Beni

@@muck
I am so sorry you had such a horrible experience. You have to eat and drink even if your appetite is suppressed. Taking Vitamins and supplements is also very important. Yes, nausea can happen to some people but there are meds for it and saltine crackers. Smaller portions help too. If all you can eat is two spoon fulls. That's okay, you can eat 6 to 8 times per day.
I remember my Nutritionist saying 3 meals per day, if you are hungry or not. In the beginning it was two or 3 baby spoons only.
We have to eat and drink to live.
I am very happy with my bypass surgery, it has changed my life and I am only 11 weeks post surgery. I feel amazing.

I am laughing so hard with this post. Only WLS patients understand. I used to wear Lane Bryant cotton briefs. They have some stretch with lycra in the actual fabric. You may want to give them a try. They are wonderful and there are 2 or 3 styles and lots of color choices. Now at 177lbs and a size 12 regular they fall off and there is no size smaller then 14-16W. I have purchased 4 different types of underwear and nothing feels right. I am mourning the loss of my favorite underwear.

I burp like all the time. I only did that when I was pregnant which was kind of related to nausea. And I have bloating and kind of painful lower abdomen. Like I ate something that didn't agree with me. But it doesn't go away.

Funniest thing happened yesterday. Had to go to the apple store with my computer. It's heavy so I placed it in a piece of luggage with wheels.
Well, in order to get it out I had to bend down and forward. Behold my boobs decided to slide right out of the bra. They poured out from the top and when I got up I had this bump on my chest that was not exactly easy to conceal. I had the Genius dude right in front of me and it wasn't like I could get my hands in my shirt and organize things. Jeez, ridiculous situation to be in. When I finally got to the car I couldn't help but laugh, look around and rearrange things. Note to self, when purchasing a bra, I must do the bend forward test to make sure things stay in. Trust me, I didn't see this one coming!

Funniest thing happened yesterday. Had to go to the apple store with my computer. It's heavy so I placed it in a piece of luggage with wheels.
Well, in order to get it out I had to bend down and forward. Behold my boobs decided to slide right out of the bra. They poured out from the top and when I got up I had this bump on my chest that was not exactly easy to conceal. I had the Genius dude right in front of me and it wasn't like I could get my hands in my shirt and organize things. Jeez, ridiculous situation to be in. When I finally got to the car I couldn't help but laugh, look around and rearrange things. Note to self, when purchasing a bra, I must do the bend forward test to make sure things stay in. Trust me, I didn't see this one coming!

I am laughing so hard with this post. Only WLS patients understand. I used to wear Lane Bryant cotton briefs. They have some stretch with lycra in the actual fabric. You may want to give them a try. They are wonderful and there are 2 or 3 styles and lots of color choices. Now at 177lbs and a size 12 regular they fall off and there is no size smaller then 14-16W. I have purchased 4 different types of underwear and nothing feels right. I am mourning the loss of my favorite underwear.

Hello, gladiators,
It has been a while, sorry, life just got busy. But I think of you often and wonder how you are all doing. I am at 154lbs. Gained two pounds. I have read that it is pretty common for that to happen. To reach a low and then clim up to a more realistic weight. Of course any weight gain brings on the stress of thinking, I am going to gain it all back. It is very scary, I must say.
I can eat a lot more then I should. At times I am astonished. I think the pouch opening streaches and the food keeps pushing out. Also, if you take a little break during your meal, 10 minutes later I find I can eat some more. I never felt the full feeling. I always went from hungry to sick. It's still hard for me to tell. The only thing that works is to have a plate with a reasonable helping and not have seconds.
I can't do alcohol. I go from fine to roaring drunk to fast asleep in 5 minutes. I am exaggerating but it sure feels like it.
My biggest problem is snacking. I can't seem to stop the munchies. Every hour I feel like I need to have a little something. Sometimes a little something is a lot of something. I had a restaurant size salad (big) for lunch then of course I could only eat about 1/3. I had leftovers, an hour later I had another 1/3 and finished it off another hour later. Wow! It's like I completely bypassed the physical limitations of my surgery. Not doing that again.
However, if I do get a proper meal 3 times per day and a couple Snacks, I am fine. Why, why is it so hard to just do that? It's like I am ADD about eating. I can't focus on it.
Other then that, everything is great. I feel great and my hair is coming back. I am at about 17 months past surgery and my new hair is like 2 inches long. I can see there is lot of hair that length throughout. It's coming in nice and strong. My energy level is great and I feel positively great.

