Miss Mac

The Bristol Royal Infirmary in Bristol, England developed a pictoral explanation of what poo means. The chart can be found at http://www.gutsense.org/constipation/normal_stools.html. Here is their definition for small lumpy stools: Type 1: Separate hard lumps, like nuts Typical for acute disbacteriosis. These stools lack a normal amorphous quality, because bacteria are missing and there is nothing to retain Water. The lumps are hard and abrasive, the typical diameter ranges from 1 to 2 cm (0.4–0.8”), and they‘re painful to pass, because the lumps are hard and scratchy. There is a high likelihood of anorectal bleeding from mechanical laceration of the anal canal. Typical for post-antibiotic treatments and for people attempting fiber-free (low-carb) diets. flatulence isn‘t likely, because fermentation of Fiber isn‘t taking place. I hope this helps.

Whether you get your surgery in the United States, Mexico, Belgium, or London, you are still put together with the surgical e quivalent of office supples: glue, tape, staples, and floss. You will be able to to think, speak, and walk post-op. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you good luck and good health.

Welcome Liza. I might try the shapewear when I reach goal and if floppity skin bugs me. It is not required in my bariatric program. Since you are new, you can explore the search bar by using keywords to take you to posts concerning that topic. It will keep you out of trouble for hours on end.

Down 57 pounds, 43 to goal. Even though I do not feel smaller, the bed feels bigger! As big as I am, I am not as big as I think I am. I am learning to walk taller, as my 53" belly really pulled me forward. My doctor prescribed a back brace to wear for a few hours a day help me out with that. I have a full length mirror behind the door, that I have ignored for years. Just in the last couple of weeks, I have been brave even to take a peek. I am on the verge of my third closet flush and still have a hard time committing to what size I am with each new exchange.

The fat on your body is going to go out kicking and screaming. If you continue your bariatric plan and are honest with yourself about compliance, you can't help but lose weight. Your nutritionist is helping you to establish good eating habits for life. Hang in there and let the process work for you. Your new best friend should be My Fitness Pal at www.myfitnesspal.com or some other point of accountability. For me, it was a requirement of my program and I had to give the nutritionist access to it so she could follow along for support. You can do this. I wish you good luck and good health.

In my previous life (4 1/2) months ago, I was eating anything I wanted, when I wanted. I can guarantee you that drive through sandwiches, french fries, donuts, heaps of buttery mashed potatoes, pies, cakes, etc....were not giving me the nutrition I needed either. However, since being in a proper bariatric program and getting a sleeve (12/23/2013) I have become what is called a "nutritarian". That just means that everything I eat must have nutritional value or it is not worth the extra chewing. So, even though I eat much less, everything I eat provides nutritional goodness. Sure, it all takes planning, measuring, and careful timing, but at this point I can feel and see my body and health changing in many positive ways. When I was eating more crap than whole foods from farms instead of factories, I had to take Vitamins and a few supplements anyway. When you are making an effort to comply with a bariatric program, your body can't help but respond significantly to overall better nutrition. You have to make decisions, like when you are at a Thanksgiving table. Will I eat 2 ounces of turkey and some green Beans, or will I eat a heap of mashed potatoes and a large slice of apple pie? Any improvements that you get post-op will be based on deliberate decisions that you make every day. Our Protein requirements are high and or need for unlimited carbs is low. This program will no doubt turn your food pyramid and your life up-side down. There is a ton of supportive information you can get from your bariatric team and even more from those of us who hang out here on the forum. We have "been there, done that, got the shirt", but there is nothing like jumping in and going for it.

I am going to try those coconut ones. I also found a comment online that said you could use whey protein powder in any baking item that has other dry ingredients. Here is one I found that I would also like to try: Blueberry Protein Power Muffins •INGREDIENTS: 3 large eggs, 3 tbsp. oil, ¼ cup heavy cream, 5 scoops vanilla protein powder, 2 tsp. baking powder, 1/3 cup brown sugar (or low carb sweetener of your choice), 1 cup blueberries, ½ cup fat-free cream cheese, ¼ tsp. cinnamon. DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 375 F. Line 9 muffin tins with cups and non-stick cooking spray. Mix cream cheese and cinnamon into a small bowl. Mix eggs, oil and cream in a separate bowl. Add protein powder, baking powder and sugar (or sweetener) into the cream mixture, stirring thoroughly. Combine both mixtures along with the berries as you pour into the muffin tins. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the muffins begin to brown at the top.

