southernsoul

I haven't had a c-section, so I don't know about that comparison, but the pain from surgery wasn't that bad. I was uncomfortable for several days, but not in terrible pain. I didn't realize how much I use my ab muscles until it hurt to do so! :PGetting up from the sofa or the bed, bending down to pick something up....these caused a little "reminder" in my midsection, but it's not like it was excruciating. It probably won't be nearly as bad as what you might be imagining. Good luck!

Hottie McHotterson in da house!!

It sounds like you're not getting enough fluids. I wouldn't be as concerned about the number of pounds as I would about the risk of dehydration. When I was on my preop diet, I lost 17 lbs in a week (which shocked the hell out of me!), so yes it's possible. But 24 oz of Water a day is not enough. Try hot tea or gatorade or something like that. As others have already mentioned, if your urine is dark get yourself to the ER. Take care!

I'm a big fan of Chobani yogurt. I love the apple cinnamon, pear, coconut, and lime flavors. One thing I do is add in about a tbsp of Jello SF instant pudding mix, usually either the cheesecake or white chocolate flavor. It changes the texture to be more like mousse. Also, Trader Joe's has pumpkin greek yogurt right now & it's delish!

I nearly broke my ankle instead.. In fact, we're not sure whether I need to go and get it x-rayed. Its black and blue and quite a bit swollen where it shouldn't really be. Odd shaped. I am looking at it as I type.. All wrapped up in a bandage with my hue of blue toes pointing out at the bottom. It's a bit of a mess! Least I didn't feel much when I did it! I have had broken ankles three times & also broken bones in my foot twice. A couple of those times I thought I just had a sprain, but it turned out there were breaks/fractures. I didn't help matters by delaying the trip to get X-rays. Don't be me, honey...go get it checked out.

Woo hoo!!!!! Great job, both on becoming overweight & also for not breaking your ass on said crack!

I would get on the phone with the insurance company & make sure I understood exactly what the requirements are in order to be deemed "medically necessary". Is it being above a certain BMI? Are certain comorbidities seen as more serious than others? You need to understand what kind of coverage your company has chosen, because it's up to each employer to set the rules for what's covered, not the insurance companies. Also, you might want to check with your HR department, since the new calendar year will mean policy changes for a lot of people. And I agree with Beach Lover...your surgeon's office should be more helpful. Check your policy to see what other bariatric surgeons are covered & consider going to another one.

I was sleeved in June & my old summer stuff is still hanging in my closet. I packed up all my winter stuff & took it to the thrift store operated by our local battered women's shelter, since I figured the winter stuff is needed now. I will pack up the summer stuff soon to donate to the same place. The few clothes I am actually wearing right now take up only about 2 drawers & a foot or so of closet space.

One way that I have used pork rinds post op is as a substitute for bread crumbs in meatloaf or meatballs. I knew that the Protein in pork rinds was mostly collagen (& therefore not absorbed), but when you crush them up they make a great low carb filler or breading for recipes that call for bread crumbs.

Yes, that's absolutely normal! I gained about 7 lbs in the hospital from fluids, too. Immediately after surgery, your body is still recovering from the trauma. Don't worry about the number on the scale right now...just focus on getting your fluids & Protein in. Let your body have the time it needs to recuperate & just know the scale will start to move. Hang in there!

Partners in godless heathenness!

For me personally, feeling full has made a big difference as well as being able to eat full fat foods. I usually was always hungry when I was on a diet & that would wear me down eventually. Also, most lowfat or fat free foods have sugars added to replace the fat removed & that screws up your body with increased carbs. My postop eating plan is built around fresh whole foods that I cook myself. I don't eat a lot of processed foods, but I don't feel like I have to avoid fats like olive oil, nuts, or real butter. I feel full & satisfied when I eat & my progress is keeping me motivated. Yes, I have to make good choices every day, but it somehow seems easier to do with my sleeve to help me.

Welcome to Heathen Hall!

I bought Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients by Colleen Cook, and Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery by Patt Levine. I will confess I haven't made much out of the cookbook, but I like the way it's laid out & it has a lot of diverse recipes. I've also bought a few paleo cookbooks, since that approach fits in well with a high protein/low carb style of eating. One of my favorites is Well Fed by Melissa Joulwan.

Did somebody strip you of your first amendment rights? Report you to the government? Throw you in jail for expressing your opinion? Prevent or restrict you from voicing your opinion? Not in this forum, they didn't.

Personally, I always enjoy reading your posts, RJ. You have faced your many challenges with a great deal of grace & strength, and I admire you tremendously. IMHO, your experience us quite valuable to many of the members here, and I always appreciate you sharing it.

What a great gift to give yourself, and a great way to start the new year with a new you!! I wish you good luck & happy anesthesia dreams!

That damn pot-stirring GG...she just had to be so blastedly intriguing by putting both points of view in a single post!!

Before people start arriving, try to sit down & eat some of the turkey chili ahead of time. This may help you to better resist the temptations around you tonight. Keep Water in your hand to sip throughout the party, and be very careful not to overdo the alcohol. Since you're not even a month out yet, you don't have any way to know what foods might not sit well or make you sick. Good luck!

Haha....yep, that's it! I usually try to pick a protein-y appetizer & ask for a veg on the side.

This is great! My jawline/double chin issue has always driven me crazy in photos, so thanks for sharing this info! I'm off to practice my squinch!

I would agree with Merry. At 8 days out, your body is still out of whack from the surgery. You absolutely should not wait to eat until you feel "hungry", since your body may not know if it's coming or going right now. Don't worry about hitting calorie goals this soon, just focus on getting in your Water & Protein for the first couple of weeks.

What is it they say about great minds??? I almost referenced Frankl in my last post, as I also love Man's Search For Meaning. His story is incredibly moving, and his experience was the foundation of Existential Therapy, which he developed.

I'm 6 months postop & I was cleared for all foods around 8 weeks out. Since this process requires diet & behavior changes in order to be successful, I've been very slow & cautious about adding carby foods back into my diet. I still haven't tried rice, which I love (especially with gravy!). I love movie popcorn, too. I actually just tried some for the first time at the movies a couple of weeks ago. I ate maybe a half cup to a cup from my husband's bag. It went down just fine & it was delicious...and I immediately wanted more, which concerns me a little. I still worry about overdoing it, even though I know my days of eating a whole large bag by myself are over. I've had mashed potatoes, which I love even more than rice, only 3-4 times so far. Each time, I waited to taste them until after I had already eaten Protein & the vegetable on the plate. After eating the "good choice" stuff, I could only manage a very small amount of potatoes. One of the reasons I chose the sleeve was so that I wouldn't have to permanently give up any food, but I'm still working on feeling comfortable with balancing smart choices and yummy temptation.

I just read this great article about comparing ourselves to others & how damaging it can be. As we are so immersed in weight loss, it is unbelievably tempting (and almost impossible to avoid!) to compare our progress with that of others. I try really hard to stay mindful of making comparisons, but it's definitely a hard thing to do & I'm not always very successful. I need to stick this article up somewhere so I see it often! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniela-tempesta-lcsw/comparing-yourself_b_4441288.html?utm_hp_ref=gps-for-the-soul&ir=GPS%20for%20the%20Soul