carolinafan

I was allowed soft cheese from the day I got home from the hospital. I've been doing laughing cow, babybel, and even sliced cheddar/jack/etc. They want me to have the lowfat versions so that's what I have been buying. I wonder why that nutritionist is recommending against cheese? It's an awesome form of protein!
I love costco, I am looking forward to trying the chicken burger (my parents LOVE them). They have 28 babybel for $10 . . . it's like $4 or $5 for 8 at the grocery. I need to check out the deli meats and I'm thinking that their rotisserie chicken (skinned, of course) will be perfect for chicken salad.

Heres my few go-to items at Costco:
Premier Protein drinks
Turkey and ham lunchmeat
Kirkland Pulled Pork (eat it by itself or with sauce, its already smoked and awesome)
Tasty Bites Madras Lentils (soooooo good I swear)
fruit
Hummus
Peach Salsa
Cowboy Cavier (my favorite!)
Multigrain crackers
Pita chips

I buy the Kirkland chicken Tenderloins ( they are small enough that I can eat a whole one now), Gummi chewable vitamins (I can't take the Bariatric ones as they upset my stomach still to this day), Beef and Turkey Jerkey, Canned Chicken (which I use in recipes or I eat it plain with some seasoning on it when I am low on protein), Turkey and Ham lunchmeat, Babybells, Cheddar and Colby Jack sliced cheese, and I usually buy some kind of fruit there. I have a family of 5, two of which are teenagers, so costco provides great large sizes of everything and that way I don't feel like the "protein" police when the kids want to have something that I bought for me.
Congrats on your surgery! It is such a great tool! I am in the beginning of my 7th month and I am truly amazed at the tranformation that is happening with my body! I get compliments all the time on how great I look. You will too, very soon! Enjoy it!

Here's my list:
Yasso Frozen Yogurt Bars
Kirkland Brand Turkey Breast Deli meat
" " Ham
Baby Bell Lite Cheeses
Laughing Cow Lite Swiss Wedges
Jimmy Dean Turkey Sausage Links (my whole family likes them, so big box works for us)
Beef Jerkey Original
Amylu's Sweet Carmelized chicken Burgers
Jarlsburg LIte Swiss cheese Slices
B12 sublingual Vitamins (Natures Bounty)
Calcium Citrate (Kirkland)
Childrens chewable vitamins
I haven't purchased, but need to get the Fiber packets (like Diane gave you in Mexico)

You look awesome!!!!!

Hi Kellie -
Breakfast: 1 20 gram Protein bar, or Protein shake, or one scramble egg with cheese, or lite oatmeal
Lunch: 1 grilled chicken breast, or salad with cottage cheese, or turkey sub w/cheese (I eat almost no bread), or Lean Cuisine (or similar).
Dinner: Chili with cheese, or McD's SW chicken salad w/ranch, or Lean Cuisine (or similar), or chicken nachos, or cheese burger w/salad (no bun)... I eat pretty much anything I want - but about 1/4 of what I used to. I always cut my meal in 1/3 at a restaurant and immediately put the 2/3 in a box and enjoy the 1/3 on my plate. It was funny - one night I went to Olive Garden and really wanted lasagna. I ate like 3 bites and was full - but the rest of it lasted for a week! (smile)
Snacks: Vic's lite popcorn, or caramel rice cakes, or apple/banana with Peanut Butter, or strawberries with lite whip cream (my fav), or an ice cream cone from McD's/Burger King
I get 60+ grams of protean a day - most days. I eat just about anything I want - but there are many, many things I don't want any more. Chicken is very, very hard for me. Not sure why. Hamburger is no problem at all. Chili is packed with Protein so I am eating that a few times a week now. Thank God I can eat salad - some can't. I eat the chicken first - then the lettuce. I did have a single size pizza one night for dinner. Was able to eat half. That was like heaven.
Exercise: I walk moderately - nothing major, though I am increasingly able to walk and move more and more. I walk about 1 mile 2x a week. I have walked 2 miles once - and will walk 3.2 next weekend. I am buying a pedometer and will shoot for movement and steps vs. long, long walks. I am also starting to dance! I used to dance all the time - so next Sat I'm going to a BBW dance and plan to move all night! I am also going line dancing in a few weeks and plan to take lessons.
I hope that helps. Try not to compare yourself with my loss cuz your body is different than mine. I have a long, long way to go, so my weight loss is still fairly fast. I anticipate the next 100 will go much more slowly.
Please feel free to friend me and shoot me a private message any time. I’d be happy to encourage you and cheer you on any way I can. You can do it!!!!!
Amy

I was laying in bed this morning on my side and I had an itch, I scratched it and I FELT MY HIP BONE!!!! I don't remember feeling that since like elementary!! Woohoo!!!

Okay Jackie... here they are.

Ladies!!! I think all of us at some point should show off our assets and take some hawt photos in our Little Black Dresses.

  

Hi all! My VSG surgery was on July 19th. I am now 45 pounds down and feeling great about it. I joined the anytime fitness near me, so I can work on getting this excess skin toned up. Here are some before and current photos. I look forward to sharing even more photos later!

I made this today using one scoop of unflavored Protein (19g), 1 packet of fat-free sugar free cocoa (1g) and 1 tablespoon of powered Peanut Butter (2.5g) mixed with 1 cup of skim milk. (8g). Blended it and set it in the freezer for 2 mins. Very tasty shake with 30+ grams of protein.

From a size 22 to a 12

Most greek yogurts have fairly equal Protein levels. I eat a 2% fat one, you can also get 0% and you can get higher. The key is to stay away from the flavored ones. Typically, they are sweetened with sugar and higher in calories and carbs. I buy plain and sweeten it myself with sugar free syrups (torani, davinci) and a little liquid stevia.
You are early out, take this time to learn new ways of eating. I am a firm believer that if you do not change anything, you will not be successful in the long term. However, you have to make changes you can live with for a lifetime. Good Luck!

Don't panic. I"m not.. I was sleeved Sep 18th. Lost 10 pounds on pre liquid then 10 the first week then 5-7 and now nothing for a week!!!! Yes, plenty of threads on here about the stalls. I researched from medical sites and the deal is that your body losing glycogen quickly, just like it did on low carb diet days.. THat as a large ratio of Water to glycogen, so we lose the water weight quickly and also fat.. Pants also fit better, etc and we feel great.. once glycogen is gone, even if you were losing fat, your pants would still fit better, but the weight would be like 1/4 of the decrease as before because it's only fat and no water. Make sense? THEN, the stalls are required for your body and is very cool how it works (although I do hate mine lol), because it has to restore glycogen and it , in essence, shifts around the fat from your cells and converts it to glycogen. As someone puts it, so your body can react to running in the old days, from say, a sabertooth tiger.. So, even though you won't lose weight, as the body changes it's "insides" to glycogen, you will be way more fit and trim, just not less weight. Then it repeats.. The less dramatic the weight loss, the less this is noticeable, etc. But it's also why many people go through several stalls. I hope to be one to tell you that I got out of mine soon. I used to eat 3500 cal a day and now 1200 on a bad day. So s/b losing two or three lbs a week, but nada for like 9 days. Again, I am certain it's normal and it always used to happen to me on my diet days. hope that helps

Hope this helps-
www.obesityhelp.com/member/carmelita/blog/tag/stalls+and+plateaus/

You just need to calm down. You just had surgery!! How could you even say you have failed yet? First, do not weigh yourself everyday. That is a recipe for crazytown! I weigh myself once a week, and as long as I am losing I am happy. I am now close to 5 months out and down 75 lbs, but not every week as been a huge week, and yes there are weeks where I don't lose. Give it a chance, and try to kick the crackers and chips, at least at such an early stage. You will lose if you are eating 800-1000 calories a day. Keep your head up.

Ok, so I know there are lots of posts on stalls. I had my surgery 4.5 weeks ago. Lost 17lbs the first week. Weeks 2-4, it's been slow and I eventually lost 4 more lbs (but it's been up and down). On a side note, it's cruel that we see such a huge weightloss so quickly in the beginning and it slows down dramatically almost overnight and we get upset for "only" losing 1-2 lbs a week. I have to keep reminding myself this is a normal pace.
Anyway, I know that even with the sleeve, it's possible to eat more calories than you think you are - darn foods are deceiving! So, I'm wondering if maybe what I'm eating is too many calories, hence the reason for the SLOW loss. I know I'm eating way under 1,000 calories, probably more like 500 calories (I know, I should track my calories better). Is this too many calories this early on? For example, I had about 1/4 cup of chicken salad with grapes (real mayo, can't stand fat free), and half an avocado. Tonight, I will have two turkey slices rolled with about 4 slices of pepperoni inside. This doesn't sound like a lot, but I know how food portions and actual calories can be deceiving. Should I be anything different?

