Inner Surfer Girl

We all lose weight at different rates. We all experience slow downs and stalls in our weight loss. Most of us experience our first stall about three weeks after surgery. Just follow your program. Focus on getting in all of your Protein and fluids. Take your Vitamins and supplements as directed. Exercise when cleared. And, Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

Of course, I just re-read my post and for some reason I left off the Vitamins. Editing that now!

Definitely address this first. If you are starving your body won't lose weight. Since it is hard to get all of our nutritional needs met early out, especially with the volume of food we can consume, taking your Vitamins and supplements is critical. It's counterintuitive, but our main focus after surgery is nutrition: especially, fluids, Protein, and vitamins and minerals. Once you are getting enough nutrition I bet you will be surprised by how well you will lose weight.

This! I want to wear jeans, too! Thinking back, the last time I wore jeans was probably 1990. I have only owned and worn one pair of Levi's 501 Jeans in my life and it was after my first MAJOR weight loss attempt (Medifast). All the other jeans I ever wore were "fat girl" jeans: plus-sized, with or without an elastic band. Even as an adolescent jeans shopping was TORTURE. If they fit in the hips, they gapped in the back around my waist. Now, my challenge is mostly in my legs. I am being treated for lymphedema right now so jeans may be closer than I thought.

I would love to hear about how everyone is doing, too! What specific tips have helped you be successful after WLS while in college? Any surprises? Particular challenges? What advice would you give to a college student who is contemplating WLS?

@cmk2000, best of luck with your last semester and graduation!

Of course you are feeling fatigued. You just had major surgery and need Protein and fluids to heal. My advice, definitely talk to your NUT. You have got to get in enough protein and fluids. My protein target is 100 grams a day and I was able to reach it every day starting about the second day of surgery with one or two exceptions where I was only able to get in about 80 grams. My Fluid target is at least 64 oz a day and it took me a little more time to reach that target daily, but I worked hard to get it all in and always had at least 40-50 oz. early out. Fortunately, all fluids count toward that total which is helpful when on the fluid stages. You should be focusing on sipping protein and fluids like it's your job.

You need to go into surgery as healthy as possible. That is why my surgeon's pre-op didn't limit calories, just starches and sugars. My pre-op diet was designed to shrink my liver but to still be nutritious. Basically, Atkin's Phase I. The last thing he wanted was for us to go into surgery malnourished. Definitely talk to your NUT.

You can certainly try them when you are cleared for all foods. The initial food stages are all about texture.

Congratulations! This is great progress.

I don't know if there is a hard and fast rule, but personally I wouldn't consider anything a stall unless it was at least a week without a loss. I am not aware that there is an average. Everyone is different and we all lose weight at various rates at various times. As you seem to be doing, Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

Congratulations on your progress so far. Best of luck going back to work.

This sounds like a good question for your PCP and/or surgeon's office. I hope you feel better soon.

I don't really count calories and carbs. I record my food in MyFitnessPal but the primary number is Protein. I focus on getting in all of my protein and fluids. For me that is AT LEAST 100 grams of protein and AT LEAST 64 oz of Fluid. I avoid starches and added sugars so the carbs I eat tend to be complex carbs (non-starchy vegetables and some fruit). Best of luck with your surgery,

Absolutely. I was freezing right after the surgery. Part of this is because a lot of your blood is being routed away from your extremities to your core for healing. Eventually, you may be cold because of fat loss. Hot tea and soup/broth are helpful for warming up (even if you just hold a mug in your hands). Bundle up!

Make sure you stay hydrated. Are you also going cold turkey on caffeine?

The great thing about exercise is that it gets easier (and more pleasurable) as you lose weight. I would bet good money that you will surprise yourself when it comes to exercise.

None of us lose weight at a constant or steady rate. Stalls (or plateaus) are a normal, natural, and necessary part of the process of losing weight. Since you have been in a stall for two months have you talked to your NUT? Are you: Following your program; Tracking your food; Eating slowly and chewing thoroughly; Getting in all of your Protein and fluids every day; Taking your Vitamins and supplements as directed; Avoiding starches and added sugars; and Exercising? Embrace the Stall http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

The closest to this is My 600 Pound Life.

My surgeon allowed ProtiDiet creamy chicken and tomato basil soups which really helped me get in my protein early out.

None of us lose weight at a constant or steady rate. We will have periods of rapid weight loss as well as periodic stalls. Stalls are a normal, natural, and necessary part of the process of losing weight. Most of us experience our first stall about three weeks after surgery. Just follow your program. Record your food. Eat slowly and chew thoroughly. Make sure you are getting in all of your Protein and fluids every day. Take your Vitamins and supplements as directed. Exercise when cleared. Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

$70,000 - &80,000? Who in the world is charging $70,000 - $80,000?

Try ProtiDiet liquid beverage concentrates. Right after surgery I put them undiluted over a little bit of crushed ice and ate them with a spoon.

I doubt this is all of the weight you are going to lose. It just sounds like you are in a stall. None of us lose at a constant or steady rate and stalls are normal, natural, and necessary part of the process. They may be aggravating but they are normal. If you are concerned, I suggest you talk to your NUT. Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall