Inner Surfer Girl

You are definitely not eating enough. You HAVE to get in your protein and stay hydrated.

Oh, yeah. You need to eat more and make sure you treat your protein target as a minimum and not a maximum. Dr. Weiss is my surgeon, too and he is where I learned how important protein is in this process. It sounds counterintuitive, but it really works.

Stalls are a normal, natural, and necessary part of the process of losing weight. We all stall periodically, and most of us stall about three weeks or so after surgery. Just follow your program. Focus on getting in all of your Protein and fluids. Take your Vitamins and supplements as instructed. Exercise when cleared (even just walking a little bit every day to start will help). Stay off the scale. And, Embrace the Stall http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

I have a picture I took of the bulletin board at my surgeon's office that has tips for keeping our metabolism revved. I'll see if I can find it. In the meantime, off the top of my head: exercise, getting enough sleep, fidgeting, eating frequent small meals, staying hydrated will all help.

Love the swans. I am so looking you up whenever I get to England. I would love to tramp up hill and dale with you in Wellies and jeans.

I know my fat is and was, in large part, a physical barrier to avoid unwanted attention. I agree that therapy and counseling is really helpful. Attractiveness is so much more than physical looks. I know plenty of "pretty" people I find unattractive, usually due to their attitude, personality, how they treat other people, etc. and others who may not be conventionally "pretty" who are downright beautiful, usually because they are genuine, confident, kind, caring, generous, open, and honest. P.S., drunks at nightclubs are not the best judges of character, attractiveness, or anything else. I would be wary of putting too much stock in anything someone says at a club (positive or negative).

So, you are eating 1-2 oz and then an hour or two later you feel nauseous? That doesn't sound like the food is making you nauseus. Are you staying hydrated? If you are only eating 1-2 oz, then in an hour or two you should be eating again. Early out I needed to be eating (Protein shakes, etc.) or drinking fluids just about all the time to get in all of my protein. Have you talked to your surgeon and/or NUT about your concerns? Are you taking a PPI? Are you taking anti nausea meds?

"Feel the fear and do it anyway." As others have mentioned this is a common fear. But, it is actually more common to enjoy going. Do you have a YMCA or Wellness Center associated with a hospital near you? I would recommend either of those kinds of facilities if they are available. Personally, my primary requirement is can indoor pool. Swimming is a great exercise. Group exercise classes are great, whether they are on land or in the water: Water aerobics, Zumba, yoga, tai chi, dance classes, etc. They are all exercise. Maybe even invite your husband to take a yoga class or a ballroom, salsa, or country-western line dancing class with you. As a bonus, most Ys and Wellness Centers that I have belonged to have child care available.

Yeah!

Cut out caffeine and carbonation, drink lots of water, and drink protein shakes. Be sure and keep your protein up.

I didn't have a puree phase, but I ate (and still eat) a lot of geek yogurt, cottage cheese, tuna, refried Beans, chili, Protein pudding, etc. Everything tastes better with melted cheese on top (except maybe the Greek yogurt). A lot of folks like The World According to Eggface's ricotta bake. It wasn't one of my favorites. What does your NUT suggest?

Hello, and welcome. I was sleeved April 20, 2015 by Dr. Weiss and couldn't be happier. He is an awesome surgeon. Take a deep breath. You will need to be patient. Everything doesn't happen overnight. This whole process will go more smoothly if you practice: patience, polite persistence, perseverance and positivity. I went through Georgetown but Bluegrass is probably similar: they will schedule you to come in for nutrition counseling, a psych clearance, etc. In addition, you will need a cardiac clearance, and a bunch of tests. They will help you et those scheduled, too. Your first visit or so, you will probably receive a notebook with lots of material and a checklist. Best of luck with your journey and keep us posted on how you are doing.

@@jintycb, very elegant. You look like a jet setter. When you sashay through the airport with your scarf and dark glasses, you should expect first class service!

Welcome! It sounds like you are well on your way to being successful. Learning as much as you can will pay huge dividends. It sounds like you have a great support team. Addressing this in your 30s is a smart move.

You look great! Congratulations!

One thing you may try while in the hospital is to let them know about your concerns of being alone. Most hospitals have social workers, chaplains, and lots of volunteers. If you communicate your needs, I bet you could have some kind folks gladly stop by to check on you. Also, I don't know whether or not you practice a religion, but if you do, let your pastor know about your concerns. There are often people who would love to help you if they only knew how they could do so.

You are right on schedule for your first stall. As to being tired, you just had major surgery and are still healing. Focus on getting in your Protein and fluids, take your Vitamins, and be gentle with yourself. You are allowed to rest!

My NUT suggested using some of the low-fat jarred gravy. It's certainly not gourmet but it's easy.

Can you have oatmeal? I occasionally make the weight control oatmeal and add Protein powder an/or PB2. My latest concoction is a packet of carnation no sugar added breakfast essentials chocolate and chocolate PB2. You probably won't be able to eat it all at once. I live on tuna, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, turkey, cheese, etc. To up calories try adding a piece of fresh fruit, berries, etc. You just may need to eat more frequently.

Yum.

Congratulations on the success you have had so far and for being willing to reach out for help. You have received lots of great advice already. Have you talked to your NUT lately about your goals? What I suggest is to go back to basics: Follow your program. Track your food. Use a fitness tracker. Focus on getting in all of your Protein and at least 64 oz of fluids, every day. (What is your protein target?) Avoid starches, added sugars, and fried foods. Eat mindfully and slowly, taking small bites and chewing thoroughly. Take your Vitamins and supplements as directed. Exercise. Maybe talk with a trainer about your fitness goals and/or try something new and different. And, Embrace the Stall http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

https://medium.com/@thefatshadow/on-tough-love-and-your-fat-friend-s-health-bec20b13af78#.1q5kwgvpu This is an excellent and moving essay.

Definitely sample the various Protein shakes and supplements before you invest in large quantities. Edited: because autocorrect has a mind of its own.

I started out with very thick hair and I still have very thick hair. If I experienced any thinning, it is barely noticeable. I think a few things helped: 1) I got my hair cut short not long after surgery. It was long enough that I could donate it if I went short, so I took the plunge. I love it. 2) I have worked diligently to get at least 100 grams of Protein every day. 3) I drink a lot of water/fluid (at least 64 oz a day). 4) I take all of my Vitamins and supplements as directed. 5) I try to eat clean, whole foods as much as possible and I eat good fats. I may just be lucky. Even if you experience hair loss, it should be temporary. All of these things will also help your skin. In addition, using a good moisturizer and taking care of your skin will help.

I have learned a great deal. You can learn a lot from reading this forum. Some of the things that I have identified as critical success factors for me. I: Weaned myself off of caffeine and carbonation gradually before surgery. Made up my mind to do everything my medical team asked me to do, even if I thought I couldn't do it. Committed to being rigorously honest with myself and my medical team. Learned as much as I could about the surgery process. Decided to make it my policy not to tell people how much weight I have lost when they ask. Now, if someone asks how much I have lost I tell them that I am not sharing that information with anyone. Followed my pre- and post-op program. Track my food using MyFitnessPal. Wear a fitness tracker. Focus on getting in my 100 grams of Protein and at least 64 oz of fluids, every day. Avoid added sugars, starches, and fried foods. Take my Vitamins and supplements as directed. Practice eating mindfully, slowly, chewing thoroughly and taking small bites. Exercise regularly. Weigh infrequently (early out I only weighed at doctors appointments). Participate in the forums on this site. Try to practice creativity more frequently (I try to do something creative every day). And, most importantly, learning to Embrace the Stall! Embrace the Stall http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall