Thick'n'Thin

I also had surgery between semesters. Classes ended Dec 21st, I was sleeved the 23rd, and classes resume Jan 21st. I'm so glad I was able to work it out this way! I have the same professor for my on campus course (the other three are online) as last semester, along with some of the same classmates from the fall. It will be interesting to melt away in front of their eyes! LOL

Agreed! I was moved to soft foods on Thursday. That was my first meal. Mmmm! I'm gonna try refried beans with cheddar, salsa, and sour cream for lunch today.

Anyone else want to share what's on the menu? Since the NUT said I don't need to count calories right now I'll just share what I am eating: 6-8oz whiting filet, ate that throughout the day 1/2 c mashed potatoes with cottage cheese, milk, parm, and cheddar 4 ounce scallops served over maybe 1/4 c mashed potatoes and just a garnishing of green Beans. At the whole thing! Coffee! Lots of Water I feel normal again

I would take something for acid. Most of that sensation is likely acid. Pepcid complete is what I take, much like eating a large sweet tart!

Calls to ask the NUT a question and doc answered the phone himself. Me: Doc, can I have coffee? Doc: What kind? Me: The good stuff! Doc Hazelnut? Me: Sure, as long as it has caffeine! Doc: Sure. Just remember it's a diuretic and doesn't count toward your fluid intake. Be mindful of the cream and sweetners you use. Thank the Lord and Dr. Neff!

Today was an exciting day! Who would have thought a few months ago that I would be so thrilled to eat half a small Wendy's chili? It was my first soft foods meal post op. I finished my chili later (what I could) and later I had some mashed potatoes I made with low fat cottage cheese, milk, and cheddar to increase the protein. I was in heaven. ♥

First, I'm sorry some are struggling through right now. I pray you feel better soon! First week check up today (10 days post op). I'm down 8 lbs post post. Feeling awesome. Getting my water and protein in. I asked about eating crab (it's all I can think about!) and the nut moved me on to soft foods! I had chili at Wendy's as my first meal. I finished half a small and it was very satisfying! I will be revising my weight loss goals as well, as the nut evaluated my lean body mass at 130lbs (I'm 5'6") so 162.5 seems like a reasonable goal (25% body fat). I think I'll round it down to 160lbs (instead of 154, my current goal) and have a couple pounds wiggle room. Doc said I can remove the surgical glue. I'm so pleased with how my incisions are healing! Doc cleared me for basically whatever I want/need. ME: Can I work out and lift weights? Doc: Sure! ME: Can I go back to work? Doc: Sure! When would you like to go back? ME: All done the blood thinner shots doc? Doc:Yep! I guess tomorrow will be a down day though, school is canceled on account of snow. I'm not walking outside or driving to the gym I think...unless I can get some crab legs while I am out!

I left his office at 3:30 and came back at 4:30 to pick up Vitamins I had left by accident! lol You can do it. Don't leave quitting as an option. Find your resolve and no matter what do not waver! Chew celery and carrots if you must. Take a walk, do some mediation, deep breathing, call a friend, take a nap- something! You do not need to smoke. It will get easier soon.

First, welcome aboard! Dr. Neff is the best, I just got home from my first post op visit with him. As for quitting smoking, I know it's hard, I quit myself in 2007. I heard a statistic that the average person tries to quit seven times before they succeed. I would suggest making a pros and cons list to continuing to smoke. I would look at all the costs: health, money, etc to quitting. Then I would resolve myself to stop on the basis of these considerations alone. You can choose to not smoke. It's so important for your surgery, definitely for your recovery, and even your long term life. You don't have a lot of time. You need to dig deep and do this! Cold turkey if you must. You can do it, it is just difficult. Let 2014 be the year you change your health in two ways!

As far as the alligator skin, I have Patches of that happening right now too. I attribute mine to dry heat and eating such a low fat diet. I actually upped my fat intake (I was getting a skimp 5-10 grams a day). I could be wrong though.

