Rogofulm

I had it really bad a couple of weeks after surgery. I took 2 doses of Miralax a day for a couple of days and it got me over the hump. Since then, I take a capsule of Psyllium Husk every morning and at night. It's basically Fiber in a pill. The product is sold at WalMart under the name Equate Fiber Therapy. Keeps me as regular as I figure I'm gonna be, considering that we use up most of what we take in these days. Also, you MUST drink at least 64 oz of Fluid per day. If you don't, constipation can occur. I did some research when I had my problem, and it seems that most constipation products revolve around the same thing....(sorry, this is gross) helping the stool absorb more Water, making it softer and easier to pass. So you have to have the water in your system to be absorbed. Okay, I gotta go scrub my keyboard with an antiseptic wipe.... Good luck!

If you enjoy (and can tolerate) beef Jerky, I find it to be a fun change in my Protein routine. My main problem is that if I buy a big bag, I tend to eat too much of it until the bag is gone. It now takes a longer than it used to to polish off a bag, but it's still "old thinking", so I'll have to get that in check. Smaller bags are expensive, but give you just the right amount for a snack. For example, one ounce of Jack Link's Teriyaki Beef Jerky is 80 calories with 14 grams of protein, plus 1 gram of fat, 5 grams of sugar, and here's the kicker, 600mg of sodium. But as an occasional protein snack, it's pretty darned tasty!

I'm averaging about 4.7 pounds a week since surgery -- and I'll take that every week! I expect that gradually it will decrease to about 2 per week, and I'll have to train myself to be happy with that too. It's going to be a hard adjustment, but "reality" is a hard pill to swallow. Too bad we can't just crush it up and mix it with some Protein powder!

Surgery date was June 24th, so I'm 11.5 weeks out now, and down 65 pounds. Made it to 200.1 yesterday, and darned if I didn't go up to 200.8 this morning. But I didn't eat quite as well as I could have, so it's totally explainable (mostly beef and veggies with rich sauces). Typically eating about 700 calories a day, drinking at least 64 ounces of fluids, eating about 80 grams of protein, walking 40 minutes 6 days a week, and going to the gym for strength training once a week. Some days I feel great, others I feel a little droopy. Stomach usually feels okay (not great) but sometimes feels a little uncomfortable. Anyone else having a similar experience? Go June Sleevers!!!

Here's something I just posted in another forum. You're not quite ready for this yet, but maybe you'll get some ideas about how to get your fluids and Protein in once you get a few more weeks down the road... I keep a 2-quart jug and a 24-oz cup both at home and at work. I count my morning Protein shake as a meal, not as Fluid. (30 grams of protein) 30-60 minutes later, I have a cup of coffee. (Count it as a fluid if you like.) After that, I drink a 24-oz. cup of decaf, sugar-free iced tea, like Crystal Light. (Lots of frequent sips) Then I walk for 40+ minutes. Then it's lunchtime - tuna or chicken salad, or leftover protein from dinner. (16-22 grams of protein) About 45 minutes after lunch, I fill another 24-oz cup of iced tea and work on that throughout the afternoon, finishing by 30 minutes before my afternoon snack. Afternoon snack is usually a Greek yogurt (12 grams of protein) or V-8, or some leftovers. (This is also a good time to get in some veggies if you're getting enough protein at other times.) Maybe a cup of hot tea in the later afternoon. (Count it as a fluid you like.) Then dinner - again, getting 20-25 grams of protein and maybe a bite or two of veggies. Finally, another 25-oz cup of iced tea or Water 30-45 minutes after dinner that I sip throughout the evening. If I'm hungry later, sugar-free Jello or popsicles are good. So that's 70+ grams of protein and more than 64 ounces of fluid, with some exercise thrown in. Lately I'm finding that the fluid is taking away my need for Snacks, so I have to make sure I don't miss out on some protein! If you have a regular enough schedule, you can follow it every day. If not, maybe a modified version will work. The big trick is in pre-planning your meals and your fluids. Good luck!