Yes. Pretend like carbs cost $10 apiece - cash!

If you have never been to the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, let me use this analogy to explain how these intermittant stalls work. In the arch there is an elevator that can take you from the ground waaaaaaaay up to the top. It is the tallest monument in the United States, at 63 stories tall. Now, if the elevator followed the shape of the arch, you would end up on your back by the time you got up to the top! What the elevator does is make little adjustments as it goes. It goes up a bit, then levels and moves over a little bit, then goes up some and levels again and goes up and levels and up and level until it gets to the top and you can get out and walk into the observatory at the top while on your feet. Now, when you need to come down the elevator does the reverse process. It goes down a little, levels and adjusts, go down then level and down then level until you get to the bottom. Post-op, or bodies do the same. Our weight goes down some, then levels off for a minute while our hormones and organs and body systems catch up. Then it goes down, levels off, down then level, until we reach our goal. I hope this helps in some way. And if you ever get a chance to go to Saint Louis, the Arch is an experience you should not pass up. The view of the Mississippi River, Busch Stadium, Cahokia Indian Mounds and the city from 630 feet up is a sight to see.

Yeah, Sweetie, it is pretty normal. It's like a detox without the cucumber-lemon-red pepper cleanse. There is also a reaction called the carb flu, where your body wants all the carbs it is not getting so you get the heebie-jeebies instead. The pre-op fluids are not pleasant, but you are preparing your body for a life-changing experience. If you are still concerned after reading some responses, do not hesitate to call your bariatic team.

Thanksgiving suggestion: by the time you eat a couple ounces of turkey and a few green Beans (without the goopy casserole stuff), you will be too full to go after the carbs. Take some dark chocolate or a small fruit cup, and you are good to go. Hungry later??? have some cheese or a deviled egg made with avocado instead of mayonaisse. There are creative ways to get around the excesses of the holidays. You have time now to work out a plan. And like CowgirlJane said, throw in some exercise too, especially if you caved in to an indulgence. I wish you good luck and good health.

Stool softeners, Miralax, prune juice. If you are desperate and have 12 hours to occupy a bathroom uninterrupted, you can eat a handful of sugar free Gummy Bears. You can read the reviews on Amazon.com....they are hilarious, but an honest expectation of the results you will get. Do not try this before going to work. You have been warned.

I am 4 1/2 months out and eat tomatoes almost every day and even salsa or chili once in a while. Milk chocolate was traded in for dark choclate which I had to get accustomed to.......it helps me to eat it in small amounts with slivered almonds or a flavored / mint Tic Tac. Mentioned in another post that I have been known to throw dark chocolate chips into smoothies. I do not miss bread and the yeasty smell turns my stomach now. Potatoes, rice, Pasta are slider foods that derail my progress and are not worth fixing. Most other veggies I can tolerate except that I had four hours of total misery after trying cauliflower. You will learn the give and take of altering favorite recipes to accommodate the new you. For instance, there is homemade lasagna in the fridge, but it is layered with roasted zucinni slices instead of pasta. The ground beef, ricotta, and parmesanno reggiano give a Protein punch. This is the kind of recipe you could hide unflavored Protein powder in. So, get creative in the kitchen. You will be surprised what you can do to enjoy eating without causing damage.

I have re-ordered the chocolate Splendor twice. Sometimes I will warm it up with some Almond Milk (35 calories per cup) and add that to a sugar free cocoa mix and a dollop of lite whip cream. This actually solves the midnight sweet tooth and adds Protein and fluids to my daily total. The other day I made a smoothie with Chocolate Splendor, ricotta, almond milk and dark chocolate chips. I fix the strawberry with Crystal Lite lemonade and some frozen mixed berry slush from the blender. I make any number of Soups using the chicken flavored in the soup base.

Fluids, stool softeners and a 50 gallon drum of Miralax.

