Miss Mac

My experience is that my 600-800 calorie diet does not support anything intense. I can walk slowly for fifteen minutes or so on grass, but in combiniation with orthopedic issues and a back brace, that is probably pretty good. When I try to get thirty minutes of strength training in, I am wiped out and useless for three days. I am hoping this will get better when I get another forty pounds off and I can go into maintenance. Even at that, I am here because I could not lose weight on 1,000 calories. Sorry if this doesn't help, but at least it validates what you are experiencing yourself.

I just saw a mouthwatering commercial for Denny's Red, White, and Blue pancakes. So, since I don't eat at restaurants hardly any at all, I thought I would look up their alleged nutrition. An 11 ounce serving has 490 calories of which 80 are fat calories, 1280 grams of sodium, 94 carbs, and 36 grams of sugar. In my pre-sleeve life I would have so gone for that without even considering the nutritional values. I am so glad for my new post-op plan. I am not sluggish from sugar or ready to fall asleep at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. I do not mind at all to eat at home where the ingredients of any meal can be controlled. That's not a burden - it is a release from the influence of advertising.

I couldn't find the source for the quote "Confession is good for the soul" so I 'll go with this one: Confession of errors is like a broom which sweeps away the dirt and leaves the surface brighter and clearer. I feel stronger for confession. Mahatma Gandhi I am so glad you came back to visit us. There is strength in numbers. Welcome back.

Just a little side comment to Daliamay.......did the doctor glue you together?????/

Oh, I just thought of one myself. Tell her that your other option was a tapeworm.

I do not remember seeing one here, so I am going to start a thread on what we can come back with a sting when someone makes a derogatory comment about our weight loss or accuses us of taking the easy way out. We can keep it tame, like Say, "If you're not on board with my weight loss plans, let's change the subject." Or we can go after them hard with something like "Well then, you should never get on an elevator or drive your car ever again! Oh, I just found a three page thread on this topic from 2012. Here is the link. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/202970-need-comebacks-for-easy-way-out-crack/ What else can we add to it?

I eat an egg every day for breakfast, sometimes with bacon, sometimes with steak, less often with ham or sausage. Or I will eat a 1/3 cup of omelet with a dribble of cheese, and onion, pepper, mushrooms, avocado, and a bite of fresh tomato. It may have a few calories, but I eat it in the morning and have the rest of the day to adjust my food choices. Haven't tried oatmeal since I have a strong issue of stalling when my carbs go over 20 per day.

I am in to my eighth month post-op and still at 600-800 calories per day, and 80 grams of Protein. It is so hard to squeeze 80 grams of protein in without drinking at least a couple of shakes, which I am not supposed to do. I have had many stalls where I would bounce around the same number for at least three weeks. I have tried all of the tricks, and I am here to tell you that what worked last time may not work the next time. Your fat is going to go out kicking and screaming. Your body will try to outsmart you in spite of your best efforts. Go to the thread on stalls and see if you can find any help there. I can gain three pounds overnight and then it takes three weeks to get rid of it. Stalls will test your patience. I have even tried 600 calories for three days and gained two pounds! Go figure. You have engaged in a battle for your life and you are going to have to stay committed. The best advice I can give for any post-op issue to get those fluids in. Being dehydrated will derail your best efforts, too. When you log on to this website, go to Forums - Gastric Sleeve Forums - and scroll way down to DON"T SWEAT THE STALL STUFF" You may find some good suggestions there. Good luck, sleeve sister.

It's been a long time since I had my babies, but from what I know about our post -op diet is that baby will appreciate the Protein and clean eating. Hopefully some other post-op mommies can help you out. Congratulations!

I am not a stomach sleeper, but when I went to get my quarterly epidural for spine issues, I was concerned about laying on my stomach. But being 40 pounds down at that point, I got up on the surgical bed like a pro. I am glad you could bounce back so quickly. You can add that to a long list of victories yet to come.

