Mocha-NJ

Just had my drain taken out. That is not pleasant at all. They said i should be discharged from here by 11AM. Cant wait to get home and see my son!

I was sleeves 6/24. I went back to work 7/1. Still struggling with how to eat or what to eat. I'm getting better at getting fluids in. I've lost right at 30lbs. No pre op diet.

I'm in south jersey! 2.5 weeks out and 30 lbs down. Dr. Neff was my surgeon.

Personally I find everything on here either informative or at least entertaining. People feel safe here to voice their innermost thoughts and that is amazing. We admit our flaws, our flub ups, our fears, our exact weights with each other. How many of your friends know how much you weigh? Instead of being annoyed, be a voice of gentle encouragement. Sometimes venting and getting related feedback from the others here may be more helpful than you know. Right now this site is invaluable to me. Other than my husband I don't have much support. This is the place where we all learn the reality of having a sleeve. This stuff isn't in books. I say that's great!

As repetitive and annoying as it may be to read the same question over and over again I must admit that it was that dreaded 3 week stall that made me seek out more information and brought me onto this site. While my Dr did tell me that stalls were inevitable I did not expect it to happen so soon and all the while my calorie intake was 250-350 daily.
I subconsciously believed that my body was somehow broken to begin with as I have never responded well to changes in diet and increases in exercise. I was terrified that I would be the one and only person that would go through this surgery and STILL not lose weight and regain mobility. I can not tell you what a source of comfort it was for me at the time to see so many people posing the exact questions that were plaguing me. And even more comforting were the responses from the Veterans telling us newbies "hey, I have been there, it can last a few weeks, but trust me it will get better." ... and it has

Hi Ashlee:
You CAN do it. You have to commit. Get yourself in the best possible shape for your surgery. You will have a lot to deal with post-op, do you want to add NOT being prepared on top of it? Trust in what your surgeon has asked you to do and do it. This is not a punishment, it is an opportunity (http://www.verticals...an-opportunity/) This is one of my favorite things I've read here and one that is so very true.
Take control now. Don't accept "I can't" just because you haven't be able to before. You said it yourself that after surgery you can do it, do it now... do it for you.
Why would you even tempt this effecting surgery at this late stage. Come on Ashlee. I believe you can, YOU have to believe it too.

Let me just share with you what my surgeon just told me 30 minutes ago at my first post op appt. I have the same compliants as you... tired not able to choke down the Protein Shakes still having pain not getting enough Water. What he said was in his decades long career as a bariatric surgeon the patients who struggle the most initially end up being the greatest success stories. It gave me hope. I hope it does you too. Hang in there.

12 days post op, down 17 lbs. But in the last two days I've gained 1.5 lbs. Don't know how still not getting enough Water or protein....uuugggh

Here is my list:
1. Skinny Sex
2. More Skinny Sex
3. No more allergies for me
4. Stopped Snoring!
5. Can run away from my niece when she chases me..
It is possible I have sex on the brain today.

I wanted to start this topic for the longest. Something Fun and positive things that happened to me and you since being sleeve. I'll start with 5 things.
1. Can walk my kids to the park without being short of breath.
2. No more high blood pressure was 170/100 now 109/72. Yay
3. Skinny Sexin is the new normal. Lol
4. Off most medications. Had Migraines, knee problems, frequent bathrooms trips. No more.
5. From a size 24 or 3x to a size12/14.
Please share Positive inspirational stories
Thanks for your support on this Journey

Hi All!!! Today is day 14 post surgery and I am feeling great!! I went for my after surgery check-up yesterday, and everything is going just than planned. My doctor is such a nice, cool guy and I really appreciate him being honest and open about this journey. And thanks to my nutritionist's strict guideline (again, I thank my doctor for being real w/me) I am going to, from this day forward get my Protein Drinks in though I do not enjoy drinking them. Not to get off topic, but I am drinking a very tasty Protein Shake, it's CORE POWER strawberry banana, 20g. Protein, and I buy them at shoprite. Anyway, I decided today that, though my doctor told me my stomach is fine to take in foods, I will drink at least 1 protein shake in the morning and another throughout and keep up with my Vitamins. I think when I eat first I kinda screw up the room in my belly for the rest of the day, therefore it feels uncomfortable to consume the Protein Shakes. I went shopping for some shorts and am down 2 sizes and I went from a sz xxl to m-l in shirts, I even bought a size small lol, not sure if it will fit, but it looked like it!! Btw, first weigh in, 207, 200 day of surgery, and 185 yesterday. I feel great, hope you all do too!!!

GM all. I am currently headed to hospital. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. See you on the other side.

