Kindle

I'm 11 months out and still don't own a scale. I just weighed at the doctors office. You will be a lot less stressed not worrying about the numbers on the scale. Just follow your plan, concentrate on healing and establishing new habits and measuring your success with NSVs and clothing size.

There is a limit to how much protein your body can absorb at a time, so be careful that you aren't taking it in to fast or it will be wasted and simply converted to glucose. Best case scenario is whey isolate which is absorbed at 10g/hour. Every other protein source is absorbed even slower. Once I found this out i split up my 30-40g protein drink to 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 in the afternoon.

I couldn't drink plain Water or artificial sweeteners for 4 months...they hurt my sleeve. I was still able to get in all my fluids by drinking decaf herbal teas (both hot and iced), milk, diluted 100% fruit juice, diluted regular sports drinks, pedialyte and Soup broths. I had to dilute the sugary drinks because everything tasted way too sweet to me, and I still lost weight despite not doing the sugar free thing. I used unflavored Protein powder and found Protein shakes sweetened with stevia to make sure I got in all my protein. BTW, I can drink plain water just fine now, but I still don't like the taste of artificial sweeteners. I can tolerate it in my Protein Drinks, but prefer regular Vitamin water/lifewater drinks to the low cal/zero ones.

I was self pay at Obesity Control Center in TJ. I was required to lose 5% of my body weight on my 2 week preop diet. I was so nervous I wouldn't lose enough that I started 2 days early. 3 Protein shakes/day plus unlimited leafy green veggies. I ended up losing 22 pounds instead of the required 12 pounds. In the 3 months between scheduling and having surgery the only thing I did different was wean off caffeine. Other than that, just ate and drank like normal. No binges or food funerals and no "practicing" being sleeved. The chewing, sipping, protein and Water all came postop.

@@Gingerisgreat Oh, thats a good one. I used to take a spoonful of peanut butter and dip it in nestle toll house milk chocolate chips. Lick, swallow, repeat. My mom never let candy in the house when I was a kid, so this is how I got my sweets and a habit that followed me well into adulthood. After surgery I did PB2 until I hit goal. Now I eat a couple teaspoons of Skippy Natural Super Chunk peanut butter pretty much every day. (Minus the chocolate chips, though) ????

Why non-caloric beverages? I count my protein smoothie which is several hundred calories and 24-32oz of my total fluid everyday. And for the first 4 months I couldn't tolerate plain water or artificial sweeteners, so I drank milk, diluted fruit juice, regular sports drinks and pedialyte. The only thing I drank that didn't have calories was decaf herbal tea. Pretty sure I didn't go 4 months without drinking.

I was told no seeds or nuts for 3 months. this included popcorn because of the kernel part. And it was because of the healing staple line/potential leak thing, not because of the calorie/intolerance thing. I've had popcorn many times after 3 months. Smart food cheese popcorn is my fav.

I never limited my fats. Not only do I use the whole egg, I also sometimes add avocado.. Mmmmm. And FYI, if you are interested in reducing fat, Kraft olive oil mayo has half the fat as regular mayo. (I just bought mayo yesterday and noticed this on the label at the grocery store).

Like Cody's mom, I was shopping in TJ the first 2 days. Flew back and drove 5 hours in a snowstorm, plowed my driveway, went grocery shopping and got my hair cut days 3 and 4. Finally relaxed a little days 5 and 6 and back to work on the 7th day. But like Navymom, my time off was over a weekend and Christmas, to minimize the financial hit. I'm a vet tech/partner in a small veterinary practice, so if I don't work, business is closed=no income. No such thing as paid sick days/vacation. I only worked about 30 hours the first week (again, broken up by a weekend and New Years) but back to 40-60 hours after that. I was tired, but really had no problems doing my job.

I have not said goodbye to anything. Once you are at goal, I don't see any reason why you can't have any of your favorites in moderation. I've had all three on your list as well as some of my favs.....tiramisu, cheesecake, gyros, sweet potato fries, crown and water, blueberry muffins.... But nothing "bad" more than a 3-4 times/month.

If it's liquid, I count it towards my 64oz of "water". And at least 12 oz of that is my Sleepytime tea I have every night at bedtime (instead of snacking in bed). Rooibos tea is another one of my favorites, as is the newly discovered Bengal Spice with milk...a great decaf version of chai. I also count the 16oz of decaf coffee I have every morning. I only drink decaf teas and coffee so I don't get the diuretic effect. But really, you can't go wrong getting more than 64 oz no matter how you do it.

