Inner Surfer Girl

The only chewable a I take are my Calcium chews and my C. The rest are just regular pills (except my sublingual B-12 which you melt under your tongue). You may be able to swallow your pills and supplements right after surgery. I would think crushing chewable a would be ok but then what would you do? Put them in Water? For me right after surgery it was harder for me to drink water than to take pills. But, everyone is different. Why not ask your medical team?

You may never feel "full" again. What you will probably experience is discomfort and/or other signals that you have over eaten (like sneezing, runny nose, burps, hiccups, etc.). That is why it is important to measure your portions, eat slowly, take small bites, and chew thoroughly. Once you start eating solid foods you will feel different.

Why aren't you tracking what you eat? Without tracking I'd never reach my Protein goals since I can't remember what I did 10 minutes ago. Tracking protein (at the very least) is a major success factor as far as I am concerned. Getting back to basics may help you get back on track. Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

It sounds like you are overeating. Sneezing and/or a runny nose are two signals for me that I have over eaten.

It's great that you are doing so well. Unless you are really swollen, you probably won't feel much of any restriction until you get to solid foods. What you will be looking for is feeling satisfied and not "full". It will be really easy to go from satisfied to really uncomfortable with one bite so it is very important to measure portion sizes, take very small bites, chew thoroughly, and eat slowly. For now, sipping slowly instead of taking big swallows should keep you from overdoing it. As to weight loss, just stay off the scale for the first few weeks. Some people gain after surgery due to swelling and Fluid retention, and just about everyone experiences a stall at about three weeks post-op. Just follow your program. Focus on getting in all of your Protein and fluids. Take your Vitamins as directed. And exercise when cleared. Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

I am looking forward to using it. I'll try to keep you posted on how well it works once I get the new band.

Congratulations and welcome to the forum. This is a great site for information and encouragement. Best of luck with your surgery and weight loss journey. Keep us posted on how you are doing!

I got the Misfit Shine (branded by Speedo) as a Christmas gift because it is supposed to work for swimming. Apparently, the band that comes prepackaged is pretty flimsy so my sister also ordered me a sturdier band. When it comes in I'll be able to tell how well the tracker works in the pool. I am looking forward to using it because I haven't been counting laps, just going by duration.

Are you at 140 pounds 3 weeks after surgery? What was your starting weight and what is your goal weight?

I just wanted to reach out and let you know I sympathize and feel for your challenges. You have already received some great advice and encouragement. I also want to encourage you to explore your options for assistance, respite care, and other resources. Even though you are in a rural area, there may still be services that you aren't aware of. You may need to even check at the State level to see what options there may be. I live in a small town surrounded by a lot of rural/farm communities and we do have some resources although not as many as a larger city. And, since our state is predominantly rural, there are a lot of services provided at the county level. You may also want to consider seeing what local churches have by way of resources (both formal and informal). Even if it is having someone who can come by periodically to stay while you go out, a local church may know just the person to help. Keep asking questions and exploring options and you may be surprised what you uncover. Best of luck and keep us posted on how you are doing.

It's all in how you look at them. Stalls or plateaus are a normal, natural, and necessary part of the weight loss process. If you intend to lose a lot of weight you will stall periodically throughout your journey. The alternative is to go back to old, pre-op yo-yo dieting behavior. Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

I use MyFitnessPal. It is great for tracking Protein and since my memory is lousy, I couldn't do this without an easy way to track my food. MyFitnessPal works for me. I just got a Misfit Shine but am still waiting for a durable band so haven't started using it. I am sure there are other apps. I have downloaded a Couch to 5K app but am not yet ready to start with it. I do 95% of my exercise in the pool.

I am so sorry to hear this but we are all human and don't always make the best choices. The only thing I can suggest is that you forgive yourself but reflect on what happened so you can learn from this situation so it can help you make better choices next time. Going back to basics is a great plan! Today is a new day and even a new year! Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

Now is not the time to worry. None of us lose at a constant or steady rate. We all have stalls and slow downs of weight loss. Almost everyone experiences a stall about three weeks after surgery. You are right on schedule. Stalls are a normal, natural, and necessary part of the process of losing weight. Just follow your program. Focus on getting in all of your Protein and fluids every day. Take your Vitamins and supplements as directed. And exercise. Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

I want to mention this book here because it has come up in a couple of recent posts. It is also not related to bariatric surgery or even food, but I recommend it all the time because it is so relevant to our lives today. The One Life Solution by Dr. Henry Cloud.

Congratulations! I love your smile!

Everyone loses at different rates at different times. You will stall and your weight loss will slow down, especially as you get close to goal. Almost everyone in experiences their first stall about three weeks after surgery, so your weight loss will slow down or stall soon. Don't let that discourage you. It's a normal, natural, and necessary part of the process. Just follow your program. Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

Best of luck with quitting smoking. I know that my surgeon will not operate on anyone who hasn't quit smoking and is not committed to staying smoke free. It has got to be hard to quit but it will be worth it.

All of these recipes sound delicious.

A lot of Greek yogurt and cottage cheese! I also ate/eat a lot of refried Beans, soft fish, etc. Try the ricotta bake that is on The World According to Eggface blog. That blog has lots of recipes if you cook.

I think most of us don't realize how normal stalls are because pre-op, a stall was when we usually gave up and quit whatever diet we were on at the time -- hence the yo-yo dieting. Now, I know that if I just keep doing what I am supposed to do, I will lose weight.

Congratulations on losing 55 pounds so far. That is a big deal and you should be very proud of your accomplishment. If it were me, I would skip the Biggest Loser competition at work. In my opinion competitions like that aren't healthy and set people up for all kinds of disordered eating behavior. Weight loss isn't a competition. As to the fact that you are at a stall, I would suggest you just go back to basics. Why not make an appointment with your NUT and talk about your goals? In the meantime, track your food and follow your program. Focus on meeting your Protein and Fluid target every day. Take your Vitamins as instructed. And, exercise. Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

Will they perform a leak test before you leave? It is important that you be able to get protein and fluids down before you go home.

I'll jump in here. Don't worry about calories right now. Your wife needs to focus on doing everything she can to meet her protein and Fluid targets. Dehydration can be extremely serious and fluids and protein are both critical for healing. She needs to sip, sip, sip, until she reaches her targets. sugar-free Popsicles and crushed ice also help with hydration. Fortunately, all fluids, including Protein shakes, count towards the fluid target.

Mine was at a hospital and was technically outpatient even though I spent one night in the hospital. I know of some folks who go home the same day.