Lookinupin2010

I was afraid to eat veggies and fruit till about 6 months out. They kinda made me feel sick, but I missed them terribly. I am now over a year out, and about 9 months from surgery I started eating salads with just romaine and tomatoes. I now can put any raw veggies in it and not have any problems. I HAVE to have fruit and veggies or I get so constipated that I have actually injured myself. (not going into detail as it is too much tmi) but I now consume at least one salad with 1/2 to 1/4 cup servings of at least 5 different veggies, eat an orange and apple everday, and mix my Protein shake with blueberries in the morning. I only have one Protein Shake a day, but since I lost a LOT of hair, I try to get in at least 75 grams of protein a day. I just have to make sure that I also get in my veggies. I still have problems with grains. They get stuck, and I end up throwing up most of the time. Just not worth it to me. As time goes by, things will get easier. I CAN eat oatmeal in the morning if I decide to mix my vanilla Protein powder in as my milk, and it doesn't make me sick. I love oatmeal, and was told by my pre-op nutritionist that I would never be able to eat it ever again. If I use the shake as the milk, I'm not getting the sugar from the milk. Highest weight: 375 Preop weight: 340 Current weight: 223 VSG - Dr. Chaisson 4/7/2010

Br: protein shake and coffee with nonfat milk Ln: romaine lettuce salad with tomato and fat free italian dressing, 3 oz of salmon (canned) Dn: tilapia, potatoe (steamed in lemon grass water) brocoli (if I can get it down...may be too full)

I learned from the nutritionist, that Protein is the only nutrient source that we cannot get from a pill. We can take Calcium, all sorts of Vitamins and minerals, but unless we consciously choose to eat (or drink) protein, we aren't going to get it anywhere else. This made sense to me. I get tired of the protein stuff too....but after finally getting my hair back after having bald spots to cover up....I will eat or drink the stinking stuff. Dr. Chaisson 4/7/2010 Preop weight: 365 Todays weight: 236 Goal weight. 160

I think it all depends on how your body tolerates them. I was always a salad and fruit lover. I had to wait a full 6 months before I could eat any raw veggies. Cooked I could usually handle at around 3 months. I'm almost 10 months out, and still salads can bother me sometimes. Like today for example. I had a romaine and tomatoe salad with chicken for lunch, and my tummy is still doing flip flops. Dr. Chaisson VSG 4/7/2010 365 beginning weight 235 todays weight 75 more to go

I actually went through hot flashes for about 5 months. I'm 58 and already gone through all that menopause stuff, so you can imagine the shock I was in. Dr. told me that estrogen is stored in fat cells. As your fat cells shrink, the estrogen is released into your body. Therefore, you can RE-experience the hot flashes from menopause as you lose weight. I'm 8 months out now, and have lost 120 lbs. Finally, the hot flash thing has ended. I think the more weight you need to lose, the longer it lasts. I started out at 365 lbs. Just hang in there...it goes away as well as the weight. VSG 4/7/2010 Starting Weight: 365 Today's Weight 246

I'm out 6 months now....have lost a total of 103 lbs as of today, but started out at 365. Now, the loss is about 12 lbs a month since month 4. That's great with me, cuz the hanging skin and hair loss was getting real bad. I figure by this time next year I will be at goal of 160. Best of luck to you....and just let your body and the surgery do it's own thing.

I'm one week away from 6 months out, and just in the last 2 weeks I've been able to eat a salad. Still can't do tomato peels, or any other food with peels. (grapes, etc) But lettuce and spinach (raw) will now not make me sick. Just have to chew chew chew. I throw some kind of protein on it with fat free dressing.

I walk 1 hour a day, at 2.75 mph. I eat between 500-800 calories a day and get in 60-70 grams of Protein a day. At almost 6 months out (one week till 6 months) I am losing an average of .5 lbs a day. .4 if I don't drink enough Water.

Look at it this way...lesson learned. Unfortunately, that's how we learn.:eek:

yeah...tmi....lol

EGG DROP SOUP...one of my most favorites during the early liquid stage. ENJOY ...