WOW!! You are losing weight fast. I was sleeved on Sept 17th and I am down only 11 to 12 lb since surgery. Are you male of female. I have been exercising a lot too so i don't know what is wrong.

DISCLAIMER: This FAQ is in no way intended to replace or undermine the advice of your physician. Every person is different, every surgeon has different guidelines, and no two situations are identical. Therefore if any of the answers below are unclear or contradict your physicians’ instructions, always follow your physicians’ instructions. The responses given are a compilation from multiple sources and references.
How do I embed the weight loss ticker? There are many ticker generators you can use, but the majority of us use TickerFactory.com or MyFitnessPal.com – Once you create your ticker, embed the code into your signature via your “Settings”
*Adding* liquid stage? During your clear liquid stage you can have anything that you can sip through a straw that is translucent, meaning see through. For instance: Water, juice, broth, sugar free popsicles, sugar free Jello, Isopure Protein Drinks, Gatorade, Powerade, decaf tea just to name a few. Once you move on to full liquids you may add liquids that are not translucent. For instance: creamed Soups, soups with the chunks strained out, milk, Protein shakes etc… NOTHING CAFFEINATED
When can I have coffee/soda/tea? Decaf coffee is typically OK about 30days post-op. Decaf tea is OK starting with your clear liquid diet. Soda is typically never OK, with the reasons varying from the carbonation causing painful gas to the carbonation stretching your sleeve. Regardless of the reasoning, it's generally a good idea to avoid sodas entirely, or to consume them in extreme moderation.
When do I start mushies/purees? Every surgeon has different guidelines for the progression of your post-op diet. The majority of post-op diets progress as follows:
Day 1-7 Clear Liquids
Day 8-14 Full liquids
Day 15-21 Purees
Day 22-50 Mushies
What’s the difference between mushies and purees? The major difference is that purees are anything that has been blenderized/pureed to a baby food consistency and has no chunks. These should not be watery, but instead a thicker pudding like consistency. Mushies are soft foods that have not been pureed.< /p>
I'm on liquids/purees and I feel no restriction, should I be concerned that my surgery didn't work? Nope! You'll feel your restriction as you start to take in denser foods. In reality, you never want to experience that over stuffed feeling again because that means you've over stuffed your sleeve. There's much debate over whether or not you can stretch your stomach by over stuffing your sleeve, I for one am not trying to prove or disprove the theory. Best to play it safe - when you start to feel full, stop eating.
Should I be counting calories or carbs or both? Both. Again, every surgeon is different, but the majority of sleevers will be on a 600-1000 calorie/day diet with carbs kept at 60-80g or less. The general guideline is this: When eating, protein is always first, veggies are second, and if you have room carbs/starch last. The majority will rarely have room for the carbs.
How much protein should I be getting per day? The recommended protein intake may vary from 55 to 100g per day, depending on your individual needs and the bariatric diet provided by your surgeon or dietitian. The generally accepted minimum protein requirement for women is about 50 to 60g per day and men need at least 60 to 70g of protein per day.
How much liquid do i need for the day? About 60-80oz
When can I eat salad? Once you reach the point where you’re on normal solids you can try salad. Start with a small amount and see how your sleeve tolerates it as it can be difficult to digest.
Best Protein Shakes? This one depends on your particular tastes, however most seem to enjoy powders? utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury.

