CheleLynn45

My main motivation is to....... STOP being a bystander as life passes me by!! There are so many other ones like most that Proud2BMe mentioned but that would be my number one. I am always on the sidelines it seems!!! NO MORE!!

I have been cooking almost daily for my husband and daughter. We are all planning out meals for the week and not eating out at all. I have really been enjoying cooking even though I am not eating any of the meals. I am 4 weeks post op and hope these feelings continue!!

I find there are a lot of things we did without much thought when it comes to food. One example I have is during my second week post op I was making chicken Alfredo for my husband, daughter and mom. I never time my noodles when I cook I always just stirred them until they felt done and then tasted them to make sure they were done the way we like the. So I'm cooking the noodles and out of habit go to try them and stop and realize.....I can't eat this?? So I had to call my daughter in to taste them for me. Once they were done I put them in a strainer to rinse them. Then I found myself reaching to grab one or two like I would and again stopped. It was so weird how out of habit I was doing things. Then I was making the sauce not from scratch but I doctor it up a bit and once again could not taste it to see how it was. Well I survived cooking that meal without eating anything but it really made me think about how I used to do things. I am now 4 weeks post op and have been cooking for my husband and daughter almost nightly. I find myself really enjoying cooking even though I cannot eat the meals yet. Tomorrow I am making a bbq chicken pizza recipe where the chicken is actually the crust and am very excited to try it, it looks so yummy and I posted it on here in one of these forums and then two people that had tried it said it was really good. So this will be the first meal I cook since surgery we all can eat.

I got what I thought was my period 12 days after my surgery. I was pretty excited cause it was so light and only three days. Well, surprise surprise 15 days later I have it again and all HOLY HELL it is heavy. (sorry if TMI) It is finally slowing down and I hope will be done soon. But on a positive note, I did lose 4.8lbs this past week. And in the past I don't normally lose when I have my period. I am hoping next month will go back to being lighter and more like they were before surgery.

I take Bariatric Advantage capsules and Thank God I am able to swallow them. It takes a sec to go down, but it does. I was taking them after Breakfast and dinner, but changed the time to after breakfast and after lunch. After dinner was to late I was finding I was still "tasting" them in the middle of the night. Changing to after lunch has made a bid difference.

I am only one month post op, and I am doing two Protein shakes and one small meal a day. Somedays I do one shake and two meals (even though my doc wants me doing two shakes) I get all my protein in and my liquids and I am losing so I figure I must be doing something right. I do measure out everything I eat. This way I know that I am getting in all my protein. My doc has me tracking my calories, protein and sugars. So measuring everything helps me with that too. I have to make sure to plan plan plan. That is how I get everything in. I have forgotten my Vitamin once here and there (I have to take them twice a day). But like today we had plans after picking my daughter up from her half day. I had planned to have my meal at lunchtime since we would be out and about. My daughters eye brow appt got cancelled so I had to reschedule at another Ulta here in town which put us not near anywhere I wanted to eat at. Originally we were going to Chik Fila so I could get the 4pc grilled chicken nuggets. So I had to change everything around, I was miffed at first but then I was like hey Sh*t happens and rolled with it. I ended up bringing a Protein Shake with me and drank that at Panera Bread while hubby and daughter ate. Didn't really bother me. Then I just had my yummy ricotta bake for dinner and I was all set. but like I said in the beginning.......I plan ahead because if we get stuck out somewhere it is not as easy to just run into a restaurant and grab something like before. Maybe once I am further out, but for now not so much.

Well today marks my 4 weeks since my surgery on 10/27!! I cannot believe it has been that long already. We took my one month pics and measurements yesterday. We took my measurements originally on the day of surgery. I only measured my bust, waist, buttocks, thighs, calfs and arms. I have lost 26.5 total inches so far. With the most being 6 inches off my waist. I was amazed!! I wanted to do take my measurements for those times when I may not lose anything I hope to be able to see success in my measurements. I have lost 32.6lbs since my pre op weight (I only had one week on pre op diet), and 23.6 since surgery. I was so afraid of not losing anything week 3 or 4. It would be nice if those nasty stalls stay away from me!! LOL I just wanted to share my excitement. I know I am still a newbie but I feel so good already I cannot imagine how I will feel in a couple of months!! Going to try my first zumba class Wednesday night with my daughter and good friend, should be interesting. I have been working out at the gym 5-6 days a week. We got our bikes out of the garage and actually went for a bike ride yesterday. It was short for me but I was thrilled that I did it and that I wanted to. Every time I go I will try to go further. Now onto to month two!!!!

