OneWritersSoul

I'm also about four weeks out (10/25 was my surgery date) and I'm a picky eater that wants variety. Some things I've tried- Fat-free cottage cheese w/ reduced-fat shredded cheese and MrsDash Baked veggies with chicken stock (think meatless roast) Tuna (canned) with Greek yogurt, a diced baby dill pickle, diced celery, diced carrot, and cracked pepper (the pickle and the veggies totaled a tbsp to my 3oz of tuna- I stored the leftover diced veggies for later use) Oatmeal (the heart healthy, sugar-free kind from Quaker, Maple Brown sugar flavor) with Greek yogurt Chicken (canned) with diced cucumber, Greek yogurt, and MrsDash Tilapia with vegetables (red potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, and mushrooms) topped with lemon slices and MrsDash then baked. Fat-free refried Beans, reduced-fat Colby Jack cheese and Pace picante sauce topped with fat-free Greek yogurt I hope this helps give you some ideas! And best of luck to you!

I use Fage 0% Greek yogurt - it's perfect for whatever I want, whether adding spices for a savory taste or some fruit for a sweeter taste!

You are looking fabulous! Keep on rocking it up!

I can't imagine shopping for new clothes. I hated it pre-op and I can't imagine it being much more pleasant post-op, to be honest. In addition to being fat, I'm short. I'm longer on top than on the bottom, so nothing seems to fit/look right that way. Then to add insult to injury I seem to carry my excess weight in my tummy- not a pretty sight. So, no shopping for me! For those of you brave enough- I genuinely tip my hat to you! You're stronger and more adventurous than I will ever be and you will look more fabulous for it!

I don't know what the real answer is so let's just say that the good weight fairy came and took it away. Hooray!! Now, please send her to my house tomorrow night so I can have a major loss like that before my one month post-op appointment?

My nutritionist said cheeses with 5g of fat and less per serving are ideal. He also said that the reality is, especially while dining out, it's not always possible to find cheeses that are that low-fat, so memorize some- like mozzarella and Parmesan.

Week 1: Clear Liquids Week 2: Full Liquids Weeks 3-4: Puréed Week 5-12: Soft (My current Phase)

Are you using MyFitnessPal or something like it to track your intake? Ate you walking and getting your Water in? Just curious. Some people on here can handle bigger portions and higher calories right away. Others, not until later. It's a very personal thing. I think the biggest thing I've noticed for each person is whether or not they track everything they're taking in and whether they're getting exercise and fluids. If you're using MyFitnessPal feel free to add me as serenity_lynn and you can see my food diary. I'm about 4.5 weeks post-op

It's possible but VERY challenging! Especially in the early stages from everything I've both heard and experienced. I was raised as a vegetarian until the age of 17 when I tried meat for the first time and loved it. Red meat wasn't my thing, but chicken, fish, sausage, etc. When I decided to have the surgery and was told to lose weight, I converted back, allowing myself only seafood. I loved it too much to give it up. I did very well eating my Beans, soy products, etc. Since surgery- most specifically since starting back on puréed foods and on, I haven't been able to get everything I need as far as my Protein. It's been a constant negotiation process with my doctor and nutritionist, so I've started adding canned chicken to my menu. As soon as I can work more things in, I'm going back to all vegetarian though- meat makes me feel OFF! If anyone has any vegetarian recipes or website ideas, please feel free to do the same and I will reciprocate!

I use the Old El Paso Fat-Free ones. Once I warm them (1/4c at a time since I'm the only one eating them) I top them with Sargento's Reduced-fat Colby Jack cheese then microwave until cheese begins to melt. After, I stir in either Pace Picante sauce or my own homemade salsa (thank you Jesus for making me Latina and for my Ninja!) and top with a teaspoon to a tablespoon of Fage 0% Greek yogurt- it's higher protein than sour cream and still gives me that creaminess. Oh and no gas!

I stalled after they advanced me. It was so very discouraging for me, especially since I weigh myself every morning. I finally took someone else's advice and just started weighing in once a week. Stress and stall were both over! The other thing that I have to ALWAYS keep in mind is that I didn't pile all this weight on overnight, so I'm not going to lose it overnight. Be patient with yourself. Nurture you body, your mind, and your soul. Once I started doing those things, it all started happening. Best of luck to you!

My nutritionist and surgeon have both said NO ALCOHOL for at least six months and even after that, it must be "skinny" cocktails and "light" beers, etc. At 6 weeks I'd double check it with your surgeon and nutritionist as I know different practices say different things. Good luck!

I can't tolerate them but even if I could I don't think I would. My tolerance for anything even remotely sweet is nil and it's only getting worse at one month post-op, not better!

You're looking fantastic! And so brave to post here! I have photos on my Instagram account, but full-lengths still make me cry. So, double hats off to you!

I slice one large lemon, one medium cucumber, and a pinch of mint leaves (sometimes- I like it better without!) and add them to half a pitcher of hot water. I then fill the remainder of the pitcher with crushed ice or ice cubes and refrigerate for two hours. For people who don't like plain water or want a change once in a while, maybe this will do the trick. Oh and instead of lemons in my water, sometimes I fix a pitcher of water and add slices of tangerines, grapefruit, or kiwi. (Only lemon slices taste good with cucumber slices, in my opinion though!)

I'm one month post-op and I intend to clarify the whole caloric intake thing with my surgeon and nutritionist, but in the interim, these are the things I try to apply to my daily life (both before and after surgery!)- Water is my friend. Protein is my BEST FRIEND! Low-fat is where it's at. Plain, fat-free Greek yogurt is a great substitute for sour cream, mayo AND ice cream. You can add no-calorie sweetener to sweeten it and spices to make it savory. It is also great for thickening sauces! (Think beef stroganoff) Lemons, cucumbers, and mint leaves combined with water make a great fat burning, anti-oxidant drink that's calorie free. Stick to the outer edges of the grocery store. It's been said over and over but it is so true! Even at one month post-op I'm finding ways to incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into my new lifestyle. The edge of the grocery store have treasures far greater than the middle aisles! The Internet has great sites where you can find terrific recipes, such as Ricotta Bake (Google 'The World According To Eggface') and Baked Black Beans (lost the site!) they're high in protein but low in calories. MyFitnessPal is awesome! Not just as a tool but as a community/networking hub. Hope this gives you an idea of where I personally am at one month out.

So do we just add our weekly weigh-in here? This new person is confused!

It looks and sounds yummy! Shrimp doesn't bother you or upset your new tummy? I tried a tiny nibble, chewed well, and I was violently ill! So very glad someone is able to enjoy it!

I'm not sure about anyone else (and I know it's not really a "tool"!) but I put a HUGE reminder on my refrigerator (that's next to my garbage can) stating "This is not your parent's house. YOU pay the bills and control YOUR life! So YOU do NOT have to clean your plate!" Now, if I only eat 2oz off my 4oz applesauce cup or refried beans, I don't feel as guilty throwing it away. I don't overeat, I don't make myself sick, and I'm losing weight!

My husband kept telling me I didn't need surgery, he was against it, etc. I explained to him that I loved him and heard each and every single complaint/reason he gave but ultimately, the decision wasn't his. The decision was for me. It was for my health. It was for my peace of mind. About two months before the surgery we went to an appointment to talk to a reproductive endocrinologist. They told us that I'd have to lose weight before we could undergo in-vitro. My husband became my biggest cheerleader! Sometimes people will be for you, sometimes they will be against you. The important thing is to never be your own worst enemy!