Good thoughts, all.
I don't go back to work until next week, but thinking back on other surgeries, I would suggest adding a couple of things.
Get up and move at least once an hour. I know you have lots of work to do and you're probably trying to catch up. Trust me, you're better off stretching your muscles and clearing your head for 5 minutes if you can. (this could probably be considered a corollary to your point #1, actually!)
Don't forget to bring a bottle of Water to your desk. And then, don't forget to DRINK IT.

Great info! I was sleeved June 24th. I lost 12 pounds but came to a standstill. I didn't gain but only lost ounces. After reading this post I clearly understand what's going on. I was getting my Protein in but Water intake was way off! Again Thanks!
Sent from Slimmer Everyday!

Your body won't let any fluids or fat go if it thinks its starving or dehydrated. I gained 4 pounds post surgery without having anything oral for 6 days due to this fact. Once you increase your intake you will begin losing because your body will be ok with it. Hang in there!

YES Mocha-NJ!! Omg, getting Protein in has been HELL. I just ate some refried Beans with hot sauce. I started a little early on purée but I seriously could NOT eat anymore Soup or yogurt. I was on a 2 week liquid diet before my surgery.

I am so serious when I say this: it is so so so nice to come on this forum & see all this support without the cattiness I see in other threads. It's awesome that we are all going through the same thing around the same time together. THIS is what a support site is all about. You all ROCK!!

Hello Everyone,
This is my first time posting but I'm so happy to have found this forum. Just knowing you are not alone in the struggle has been refreshing. My surgeons office submitted my paperwork on June 10th, so I'm smack dab in the middle of the waiting game. I'm tentatively scheduled for surgery on Tuesday the 25th. Needless to say my emotions are all over the place. I know in my heart that I have made the absolute best decision not only for me but for my family. Ive known for a very long time that I cannot be the best Mom and Wife possible until I start taking care of me. So this is it "My time". I look forward to sharing this journey with all of you. Anyone out there from SJ or Philly???

I'm returning to work tomorrow. Two weeks post op. Really not ready but duty calls. I don't
plan to work all day. I will listen
to my body and leave
when needed.

I still get hungry too Tamarlarae. There are certain things that I can still eat that I could eat a lot of, like popcorn, but I don't cause I really want this to work. I had a stall on weeks 4&5, but then lost more on week 6.It's kind of funny but the thing that I can't eat a lot of is Protein, 2.5 oz fills me right up, but there are things people here call "slider foods" that I could eat and not have a problem with on quantity. So far I'm resisting the temptation but I'm with you some days it's not easy. Hang in there, it will work even if you lose slowly.

I'm three years out. I eat bread bread whenever I want it - pretty much daily.
I still choose to avoid Pasta and rice. Not because they're 'bad' but because even at three years out my ability to eat these foods is questionable. I can sometimes eat 1/4 cup of Pasta and sometimes one bite will make me overfull and incredibly uncomfortable. I'd rather eat something I can count on eating, so I limit my rice or pasta to a bite or two once in a while. Same for flour tortillas.
This is not a diet. If you do not learn moderation and how to eat "normally" for the long run, you will struggle in maintenance. We cannot maintain 500 calories, 40 grams of carbs and 100 grams of Protein a day forever. You will burn out and your fall from the wagon could put you in a very bad place if you have a past habit of binges.
Around six to nine months is a great time to start incorporating a more balanced approach to eating, upping your carbs to whatever level they can reach without a detrimental effect on your loss. Women in particular tend to report that they feel better mentally and physically, and also feel less deprived with a healthy balance of carbs/protein/good fats. Avoiding that feeling of deprivation is key because that's what helps us fall into the old grazing/binge behavior. A half sandwich made on very thinly sliced homemade bread or a small bowl of oatmeal were early ways I added in more carbs.
This does not mean you should eat simple, processed carbs and sugars. You will find that they go down easily, are trigger foods for many people, and lead you right down the path into bad habits.
So start with healthy carb choices - good grains, fruits and veggies. Later on experiment and find the foods you can eat in moderation and identify those that are triggers that you will need to avoid in the future.
Good luck,
~Cheri

Ugh. That didn't go very well. Oh, I lasted 7 of the 8 hours, so I guess it wasn't too bad. So, what did I learn?
1. Don't lean over your laptop for hours. It will hurt
2. Remember to drink your Protein Shake SLOWLY
3. Just because the Soup from the cafeteria tastes delicious, don't eat more than you can "stomach"
4. Always bring liquid Tylenol and GasX strips
5. Be willing to cry uncle and go home and take a nap until the pain goes away

Damn... I gotta get my butt moving! LOL.... I'm not doing any purposeful walking. That said I run errands and take my kids to the park and stuff. I think I'll start walking on a schedule and start on right like you guys!