Thomas CPA

My doctor was a little more open by second week. He suggested real soup pureed, in fact anything if I could put it into a blender. Truthfully I saw the doctor at 14 days postop and by that time I had progressed to soft foods like poached eggs, soft scrambled even real meat chewed so much it was like pureed. Else try applesauce, jello, put some stuff into your soup stock to add some flavoring.

Hi Jewels of June, First, I go by volume not weight like 2.5 ounces. Are people talking liquid or dry items. 8 ounces of liquid milk will not fit into an 8 ounce dry measuring cup. You can eat more than 6 ounces and not fill the tummy. Our stomachs are the size of a banana so think in terms of volume, how much can you eat (after chewing) to fill the banana peel. I can fit a pound of Lead into the banana peal or 3 ounces of Jello. We are to eat a 5 inch plate and I assure you if you do it right there is more than 2.5 ounces of weight on that plate. The other day I made a homemade lasagna. I had a regular size piece and a medium salad. After chewing it all it fit into tummy nicely and I didn't feel bloated, lots of Protein (yes and calories but I was splurging that day to fill the craving). If I limited myself to 2 ounces or 4 ounces, I wouldn't have eaten the whole piece. Second, on slowing weight loss down. I weighed 236 at surgery and ideal weight is 156 so excess is 80 pounds. We are to lose 50 to 60% of excess in 12 months. In two months I lost 40 pounds and with going back to the gym I was getting fatigued, lost to much to fast so I talked with doctor and dietician and we came to a calorie amount to stabilize my loss and slow it down. If I lose one pound a week I will be at my total weight loss in another 5 months instead of 10 months. My primary care doctor and I pretty much agree I should only go down to 180 not 156 for my body structure (my shoulder blades and ribs are practically showing now so BMI is not the measurement for me for ideal weight unless I want to look like a skeleton) Now with metabolism stabilized I am losing it slowly and no longer fatigued or sweating like a sprinkler when working out. I am back to a normal life with a lot less weight. Tom

I am two months out and eating fairly normal, can actually eat meadium plate of food. Was on 700-900 calorie diet but dietician suggested I get up to 1,200 to slow down loss since I lost most of the weight I am supposed to lose in a year. I measure more in volume than weight. I made a lasagna the other day and had a normal spatula size portion with a small salad. Add on is that I started working out again which is another reason dietician wanted me to increase calories to avoid the weakness/tiredness from the workouts.

I use compression clothing from Under Armour. They have various types but the Compression clothing holds thing in place nicely. You can also get like an large Ace Bandage and use it to wrap the lose stomach in place but I would first check Under Armour.

Try taking with something other than water like juice or milk. Second option, see about getting liquid vitamins. Even after surgery on liquid diet you can take regular vitamins. Some people get gummy vitamins. I think last resort is to get a mortar and pedestal and crush the pills then put into applesauce or mix with water.

The only special diet I was on by the doctor was the day before, don't eat anything for 24 hours and on morning of surgery try not to swallow water when brushing your teeth. Otherwise, it didn't matter what I ate for two weeks prior, I had a class reunion the weekend before and enjoyed every eating and drinking minute of it.

Yeah!

Great going, we love to hear bragging like that!

I started back at gym week 4 postop and it took a week before I had energy to last a half hour. For next three weeks I sweated profusely at the gym and now back to normal at 8 weeks. The fatigue and weakness should go away as you continue. It takes awhile after starting an exercise program or restarting one after a major surgery. I lost strength which is returning. I use a trainer to keep me on track and from overdoing and injuring myself (she also had other clients who went through gastric surgery). Hunger is normal, your burning calories and if you are not getting enough in to compensate for exercise you body will stay in starvation mode. For last two weeks my weight hasn't changed but then again if I am only supposed to lose 50% of excess weight, I am there and it will be months before I see full decline. Eat carbs, toast, before working out and Protein after. Keep in mind what your excess weight was before surgery. VSG is designed to help you lose 50 to 60% of excess weight. My excess was 80 pounds and I lost 38 in first two months so I don't necessarily think it is a stall versus metabolism evening out.

congrats, keep up the good work!

deli meat is good, soft and easy to chew a lot. Nibbled on a slice or two during week 2 postop.

I was drinking mostly liquids, you will feel some hunger after losing so much weight quickly. The first week I had applesauce, poached eggs, eggs scrambled soft, juices, protein shakes, water, usual stuff. By second week I was eating relatively normal - real meat and vegetables. At end of second week had follow up with doctor who said I looked better than most of the patients coming in, I wasn't lathargic. He said then I could eat nuts, peeled fruit, just add things and see what could be tolerated.

Swanson has both chicken and beef broths in large box containers. Just go down the soup aisle of the store, you should find something. Last resort bullion cubes

congrats

Go for a walk, listen to music, something to keep mind active. Avoid being around areas or food with good smells. Try to chew slowly to give stomach time to tell brain it is full. Unless they are going to postpone surgery for gaining a pound or two, don't worry about it. The weekend before surgery I was at my 30th high school class reunion, I enjoyed myself and put on a pound or so before surgery. Doctor did not care.

38 punds

Hang in there, it is normal. You will drop it quickly.

Congrats. Keep us posted on results. Have a good surgery and hospital stay

I am surprised they are delaying for sleep apnea. I was diagnosed years ago with severe apnea, over 100 episodes per hour. While they wanted me to bring the machine to the hospital, I never used it since I slept sitting up. Neither the surgeon nor the anestigiolist (spelling) was concerned. I can understand being under and wanting to make sure you are breathing but to delay? Look toward the future. I2 months prior to surgery I tried a new sleep study but part of the machine didn't work correctly so the doctor wouldn't change diagnosis. The partial results showed I only had 45 episodes per hour. Now 2 months post surgery I had a sleep study and down to 0.7 episodes per hour so the machine gets turned in soon. Short of it, you will get your surgery and may be able to get rid of the cpap since you only have a minor case of it.

Hang in there, they will notice. Part of it may be if you are hanging around the same people every day they see a slow progression and may not notice. I find when I go to a restaurant that I haven't been to in awhile but the staff knows me then I get solid comments. Make a change in hair style or clothing that will attract attention to something else, they will see you changed.

At a month I was eating the 5 inch plate of food for dinner. Light Breakfast, Protein shake or bar lunch but a fairly normal dinner. As for stomach stretching and what I have read it is mostly an Old Wives Tale, the stomach will stretch and contract naturally even people who practice those Hot Dog eating contests don't stretch their stomachs, they just get used to eliminating gag reflex and get used to inhaling, their stomachs do not remained Stretched. Water and liquids pass fairly quickly and food, from what i read , in about 30 minutes. the reason the digestive process takes 24 hours is food passing through the intestinal track not the stomach. Check with your doctor about your worries so they will go away.

Got results of sleep study, 0.7 events per hour down form 100+ when first diagnosed and 45 when tested 2 months before surgery.

You get to choose, met with Dr. Belzberg at South Bay and he went through options. Suggested since I only had 50 or so pounds to lose to go with Sleeve instead of Bypass.

Sounds like it is fairly normal. I eat a normal amount for breakfast, if I remember a mid day snack of fruit cup or jello, light lunch like a protein shake or bar, and a regular dinner (practically a normal presurgery plate) and then fruit later on. Still not all that thirsty and have to try to remember to take water. Don't know for sure but I think part of it is not enough calorie intake and brain is telling you to eat more to get out of starvation mode.

Started regular fruits at week three, nectarines, apples, etc. Had to peel the fruits and stay away from things with seeds until allowed. Typically put half banana into protein shake to add some flavor.