meeganlee

I'm with you. I'm also aware that I have been doing a little testing on eating that isn't productive, so I'm getting back in the right mindset, and reading posts from all of you is very helpful to me in getting focused again. I'm proud of all of us!

If you are sick, you need to take it easy. Be kind to yourself, and don't push so hard that you stay sick. Once you are better, you can get back to full work outs and full steam.

Just as with online comments, you have to take everything you hear with a grain of salt. I think it is honestly best to stick as close as we can to the guidelines our actual program put forth. I've been to a live meeting where the doctor said you only need the vitamins for the first year, which made very little sense to me. Protein is good for many things in our bodies, and it is the most satiating foods out there, so I think it is wise to take in a great amount of protein and to chose protein foods first. I don't know about you, but those choices tend to be low calorie and keep me full longer.

From reading posts of others sleeved on 12/17, it seems we all slowed way down or stalled for a week or two right around the same time. It was very comforting to me to see that others were also stalling. I started low BMI, so I'm going to have a different path from others with more to lose. I started at 192, 180 on the day of surgery and 161 this morning. I'm half way to where I hope to land from my original starting weight, which I am thrilled with. It is scary to stall, but when you do the math, if we are taking in less than 1,000 calories a day and working out, there is no way the weight won't continue to go. There are weeks in the start where we loose a lot, and weeks close to goal and during stalls when we we won't lose anything, but it will average out. Best of luck!

Every doctor has a different plan. I'm actually about to stop protein drinks. Whatever the plan he/she has put you on stick to it. Stalls are a natural part of losing weight, so please don't loose heart. Search other strings and you will see that everyone has stalls.

Go Cathy!!!!!

You should puree it in a blender. It will be much easier to eat.

You have to do what you have to do, but we have all had years or decades of weight struggles. One thing I think we all know is we have to compare apples to apples. Weight yourself no more than once a day and at the same time of day with the same circumstances. I think a favorite is a.m. after going to the bathroom, no clothes. If you weigh yourself later in the day, you will always weigh more than you did earlier. What ever time of day, it should be the same circumstances, or you will make yourself crazy. Keep the faith!

I'm sorry you guys are stalled too, but I guess it is comforting that i am not the only one stalled this week. Patience....not my strong suit.

I'm not getting in all of the water. I'm guessing 40-50 oz? My nutritionist said it takes a long while to get a pattern during the day where you are not drinking after you eat, but are drinking regularly other than that. My energy level is not enough for exorcize these days. I'm hoping it goes up soon. Other than that, loving my sleeve.

I'm 12/17 too. I'm down 18 since surgery, and 12 before that. I was barely 35 BMI at my highest, so I'm going to loose slowly, which is fine with me. I'm very happy with 18 pounds in five weeks. I tried to do my previous work out, which is a 7 mile round trip bike ride to and from my son's school with a very steep hill at the end. I made it, but was more out of breath than usual. I did this at three weeks out. The problem was that as the day went on, I got very light headed and had to eat something because I thought I was going to pass out. It was the only scary moment I have had since the surgery. I think that taking in 600-800 calories a day and then expending 600 on a bike ride isn't going to work this soon after surgery. Since then, I've just been doing walking on the treadmill, which seems to be fine for me. It has been so cold out, that I'm not in a huge rush to get back on the bike just yet anyway. I am more tired than usual, and sometimes want to take a nap or sleep in, which is not usual for me. I'm thinking that as we adjust to our new bodies and new calorie intake, our energy levels will go up. I'm loving the journey, and thrilled to have all of you to hear about your journey. Thanks!

That is not real weight. Don't even count it. Wait a week or two, and you'll drop everything that was Fluid based. Wishing you a speedy recovery! Sorry about the complications...