What else counts as a liquid? Anything that can be sipped through a straw or that will reduce back to a liquid. For example: Jello, sugar free popsicles, frozen yogurt/ice cream (these are generally no no foods)
Why can't I tolerate plain water, is this normal? It’s called water nausea and it is completely normal. This is very common during the first few weeks following surgery and should eventually subside.
What is sliming/slimes? Sliming or slimes occur when you eat or drink something and then regurgitate a slimy, foamy, saliva like substance, usually when belching.
What is grazing? Grazing is when instead of consuming your standard 3 small meals and 2 small Snacks per day, you simply munch all day grabbing a handful here or a bite there. The rule is that your meals should take you 20-30 minutes to eat and should be about 3 hours apart with only fluids in between.
What do all these acronyms mean?
In no particular order:
WLS – Weight Loss Surgery
NSV – Non scale Victory (ie: smaller clothes, compliments, climbing a flight of stairs etc…)
NUT – Nutritionist
PCP – Primary Care Physician
VSG – Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
TOM – Time of the Month
SF – Sugar Free
WFL/WFD – What’s for Lunch/Dinner
How much did you lose at 1 month etc.? How much can I expect to lose in what time frame? Everyone’s body is different and so is everyone’s journey. There is no set amount you should expect lose in a set amount of time, and you should never compare your journey or your progress to someone elses. As long as you’re sticking with the program and following your surgeons guidelines, the weight will come off.
What is a stall? How long does it last and how do I break it? A stall is a point at which the scale stops moving for a period of time. The length of the stall varies from a few days to a few weeks and sometimes a few months. Non VSG’ers typically call it a plateau. Stalls are perfectly normal and to be expected. As we lose weight so dramatically, our bodies need time to catch up physically - this typically happens during a stall. While the scale may not be moving, you may notice an increase in compliments. This is because while the number on the scale isn’t getting any smaller, you are physically getting smaller. There are many tips and tricks for breaking a stall (increase your fluids and protein, increase your activity, up your calories…) but the reality is it will break on its own.
When can I have sex? When you’re ready. Keep it simple for the first few weeks post-op and don’t attempt any tricky positions. Be careful until you’ve been cleared by your surgeon for strenuous activity.
When can I start exercising? Typically right away, though the types of exercises you can do will be limited. Most surgeons restrict weight training/resistance training for about 3-4 weeks after surgery, but you should be walking/speed walking at least 30-45min daily starting from the day you get home.
What do I do with flabby skin? What's the best exercise etc.? The severity of the flab will vary based on many different factors. While there’s no way to tell how bad it will be or whether it will even be bad, there are a couple of proactive measures you can take. Make sure you’re using a moisturizing lotion with Vitamin E and Keratin several times daily. The vitamin E will help add elasticity back to your skin and the keratin will add moisture, both of which may help your skin bounce back as the weight falls off. The best exercises to target your problem areas are resistance and strength training in order to tone and build muscle to replace the fat. Lastly, be patient. Just as your weight stalls while your waist catches up to it, your skin will sag until it gets the signal to shrink. While it probably won’t ever be as tight as you’d like, it will shrink.
Will I lose hair? How much? What causes it? When does it return? Do Vitamins help? The truth is, yes, you probably will lose hair. Because of the drastic changes going on that are caused by the extreme reduction in protein and vitamins coming in as well as the hormonal fluctuations caused by the rapid weight loss, it takes our bodies a while to adjust. Don’t worry, as our hormones level out and our bodies get used to the new us, it will come back. There is no set time frame for it to do so however.
I’m constipated - what is it okay to take, especially in the beginning when newly sleeved? Will it get better? Worse? In the beginning a simple stool softener like Colace should do the trick. You don’t want to take a laxative or anything that may irritate your new sleeve. While you’re in the liquid/puree stage, Constipation shouldn’t be an issue, but as you reintroduce solids you may have to go back to your stool softeners. If you do find that stool softners are only offering temporary relief, try increasing your fluids and Fiber and decreasing your cheeses.
I’m having very loose bowel movements, is this normal? Totally. You do need to monitor stools of this consistency to ensure they contain no blood, but very loose stools, even watery stools, are completely normal for a few weeks post-op. When in doubt – ask your surgeon.
Will I feel fatigue? Will fatigue go away? Yes and yes. Your body has just undergone major surgery and it needs to heal. While it’s healing you will feel more fatigued than normal. Subsequent to having such a large portion of your stomach removed is the fact that you can no longer take in as much food (read: fuel) and therefore your body has to adjust and find a new fuel source. Your body will eventually begin to burn fat for fuel and some of the fatigue will subside. Your surgeon should also prescribe a B12 supplement which will also help with energy.
When can I go back to work? How much time should I take off? That will be entirely up to your surgeon. Most return to work within 2-3 weeks.
How many days in the hospital? Your hospital stay will depend on your recovery. When you are able to keep down liquids, are up and about and walking as directed, and your surgeon and nursing staff are confident there are no complications, you’ll be released. Your surgeon should be able to give you an expectation of the length of your stay.
Do the staples dissolve? No. The staples used to close the stomach are titanium and do not dissolve. The stomach tissue will eventually grow over the staple line. Your staples do not make metal detectors go off or make you ineligible for an MRI. They are completely benign.
Why am I always hungry? The most likely culprit is either head hunger or reflux/heartburn. Head hunger is a false sense of hunger triggered by boredom/emotions/the clock or any number of things which make you think you’re hungry when you’re really not. Heartburn is the most common culprit of constant hunger. Even though you may not feel as though you have heartburn, you may find that a simple antacid will eliminate that constant hungry feeling.
What is dumping syndrome? Dumping syndrome is what happens when the contents of your stomach are rapidly dumped into your small intestine. It is characterized by cramps, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Most people that complain of dumping syndrome associate the attacks with eating a certain type of food IE sweets, carbs etc.. It generally resolves on it's own once the offending food has left the system.
What is a stricture? A stricture is what happens when scar tissue builds up in your esophagus (sometimes caused by reflux) that causes your esophagus to narrow and makes swallowing difficult.
What is a leak and what are the symptoms? A leak is an opening along the suture line of your sleeve that allows bile and other digestive fluids to leak into your abdominal cavity. The symptoms of a leak vary but the most common symptoms are pain radiating across the abdomen, fever, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, and abdominal cramping. It is important to note that leaks are rare and only occur in about 1 out of every 100 cases.
Can you get a leak any time after surgery? Or is it just immediate? Most leaks happen very soon after surgery, but there is still a risk for about 4-6 weeks after. Again, it is important to note that leaks are rare and only occur in about 1 out of every 100 cases.
Some of my incisions are oozing - is this normal? If they’re oozing a green or yellowish Fluid, absolutely not. Green and yellow are the colors of infection and should be reported to your surgeon immediately. If your incisions are oozing a pinkish or clear watery fluid it’s your body’s way of keeping your incisions clean and isn’t usually a concern. When in doubt, ask your surgeon.
I see a lot of people posting about drains - I don't have any. Should I be concerned? Drains are tubes that are temporarily placed in the abdomen that allow fluids to drain from your abdominal cavity in order to prevent infection. Not every surgeon uses them so if you don't have any, don't worry. It likely means your surgeon saw no need to place them. That being said, it doesn't mean you're immune to infection so you should still be on the lookout for fever or any areas that a red, warm to the touch, painful, swollen, or oozing any green or yellow fluids.

