suejersey

I am 9 months out and still need the help of miralax or colace weekly Constipation is definitely an issue for a lot of WLS patients. food ideas.....cold cuts, cheese sticks, eggs, Greek yogurt, sugar free pudding, avocado, ricotta cheese, hummus, edamame, spinach (make egg/spinach/cheese cups), portobello mushroom (portobello mushroom pizza or cordon bleu) (use the mushroom in place of the crust for the pizza and chicken for the cordon bleu) Perdue Shortcuts are AWESOME! They are already cooked chicken pieces and are great for a snack/lunch. I put them in a Fiber One Wrap or a low carb wrap 1/2 cup chicken, 1 ounce cheese and salsa and makes a great quesadilla. Now you are only 1 month out so you won't be able to eat all that, you could get two or three meals out of that, but so yummy!

I would agree it took about 4 to 5 weeks till I was 100 percent full energy. I could function fine within the first week (about 3 days after surgery I was back to work part time - work from home so that makes a BIG difference) but I was still taking a nap in the afternoon for about 2 weeks. And I could only walk around the block once for about the first month. So it definitely takes time to feel back to your full strength. Baby yourself a bit, it's okay to take a nap if you need it or cut back on activities for a little while.

Interesting comment by a surgeon....http://www.carolinasurgical.com/life-after-bariatric-surgery/i-am-afraid-of-my-pouch-stretching-after-bariatric-surgery/

My experience was when I was still at 600 calories I was making it through a 60 minute class (Body Jam or Zumba - cardio type class). I had been working out at the gym for a few weeks but this particular class was up a notch the instructor told me a 600 calorie diet would make it hard to get through, plus you don't want to so deplete your calories and then slow your metabolism even more. At six weeks out and no exercising for three years, I personally would start out a bit easier. I am 9 months out now. I joined the gym three months ago and am now getting about 900 calories a day. (At six months I was at 600 calories still). I feel good at my calories as I still have about 25 pounds I want to lose, but definitely am trying to up my calories a bit more and work harder at the gym. I now can do a HIIT class, two 45 minute cardio dance classes in a row as well as a boot camp type class. In three months I went from walking the treadmill for 30 minutes, weight training for the over 60 crowd (I am 47) to doing the classes I just listed above. So yes, you should push your body, but it doesn't have to be the first time you go to the gym. Figure out where you are and work up to things. And this is JUST my opinion and my experience. Hope it is helpful! Good luck, and you will enjoy seeing the results of your hard work!

The Fiber One wraps are actually really good (80 calories - low carb/high fiber) and I just used the Mission Carb Control this past week because I couldn't find the Fiber 80. 120 calories but only 6 carbs, 5 grams of protein. They crisp up really good and even my picky daughter liked them.

These bars are yum and very filling and satisfying. I bought the sample pack and liked all of them, especially the cinnamon roll, strawberry cheesecake and cookie dough. Oh, and the lemon one tastes like a lemon bar cookie. I love, love, love Peanut Butter so ordered a box of the peanut butter supreme and am disappointed. Not that I won't eat them (LOL) but they have a bit of a artificial taste to them. The fruit flavored ones have bits of fruit actually in them. And I second or fourth or which ever I am about the cookie dough. REALLY good. I won't buy the peanut butter supreme again - they also have a higher calorie count than some of the others. But these bars are great and truly can replace a meal if I am on the run or can provide a great "dessert" when I have a sweet tooth and 20 grams of Protein to boot! I purchased on quest's site. I didn't like that I had to pay tax on them as they are considered a candy bar, was the explanation I got when I questioned them. But worth the price!

I would check with your doctor. At 6 months I could eat about 2 ounces of chicken or lunch meat or cheese and maybe two bites of a veggie for a meal. I was satisfied with one cheese stick as a snack or 1/4 cup roasted edamame. To me, and it is just my opinion, I think you should be able to tolerate solids better. I would definitely talk to your doctor. They should be helping you progress on your intake as the months go by.

Interesting article. Thanks for sharing!

For the first week I had to do Clear liquids - so Isopure Protein drink - horrible, gross, yuck! But you shouldn't be too hungry so just force yourself to do it. Once you can go to liquid that isn't clear then you can add in the milkl based Protein drinks. I find them not bad at all. I got a bunch of sample packets of different types to try during that stage so every day I was trying something different. The ones that are already prepared aren't bad if you don't like the powder after trying a few different brands. For me the best has been Syntrax - mixes easily, low calorie/carb, lots of good flavors. the Muscle Milk and Pure Protein already made drinks aren't bad in a punch or a rush.

It can't be stressed enough, don't weigh yourself every day. Once a week is best. Try not to think about the scale or put it out of sight. Now when Wednesday night comes I get excited because I know I weigh on Thursday. You will get a better picture of your loss and you won't get as disappointed if one day you are up or like a yo-yo. Keep it up! Remember it is a marathon not a sprint and you will get there!