I am five weeks post op, started 192, now down to 162. I was 180 on the day of surgery. I am 17 pounds from my doctor's goal, and 32 from my personal goal. Today, I went back into high overweight on the BMI for what I hope (know) is the last time. There are few who have complications, and for them, I understand the regret. However, the majority of people I have encountered her and at support meetings are very pleased with the surgery. The consistent message is that the surgery doesn't make it easy, but it does make it possible. That is what I am finding. They operate on your stomach, not your head. I've made a few snack choices that I can't quite believe, which were "head choices". We have all battled with this our whole lives, and your head will sabotage you, or at least mine will. I did a check in with myself about why I did the surgery, and lost 3.2 pounds this week. Nobody can be perfect all the time, but the surgery gives you kind of a "do over" with your stomach. Starting over with a smaller stomach is amazing. But we still choose every bite we take. Protein, support groups, Water. All vital to success. I love the low bmi threads on this site. Very helpful.

Don't stress on stalls. From what I have been reading, sometimes the scale sticks for a bid, and then you start loosing again. Keep the faith and keep getting protein in. : )

Search on low bmi, and you will find a few other great threads. Very helpful information for those of us in this category. This is a great place to reach out for information and support. Welcome!

If you are trying to record a qualifying weight, I would only weigh in in the a.m. and be sure to wear as light clothes as possible. It makes a big difference. I was stunned that when I took off all of my jewelry, I weighed a pound less! Yikes, I must wear too much. : ) You can call and schedule a weight check with Kaiser. Just the regular number, and they will schedule it, and it goes into your record. I know because I had to do this when I was trying to qualify for the surgery by having to go UP 3.3 pounds.

AWESOME WORK! I'm going to turn on my treadmill right now, inspired by you. : ) Together we can do this!

If you are journaling the food, getting protein and doing your best on water, it will work for you. Keep the faith!

I started going back to testing a little pile of chips here, and there, and then did it for a few days in a row. My beloved husband asked me last night, isn't this how you got into trouble in the first place. Love is grand. He is so right. I'm self sabotaging the best thing I ever did not even one month out. I'm back on the straight and narrow. I'm very glad to have this forum to be honest and hear what everyone is up to.

If you can try to get above 500 calories, you will probably lose better. On only 300, your body will be in serious starvation mode. I think they want us more like 600 calories, and making sure we are getting 60 g Protein, and as close to the 64 oz of Water as we can get. I think most of us are not getting the full 64. And, my doctor says 60 minutes after you eat anything, including a Protein Drink before you drink. That really helps keep you feeling full.. Hope you feel less hungry soon.

It might be different doctor to doctor as well. In the book I got from Kaiser it said 6-8 weeks on phase 3, and my surgeon said a month from when I went to stage 2.

Congratulations! That is a FANTASTIC milestone!

I think some of the diets are very different, and in some cases it is also just terminology. I was on liquids in the hospital, then phase two was yogurt, protein drinks, cottage cheese and soup for two weeks. Phase three was much like yours, but they encouraged pureeing the food, and cheese was also added. At one month, I can go to raw vegetables, and everything we will be eating for the rest of our lives. Well chewed, of course.

I did go to Kaiser S. SF, and I really liked the whole program. I'm honestly relieved that rice and pasta are not allowed, and bread isn't really very much either. It is helpful for me personally. Did you like Richmond? What are their guidelines like? Until yesterday, I have gone to a few support groups in S. SF when I was there for other appointments, and I've been going to the one in Santa Rosa at the Wells Fargo building. Is that the one you go to? My friend Bess goes to that one. Yesterday, I had to be somewhere at noon, so I tried the Novato one out, which is also closer to where I live. I'm curious what your program was like.

I went to a different support group today, and wow, very different. The doctor who ran it had interesting things to say, but so much was different from my doctor's plan, and I'm actually very glad I am with my doctor's plan. He said to wait 15 minutes before drinking after eating, and I have been told 60 minutes. He said you don't need the vitamins after a year, and the vitamins he had in his slide show were much less than what I'm being asked to take. Less calcium, no B1 or B12 sublingual, just a B complex, and much less D, if I am remembering correctly. Also, he said pasta, rice and popcorn were OK after you were several months out, which is also very different. It is all interesting information, and I enjoy going to the support groups, and chatting with all of you.