deedeemuffin

I absolutely love your story. You seem like a truly amazing person. You have a kind heart & a positive attitude even during your struggles. We should all aspire to this. God Bless you & your family!

Just Got Done With My Pre-Op Appointment And I Have A List, As Well As Some samples Of shakes Thanks.

Phew! I know your surgery is tomorrow and I was thinking, "Why hasn't this poor girl's surgeon's office told her about this stuff!". LOL. Now I know that you're all set. You're going to do great!

I Thank You For Your Words. I Would Also Like To Know Of What liquids Did You Use During The Post-Op liquid Diet? I'm Taking 1 A Day Now As Far As Vitamins Is There A Better Supplement For Energy And Others Things I Will Lack Due To The Diet?

I am surprised that your surgeon's office hasn't covered fluids yet. Every one can tolerate something different after surgery. I hope you aren't already stocked up on Protein shakes, because your taste changes. I was on pure 48 oz of Water my 1st week. I could add in 3 shakes shakes a day weeks 2&3. When I came out of the hospital I hated my previously loved Protein shake. I couldn't stomach it. So, be prepared to try new Protein Shakes again.

Again, I'm surprised that you haven't gotten a list from your doc. Yes, there are special, chewable vitamins specifically for people who have bariatric surgery. It provides extra nutrition needed. Other docs might have you also take Biotin, B-12 & Calcium with D3. At the very least get the multiple in.

This is a lot of info. No one is perfect in every area. This is like learning how to eat all over. It is good, though, because it will help us live longer & healthier lives. All the best!

You have a lot going for you as far as safety & skin elasticity. Being 25 & in the 200's is a big advantage for you. As of Wednesday I will be 90 days post-surgery. I am already having skin issues, but I am 34 & started out at 418 lbs. Like you, I also did not have a pre-op diet. The only thing my surgeon required was Water only for 24 hours before surgery. Everyone recovers differently. It is really important to follow orders after surgery. It is difficult in the beginning, but you will get through it. Definitely make sure to stay hydrated. Your first priorities after surgery will be to stay hydrated & move as much as possible. Pay attention to both these things, but also listen to your body. Don't push yourself too hard. I will be completely honest with you. During my first week I cried a lot & thought that I had made a huge mistake. Everyone told me that it would get better and it did! At just 3 months out I know that it is the best decision that I could have made for myself. I am down 64 lbs., 3 clothes sizes & a lot of other wonderful things that go along with being a little lighter. I still have a long way to go, but for the first time in my life I know that I can do it. The sleeve is an amazing tool. I know this is a long post, but I hope that it helps. This board was absolutely my saving grace during my first few weeks after surgery. So, whenever you have a question, no matter what it is, someone is willing to help. Best wishes for a great surgery tomorrow & a quick recovery!

Emotional eating is a big problem for a lot of sleevers even though few will admit it publicly on the board. So, first off, congratulations on recognizing this pattern & asking for help. Exercise is always a great help. It is also helpful if you have someone close that you can talk to. Therapy is always a viable option. I know that my bariatric group has a psychiatrist on staff that deals specifically with weight loss surgery patients before and after surgery. OA can be very helpful. There are community meetings or online meetings. Bariatric support groups through your surgeons office should be very helpful. A lot of people are antimedication, but it has it's uses. Sometimes an antidepressant or antianxiety medication can take the edge off while you work through your issues. Hopefully some other people can give you helpful tips too. You WILL gain control over this!

DeeDee, thanks so much for posting this! I have been a vegetarian most of my adult life and love seeing what other vegetarians eat, especially those farther out than me (I am almost 3 weeks out). When were you sleeved? Your weight loss is great! do you exercise a lot? Also, do you know about how many calories you are getting in a day? thanks!!

Dee Dee, is your edamame roasted and crunchy? Where do you get it, or do you make it from fresh edamame? I am thinking of making an edamame/tofu hummus (still on purees, so would just eat it with a spoon).

My edamame is roasted & crunchy. I buy it at the store. I get it at a local grocery store. They have it in pretty much any health food store. I am from the North East & Shoprite, Hannaford and Stop & Shop all carry them. My NUT said the lightly salted or wasabi coated ones are fine.

I was sleeved November 27th so, 2 days from now is my 90 day surgiversary. During my puree/soft foods stage my NUT okayed Hummus & Tofu. Sabra even makes their Hummus in single serving containers in packs of 4. I track my food on My Fitness Pal & I seem to average around 700 calories a day. I am ashamed to say that I haven't exercised at all except for 1 yoga class. I am starting today, though, because my BF & I just booked our vacation starting April 29th. I would really like to be down 100 lbs. by then. The first few weeks post-op can be rough, but just stick to the program & you'll so just fine. Feel free to message me anytime if you have veg questions or are struggling or whatever. Best of luck to you!