It probably still hurts to eat quite a few things. I didn't start feeling like I could handle most foods till I was 5 months out. I'm one week away from 6 months, and just started eating salads about 2 weeks ago, but really chew the daylights out of it. I still can't eat bread or any kind of wheat stuff..get's stuck.

And I agree with all the above, but I would also like to throw in, that there is probably not a one of us that didn't have some kind of doubt either before or after (the 'what have I done to myself' syndrome). This is major surgery, it is a complete lifestyle change that you will be forced into because of physical changes, but isn't that why you decided to do this in the first place? I did. We ALL know the fear of going into the unknown. But I can guarantee you that anything you put on this board, will be answered in some way by someone. We are here for each other. We all have common ground here. Take care, and best wishes for tomorrow.:thumbup:

Yes, like the above post...those are for our pre-op days. We are in a new mode now. As for me, I'm supposed to consume 70 grams of Protein a day and in only 600 calories. Being almost 6 months out now, I've learned to accomplish that, but my problem in the past was getting in enough protein and not being hungry. Don't be consumed by the burdens of the past...live in the joyous NOW !!!

IT WORKS....IT WORKS...IT WORKS... !!! Congratulations.....it works !!!!

I had them for a few weeks, postop. Dr. said that it was due to going into a state of ketosis. Burning fat for energy, rather than carbs and sugar. But I agree, you should talk to your Dr.

wow !!! You look great....keep up the great work !!!! Bet the new sizes feel good too...

So, since I DO have bald spots, and tomorrow will be my 5 month surgevarsary...when can I expect to get new growth? My Dr. says it should quit falling out at 6 months..(another month to go...OH MY !!) When it grows back, will it be thicker, the same or does it depend on genetics? I've heard that cancer patients get their old color and thicker hair. However, our nutrition is not quite the same as presurgery without all the multitude of Vitamins that we pop all day long. I'm REALLY trying not to stress over this whole hair thing, but these bald spots are getting harder to cover...lol

I started losing at 2 months postop. I'm now approaching my 5 month, and still losing it. Don't think I can take much more loss of hair, but my Dr. reassures me that by the end of 6 months, it will stop falling out. Sometimes when I take a shower, (you know how you feel water dripping down your back?) I feel hair falling down my back. Scarey feeling. But I love the weight loss. So have decided to just acknowledge this as just part of the journey.

I finally figured out how to post pictures without having to go to photobucket and get the 'invalid file' message. I have decided to post pictures of my journey every 4 months. Seems the greatest changes take place in that time period.

Sounds wonderful. I think I remember seeing it around Christmas time. Don't see it on the shelves right now. Let me know where she got it, should you remember to ask.

As a matter of curiosity, I can fully understand why anyone would want to see a part of their body. I had my gallbladder taken out over 30 yrs ago, and now wish I had seen (if not kept) those nasty little stones that made me so incredibly sick for 3 years. However, I would have NEVER thought of seeing my stomach. Don't know why....just never appealed to me. I do have a pacemaker, and when this one wears out, I plan on asking for it.

Being almost 5 months post-op (in one week) I can tell you, you are not alone in this "what did I do to myself" syndrome. We go through it because of the stress that the surgery put upon our bodies, the emotional issues that we have to face because of 'gluttony' withdrawal, and the 'food' (and I use that word loosely) that we are left to eat newly postop. You will have many episodes of depression, each one from a different issue, but I can tell you first hand....when you start going to your closet and your clothes are too big for you, when you can feel bones that you haven't felt in years, when people say "You look great"...it will make this all worthwhile. Sorry about the rash, I agree, they should have checked the bracelet. But I'm wondering, how did you even get to wear the bracelet (even medical) in the operating room. I had papers that asked if I had any allergies to any medications. So sorry you have to go through the rash, but happy that you have met your first bout of depression to recover from our disease. Hang in there.....:thumbup1:

I was told in my presurgery seminar to not drink milk at all...(I used to love oatmeal in the morning). Milk sugars just like all sugars turn to fat if not used up. Sugar grams over 3 are a no no for my program. I do use a 1/2 cup of lite soy milk however...that is 3 on the dot.