Even though I did not have any complications from surgery and was on a rapid progression to whole foods (six weeks) it still took almost two months to feel human again. I was so glad for being retired, and I really feel for those of you who have to care for small children or go back to the everyday grind at work. The impact of the surgery just knocked me down flat and it just took a while to get my mojo back. Now that I am over four months out, I have more good days that bad. Watching and feeling the weight come off makes it all worth the inconvenience.

Your weight now is close to where I started. It wasn't until I hit 30 pounds down (185) before I got a little energy. Still, I seem to have one good hour for laundry or working out, then the rest of the day is iffy. Sometimes I still take an afternoon nap, and I get at least 9 hours of sleep. I am 62 and post-stroke, so maybe this is as good as it gets. My goal weight is 135, so we can hope this will get better as more pounds come off and the improved nutrition builds up. Yeah, I don't know where that amazing surge of energy is either.

I never had a problem swallowing pills post op. I just have to be careful not to overfill Miss Tummy with too much water.

How encouraging! Thanks for sharing your success. I think it's real important to come back and let those who follow you know how you are doing. Great job!

Confidence and a genuine smile should be your two best features. My man is 6'2" and a healthy, thin, and active Mediterranean sweetie. I am 5'4" and weighed 185 pre-op pounds when we met and gained another 50 since due to orthopedic issues that kept me in bed for a long time. We have been inseparable from the beginning like a couple who have been together forever (we are in our early 60's and have been together 8 years). Before I scheduled my surgery (12/23/2014, I asked him if he would feel like he is missing anything if I lost 100 pounds (cause I was thinking maybe he was a "chubby chaser"). Nope...he just wants me to be healthy and happy, whatever size and weight that package comes in. So, I said all of that to say this: Love comes in all sizes and shapes. Don't waste your time on someone looking for perfection, and don't you be looking for perfection...it doesn't exist. Love can sneak out at you anywhere from the produce section of the grocery to the teller line inside the bank. Oh, by the way....we met on Craigslist and communicated for a full two months before meeting up at a White Castle burger joint during the daytime in a public place. After that, we decided that we would continue our first date by going to an afternoon matinee down the street. The movie was Nacho Libre, since we had determined that we both enjoy comedies. We have been together ever since. So, dress your best every time you go out the door, and keep your antannaes out for the fella who is checking you out! If you can balance charm with caution, then I wish you the best in letting love find you.

If you decide to delay surgery, I suggest that you can get a headstart on weight loss by going to Mark's Daily Apple (marksdailyapple.com) or research Paleo and Primal eating sites. The dietary guidelines are similar to what we are already doing now by eating fresh whole foods as close to their natural state as possible, and give protein the priority. But still, any eating and lifestyle changes will still take committment to work. Godd luck to you for whatever you decide to do.

Congratulations on your success. I celebrate every five pounds down with a non-food reward. I buy something I have been putting off because I was hiding behind my weight or did not feel special enough to spend money on my self or do something fun that does not necessarily cost money. The most recent reward I bought was a new omelet skillet, since I was wearing my other one out. Other rewards on my list are to do fun things that I did not feel like doing because my weight hindered me from being flexible and mobile. The south side of Chicago is flat as window glass, but I would like to go to a park somewhere and walk up a hill without my back brace or a cane or someone's elbow. I think I will make that my goal reward. So, put your thinking cap on and come up with some non-food rewards that would make you happy.

Eating low carb can put you into ketosis. It can affect your breath and complicate body odor. As for myself, I brush my teeth a lot, carry Tic Tacs and Gas X Strips, and take frequent "bird baths" throughout the day. I also had a metallic taste for a while after surgery. At four months, that's gone.

My fluids rule is 30/30. Yes, I do count my protein drinks as part of my fluids. So, my doctor's plan recommends 30/30 for shakes after and before foods, too.

There are many days when we just get tired of being strong. I really feel for those who do not have a supportive environment and have to walk alone through this weight loss experience. A therapist is a wonderful tool to help you get over the lumps of emotion. Bariatric Pal has also be an outstanding emotional resource for me. I know that not only can I come here with medical issues, I can also come here for a shoulder to lean on. Stay with us. There are o many that have gone on before us who can look back and hold out a hand.