Awesome on the running!! I don't think I could run a block, even if an axe murderer were after me!

Oh and I still drink a Premier Protein shake every morning for Breakfast

I just had to laugh when I saw your reply, Laura. I don't remember what we were watching on TV, but I looked at my BF & said, "I'm in big trouble if I ever needed to run for my life". LOL. Soon maybe we can. My boyfriends sister lost close to 100 lbs on her own. She just started running & doing 5ks. Her husband is a Triathelete & just did The Ironman in Arizona in November. Once my weight goes down a little more I won't have much choice but to run. The two of them are already planning at what date they thing they might get me ready for my first 5k! Yikes!

The sentence about edamame should say you only need to eat 1/4 of a cup. Not 70! lol! 1/4 of a cup is small. It's nice because they are crunchy & salty but don't sit heavy in my sleeve. I did try to eat meat once since I was sleeved. I cut it really small, chewed really well, ate slowly & 3 hours later threw up. Meat is just too hard on my system. As you can see from my 1st post you can meet your NUT guidelines no problem with gentle & yummy food!

I have read on the boards of some people doing a mini restart for their sleeve...doing 1 day of Water, 2 days of Protein shakes & then on to other foods. I think lets your sleeve rest & reset a little bit. I also have a hard time getting in my Protein, but that is because I am a vegetarian. I too have a greak yogurt every day. Instead of regular Peanut Butter I use PB2. It is a powdered Peanut Butter that has 85% less fat & calories than peanut butter but a full 5 grams of protein. I also use the PB2 in a shake that I make with almond milk, chocolate Protein powder, frozen banana & PB2. It is so delicious with lots of protein that doesn't taste like a Protein Shake. Another good tip I got from my NUT is eating lightly salted edamame (roasted soy beans). You only need 70 eat 1/4 of a cup for a full 14 grams of protein. Low fat string cheese too. So my average menu looks something like this for protein:

Breakfast: 1 cup almond milk 2g

1 scoop Protein Powder 15g

2 tbsp. PB2 5g

Lunch: Non-Fat Plain Greek Yogurt 16g

2tbsp. PB2 5g

Snack: 1/4 cup edamame 14g

Dinner: Veggies - no protein

Snack: 2 Polly-O sting cheese 2% 16g

That menu is a total of 73 grams of protein with absolutely no meat, very little carbs or sodium. My NUT is looking for 60-70 g of protein per day. Everything I have eaten, she has approved. Even when the day comes to 73 she said it's okay, but not to push it too much higher.

I don't eat the exact same thing every day. Sometimes, for example, I substitute carrots & roasted red pepper hummus for the string cheese. That gives me 61 g per day.

I know that this a long reply, but I am hoping that maybe even 1 of these things might help. I think that they are all fairly easy on the stomach & also for digestion. meat is much harder to break down.

You are doing awesome with your loss so far! Congratulations.

I just found this forum & saw your post. I can totally relate. I started out at 418 lbs. & was really maxing out a 30/32. The only store that I could shop in was The Avenue & I sometimes had a hard time with their clothes. I was reliant on the internet. Awhile back the company that I ordered from sent me size 28 jeans instead of a 32. Too much trouble to send them back. A few weeks back I was practically falling out of my jeans & I remembered the 28's buried in my closet. I crossed my fingers. They slipped on & zipped up just fine. I was so happy! Now they are starting to get baggy. I had to buy a new pair of dress pants & ended up needing a 26! I am beyond happy. It is so great to have this forum. We understand where we all have been & what other people take for granted are victories to us. My latest victory was being able to actually fit in a restaurant booth! So, Congratulations to you!

Thanks Dee Dee. I've been trying to get the surgery for 10 years. When I got Medicare coverage 2 years ago, I began a long search for the right doctor and started jumping through all the many hoops Medicare requires. Then I had to wait until now before the sleeve was approved. I've ony got a couple of hoops left. My next big one is cardiac clearance in April.

Good for you for being so persistent. I don't know if I would have had the patience. Cardiac was hard for me because I ended up needing extra testing. During my first stress test they couldn't tell if I had a clogged artery or just too much breast tissue to see the results. It was just breast tissue, but it was an anxious couple of weeks until it was cleared up. I hope that your cardiac tests go more smoothly! Keep us updated & ask as many questions as you want. Have a good night!

