outwithbenjiboi

My date was October 15. I've lost 17 lbs since then (256 to 239). I've been out of work the whole time, and I go back on Monday -- so I'll get some feedback for sure! Need to shop this weekend: I cleaned out my closet this week, and only have ONE pair of pants and ONE suit for work!!!

Um... Weren't you just sleeved on 10/21/13?

Who WOULDN'T want to get healthy and fit for THIS hunk of burnin love? *sigh*

@Louise: 1. Log into MFP 2. Click on your "My Home" tab 3. In the sub tabs, click on the "Goals" tab; you will be on the "My Fitness Goals" screen 4. Click the green "Change Goals" button at the bottom of the screen; you will go to the "Change Your Fitness Goals" screen 5. Click the radio button for "Custom: Manually set my own fitness goals"; you will to to the "Customize Your Fitness Goals" screen 6. Now, you will have editable boxes next to each of your nutrition requirements.

If you don't have time for the crockpot, it works pretty good to place a couple of pieces of frozen cooked chicken (diced, from a bag) in the microwave with a little bit of broth, wrap SNUGLY with Saran wrap, and nuke for about 1 minute. Holds all of the moisture in.

Yes! Walk as much as you comfortably can! I did at least a mile the day after I got out of the hospital, with my 81 yo dad and 76 yo mom by my side!

Thank you so much everyone!!! Pjackson: Im on pureed now. I pretty much only eat protein: soft boiled eggs, pureed chicken or tuna, corned beef, skim milk, yogurt. My rule right now is "if it doesnt list Protein on the nutrition panel, i aint eatin it."

The six months of documentation is what you have to amass over the NEXT six months with your PCP. For me (Federal BC/BS) it was only three months, but here's what I did: 1. Saw my PCP in April 2013 and gave him my entire weight narrative (fat kid, first diet at 13, attempts at weight watchers, 70 lb loss on Phen/Fen and subsequent regain etc etc) 2. Started meeting weekly with a dietician. We focused on portion control and 10,000 steps per day. She documented our weekly meetings and my progress, and sent all of these records to my PCP. 3. Met with my PCP monthly to be weighed and go over my plan, progress. 4. Met the pre-surgeon meeting requirements with my closest center for excellence (Johns Hopkins) 5. Met their criteria (sleep study, nutritionist, psych eval, gathering assorted other records from endoscopy, ob/gyn etc). 6. Made sure my dietician, PCP, and all other records got to my surgeon. 7. The specialist at my surgeon's office put the package together for submission to the insurance company. I got approved within one week.

And thanks Gamergirl! I can always count on you for a response!!

I'm 5'8.5" and this morning, I weigh 238.6.

I've NEVER been a foodie. Shopping, cooking and eating was always such a chore. As a result, I never wanted to invest the time in making good decisions about food, and ate whatever was on hand or easiest. Processed food, eating times and portions were my downfall. I'm too lazy to bake, too cheap to buy soda, treats and junk food, and too indecisive to pick a restaurant. The result: Lots of Pasta, bean burritos, cheese toast, omelets, pizza and Amy's Kitchen products. (My wife is an ovo- lacto- pesce- vegetarian and I fell in line). Eating was always a bother -- in the way of doing something else -- so I stuffed it in mindlessly. So the challenge for me is to CARE about what I'm putting in my mouth now!

Sorry for the cross post. I think I narrowed it to much in Nutrition. Really looking for a second opinion from ANYBODY! How do you guys think I'm doing? I'm no longer using MFP (as of 10/27) to track my exercise/offset my calories. Thanks for the feedback on this in another thread I began! But now I'm worried that I've blown my first week!! I'm getting in 50-60 oz of liquid per day, and only using one Protein drink (10-17 oz) per day. I'm taking all of my meds/vitamins. At my 2 week postop with my surgeon yesterday, I'd lost 12 lbs. Total pre/post op = 46 lbs lost in 6 months. I'm walking about two miles per day, and doing vigorous chores like raking leaves. I walked up six flights of steps TWICE yesterday, and jogged for two blocks today! Don't go back to work until Nov 4. I sure would appreciate your feedback/expertise!!!! Total Calories Eaten: 10/24: 706 10/25: 745 10/26: 1090 10/27: 1161 10/28: 758 10/29: 823 Total Net Calories (10/24-10/27 reflect MFP exercise offset): 10/24: 501 10/25: 471 10/26: 816 10/27: 531 10/28: 758 10/29: 823 Protein intake: (For the week, Protein has been 37% of my diet. Carbs 31, Fat 32.) 10/24: 67 10/25: 66 10/26: 123 10/27: 89 10/28: 72 10/29: 75

Heaviest : 286 April 2013 Preop: 256 Today (2 weeks out): 239 Feeling great. Pureed food, cramming in protein, walking about two miles a day, 50-60 oz liquids, 60-80 grams protein. Scars look fantastic. Not going back to work until Nov 4, and loving having this time to develop new habits and norms!

