MichiganChic

My usual menu at almost 7 weeks out: Breakfast: Premier protein shake Lunch: Lean deli meat 2-3 oz with a cheese stick, or tuna or chicken salad with little bit of miracle whip, or small amount of shredded lettuce with chicken chunks and egg and small amt salad dressing (1-2tsp, full fat!!) Sometimes have 2 oz canned fruit. Dinner: 2-3 oz meat such as chicen breast, pork, chicken patty, with 1/4 c vegetable or mashed potatoes. Snack: Don't always eat this, but if I do it depends on my calorie and protein intake for the day. Might be sugar free low fat pudding or a cheese stick. I try to stay around 500-700 calories a day, get 65-75 gm protein and 64 oz of fluid. My program does not require any carb restrictions, just stick to the basic rules of eating. Met with my NUT this week, she's good with progress and meeting requirements. My stats are in my signature line.

Congrats to moregoodtimes and roxannez! Glad to hear you are both doing well. As for the sleep, it got better every night for me, and by about a week out, I was sleeping fairly well. Good plan to take advantage of the awake time to drink a little and move a little.

Thanks for posting this....because it is what I also fear. It would be way to easy to graze right back up the scale, and we all know it can happen. I think being cognizant of your behavior, realizing it really isn't what you want to do, and making a plan to stop it are key. You've done the first two - now what about an alternate plan to hardwire in some new behvior. Just let it go - you can't undo what ate when you shouldn't have. Beating yourself up won't help. Put that energy toward something useful, like exercise. Just turn the TV off. I know-easier said than done. I also used to do that before surgery, but I'm working at developing a new habit of walking when I get home from work instead of eating. I've found it clears my head, and I eat my meal when I get home, and I'm good for the night. I was a stress eater, so I really think the walk helps me. As for the coffee....I prefer black. Could you learn to like black coffee? One other thing - I do track my calories. Seeing it really keeps me in check. Be good to yourself!

Costco carries a Carmelized onion chicken burger - 22 gm of protein, and very good (brand is Amylu). They also have chicken sausage with apple and gouda, I think 16 gm of protein.

I gained too, came home about 10 pounds heavier than what I went in at. It took a few days to come off. Not only are you well hydrated from all the IV fluids, the surgery itself makes you hang on to a little water for a few days. I think about 2-3 weeks out I had a loss of 10 pounds. Don't despair!

What an incredible story, thank you for sharing it. I'm happy you have a wonderful prognosis!

2 weeks - surgeon and nurse 6 weeks - dietician 4 months- nurse, doc if needed 9 months - nurse, doc if needed 12 months- nurse and doc might be some time with dietician in there too at those visits....not sure when

Love them - it's my standard breakfast. You can get the strawberry from Amazon, but they are way more expensive than Costco - so I haven't tried them.

I think it is normal to worry about things, especially when we are still so new. It is a permanent change, and that realization hits every now and then. One thing I've noticed is that if I spend too much time on the board reading about compications, I start to realize what could have happened/could still happen, and it's frightening. I'm a registered nurse, fully understood the procedure, fully understood the risks and accepted them, so it is not as if I didn't know. It's just now....there is no turning back. I think panic attacks are another thing - if you are truly having panic attacks, I'd check with my doc about that, particularly if that's new for you. Best of luck - I'm a month ahead of you, and I think it gets a little easier after about 4 weeks, all the way around.

Well said.

6 weeks out today - total of 43 down. I'm eating about 600 calories a day, though I could probably eat more. Learning to not graze - that could be dangerous! I don't lose every day anymore - haven't lost in 3 days. I assume it will catch up, then I'll lose for a couple of days in a row, then stop. I think it's just the natural rhythm my body is going to do this....about 2-4 pounds a week. Better than what was going on before, lol!

I did. I had an abcess in one of my incisions. Pretty atypical. I would make sure to have at least 64 oz of Water a day, since mild dehydration can cause a temp to go up, too. Most likely you are fine, but I would suggest you call the office.This early out you never know, and there is no way anyone on the boards can fully know what's best for you. Good luck!

