clk

The long post op liquid diet is hard. I had a reaction to sugar substitutes and don't bother with sugar free anything. At this point, I figure I eat so little at a time I want to make it count. I don't do low-fat, either. The diet link you were given is a good one. What are your surgeon's guidelines? I went to Dr. Aceves and he advocates a full three week of liquids before you can move on. It was really hard for me to make it that last bit - I wasn't hungry but the meals I was eating were boring and I just wanted to CHEW, even if I wasn't hungry. However, the guidelines he has are one reason he hasn't had any leaks. It may not seem like it but in just one week when you're on mushies and soft foods your complaint will be that you can't possibly eat the food you're supposed to be eating and that eating is a hated chore. You feel like you're starving now but wait until all you can get in is three bites of scrambled egg! ~Cheri

You know, I never worried about pepper or any other spices and I didn't have an issue. But if you're really concerned, shoot a quick email or make a call to your surgeon's office. ~Cheri

I'm with cattracks on this one. There is no magical window of time with the sleeve. Seriously - we do NOT have the same limited window of malabsorption that bypass patients have. Your sleeve is going to stretch but not enough to make losing a problem. You'll have to work at it to gain a real amount of weight. I stalled out around the mid 160s for close to nine weeks. I was sure I was done and would never see goal. I kept with it, fell of the wagon for a bit, and jumped back onto the right track after a while. And after plugging away I finally got a drop. A small one at first, then a big one. And here I am, sitting pretty at goal when I had been so sure before I couldn't lose anything else. Make sure you're not in denial about your food intake. It happens to us when we get lax. Exercise is important but unless you really bring it every day you're not going to lose weight from exercise alone. It will make your skinny, at goal body look better, though, and it's great for your heart and overall health. Keep with it. Some of us are slower losers. And let me tell you it took me better than SIX months to lose that last 20 pounds. I had two really long stalls and I'm glad I didn't give up or I'd still be wearing a size 12 instead of a size 6 - so please, hang in there. Best of luck, ~Cheri

I'd take it really slow on those eggs. In the beginning it could take me TWO hours to eat a single scrambled egg. It's a far denser food than anything you've had in your sleeve so far. I'd start with one or two bites of egg - with nothing else. Then I'd wait a bit and go back for more. You overdid it and it's totally normal until you learn your limits. I toss my food back up if I overdo it, too. Soon you'll learn those full signals (which are different than they used to be) and stop before you get sick. ~Cheri

Relax and wait for mushies. We all worry about this until we're faced with eating an entire scrambled egg and it takes two hours! Oh, those dense Proteins are HARD in the beginning. But liquids run right on through, even if we have to sip them all day long. You'll be fine. Stick to the plan and don't worry. ~Cheri

Yep, lesson learned, right? Bread took me forever and I still only eat a tiny bit of it when I do have some. Pasta and rice are my real no-nos, even 19 months out. I can only eat a few bites and I swear they swell in my stomach and cause me discomfort every stinking time. I always overindulge, forgetting that my limit on these foods is only a Tbs. or two, not half a cup. Guidelines are there for a reason, cheater cheater! No, it won't be this way forever. Eventually you'll be able to eat pretty much whatever you want but not in nearly the quantities you used to eat. Once you heal, it's a different story. I'm in the minority but I advocate eating a normal diet without restricting carbs or sugar down to Atkins levels. I suggest if you wish to eat this way to accept that 1) you'll have slower loss and 2) you'll have to track your intake religiously so you don't exceed your nutritional guidelines. I think too many of us approach the sleeve like a diet and get burned out. Restricting our diet drastically builds the expectation that we'll see a drop on the scale every single day. Not so - this is a lifestyle change. You removed most of your stomach. Be responsible and healthy and you'll reach your goals. But for now? Heal! Follow those guidelines and drink as much liquid as you can each day. ~Cheri

