JamieLogical

Follow your nutritionist's instructions when it comes to post-op diet. I wasn't allowed baby food (not that I would have wanted it anyway!).

I didn't realize you hadn't been working out lately. How long has that been the case and does your overuse injury prevent you from doing ANY exercises or just specific types?

Working out definitely increased my hunger. I had to add a morning snack because I was getting hungry between breakfast and lunch. When I started working out I added a reduced fat string cheese as a morning snack and some kashi cereal or granola to my afternoon greek yogurt. By adding a little bit of carbs to my afternoon snack, I had more energy for my workouts, which I always do right after I get off work. Those small changes helped alleviate my hunger and helped fuel me through my workouts.

The are the perfect size, since you are only supposed to start off with 2 oz. of soft foods/purees when you get to that stage. I bought big tubs of reduced fat cottage cheese and portioned them out into those containers so I could just grab them out of the fridge. Also worked great for tuna once I was allowed to have it, though I could NOT finish two whole ounces of tuna at the start.

I felt the same way when I started week 6, but that was also coming off a week-long vacation where I didn't work out at all. My week 5 long run was my last workout before vacation and when I tried to start week 6 when I got home, it was tougher than I thought it would be!

You should do a little research on the matter, before offering your "expertise": http://www.precisionnutrition.com/high-protein-safe-for-kidneys And, btw, even most of the people who claim that protein is bad for the kidneys wouldn't consider 100 grams too much, depending on the person's weight.

@@Bonawanabfree I think you're right that part of the problem here is the term "starvation mode". People are taking it literally, when really it might be better called "preservation mode". When you have a drastic reduction in caloric intake, you body wants to preserve itself. And while it is true (obviously) that your body will burn fat stores for the fuel it's no longer getting from food, it will also drastically lower your metabolism in an effort to preserve that fat for as long as possible. The mistake people are making is assuming that their metabolism will remain constant, whether they are burning food or stored fat for energy and that is simply NOT true. The switch to burning fat for fuel changes your metabolism as a mechanism for self preservation.

I had a two week pre-op diet that consisted of 3 Protein shakes per day and one green salad with calorie-free dressing. I was also allowed sugar-free Jello and popsicles as Snacks. I honestly didn't bother with the jello or popsicles. My body figured out pretty quickly that they didn't have any calories, so they didn't satisfy my hunger. If anything, they made me hungrier. Things that got me through.... I stopped exercising the second week. I just had NO energy and trying to keep up with exercising was killing me. The other thing I did was go to bed SUPER early and just sleep a lot. Can't eat when you're asleep! Post-op, the main thing I would recommend is not to over-prepare. Protein Shakes and things you think you like pre-op may not be as appealing post-op, because your tastes can change. I ended up with a whole bunch of protein powders I never used. Plus, you'll be up and about pretty quickly and shopping is a good way to get some walking in. So shopping for what you need AFTER surgery can be a good excuse to get out of the house and do something. Once I was on my soft-food stage, I used my food scale and some 2 oz. plastic containers I bought a LOT. So I highly recommend those. Here are the containers I used. They were perfect! http://www.amazon.com/OXO-Blocks-Freezer-Storage-Containers/dp/B004QZBEFK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1429621196&sr=8-2&keywords=oxo+2+oz.+container

I've only been seeing my PCP since I was sleeved in Mexico. I do have email and phone follow-ups with my surgeon's office, most specifically the nutritionist, but my PCP has handled all my post-op vitals and blood work. I saw her a 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, and I'm scheduled to see her next week at 8 months.

I switched to the bariatric multivitamin pre-op.

That's how I feel about my PCP! So lucky to have her!

I think that's part of what scares me. I feel confident and good now. I'm afraid of what I might feel like if I do lose another 20 pounds. Will I feel "too" skinny?

I spent one night pre-op, one in the clinic, then two more in the hotel post-op.

You may not be getting enough Protein and eating too many carbs. Granola bars, fruit, salad, tacos... all have carbs. Maybe try tracking your food through an app like SparkPeople or MyFitnessPal for a few days to get a better sense of what you're getting in terms of calories, carbs, and protein? If you are eating 6 times a day (which is how often I eat), I can't figure out why you would be hungry unless you are getting too many carbs and not enough filling protein. Protein definitely fills me up more and longer than anything with carbs. While you shouldn't worry about limiting calories, you *should* worry about getting enough, especially if you are planning to increase your exercise frequency and intensity. You need to be sure to get enough calories to sustain your workouts.

We definitely need some more information before we can start offering advice. Try to answer the following questions: What are you eating? How often are you eating? How much are you eating at a time? How much Protein do you get on average? How much Water do you get on average? Are you exercising regularly? If you are exercising regularly, how long, often, and what are you specifically doing? Did you follow your surgeon's post-op nutrition plan?

