rewind

I am almost three months post sleeve and cannot stop eating too fast. Is it just a matter of self discipline?? I have always been a fast eater and can't shake the 'habit'. I am so happy to finally have 'real food', that I just gobble it down. The result, of course, is that I throw up almost every single day. Any tips or tricks out there??

My stats are very close to yours. I have gained 10 pounds in the last two weeks. I also stopped exercising (mostly due to horrific cold and cough) and nibbled my way through Christmas. Have lost 3 pounds, but MUST get back on track. Thanks for your post. It's good to know others struggle at this point (I had lost 105 after 10 months) and can turn things around and get focused again. We have all come too far to give up now.

Down 96 pounds. Sleeved Feb 25th. Would like to lose 30 more... current weight, 211. Feeling fabulous but not there yet...

You should do what you are comfortable with. For me, I had nothing to hide. I don't care what people think or say. I'm 6 months out so people are noticing. I say, "I had weight-loss surgery; vertical sleeve. Best decision I ever made". With a big smile on my face. I'm proud of myself and my decision. I'm proud of my progress and the changes I'm making in my life. If you come out with it, you may find that after the initial talk, there will be much less talk. If people think you are hiding something, they will speculate and talk forever. And that may (or may not) weigh on you. Best of luck to you.

My stats are similar to yours. I was sleeved 2/25/13 and am down 83 pounds. I am able to eat many things, so thankful those first few weeks are behind me. I am trying to remember to eat slow, and not keep the trigger foods around the house. That said, I do indulge in popcorn and an occasional small dish of ice cream. I think it's okay to have one or two of your past 'loves', but not all of them, and certainly not many of them together or even in the same week or two. I have not had Cheez-its in months and manage to function each day, haha. I keep a daily log (loose it) which keeps me on track. I set the calories low so I know at the end of the day what I may have to play with. I also walk 5 days a week, and try to swim two days. I think we should keep a log, even if we think we are good enough to go it alone. It keeps us accountable. So.... it's good choices, accountability, low carb/high protein, and exercise. You have done a great job, don't tempt fate to turn that around.

When do you see your surgeon for a check up? Likely the virus or flu you picked up has set back your recovery. Those illnesses make us weak enough, let alone after major surgery. Sip liquids as much as you can to help you stay really hydrated. Make sure you're getting the protein in for tissue healing. Be careful not to compare yourself to others too closely. As long as your incisions are not oozing and there are no signs of problems you were told to watch for, I think you will begin to feel stronger every day. The first month is hard. Just keep sipping. It really helps the healing and keeping hydrated will make you feel better.

Yes you should be drinking clear liquids. Get some broth or tea. Sip very slowly at this point. Stop at a gas station and grab a Popsicle. Don't let yourself get dehydrated. It can happen.

Laughing cow cheese. Even a couple Ritz. But be careful with those. Sugar free popsicles if you have acces to a freezer. Nuts. Again, be care with nuts.

Bloodwork may be perfect but unless they draw for electrolytes it won't show. Water won't keep those in balance after we have starved. So yes, sip a little gatorade if you are a little dehydrated. We need the salt. I felt this way a month or so out, and ended up getting a 7 up, another no-no. But I sipped ever so slow, and felt better in about an hour. We have cut so much it is your body's reaction to having nothing. So just be careful not to drink too much of it. Also, if you are dizzy when you first stand up, it is your blood pressure that may be a bit low. Don't stand up quickly. Rather, sit on the edge of your bed or couch for a minute, and let your blood circulate. Then stand.

I did not take any pain meds after getting home from the hospital. This was really because I was not in any pain and didn't need them. And remember,you will not likely not have a bowel movement for several days as 'no food in....nothing out'.... It was a good week for me, and then any stools are very very soft or even almost liquid, as you are only taking in liquids.

Programs vary on how long someone should be on a liquid diet. Mine was not that long. I ate light two weeks before, and had liquids for two days before. If you're hungry during your liquid phase (you must be) make sure you're drinking protein shakes. I bought the Eas shakes, at Walmart. I'd throw some banana or strawberries in them, with a teaspoon or two of yogurt. Add some crushed ice, and it was a delicious smoothie. There are 17 gms of protein in the shakes, and it will really help with hunger. I am three months out and down 58 pounds. It has been quite a journey. Good Luck to all of you.

The last thing you want to do is spend money on something you will wear just a couple times because it will be TOO BIG! Some people just wear a hospital gown, and another one reversed, so they don't bring in anything. And that is fine. If you want something else, opt for some comfy pajama pants or light sweatpants. You will need the hospital gown on top because you will have an IV. Get some slippers with some grip on the bottom. You will need to walk as much as possible and you don't want to slip. Hospitals offer slipper-socks, but they are one-size-fits-all and not very comfortable.

Three months out and no hair loss, fingers crossed. I've slipped on my protein intake every so often, so I don't know if that will affect any hair loss. My feeling is that one can improve the odds by maintaining protein in their diet, but that ultimately it is a genetic occurrence. Time will tell.

Nope it's the insurance companies that get a deal. They have contracted rates. All kinds on hand-shaking going on. Believe me, the insurance companies aren't getting screwed out of anything. They are doing plenty well.

Quiche is good to have on hand... also Laughing Cow cheese....

