Jamie Greatone Jamison

I haven't been sleeved yet, but I work with a woman who had a bypass surgery about 5 years ago and she has the sneezing thing. For her, it's not multiple sneezes, but moreso 1 to 2. That's how she knows to stop eating. It's crazy, but apparently it works.

I don't know your lifestyle, but I think P90X might be a bit advanced for someone only 4 months out from this surgery. That's a pretty intense workout regimen.

My surgeon said that walking would really be all it takes, but I don't agree with that. There are two key components to losing weight with exercise:
1) Fat-burning Cardio - you need to work out and keep your heart rate at 55% - 70% of your maximum heart rate for 30 minutes a day.
2) Weight Training - you need to be some weight regimen. You don't have to kill it and get super bulky, but muscle burns more calories than fat.
So if you are only doing Cardio - you are burning less calories than you would be if you were also adding some muscle. Another great thing to do is swimming or just walking in Water. The extra resistance will make you burn more calories than regular walking. Also, your body will burn calories by trying to keep your body temperature at 98.6 degrees.
If you can't go to a gym, get a Biggest Loser workout DVD. They have great exercizes you can do at home with little equipment. You might need to get a couple of 10lb weights, but that's about it. They combine cardio and weight training.
Just some thoughts.

My surgeon said that walking would really be all it takes, but I don't agree with that. There are two key components to losing weight with exercise:
1) Fat-burning Cardio - you need to work out and keep your heart rate at 55% - 70% of your maximum heart rate for 30 minutes a day.
2) Weight Training - you need to be some weight regimen. You don't have to kill it and get super bulky, but muscle burns more calories than fat.
So if you are only doing Cardio - you are burning less calories than you would be if you were also adding some muscle. Another great thing to do is swimming or just walking in Water. The extra resistance will make you burn more calories than regular walking. Also, your body will burn calories by trying to keep your body temperature at 98.6 degrees.
If you can't go to a gym, get a Biggest Loser workout DVD. They have great exercizes you can do at home with little equipment. You might need to get a couple of 10lb weights, but that's about it. They combine cardio and weight training.
Just some thoughts.

Hi Shannon. I too had the same fears as you. I have a 3 1/2 year old daughter and was fearful that I might die during surgery and then she would be without a father, and why, because I can't exercise and eat properly.
But then I started to think of the probability of outcomes. Was it possible that I could die in surgery yes? But the chances with laproscopic surgery are very, very, very small.
So if I didn't have the surgery what were the chances I would actually turn my habits around and learn Portion Control and lose weight. Again, in my opinion, very very small. The much more likely outcome if I did nothing, was that I would die of heart disease or some other obesity related illness much sooner than I wanted to.
So in weighing the risks and the rewards, it made complete sense to me to get this surgery. I'd much rather take the small percentage I could die during surgery than stick with the much larger percentage that I will die early because of my morbid obesity.
That didn't change my fear at all going into the operating room, but it certainly helped me to make my decision to go through with it. Now I"m 2 weeks post-op, down 34 lbs, and I feel awesome! One of the best decisions I have ever made.
Best wishes, Jamie

I don't know your lifestyle, but I think P90X might be a bit advanced for someone only 4 months out from this surgery. That's a pretty intense workout regimen.

Well the foods you need will depend on your surgeon's guidelines, but Protein powder is probably a must. Soup broth, sugar free Jello, and sugar free popsicles are probably going to be on there as well since they are pretty standard. Get a good blender and a good food processor if you don't have one. Depending on your surgeon's recommendations, you will move to pureed foods a couple to few weeks after surgery. Buy extra baby food! You and your little one might have the same dinner at night!
I would try to focus more on the mental side of it though. Think and plan how you are going to do liquids when other people are eating (i.e. going to a birthday party or family cook-out). Start to wean yourself of caffeine now if you drink soda or coffee regularly. Start exercising now. Try to practice not drinking while eating.
These are some things that will help in the long run.

Keep walking! It will get better. I'm 1 week, 4 days out and I feel great!
When I first rolled onto my side, holding tightly to a pillow seemed to help.
Good luck.

I went back to work after 1 week, but I felt fine by day 5. Felt like my old self, tons of engery, and just really really good. I even went and got a massage that day. Everybody heals differently. My surgeon's take was just do what you can do and if it hurts or feels bad, don't do it.

Well the foods you need will depend on your surgeon's guidelines, but Protein powder is probably a must. Soup broth, sugar free Jello, and sugar free popsicles are probably going to be on there as well since they are pretty standard. Get a good blender and a good food processor if you don't have one. Depending on your surgeon's recommendations, you will move to pureed foods a couple to few weeks after surgery. Buy extra baby food! You and your little one might have the same dinner at night!
I would try to focus more on the mental side of it though. Think and plan how you are going to do liquids when other people are eating (i.e. going to a birthday party or family cook-out). Start to wean yourself of caffeine now if you drink soda or coffee regularly. Start exercising now. Try to practice not drinking while eating.
These are some things that will help in the long run.