One NSV I have had, keeping with the car theme........... I hate pumping gas so much. I am very lucky that my hubby usually will do it for me. But for those times when he isn't around and I have to do it I have to get out of the car to reach the release for gas door. Well the other day my daughter who recently got her permit offered to fill my tank for me. She went around towards the pump and instead of asking her to hit the release for the gas tank I just reached down and did it. Afterwards I stopped and said to myself, "I just was able to reach down and release my gas tank!!" I know it is a simple thing but to me it was huge!! It has only been 4 weeks since my surgery and I have had a ton of these moments. I can't wait to see what other NSV's I have along the way as I lose more weight!!

I didn't have that kind of excitement till right about now! I will be four weeks post op on Monday, and as of my weigh in this morning I am down 31.1 lbs. WOO HOO!! I truly feel like I can do this, and that I will do this. I am fitting into clothes in my closet I haven't worn in years (so motivating!!) and I just overall feel better. SO now I can say I am excited! I was so worried before the surgery of my recovery and exactly what to expect (of course I always think the worse) that the excitement wasn't there. I couldn't visualize myself smaller, but with this weight loss so far I can!! So like others have said keep that excitement going you will need it in the very early stages after your surgery!! Keep posting too cause that excitement can be contagious!!!! I keep saying I can't wait for next year!! I have a feeling it's gonna be a GOOD one!! Good Luck Laurenella82 along your process!!!

I weigh in the morning in the buff, and that is the weight I use for my pounds lost. At my 2 week post op check up I weighed in the morning at my house, then I got back on the scale fully dressed to see what my scale would say. Then when I got on the scale at the docs their scale had me at .2 lbs more than mine at home. Pretty close I thought. Either way the scale is moving down and I am happy

I had my surgery on 10/27. I took off five weeks. I only work part time. I probably could have gone back at three weeks but doc wrote me out for five so I am taking the five weeks. It has been nice to get used to all the new things in my life.

I called my doc's office this morning and the Kirkland sugar free chocolate chews are just fine for me they said. Continue taking 3 a day! I feel better and as with anything else on these boards it amazes me the differences from doctor to doctor. Thanks again though, it never hurts to double check on things!!!

I have a call into my doc's office, I will ask them about this. I don't remember them mentioning anything about either carbonate or citrate?? I know they told me if I didn't want to buy the Bariatric Advantage ones I could do tums. Thanks for the heads up, believe me I want to make sure I am taking the right stuff.

I use Bariatric Advantage Vitamins. I have to take two a day so I started with one 30 mins after Breakfast and one 30-40 minutes after dinner. For the first two nights I woke up feeling like I could taste the Vitamin. Didn't care for that at all. So I switched to after breakfast and after lunch. Much better!! I can swallow these vitamins so I am grateful for that. I also do my calcium chews twice a day. I was going to buy the Bariatric chews but they were $31. Well I found calcium chews at costco, Kirkland brand chocolate flavor and they are pretty yummy. They taste as close to a tootsie roll without actual eating a tootsie roll.

Thanks for starting this thread. I had my surgery on 10/27. My surgery went well, I did take longer in recovery than most, but I don't really remember that to much. I was on my pain drip and I used it every time the light turned green. I didn't feel pain but they had said to try to stay ahead of the pain so that is what I did. I was up and walking around 9pm on the day I had surgery. My surgery was at 2pm. My hubby stayed the whole time I was in the hospital and that was a huge help. I just felt more comfortable with him there. I went home Tuesday around suppertime and didn't need any pain medicine at all once I got home. And by that first weekend I was getting in my Protein and my liquids. I was surprised by that. My incisions were all good and are pretty much healed up now. I walked everyday and most days I did get my hour in. It did make me feel better I am sure of that. I have been back to the gym and working on getting my stamina back. I had a good 2 week post op appointment and was happy about that. Everything I introduced to my sleeve in the soft food stage has gone well. So for that I am grateful. So I am following my doctors orders and doing two shakes a day and one small meal. I usually have my meal at dinner time with my family. it hasn't bothered me to cook for my family and then eat my little bit of whatever. There is no way I want to mess this up, I didn't got thru all this to not follow the rules and so far following the rules has been working.

