Inner Surfer Girl

I focus on getting in all of my Protein (at least 100 grams) and Water every day. I avoid added sugars and starches for the most part. I take my Vitamins and supplements every day. I try to eat slowly and mindfully. I try to eat as cleanly as possible. I swim laps and/or take water aerobics class about 3-4 times a week,

Good advice, except you might want to be careful about the taste.

I agree. I think those calculators are just marketing tools. From what I can tell all you do is input your weight and it calculates the average weight lost based on the few studies that have been published. It is just a ballpark figure. What would worry me is that you credit your success to not eating breakfast. That is not a habit I would encourage for anyone who wants to lose weight and be healthy. It is great that you supplement with Protein shakes, but learning how to eat healthy will benefit you more in the long run. My question is whether or not you are reaching your protein and Fluid target every day? That would have more influence over both your long and short-term success than skipping meals.

Blood clots and pneumonia are very real risks for any surgery. The good thing is that your surgeon is aware of this. That is why you have to follow your surgeon's instructions to the letter. His or her's primary goal is to get you through surgery alive and well. Even if you think something you are asked to do is silly or that you can't do it, do it anyway. Everything from your preop diet, getting up and walking, following your food phases, avoiding NSAIDs, taking blood thinners, drinking water/staying hydrated, getting enough Protein, to breathing with your spirometer, etc. is for your benefit and to minimize risks. If you have carefully chosen a skilled and experienced surgeon and follow directions you should be fine.

I agree. What are you eating for breakfast? What is your Protein target? Not eating enough, and not getting enough nutrition can have an impact on whether or not you are losing weight. Have you talked to your NUT lately? Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

Thank you so much for sharing and best of luck with your surgery. Keep a journal handily, because I have found as I start eating cleaner, lots of feelings and emotions that I have buried will come up. It is a good idea to write about it, have a good cry, and let it go. Do you have a counselor or therapist? I highly recommend you find a therapist and a good support group (look for a bariatric support group and/or a 12-step recovery group like OA). They will be invaluable in helping you learn how to adjust to your new life. Unfortunately, as you discovered, there is a lot of ignorance, ESPECIALLY in the medical community about how to deal with, address, and even talk about weight and obesity. Apparently, good listening skills and empathy are in short supply sometimes. I wish you all the best with your surgery. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

I mean this in the kindest way possible, but if waiting 6 months to drink is impossible and 4 months is realistic, I highly recommend you talk with a counselor or therapist. It may just be because you are young, but alcohol dependence is a very serious thing, and it is very easy to become dependent on other substances or activities post-WLS if there are still unresolved underlying food, eating, or other issues. Choosing to have one drink on occasion once your surgeon has cleared you is one thing, but white knuckling it until you just can't take it is another. I do hope you find that you can have fun and be social without alcohol. It is a choice and not a requirement.

Wow, you are very brave! I don't know if I would have been able to take such a big step at your age. But, my life could have been so much different if I had had the option. I can't wait to hear about all the good things that come about for you, not only because of the weight loss, but because you have made such a mature decision. To answer your question, I don't know for sure how long it will take, but it shouldn't take long. Focus on sipping your fluids and Protein, and walking when you can (it will help with the gas pain). The sooner you can get in all of your protein and fluids the sooner you will start to feel better and to get back to normal. Take it easy and rest and follow your surgeon's instructions. My guess is that because of your age you will bounce back soon. Keep us posted on how you are doing. I want to cheer you on!

Whatever you do, make sure you do your best to stay hydrated and get in all of your Protein. Even if you have to do more liquids than soft foods. Have you tried tiny bites of soft foods like Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, refried Beans, etc. Try small amounts of one food at a time.

There is a huge difference between a clear liquid diet and a liquid diet. Make sure you drink all the Protein shakes you are allowed. Use sugar-free Popsicles, broth, crushed ice, crystal light, Water, Herb tea, etc. to keep you hydrated. You will also want to keep yourself busy. Look for things to do with your hands. Try knitting, coloring, taking walks, etc. Six weeks on liquids is going to ba a challenge, especially pre-op but you can do it.

Clear liquid for six weeks? Wow. I really think this is the first time I have ever heard of anyone having to be on Clear liquids so long. Are you SURE it is clear liquids? What exactly are you allowed? How are you getting your Protein and nutrition?

Congratulations! Lookin' good!

It really depends on your insurance company and your surgeon. I would suggest you talk to your patient coordinator about your concerns. It really depends on your insurance company and your surgeon. I would suggest you talk to your patient coordinator about your concerns.

Don't freak out. The best thing to do early out is just follow your program and stay off the scale. You are healing from surgery. In addition, almost everyone experiences a stall about three weeks after surgery. None of us lose at a constant or steady rate and periodic stalls are a normal, natural, and necessary part of the process. Stay off the scale and Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

Best of luck with your surgery. Yes, it will be stressful and confusing for a while. I know that for about a month I didn't put anything in my mouth without first re-reading and consulting the food plan in my manual. It is very possible that the first month or so post-op you may have low energy, and you may experience some emotional turmoil. My biggest mental issue post-op was just a general fogginess and lack of focus. I encourage you to take as much medical leave as you are able. It will enable you to heal, adjust to your new life, rest, and get back to 100% sooner. Your priorities will be staying hydrated, getting in all of your Protein, walking, and resting. A couple of books I recommend you read based on your post: Eat it Up! by Connie Stapleton and The One Life Solution by Henry Cloud. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

What phase is she on? Did her NUT provide a list of recommended foods for this phase? If so, what is on the list? Early out I like ProtiDiet liquid beverage concentrates, premier Protein shakes, GNC lean shake 25, Syntrax nectar, ProtiDiet creamy chicken and tomato basil Soups. If she can have fish then: tuna, salmon, etc.

I agree. Just keep sipping. It probably will take all day for a while. I didn't have a puree stage, but does your food have to be puree? I would think something like Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, extra Protein shakes, or even refried Beans would be better than baby food. Definitely talk to your NUT about your options. It will get easier.

What do you mean by that? Just as an example, to paraphrase: "I made a bad food choice for one meal so therefore I constantly screw up." "I didn't run 3 miles today so I am a failure and will never exercise again." "If I can't reach my goal weight by June 23, then I might as well not really even try." "I ONLY lost 23 pounds since surgery." "It's raining so I can't exercise at all." To me, black and white thinking means you turn every choice into one of two extremes, and usually set up the choices so that one leads to "failure" and one leads to "success". "All or nothing" is similar in that we don't recognize incremental improvements or successes. I am sure other's have some ideas on this.

This is awesome and so rewarding. Not knowing your company, but maybe you could serve as an advocate to your company and see if they can change their policy on weight loss surgery. You are a living, breathing example of how much it can benefit them. Congratulations!

This is so awesome! And what a cool experience. You will definitely need to share this with more than social media. Now you can start a brag wall! I rarely post pictures of myself to social media but posted a selfie yesterday. My aunt literally didn't recognize me.

I am going to argue that two years at a steady weight is maintenance and not a stall in my book.

One thing you can do is make sure almost everything you consume has protein. My surgeon allowed all fluids to count toward my 64 oz of Fluid. As mentioned, Premier Protein gives you a lot of protein for a small amount of fluid. My surgeon said there was no physical reason we couldn't drink three premier Protein shakes (total of 90 grams of protein) in a day the day after surgery. Just keep sipping.

Here is one recent thread that might be applicable: http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/361405-GP-says-to-do-Weight-Watchers-instead Still looking for another one that I think might be helpful.

Another thing to be careful is "all or nothing"/"black and white" thinking.