Rogofulm

I'm 6.5 months out and still consuming about 800-1,000 calories a day. According to my doc, Protein and fluids are the key, especially at your point in the journey. Any carbs should come from non-starchy veggies. Good luck in your journey!

Congratulations! You have reached The Dreaded Week-3 Stall. It's perfectly normal, and just about all of us have suffered through it. You're not crazy, and your doctor didn't screw up. In fact, you might not lose any weight for two weeks or even longer. But don't worry – after that, the weight will start falling off if you stick to your program. And, the inches will continue to come off even while the scale isn't budging. Here's a good article that explains why it happens and why we all have to go through it. Hang in there. Pretty soon it'll be in the rear-view mirror and you'll be dropping weight again! (Apologies to BP regulars who have seen this repeatedly, but it's a big deal to those who are going through it!)

I'm only 6.5 months out so I can't speak to long-term hunger issues. But how is your Fluid consumption going? My doc told me early on that hunger is often thirst in disguise. Have you stopped drinking your 64+ ounces a day? If so, bump it back up. From my experience thus far, a full sleeve is a happy sleeve, even if its just full of Crystal Light. Good luck getting back on the horse!!!

I can't speak to the job/relocation situation, but I can say that if you add the stress and negativity of making bad personal choices to the list, your situation will be even more unbearable. Instead, try using weight loss success as your "silver lining" of positivity while the rest of your stuff figures itself out. Easier to say than to do, I know, but worth the effort. Good luck!!!

Hi All, Need some WLS veteran advice! I've taken the approach that I wanted to get to goal as quickly as possible, and then deal with learning how to eat "normally" from the lower platform, rather than on the way down. Up to now I've existed on 700-900 calories per day from 90% Protein, 10% veggies and tons of fluids. So now I'm approaching my goal and looking for advice on how to proceed. I'm wondering... if I keep doing what I'm doing, will I continue losing weight, or will my body find it's ideal weight and stop losing on its own? Or, more likely, I'll need to increase my calorie intake to 1300-1500 in order to maintain without gaining weight. Does that sound right? If so, what foods should I reintroduce that won't throw me onto the slippery slope? I figure sugar and Desserts need to be off my menu pretty much forever, but how about high-Fiber carbs like brown rice and sweet potatoes? What other foods increase calories without danger? The thing is.... I get full and stay pretty satisfied the way I've been eating during the weight-loss journey. So what would I give up in order to add something else? Lower my protein to add carbs? That sounds crazy at this point! But it might be the only way. I know.... This is a really good problem to have compared to the way it used to be, but still, I'm a bit baffled here. Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks, Rog

Thanks! I see that your BMI is in the 20s. Congratulations on that! And from what everyone seems to be saying, the answer is to get additional calories from fat, not carbs. I like that idea!

Thanks for all the advice, folks! This Forum rocks!!! I am gradually adding more nuts and cheese to my program, without stopping my weight loss until I reach (or pass) may goal. I'm thinking 4 pounds below my goal will give me a buffer. But I can't tell people that, because unless they've gone through this, they think I'm getting too "skinny". Hah! My goal weight puts me exactly one pound into the "normal" BMI for my height, with 40 pounds below that before I reach the "underweight" category. 40!!! HAH, again! Anybody else want to share thoughts on maintenance eating?

I find that drinking TONS of Fluid has really helped me control the hunger pangs. I've worked my way up to well over 100 ounces per day. It's not that hard, but you have to find something to drink that you really like. My go-to drink is watered-down Crystal Light. It's too sweet at full strength, so I mix a 2-quart packet into a 3-quart jug of Water and it's just right. Here's my secret to getting in TONS of water: I bought two 24-ounce Tervis Tumblers (and handles) at Bed, Bath & Beyond; one for work and one for home. At least 30 minutes after Breakfast (and after coffee) I fill one up with sugar-free, decaf Crystal Light (or generic) iced tea and sip it all morning, finishing up at least 30 minutes before lunch. At least 30 minutes after lunch, I fill another and sip it all afternoon. (Sometimes I work in a snack, sometimes I don't.) Then, at least 30 minutes after dinner I fill my last one at home and sip it all evening. That's 72+ ounces of fluid every day! If I have to go somewhere, I bring my tumbler in the car with me. And if I'm hungry and it's not mealtime or snacktime, I drink even more. If I'm going to a casual party where there won't be anything "appropriate" for me to drink, I bring along more tea in a cooler. A bit obsessive? Perhaps, but it works! In addition to keeping my stomach full and comfortable, I believe the fluid helps with hair retention (Protein is key to this too) and skin elasticity. Also, the more fluid you drink, the more your body craves. (Like sugar and carbs, only much healthier!) You're still early in the journey, so it may take a while to work up to this much fluid, but keep at it -- you can do this!!!

I find that if my "good choices" switch is turned on, I"m fine. But if it gets flipped off, I could be in trouble. So far I've been able to keep it flipped on for 7 months. May I suggest that you turn your switch back on immediately? Every time there's a choice, make the right one for your program. It's hard, but each time you do it you'll be stronger. Eventually they are no longer choices, they are habits. And drink TONS of fluids. That way your stomach stays full all day and you are less susceptible to temptation. I drink almost 2 quarts of Crystal Light decaf iced tea every day and it really helps. Oh, and join a challenge. There's a Valentine's Challenge going on right now that started on Monday. Don't know if you can still get in, but here's the link. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/328319-valentines-challenge/?hl=%20valentine Good luck!

Stalls suck, but they tend to be related to Water retention. Any chance that you've been slipping just a bit? I suspect that if you go into and out of ketosis, it might lead to water retention, which can cause a stall. The good news is that even during a stall you should be losing inches. So check you clothing and use the non-scale victories (NSVs) to get you through. Like a tunnel, there's a light at the end of every stall. Good luck!

While that one bite won't hurt you, thinking you can "get away with it" might. You will be much more successful if you can avoid slippery places. Use this experience as a warning shot that the temptations are still out there, and decide to try to always make the right choice. Good luck in you journey!

Your surgeon's office can help guide you through the insurance piece. Just keep asking for help with it. If you have a high enough BMI, and/or co-morbidities, you're very likely to get approved. And you can certainly document the effort you have put into weight loss in the past. As for the decision, we were all nervous and apprehensive. It's totally normal. For the six months prior to my surgery I was totally addicted to Buffalo Wild Wings. I'd go to 2 or 3 different BWW restaurants a week, so they wouldn't know how much of it I was eating. Since the surgery..... Haven't gone and haven't missed them. When I reach goal, I'm thinking of buying a bottle of my favorite BWW sauce to use with chicken breasts. Here's the thing... With the sleeve, you really don't miss the foods you think you love. (Used to love bread -- now don't care about it.) Once you detox from them, it's just like booze or cigarettes, the remaining addiction is in your head. "Head hunger" we call it. But with one big difference -- your tool (the sleeve) helps you make better decisions. It isn't a cure for emotional eating, but it helps you control your urges. My biggest tip is to stay full of fluids. Since I started drinking 100+ ounces of Fluid per day, my occasional hunger pangs have disappeared. I can honestly say that in the 6 months since my surgery, I have learned to "eat to live". It was a major A-ha moment that came to me about a week ago. So go for it! You've tried everything else, this is what you need to beat this thing forever!

I vote for Premier Protein, chocolate flavor. I've had at least one a day for the past 7 months. It's my standard Breakfast and carries me throuth to lunch (with lots of fluids in between). If your tummy is acting nice, you may be ready to transition to soft foods. Purees, tuna salads with fat-free mayo, cottage cheese, scrambled eggs (or egg whites), etc. My doc was pretty liberal about the transitions to new phases. He let me move on whenever I could tolerate new foods. What he doesn't let us do is eat carbs. "The fewer the better" is the way he puts it. Good luck on this awesome journey!

A couple of thoughts about stalls..... Stalls can be due to Water retention. First, make sure you're hitting your Protein and Fluid levels. (Fluid intake does not cause water retention.) If you're going on and off your eating plan, or eating sugar or carbs, your body may be going into and out of ketosis. This may cause you to retain water. But the way to deal with stalls mentally is to keep checking how your clothes fit. If you're being true to your program, you should be losing inches even when the scale isn't cooperating.

At my 2-week checkup I told my doc that I was getting hungry. His response, "Are you sure you're not just thirsty? that's what it usually is." And he was right. Now I'm 6 months out and I'm a drinking machine -- 100-120 oz per day. I get hungry on occasion 3-4 hours after a meal, but that's normal. If it gets uncomfortable, I eat an 80-calorie Greek yogurt (which used to be a light snack, but now fills me right up). But mostly, I just keep my sleeve full of liquid and that keeps my hunger away. And I agree with taking the antacids. Whenever I try to go off of them my stomach feels uncomfortable. Good luck, and If you need tips on how to drink tons of Fluid, let me know....

Hi again, Susan, You're awesome to do these challenges! I'm only 8 pounds from my goal weight, so I guess that should be my "goal". Thanks again! Rog Current weight 162 Goal weight: 154 (or lower)

You're doing great! (Except for that Giants gear .) I've had many a-ha moments during this fantastic journey. At some point, I started identifying with the slimmer me instead of the big guy. That was HUGE! I know some people look in the mirror and see their old self in disguise. I know it's hard, but that's defeatist thinking. I'm choosing to visualize the permanent success I hope/plan to achieve. Had another a-ha moment this past week when I went to the hospital to visit my best friend who is very sick. I made a big tumbler of Crystal Light for the road, then stopped at Wegman's and bought several bags of turkey Jerky. (Jerky is my on-the-fly food.) I ate a bag on the way there and drank the Crystal Light on the way home. As much as I enjoy both things, the a-ha moment hit me that I was now eating to live, not living to eat. We've all heard that mantra all of our lives, but it really seemed to fit. A-HA!!! Keep making good choices, and "be" the slimmer person in the mirror!

No rumbles. I can eat most anything, but stick mostly to Protein (meats and some beans) and a few veggies if there's room. I'm still getting "stuck" fairly regularly and have to excuse myself to get rid of a piece of chicken or pork that didn't make it all the way down. But I consider that a small price to pay for being able to lose 100 pounds in six months! I'm pretty close to goal, and have my 6-month appointment with my surgeon next week. I'm going to ask him how to expand my diet for maintenance without sliding down any slippery slopes. (In my mind, that means starch and sugar.) Or will my body adjust and find its ideal weight even if I keep eating the way I am now? Don't want to get too thin, but don't want to start gaining either!

Does WLS work? Darn straight, it does – if you follow ALL the rules! Today I'm exactly 6 months out and 100 lbs down. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all, and may 2015 bring us all good health and weight loss success!!!

Hi Susan, My final weight for the challenge is 193. Thanks so much for doing this, and Happy New Year! May it be a successful one for all of the Holiday Challenge participants!! Rog

June 24th here. Lost 100 pounds by December 24th (exactly 6 months). Love my sleeve!!!

This is a frequent post-op problem. [TMI Alert!] From research when it happened to me, constipation is caused because there is not enough moisture in the stool. Most laxatives and stool softeners add Fiber to your system, which causes the stool to absorb more moisture and become softer and easier to pass. [Yuck!] I took Miralax, which is a tasteless powder that can be stirred into any drink (coffee and sugar-free hot chocolate work well). Then drink as much Fluid as possible. Shortly after surgery, fluid is even more important than Protein. It may take a day or so to work, but when it does you'll feel so much better. Good luck!

164. Thanks and Happy New Year, Susan!