Rogofulm

I wasn't allowed ANY type of potato, rice, Pasta, bread, etc. until maintenance, and even then, only the brown varieties. My doc said that, "Yes, sweet potatoes are a super-food, but they're also a starch, and should be avoided for best results." If you're having mashed potatoes, that could be affecting your weight loss. You might consider focusing on tuna salad and chicken salad as soft foods that go down easily.

You may be surprised at how many people don't drink alcohol these days. It just doesn't matter as much as it may have in the past. And people are usually very supportive of anyone trying to get healthier. As for solid foods, at 6 weeks I went on a Maine vacation and managed to eat lobster every day -- dipped in drawn butter! You'll probably need those sauces I mentioned to get some food down. Watch out for dry chicken or pork, they can get stuck. But come on, it's Paris! No self-respecting chef would dare serve overcooked meat, oui? Have fun and try not to fret. This is a good thing! Bon voyage!!!

We're all different, and it takes everyone's bodies and minds different lengths of time to come to terms with our new reality. But in the vast majority of cases, eventually people become happy with their decision. Sometimes it takes 6 weeks; sometimes it takes 6 months or longer; but eventually almost all of of us get there. But at 4 weeks, you're still adjusting, and that's perfectly normal. Hang in there, and be emotionally prepared for The Dreaded Week-3 Stall when you stop losing weight for a few weeks. Don't let it bring you down, because in a few weeks it will pass. Good luck!

Is that really so different than, "Wow, you look great!" (where the "now" is implied)? Seems to me that Grandma intended it as a compliment, even if it's somewhat clumsy. If we've lost weight, we all know how we used to look, right? And we know, firsthand, society's biases against heavy people, right? So the natural reaction when people lose weight is to think they look "better" than they used to. Try remembering what you thought when a friend or family member lost a lot of weight. Didn't you think they looked "better"? I think that's probably what Grammy had in mind. Of course, I don't have a history with her, so I could be totally wrong. But keep in mind that if we're successful on our journeys, we're going to hear a lot of compliments. That's part of the fun of this and helps keep us motivated. I've found that it's much easier (and nicer) to just accept compliments graciously, and feel proud of my accomplishments. At first I would reply, "Yeah, but I've still got such a long way to go." After a while, it became, "Yeah, but I'm getting so many wrinkles that I look 10 years older." And finally, I realized that the best answer is, "Thanks! I've been working hard at it." And everyone feels good about the exchange. Just a thought....

Hi @@Vsg_lma, Restaurant eating in the US is easy. In Paris it might be a little trickier, but I don't think they eat as heavily as we do, so that might help. Pack enough Protein shakes to have at least on per day on the trip. That protein will help you make it through. To repeat, focus on protein, protein, protein. That's where you'll get your energy now, instead of carbs. Chew, chew, chew. (You don't want to have to excuse yourself to go throw up during a business meal.) Keep up with your 64+ oz of fluids. They'll help keep you feeling satisfied between meals so you don't go crazy at mealtimes, and they'll keep your "insides" working effectively. Okay, now onto restaurant eating... First of all, if anyone asks why you're not having wine, just say "I'm trying to watch what I eat and drink,even in Paris," and leave it there. Hopefully, in a business setting no one will ask follow-up questions. They'll quickly stop noticing that you're doing anything different and it will become your "norm". Don't eat the bread! That's going to be the hardest choice you'll have to make! Just have Water. And since we're not allowed to drink for 30-45 minutes before or after eating (or during), just let it sit there (except for the occasional tiny sip to clear your mouth or help get a bite down). Skip the appetizer since you won't have room for it anyway. If the table orders group appetizers, you can have a bite or two of anything that's protein (muscles, clams, chicken, meats), but not starch or sugar. Order a protein-based meal, and don't worry about sauces that come on it. They're not our problem, carbs are. So try to order dishes with sauces that are unlikely to have a lot of flour. (Happy Secret: Fat doesn't really matter, so butter and oil in sauces are okay.) If your meal comes with a vegetable and a starch, ask to replace the starch with a second vegetable. Don't have dessert. You should already be full, anyway. If you drink coffee or tea, bring your own sweeteners (in case they don't have them) so you don't have to use sugar. Bottom line: Don't worry too much about fat or calories, just stay away from starches and sugars. Hopefully the freedom to enjoy the former, will make up for the difficulty of avoiding the latter. Enjoy feeling virtuous in your choices, and use that as additional motivation! How great will you feel if you go on a trip to Paris and come back the same weight or even less?!!! If you mess up at a meal, don't say "Aw, screw it," for the rest of the trip. Get back on your program immediately -- that means the very next time you eat. That way you can limit the damage. Our lives don't revolve around food anymore. So the extra energy you will feel from not being bogged down digesting carbs/sugar will help you enjoy the many other wonderful aspects of Paris. Hope that helps..... and HAVE FUN!!!