Menu (Full Liquids): 1/2 c cottage cheese, 1% with 1/4 c shredded cheddar 1/4 c cottage cheese, 1% with 1 TB parmesan cheese 1 1/3 c egg drop soup 1 SF popsicle 6 cups Water 2 cups decaf diet iced tea pudding made with: 1 scoop Myology chocolate Whey and 1 scoop unflavored whey Protein isolate and 3/4 c skim milk and 1 serving Jell-o chocolate pudding mix Nutrition: 643 calories 87 grams protein 42 grams carbs 17 grams fat

Yesterdays 'food' wasn't too exciting. Still full liquids: 2 cups milk with 2 scoops Myology chocolate (30 grams Protein a scoop) 1.5 cups Egg Drop soup 32 oz diet decaf iced tea 1 SF Jello 16.9oz bottle Water Energy: 544.2 (500.4 net) kcal / 970.0 kcal (56%) Protein: 84.2 g / 110.2 g (76%) Carbs: 43.8 g / 22.0 g (199%) Fat: 4.6 g / 49.0 g (9%) Now today's 'food' was a bit more interesting! I was encouraged to try adding cottage cheese by my nurse (preferably whipped, but I didn't find any). 5-9 grams a day is so low. I took 1/2 cup 1% cottage cheese, 2 TB grated parmesan, and a dash of onion and garlic powder. I mixed it up and microwaved it for 1 minute. Not only is it really hitting the spot and going down easy, but it is gooey, cheesy, and the curds mostly disolved into mush! MMM! Todays menu: 1 cup milk with a scoop og Myology Chocolate (30 grams) 1 cup egg drop soup 1 cup potato leek soup w/ 2 TB parm cheese 16.9oz water 2 cups dec diet iced tea Dannon Light and Fit Greek strawberry yogurt (haven't eaten it yet, but I plan to!) 1/2 c 1% fat cottage cheese w/2 TB parm cheese Energy: 615.9 kcal / 970.0 kcal (63%) Protein: 77.7 g / 110.2 g (71%) Carbs: 50.5 g / 22.0 g (229%) Fat: 12.0 g / 49.0 g (25%)

If you search the forum you'll this topic is one of the most common on the site, the "week three stall". You are fine. You're body is taking stock of itself after all that weight loss and needs a bit of time before it will let you drop some more. 100% normal and to be expected.

Please excuse the color scheme, I just C&P'ed from my blog. Here's yesterdays food. Honestly, I could have gotten more calories in if I wanted to but I am not sure how many they want us to have at this stage. Hmm.. Menu (Full Fluids): 60 grams Protein, Myology chocolate 16 oz skim milk 2 16.9oz bottles of Water 2 16 ounce bottles of decaf diet iced tea 1 cup egg drop soup 2 cups Imagine brand creamy Potato Leek soup 2 TB parmesan for the soup 1 SF popsicle Nutrition: 710 Calories 62 g carbs 13 g fat 90 g protein

HW: 310 (12/09/13) SW: 297 (12/23/13) CW: 290 (12/29/13) 20 pounds in 20 days :-)

Are you on purees or soft yet? If so, I wonder if eating your foods would be best at home, and sip fluids and protein throughout the day at school.

One day I felt a bit like that, I drank my water while I took my walk. The wiggling side to side kinda helped bring the bubbles up. Plenty of people need a prescription strength PPI to help reduce the acid. If u suspect that is your issue I'd call the doc. You may not have to suffer like this. Also, could I ask what you are eating in a given day? Perhaps we can pinpoint something that is aggravating things. For instance, some people become lactose intolerant for a time post op.

I just got Imagine brand Creamy Potato Leek Soup at Acme. 1 cup has 2.5g fat, 13g carbs, and 2g Protein. Pretty tasty, plus it's organic! It comes in a carton so no tin taste. I added a tablespoon of grated Parmesan. Yummy! I'm thinking of adding crab meat to it when I am allowed. It tastes like it wants to be a bisque. Egg drop soup made my day yesterday. Btw, I'm on full liquids. Also, if you hate the taste of the broths, skip them. I stocked up on broth powder preop and I have no interest in them now.

I'm not having a LOT of heartburn but, considering I didn't have reflux or heartburn before surgery, it has increased. For me I think some of it's a combo of gas bubbles causing wet burps and acid production. I was told to get Pepcid Complete to help with that. I also take gas x chewable. If the heartburn is bad I would ask the doc for a prescription PPI. Also, do you think it is related to a certain food? Soft egg yolks were so satisfying for me, but they bit me back a few hours later. Apple sauce with cinnamon also had me pacing the streets with discomfort a couple hours later. I hope it improves soon!

There she is! Your gonna rock this!

Egg drop soup!