One of the reasons that I did not like many veggies growing up is that my dear mother was not a good cook and only enjoyed being in the kitchen if she was making something with cream cheese. If we had a veggie, it was green Beans, carrots, or tomatoes. For myself, I was a decent cook, but I was cooking with things like Kraft macaroni and Cheese. Oh Boy, did I love Spam. The only fish I ever liked was tuna salad (which I figure now was mostly Miracle Whip) and Long John Silver's. Eight years ago, I met the most darling gentleman that I am still with. He is from Malta Island in the Mediterranean Sea, so his style of cooking is definitely in the Mediterranean style. He is an outstanding chef in the kitchen and has introduced me to what fresh vegetables taste like. I had never had many of the veggies he has introduced me to, like sun chokes and Portobello to name two. I had never eaten avocado and did not know what creamy yumminess I was missing. We are now bringing in veggies from his garden and eat them the day they are picked. Today he made cucumber Soup which was awesome. So, I am one to agree that your taste buds will eventually respond well to your surgery, because our post-op diet will definitely detox us. If veggies are cooked as fresh as possible, by someone who is handy around a stove, you may find that veggies are not so bad after all. I do eat fruit, too, but in smaller amounts than I used to. sugar free Jello is a good emergency substitute if I want a fruity flavor but can't afford the carbs that day. Being at 600-800 calories a day, I have to watch my numbers like a hawk. Also, I have grilled steak twice a week. I just eat two ounces instead of the ten ounces I used to. No more eggbeaters for me either. I eat the whole egg fried in scant real butter (I rub the stick around the pan) with bacon some days, with real cheddar cheese (not Velveeta) on other days. Now that I am eight months out, food not only tastes different - it tastes better!

I put my liquid in the microwave for about 1/2 minute, just to get the chill off, then whisk it in a mixing bowl. Then...I pour it into my shaker bottle (that has that little wire mixy thing in it) through a strainer. Then I put ice in it to get it cold again. Then I wash up the bowl and whisk right away because whey Protein dries like cement. I was a hospital, hotel, and industrial housekeeping manager for 35 years, and the most important thing I learned was the first rule of custodial science......."Get It Before It Dries!"

.Yesterday I ordered a 12 bar variety pack from Quest Nutrition's website, so that I would have something for the road. Some of my doctor appointments are not close to home. I hope I like them. And I like the idea of the class experiment, too

If you were a Hollywood Star, I would say you were PhotoShopped, but since I know and appreciate the effort you went to to get so cute and petite, I will say Awesome job! I hope I can reach my goal as successfully as you did.

Go figure. It's exhausting to keep up with all of this. Being my own human guinnie pig, I have taken it down to an austere 600 calories, just barely getting my Protein in, carbs under 30, no salt...you know...all of that, and today on the scale I have gained 2 pounds overnight! I about cried. I certainly did not eat 7,000 excess calories, so it had to Water and/or poo, but I am not constipated at all. It's hard being my own hall monitor, but I volunteered for this. So, if you gained 3 pounds, you know you did not consume 12,500 excess calories. keep you head up and stay on your program.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I am going to ty that portobello pizza. It sounds delicious!

I am sorry your family is being insensitive. Speak up...and don't let them bully you into failure. You are your own best advocate, so let them know what your limits are, and if they can't respect that, then start turning down their invitations until they get the message. You could invite them over for meat and veggies, with some sugar free Jello for dessert, then see how they feel about you not accomodating them. What goes around comes around.

I tried the Syntrax Iced Tea Protein powder, and it was just awful. It tasted like I had put yeast in my tea. I still have strawberry and fuzzy navel on hand, so I will try those.

You have a case of the "pre-op heebeegeebees". Here is the cure: ask yourself how much you weigh now based on being in control by yourself, and then right away ask yourself how much you could weigh in a year if you bring on a sleeve to elp you. No doubt you are a strong person in many other ways. You said you are a teacher What would you tell a student who is afraid to try something new? Weight loss surgery is a gift from the weight loss fairy. Think of the compliments you will be getting in a year when people you did not tell wonder what in world you did to get so fabulous. Here is a that has helped me get through many a tough decision: "Whatever you can do, or dream you can - begin it...... for boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." by Wolfgang von Goethe

Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Do you realize what just happened to your stomach?????? Slow down and take it easy. Be patient. If you are scarfing liquids dow, what are you going to do when you get to food? You need to train your brain so that you tummy has time to heal properly. Be kind to your new tummy.