I think you're being too hard on yourself. Hold yourself accountable but don't be extreme about it. A variance of +/- 2 pounds is normal for me each day. So long as I'm not over 138 I don't beat myself up over my weight. Anything could affect us: pressure, humidity, salt intake, Water intake, time of the month. In fact, I regularly gain about 3 pounds during my cycle. So, I applaud your accountability. However, I think you shouldn't worry about the minuscule gain unless it becomes a habit. I'd also like to add that I really don't feel there is a "magic window" where weight loss becomes harder. We do not have the limited window of malabsorption that bypass patients have. Our sleeve does stretch a bit but certainly not enough for us to just start gaining weight or eating a ton of food - not without us really jumping off the wagon and running in the wrong direction! It took me 17 months to get to goal. Loss closer to goal weight is slower but it's just as easy to lose as it was in the beginning: you just keep on doing the right things and the weight comes off. I think this misconception people have is part of the reason half the posts on these boards are from people freaking out about a two week stall or a slower loss - they have this idea that if they don't drop the weight in nine months they'll be failures or have wasted their money on VSG. This isn't the case! You're doing a great job so far, and should have no trouble reaching goal. ~Cheri

Everyone's surgeon has different guidelines and many allow soft foods within just a few weeks of surgery. So long as you're following your particular surgeon's food guidelines I wouldn't worry. Eating was my most favorite thing in the world, pre VSG. Honestly, I think I enjoyed food more than my husband! (Kidding!) Post op it became a hated chore that required work and planning on my part. I had to make a food plan at the start of each day and log it into myfitnesspal to be sure I'd meet my nutritional goals. I often failed - at least for the first 4-6 months. Slowly but surely things will get more normal for you. Not only will you be able to eat more, but you'll start to lose that expectation that you'll clean your plate or eat at the same pace as the people around you. It's a hard mental adjustment to make but it really does get easier with time. As for how long it will be before you can eat that four ounces of fish more quickly? Who knows? You might be like me and have ridiculous restriction at more than a year out. I can tell you it would take me about thirty minutes to eat that tilapia, but if it were salmon I wouldn't be able to finish a whole four ounces as it's a denser fish - more meaty. Or you might be like the average sleever and be able to eat that four ounces along with some vegetables and maybe even a few bites of rice at one year out. Life will be easier for you if that's the case, I think! Enjoy it. It's hard at first and very frustrating. But honestly, I love that food no longer controls me. Once upon a time I'd have eaten twice as much fish along with a plate full of rice and vegetables and been hungry for dessert afterward. ~Cheri

Yep, no help from me, either. I didn't have to do the same type of workups as I self-paid. Best of luck to you, and I'll have my fingers crossed that it all works out and you can proceed with surgery soon. ~Cheri

It's been brought up on the boards here before and honestly it just varies by each doctor and what they prefer. I haven't yet seen a real difference in our recovery due to diets prior to surgery. The only big difference is that I have noticed that people that do an extended pre-op diet don't seem to have that initial big drop in the first month post op. They seem to lose a more reasonable amount of weight, more in line with what they'll lose each month for the first three or four months. I had Dr. Aceves and he required no pre-op diet but he does have one of the strictest post-op diets. Just do what your doctor says and you should be fine. Everyone is different but your surgeon has his/her particular diet plan for a reason, even if a different doctor disagrees with that approach. Best of luck. The time until your surgery will go faster than you think. Hang in there! ~Cheri

You're hearing the right things here. Stalls stink and they do happen. I'll be honest, I don't know that at your weight you really even needed the DS. I think you'll be able to reach your goals with the VSG if you keep plugging along. The vomiting is not normal. I'm sorry that your doctor isn't coming up with other ideas here! I developed lactose intolerance about six weeks out from surgery and didn't know it was the dairy making me nauseous all day long until I cut it out on someone else's suggestion. Is it possible for you to see someone else about this? Honestly - you HAVE to eat, and if you can't eat you can't expect to lose weight or be healthy. If I had to guess I'd say that the shock of the surgery coupled with your absolute inability to eat a normal, balanced diet is what's got your body totally freaked out and scared to let go of any weight. If you weren't having issues with vomiting I'd tell you to keep plugging along, record your intake and make sure you're eating enough. Stalls are normal and I honestly stalled out so much I stopped considering them "stalls" and just part of my regular weight loss pattern. And I was a slow loser on top of that - if you average out my weight loss from start to finish post op I averaged just over six pounds a month. If you subtract the big drop in the first month and average out the remaining sixteen months I lost about five pounds a month. So while your results right now aren't what you want or think they should be, they aren't bad results, per se. It's the vomiting that has me worried for you. I'd seek a second opinion and see if they can tie it to either a medication or something in your diet. Best of luck to you. I hope this gets resolved soon. ~Cheri

