texaschick

For the first couple of weeks after surgery I didn't have any hunger. But now at a month out I am experiencing it again. It seems like I never feel "full". I know it is supposed to be a different feeling, but it is definitely not satisfying to me. I am still eating too fast, probably too much (although not any where near what I used to eat).

I was about the same as mommytoethan. Minimal pain, never took pain meds, laughing and getting up from a sitting or lying position was somewhat painful, but by no means unbearable. If you are going to be out in the texas heat you will really need to be working on getting your liquids in and as much as possible. I was OK to be up and moving, but I occasionally wanted a nap. I am not sure what your post op diet looks like, but talk to your doc about (water based) protein shakes early out. I called my doc on day 5 and asked if I could start with one a day, and he okayed it. That made all the difference in the world in my energy level. I used the Myoplex carb control RTD shakes. Sometimes I blended them with a small chunk of frozen banana for the potassium. Talk it all over with your doc.

OK, I must be doing something here.... I am 1 month out and I can eat a whole small container of wendys chili, or a whole grilled chicken breast (with some king of condiment to help it down) , A hamburger (no bun) etc..... Is anybody else able to eat this much !!?? I try and keep my calories between 700-800 (some days are a we'd bit more) A typical day this week has been: 2 oz thin deli turkey with a lite cheese stick , Small can of tuna for lunch, another cheese stick with deli turkey - 1 oz for snack. Wendys chili or a chicken breast from pollo tropical for dinner (I am on the road this week). Oh, and a skim Cappuccino in the morning

WooHoo Rock that sleeve Ian!

I too was nervous about the time immediately post surgery. I am a big baby when it comes to pain and I thought I was going to be whining and moaning for days. Quite frankly, this was a breeze for me. I am almost worried because it has been too easy. I am about 4 weeks out now and have not had a problem eating at all. The weight loss hasn't been as great as I had hoped, but I am thinking it may be due to the "dreaded 3 week stall". Go in with a positive attitude. Reach out for support where you can, people really do love to help. Let the negative or non-supportive comments roll off of you. I have been very open to everyone that asks. I let them know that I have a family history of obesity, heart disease etc and I have severe osteoarthritis in my knees. I am 50 now and it ain't getting any easier to lose weight. This is a tool (although more extreme) just like The Biggest Loser, etc

Those are the carb control ones. 25g protein and 150 calories. I am almost 4 weeks out and I don;t seem to have the issues that others do. I can drink like before; mind you, I don't chug, but certainly not sippy, sippy. I drink one most days just to keep my protein up - I still haven't mastered getting all of my protein from food yet. Sometimes I blend up the chocolate one with a piece of frozen banana, pretty tasty.

Not sure if you are talking about the Myoplex Carb Control or not, but if so, that is what I drink all the time. I travel a lot for business so I stick a 4 pack in my checked luggage and refrigerate them when I get there. That is better than lugging a blender or shaker bottle around with me and having to clean it good in a hotel room. I like them. I sometimes throw a pack of benefiber in with it and shake it up good. They are best really, really cold. So I will put in my thermos bottle with a few ice cubes and drink it.

I swear by my little thermos. Got it at target and it has a little sipper spout and a snap down lid that works great when I need to reshake it to mix things up. I take it everywhere with me. My kids (teenagers) refer to it as mom's "ba-ba"

Totally awesome! Love the pool!

Way to go! How inspiring and motivating for me to read these kind of posts.

I am so sorry for what has happened to you and I hope this does not turn you away from this site. It has been a wonderful and invaluable tool for me during my journey. I am also sorry I did not read your original post. I, like many others, only look at new posts, and then only read the ones that catch my eye. May you seek and find whatever help you need to get through this.

Truly fabulous post. So glad to hear you are doing well. And really glad to hear that I am not the only one considering an occasional cocktail! I am going on vacation in a couple of weeks and meeting up with my two best friends in Florida. I have been eyeing the Crystal light mixes to take along as an option for a mixer (very dilluted-found a Cosmopolitan flavor!!!) before anyone gets on their high horse, I am not planning to drink away the days, just have an option should I chose to have a drink. Cheers! Here's wishing you continued success!

I too hit a stall at 2-2/12 weeks (surgery 6/8), but have finally picked up the pace again. But boy was it an "ahh ha" moment yesterday! I am going back out on the road for work (have been working at home since surgery) and I was trying on all of my work clothes to see what I should take next week and .......EEEKKKK, nothing fits! All of my pants fall down! Luckily I had a couple of pair of pants from a few years ago that are a size or so down from my pre-op size, but I need to hit the mall today! If anyone needs any size 20ish stuff give me a shout out. I will gladly pack it up and ship it to you (I'll even pay shipping). Keep in mind that I am 50 so most of my clothes are not the latest in "style". Not granny stuff mind you - mostly Talbots, Ralph Lauren, etc. Hang tough girlie, one day when you least expect it, you will start dropping the weight again!

