Inner Surfer Girl

I know how frustrating it is to be delayed once you are ready for the surgery. I had some delays due to financing issues. Guess what? In the end everything worked out for the best. It is only an extra month and your life and health are worth that much of a wait. It was such a blessing that your heart issues were identified and treated in time. Someone is watching over you. Learning to let go and allow things to unfold as they are supposed to is hard, but well worth it. As long as you are doing what you are supposed to on your end, then you have to just wait. The whole process of this weight loss journey for me has been a matter of being positive, persistent, practical, proactive, and most of all patient. It will be worth it.

Congratulations, and Happy Birthday! That is a great day to have a rebirth.

It will be hard at first, but I promise it gets easy. Who knows, you might even find out you like drinking a lot of water!

You will love Hawaii! I am so jealous! For me, this is the year of creating my new life. I will continue to regain my health, my mobility, and my life. I am committed to becoming more fit and more creative. I want to focus on writing, photography, and art.

I agree. You might not be eating enough. Try to add some Protein and even increase your Water. Have you talked to your NUT?

I agree with the above posters. Keep Water with you at all times and sip all day. You may also want to set short-term goals. For example 8 oz when you get up in the morning. Another 8 oz before 10 am, etc. It does get easier, especially as you can take bigger sips and eventually just drink normally.

Frankly, I think it depends on how mobile you were before surgery. I had a difficult time with stairs even before surgery so I didn't even attempt them. I think it's just important to have someone around in case you fall or something. You need to be up and moving around as much as possible. Best of luck with your surgery.

Well, drink more Water and get in more Protein. You need at least 64 oz of Fluid a day. And if your instructions are to get in at least 40 grams of protein but aim for 60 grams, 30 grams is nowhere in that range. What exactly is confusing? You will probably feel lousy until you get enough hydration and nutrition. You just had major surgery and need to heal.

None of us lose at a constant or steady rate. Stalls are a normal, natural and necessary part of the process of losing weight. As you get closer to goal you may stall more frequently and your weight loss may slow down. Some of that is natural, some of it may be due to more relaxed food choices. Are you: Following your program? Getting in all of your Protein and fluids every day? Taking your Vitamins and supplements as directed? Exercising reasonably? If you are unhappy with your progress so far then why not make an appointment with your NUT? From where I sit it seems to me you are doing great! Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

If the numbers on the scale are going to make you upset, anxious, or just plain crazy, please consider not weighing very often. None of us lose at a constant or steady rate. We all stall. Most of us experience our first stall about three weeks after surgery but that varies, too. Just follow your program. Focus on getting in all of your Protein and fluids. Take your Vitamins and supplements as instructed. Exercise when cleared. And, stay off the scale. Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

The days after surgery you will be full of IV fluids and swollen from surgery, so I highly recommend that you stay off the scale and only weigh at your follow-up appointments go a while. I started at a very high weight and did notice some physical changes in the first few days but did not weigh until a week after surgery. I was pleasantly surprised. I find that people who weigh obsessively tend to drive themselves crazy.

I mean this in the kindest way, but please try not to focus on goals that require results (i.e., losing x number of pounds in y number of weeks). What works best to me is to set goals around the inputs that I control rather than the outputs. For instance, a goal to swim laps for an hour four times this week. Or, to drink at least 64 oz of Water a day, etc. Also, rather than calories, focus on reaching your Protein and Fluid goals and making healthy choices (i.e., avoiding starches and minimizing sugar).

I think our bodies like variety whether it is food or exercise. It wouldn't hurt to shake things up a little as long as you are meeting your basic requirements. Have fun on the treadmill!

Stalls are a normal, natural, and necessary part of the process. Although most people experience their first stall about three weeks after surgery, some people stall earlier and some later than that. Just follow your program. Focus on getting in all of your Protein and fluids, take your Vitamins and supplements as directed, and stay off the scale of it drives you crazy. Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

Can you reach your goal with the sleeve? Yes. Can you reach your goal by eating under 800 calories every day? Maybe. By keeping your metabolism low it may be possible, but in my non-professional opinion it would probably be making it harder. If you follow your program, get in all of your Protein and fluids, make healthy choices, take your Vitamins and supplements, and exercise you should be able to reach your goal.

It's all relative. At a starting weight of 238 you will not lose as much as someone who started out at 538. You can't compare raw numbers.

I agree with @Babbs. Also, are you getting in all of your Protein and fluids. Eating enough protein will keep you satisfied longer and we often mistake thirst for hunger. If you are hungry, try drinking more Water. If you are still hungry, have a small, protein rich snack. Be sure and avoid starches and sugar which will make you crave starches and sugar.

Bumping this because we seem to have a lot of folks who had their surgery recently so may be fast approaching their first stall.

My suggestions? Listen to @@Babbs, she knows what she is talking about. Also, stay off the scale and Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

I consider Protein as most important. If at the end of the day I am short on protein but my calories are relatively "high" then I choose a high protein snack. That would be the day it would more likely be a premier Protein shake than Peanut Butter. I'd rather be a little high on calories than short on protein.

If you like salty, cheesy, crunchy things try Mr. Cheese O's. At 10 grams of protein they have become my go to post-swim snack.

Please don't focus on your weight loss numbers. In the first days and weeks after surgery you are swollen, full of IV fluids and healing from major surgery.

I find it a good practice to assume the best until you have evidence to the contrary. You will be fine. The surgeon will talk to you about what your goals and talk about options. It's just part of the process.

In my opinion 50-60 grams of protein is really low and most probably why your weight loss is slow. Have you tried increasing your protein? What about your fluids. Are you getting at least 64 oz a day?

I am so sorry this happened to you. It sounds very frustrating. I know that the consent forms I signed said that if the surgeon needed to make a change in procedure on the fly because of what he finds when he opens me up he could. But, to have a surgeon perform a surgery based on a conversation he THINKS he had with you without documentation is scary. I truly hope that even though this wasn't what you hoped or wanted to happen that you will be successful. One thing I noted in your follow up was that you have lost 8 lbs but feel you should have lost 10-15 pounds. I am not aware of any surgeon being able to predict weight loss that specifically. I am sure that 8 pounds is within a range that is expected as much as 15 pounds is. No one knows how much we will lose and how our bodies will respond right after surgery whatever procedure you have.