Well the foods you need will depend on your surgeon's guidelines, but Protein powder is probably a must. Soup broth, sugar free Jello, and sugar free popsicles are probably going to be on there as well since they are pretty standard. Get a good blender and a good food processor if you don't have one. Depending on your surgeon's recommendations, you will move to pureed foods a couple to few weeks after surgery. Buy extra baby food! You and your little one might have the same dinner at night!
I would try to focus more on the mental side of it though. Think and plan how you are going to do liquids when other people are eating (i.e. going to a birthday party or family cook-out). Start to wean yourself of caffeine now if you drink soda or coffee regularly. Start exercising now. Try to practice not drinking while eating.
These are some things that will help in the long run.

Well the foods you need will depend on your surgeon's guidelines, but Protein powder is probably a must. Soup broth, sugar free Jello, and sugar free popsicles are probably going to be on there as well since they are pretty standard. Get a good blender and a good food processor if you don't have one. Depending on your surgeon's recommendations, you will move to pureed foods a couple to few weeks after surgery. Buy extra baby food! You and your little one might have the same dinner at night!
I would try to focus more on the mental side of it though. Think and plan how you are going to do liquids when other people are eating (i.e. going to a birthday party or family cook-out). Start to wean yourself of caffeine now if you drink soda or coffee regularly. Start exercising now. Try to practice not drinking while eating.
These are some things that will help in the long run.

Just a different perspective, I asked my surgeon the same thing and he said that I didn't have any lifting restrictions like that. Basically, he said, if it hurts don't do it. I have a 3 1/2 year old daughter who is about 40 lbs and I pick her up and I'm only 2 weeks post-op. Doesn't bother me in the least.

My surgeon said that walking would really be all it takes, but I don't agree with that. There are two key components to losing weight with exercise:
1) Fat-burning Cardio - you need to work out and keep your heart rate at 55% - 70% of your maximum heart rate for 30 minutes a day.
2) Weight Training - you need to be some weight regimen. You don't have to kill it and get super bulky, but muscle burns more calories than fat.
So if you are only doing Cardio - you are burning less calories than you would be if you were also adding some muscle. Another great thing to do is swimming or just walking in Water. The extra resistance will make you burn more calories than regular walking. Also, your body will burn calories by trying to keep your body temperature at 98.6 degrees.
If you can't go to a gym, get a Biggest Loser workout DVD. They have great exercizes you can do at home with little equipment. You might need to get a couple of 10lb weights, but that's about it. They combine cardio and weight training.
Just some thoughts.

I don't know your lifestyle, but I think P90X might be a bit advanced for someone only 4 months out from this surgery. That's a pretty intense workout regimen.

My surgeon said that walking would really be all it takes, but I don't agree with that. There are two key components to losing weight with exercise:
1) Fat-burning Cardio - you need to work out and keep your heart rate at 55% - 70% of your maximum heart rate for 30 minutes a day.
2) Weight Training - you need to be some weight regimen. You don't have to kill it and get super bulky, but muscle burns more calories than fat.
So if you are only doing Cardio - you are burning less calories than you would be if you were also adding some muscle. Another great thing to do is swimming or just walking in Water. The extra resistance will make you burn more calories than regular walking. Also, your body will burn calories by trying to keep your body temperature at 98.6 degrees.
If you can't go to a gym, get a Biggest Loser workout DVD. They have great exercizes you can do at home with little equipment. You might need to get a couple of 10lb weights, but that's about it. They combine cardio and weight training.
Just some thoughts.

I went back to work after 1 week, but I felt fine by day 5. Felt like my old self, tons of engery, and just really really good. I even went and got a massage that day. Everybody heals differently. My surgeon's take was just do what you can do and if it hurts or feels bad, don't do it.

I don't know that a 2 year history is required with Aetna. I have sleep apnea. They told my surgeon's office that I would have to complete a 6 month doctor supervised weight loss program before getting approved. A few weeks later, my surgeon's office called me to tell me that Aetna had approved me and that I could get the surgery now. My BMI was over 50 though, so that could have played into it. I think it honestly depends on who you talk to at Aetna because obviously, in my case, 2 different people gave 2 different answers when my surgeon's office called for approval.

I am five days post-op and so ready to move on from liquids only. I am watching my girlfriend and my daughter eat regular food and its very hard. I know its just head hunger, but I still want to eat even normal healthy food like grilled chicken and vegetables. I CANNOT wait until I get to pureed/soft foods. Just to have different textures and tastes. So tired of broth and sweet Protein shakes.....

I have sleep apnea and I never use my CPAP. I just don't like it. I know that's probably bad, but I haven't used it in over 2 years. They told me to bring it to the hospital and I didn't. When I arrived they asked me if I had it, and I said know, I don't like using it. That was the only thing stated to me about it.