JamieLogical

Try other protein shake options. There are literally HUNDREDS available. You can even use unflavored protein powder and make your own flavors with sugar-free syrups and flavorings. I wasn't allowed any solid foods until 40 days post-op. The idea of eating bacon at 5 days is completely terrifying to me. You didn't have any ill consequences, thank God, but why would you continue to press your luck? Even if you feel you absolutely MUST move beyond liquids (which I don't buy), why not go for soft foods and purees. Why would you immediately jump to not only solid foods, but one of the more challenging solid foods, pork? I don't get it. Why have the surgery in the first place?

Pre-op diet IS a bitch. You're right about that. Hang in there. I'd love to tell you it gets "easier" soon, but between the surgery and the post-op diet, you have trying times ahead. The most important virtue during these next few months will be patience. It's a long road ahead, but it will be worth it in the end.

I am so sorry for everything you've had to go through. It's terrible enough that you've had to endure all of the physical complications, but to now have the love and support of your family through this challenging time is so much worse. Why are they keeping their distance and not offering you the emotional support you need? Were they opposed to the surgery from the beginning?

I can't help you with personal experience at TJ hospitals, since both time I've been to TJ for surgery, it was at surgical centers. But, I just wanted to welcome you to the forums and wish you the best of luck in your research and choosing a surgeon.

What about a protein bar? On a long workout like that, some carbs would actually be a good thing.

That feeling of accomplishment at the end of a race is pretty addictive. Especially when you better your time from race to race.

Amazing! Congrats! How did you feel afterward?

AMEN! I see sooooo many people on these forums every day complaining about their "slow" loss. Hell, I've been one of those people! But this race to the finish line is a remnant of our old diet mentality. In the past, when we have tried to lose weight, we have wanted to lose it fast, because we wanted to be "done" with our diet. We'll never be done with WLS. We have permanently altered our digestive systems in such a way that we can never fully return to our old habits. And we have to work every single day to get in our Protein and Water and exercise. That will never stop. When we get to goal, we still need protein and water and exercise. So what is the rush? Why does it matter if it takes 6 months or 16 months? I know it can be frustrating. I've lost weight faster "on my own" in the past too. I've been in a stall for over a month now and it's can be pretty trying at times to stay motivated to keep on track with my food and exercise. But the great thing now is I'm not gaining. In the past, had I reached this point on my old diets, I'd be regaining like crazy. At least this is just a stall.

You've lost 13 pounds in 3.5 weeks and you're losing your mind? I don't understand.

If you do get a drink, have it BEFORE you eat. I can usually drink fluids right up to the time I eat (supposed to stop 5 minutes before, but don't always), but I usually can't drink again until a good 40 minutes after I eat. As for food, order an appetizer or soup/chili. Ask for a to-go box right away so you can portion out the right amount of food and then put the rest in the box.

A few days out, protein shakes and yogurt were pretty much the only things I was allowed (along with water, of course). I was also allowed broth. I strained different kinds of broth-based soups, rather than just having plain broth for the extra flavor.

You will go into "starvation mode" if you keep up that level of exercise without increasing your calorie intake. You do NOT want to be burning more calories through exercising than you consume in a day. That is a form of anorexia called "Anorexia Athletica". You do need a daily deficit to lose weight, but most of that deficit should be coming from your basal metabolic rate, NOT additional exercise. Try to make sure you are at LEAST eating as many calories as you are burning through exercise.

Just so you know, I was told no chips or anything crispy until THREE MONTHS post-op because the sharp bits could damage my stomach. And here you are eating them more like three DAYS post-op. It's just really scary that you would put yourself at risk like that. I am glad you are going to talk to your therapist. You need to take care of yourself!

I take 20mg omeprazole (generic Prilosec) twice daily. Once in the morning and once before bed. I am 8 months post-op.

I agree with the other poster who said this is outright self-harm. You can do real, serious damage to yourself trying to eat solid foods this soon after surgery. You risk opening your stomach along your staple line before it's had a chance to heal. You REALLY need to pull it together and talk to your surgical team immediately.

There was a thread a while back about dizziness a few months post-op. I finally went to my PCP on Tuesday and she is attributing my dizziness to low blood pressure. My blood pressure has ALWAYS been normal and even ventured up into the pre-hypertension range. I would say in my entire life, it's always been 120-135 over 70-85. At the doctor's office on Tuesday, they took it multiple times while sitting, standing, and lying down and it was about 95 over 65. The dizziness has been an issue for a couple of months now, especially when I go from sitting to standing or lying down to standing. But sometimes I feel dizzy just when I'm sitting still. She ordered a bunch of blood work and I got the call this morning that everything came back normal. She checked my b12, thyroid, Iron, electrolytes, etc. Now it's just a mystery and I'm hoping to go back next week for further examination. Anyone else experience anything like this? If it's nothing that would show up in blood work, what else could it possibly be?

Exactly. You are not gaining fat. You are retaining Water. Edit: Just for some perspective. It takes 3500 excess calories to gain a pound of fat. Meanwhile, even if you are getting the bare minimum of water, you are drinking 4 POUNDS of water a day. If you retain just 1/4 of that, you will see a fluctuation of 1 pound on the scale.

I lost 14.8 pounds in my first month. Averaged about 6 pounds a month since then.

I eat about an hour and a half before I run. I have greek yogurt with a little granola or kashi cereal mixed in, so the carbs can fuel me through the run and then I have a high-protein dinner shortly after running.

Well, I'm completely addicted to Quest Bars, so I don't know if I should recommend them, since they are so addictive. I tried Power Crunch earlier this week and it was okay, but not a Quest Bar by any stretch. The main issue I had with them was the low protein (comparatively) and the high fat/calories. My nutritionist doesn't want me having that much saturated fat. 6 grams of saturated fat is kind of a lot. But, on the other hand, the main advantage they have over Quest Bars is that they don't use "fake fiber" to keep the net carbs low.

I definitely wasn't getting in ALL my water and protein just a few days post-op. I did my best to focus on water first. My nutritionist recommended trying to get 1 ounce every 15 minutes. Marching in place while sipping helped some.

You definitely shouldn't compare yourself to others. That'll drive you crazy in a hurry! My starting weight was much lower than yours, but I "only" lose 41.2 pounds in my first 5 months post-op.

Has it only been 2 weeks since your surgery or are you saying that you haven't lost much weight in the past two weeks? If it's only been two weeks since your surgery, I hope you aren't working out too hard. You need to recover! You should just be walking. If you are saying you haven't lost weight in the past couple of weeks, then that's perfectly normal. Everyone goes through stalls. Especially if you have increased your workouts, your body will retain Water to repair your muscles when you start working out harder.

@@Bluesea71 Well you can see my belly button at least in some of my gallery pics. from far away, it looks pretty much like a normal belly button to me? Up really close, you can see a little scarring inside where the old belly button "tube" was stitched to the new belly button hole.

Sounds to me like you are taking much too high a dose of B12. I was told to only take 500 mcg daily.