I have to agree with you. Used to love, love, LOVE Buffalo Wild Wings and Five Guys burgers and fries. Now the thought of them kind of turns my stomach. Of course, Protein shakes kind of do that too.

Hi Meghan, I'm 11 weeks out and have lost 65 pounds. Here's how I get my fluids (and protein) in. Maybe it will give you some helpful ideas... I keep a 2-quart jug and a 24-oz cup at both home and work. I count my morning Protein shake as a meal, not as Fluid. (30 grams of protein) 30-60 minutes later, I have a cup of coffee. (Count it as a fluid if you like.) After that, I drink a 24-oz. cup of decaf, sugar-free iced tea, like Crystal Light. (Lots of frequent sips) Then I walk for 40+ minutes. Then it's lunchtime - tuna or chicken salad, or leftover protein from dinner. (16-22 grams of protein) About 45 minutes after lunch, I fill another 24-oz cup of iced tea and work on that throughout the afternoon, finishing by 30 minutes before my afternoon snack. Afternoon snack is usually a Greek yogurt (12 grams of protein) or V-8, or some leftovers. (This is also a good time to get in some veggies if you're getting enough protein at other times.) Maybe a cup of hot tea in the later afternoon. (Count it as a fluid you like.) Then dinner - again, getting 20-25 grams of protein and maybe a bite or two of veggies. Finally, another 25-oz cup of iced tea or Water 30-45 minutes after dinner that I sip throughout the evening. If I'm hungry later, sugar-free Jello or popsicles are good. So that's 70+ grams of protein and more than 64 ounces of fluid, with some exercise thrown in. Lately I'm finding that the fluid is taking away my need for Snacks, so I have to make sure I don't miss out on some protein! If you have a regular enough schedule, you can follow it every day. If not, maybe a modified version will work. The big trick is in pre-planning your meals and your fluids. Good luck!

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 more. But don't worry -- after that, the weight will start falling off if you stick to your program. If you're interested, 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 like crazy!

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 more. But don't worry -- after that, the weight will start falling off if you stick to your program. If you're interested, 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 like crazy!

Congratulations, keep it up! I'm going to give you a head's up that in a couple of weeks you're going to run into "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 more. But don't worry -- after that, the weight will start falling off if you stick to your program. If you're interested, here's a good article that explains why it happens and why we all have to go through it. When it hits, hang in there. Pretty soon it'll be in the rear-view mirror and you'll be dropping weight like crazy again! Good luck!

Hi Anthony, I was sleeved on June 24th, so I'm a little over 11 weeks out from surgery. I've lost 65 pounds so far (including 11 pre-surgery), and just made it to 200 lbs this morning! I've set my goal weight at 154, which will put me exactly 1 pound into the "normal" BMI range. At this point, one week out from surgery, you should be starting to feel a little better. As the swelling goes down, much of the discomfort from eating and drinking will ease as well. You'll still be feeling and hearing those weird gurgling sounds, but they'll get better soon. What I can tell you, is that barring any complications, you will feel better and better every day. If you can, try to stay off work for another week. If you haven't already, you'll want to start walking every day. It helps with the healing process, and accelerates your weight loss. And be sure to get at least 64 oz. of fluids in every day to avoid constipation. I need to warn you that in a couple of weeks, you will experience The Dreaded Week-3 Stall. You'll stop losing weight, and you'll think you're going crazy. You'll wonder if you're doing something wrong, or if your doctor screwed up. Not so! It's a perfectly normal "stall" that happens to everyone. You might not lose any weight for two to three weeks. Don't freak out! Here's an article that explains why it happens. Once you get past it, the pounds will just drop off. Okay, that's my starter stuff. I'll be glad to answer any questions you may have, either on this forum, or through a private message. Good luck! -Rog-

Are you sure you're getting enough liquid? When I complained of hunger a couple of weeks after surgery, my doc said that it was probably thirst. I've embraced that idea ever since. If I think I'm hungry between meals, I drink more. fluids. I still get hungry about 3-4 hours after a meal, but that's normal. I have a healthy snack like Greek yogurt or V-8 to hold me until meal time. So pound those fluids all day long (except around meals), and see if it helps. Good luck!