I confess.... That I have an underlying fear/worry that I have or will get a leak. I have an incisional infection that they thought was healed and opened up again at 5 weeks, and I worry that it will be a long time before it's healed properly. That I worry I might not lose enough weight, and I'll the one surgery doesn't help. That I love to get on the scale every day! I don't let it get me down if I stay the same or gain a little, but I'm super happy when it shows a loss! The thought of cake used to get me out of bed, now the idea of getting on the scale gets me out of bed! That I worry that if I do lose all the weight I want to, I won't be able to maintain it longterm. That I work hard at getting my Protein, Vitamins, and Water in, and succeed the great majority of the time. Every day it makes me feel like I accomplished something! That I worry too much!!

I also had/have low Vitamin D levels. They checked that before surgery and started me on 50,000 units twice a week for 3 months. I'm about 2 months into taking them, and will have labs drawn this week. I had been taking 1000 iu daily for the last year...guess that wasn't enough. I didn't realize it impacted wieght loss, but that would explain a lot, lol!

Could be thrush, an oral fungal infection. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/oral-thrush/DS00408

Yep, it's normal. I had the same issue even after I was on solids. It was about 4 weeks for me...now it's gone the other way a little! I'm not sure why, but this is not something you hear as much about as constipation, but this too, shall pass (pun intended).

I told immediate family and handfull of friends. It's personal for me, and I just wanted a few people to support me. I asked them not to tell anyone. So.....last night we played Bunco - a group of 8 of us who get together about once a month. 3 of the people are my cousins/close friends, who know. The rest of them don't know, and they were very complimentary on my weight loss, but REALLY wanted to know how I am doing it. I was very uncomfortable with the questioning. I gave short answers, tried to change the subject, but they kept bringing it back up. They were not trying to be mean or invasive, they just want to know the secret to weight loss so they can try it too! For a bit, I considered just telling them, but then we would have to keep talking about it, so I didn't. I know they would tell other people, and then I woud be the topic of conversation - the thing I want to avoid. All this brings a thought to mind. Why is it when people ask a question, we (or me, at least) feel we are obligated to answer at all, let alone truthfully? I wish I knew a nice way to say mind your own business without offending people.

Just beautiful! Great job!

I am! I'm from Monroe

If you can get the time and you can afford it, take the time! This is OUR time - time to learn new habits, our new bodies, and establish patterns of diet and exercise that will transform us. I made up my mind that for the first time ever, it's all about ME, lol! I am putting myself first - so far I love it

I am five weeks out, and I missed that cup of coffee more than anything! I was advised to avoid coffee for a minimum of four months, though they discourage it all together. I must admit I caved at 4 weeks, and returned to one cup of black coffee in the morning. I feel normal now

I told my immediate family and a handful of close friends and co-workers. I wanted their support and encouragment. I have sworn them to secrecy. I don't want to be the topic of anyone's conversation, and it is a personal thing for me. It's funny to me when I say that because I have my picture in my profile, and that's not very annonymous, but I just don't want to discuss it with acquaintances.

Ballermom, I think it's hard to predict if two weeks would be enough. From reading these forums, it seems like it is very individual, and no way to know in advance. I think I'm pretty tough and had planned to return to a desk job in two weeks, but there was no way I could have. I had an abcess in one of my incisions, and I was just SO weak, there was no way I could have gone back. I ended up being off a couple days shy of four weeks, and did OK. However, I still think even I didn't have the infection, I might not have been able to go back. I was on about 400 calories a day, (couldn't tolerate any more) and that was a big adjustment for my body, along with major surgery. Another thing I had not anticipated was the bowel issues I experienced (loose stools). However, I know there are plenty of people out there who sail through this. My suggestion would be to make plans for a little longer, and just go back sooner if you feel up to it. Good luck!

HI All, I've been a nurse for 30 years! Can't beieve I'm old enough to say that, and that I don't even mind admitting it! I've worked everywhere from med surg to ICU to ER to surgery to home care and hospice. Have also done supervision, administration, and quality. Currently an informatics nurse. I was sleeved December 19, and so far, mostly pretty good. Great thread, glad to find you all! Teri

congratulations!