Jdub

I'm only a few days on the soft foods (4.5weeks post op), and I've only tried a few things right now, but really feel the same way. I was told to start out with 1oz of soft food, but I've had 1 large egg (made into egg salad) with 2 laughing cow cheese wedges for lunch, and didn't have an "OMG, I'm so stuffed I'm in agony moment"...I've had 1oz of tuna salad, some ground chicken, and tonight I had some mashed up haddock fillet, with 2.5tbsp of mashed carrot along with a cheese wedge. I have been following the guidelines of trying to eat 1oz per 10 minutes and it seems to be helping. I will say that I tried some blenderized ground beef with a bit of salsa mixed in the other night and I could only eat half of the 1oz portion as I felt some pain running up the stomach line and I think beef is still too hard at this point. I've been able to tolerate everything else very well though, but if I don't take my time eating and do small bites I will feel tightness in my esophagus and get sharp pains across my chest! I feel comfortable when I'm done the small portion, but I know my NUT is going to push me to eat more as I need to get in an additional 200 calories/day, and it's hard as I feel like I'm constantly eating all day long now!

I was told no caffeine due to irritation to the stomach. I used to be one of those people that would have 3-4 cups a day, and I could drink a pot at night and still go to bed with no ill effects. Now that I've detoxed myself off of it, I have a decaf coffee once in a while, and I really don't even enjoy the taste of it anymore. I was never a big tea drinker before either, but I do like a peppermint tea now and then (caffeine free of course)

I was down about 22lbs in my first month post-op, but if it takes me a year to get rid of the other 80, I'm happy with that

Congrats! You look great!

If you're pushing yourself really hard at the gym, you're obviously going to need a few more calories to nourish the body. As long as you are eating healthy and within your ranges, you'll do great! Follow your NUTs advice. Currently on my full liquid diet, my NUT said any ranges my surgeon gave me I should be at the higher end (due to my structure), so for this phase it was listed 600-800 for me, so I'm trying to hit close to 800 calories a day. I found that hitting the gym everyday this week with 30 minutes of intense cardio actually slowed down my weight loss this week as I think I was pushing my body into starvation mode and i was getting those hunger pangs more in the evening this week then what I'm used too. As an example, I consumed 735 calories on Thursday, burned 630 from exercise in addition to what the body normally burns for the day and sets me up in a huge deficit. I'm going to reduce the intensity of the cardio for now until my calorie intake is back up to 1000-1200 and I think then I'll be okay. Everyone is different, so please don't use my numbers for yourself, as I'm just trying to explain whats been happening with me as it might shed some light on your own dilemma

Congrats on your success so far! ...and grats on the job offer! It feels really good to work at a nice company. I think I would have struggled with WLS working at my previous job due to the stress, environment etc...

True, but most sleevers or WLS patients try to get the most bang for their bucks when they eat...Only so much room you know.... So they forgo celery and lettuce and other veggies... Only say this because I believe that there is room for almost everything in this program....not just Protein but everything in moderation......It is up to us to learn to control and make good choices.....We need to reteach our brains how to eat to live not live to eat......you know! I don't think there is moderation in cake though...So I do try to stay away....lol I agree. I see lots of people say there isn't much room. And maybe there isn't starting out, but I know my program states Water, protein, dairy, vegetables, fruit, grains, oils/fats in that order. Looking forward to trying some mashed up green Beans next week when I'm on my soft food...I'll for sure be trying a small amount of vegetables because I was used to eating them before the sleeve and my NUT is for all the healthy stuff too. I still be doing shakes for Snacks to hit my 80g of protein though.

Isn't everything green and leafy always good for you? I'm talking food here people!

I think I've experienced this with the Boost/Ensure nutrition drinks. I had two back to back (within a 5 hour span) and it totalled about 65g carbs...needless to say it went right through me and I didn't feel very good for a few hours!

It's not Ketosis is it? How much is your Water intake daily? I hear folks saying that increasing your intake of water will sometimes help with the odor.