The person you were talking to needs to hang out on this site, to review practical suggestions from people who are post-op. The sleeve will not do all the work for you. Sure, it is going to raise heck if you eat or drink past its capacity, but once the sleeve has stretched a bit, old habits will be easier to give in to. We are here to encourage each other and be truthful about how our Weight Loss Surgery is progressing. A surgical candidate has to be ready to leave old habits behind and then walk away and don't look back. Following the plan and exercising as best you can will definitely pay off.

I agree with VSGANN 2014, that it is not as important to them as it is to you. These delays are so ridiculous and unnecessary. My doctor sent mine in the day after my last appointment with him. BCBS Federal approved it in two days. So hang in there and stay on top of them. They expect certain results from you, so you should be able to expect certain standards of customer service.

Good for you! A compatible team makes this process so much more do-able, not to mention the extra peace of mind from a caring staff. August 11th is just around the corner. Don't you worry about a thing. They set you up for a nice nap, and when they wake you up you will have a new lease on life and a "surgiversary" date. I wish you good luck and good health.

Your last line tells it all....that you really don't know what she thinks. It's about time you find a neutral time and place and just ask her where the passion has gone. It may be something as simple as a medication. Lyrica, for example calms down nerve endings for relief from neuropathies, but it can't pick and choose. Therefore, it calms down nerve endings everywhere. Is sex painful? If she is similar in age, then guaranteed she is going through menopause and experiencing changes in estrogen causing vaginal dryness, emotional upheaval, and hot flashes. Maybe she just doesn't legitimately feel good for other reasons like arthritis or reflux. That's a lot of maybes to clear out of the way before assuming that she has no interest at all. My guess is that if you come to the table (well, the bed first) with lube and soft words, and a couple of hours to take your time for her pleasure, you might see a turnaround. When she is doing dishes, kiss her on the nape of her neck and offer to help. I am telling you that there is no man any sexier than the one who helps with the house work. get some lotion, or Ben-Gay if she needs it, and offer to rub her back. Stroke the inside of her arm. See......arms, backs, necks, these are all areas that are accessable without being intrusive. Put on some Barry White or Al Green music. Few women can resist that move. Does she like flowers? If you can, bring home something (with bulbs) that you can plant this fall so that she can be reminded every summer that her man cares about her. Is the bedroom an office and tool room with stuff and clothes all over? That is not a very inviting love nest. Tell her that you love her like no other, as much as the day you were wed, and then ask her what happened that interrupted the sexy happiness at your house. I bet if you are gentle, and patient when you would rather be upset about something, she will be refreshed as to why she loved you enough to marry you in the first place. She needs to feel like she is the Queen of your Universe. In case you haven't picked up on it, these are the same things you would do to court a mistress. So.....go help with the dishes, and good luck.

jjinWA, I could not politely disagree more with your first sentance. I do NOT miss Twinkies and Pepsi, and Marie Calendars Pot Pies! The stalls are what they are. There are many of us on here who are still strugglng on 600-800 mandated calories. That first sentance almost sounds like it came from a skinny person. You did rescue yourself by saying that maybe it's just you. I know that I too, get discouraged that after passing my halfway mark, things really slowed down in spite of my best efforts. I seriously think that I eat less than my three year old grandaughter. Still I do not regret my sleeve. I volunteered for it and will pay the cost even if my weight is going down by grams instead of pounds, now. Like you, I too try to hide the grumpy feelings from the fight between my stomach and my taste buds. I don't miss the food as much as flavors. Everthing tastes different now. I told my dear sweet boyfriend that if I get mean, he should sent me back to my daughters. Hang in there kiddo, by reason of the size of our new stomachs and all of our hard work, the pounds HAVE TO come off.