I use 1 scoop vanilla Protein powder, 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, 2 tsp. sugar free butterscotch instant pudding mix and I tblsp. of no sugar added natural Peanut Butter. shake it up in my shaker cup, pour into an irish coffee glass and top with lite whipped cream. Pretty tasty, but I think more than one a day and it might be too "sweet"...

I think the Water may be my issue too.. yesterday I had only 30oz.. so that will be my goal for today too! Thank you!! I am ok with the protein.

I was sleeved on Sept. 17th . I have lost 20 pounds total since preop/surg. - 10 pounds before and 10 pounds after... I went back and re-read my sleeve instructions. I realized I wasn't getting in enough Protein...optimally 60-70 gm of Protein daily. Yesterday I made sure I adhered to the plan. The scale still hasn't moved. My nurse stressed the importance of 64 oz. of Water daily and the protein.
Today is a new day ! I am pumped and dedicated to reach my goals.

Sleeved 9/17 starting 230 today 214 so I thought i was slow but I am right there with you all! Thanks for posting. I started pre-op diet at 240 so that is the weight I use as my official "start" weight. I'm counting every pound!

I lost 12 lbs pre-op and 10 pounds the first 2 weeks after surgery.

AMEN!!! So tired of people who know nothing about this surgery thinking it's an easy fix...I think it takes a strong person to make the decision to do WLS. It's a tool we have been gifted & it's up to us to make the life long commitment to use it.

thanks OTR! you are one of my inspirations!!! I feel so much better already. It's AMAZING how much better I feel not drinking diet coke all day long or eating crappy food all the time!