Not sure if this one has been posted before or not, but it sounds delish! Thought I would share as someone had sent this to me on Facebook. This is low fat and Low Carb Ingredients 2 lbs. (32 oz.) chicken breasts, boneless and skinless 1 cup salsa, homemade or purchased 1 cup petite diced canned tomatoes (choose low-sodium) 2 tbsp. taco seasoning 1 cup onions, diced fine 1/2 cup celery diced fine 1/2 cup carrots, shredded (you can leave these out if you are concerned about the carbs) 3 tbsp. sour cream, reduced fat (can use regular sour cream if you like) Directions Place the chicken in a slow cooker. Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the meat then layer the vegetables and salsa on top. Pour a half cup Water over the mixture, set on low and cook for 6-8 hours. The meat is cooked when it shreds or reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. When ready to serve, break up the chicken with two forks then stir in the sour cream. Makes eight 1 cup servings. Nutrition Info: Calories: 164.9; Fat: 2.5g; Carbohydrates: 7.3g; Protein: 27.6g By: Quick and Easy recipes *EDIT* - Had a friend make this last night, and they suggested using a little less water then what they call for in the recipe.

Jan 10th - 258.2

Welcome to the club! Glad you are doing okay!

You look great! Congrats!

Glad to have found this thread too....I'm not cleared for weight training yet (only 4 weeks post op), but I was squatting 225 pre-op, and I just started interval jogging on the treadmill to get some exercise in each day and man my quads are taking a beating! My arms and chest have shrunk down quite a bit in size, and I'm assuming it's a lot of muscle....Been trying to hit close to 80g of Protein daily, and I'm close to 800 calories a day....Hopefully I'll be cleared to do some upper body stuff next week after my follow up.

Seems strange that Ontario would not be doing this type of surgery. I had mine done in New Brunswick and there is one surgeon here that was doing it in Moncton, and just recently (jan 2013) started doing it in Fredericton. I was on a wait list for about 6 months and I got my call in Jan 2013, but the whole process was delayed due to finding the right NUT to work with me, so my surgery only took place in December 2013.

Congrats on your success! You look great!

Thanks joatsaint! Here is the link for anyone in Canada who wants to take advantage of the offer: http://ca.atkins.com/sign-up-form-campaign.html

Welcome to the club. I have those thoughts as well where I am still on full liquids and will be at my one month post op mark in two days. We've had family here over the holidays and everyone's been eating, and I feel left out at times too not being able to enjoy and partake like the others. My brother in-law came over and made his famous maple curry chicken...Needless to say I just walked myself to the dungeon (basement) and had a shake for supper while the rest got to partake. In two days my work has another staff meeting where they'll no doubt be supplying pizza for everyone to munch on. On the flip side, at some point we'll be able to eat all the foods again. It's a when, not an if....That's my motivation to keep me going!

Congrats on your success! You look great!!

It took me about 4-5 days to come around on my pre-op liquid diet. I went from 1800-2000 calories/day down to about 1200/day for my 8 day pre-op liquid diet. I had a pretty normal gym routine but decided to take that week off to keep my energy levels up for day to day work. Almost 4 weeks post op, 800 calories/day on full liquids, I have more energy then ever...and I'm at the gym 4days/week now doing cardio! It will come around.....takes some time for the body to get used to the lower levels!

I like the Ocean Spray Diet Blueberry myself. An 8oz serving only has 5 calories, and 2g carbs (2g sugar). Doesn't taste too bad either! They have diet cranberry, and diet pomegranate blueberry as well for other flavors. I also opt for low cal/low sugar orange juice as well.

Quest bars taste even better if you can throw it in the microwave for a few seconds to warm it up (out of the wrapper). delish!

Ohhhh...I'll have to try this! I have both at home and never though of mixing the two together!

Congrats on your success so far! I was suprised myself that I had lost 10lbs one week out from the surgery. I kind of chuckled and said it must have been 10lbs of stomach they pulled out of me