chicagirl

Thank you for this post! It is very encouraging. I'm one month out and frustrated. Would you mind posting a typical days menu for yourself? Thanks so much & congrats!!

Don't stress about one day of "wrong foods" we all have days where we make less than perfect choices. I know I for one have had some horrible food days, but I bet even making bad choices you still ate 80% less then you would have pre-surgery. Think of it like this, last night I had 2 oreo Cookies, presurgery I would have had 2 ROWS of oreo Cookies. So my bad choice was still less than a full serving, I satisfied my sweet craving, and guess what I'm still down 126 pounds. I got up this morning, and I'm still at goal, my size 4 pants still fit me, and my world didn't collapse around me. I had my sleeve done, to get the weight off, not to have to eat "diet food" the rest of my life. If I was able to make perfect food choices 100% of the time I wouldn't have needed the sleeve to begin with. So give yourself a break, take a deep breath, and know that a "bad food choice" here and there isn't a deal breaker. Don't add to your stress by freaking out over every non diet food you put in your body. I made it to my goal in less than a year, and I still eat things I crave. I make good choices 95% of the time. But I do occasionally have an ice cream, or a cupcake. And it hasn't derailed my progress at all.

thanks haringm ....but most of us are very happy with our sleeve..and w all have to die sometime...many get cancer without the sleeve....
so lets be optimistic and take care...never ignore any strange symptoms...follow doctor's orders and so on.
Quality of life definitely improves...I am just 6 weeks out,but feel like a new person..i am slimmer,my arthritis is less,BP gone I am a happier person.

Honestly, I think we all compare with each other's results on this journey and I think it can be a bit emotionally damaging especially when we see those large numbers other people are putting out there (congrats to them btw). The problem I have is that I'm not losing 1 or 2lbs per week at all (I wish it were that steady). I'm on this weird stair step trend where I drop a couple pounds, gain a couple, lose some again and then stall for a few weeks. It makes me feel like I'm not doing my personal best and that's the psychological part I've hated about this journey. The diets I'd been on since 2012 had been more of a steady loss so I ended up getting used to that type of weight loss cycle. But this one is taking quite a bit of getting used to for me. Maybe I have some Fluid retention which causes the crazy fluctuations...IDK
All in all I'm very happy I got the surgery and wouldn't change a thing. I know that in the long run VSG will help me stay the course and give me the opportunity to bounce back from any future weight gain I may have. I absolutely know for a fact I wouldn't be able to do it on my own if I hadn't gone this route so I'm extremely thankful I could afford to pay for this. Good luck to everyone who's working hard to stay the course and I'm happy to be on this journey with you all!

This is very true. Sometimes it's hard to keep this in mind! Same holds true for men, they seem to lose more quickly!

It occurs to me that a "stall" is not really a thing. I have been confused and upset by these "stalls" since the very first episode at 3 weeks.
But, as I read what you folks have to say, it dawns on me that it is EXPECTED, it is definitely part of the process. We need to stop even thinking about them as a halt of sorts, but a minor blip in the overall path to success.
I was mislead by so many member's descriptions of their weight loss. They would say, "....stick with it and the weight will fall off!" OR "... I had my surgery a minute ago and I've lost 100lbs!"
Comparing won't kill you if you take it with a grain of salt. Understand that, for the majority, the weight doesn't just "fall" off! It comes of in dribs and drabs and once in a while we may be surprised with a loss that is a pound and 1/4 more than normal.
Don't be fooled.
You are doing it right!
You are amazing!

I've just listened to my gut. I asked my Doc if I could do that and he said yes. I think you'll know what you can't handle- and I'm assuming you aren't going to go crazy and start eating food that is a few months out. I've been fine- I'm on week 3 & eating eggs, tuna, few bites of a burger,
oatmeal and Cereal. I get full fast so even if I'm thinking of eating a lot, I just can't. Hope that helps ! Good luck!!!

Since I was a young woman in the 70's.......I'm familiar with the art of a shot. I don't need salt, lemons or limes. I shake the whey Protein shot, open the lid, hit the protein shot on the bar er my kitchen counter. Tip my head back n chug, chug, chug. Sometimes I even hear the applause of the bar crowd as I slam the empty shot back on the counter. Give a little shudder and I have my non food protein of the day! Then i hear Jouney begin singing "Don't stop believing". It's all good. Find your groove and mantra.