I just posted my 1 year before and after pictures here.... http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/326209-what-a-wonderful-year-its-been/

I snack on jerky, mixed nuts, protein bars, edamame, raw veggies, apples and peanut butter (or PB2), plain Greek yogurt flavored with protein powder, popsicles I make by freezing protein drinks, summer sausage, frozen pineapple chunks, cottage cheese, seasoned pumpkin seeds, roasted soybeans, and popcorn.

I'm in Idaho and have Blueshield (BC and BS are separate here). I was not able to find any carrier that offered any kind of individual policy (rider or major medical) that covered WLS. I think if you live in a state that has opted out of WLS, a group policy is the only way you will get coverage. I Ended up going self pay at Obesity Control Center in TJ last December. Best money I ever spent. Good luck....hope you figure things out.

I eat a healthy, balanced diet of Protein, Fiber, veggies, fruit and whole grains. I limit white carbs (rice, Pasta, bread, alcohol, sugar) and might have them 3-4 times/month. I keep a rough tally of protein and Water in my head so I know I'm getting at least 80g/64oz. Other than that I don't measure or track my food, so no idea what my calories or carbs are. Basically everything in moderation and probably 90% healthy 10% crap. 11 months out, 100 pounds down, 12 pounds under goal. And no, I don't consider this dieting at all.

I think you should be fine with no help. I was essentially "on vacation" in TJ with my sister for the first 2 days, flew home the 3rd day and was on my own after that. Drove home from the airport 5 hours in a snowstorm, plowed the driveway with my ATV, went grocery shopping, got my hair cut, took care of 3 dogs, 2 cats and 2 horses and back to work in 7 days.

138 today. I weighed one day early this week because I started my preop diet 1 year ago today. I couldn't be more thrilled with where I am today....mentally, emotionally and physically. I posted my story and pictures here..... http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/326209-what-a-wonderful-year-its-been/

HW 248 SW 216 CW 138 TPL 100 TPG 88 I started my preop diet 1 year ago today. I couldn't be more thrilled with where I am today....mentally, emotionally and physically. I posted my story and pictures here..... http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/326209-what-a-wonderful-year-its-been/

I actually just finished my 8th and final thanksgiving dinner. I brought home all of the dark meet from the turkey, a 2 cup container of green bean casserole, and a 2 cup container of potatoes, stuffing and gravy. I vacuum sealed and froze 3/4 of the turkey, and have had thanksgiving dinner every day for the last week. The good news is those leftovers would have been barely 2 meals preop and the other good news is the last 7 meals were just as delicious as the original. And I have more turkey to look forward to!

Personally, coffee (even decaf) hurt my sleeve when I first tried it a month out. I stuck with decaf herbal tea until 4 months. Now I drink a 16oz mug of decaf every morning. I will have regular every once in awhile, but I really don't miss the caffeine. Coffee is very acidic, so I would jump into it until you are healed. Maybe check with the nut at OCC (you should have her email in your papers) for their official recommendations.

****and THANK YOU to BP and all of the supportive members that helped make my journey easier by sharing your stories and advice****

It took me 11 days to lose all that I gained the day of surgery. Don't worry about it. I would suggest not even weighing yourself for the first month. There will be many more stalls and even gains along the way...it's all normal.

I was getting 50-60g by the 5th day. Consistent 60+g by 2 months and probably 80-100g by 6 months. 30-40g from a protein smoothie and the rest from food.

I had mine in Mexico, too, but my surgeon's office is always available via phone and email. Do you have any contact info for yours? But basically, there are many different thoughts on the whole post sleeve NSAID debate. Some say no NSAIDS ever and I've read posts from some on here that take ibuprofen daily. And then there's everything in between. We just have to be careful because of the gastric irritation and ulcers that NSAIDS can cause. I was assured that occasional use was not a problem. And in fact, I was actually sent home with 5 days of a sublingual NSAID. My surgeon feels that the benefit of reducing surgical inflammation immediately postop outweighs the risk of ulcers. And like I said, he advised taking a PPI like omeprazole if I had to take NSAIDS for an extended period of time. I actually just had this conversation with him (via email) two weeks ago because my PCP wanted me to take 10-14 days of an NSAID or steroid (which can also cause gastric irritation) for a compressed nerve in my neck. I ended up taking the steroid and Prilosec.

Ask your bariatric surgeon. My surgeon said NSAIDS are fine on occasion and to take a PPI if I had to be on them long term.