Best of luck to you on your journey! Life will be totally different in just one year, you wait. Heck, in six months you might not recognize yourself. On another note, I really hate that he military is so hung up on weight standards. My husband is active duty Army and over the years he has lost a number of really great soldiers and coworkers due to weight. I understand if they want someone to lose weight because the weight causes health complications and interferes with their ability to perform. But in a lot of cases, a guy is only a little overweight and fully able to perform and the discharge is based more on discrimination or appearances than a serious concern about his/her ability to accomplish the mission. A lot of times these are guys/gals that would stay in for another ten years otherwise. It's a shame. In any case, I hope that you find your apnea resolves itself and you really will be in a totally new place in just a few months. The liquid diet really stinks. I didn't have one pre-op but three weeks on liquids post op was a nightmare for me. I wasn't hungry, don't get me wrong. I just felt completely bored with my food options, not hungry in the least and totally frustrated that I had to sip 16 ounces over two hours. As with all things, the rough stage passes. Get through the surgery, rest well and heal and in no time you'll be back at 'em, good as new. Better, in fact, as soon as you start dropping those extra pounds. Oh, and black coffee works better than any enema at cleaning a person out. If that doesn't cut it, buy a bottle of Miralax and it will work, but not all day long like the Ducolax. Best wishes, ~Cheri

I don't think you're hearing something different at all. In my experience this has happened numerous times. I use Tricare, and whenever I visit doctors at a military treatment facility the issue is ALWAYS my weight. I seem to get more understanding care from non-military doctors I've seen off base but I see from this post that it can be an issue everywhere. I broke my right leg in 2005. I broke three bones in five places and completely shredded a ligament. I was in a wheelchair for four months and totally unable to walk. After moving to a new base, I went in for a referral for physical therapy because the humidity in our new location was giving me a lot of grief. I was refused a referral by a doctor that clearly didn't even bother to open my chart. I was told to lose 50 pounds and my leg would feel better. So yes, it happens. It happens all too often in an industry full of people that blindly repeat what they were taught: that weight loss is a simple matter of willpower and exercise, that a 1200 calorie diet is one-size-fits-all and that if the patient isn't losing weight they're either not trying hard enough or lying about trying in the first place. And heaven forbid you're on an Army post because doctors think the sun rises and sets on the BMI chart. The first thing they do is plop you on a scale and heaven forbid you're considered overweight or obese! I'm still right on the line between normal and overweight and just got scolded by my doctor - again, one who didn't even bother to look at my chart and see that I'm half the size I was two years ago. And while some of my heath issues are dramatically improved post VSG (namely, resolution of my diabetes) the other issues (back pain, endometriosis, occasional pain from that old leg injury) are still here and still bother me. I really dislike doctors, and because of the discrimination in the past I'm more inclined to nurse myself through anything other than a major problem or injury simply because I don't want to hear another lecture about my weight. ~Cheri

I wouldn't worry too much about the fat. Someone posted about fat grams per day recently and I shared my thoughts then, too, that it's less important to track fat than it is to track Protein and calories. We don't want to go all out and give ourselves heart disease but let's be realistic here: even on a day when we feel like we've had a lot of fat post op, it's likely nowhere near what we were eating pre op. We need the fat now more than ever because we're not getting it from other sources. It's very tough to go low-fat on a protein based diet! I relied heavily on cheeses when I first got here to Bishkek. We had no good source of meat so we were living the vegetarian lifestyle. I have no easy access to prepared or convenience vegetarian foods in this country. The best I could do was make my own soy milk and tofu, or order vital wheat gluten online and make seitan! And yes, tofu and seitan are good ways to get protein but let's not lie to ourselves and say they're as dense in protein as meat is - you have to make up that slack somewhere. There are only so many bean dishes or hummus spreads I can make and only so many ways I can prepare eggs before I'm tired of them! cheese was critical in reaching those protein goals. I even ate a lot of Peanut Butter, something I don't really care for normally. I still get one Protein shake in each day (two scoops of protein, about 50 grams) because I could not possibly hit my protein goals (90+ grams/day) otherwise. I eat as much cheese as I can. I'm still mad that my lactose intolerance makes cottage cheese impossible for me. I'd eat that day in and day out if I could! As it is I eat a few ounces of hard cheese each day. If you're really concerned about your fat intake, record your food on a site like myfitnesspal and be sure your fat intake isn't too high. So long as I'm not "in the red" on my fat totals when I track, I don't let it bother me much. The people that super-restrict their diets DO get results, but then they get to goal and have to figure out how to eat like normal people. Just eat a balanced diet now and save yourself the trouble. ~Cheri

