Larly109

The Quest bars are very good. I also really like the Power Crunch brand of bars - they are crispy and light wafers. My favorite is the Chocolate Mint or the Peanut Butter. I order them from Amazon or Swanson Vitamins - both are much cheaper than the store.

I was very lucky and had very little pain after the first 24 hours or so. Most of my pain was from the gas used during the procedure and got better with lots of walking. Try to stay ahead of your pain and take pain meds before it gets bad. I hope you are feeling better soon!

I hope you've seen your doctor to rule out any serious problems! You shouldn't be having so much trouble keeping food down at this stage when you are following the rules. The only time I get sick is if I eat too fast or eat something that is too dry.

It could be your body is continuing to make adjustments, but you might want to get checked just in case. It could be your gallbladder is acting up.

I'm 3 months out and stay around 1000.

Look up Dr. Matthew Weiner on YouTube - he has a series of great videos about WLS. The straw thing is a myth according to him. I do much better getting water down with a straw, so I use one. I waited until I was more than 6 weeks past surgery before starting with a straw again and have done fine. I think the most important thing after any type of WLS is to listen to your body and follow the cues - if it bothers your body, don't do it.

I invested in a really good pair of shoes - brand is Brooks, style is Ariel. They have excellent support and cushion and are helping with the pain.

I'm averaging 3-4 pounds lost per week. At nearly 8 weeks out I'm at 43 pounds total. I still have a long way to go, but it has already made a huge difference in how I feel. I focus on getting my protein and water and try to keep my activity level up. I'm accepting that losing steadily is healthier for my body and trying to remember that every pound gets me closer to my goal.

It does get better! Hang in there!

I like to add a packet of Stevia to sweeten it up a bit. Once you can have nuts and seeds, a few sunflower kernels or nuts are good. I also like to add some blueberries on occasion. A little sprinkle of cinnamon or even pumpkin pie spice is also tasty, or you can try a little sugar free flavored coffee creamer.

They are one of the best tasting protien bars I've tried. The Power Crunch bars are also good, but the Quest bars are higher in protein and have some fiber.

Was it laparoscopic? Mine was and I didn't have much pain after the first couple of days. My pain was mostly due to the left over gas they use to inflate the abdomen, once that was out of my system I was good.

I hope we both get some relief soon!

Thanks for the reminder about water walking! I need to do that!

My doctor advises chewing a minimum of 20 times before swallowing. Your food should be the texture and thickness of baby food before you try to swallow. Stop every 2-3 bites and think about how you feel - are you satisfied? If the answer is yes, then stop eating. You want to stop eating before you feel full. You can always have a little more to eat later if you didn't eat enough - so much better than eating too much and being miserable!

I fought boughts of plantar fasciitis a couple of times a few years back. It reared it's ugly head a few months before my surgery (Sept. 22) and I was hoping it would get better more quickly after I started losing weight after surgery. I've lost 31 pounds so far, but my foot is still very painful! I'm still trying to walk everyday and stretch and ice my foot as needed. Has anyone else struggled with plantar fasciitis? How soon did the pain improve after WLS surgery? Thanks!

Some nutrition shops will sell you small samples to try out different proteins. I have a NutriShop in my town and they sell small samples to try before you buy a huge tub. I have also found that mixing flavors can cut down on the sweetness and change the taste. My favorite mix is Protein Synthesis - Protein Powder Caramel Pretzel and Pure Protein Chocolate - one scoop of each and the flavor is great, plus a full scoop of each adds up to over 50 grams of protein in one shake. I use 20 ounces of water and sip over the course of 2-3 hours. For a change, I will sometimes add a banana and/or a small teaspoon of peanut butter. Sometimes I reduce the water and add ice to the mix.

I agree with everyone else - you are doing great! Your body is still healing and there will be ups and downs. Just keep doing what your doctor has advised and it will happen! Put away the scale for a couple of weeks and just focus on healing and adjusting to your new life.

I'm only a month out and have had some mild back pain. My plantar fasciitis flared up before my surgery and is still giving me problems but I'm trying to fight through it and keep up with my exercise. I have 2 good friends who are 3 and 4 years out from surgery and both of them have said their back hurt pretty much the entire first year. Your body has to readjust its posture as you lose weight and it can cause aches and pains you may not have had before. That's probably why your doctor isn't worried; however, if the pain is so bad you can't sleep I would ask your doctor what your options are to relieve the pain. It might be worth seeing a physical therapist for some stretches or exercises that might help.

I was cleared to try it at 4 weeks. Took tiny bites and chewed really, really well. Was able to eat about an ounce and it settled well. It was grilled and juicy by the way - anything too dry is more likely to cause you problems.

Don't give up! Hopefully your doctor can figure out exactly what is happening and be able to offer solutions.

Search for Dr. Matthew Weiner on YouTube - he has a series of very informative videos about WLS. He also has a book available through Amazon called A Pound of Cure. His basic philosophy is that it's all about WHAT you choose to eat. I think most of us realize that processed foods are the worst for you - and that includes healthier versions of processed foods (low calorie frozen meals and the like). What Dr. Weiner advocates is making fresh vegetables, fruit and beans the majority of your diet. I have found his videos and book to be very helpful. I plan on adopting his plan after I am past the first 3 months and more fully healed.

You might try a little bit of warm Water or tea before you eat - I have read that WLS patients sometimes get mucus build up overnight and the warm liquid helps to break it up (just make sure it's not too hot!). I was having similar issues but they are a lot better now. I find that if I take my meds one at a time with a tiny sip of water about halfway through my breakfast I have a lot less discomfort than if I try to take them at the beginning of my meal. Work up to your nutrional requirements - it will take time for your body to heal! Be sure and stay hydrated and work on getting your protein in - the rest will fall into place slowly.

A lot of people struggle with eggs early on - especially scrambled. Try one cooked over easy with a tiny amount of nonstick spray or try poached. I also like to cook mine in the microwave - I scramble one egg in a microwave safe bowl and cook for 60 seconds. Sometimes I add a little cheese. If eggs are really bothering you, take a break from them for a couple of weeks then try again.