Wow! You are two full months out and only getting in 350 calories, plus you are working out??! That seems horrible! You really really should be getting more calories than that. Especially if you are exercising. At two months out you should be able to eat solids, right? I was allowed solids at 40 days. What meats have you tried and how have you handled them? I get my protein daily from Protein Bars, Protein shakes, cheese sticks, greek yogurt and meat. I have meat for lunch and dinner every day. How are you with eggs? That's another good source of protein that is usually pretty easy to stomach.

I agree with @@CanyonBaby in that this is just the beginning of what is going to be a VERY tough period of your life. You have to keep your eye on the prize. Know that through all the ups and downs, in the long term, it WILL be worth it. I don't envy where you are now, because I remember how rough the next few months were once my pre-op started. But now, almost 8 months post-op, it feels SO worth it. Hang in there. Take it one day at a time. Just try to make it to the end of each day. Go to bed as soon as you get home from work if you have to! Do what you need to do to stick to the plan and make it through.

I don't think it's crazy to have the WLS after losing 170 pound on your own. Seems like you still have a ways to go and plus, you are looking ahead to the HARDEST part, which is maintenance. WLS is an excellent tool if you have the right mindset and if you've been able to lose 170 on your own, it really seems like you are willing to work hard and stick to the plan, so you should be able to be very successful with WLS. You need to make the right decision for YOU. Hopefully your family will come around eventually, but you can't let their reservations deter you from making your own decision.

Are you on a PPI? Acid may be the problem. But, it definitely took me a while to feel "normal" after eating. I also had a lot of trial and error in figuring out the right amount to eat to be full, but not make myself uncomfortable or cause pain. You will get there! It definitely takes time. Four weeks out is not very far. I wasn't even allowed solids until 40 days post-op and that was a whole other world of trial and error and learning. But by the time you are 3-4 months out, you will feel normal again, I promise!

Boost is not a very good option for a ready-to-drink shake. There are much better options out there with more protein and fewer carbs/sugars. I liked EAS AdvantEDGE Carb Control, which I bought at Walmart and Target. Others here swear by Premier Protein from Costco.

Are you taking measurements? That may be a much more reliable way to track your progress than the scale. I know you said you don't believe in "starvation mode", but do you believe in anorexia? There is a form of it called anorexia athletica, which is when you are burning more calories through exercise than you are consuming (not accounting for basal metabolic rate). So if you are burning 800-900 calories through structured, formal exercise and you are only consuming 800-900 calories a day, you are essentially anorexic. You NEED to consume enough calories to sustain your exercise. While you need a daily deficit in order to lose weight, too large a deficit will definitely impede your weight loss and cause other health concerns. Another thing to factor in is that building muscle can cause you to retain some Water. As you push your muscles to the limits through strength training, the microtears you create will cause your muscle to retain water to protect itself and repair. This should NOT deter you from doing weight training, because that is ultimately VERY good for you, but it can cause some fluctuation in your weight as you step up the intensity.

It was NOT easy. That pre-op diet is the WORST. Hang in there. It does get a little easier after the first couple of days. Not "easy", but "easier".

I would love to be able to do that, but I can only stomach really really ice cold water. I had to switch to a double-walled thermos-style bottle to keep the water cold enough and that means it's not transparent. But since I made the switch, I know I'm getting enough water, because the bottle holds 24 ounces and I easily go through two of them while I'm at work. Then I drink at least 10-12 ounces while working out and at least two glasses of water after dinner. And that's not even counting the 3 cups of coffee I drink per day, which they Mayo Clinic says DOES count towards hydration, despite popular myths about caffeine as a diuretic.

Wow! Congrats to you! You are looking good and it sounds like you are focused on continuing your journey, which is amazing.

It's pretty common for EVERYONE to go through a bout of depression and regret in the early weeks post-op. With his complications, it seems even more justified. This surgery is a real life change and has a tough recovery period. I struggled physically and emotionally for the first several weeks and some of it continued even into the first couple of months. I did a lot better once I was eating solid foods (40 days post-op for me) and back into a regular routine. But there is definitely a period of emotional adjustment that has to happen. His relationship with food will never be the same. His life will never be the same. But he WILL eventually feel "normal" again and lead a "normal" life. It just takes a while to get to that point. I don't envy your position, just like I didn't envy my husband having to deal with the emotional and physical roller coaster I was on. Just hang in there and encourage HIM to hang in there as well. Have him come onto these forums and post his concerns and frustrations. We've all been there and sometimes just knowing you aren't alone can go a long way toward improving your outlook.