Fret not, just stay the course and you'll do great! Trust the process!

From what I'm reading on this forum.. A lot of peeps do the same thing.. Keep the faith... Check your measurements too... Where u might not notice loss in lbs.. U just might in inches. With the added protein.. It will assist in increased muscle mass.. Muscle weighs more than fat... Main thing is don't worry!

I have posted this before. Get a tape measure. Most of the time if your not losing pounds you are still losing inches. Also as someone else stated, be sure your getting enough fluids, this is important because if flushes your system.
Also, chicken is a very dense Protein. Be sure you are taking very very small bites, nothing bigger than the size of your pinky nail. And also, CHEW CHEW CHEW. This should be a rule of thumb on anything you eat. By the time it gets swallowed it should be mush.

I was told no gummies. I use the trader joe's chewable multi. Cheap and not bad.

Hi 2sissy! I was sleeved on 2/18. Down 13 preop and only down 5-7 since surgery. I'm going to add walking this week to see if that helps and really focus more on getting at least 80g Protein . My starting bmi was 36- how about yours? I'm confident it'll work-just taking each day slow. But it can be very frustrating if I choose to focus on the scale vs all the work I'm doing Hang in there !!

Had surgery 2/26 and am still in liquid phase. Husband made last minute plans with friends for dinner. I was a bit freaked out. I drank half a Protein Shake on the way to the restaurant and then ordered a cup of corn chowder. It ended up being more chunky than I expected but I was able to skim the broth off the top and act normal. Friends commented wondering if Soup was ok and I just let them know I was eating a lot less these days. I SURVIVED!!! And I'm a cheap date at $2.99!!!

I think the majority of us had "issues" with food, which is why we got to where we are in the first place.. I had my surgery almost a year ago, and I'm not going to lie, the first month was hard for me..I did get a little sad and depressed of the thought of never eating like that again, but I realize now that it was more because in the first month I could barely eat anything, and thought it would be like that forever. After the second month when I really started dropping the weight and noticing it, and being able to eat a little more, it got better and better. Now that the weight is off, and I feel so much better, I don't even care about food anymore, I really don't. And if I really want something, I can eat it, just in small portions. Now when I'm out to eat or something and I see the amount of food people eat (and that I used to eat), it makes me think, geez, how do they eat all that food! LOL. It's honestly, the best feeling ever, knowing that you can't, and that you won't fail (once again). I have never regretted the surgery and have never felt better.

Take control of your own life and your own decisions and go self pay. Despite paying thousands of dollars for insurance for myself every year, they would not cover WLS. I saved my $$$ and had my VSG done in December. Not having to go through all the stupid insurance requirements made for a very relaxing and easy process.

I drink Snapple Diet Green Tea (instant packets) every day because I love the taste, but don't know if it would count as "Green Tea" for weight loss. Plain Water is to "heavy" to me and I use one packet in 3 cups of Water. So I usually have two a day. Love the stuff!
food menu:
this has changed somewhat over time - I can eat more now (probably double the calories)
At 600 calories I would say my day looked like:
Protein shake or coffee with Protein Powder
1 cheese stick
1 ounce of lunch meat
1 ounce of beef Jerky or chobani Greek yogurt
2 ounces of Protein (chicken mostly) one tablespoon vegetable
1 cheese stick or half Protein Bar
(also eggs were in the mix most days - 1 egg)
Very, very simple eating during the first year for me. For dinner whatever I made for my family I would eat the protein of it but only 2 ounces or so or 1/4 - 1/2 cup if measured that way.
Now I try to follow a low carb diet and am experimenting with different grains and gluten free stuff for baking. Use xylitol or splenda versus sugar for baked goods. I love Quest Protein Bars for a dessert or snack. If you check out Pinterest low carb you will find lots of great recipes. I am constantly trying new things.
I don't worry about fat I look at low carb and then high protein for recipes.< /p>
menu now at 17 months:
coffee with Protein powder (I am bad about eating breakfast)
Protein Bar or yogurt, or beef Jerky or 2 ounces lunch meat
Leftovers or low carb tortilla made into pizza or 1 cheese stick and an ounce of turkey pepperoni or cold cuts
most days chobani or other high protein snack, occasional tortilla chips with Greek yogurt dip or hummus (sometimes I need that crunch!)
dinner whatever I am making for my family but now I can have 3 - 4 ounces of protein and 2 - 3 tablespoons of veggie
protein bar or yogurt (usually something more sweet)
I still stay away from Pasta, potatoes, rice, bread as much as possible. Drink 64 ounces each day. Get about 1200 calories per day.
Definitely check out Pinterest for recipes (I have one board called Bariatric Resources where I pin recipes I want to try).
World According to Eggface and Bariatric Foodie are great blogs for recipes and such.
Good luck! You'll do great!
One last thing, don't be impatient. Continue living your life and making good choices and enjoy the new life that you are building. At the beginning it does feel sort of like wow, this seems kind of slow to me, but before you know it you will look at your loss and be like, wow, how did that happen so fast. Don't wait to live when the weight comes off, live while it is coming off! It took me about 14 months to lose the 140 pounds - so average that out to ten pounds a month, so enjoy new victories along way, there will be lots of them!

