joatsaint

IT'S BACON!!!! Capella Flavor Drops, Sizzlin Bacon http://www.amazon.com/Capella-Flavor-Drops-Big-Squeeze-Servings/dp/B005KFTDLW/ref=pd_sim_gro_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=09F2GAQ6NX6BRK6XTVN3

When I get a carb craving, I eat a big hunk of Protein first. Then, if I still have the craving (usually it's for some birthday cake at work), I'll let myself have whatever I can stuff in 1/2 of a (small) Styrofoam coffee cup. It's worked well for me for the past 18 months.

I didn't buy new clothes till almost a year post-op. What can I say? I'm a guy. :-P I'm a mushroom. My "cave" is deep in the heart of my workplace and I'm not required to venture out much. But when I did buy new shirts, I did it with flair!! Old gray shirts New FLASHY ELECTRIC BLUE shirts

I was cleared for baths at 1 month. Until then, my doc did not want me submerging my incision areas.

BLASPHEMER!!!!!!!!!!!! All true believers know that GRAPE is the only flavor that satisfies!!! But..... now that I think about it, orange is the color of the sun and the sun supplies the energy to give the Earth life... so without frozen orange pops, the Earth might wither and die. EAT MORE ORANGE, EAT MORE ORANGE, EAT MORE ORANGE, EAT MORE ORANGE!!!

It took me 12 months to reach the goal weight set by my doctor and then another 2 months to lose 15 more lbs. I'm a half-fast loser. :-) http://www.bariatricpal.com/blog/9018/entry-31257-are-you-a-half-fast-loser/

Here's the info off their site: And Atkins is still offering free Starter Kits: http://community.atkins.com/AtkinsCommunityRegistration.aspx

I was told to take Tylenol for pain if I needed anything during the 1st month post-op because other pain revilers can be a stomach irritant. But after that 1st month, I was cleared to eat full foods and could take any pain reliever I wanted. Since then, I've taken whatever was convenient - aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen with no problems. Sometimes, if I don't eat first, I get a little heartburn, but nothing that lasts.

I too get the munchies when my carbs get too high, even if it's "good' carbs like apples, grapes, strawberries, or pineapple. Low glycemic carbs from Beans, lentils, squash, and other Fiber rich vegetables don't have the same effect. Here's my blog post about the 1st time I realized what was happening to me when I ate carbs post-op. http://www.bariatricpal.com/blog/9018/entry-31170-confession-time-the-spaghetti-monster-almost-got-me/

I started using EAS carb control chocolate before surgery and post-op found Premier Protein chocolate. I've tried Muscle Milk chocolate, but Premier has been my favorite.

I used have the same problem with chicken. For some reason, it just causes Frankensleeve to tie up in knots. I didn't really have an easy time with any form of protein that wasn't ground up or put through a food processor during my 1st 6 months post-op. Now, at 18 months, most any protein is fine - except chicken, Frankie still doesn't like rotisserie chicken sometimes. :-(

Every doctor has different diet guidelines for his post-op patients. The most important thing to look at is are you staying below your recommended calories per day. And are you matching your percentages of protein and carbs to the guidelines?

My diet was very simple. 1 week of low carb protein drinks, with no restrictions on quantity.

It will pass, I promise. It was months before I could tolerate solid Protein. I did okay with it if I put it through the food processor first. Or if it was ground up like hamburger, but solid chunks of chicken, beef, and pork were really tough. I was eating primarily Cream of Mushroom Soup for about 2 months, then switched over to ground chicken/turkey mixed in with refried Beans - and that lasted till around month 8 or 9. By then, I could eat solid pieces of meat, but I was in the habit of eating a mix of refried beans and ground protein. The really tough part for me was not being able to eat all the "healthy" vegetables and fruits. It was 6 or 8 months post-op before I could eat more than a bite or two of salad, broccoli, cauliflower, apple, grapes, pineapple... pretty much anything that had Fiber in it.

Congrats on your NSV!!!!!!!!!!!! I know how you feel. I found an old XL size T-Shirt in my closet and put it on just for fun AND IT FIT!!!!!!!! Here I was thinking I was still a 2XL kinda guy. Now I have to rethink my whole wardrobe.

You're not alone, I wanted to eat solid food really bad during those first weeks post-op. Fortunately for me, Frankensleeve wouldn't approve of anything. I could eat a tablespoon full of anything and he would start acting like a garbage disposal with rocks in it! So I was on a diet that consisted mostly of Cream of Mushroom Soup for over a month, before I was able to tolerate "tougher" foods like ground chicken or turkey and refried Beans. Chicken, eggs and salsa were the toughest foods to readjust to eating. Even at 18 months post-op, sometimes scrambled eggs or chicken still causes a little clenching in my stomach. Hang in there, it will get better. All too soon, you're going to be looking back and celebrating your 1 year Sleeveaversery.

For the first few weeks, I was only able to eat a few bites per meal. As the months wore on, and my sleeve healed, I could eat more and more. At 6 months, I was eating about 1/2 cup per meal. At 1 year I was eating around 1 cup plus a little per meal. Now, at 18 months, I can hold about a cup to 1 1/2 cups, depending on whether it's Protein or vegetables or a mix of both.

During that 1st week post-op, I don't remember how much I was getting in, but it wasn't much. I just sipped and sipped, waited for Frankensleeve to stop complaining, and then sipped again. :-P

Hang in there, it seems like you're doing everything right. Your body is just taking a time out to get used to this new way of living. I've learned that if I stick to what was working, it will start working again.

Congrats, you're on your way. :-)

Gas was the worst part for me too. I never really felt any pain from my new stomach or from the stitches. Walking and getting up and down were the only things that seemed to reduce the gas pains.

I weened myself off carbonated beverages years ago when I discovered Crystal Light. But occasionally I drink a beer or have a diet Sprite. I have to take tiny sips and don't drink carbonated stuff at all if I have recently eaten. Those bubbles will fill you up quick and are no fun if they have no room to expand. I waited until at least 6 months post-op before trying my 1st carbonated drink.

I only had them during my hospital stay. I didn't feel the needle go in when the nurse would pinch up the skin and then give the shot. It might work for you too.

I add ground flax seed to my refried beans and to my lentils. I tend to over do it on the amounts and the flax makes the dish kinda gummy. But I like it. I haven't tried adding flax to anything else.

The main difference I can think of, is with the Sleeve, part of the stomach is removed. And if you believe in the hunger hormone, Ghrelin, produced in the stomach, then it will reduce "head hunger". With Plication, you still have the entire stomach, and the same Ghrelin production.