I am almost three weeks out and I feel like I can drink normal now. I have to catch myself from gulping. I too have a problem with plain water, seems to 'stick' going down. I like the Hawaiian punch cherry limeade. I still dilute down some so it is not sickeningly sweet. I was having very bad thoughts yesterday - When I was looking over all of the Crystal Light flavors I saw one that was 'Cosmopolitan flavored' and I though-----oh, wouldn't that be good with a little vodka-------naughty naughty:reddevil:

If you haven't been to "theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com" you should check it out. She has some great ideas. Today I made my own version of one of her 'bite' recipes. 2 eggs, 1 egg white finely minced low sodium deli ham (about 2oz) 1/4 cup reduced fat feta cheese S&P beat eggs, add ham and cheese pour into pam-sprayed mini muffin tins and cook @ 350 degrees for 15 minutes (? - here recipe said 30 min, but mine were done in 15, so check yours with a toothpick). This makes 12 'bites'. each has aprox. 25-30 cal and 3g of Protein. They reheat great for a quick Breakfast. I wasn't sure if I could have finely chopped spinach yet (almost 3 weeks out), but when I can I will add some of that. I also made some with 1/4c taco meat and reduced fat mexicheese. when done I topped with a dollop of greek yogurt mixed 1 tsp taco sauce or salsa. Last night I made turkey meatballs and simmered them in no sugar added spaghetti sauce (I was too lazy to make my own I served 1 of those along side the ricotta bake. I made the meatballs without filler (bread crumbs - just ground white meat turkey, extra lean ground beef, egg, S&P, oregano, parsley, parm cheese, etc), and they were a little too 'dense' for me. Next time I will try soaking so low carb high Fiber bread (crustless) in some high protein milk so they won't be so solid. Each meatball had aprox 45 cal and 7g protein (I used 1/2 lb each of the turkey and beef)

May you find the strength and courage to reach your goals!

Cheers to you! May this continue to be a wonderful journey for you.

I am right there with you! I had surgery on June 8th, lost about 17 lbs in the first 10 days and nothing since!!! Thanks to the posts on here I know this is common, but nonetheless, discouraging. I am eating blended tuna salad, egg salad etc (thanks tiff for the the ranch dressing mix idea to perk it up a bit). I am going to make turkey meatballs today and cook them in marinara, and then make the ricotta bake and top it off with a meatball and sauce. I let you know how that turns out. Yesterday I made taco meat, cooked some refried Beans up with a little beef stock to thin them, then took a spoon full of taco meat and a spoonful of beans, mixed together and topped with cheese - YUM. I made chili and blended it, but it was a little too spicy for my new tummy so I stopped after one bite. I also saute a little onion, garlic, carrot and celery until very soft, add a can of beans of choice (black, white kidney, etc) stock of choice (I use beef witht he black beans and chicken with the white kidney) and then spices of choice (cumin, cilantro witht he black, fresh rosemary, with the kidney) simmer for 10 minutes and the blend away! Makes a great quick bean soup. The black beans are good with a dollop of plain greek yogurt. Good luck, and stick with it.

Wow you are definitely rockin' your sleeve. You look fabulous!

Starting Weight: 255 Surgery Weight: 247.5 Current Weight:231.5 (my scale) Goal #1: 230 (10%) Goal #2: 199 Goal Weight: 150

I think the jury is still out on NSAIDs and the VSG. One school of thought is that the potential for ulceration is there, and because we have teeny tiny tummies we can't afford to lose any of it. One surgeon mentioned to me (I have bad OA of the knee) that if I had to take a NSAID, take the liquid form and then drink afterwards to wash it out of the tummy.

Try Frigo Lite string cheese - 8g Protein and only 60 calories per stick. I nibble these for a snack. Have you tried the Ricotta bake from the recipe section - Ricotta has a lot of protein Egg salad is another option. Scramble an egg and shred a babybel cheese in it. I have found that if I don't do shakes I can't get my protein easy without eating all day. My routine is 2 shakes 2 meals and maybe a cheese stick for a snack. I use the Jay robb egg white protein. With the chocolate I put it in 6-8 oz of Water, a squirt of hershey SF syrup, a bunch of ice and blend it all up. It's not bad. My grocery store has small packs of the protein so that is what I bought to try it.

Those are all normal emotions. Right up until the day before I was ready to cancel. I finally realized I had gained and lost the weight so many times and that I was at the point in my life that losing wasn't going to get any easier (I am 50 and menopausal). I have bad arthritis in my knees and walking was becoming difficult. If I wanted a chance to enjoy my life, this was it! I am now 13 days out AND I FEEL GREAT! I was pretty hungry during the "clears" phase, but got over that quickly once I could eat some soups etc. I already have more energy. My husband is starting to worry about me aquiring a transfer addiction - shopping! Keep your spirit up ladies, you will get through this and on to a better, fitter, healthier life.

I must be doing exceptionally well, or something is wrong! I am not quite two weeks and I have no problem with a 4oz greek yogurt. For that matter I have no problem with 4oz of anything! That is probably my limit though. I have made some pureed bean soups (yummy) and put those in 1/2 cup servings and I can get one of those down too (they are very liquid). I have never had a problem with shakes either. I could do one of those in 15 minutes, easy. I am beginning to wonder if I got the 32f boughie he said I did! So, it all depends on how well you are healing and what your capacity is.

I went for my post op at about 9 days, although the handout they gave said week two: yogurt, shakes, string cheese, cottage cheese, refried Beans, eggs. Week three: ground meats, tuna, moist fish, broiled or baked fish or chicken, lunch meat. Week four: soft cooked veggies, cheese, fruits. I don't feel issues when I eat, I just have been stopping at about a quarter a cup or when I feel (full). I also have read other people mention that when they burp they stop, and I have been following that. I honestly feel I could eat anything right now, but I am keeping everything very soft and moist and plan on continuing that for a couple more weeks to make sure everything is healed.