I was sleeved on 10/27 and was weighing once weekly. When I went to my first follow up appt my surgeon told me to weigh in daily until my follow up appt on Dec 30th. That is so against what I have ever done when losing weight but I am following my docs orders. I was given a great little book to log and track. When I first got it I was like I'm not going to use this I am going to use my phone. But OMG I love this little book. I use it to track all my stuff, my weight, calories, Protein, sugars, liquid and exercise. It just works really well for me. I am taking pics once a month and my measurements once a month too. I will be four weeks post op on this coming Monday and so far I have been losing and feeling great!

OMG......I am so glad you tried this recipe and posted it. When I first saw this recipe and posted it I couldn't wait to try it. I am only 3 weeks post op and everything is going down nicely. I am putting this on my menu for next week. I'm so glad to hear it was yummy!! Sometimes things look better than they actually taste. I love the idea of making mini pizza crusts with it. That way everyone can top theirs with what they like. I can't wait for next week now!!!

I have NEVER been able to do any artificial sweeteners. Always have an after taste and I always would get a headache whenever I would try them. So I was worried that that would hinder me in my journey. So far so good. I would love to be able to use some of the sugar free syrups to mix things up with my shakes a bit but no can do. I am in AZ and right now it is rather chilly in the morning and evenings. I love it. This is my favorite weather time of the year. Oh where was I.....oh yea artificial sweeteners. Well I have been making myself hot decaf tea in the mornings with my unflavored Protein powder and drinking that to warm up a bit and then usually having another smaller cup at night when we are watching TV. Well last night I decided to try Splenda in my tea. My husband always uses that in his coffee and it was the ONLY thing I hadn't tried yet. Well surprise surprise........I was able to drink my tea NO weird aftertaste and NO headache!! WOO HOO!! So this morning I tried it again in my 24oz of hot decaf tea with Protein Powder. Again yummy!!! I am so happy about this, that now I at least have something to use. So I here sit enjoying my hot decaf tea w/protein, checking around on here to see what's up, and then I will be getting ready and heading to the gym. The sun is shining, we are not buried under snow, I feel good, weight is coming off......I think it's a good day!!

Hi Ericka......I was also sleeved on 10/27 and doing quite well I think. I was so happy with my recovery it isn't funny, I had thought I would be in so much pain and so tired. But I wasn't. Hope things are going well for you. I am still off work and loving it. My doc wrote me out for 4 weeks and I took an additional 4 days. Trying to make sure I get my exercise in everyday. I am hitting my Protein and Water goals no problem. So far my sleeve has liked everything I have thrown at it. WHEW!! Good luck with everything!!!

This is my favorite recipe right now......Ricotta Bake 8oz part skim ricotta 1/2 cup grated parmesan 1 large egg beaten 1 tsp Italian seasoning 1/2 cup marinara or spaghetti sauce 1/2 cup shredded part skim mozzarella Heat oven to 450 Mix ricotta cheese, parm cheese, beaten egg and Italian seasoning together. Place in over proof dish Pour marinara sauce on top and then top with mozz cheese Bake for about 20-25 mins This is so YUMMY!!! I make half a recipe at a time in a little square oven proof dish I have had forever and never used till now. Then I cut in four pieces and enjoy! Reheats wonderfully. I usually add a drop of sauce on top when reheating. With the products I use here are the stats for 1/4 of HALF the recipe so you get an idea: 94 Calories 7 grams of Protein 4 grams of sugar (I still use my six cheese Ragu sauce cause I love it but you can probably find one with less sugar if you want)

I had my two week post op follow up with my doc yesterday, three days past my two weeks. I bought the Bariatric Advantage Vitamins and have to take them twice a day. They never said I couldn't swallow them whole and that is what I am doing. Now even before surgery I was a very bad pill taker no matter what the size. I have to place the pill way back of my throat and swallow. Most times I gag myself but I cannot stand the pills in my mouth at all and cannot get them down any other way. The Bariatric Advantage is on the bigger size but not huge. I have had no problem the three times I have taken them. Whew!!