OMG- congrats!! You look like a different person!!

I'm 2 weeks out and not losing...but I have to believe! This is about believing in yourself, being strong and persevering! It will be a long but rewarding "mental" journey. I've realized this is so much about me thinking positively, encouraging myself and getting rid of the negative self talk... I'm trying hard not to buy into the "fear of failure" but to slow down and keep working at this..

I'm sorry to hear you haven't lost in 2 months. I'm curious what your doctor attributes it to..? It sounds like you are following the plan and working out a lot. You must be noticing a change in the way your clothes fit..and feeling healthy..? It takes a lot of discipline to workout that often and stay on your Protein. I give you a lot of credit for that- remember it's a long journey and this is only one little part of it. Hang in there !!!

Hey chicagirl- I am only doing my EAS Protein Shakes . Yesterday I was able to graduate to the creamy Soup, yogurt,grits stage an the only thing that agreed was the creamy soup and I had 2 cups , Protein shakes (1) an no Water and gained weight . Who knows. I know it will be a good thing when I can move on an eat healthystuff loaded with protein and not hurt when it goes down an know that it's safe to eat. My clothes are fitting loose mabey we are losing in inches chicagirl .

OMG- that is a great story!!! Love it!!!

My partner and I were meeting a friend at Starbucks. Busy busy Saturday... We parked, and there's a swarm of Girl Scouts with their Cookies, and we're both like, "oh crap. But cookies are SO GOOD...."
"Okay, here's what we do," I decided. "One box of thin mints. We each have two cookies, and we give the rest to people at Starbucks." It was a good plan. Plus, spread the love, right?
We got in there, get in the long line, crack that box open, split a tube open, and I'm enjoying my FIRST COOKIE. And I'm offering the open tube to people, "save me from eating these! Yes have some! I sure don't need them... Here have another!"
AND IN WALKS MY SURGEON. Yes, there I am, three weeks post-sleeve, with a half-tube of thin mints in my hand, licking the crumbs out of my teeth....(I only ate one but now it looked like I'd eaten 10).... He's like "oh Emily! Hi!"
I just LOL'd and hugged him and said, "oh my god and HERE'S MY BARIATRIC SURGEON, catching me with Girl Scout cookies!!" All I could do was laugh harder. I told him "I swear I only had one and see? Those two on the table? One for me one for him... We made a deal to give them away, I'm giving them to other people!! Oh god I'm mortified!! Hahaha!!"
He said, "I'll forgive you just this once..." And I'm all *shame*!!
Our friend was like, "of all the things that could have happened, I would NOT have bet on that one..."
So!! If you're tempted, just imagine your surgeon walking in and catching you red-handed.... Because it could happen!!! LOL

I had my sleeve on 6 February and for the last 10 days I have been in a stall. No weight loss and no inches lost. I had read all about the 3 week stall and thought I was prepared for it. No such thing. Of course you start to think "ok, I guess I am the rare failure". We'll this morning I broke down and I have lost 4 lbs. I am now 200 lbs even. I haven't weighed this little in about 15 years. So excited. I am going to treat myself by going for a walk on the beach.

I use Unjury chocolate splendor 3 scoops and 3/4 cup reduced fat Jif Peanut Butter. Makes 11 balls for 131 calories per ball and 10 HMS of Protein. The recipe is on the Unjury website.