Love MFP...although it does yell at me everyday for not eating enough! :-/

I always laugh when I have my log done every day. It always tells me that I haven't eaten enough. LOL. I just use it to keep track of my Protein, carbs and sodium. I don't think I will ever meet their calorie requirement again.

I've always liked Sundays. I can't imagine how I'll feel when I get the sleeve, but boy do I relate to the IHOP booth and fitting in my car. I've been paying the insurance and other fees for my car, and it's probably been a year since I've been able to drive it.

For me, I look forward to the opportunity of going out to a movie on Sunday. Taking my sweet doggie, Shiki, for a walk. And other "normal" things.

You will be doing all these things before you know it! Make sure and keep track of all the small things. They will build up to be huge, amazing things. You are on the start to a wonderful journey. It is hard in the beginning, but in no times it is just a memory & you will be well on your way!

I also only had to do liquid for one day before surgery. Water only for 24 hours before. Previous to that I had lost about 10 pounds over the course of getting approved for surgery so, I guess that was enough for him. I had no problems whatsoever without doing a pre-op diet.

Some individuals do not know how to be tactful when trying to provide "constructive criticism".

Deedeemuffin I am glad to see that you stuck around. Vst really have some amazing people that are helpful and some that gives you that "tough love" without sounding so condescending... Proudgrammy and Laura comes to mind. So don't let one run it deter you from posting because sometime you just can't find what you are looking for.

Just always remember that everyone has an opinion and oftentimes what we desire to say does not come across that way when writing. Take what you can use and simply ignore those who live in the world of no mistakes since that person would be unable to relate.

On a lighter note, I will be purchasing the book and workbook: The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person by Judith Beck. Lol because The Lord knows that I still think like an obese person and just eating those small portion aaarrrggghhhh makes me mad! Lol no more barbeque with rice and Beans, potatoe salad, Mac n cheese, and Hawaiian rolls mmmm my mouth is salivating just think about my southern cooking. Lol

Thanks. I'm drooling reading your list of foods. lol. Trying to get things moving on a postive direction today with this thread. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/70339-super-positive-sunday-love-your-sleeve-love-yourself/

This can sometimes be a very frustrating experience. We all are doing our best and sometimes the results are not what we want. I would first recommend not weighing yourself every day. I was doing this too & getting so discouraged by crazy daily fluctuations. Now I only weigh once a week. Do you work with a nutritionist? I know mine has been very helpful in helping me adjust my diet to my needs. I also use My Fitness Pal to track what I eat. It lets you know your total intake of calories, Protein, fat, carbs & sodium. It has been very helpful in tweaking my nutritional intake throughout the day. Sodium & carbs are sneaky in food products & the most common obstacles to weight loss. I wish you all the best & don't give up!

Anyone looking for a more positive place today check this out http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/70339-super-positive-sunday-love-your-sleeve-love-yourself/

I love this idea, I will start by saying, the weather here is absolutely beautiful, the sun is out in all it's glory, the temp is cool but warm from the sun, perfect day to be out moving around, go for a bike ride or explore a part of your area you never have gone to, sit under a tree and read or journal or grab some colors and a color book and zone out on coloring.(ok so it's a chick thing, guys find some lego LOL ) Lets take a moment to reflect how lucky were are to have this opportunity for assistance in changing our lives. Little bit of babbling, but it's what I am feeling inside today. Yay! for Sunday's

Now I totally want to color! LOL. Our day here is gray & rainy, but I am happy to be cozy with a fire going in the wood stove. Watching a DVD with my boyfriend, curled up with my cat & puppy. Life is good!

I have a huge list of things that I love that help me make it through every day. Wednesday I will be weighing in for my 90 day weigh in and I am excited. I have not been perfect, but this journey is not about perfection. We are learning to love our life in a whole new way & this takes time. I know that last weigh in I was down 61 lbs. I love what losing that weight has done for me. I love that I am down 3 full pants sizes & the size I am in now is getting too big! I love all the compliments that I've been getting, especially from my super supportive boyfriend. I love that I have more energy. I love that I can now fit in a booth at a restaurant. I love that I could go to IHOP yesterday and eat & not feel deprived at all. I ordered an eggbeater omelette with spinach & mushrooms with fruit salad. I ate less than half of it & brought the rest home. I love that when I go out my boyfriend & I can share a meal & save money! LOL. I love that I fit comfortable in my car now. I even love that my feet have gotten smaller. One day I just stepped right out of one of my dress shoes. Mostly I love that I don't have to be perfect. I am doing this one day at a time. one meal at a time. The sleeve is a wonderful tool!

