nmck

A suggestion from a friend of mine was to give myself a visual reminder of where I was....and where I was going through the use of motivation jars. Get 2 glass vases (I chose a short, squat one to start because that's how I see myself NOW.....a taller, thin one for the end because that's where I hope to be), find some pretty glass rocks, beads, etc. to place in the first vase to represent the pounds that you want to lose. As you lose, you move 1 bead per pound from the first to the 2nd jar. You will be able to visually check yourself and make sure the 2nd jar is getting more full while the first one is emptying. It's a triumphant moment when you move that bead from one jar to the next. When your 1st jar is empty you have reached your goal....and perhaps it's time to add some more beads and set a new goal! I'm a visual person so this is very motivating for me.....my kids have even joined the fun and ask every morning, can I move your bead today? LOL Hope the picture attaches!

Great article about discovering what you're really hungry for instead of just denying certain foods:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/is-psychology-making-us-sick/201308/want-lose-weight-find-out-what-you-are-really-hungry
Lynda

I just had my first followup with my doctor and he was very surprized. He was very pleased with my weight loss. I have lost 18 pounds since the 24th of July but 31 pounds since I started my prep. He told me that I would most definitely meed my weight loss goal with no problem at all.
I am still on liquids till next Wednesday and then I can try some pureed foods. I am really looking forward to some cottage cheese and some sweet potatoe. I really miss that. I have been looking on the web to find some yummy recipies and I am looking forward to getting off liquids.
I am so glad that I made this decision. My wife is also.

Down 25 pounds. Band to sleeve June 28th. Slow and steady wins the race. Just ask the turtle.....

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I agree! Regardless of what the scale says, what a great piece of evidence that your stomach is looking smalller.

I'm so confused by too many July 2013 threads!!

It's been a few weeks since I've been on here. Just wondering how the rest of the July 22nd sleevers are doing? For me personally, I can't complain. I was completely up and at it less than a week after surgery, recovery went amazingly well. I've had little problem getting in fluids and pureed foods. The first few days home was difficult, but now I'm getting at least 48 oz of fluids in with no problem at all and pureed I'm doing pretty well with. Certain things I've tried like Cream of Crab Soup and bananas did not sit well but most things have been fine. I'm down over 30 lbs already which is amazing to me! I'm still not at my Protein goal (80 grams a day) but I'm getting there. I'm averaging probably a bit more than half of that. I wanted to recommend Healthwise products. They have been a life saver as I don't like thick shakes.. These are fruit flavored beverage mixes and taste great! So much better than that nasty Isopure stuff and half the price. I also tried their hot chocolate variety pack and all the flavors are awesome, especially the Amaretto chocolate. You can make great smoothies out of these. They also make a Tomato bouillon soup that tastes more like clam chowder broth. It's really yummy. I also just wanted to throw a little bit of advice.. I'd stay away from "Slider foods" such as easily digestible foods like crackers.. These are way too easy to eat.. They are empty calories, full of carbs and WILL stall your weight loss. I was nibbling on these for about 2 or 3 days because they broke up the monotony, tasted great and digested far too easily.. Well, my weight loss came to a completely hault so I stopped and the weight loss resumed about a day after. So just beware! Now I know why my surgeon was adamant about me staying away from these things. Live and learn. Hope everyone is doing well!! And sorry to the people have a difficult time. I'm sure it will get better.

I agree! Regardless of what the scale says, what a great piece of evidence that your stomach is looking smalller.

Sleeved on the 23rd. No complications... no nausea or vomiting, no Constipation or diarrhea, very little pain (I would call it discomfort instead of pain and stopped my pain med on day 3), the gas wasn't even that bad (though at the first hint of discomfort, I was either having a gasx strip or chewing a mylanta gas tablet). I had mine done in an ambulatory center instead of a hospital and was there less than 24 hours before discharge. I still have until Tuesday on full liquids, and I'm so over it. Bought some different Soups today to increase my variety of flavor profiles. I'm finding that the Soup mixed with the powdered milk fills me up more than Protein Shake or kefir, I'm assuming because it makes it pretty thick, not quite a paste, still a reasonable liquid. Like others, I have had it with the oversweet Protein shakes/meal replacements, though I rely on the Premier Nutrition chocolate in the morning to provide a good foundation for daily protein. I'm adding nonfat dry milk to my soups to increase to a reasonable amount of protein and drinking kefir also (I've found one that has 16g/serving). I'm getting in about 800 cal and 70g protein/day over the last 3 days. I'm not measuring my Water, but since I'm still on liquids, I'm really not too worried about it at this point since if I'm not "eating", I'm either drinking or having popsicles. I'm only 2 pounds down from my surgery morning weight, but the gain from the iv fluids while in the clinic was significant and took an entire week to get off. Downhill from here.

I just got home from the hospital today. Was sleeved July 30. I thought it was a piece of cake. Other than some wicked gas pains in my chest post surgery, I was out of bed walking right after recover...briefly, but walking. There is pain, but with meds it's manageable, and I suspect once I get a full night of uninterrupted sleep, i will feel like a new woman tomorrow!

Wow....no my doctor strongly warned me to stay away from anything that has a lot of sugar....forever. The first ingredients you should be looking for in the Protein shakes are whey protein isolate (not the whey concentrate) It's probably all the sugar content that is making you feel bad. You should not be consuming anything that is making you sick, I bought my Protein shake mix from my doc's office and it's called Bariatric Advantage. It's a little pricey but it is good. They have a website that you can order from. I would definitely stop drinking the Boost...sorry I can only imagine how you must feel. Get better.