I also stopped buying clothes once I made my appointment for surgery. I made do with what was already in my closet for two months and was fine with that. As I was losing, I made small purchases of a few shirts or a few pants as I needed them. I thought I wasn't going to get much smaller than a size M top and 8 bottom so I bought a lot of stuff in that size on sale. It turns out I was just going to lose that last twenty pounds incredibly slowly. I stopped buying when I hit goal, thinking that in maintenance I wouldn't lose much more. My shirt size is currently small, so I figured I'd never get smaller than a small. For the most part, I think shirts will be okay. However, I was in a size six pant and even though I'm maintaining and haven't lost but one more pound in the last two months my sixes are all getting big. I think the weight sort of rearranges itself even if you aren't still losing. Now it looks like I'll be okay with my sixes for a while but honestly, it wouldn't hurt me to buy some fours, either. So I guess what I'm saying is be careful. I thought I'd spend some time in every size on the way down but I skipped straight from 12s to 8s. I'd only buy what you need as you need it, because I didn't wear much of anything I bought for more than two months. I gave away tons of clothes that still had tags on it because I never had time to wear them before I got too small. And be careful even at goal! I bought an entire wardrobe of fall/winter clothing and it looks like I'll need new pants next year as these are already getting big. It makes me wonder how small I'll really be once I have plastic surgery. Sheesh! And did you know your feet could shrink? I've been a 6 1/2 most of my life, going up to a 7 during and after my twin pregnancy. Now all of my 6 1/2s are too big. It's completely bizarre. Shop sales and thrift stores when you can to lessen the blow when you find that your new favorite shirt only fits for six weeks. I never really realized how much expense/trouble went into clothing myself for a year, but I've had to replace everything from underwear and bras to shapewear to shoes to jackets. Even my nice leather gloves got too big for my hands! ~Cheri

Yes, check if you're really concerned but it should be fine. I don't look a bit like my passport photos or my military ID photo but I didn't have any problems traveling. One of the photos was taken back when I was about 250 pounds and the other two were taken about two months post op, so I've lost more than 80 pounds since then. I look enough like my photo to pass. I did get my drivers license updated when I was back home before traveling, just in case I needed to show an additional ID but it was never required. Doing the license was simple and only took 30 minutes of my time, not six weeks! I have no intention of updating any of my passports until someone brings it up as an issue or until they expire. I currently live overseas and regularly travel using my passport and haven't had a single person bring it up as a concern. ~Cheri

Why on earth would you be weighing yourself immediately after surgery? Put that scale away until at least the start of your third week post op! Most of us gain weight in the hospital, because being on an IV will do that to a person. Anesthesia is hard on the body. Just the general shock of slicing your body open and removing most of an organ will mess with your system. I didn't lose any weight my first month until more than two weeks after surgery. I had a big drop that month, followed by about a 5.5 pound loss per month after that, on average. Relax and worry about getting in your liquids. The losses will come later, I promise. ~Cheri

It's not uncommon to be incredibly nervous prior to a major surgery. At eighteen, I doubt you've had a lot of experience with this. You really will be fine. It's a scary thing but so incredibly worth it. I wish that I'd had this surgery when I was eighteen, instead of just before I turned thirty! Age shouldn't affect your surgical outcome but you might bounce back faster post op just because you're younger. Everyone is different! I only had one really rough day post op. I was uncomfortable for a while but I don't even think I took pain pills for a week. It's a huge decision and it's going to change your entire life. Trust your surgeon to take care of you and follow his/her guidelines to avoid complications. Best of luck. You're going to do just fine. ~Cheri

