Donna4545

I am being driven insane by the scale. This morning, magically, 290.6 after a week of fluctuation between 292 and 293.6. Will it stay down tomorrow? Arrgghh! If I could scream without scaring the neighbors, I would.

haha! no it's just you and me lol--everyone else is losing just fine

I'm also in an educational setting and this is the 2nd week of classes and I am so busy (I know, excuse) that I haven't exercised at all. It's all I can do to get to work in the morning, and to get my fluids in. Oh the self-hate!

I didn't "weigh in" here--see the ticker for the dastardly starting BMI of 51 and pre-pre-op diet weight of 331. I've got 150 or more lbs to lose. I must confess when I see people getting the surgery to lose 40 or 50 lbs it kind of pisses me off. I know it's not rational, I know it's not kind, and there's nothing personal against the people--but the truth is that I get this pissed-off feeling about it. I can't even articulate why. Maybe because I was told by insurance companies that I didn't qualify so many times and it doesn't seem fair that they did (I realize they might self pay). Dunno, guess I'm a head case lol.

That's ok. People will find it.

Coffee makes you pee so I wouldn't count it, or milk, but tea yes, anything made with water, in general, yes I would count it.

Try these things: Always have crystal lite, tea or Water in your hand. Drink 64 oz a day No or very little Pasta, rice, bread, potatoes At least 60 grams of lean Protein a day (some can be from a Protein shake with less than 5 grams carb and sugar per serving) Exercise--it curbs appetite Don't eat in front of the TV Pay attention to portions Don't buy junk food at all and no fast food Never go grocery shopping when you're hungry Eat 3 meals a day with protein Snacks in between (but don't graze all day) Get a good night's sleep Take a Multivitamin every day Avoid coffee and alcohol (stimulates appetite) See my blog (link below) for some pre-op tips. If you blow it one day, start fresh in the morning and move on. It's a new day.

My GP told me that some people's livers just make more (or less) cholesterol no matter what they eat, that it's genetic.

I am right there with you. I have lost 21 lbs in 6 weeks and it just seems to take forever. This week the scale goes from 292-293.6 and back for no apparent reason--but it looks like no loss this week and maybe even a completely inexplicable gain of 1.6 lbs. I've heard people say change your exercise, up your calories, up your Protein to shake the stall but I don't know. I am eating WAY less calories than I am burning by about 2,700 so how is it physically possible to plateau?!!

It took me 6 weeks post-op (just now) before hunger became adjusted and normal (for the sleeve anyway). Before that I would have trouble figuring out what was hunger and what was just rumbling. And I would get hungry while I was eating (weird!). At 4 weeks, I got really hungry a lot, like my body was giving its last struggle to get my attention. After that, it cleared up. That said, everybody is different.

I am 6 weeks out and I'm discouraged--I'm just not losing even though I'm following the rules. I thought this was supposed to be "the honeymoon period" where we lost weight easily! I've only lost 21 lbs since surgery--that's six weeks! 150 lbs or more to go (the nutritionist arbitrarily set my goal at the very top of the normal range for my ht and wt). This week the scale stays the same, or goes up a pound (292.0to 293.6) I feel like this isn't working.

Hard to digest fiber like celery, orange membranes, fruit and vegetable peels, fresh coconut.

I think you're doing amazing under the conditions that you have to work with. Keep the faith! If there's anything you need that's mail-able (protein powder?) let me know and I'll send it to you! Donna

I was just cleared for a normal diet when I had to go to the east coast for a conference. I took GoTein for being stuck in airports and on the plane (single serving, good stats, mix with water). Otherwise I ate restaurant food and had a ton of leftovers. I brought Protein powder so I could have a Breakfast in my hotel room (brought a shaker bottle and mixed it with unsweetened Starbucks iced coffee I got in the hotel lobby). Eating in restaurants wasn't hard (I just picked whatever protein wasn't fried/breaded). Keeping the Water bottle filled was the biggest challenge. I gained 2 lbs on my trip, I think it was travel itself, PMS water retention, and restaurant food--but once I came home and got back on track it came right back off. I think learning how to travel with VSG is going to be something I perfect over time.

See the archives in my blog (link below) for what I did for Pureed, Mushies, Softs. It's mostly real simple stuff because I didn't feel like cooking. Also, pureed canned chicken is better than it sounds lol. Add a little lowfat mayo and some celery seed--woo!

Most days I have a Protein powder shake, blended with Water or iced coffee. If I have extra time in the morning or it's the weekend, I'll make 2 eggs with a tiny tiny baby potato and 2 cloves garlic (330 calories)--that's my single serving version of a Spanish Tortilla (tortilla espanola), which I love. It keeps me full a LONG time.

At 6 weeks out, light non acidic white wine (Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc) are do-able without problem, but the reds don't taste right/sit right yet so I avoid them that this point. I make sure to count it in my calorie count so it doesn't become a weight loss problem. I know it's ideal not to drink at all, but I'm a wine nut, and my goal is to enjoy in moderation.

Globetrotter--sausage is very high fat. I wouldn't eat that any more. Check out my food list on fatsecret and see if the way I've been doing things is available to you. I think my fats come out to about half of yours. I know I've only been on there 2 days lol, but maybe it will give you some ideas? I do lowfat cheese (good source of protein) and lean meats. That's where my fat comes from. If they give you breaded stuff, pick off the breading. Here's a thought--if you tell them you are on a special diet for medical reasons, will they make some accommodations for you (like lowfat cheese, or grill something for you instead of frying?). Also, Protein powder shakes might help to get the protein up and keep the fat down when what they have in the dining hall is unacceptable.

Even with the plain, you have to read the label. Yoplait has tons of sugar--don't use it. Same with a few others I've seen. Dannon makes one with almost no fat and sugar, that's what I use.

Wow Tiffy, thanks! I'll be trying that one! As for ratios, you could probably add a little and taste test, then add some more till it's perfect.

I sent you a buddy request, Dansha

Thanks everybody--I'm on the True Path, with the exception of exercise--I'll get there. But the calories are under control--and I feel better than when I was eating all that restaurant food. One of my male co-workers who has also been losing weight (we talk about it) told me today that I was beautiful lol! Not in a creepy way,or a "you have a pretty face" way--it was sincere, I found it funny, I just laughed (and said 'thank you'). I know that my motivation is better health, but it was kind of a nice little NSV that made it a little easier to not go for the higher calorie food for dinner. Someone out there thinks I'm beautiful lol--what a concept! And at 292 lbs! After I lose 100 lbs do I get elevated to "Goddess" status? ROFL!

My nut says 1,000 calories a day but that just doesn't sound right. My natural tendency is 650-850/day. My nut says if I do that, when I stall I'll have nothing to cut back on because my body will already be adjusted to low calories. ??? Does anyone have info on optimum calories?

Use fatsecret.com to log your foods, and you can make us your buddies and see what we eat every day--I'm on there, Globetrotter is too--anybody else just speak up!

Ignorant docs are my pet peeve. They think they can say anything they want. I'm glad you filed a complaint.