AB2B

Congrats! I am just getting started and can't wait to say the same!
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Hang in there, @@afriendnwv !
Right after surgery it's a weird balance to try and get fluids and Protein in. Sometimes you feel hungry, sometimes you're nauseas. Sometimes you're fatigued. Then once you are on a roll getting all those Protein shakes in, you start to hate them, lol! Then, you are allowed purees. Around weeks 3 and 4, you start figuring out how to get the Protein in without feeling ill. And it becomes habit and so much easier.
Good luck to you!

Thank you for your help.. Here's to a new me!
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It takes a little time to work up to the required amount. I was getting close after a week, but that's with almost everything I drank being a Protein shake, so I could try to get my Water in, too. Each week will get better. Just do your best, and I would say any time you drink, make it a Protein Drink.
The lack of desire to eat and the emotions are also totally normal. It'll be a little bit of a mental/emotional ride for a few weeks as you adjust to the new situation. Just be thoughtful about it and try to see all of it for what it is. You are starting the process of re-conditioning your mind and throwing out a LOT of bad habits, old foods, etc... This is where the rubber meets the road.

Wishing you the best! Thank you for the information and updates!
I am with @Suaniya I am just starting this process and can't wait to be where you are now.
Best of luck. You got this!

Thank you for starting the thread @@VSGAnn2014 . I have not reached maintenance yet. I am almost at 6 months post op, and my weight loss has slowed to a snails pace. Reading this helped me realize that its not a race. This is my life. I was up a pound this morning, and I almost let it ruin my day. Again...thank you!

Months ago I started this thread and am so gratified that it's attracted such thoughtful, detailed, awesome responses.
I invite others who are maintaining their weight losses to continue to post here. The common (and different) behaviors people are using to maintain their weight long-term are wonderfully instructive.
Thanks in advance to all who post here.

Since WLS surgery? Nothing. Not even the (relatively mild) gall bladder attack or GB surgery / recovery 4 weeks post-WLS.
But pre-op -- it was WAITING FOR THE DAMN SURGERY TO FINALLY FREAKIN' HAPPEN!
My surgeon was so backed up with huge demand. So jumping through all the pre-op hoops took a long time. It made me so crazy that I finally put myself on a diet and lost 11 pounds prior to the liver-shrinking diet.
Pre-op, I also practiced all the post-op eating behaviors -- eating slower, chewing lots more, not drinking with meals, drinking 64 ounces of Water daily, walking more (bought a Fitbit and got up and moved), took Vitamins, started tracking all my food on My Fitness Pal, etc.
I was like a kid who wore a Batman cape everywhere because he thinks he's Batman.
So when I hear about pre-op patients who are having a month of last suppers and whining about the liver-shrinking diet and worrying about losing their hair somewhere down the road and drama-llamaing about potential loose skin and not being able to close down the bars every weekend and other s**t like that, I just shake my head.
Don't they know how wonderful this surgery is going to be for them and that it will be worth any inconveniences and lifestyle changes required of them?
Again -- shaking my head.
(I may have had too much coffee this morning.)

Wow!!! What an eye opener. Thank you for sharing this information.
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You will do great!

You will do great!

HW 258
SW 251
CW 224
Very excited about this ! I did go through struggles but it's worth it everyone stay positive there's a reason you chose to do this
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Oh my!!
I have gone online and researched the calories that are in foods that I USED to eat quite often. I must have been in quite a state of denial. I can't believe the calories in these foods! Plus the carbs and sugar. I know that as post WLS we don't focus on calories as much as +protein
and -carbs/sugar, however I can see from this quick research that what I was consuming regularly pushed me WAY over what I needed in calories and carbs.
I now track just about everything I eat. Someday I will relax and not track so much but it is helping me a lot right now. Here is a list of stuff I used to eat pre-surgery and when I was in complete denial.
Starbucks Iced Lemon Pound Cake: 470 calories, 68 carbs (yikes).
Starbucks chicken Artichoke on Ancient Grain Flatbreat (sounds healthy, right?) 510 calories, 37 carbs.
McDonald's Big Mac: 563 calories, 44 carbs. (Hello, I'm Kel. I'm a recovering Big Mac Addict.)
Jack-in-the-Box Portobello Mushroom Buttery Jack: 810 calories, 51 carbs. (!!!)
Jack-in-the-Box Breakfast Platter: 640calories, 47 carbs.
Jimmy Johns Club tuna Sandwich: 1000 calories, 73 carbs.
Snyders' of Hanover Honey Mustard Pretzel Pieces, 3 oz bag: 420 calories, 60 carbs.
Einstein's Everything Bagel with Regular Cream Cheese: 430 calories, 60 carbs.
Loaded Baked Potato w/sour cream, cheese and bacon bits: 535 calories, 62 carbs.
And to think on any given day pre-surgery life I might have had 2 or 3 of these items. Sleeve life is truly a learning journey!

You will do great!

Keeping me another night due to the extreme nausea. Dry heaves are not fun. Surgeon said approximately half of all sleeve patients get this and they are not sure why. Have to do the liquid protocol again tomorrow before I can get released. Their liquid protocol includes drinking 30 cc med cup of Water every half hour and then move on to 60 cc every half hour until you can get 60 med cups in. Interesting but they are worried about dehydration first and foremost. Won't even going home until that is done.
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Starting to be able to sip Water now. Hardly any pain but super nauseous. Sounds like that's normal. Surgery was a breeze and was up walking as soon as I was in my room. Good luck to everyone else too! Hope your procedures go as smoothly as mine.
Just FYI, my surgeon sucks out as much of the gas before they close you up to help. Didn't know they did that but thinks it has helped a lot.
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Hi, everone,
I'm headed to surgery at 10 a.m. today. Not very nervous. Excited. See you all on the flip side.

Good luck, don't be nervous, you'll be fine. Can't wait until I'm where you are, just starting the process now????
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Good luck! My surgery is tomorrow!
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woohooo...good luck!
how exciting.....
I'm tomorrow as well
can't wait to be a loser
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Checked into the hospital, waiting my turn. Crazy nervous but know this is the best decision for my future health and wellbeing. See you guys on the flip side.
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You will do great!

@, great recipes! I wish I had know about them when I was on full liquids! Anything that tastes like cheesecake is a win for me.
@@TanishaP,
Beyond my Protein shakes, I ate Oikos triple Zero yogurt, and strained Soups. My favorite was (and still is) Tomato Basic Bisque (strained). I wasn't very creative in that stage.

Healthwise Hot chocolate made with Fairlife Skim Milk=120 cals, 22 g Protein
Black Bean "Soup"-puree one can of black Beans (drained), 1/2 c. salsa, 2 c. chicken broth-makes four servings-one serving =120 cals, 10.5 g Protein (you can add unflavored Protein powder to kick it up to 34 g. protein).
"Cheesecake" yogurt-1 c. plain nonfat greek yogurt, 1 tbs S/F Cheesecake pudding mix, 1/2 c. unsweetened almond milk-91 cals, 11.6 g. protein
I'm also on full liquids and these have helped me to get through the last few days.

I'm hoping for Dec! I'm awaiting approval from insurance now. Paperwork turned in today! Eeek!!