Well, I should have said that I drink my tea at refrigerator temperature, but without ice. I agree that cool water goes down easier.

Ditto what @@CanyonBaby said. If you know there is going to be a party or eating event, bring along food you know you can eat: veggies and dip, nuts, cheese, Jerky, yogurt, baked chicken strips with a dipping sauce, etc. Note the connection between most of those items -- Protein. The message here is planning! Never get caught without an acceptable eating solution. I keep jerky and nuts in my car at all times for emergencies. And on my way to goal, I've had to use them a lot!

Nope, you're not doing anything wrong. See below for the answer. And good news – the "honeymoon period" lasts about a year. So keep up the good attitude! 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 pounds 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 take a psyllium Fiber pill twice a day, and have some lo-cal hot chocolate with Miralax every other day. I also take a probiotic every day. Together they keep me ship-shape. (Or something that sounds like that.)

Yay!!!! Congratulations!!!!!

What do you mean by "getting in my water"? It should be 64+ ounces a day. Remember that you may be coming to the end of The Dreaded Week-3 Stall. As soon as that's completely passed, you should start losing again if you follow the rules. Remember also that hunger is often thirst in disguise. Keeping your sleeve/pouch full of fluids helps with pretty much every aspect of this process. Good luck!

The longer you stay away from those foods, the less pull they will have on you. Virtuous feels better than pizza tastes. Or so I keep telling myself.

Hang tough. Read and re-read that link that @@Babbs posted until this passes. As long as you keep making the right choices, it will.

Yup, ketosis. The good news is that weight loss goes hand-in-hand (mouth-in-mouth?) with ketosis. Buy more Listerine and Breath Savers and watch the pounds melt away!

Hi @MarceMonster. Here’s the formula I used to get to goal weight: • Start every morning with a Protein shake for Breakfast. • Eat 60–80 or more grams of protein daily. • Drink 64–120 ounces of fluids daily. (I drink tons of Crystal Light, or generic, sugar-free/decaf iced tea.) • Do not consume any starches or sugars. • Get all carbs from green veggies, legumes, and dairy products. • Do not consume empty liquid calories/sugar (fruit juices, ice cream, etc). • Try to avoid alcohol. It’s empty liquid calories that turn to sugar in your body and can lead to poor choices. • All Snacks must be protein-based (Jerky, nuts, cheese, Greek yogurt, deli meats, etc.). • Get some exercise 4-6 times a week. • Never leave the house without a plan for what you can eat and drink while you’re out. If necessary, bring food and drink with you. • Restaurant eating is not hard: 1) skip the bread; 2) order a meat (or legume/bean) dish; 3) replace the starch with a second vegetable; 4) skip the dessert. You’ll probably end up taking some of the meat and most of the veggies home for another meal. • Beef/turkey jerky is my secret weapon. It’s saved me more times than I can count, so I try to always have some in the car for emergencies. You can buy a bag of jerky almost anywhere. It’s kind of expensive and not great for sodium-restricted diets, but it’s also high protein, low fat, okay sugar, and a 3.5-ounce bag is a meal by itself! • If you fall off the horse, get back on immediately – at the next meal. Not tomorrow, and definitely not next Monday. That’s what got us here! • Go to Bariatric Support Group meetings in your area, if possible. • Participate actively in online forums like BariatricPal. • Read as much as you can about the process and the journey; and especially, read posts and articles from those who had their surgery a few years ago. Try to understand what lead to their successes and/or struggles. • Share your story and reach out to help others who are behind you in their journey. By helping them, you’ll help yourself as well. • Have a goal weight in mind and strive to get there. (I weigh myself every single day.) But also set lots of smaller goals. It’s fun and inspiring to achieve them. • Always be looking forward. Don’t look back over your shoulder waiting for the heavier person to drag you back. Let that person fade into history. • Believe that the slimmer person in the mirror is the real you. • A little vanity is okay. Enjoy how you look. Accept compliments graciously and don’t deflect them. Have fun trying on smaller-sized clothes that fit now. Compare before and after pictures. Take pride in your accomplishments! • Accept that this is a somewhat selfish process. That’s okay, too. You don’t have to apologize for it. And don’t let other people interfere with your progress. We have to make our weight loss program a priority in our lives. • But at the same time, recognize that your journey affects your friends and loved ones as well. Be sensitive to their reactions and their emotional needs, without allowing it to derail your program. • And finally, try to have fun losing the weight and getting healthy! Hold onto your determination! That's what'll keep you going during the difficult times and the stalls. Good luck!