Hello I was sleeved on July 17th. Clocked in at 370lbs on surgery day (30lbs lost pre-op) Went for my annual "lady" check up today and was at 349lbs. It's a bit much for me so I am trying to make sure I eat 3 meals a day and drink as much water/crystal light as possible (sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don't). Feeling pretty good though. Definitely not getting my Fluid intake but I am already on soft foods and tolerating them very well. Toddler silverware and small plates have really helped me. I've also gotten used to chewing my food 50 million times before swallowing. My chief complaint is gas....but that has been since day one. I still taking the Cerafate but I'm almost out. Nurse told me I can take Gas X once I am out of the Cerafate. Not having any trouble with heartburn or reflux thank goodness. Had a nausea spell this morning but I think brushing my tongue triggered it. I was fine for the rest of the day. Making sure I am taking my Vitamins

I was on Proteins right away. My NUT said the Protein is essential to wound healing, which I knew from my parents' various joint replacement surgeries and my previous c-sections. My OB was insistent on a high Protein diet for healing my long c-section incision. I wonder how people on Clear Liquids for a few weeks fare in recovery compared to those who have to have Protein Shakes?
And BTW, I did Atkins for a few years and detest their shakes!! The Slim Fast high protein shakes are the same flavor as the Atkins. I'm just making carnation w/ skim milk and adding 1/2 scoop of unjury unflavored Protein Powder per shake.

Three months out is still so new. I'm 5 1/2 and still so new at this. In the early stages it is normal to mourn the loss of your "friend" food. But it does get better. It does get easier. Soon life as a sleever and eating becomes the new normal. Small bites chewed well will become your normal way of eating.
Maybe talking to a specialist who work with bariatric patients or something similar would help. Or a support group. Something so you don't feel alone in this journey.
But try to keep your head up. You are doing awesome!!

I'm so sorry you feel this way. I like the advice heatwhip gave you. On my bad days (haven't lost enough, feel sick, can't really keep anything down) I just tell myself hey I did this to myself and it is what it is. I know that's not too loving or "feel good" but it is my reality check.
Maybe you'll need a bit more time before you start to feel better about things. Do you have a Sleeve friend or even better a counselor you can talk to? Maybe someone years out or with experience in WLS issues that can be of help.
One thing I did as a pre-op (I'm a bit of a planner) is to look up the menus of all the places I like to go out to eat and find out the calorie/protein/fat content of the foods. I'd then pick a few I could have post-op if I ever went back there.
Once post-op (and finally able to keep some foods down) I tried a few (not many) at home and figured out what would work and what wouldn't for me. That way, I know what I can have that won't make me sick. I know it seems a bit tedius but I needed that because eating out (and making right choices) is part of my social life.
While I don't go out much, that has helped me feel a bit more normal.
Hang in there and I hope you feel better about things soon.

I take a children's chewable Vitamin twice a day, along with Calcium +D (at a separate time b/c calcium and Iron shouldn't be taken together) , B12, and Biotin to help prevent losing hair.< /p>
Why is it stupid to take a flinstone's chewable? They're very complete!

I am surprised by the amount of vitamins! I am only required to take a multi once a day and a Vitamin D. I am now home and doing well! Amazed at how well I am doing.

Mypost-op diet is really specific...1 week of liquids, then 4 weeks of purees where I can add certain things each week...tomorrow starts week 3 for me and I can add eggs, refried Beans, mashed beans, and hummus. Next week I can add canned meat mixedwith light mayo. I'm not straying 1bit from my program's plan out of fear that I will mess this up!!

I just completed my first week of work travel after surgery. All I can say is be prepared! It was a rough week, but I think I did well. Ate in concierge lounge and off appetizer menu. All those favorites i had cannot be eaten any longer . shakes otherwise. Wait staff asking if i didnt enjoy the food and did i need to speak to the manager or should they box it up. What suffered was my mid day Vitamins. They didn't happen.
No problem traveling with my RTD shakes. Good luck!

When I travel for work, I was like a locust eating and drinking my way across the country I was in! I loved to eat the different food and drink local wines, which led to the rise in my weight over the last 2 years.
I haven't traveled post surgery abroad until now. Leave tomorrow for Madrid and am excited but a little nervous. I won't be working out while over there most likely (work long hours and go to dinner with colleagues right after and usually arrive in the hotel at 11pm) and eating out daily. I am dreading the break in my routine.
I am planning to bring Protein Bars and Cereal to replace Breakfast and maybe lunch but this will be my first really big hurdle!

Hang in there, you didn't fail. Sounds like it could be a stall. Just keep working on meeting your requirements, and the loss will come. There is lots of advice on this forum regarding stalls, and you're right in the window where one of the big ones usually hits. Whatever you do, don't get discouraged and start making bad choices, this is only temporary. Your body just needs a break to reset itself for continued loss.

I just caught up onall posts and am so sorry to hear several of you are having such troubles with pain and pain meds. I hope it is resolving by now.
CFBarre, I am so sorry to hear about your ordeal! I hope you are home and on the road to recovery now.
I'm surprised to hear about the differences in post-op diets...I have a very specific one to follow. The first week was all liquid, then 4 weeks of purees. No crackers or anything like that. I've been doing fine with fluids and Protein. Luckily Water still tastes good to me. I've been having 3 carnation shakes a day with added Protein Powder and half a bottle of Isopure to hitmy 75 g. of protein.
I felt like crap earlier this week....dizzy and exhausted. My primary doc took me off my blood pressure meds already!! Woo, woo!

I am two days post opp. My surgery was July 31st and I don't feel like im really eating that much but im dreaming about food!!! Has this happened with anyone else? It's extremely weird to me to see myself eating all these random foods in my dreams but knowing I can't actually eat them! It's kinda funny, but very frustrating at the same time.