@@Glyndalin
Yes, getting all the Protein is hard. First I am not hungry, except when I have not eaten in hours and I get a bit of the shakes (low blood sugar, I think) and have to eat something pronto. The early signs are that I start dropping things. Like yesterday, I dropped the car keys 3 times in a row. Butter fingers!
What are you doing to get all the needed Protein?

@@smiley922
Working on your tan in style!

I know, it's an odd concept but you have to wear compression garments when you have plastic surgery. I'm serious. So there is something to this. It's like lycra support not a corset. It's like wearing lycra pants to a workout, no organs move or get hurt.

Best decision of my life. The regrets were only early on because I was missing the comfort of eating a huge meal and lolling myself to sleep. Definitely not a healthy relationship with food. I also got sick quite a few times in the first few months because it turns out I had a hard time figuring out how to eat. Slow and chewing properly was hard for me. I used to be one of those super fast eaters. I Still get sick sometimes because I try to push it. Silly me.
Now, after losing 99 lbs, I am a ball of energy. Me, a ball of energy? I still can hardly believe it.

I had 500 thoughts. In fact, they would change from hour to hour. For an entire month I agonized. I can tell you now 'WHAT A WASTE OF TIME", if I could go back I would have done it years before. It was by far one of the best decisions of my life.

This too shall pass! Keep up the good spirits.

I had 500 thoughts. In fact, they would change from hour to hour. For an entire month I agonized. I can tell you now 'WHAT A WASTE OF TIME", if I could go back I would have done it years before. It was by far one of the best decisions of my life.

I had 500 thoughts. In fact, they would change from hour to hour. For an entire month I agonized. I can tell you now 'WHAT A WASTE OF TIME", if I could go back I would have done it years before. It was by far one of the best decisions of my life.

Yes, you can. it took almost a year for me but it was the most wonderful thing. That C-PAP was so uncomfortable. However, it is not the case for everyone. Some patients do have to keep using it but your chances are very good.
Also, in that year I had my pressure down graded twice. It got to the point that it was set at the lowest possible setting and it felt like I was sleeping in a wind tunnel. I remember telling my doctor, if we didn't watch out my brain was going to blow out the back of my head.
It sounds like allergies are getting the best of you right now. I too suffer from allergies and I used a nasal spray about 10 minutes before placing my mask on. It helped clear out my nose. I also took Nyquil every night.

Oh, I forgot to say, I no longer snore. Awesome!

Hey everyone. So glad to see your posts!!! I need to know I'm not alone. I am in the process of moving home to CT. Got laid-off again. Third time in four years since moving to Philly. I'm petrified! She is 5ft 8in and never weighed over 130. She is probably 105. In her kitchen is Cookies, chips, pastas, potato's, etc. The healthiest thing in her house is iceburg lettuce! Which has no nutritional value at all.
Sent from my XT1080 using the BariatricPal App

I don't know what your doctor requires but my GW doctor required a 6 week diet. My understanding it is to get you used to a new way of eating and frankly to test your resolve to do this surgery. I am good with following directions and I have stuck to the plan. I wasn't too worried about it because I know myself. However, I do understand some of us may need the time to focus on a new beginning and it takes time to develop new habits. My surgeon, not with GW that ended up choosing with 2,200 procedures under his belt only required 3 days of a liquid clear diet. That's it, 3 days and it was absolutely fine. He did require that I lose 5 lbs. I was 270 when I saw him late August and was 256 the day of surgery, Oct 28th. I had to wait because of the NUT appointments required by insurance. I ended up losing 14lbs just because I was in a hurry to get going on my weight loss.
I have to tell you. It's not so hard to follow the plan after surgery because you are not hungry and your stomach won't allow you to eat too much or you get sick and throw up. Once that happens, you never, never again want to eat too much. It works like a charm. My meals are 1/4 cup, no joking. I had the Bypass but I imagine the Sleeve is very similar. On the other hand, before surgery it's very hard because you are HUNGRY.