@@MBM1Forever, I can't remember when I crossed over, but sometime between 6 months and 1 year, I became able to drink Water very quickly. (Actually, I drink watered-down Crystal Light iced tea.) I drink it without ice so it gets to room temperature fairly quickly, and then I'm able to gulp it just like I used to. As for the concern that it will stretch your sleeve/pouch, my doc says that fluids will find the easiest path of escape, and that's straight down into the intestines. So drink away as soon as you're able! I really miss being able to take a big glass of water and gulp it down, especially in the heat. Oddly enough, I still forget and then suffer with the contractions afterward.

I agree that this is not a race to get to goal weight. And we're certainly not in competition with any other bariatric patients. Everyone has their own biological, emotional, psychological, and practical factors that will affect their program and the speed of their weight loss. But what most of us do have in common is a 9-12 month "honeymoon period" after our surgeries. So as I have posted many times, while it may not be a race, there are real advantages to maximizing that honeymoon period. That's when our restriction is most effective, our determination is strongest, and the weight comes off fastest. I think most of us agree that our surgery is merely a tool, right? So if it were a chisel, we'd want to use it when it's sharpest. That doesn't mean it can't be used for a long, long time. Or even that it can't be re-sharpened (see 5-day Pouch Test). But it does mean that our tool is most effective during the first year or so. So the more weight we can lose during that initial period, the less weight will remain to be lost in subsequent years when its potency may be somewhat weaker. All I'm saying is that we should make every possible effort to maximize our tool while it's the strongest it will ever be. And in doing so, hopefully we will learn and internalize the habits that will help propel us into maintenance for the rest of our lives, when our tool may have dulled a bit. Just another viewpoint....

That's my program too, @hockeyfan7. Oh, and since I clicked the link to the Arctic Zero ice cream, I'm now getting sidebar ads for Klondike bars. Thanks a bunch, @@BLERDgirl!!!

Those look yummy! And only 35 calories (5 sugars) per serving, or 140 per pint (20 sugars). But I'm still a chicken when it comes to sweets. Would an okay choice like this lead to a not-okay (for me) choice like Ben & Jerry's? In time, hopefully not. A few fried calamari haven't led to a plate of french fries. But I'm still taking baby steps...

@@HousecallsNP, one year ago I was 55 years old too, and 120 pounds overweight. Now I am neither – one went up, the other went down. But I feel much younger than I did a year ago. And so will you!

Everybody has their own way of managing their program. I'm a year out, and still haven't had ice cream. Oh, okay, I had one taste of it on my birthday, but it was from someone else's bowl. Still trying to figure out what does, and most importantly, what doesn't work in maintenance. I figure I've got the rest of my life to do that, so there's no rush to add back my "slippery slope" foods until I'm sure I can control them, and not vice-versa!

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 pounds 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!)

Nope. Fluids won't stretch your sleeve. They will find the easiest path out of your stomach, which is into your intestines. Once the swelling recedes, things will fee much more normal, even though you will still have the restriction.

Hunger is often thirst in disguise. Make sure you haven't backed off on your Fluid intake.

Yeah, for the first time in 51 years, I'm promising to try and gain a few pounds. Which is completely unreal, because for half a century I've been saying the exact opposite! Sheesh!