Congrats, keep up the great work! ~Cheri

It's the only time (other than when I really work my rear off at the gym) when I feel hungry. It's all head hunger, but man is it ever intense. I agree with Diva - it's not that I have less restriction, it's that I'm eating pure crap that slides right on through. The good news is that it usually only gets me for one day and the weight never hangs around after my cycle is over. ~Cheri

I didn't care for it but everyone has different tastes. I'd visit a site like Vitalady and order a bunch of samples so you can try everything before you buy. My favorite unflavored (and I've tried five or six of them) is Integrated supplements. In the can it has that Protein smell but I drink two scoops some mornings in coffee or tea and don't even know it's there. I mix it in Soup, too. It doesn't clump in very warm liquids, either, which is a huge plus. It's pricier but we now keep Kosher so it's worth the expense to me. My least favorite unflavored protein was unjury. I couldn't add more than a Tbs. to anything or it changed the flavor. I'm lactose intolerant and I never mix my Protein Powder with milk. I do like to use plain soymilk, though, so you might try that to cut some of the sweet. I make my own but I'm sure there's a brand you could try if you don't like mixing with Water, coffee or tea. Good luck! ~Cheri

Aw, Coops. I'm so sorry for you and for his family. Losing a child is a horrible, terrible thing. The only benefit I took from it is the same as what you're taking away from losing your student: the knowledge that we never know what will happen tomorrow, so we need to live today to the fullest. I hope you can provide comfort to your grieving students. ~Cheri

I don't really worry about fat grams much at all. I used myfitnesspal to track and so long as I wasn't "in the red" on my fat totals for the day I didn't worry about it. It's hard to keep your fats down on a Protein based diet! And fats aren't our enemy, either. Post op you might have issues with dry hair, skin and nails. Think about how much fat you ate pre-op and you will probably realize that even eating more fats now that you'd like, you're still nowhere near your earlier totals. We need fat, at least in moderation. We need fat to absorb certain nutrients from our food. It makes us feel satisfied after a meal, and it makes our food taste better. So look up what the percentage of fat should be for your calorie intake and start there. Don't go low-fat everything, it's not good for you! Eat that chicken, it sounds like a good option. ~Cheri

I wouldn't do it anywhere near the first two months post op. You definitely don't want to screw with that staple line. Pre-op I couldn't care less about popcorn. Now it's my favorite snack. Everyone's doc has different advice on this one, so maybe check with your surgeon. Some folks are told not to eat it for six months, some are never warned about it at all. My only warning would be that you should measure portions accordingly. I can only eat one egg if I'm eating regular food but I can eat 2-3 cups of popcorn. I could probably eat more, but once I've had that much I'm not really in the mood for popcorn anymore. It is a trigger food for me, however. If I have it one night, I want it every night. I have to budget it in and only indulge once a week or I have a problem. I also prefer to pop my own as I can not only control how much salt/butter are used but it tastes better. I find that I way overdo it on the bagged junk but if I make my own it tastes better and I'm satisfied faster. ~Cheri

I tried dozens and dozens of Protein drinks until I found one I did like. I don't just make sweet shakes, either. I mix protein (flavored or unflavored) with coffee, tea, juice, etc. I drink them warm or cold. I need the variety or I get sick of them. Honestly, I hardly know I'm drinking protein in my coffee or tea anymore. I could not personally hit my protein goals (90+ grams a day) without shakes. I mix two scoops of protein into my morning coffee or tea and I'm more than halfway to my protein goals before lunch. It works for me. So my first recommendation would be to keep trying shakes. Vitalady does samples and I found that invaluable when I couldn't choke any of the shakes down in the early days. I just kept trying until I found things I like. These days I love Integrated supplements unflavored protein and the nectar Vanilla Bean Torte the best, but I've gone through several different brands in the last year and a half. That said, you do have other options. Before I developed lactose intolerance my very favorite way to get protein was cottage cheese. Tuna is fantastic, too. Actually, just about any fish is great. I can eat more of it per sitting and it's packed with protein. I still, at 19 months out, have trouble eating more than 2-3 oz. of dense protein in one sitting. I have to snack on Jerky and hardboiled eggs to keep my counts up. Keep trying. Protein is important. I lost a lot of hair until I realized how deficient I was in this respect. It all came back once I got my act together. ~Cheri