@@misstvb
I think you may be right, it's boredom. I could have 10 Snacks in a day. My lowest weight was 152 but this morning I was 168. That's 6 pounds. Well, to be fair I had been at 154/155 for at least two months. Moving all day is key for me. But I somehow can't bring myself to move the way I used to. I'm tired of moving, lol. Don't I sound like I'm 4 years old! Winter was hard, especially this last month. I am hopeful the nice weather will bring a more energetic outlook.
I also need to tone. My shoulders look like they are clothing hangers for my skin. Not the best look for sleeveless summer tops. I may have to wear sleeved shirts forever. I was looking through my closet this morning and surprise, surprise none of my summer stuff from last year (not the big stuff from before) fits. Everything is too big.
Now that 18 months have passed and what is regarded as the "honeymoon period" for our surgery, we will have to work harder at both losing weight and maintenance. This period is very challenging for some, I was told. I am so worried I will put all the weight back. I can't have that happen, not after all we have been through.
We can do this but we have to work at it.
I so feel like a snack right now but I am going to make some tea instead.

@@misstvb
I think you may be right, it's boredom. I could have 10 Snacks in a day. My lowest weight was 152 but this morning I was 168. That's 6 pounds. Well, to be fair I had been at 154/155 for at least two months. Moving all day is key for me. But I somehow can't bring myself to move the way I used to. I'm tired of moving, lol. Don't I sound like I'm 4 years old! Winter was hard, especially this last month. I am hopeful the nice weather will bring a more energetic outlook.
I also need to tone. My shoulders look like they are clothing hangers for my skin. Not the best look for sleeveless summer tops. I may have to wear sleeved shirts forever. I was looking through my closet this morning and surprise, surprise none of my summer stuff from last year (not the big stuff from before) fits. Everything is too big.
Now that 18 months have passed and what is regarded as the "honeymoon period" for our surgery, we will have to work harder at both losing weight and maintenance. This period is very challenging for some, I was told. I am so worried I will put all the weight back. I can't have that happen, not after all we have been through.
We can do this but we have to work at it.
I so feel like a snack right now but I am going to make some tea instead.

bread, is still the enemy, lol!

Okay, what is the trainer having you do because I want at least some butt when this is all over! One of my coworkers says I have a pancake butt!

Success after weight loss surgery is no accident. It is the result of a lot of hard work and careful planning on your part. While of course it depends on a skillful surgeon, your post-op success depends most heavily on you.
You can begin to set yourself up for satisfying weight loss and preventing regain long before your surgery date. Here are some ideas for building that solid foundation that will make your weight loss surgery journey smoother and more satisfying.