Thanks, all. Dee Dee - great idea to start a brand spanking new topic. What shall we call it?

Mark - Thanks for your offer to help. I really appreciate it.

Sassy, here is a thread that I just started. I'm hoping that it will be encouraging & help people share & feel good. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/70339-super-positive-sunday-love-your-sleeve-love-yourself/

Happy Sunday VST members! I wanted to start a thread that is positive and encouraging. I would love to make this a regular Sunday thread. Let's share the things we love big or small. If someone is struggling let's give each other a positive boost!

I just want to get this started. I will be back in a few to share. Let's get positive friends!

Thank you to whoever posted the link to this thread for me. I haven't gotten to read every post on the 8 pages, but I am loving what I've read. I too wish this could be turned into a forum. You all sound like my kind of people. It's like the VST version of Planet fitness...The Judgement Free Zone! I love it! I am not looking to be babied, but I am looking forward to sharing without worry of being bullied. Viva La awesome thread here!

Honestly, if someone who really doesn't know me, has only seen me from a few posts on a message board, were to suggest I need therapy, I would be offended as well. Reason being, I think we all know what we are supposed to do when we get the sleeve. Unfortunately, they sleeved our tummies, not our brains. We didn't get to the point of needing weight loss surgery by having amazing willpower and the ability to just turn our heads and walk away from the things we know are bad for us. I could spend hours in therapy, but that isn't going to take away my cravings or turn me into a super human. I understand why I cheat, I don't need to pay someone to tell me why I eat. I eat because I genuinely enjoy the taste of crap food, I eat when I am depressed and I eat when I am happy. I know there are a million other ways I could deal with being depressed or happy, I know there are healthy choices that taste just as good. Nope, I don't need a therapist to tell me that. And yes, I worked in the mental health field for 13 years as well.

Sometimes, you just have to allow yourself to experience the emotions you are going to have. Sometimes, despite having the sleeve, you are going to eat something bad for you. The sleeve fixed my tummy, but all those old reasons I became fat are still there, and even after four years out, they still pop up. Sometimes, we just want to eat what we want to eat without feeling guilty. It's okay. We are human.

OP, did you get the sleeve to be normal, or to feel deprived for the rest of your life? I got mine to be normal. I had and continue to have no desire to be on a diet for the rest of my life. And, thanks to my sleeve, I don't have to be. What you have to learn is everything in moderation. A piece of bread is okay. But, it is important to remember that certain things, like bread and Pasta, swell up in your stomach after a bit. And, as you learned, that is really, really uncomfortable. For the newly sleeved especially, learning to eat again is a bit of a trial and error situation. You will learn as you go what your stomach can tolerate, what makes you miserable, etc. And you learned that four pieces of bread is going to result in a really, really miserable feeling. I doubt you will do that again. It is okay to enjoy the foods you love, so long as you do it in moderation and make healthy choices the majority of the time. It is all about learning balance. I am confident you learned a valuable lesson from this, and you will be successful with your sleeve.

Just one more thing, and you may already be doing this, I found that monitoring every bite of food on MyFitnessPal really helps me. And when I eat something I am not supposed, I make a note of what I was feeling that day, what was going on that led me to eat something I know I shouldn't have, and how it made me feel. That really helps me to put it down in words, and be able to look back on it as well. Sometimes I just ate something because I was out with friends, at a social event and I wanted to enjoy what everyone else was. And that is 100% okay because I know the majority of the time I do make good choices. It is called living, and you know what, I love living.

Much luck and success to you, my sleeve sister!

Thank you for your thoughtful & well stated post. I definitely got my sleeve to be normal. I want to get to a healthy weight & be more active. I know making mistakes are part of the process too. I know that I am on program the majority of the time. I certainly will not the same mistake with bread again. That's for sure. I do use My Fitness Pal to track my food. It's a great tool. I know that I will be successful. I am already on the right path & look forward to continuing to a healthy new me.!

Dede please don't ok? We have all of us had a bump or bruise here.. When I answered you that fist time remember? I said that I swore I would never post again but there I was doing it?

It was because someone attacked me. Well I didn't leave because I felt I need to Speak to you when I saw your post !! You will have insight to give others that is from your own unique perspective and this site needs you!

Laura

Thank you, Laura. You have always been very kind to me & supportive. Thank you.