way and start losing some weight and get healthy!

Ms.antiband..apparently it happens..i followed my doctors guidelines to the letter including the two week pre-op diet. I went into surgery..all was well..awoke from anesthesia with some man in scrubs staring at me. I groggily asked if it all went well and he told me they had to abort the surgery because they couldn't get to the band area..wth?! They cut me open in the areas. It hurt bad. I got approval for the sleeve and went for it! I was in very bad pain for three full weeks. Four weeks now..the pain is receding and I'm starting to feel hopeful :-)

Thx Richard..that was super straightforward and clear. Thank you. I think I'll take the advice I got and reintroduce one protein shake a day since some day I'm only getting 30 gs! Rox..I was in DEVIOUS pain for exactly 3 weeks..i thought it would never end. I had to return to work after two weeks and everyday I thought I wasnt going to make it..but I did. After exactly the third week I started to feel better..meaning I could use the bathroom almost normally..could get my socks on myself..eat enough so I didn't feel like hell..I hear these stories on forums and started to freak out that I was still in pain..it'll pass.. Are you onto the pureed stage? If so I took canned chili and pureed it and added sour cream..tuna with tons of mayo..that deviled ham spread..cottage cheese..cream of wheat..tzaziki yogurt with hummus..