Choose the right surgeon.
If weight loss surgery is the tool, your bariatric surgeon is the one who makes the tool and gives it to you. You want a tool that is made precisely, ready to do the job, and built to last. Your surgeon needs to make the right cuts and place the band properly or make a tight, solid sleeve or pouch. So, look for a surgeon who is experienced and has a good track record of successful patients and low complication rates – don’t be afraid to ask!
There’s more to choosing a surgeon than technical skills. Also, consider what else the surgeon will do for you. The right surgeon for you is willing to discuss your options and the procedure with you in a way that you can understand. You’re setting yourself up for extra challenges if you’re afraid to talk to your surgeon or your surgeon is unavailable.
Get the scoop on the diet.
Your diet is central to every part of the weight loss surgery journey. You may be told to lose some weight before surgery as a test to make sure you’ll follow the rules post-op. Then there’s the pre-op liquid diet to shrink your liver for a safer surgery. Next, for faster healing and fewer side effects, you need to follow the post-op progression from liquids to pureed foods to solid foods. Finally, there’s the nutrient-dense, low-calorie diet to help you hit goal weight and stay there.
At best, you will have a surgeon or a nutritionist who gives you plenty of information. Since that’s not always the case, you may need to take steps to figure out the diet for yourself. You can look online, and may need to shell out the money for a few appointments with a nutritionist. Not knowing the right foods to eat can set you up for surgery complications and disappointing weight loss.
Take responsibility.
It’s nice to depend on a stellar surgeon and complete healthcare team to walk you through surgery and beyond step by step. Ideally, your trusted surgeon would explain your options to you and recommend the best surgery for you, whether it’s the sleeve, band, bypass, or another choice. You’d go back for follow-up appointments and ongoing nutritional and psychological counseling.
That doesn’t always happen in the real world, but that’s no excuse to give up. You can take responsibility for finding out the information you need to know about what to expect, how to prepare, and what comes next. Be persistent and do your research in all kinds of places, and you’re more likely to succeed.
Face the facts.
Weight loss surgery isn’t all fun and games. You don’t leave the operating room skinny. Weight loss isn’t steady. It may take you longer to get to goal weight than you hoped. Recognize the real possibilities to avoid being disappointed and possibly even giving up.
These are some other possibilities to consider, so you can be prepared if they happen to you.
You may still love sugar, salt, fat, and/or starch.
You may still be hungry.
Others may not notice your weight loss, or may not be impressed.
Others may be jealous of your weight loss or say you didn’t earn it.
You may have loose skin when you are finished losing weight.
Weight loss surgery doesn’t solve psychological problems.

Be Open-Minded
If you want to lose weight and get healthy, you’ve got to change your diet. Whatever eating habits got you to this point are not going to get you to goal weight!
That may mean you need to be open-minded. Maybe you hated vegetables, or can’t stand the thought of downing Protein Shakes for 2 weeks on the pre-op liquid diet and up to 4 weeks on the post-op liquid and mushies diets.
It’s time to re-evaluate. Can you sneak some veggies into your diet? Can you retrain your brain to love them? Can you force down those Protein shakes for a few weeks in exchange for a lifetime’s worth of better health?
Learn to see the good.
There will be disappointments - guaranteed. The scale may not cooperate, or you may make a poor eating choice, or you might skip your morning workout because you didn’t make sleep a priority the night before. Focus on the negative, and you just may talk yourself out of continuing the hard work and good progress.
Instead, learn to appreciate yourself and see the positive sides of things. Maybe you didn’t lose weight this week, but did you eat right? Maybe you downed a piece of pepperoni pizza without thinking about it, but did you pass up the breadsticks and soda that you would have had before surgery? Maybe you didn’t work out this morning, but did you make it to the gym more this month than you did last month?
See yourself as a strong, powerful person, and you will act like one. You can build on the positive behaviors you see in yourself so they eventually overshadow the mistakes.
You have control over your own destiny. Success with weight loss surgery depends on planning and hard work. The more you are involved and the more responsibility you take throughout the process, the better you can do.

yes to the NUT and therapist if possible.
Also, find another outlet for your stress. if the health issues make walking or swimming not possible then what about some yoga? some poses are easier. I like Peggy Cappy's videos, also I crochet which keeps me from shoving food in my mouth. I am a stress cleaner, but a happy eater, so when I began to deal with my food issues I had to find other things too.

@@Beni
I'm not more hungry at meal times. Still eat small amounts but find myself wanting to snack between meals. I think it's boredom so I've started doing more during the day: scrapbooking, sewing whatever will keep me busy.
Winter has been horrible for my workout routine. I just can't make myself go out into the cold even if it's to go to the gym. I'm going this morning despite the rain. Then making it a habit again. My goal was to lose 50 more pounds this year and I'm nowhere near it.

Pop any carbonation is not good for your pouch. Me to I can eat anything. Let's refocus together. We can do this.