Supersweetums

OK, you might hate me for saying this, but you just had a baby, give yourself a little slack. It can take up to a year to lose the baby weight (although you really do not have very much to lose). Plus, your hormones are still adjusting, and I am not sure if you are breast-feeding or not, but there is another whole ball of hormones! Now, I can relate to how you are feeling a little. I recently started a new medication which resulted in a 7lbs weight gain when I have been stable for a year, so change in diet! I had to stop taking the medication and now am stuck wondering if I can get the last of the weight off. I have been very happy where I was, feeling like I was eating a normal diet, eating properly without feeling deprived. Now I keep obsessing over these few pounds and it is just about driving me crazy! It brings up all my fears that I will regain all the weight I lost. I keep thinking if I try this or try that, maybe it will work, maybe going back to pre-op diet. But the truth is, I really do not want to do that. So I have decided to just eat properly the way I always have been watching just a little closer, relax, and see what happens in the next month or so. I have already lost 1 of the 7 pounds, so I am hoping I am on the right track. You are so full of amazing advice and you still belong here! I think you will find what works for you again! And I know it totally sounds so cliche, but hug your beautiful little baby and remind yourself what you just accomplished...you brought a new little life into this world. Your body worked hard and did what it is meant to do!

It is totally normal. They pump you full of fluids and air during surgery, plus swelling and recovery from a major operation. I actually gained 10lbs after my surgery and a week later still weighed more than when I left for surgery. Into the second and third week I lost 17lbs, so just hang in there!

I LOVE greek yogurt and eat it several times a day. My advice though, do not eat it plain! Most people try it and say they don't like it, but if they are eating it plain, it is not that great. I love that it is nice and thick and has lots of Protein. I always sweeten mine with flavored stevia (usually vanilla) and a splash of sugar free Torani syrup. Sometimes I add a few almonds and chocolate chips, sometimes I sweeten with lemon stevia and add raspberries, YUMMY! I would avoid the sweetened ones though. If you read the label, they are sweetened with sugar (most of the time) and very high in carbs and sugars. They might tasted delicious, but they defeat the purpose of something so healthy. I also recommend reading the label. If it says any other than milk, cream, and bacterial cultures, it is not true greek yogurt. Some companies add fillers like whey protein concentrate, corn starch, and Gelatin to thicken the yogurt instead of straining it, which is the true way to make greek yogurt. You can also make your own by straining plain yogurt, like someone said. I have also made my own using milk and a starter (a few tablespoons of plain yogurt for the bacteria). If you google it, you find recipes. It is really easy, just a little time consuming (hurry up and wait kind of recipe!)

If you are eating it plain, I don't blame you. I eat it all the time and love it, but sweeten it myself.

I am there with you! This Christmas I gained about 5 lbs all because of crappy eating! I got home (I was at families for almost a week!), started eating clean again, and lost it within about 3 weeks. I love to hear when other people feel like they eat normally, although normal now is not the same as normal before (I eat about the same amount of ice cream as you!). I know that you are very diligent about tracking, me, not so much. But that doesn't mean I do not watch everything I eat. I have young children (3 and 6), but they are used to what is allowed in the house. They have some snacks, but it is all stuff that I do not even like, so I don't touch it. Other than that, they eat similar to me, so they are learning good eating habits too! Even my husband lost weight (really didn't need too) after I had surgery because I just said it is not allowed in the house! Might sound mean, but no one benefits from junk in the house. I weigh daily to. It keeps me accountable. It fluctuates a bit from day to day, especially depending on hormones (things I would have never paid attention to before, hell, I would never even step on the scale before!). For me, it is just a new way of life, one that I can live with for the rest of my life and be happy!

Oh, and I just looked it up, a cup of spinach has a whole 7 calories!

I can eat a bit of salad, and I am lucky, it doesn't bother my stomach. I would say maybe a packed cup of salad is about how much I can eat. You know what though, if you were coming here and saying I can eat a whole big Mac, I would be a little more worried! Salad with grilled chicken is a great meal!

My surgeon told me that you can not stretch out your new tummy. Like OTR said, the part they remove (which should be about 85%) is very stretchy. They portion left behind is very muscular and stretches very little. So the people that regain are the people that, you are right, drink a lot of calories and eat a lot of slider foods that are high in calories (think chips, crackers, movie popcorn). I am 2.5 years post op and have to be diligent about what I eat. If I start eating too much crappy foods, I can gain very quickly. I know I will always have to be aware of what I am eating for a lifetime, that is reality. But it is not so bad! I know I can enjoy a small ice cream with my kids and not gain weight, but I can't keep chips and junk around in the house, or I would gain. I always say, set up your environment so that you can succeed!