You will be ok, try to hand in there a bit longer ok? It will get better! I noticed I get gas bubbles from swallowing seem to happen less if I drink my water while I am walking. When can you advance to puree with your doctors blessings? Hopefully soon. There could be recipes you can eat soon that will help. Maybe a ricotta bake, pureed deviled eggs, pureed tuna salad, refried beans with salsa, cheddar, and sour cream, etc. If you are on full liquids what about egg drop soup, yogurt, pudding, ricotta mousse, pumpkin pudding, sugar free fudgesicles or popsicles? Egg drop saved my day! have you spoken to your doc about your challenges? Could Pepcid complete help? A pain med? Gas X chewables? Is milk giving you trouble?

Hey there. Feeling good still getting tired easily. Where do you get the shake you are talking about? Sounds delish. Struggling a little with the intake but it get better everyday. Took GasX in the hospital as I saw hubby struggle through the pain n gas and stuff. Felt 100% better after surgery. Looking for a buddy through the next month and egg drop soup sounds to die for. I been cleared to eat what I can tolerate and to try small doss first. Had some cottage cheese last night w avocado. Only 2 - 4 super small spoonfuls but it's soo good and I HATED cottage cheese before. Lol thanks for your input and suggestions I'll be your buddy. PM me your number if you'd like to talk some time! I've made a couple friends off this site so far, both are preop. Since we are the same day it would be cool to keep in touch. Cleared to eat what you can tolerate? Like anything, or thickened liquids or what? I'm jealous! But, after my egg yolk incident, I want to be careful. No puking here so far, thank God! I want refried beans with mils salsa, cheddar and light sour cream. This is my goal in life. And maybe that ricotta bake everyone talks about. *sigh* soon enough! Myology is sold by Puritan Pride. It's still on sale B1G1 (so 41.95 for 2 containers of 32 servings, 30 grams protein a scope) here: http://www.puritan.com/myology-brand-0559/whey-protein-isolate-chocolate-031471?scid=4150 Here's a 10% off coupon code over $59: MRRYP10 They also have B1G2 on their brand vitamins. I found liquid vitamins with super foods and fiber on the list: 3 bottles, 32 servings each for 34.95 here:http://www.puritan.com/multivitamins-067/biorganic-life-complete-liquid-nutrition-019835?ssl=1& I haven't tasted it yet though. I think after my first post op appointment perhaps. No vitamins for me right now, maybe cause of my blood thinner shots, perhaps it could interfere.

I was thinking of giving them to people that I thought would want them but I was afraid I would insult them. I was afraid they would think I thought they were as big as me. Could you offer them on facebook? "Have a lot of <insert size> clothes, dresses, nice tops, etc to give away. Anyone interested?" I was jsut thinking about asking on FB myself for friends to keep me in mind, but I didn't want to put all my business out there like that. Could you offer them at a support group or to a local forum member? I think most people losing weight like we will/are would be thrilled to have some good hand me downs, and then they could pass it on when they outgrow them as well.

Hey everybody. Dec23rd Sleever here. Making my way through head hunger, nasty tasting protein shakes and salt cravings. Super excited to have it done and looking forward to the success to come once I can up my liquids n protein. I can only get about 30oz and 30grms down right now. 2014 here I some. !!! Happy New Me!!! Lol. Hi. Dec 23 sleever here as well. Totally get your craving for salty things. I am not interested in the broths at this point, yuck. But I did want some egg drop soup. I was feeling good on clear liquids so asked the docs office for their blessing to progress to full liquids. Since my soft egg yolk (hey, I read it's a full liquid) fiasco yesterday (that was so satisfying...for a few hours before my tummy got sour) I decided to ask the doc before eating anything I am unsure of. Hey everybody. Dec23rd Sleever here. Making my way through head hunger, nasty tasting protein shakes and salt cravings. Super excited to have it done and looking forward to the success to come once I can up my liquids n protein. I can only get about 30oz and 30grms down right now. 2014 here I some. !!! Happy New Me!!! Lol. I asked them if I could have egg drop soup. They said yes and man, it is hitting the spot! It's salty, would that be of interest if the doc ok'ed it? When do you move through the next stages? Btw, if you like chocolate I recommend the Myology Chocolate Whey on Puritains Pride. Got it B1G1 and it tastes like chocolate milk when you mix it with milk. Love it before and after surgery. :-P Mmmm. How are you feeling?