I was on a two week liquid diet prior to surgery, but I made room every other day for one of my "last meals". Buffalo Wild Wings, Kung Pao chicken, Steak Fajitas, Red Hot & Blue Dry Ribs, Kung Pao Chicken again because the first batch wasn't as good as it should have been ... I did avoid any extra carbs and sugar, and 80% of my meals were Protein shakes, and I did just fine. Don't go crazy, though, because you really are trying to shrink your liver so it's less at risk of being nicked during your surgery. Good luck!

Way to go, SoCal! That's a major milestone! Keep it up!!!

When you go to a restaurant, and instead of scouring the menu for the most filling (and calorie-laden) meal, you search for the one with good protein and the least carbs. Then you swap out the starch for a second vegetable. And then you take half of the protein and all of the veggies home cause you just don't have room left in your new stomach. And then you eat the leftover protein the next day. And finally,you realize that you're never gonna have room for those veggies after eating your protein, and now they're going bad in the fridge, so you throw them away. Lather, rinse, and repeat... And you're happy about it!

I think there are different tests for different risk factors. You probably still need to have a psych evaluation, but your surgical coordinator should explain any tests you need. Double check with your doctor's office.

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 more. But don't worry -- after that, the weight will start falling off if you stick to your program. If you're interested, 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 like crazy!

I take a fistful of pills every morning. I drop them in my mouth, take a nice swig of Protein shake and swish 'em around to coat them, and down they go. Never had a problem. Try with one or two first to see how you tolerate it. Good luck!

Congratulations! You have reached "The Dreaded Week-3 Stall". (You may have gotten there a little early.) 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 more. But don't worry -- after that, the weight will start falling off if you stick to your program. If you're interested, 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 like crazy!

And why in the world does in not differentiate by age and gender? This is the one area where that makes sense!

Fascinating topic! I'm still 47 pounds from goal, so I can't speak from all your experience. I can say that in the past when I've lost a lot of weight, people started telling me to slow down at around 180. That's nearly obese on the BMI charts. I have pooh-poohed BMI many times over the years, but there must be some reason that the medical and insurance professions continue to use it as the de facto standard for weight-related risk analysis. Otherwise, you'd think there would be a modified version by now. So... With that said, I have chosen a goal weight that would put my BMI at 24.9. That's exactly one pound into the "normal" range. Now, I recognize that many, many people don't have that option. Either they started from a different place than I did, or have found a goal that makes them comfortable -- and that's great. I'm just saying that for my own (admittedly obsessive) peace of mind, after going through all this, I don't want to end up "overweight". But we'll see what happens closer to goal when each successive pound gets more difficult to achieve. Everyone's journey is different, and I wish everyone great success reaching whatever goal makes them (not necessarily their family and friends) happy for the long haul.

You wish men's belts came in 1/2" increments instead of 1", because you always seem to be in-between notches and having too choose between too tight and pants falling down.

You go to your bariatric support group meeting..... and now you're one of the smallest people in the room! And you're a cheerleader for the "newbies".

Hah! Love it!!!

Thanks everyone! Jen, I think you may have nailed it. This morning I was telling a friend that it seems to begin when I drink my Protein shake in the morning, and it lasts all day. My shake box has a plastic film covering the opening. I used to think that a small piece of the film had come loose and gotten stuck in the back of my mouth. But since it has occurred pretty much every day since I started drinking the stuff, it must be a reaction of some sort. Don't know what I'm going to do, though, because this is the one brand I really like and I drink it every morning for Breakfast. 30 grams of protein, Baby!