Thanks for the words of encouragement Butter! It has been so frustrating and feeds into my fears that I will gain the weight back I have worked really hard to change my life and the weight piled on so quick when I was not eating anything different than before. As for sodium, I know what you are talking about. I know if I eat something more salty later in the day, the next day I will be up. I have weight fluctuations all the time and try not to let them derail me, but this one has been super tough on me. I just have to pick up my big girl panties and not let it get to me because that is what will lead down the wrong road. I appreciate your reply!

My doctor is very aware, and I do know that many antidepressants can cause weight gain. The one I actually started (the 4th I have tried, so I am not new to this game) is known to be weight neutral, but not in my case, of course. I am hoping to find people that can relate to the weight gain and how they handled it because right now the weight gain is making me feel worse than anything

Anyone else that is sleeved for a while started any new medication and gained weight because if it? It was actually an antidepressant and I gained 7lbs in one month after starting it when I have been a stable weight for a year! I did quit taking the medication and am looking at other options. I only quit taking it a couple of weeks ago, so I am hoping the weight will come back off. Any other experiences would be appreciated? I am just feeling so frustrated when I have worked so hard, have been so stable, and BAM!

I worry because people misconstrue what I am trying to say. They see that I didn't track and I didn't watch carbs (mainly because I believe in healthy carbs like fruit and quinoa), and they fail to read the part about that I made massive changes to how and what I ate, cut out the junk, and still follow certain rules to this day. I do not promote eating whatever you want, and I always say that you need to work with the sleeve to be successful. It doesn't mean you can't ever have anything that would be considered "junk", but it does mean you can only have it once in a while (meaning once a month, not a few times a week). Like I said in my post, you CAN NOT go into this surgery thinking you will make no changes and the sleeve will help me because I can eat less. Nope, sorry, you will fail and you will either never reach goal or start regaining.

There is actually a thread, I think under the Veterns forum called slow losers at or near goal, something like that, if you are needing inspiration!

It took me 18 months to reach goal with one stall that lasted 3 months! I actually thought I was done losing and I was ok with that. I have always really struggled with my weight, since Kindergarten, so I wasn't surprised it took me longer. In the back of my head, I really never expected to get to goal, so when I did there was a lot of happy dancing! Because it took me longer and I really forced me to make the changes that I needed to make to get there.

I am glad! It took me longer to get to goal than many, but I got there and have maintain now for a year! I knew that I couldn't do a restrictive diet that I would just end up losing it!

I posted on here long ago when it was first started, and wanted to add again. First of all, I will say I am 2.5 years post op, I have learned a lot along the way. When I had my surgery I never tracked, I never went low carb, I never exercised (and I still don't)...I did not want to have to do those things for the rest of my life and feel like I was on a diet. Now, that being said...I did change the way I ate. I limited the white stuff (flour, sugar, rice) and changed what I ate on a daily basis. I quit drinking with my meals (and still don't) and ate more protein rich foods (I quit drinking protein drinks fairly early out and still rarely drink them). I have taken a 80/20 approach, eat healthy most of the time (80%ish) but don't miss out on the foods I enjoy (20%ish). So I still eat ice cream, chocolate, chips, etc, but only occasionally. Now, the reality of this surgery. And you might hate me, I might get slammed, you can take it or leave it, but whatever you decide, it really is the truth...you can not go into this thinking you will make NO changes to your lifestyle and maintain forever. The losing is the easy part, just like diets of days gone by, it is the maintaining that is harder. There are so many foods that once you are past a year out, you can eat a lot of, I know from experience. From what I have seen, once some people hit around the 18 month mark, they start gaining. I have seen it a lot in my local support groups. Why? Because they start to fall into old habits, snacking on slider foods, and becoming complacent. It sounds a little depressing, but you will still have to be aware of what you are eating for a lifetime. Lots of it becomes habit and it is easier. The sleeve did not take away my desire to eat, I still enjoy food and I still like junk food. I have had to make the effort to set up my environment so that I can be successful, or else I would gain, probably every pound back. Does it mean you have to become obsessed, of course not. Everyone has to do what works for them. Some people take things to either extreme. My approach, make changes that you know you can live with for a lifetime.