Hi Crstal88.......I was sleeved on 10/27/14. I had my 2 week post op appointment yesterday with my surgeon. Everything is going really well. At my two week mark I could start mushy type foods so I did. Everything I have tried so far has gone down well. Thank God! I have always ate three meals a day and usually a snack at night so I did have to cut that out because my surgeons practice says NO SNACKING. I am still off of work so it's a little easier with my meal planning. I am suppose to be doing two shakes a day and one small meal. I was doing two meals and one shake but doc wants me doing two shakes and 1 meal so that is what I will do most days, but some days I am doing two meals and one shake. I was able to get my Protein on the days I was doing 2 shakes and 1 meal by adding unflavored GENEPRO to my drinks. I try to get my Breakfast in pretty soon after I wake up, shakes go down just fine for me in about 20 minutes. then I wait my 30-40 mins and I start with my liquids and try to get at least 24oz in before I have to stop drinking to be able to eat/drink my lunch. Then I wait again and start my liquids to get them in before dinner. And then sometime between 5-7 depending when my husband gets home I do dinner. then more liquids. This really seems to work for me and I think even when I go back to work it will continue to work. The only issue I have right now is if I have an appt or something around lunchtime I have to figure out how to get my lunch in in between. But it really boils down to planning planning planning!! I'm not really hungry at all much during the day so I think that helps me to stick to my plan. I have to really make sure to plan since in my family there is me, my husband and my daughter. My daughter has decided to not eat meat anymore so at dinnertime I am basically making three different dinners. So far it has been working, but again not without planning. When I wasn't watching what I ate it was easy to get lazy and then just eat whatever, this makes us plan ahead. I hope any of this helps. Good luck, I always hate when I read on here that people are struggling with things, you know you just want to reach thru the computer and fix it!!! Good luck and I hope it gets easier for you!!

I was also diagnosed with psuedotumor cerebri two years ago. The only thing we did to help it was have me lose weight. I was able to lose almost 50lbs and my pressure went down a lot. Unfortunately I was unable to maintain that loss (my life story) so my surgeon said that this surgery would help it tremendously. I am lucky I have never had any of the side effects of the psuedotumor, just showed up after routine eye exam and then was sent to a neurologist who verified what I had. I was told that weight loss is one of the number one ways to treat this.

I am so glad to read all these posts!! I was sleeved on Oct 27th and my recovery has been, I don't want to say easy, but fairly pleasant. Not at all what I was expecting. I had no pain really, and I am a BIG baby. I had one rough day when a Protein shake I tried didn't sit well with me, but no throwing up or anything. I have been walking walking walking since day one at the hospital. I started mushy foods on this past sunday the 9th and everything I ate has agreed with me and gone down really well. I am logging all my calories, protein and liquids. Been having one shake or Protein Drink a day and still reaching 60-65grams of protein a day. Yesterday for instance I had one egg scrambled with 1 cup shredded cheese cooked with it for Breakfast. I was able to eat the whole thing in about 20 mins. I see so many people on here barely able get three bites down let alone the whole thing?? Today for lunch I had 1.5oz of tuna with 1 tbsp. light mayo and a WW cheesestick. I was again able to finish it all in about 25mins. I am hoping I am doing the right things, I see my doc for the first time post op on Friday. I feel really good, I still can get tired here and there. My incisions are healing nicely. I am down 24lbs in three weeks since pre op diet, 15lbs in two weeks since surgery. I would much rather get my protein from food instead of Protein drinks but am wondering if it is to soon for that or am I okay since my sleeve seems to be ok with it?? Last couple days my calories have been at around 500 for the day, and I was at the gym both days walking 2.5 miles in an hour. I keep telling myself to be grateful that my recovery is going the way it is, but I just want to make sure I am doing everything I can for long term results.

It's great to hear you guys are back at the gym already. Woo Hoo! I went back too 9 days post op. I have been walking an hour a day (except twice) since my Oct 27th surgery. I find myself being able to go faster and faster every time I go to the gym. This last time I even tried running slowly for a few minutes. LOL I always feel better afterwards!! Gotta make it a lifetime change, might as well get to it!!