Congratulations LinF !!! Speedy recovery, and YES!!! Keep those eyes on that prize!!!! And follow the rules those first weeks!

How do you guys think I'm doing? I'm no longer using MFP (as of 10/27) to track my exercise/offset my calories. Thanks for the feedback on this in another thread I began! I'm getting in 50-60 oz of liquid per day, and only using one Protein Drink (10-17 oz) per day. I'm taking all of my meds/vitamins. At my 2 week postop with my surgeon yesterday, I'd lost 12 lbs. Total pre/post op = 46 lbs lost in 6 months. I'm walking about two miles per day, and doing vigorous chores like raking leaves. I walked up six flights of steps TWICE yesterday, and jogged for two blocks today! Don't go back to work until Nov 4. I sure would appreciate your feedback/expertise!!!! Total Calories Eaten: 10/24: 706 10/25: 745 10/26: 1090 10/27: 1161 10/28: 758 10/29: 823 Total Net Calories (10/24-10/27 reflect MFP exercise offset): 10/24: 501 10/25: 471 10/26: 816 10/27: 531 10/28: 758 10/29: 823 Protein intake: 10/24: 67 10/25: 66 10/26: 123 10/27: 89 10/28: 72 10/29: 75

Another vote for Miralax, and for putting it in my one Protein shake every morning. Also, get those Fluid numbers up, and walk walk walk!!!! BTW, I mix my protein shake/Miralax as soon as my feet hit the floor in the morning (it's my new coffee), and use it to take all of my morning meds. Thirty minutes later, I'm ready for a soft boiled egg or something.

I confess that: 1. Ten days postop I ate (melted) a snack Reese cup; 2. I have become a nutrition a*****e with my poor (and healthy/fit) wife, and made her start using MFP; 3. I throw my fat clothes in the trash rather than give them away; 4. I feel superior to my fat friends; 5. I don't care one whit about never drinking alcohol again, but I started recreationally smoking (not tobacco) ASAP. It calms my stomach, makes me NOT hungry, and motivates me to exercise. Don't knock it until you try it; 6. Even though I've told everyone about the surgery, I'm not sharing/posting any photos because I want to milk EVERY drop of WOW factor from the first time they see me.

I'll throw my hat in this ring. I'm only two weeks post op, and should still be walking mostly, per my doc. I wear a pedometer every day, and I've still not achieved a monthly average of 10,000+ steps (about 3 miles for me). So my goal for November is to reach or exceed 10,000 steps per day.

My goal calories are 800 per day, per my surgeon/dietician. Of course, when I exercise (which I do each day) my calorie intake for that day is offset by the calories I burned; the result is that nearly every day, and I still have calories to consume at the end of the day! So, am I aiming for 800 calories NO MATTER WHAT EXERCISE I DO, or 800 calories NET after the exercise is calculated in? I'm hitting around 90 grams of Protein every day for the last three days, and I'm hitting 32% carbs, 32% fat and 36% protein for this, my first week. I've only met my NET calorie goal of 800 once -- after my exercise is figured in, my total calories taken in for the day is less than 800 most of the time. But, with the exercise, MFP wants me to eat 1200 calories or more per day to meet a NET calorie count of 800. Of course, MFP also tells me each day that I'm risking pushing my body into "starvation mode!"

Oh...and I want to get the last of my windows painted! That's the project I was working on before the surgery.

Tomorrow is my two week post op, and I feel good enough to go back the day after. But I'm scheduled for one more week and I'm taking it. I'm learning so much about food, nutrition, exercise, and myself--and I'm going to take full advantage of it. I hope to have some really solid habits, plans and strategies by the time I go back.

Thanks Gamergirl! I'll check it out!

I rode my road bike on a flat to mildly rolling track for about 3 miles today at about 12-15 mph! It felt great, and i was careful to rest and hydrate. I was also careful to stop before I felt fatigued. I've been walking a lot, and exceeded 10,000 steps (about 3 miles) yesterday. Anyone else a cyclist? How are you fitting it in to your "new normal?" Sure felt good. Btw: My surgery was Oct 15. I lost 30 lbs pre surgery and I've lost 15 since. Two week post op tomorrow!!

Just had pureed Progresso Artisan potato, kale and sausage, and it was SOOOOO satisfying!!! Had the Masai Butternut Curry yesterday, and added a dollop of yogurt and pureed chicken, Also delish! Today's had 8 grams of protein, and goes down sooo smoothly!! They come in 2 serving boxes, and would be great for taking to work.