I am suejersey on MFP. Sleeved 10/11/12

I love Diet Green Tea Snapple (they have it in those powder packets). I can't stand Water alone anymore for some reason. Also Crystal Light has a pomegrante flavor (pomegrante cherry maybe) that doesn't taste "diet" at all. One thing about the artifical sweeteners I always hated them and was dreading that part of this process but now I am eight months out and when I have something with "real" sugar now it is way too sweet. The sugar substitutes taste normal to me. The other day I had a Dove chocolate ice cream bar and thought I would go into a diabetic shock it was so sweet. LOL So perhaps if you give it a try you may be able to tolerate the sugar substitutes a bit more as you go along.

I like Syntrax the best - seem to be lowest calories/highest protein and lots of yummy favors. I tend to go with chocolate so that I can "spruce it up" with sugar free flavorings. Right now I am using Matrix 5.0 mint cookie for the first time. I use it in my coffee. It is very good, but being such a huge bag I am kind of in the mood for a change.

Today is my weigh day and I am 1 pound from my "aggressive goal" of 180 (hit 181!) 3 pounds till 100. Very very happy with my progress. When I set the goal for first day of summer I was 220 and today 181! Wow!

Wondering about flax seeds. How do you use them? Miralax a couple times a week helps me.

I am the opposite of above poster, unfortunately. I am also 8 months out and have zero libido. It is scary how zero it is. Thinking maybe I need to talk to my doctor about it at least for my husband's sake.

I am 8 months out and still only have a bowel movement about once per week. I usually have to use miralax a couple of days and then I go. I get all my drink in and am trying to up the veggies and fruit and eat as much fiber things as possible but I can't seem to go more than once a week. No discomfort, though and so my doctor said not to worry but try the miralax and that definitely helps.

Hi! I am also self employed. I do transcription. I took about 4 or 5 entire days off (including surgery and overnight in the hospital) I got back to work slowly with a few hours a day and building up. I did take naps in the afternoon (which is a nice perk of working from home for myself LOL) but I was back to work, albeit part time after 4 or 5 days. I would say I was more tired for about 3 weeks, but after 7 days or so I was back to a full work load (worked around my naps, et cetera) HTH

I think a lot of people have thinning hair, but it is not a given that it will happen. I get my Protein, I take Biotin and I have still thinned A LOT. I am 8 months out and have heard months 6 - 9 are the worst. So hopefully I am nearing the end. They say it does grow back. In the meantime I got an adorable (if I say so myself) pixie cut that I would NEVER have considered before losing the weight I have. In the long run, having a healthy body is more important than hair, and it will grow back! Good luck to your wife in her decision!

Unfortunately no suggestions but here to commiserate! I already have thinner hair it is getting to the point where I am afraid of literal bald spots, not just thinning. I am 8 months out, a lot of people say months 6 - 9 are the worst. So I am hoping it stops soon!

Now that I am 8 months out and have lost a significant amount of weight I have a new problem. Flippity floppity girl parts. My boobs actually make a flapping sound if I run or jump with out a bra on. I can literally fold them in half! And the hooha has been known to make the flapping sound a few times as well. Everything is so sagging. It'd be sad if it wasn't so funny. anybody else?

You aren't going to feel the sense of restriction from liquids. Once you get to solids you will be drastically reduced in the amount you can take in. And then over time you will increase your calories to an amount that will maintain your weight loss (if you work the sleeve the way it is supposed to be used) Don't worry about how you feel right now. I am 8 months out and have upped my calories to approximately 800 a day and I can have anywhere from 2 - 3 ounces of Protein at a meal with maybe two - 4 bites of vegetable. So after approximately 7 months of solids I still can't have that much at a time, and you will be the same. I easily drink 64 ounces per day in addition to the food (not within 30 minutes before or after food). Your stats look very similar to mine at your stage. Just keep following your doctor and NUTs instructions and try not to worry! You'll do great.

I think it is very common to feel that way. I remember being apprehensive about moving on to the next phase that somehow I would be the only person in the world that wouldn't lose weight if I did. LOL! Take it slow, but follow your doctor and NUTs recommendations, it works! I am 8 months out and just upped my calories in the last month and I am still nervous about it, that it will stall my weight loss but I am actually finding the opposite, now that I have upped the calories (and the exercise) I am still losing at a steady pace. So don't let your mind psych you out. Take your time transitioning, but transition. You will do great!

DOS 278 Sleeved 10/11/12 down 93 pounds.

Thigh lift is one of the things I am thinking I may need or want. I am curious if you can't sit that means you are always either standing up or laying down for six weeks?