I have seen it done plenty of times. I know a fellow sleeve patient that has lost 265lbs, and I have seen many on here as well, so it is possible! But don't set yourself thinking you will lose it all in the first year. Yes, the first 6 months to year is the "honeymoon" phase where you lose the quickest, but it doesn't mean your sleeve expires after a year! It took me 18 months to reach goal, and the person above that I mentioned is almost 3 years post op and still losing slowly here and there. The important thing is to stick to the plan and make permanent changes to your lifestyle. It is very easy to get caught up in the "honeymoon" phase when you can eat almost anything and still lose. I am 2.5 years post-op, and I can tell you, it does not last. If you keep making bad choices, eating lots of slider foods and drinking calories, it can not only stall your weight loss, but you can start gaining. The sleeve is not a cure and it is not magic. It is an amazing tool that you need to work with to help you achieve your goals, but it is for a lifetime, not just the first year. For me, I had around 80 lbs I wanted to lose. I lost the first 55lbs in the first 6 months, and it took me the next year to lose the next 25lbs. I made changes that I could live with for a lifetime and did not follow a specific diet. Maybe if I would have, I may have lost faster, but I knew it would have been something I could not maintain forever. I actually thought I was done losing about 5-10lbs from my original goal, and I was ok with that. Then, about 4 months later, I started losing again and actually dropped below my original goal. It is important to set a realistic goal for yourself. I see too many people get a specific number in their head that may not be the right number for them. Some achieve it, many don't. I set my goal just withing a normal BMI, but I never actually thought I would even reach it! As for stalls, I just learned to roll with it. If I wasn't gaining, I was happy! Stalls happen to everyone and it is a normal part of losing weight. The more stressed about it you get, the less the chance you will be able to break through it (not that I am perfect and have never freaked about anything, but I have and still am learning!) Good luck on your journey!

I buy almonds that are already sliced for me (you can usually buy slivered or sliced almonds in the baking aisle or bulk food store). The slivered ones tend to brown quickly, so I prefer the sliced. It does not slide for me, I find it very filling ( I also mix with yogurt as well). It keeps me full usually all morning!

I do 2 cups oats, 3/4 c almonds, 1 cup puffed rice, 1/2 cup hemp seeds, and then about 1/2 c syrup and 1tsp liquid vanilla stevia to hold it together and make it granola. I actually cook mine in my T-fal Actifry, no need to stir, so I am not sure what it would be in the oven, you would just have to experiment. If you search online or on pinterest, you can find lots of recipes, granola is fairly easy and you can make it almost anyway you want.

I do have to be careful around carbs, but this doesn't seem to bother me that much. Other things, like sweets especially, once I start, I can't stop and I crave them more and more. Bread and Pasta, meh. I enjoy it when I have it, but it doesn't turn me into a raving carb lunatic like chocolate does!

There is so many ways you can make it healthy, isn't it great! I was actually able to get my hands on a sample maple syrup from a company that makes Isomalto-Oligosaccharides syrup (it is what they use in Quest bars...it is a natural sweetener and prebiotic fibre and from what I have read, fairly healthy). It does have some calories but is ridiculously high in fiber! I hope some day they will be releasing it to the public, I think it is a great option for people trying to get away from artificial sweeteners.

I think this is the thing a lot of people think, and when it is not the reality, they struggle. I am 2.5 yrs post op. I get hungry (not the same feeling as before, and not as ravenous, but it is still there), I still enjoy food (nothing ever tasted weird), it was never a chore to eat, and I still get cravings. Learning to handle them is the key. The sleeve is a great jumps start, but the battle will always be there (for most people anyways!). I have been maintaining for almost a year, but still worry about gaining and watch what I eat. I am not a food fanatic, and will have treats, but if I don't watch, I start to gain. One thing I find very filling (if you are ok with healthy carbs) is homemade sugar free granola. I use thick-cut organic oats, almonds, puffed brown rice (like rice krispies, although I aim for the organic kind without anything added to them), sugar free maple syrup and vanilla stevia. I mix it greek yogurt and it keeps me for hours, even further out from surgery!

I can eat almost anything now too, which makes it hard. And I am so glad to hear from you Butter! You seemed invincible, and to know that sometimes you struggle makes me feel not so alone. Not that you are not a superhero, you have done amazing and I look up to you!

Congratulations!!

I had my local health food place bring it in...I live in Canada so it is sometimes harder to get my hands of stuff. This is what it is thought on Amazon... http://www.amazon.com/Foods-French-Vanilla-Stevia-Packets/dp/B001EO683Y/ref=sr_1_31?ie=UTF8&qid=1364873348&sr=8-31&keywords=now+stevia