I was cleared for all foods by my doc and NUT at 8 weeks. I tried corn on the cob at 9 weeks, and did fine. It was so delicious. I have had it three times in the last month. I can eat 1 very small ear, but then chose to have just a half ear the other times to be sure to have room to get my protein in. One half ear was very satisfying. Remember, it is a starch, so count the carbs in your daily totals. This is something you will have to be careful about. Half ear. Not often. Self-discipline.

This is a lesson of what's wrong with the insurance industry in the United States. I was self-pay in East Tennessee and my total was $14,500. If I had gone through my BCBS (not a covered service under my plan) they would have billed BCBS about $25,000. If the cost is $14,500, then why not bill BCBS $14,500?? Oh, that's right..... the insurance companies and execs have to make billions of dollars in profit every year. I broke my arm as a child in 1967 and it cost my father $100. Not trying to get into a political discussion, but our healthcare costs are out of control here. And I don't see anything that's in the works to fix it.

I'm 3 months out and when this happens to me it is because I have eaten too much or too fast, and it's coming back up.....sigh.....when will I ever learn???

We all must believe that it is never too late. Never. This is a lifelong journey that will have it's ups and downs. I am three months out, and have hit stalls and have strayed from recommendations at times. But so far I plug ahead, learn from my mistakes, and hold myself accountable for what I do and what I eat. You have lost 60 pounds and don't forget that in itself is a success. But do get your head in the game. Don't keep beating yourself up, but rather focus on the days just ahead of you and make some changes. We are all part of a really big team, and there are many here that will support and encourage you. Good Luck.... you can do this.

How much fried chicken would you even eat? I'm of the theory that one bite would be okay. Before the surgery it might have been three pieces....but one bite? I would get my fix, accept the calories/carbs for it, and move on. I'm 12 weeks out and have followed most rules, but have had a stray a few times. I log it in, and move on. Accept responsibility for it. Or find a substitute. I've also found that once I have it... the urge is really gone to have it again. I suppose we are all different.

I am three months out and ate homemade meatloaf and meatballs on a soft food diet. I put cheese in mine to add a little protein. I also soak the breadcrumbs (Italian) in milk before adding them, to keep it super moist. Did not have a problem. Also, I was able to tolerate Zaxbys boneless chicken wings on a soft diet. They likely have a little breading, but are very moist. Just remember to account for everything so you can stay within recommendations.

For something quick you can buy the Chunky Soups and Stews, and puree them. I left a little texture to them because i think the pureed texture is just gross, lol. But I had no problem with the pulsed soups. And don't forget eggs; make a quiche.

@landen24; I made the quiche. Nothing fancy, you can find many recipies on line and tweak it to your liking. I use the store bought pie crusts.... the Pillsbury refrigerator ones. Because I was on a soft diet, I pulverized 6 pieces of bacon and 2 or 3 oz of sausage in my mini processor. I put that mix in the bottom of the pie crust. If you like onions, pulverize a few of them too. Then I add cheese, whatever I have around my house. Typically it's cheddar, mozzarella, pepperjack.. You're going to want about three cups total, shredded. Then I mix 4 or 5 eggs with a cup of half and half, with salt and pepper, and pour that over the cheese. Bake at 350 for an hour. If you use those pre-made pie crusts in the tins, it will be done in about 45 min as they are smaller. You also will need a little less of the ingredients. It's probably a basic recipe. But simple enough for my stomach to handle. Be careful about eating the crust. I didn't eat any from the bottom, but did sneak a piece from the crust part...so good but bad for us!!

BloomingFaith.... I think my biggest problem has been eating too fast, and the bites of food have been too big as well. Those first weeks were hard. For decades I ate what I wanted, when I wanted....and surgery does not cure an eating disorder. So I resisted foods I could have. Don't care for egg salad, cottage cheese, beans....so tried to find other foods I could tolerate. I stayed close to recommendations, maybe straying slightly. When I was cleared for soft foods, I quickly found disappointment. More of the same junk....so I bought soups and stews and pulsed them for a mili-second so they were not pureed. Quiche was my friend. I have always been a FAST eater and my self-discipline failed me. I learned the hard way, that pressure in the chest meant, "STOP EATING IMMEDIATELY". I thought it meant I was at a new stage and that was a normal feeling, so kept eating another small bite or two.... WRONG!! So a few trips to the bathroom and I finally learned. But I still kept screwing up.... For me, the eagerness to finally eat real food has been a challenge. Sooo happy to have something normal, continued me on the track to fast eating and throwing up. Always remember, when you feel a sensation, ie; pain in chest, salivating, burping..... stop eating immediately. If I start spitting, it's coming up. If you don't remember this, you will likely throw up. It's the mental piece that is hard. You can have the food.... you want the food.... you deserve the food.... but you may need to also remember you can have it later. Now, three months out, I am doing better (no throwing up today!) because I pull up the stop watch on my phone and eat a tiny bite every minute ...sometimes waiting two or three minutes. I may leave half of my meal in another room....go to the bathroom....let the cat out.... to kill time because the timer has to be over 20 minutes when I am finished eating. If I sit with the whole meal in front of me, I am tempting fate in a bad way. This whole experience is a huge drill in self-discipline. Thanks for understanding the Dorito episode. I just had to have them. And honestly, I feel for me it was the right decision. I was two weeks out, and did not want to binge. But that behavior satisfied me, right or wrong, and I got passed it and survived. Many have not agreed, but this is surely an individual journey. Good luck to you.... and ask all your questions. This is a good site with lots of caring people.