BLERDgirl

You need to go back and review the pros and cons. No one can make this decision for you. You are the one who has to live with this.

What does your nutritionist advise? Mine recommended tracking but I was already doing that. I even did it while in the all liquids phase because I wanted to make sure I was hitting my Protein and I kept losing count trying to keep it in my mind. I find I do much better tracking because sometimes you assume things are better than they really are. Also for me looking at the micros such as sodium, carbs and sugars helps me see any potential barriers. For me if my sodium is too high even though I hit my protein and keep my calories low, I won't lose. Since my nutritionist recommends I stay around 800 calories, it's just easier to see that if I track it. What are you doing that's bad?

I love Fage yogurt. I too use it in everything. I sometimes mixed it with chocolate Protein powder and then freeze it for a sort of pudding like texture. I also like mixing in a tbsp of almond butter. I mix it in with rolled oats, a dash of vanilla extract, a tiny bit of brown sugar, and some dried cranberries for when I make overnight oats. I use it instead of sour cream. Most often I just add it in my Breakfast shakes. They are usually a combo of fruit, spinach, unflavored protein powder. Occasionally I'll add some raw honey. If you are used to the thinner sweetened yogurts it takes some getting use to the change in texture and taste.

That's one of the reasons I don't get weighed unless I go to the doctor. I want to focus on following my program and weighing all the time drives me nuts. I start living for the scale and not for what my body needs.

This question is a real slippery slope. If you hear high numbers you'll wonder why you didn't do so well. I had a nice kick start. So far my pattern seem to be big loss/smaller loss. At my 2 week follow up I lost 26lbs from DOS. then another 6 then 15, then 8. I have another appointment this week so we'll see where that lands me.

Thankfully I did not. I actually woke up in recovery and had to pee from the IV. Not having a catheter was the reason I walked in recovery.

Grin and bear it. I didn't have that phase exactly, but I did have an all liquid phase. I was over that after a bout a week. Just hang in there!

Sounds great. My only suggestion would be to separate the chicken and gravy and freeze individually. Something about the freezing process can sometimes change the texture. I also don't cook my green beans before freezing. I find they get too mushy when thawed to cook.

I think that's a matter of genetics. I had decent skin going into this and so far so good. In fact I'd say my skin looks even better. My routine is simple. I use my clarisonic mia 1x a day with DDF and moisturize with baby oil gel. I then wipe off the excess. In the evenings I wash with YES makeup remover cloths, wash with warm Water and once again moisturize with baby oil gel. I wear full face makeup (CoverFX foundation, powder, etc....) 3 - 4 days a week. On gym days I give my skin a break. For the record, I'm 51 and so far I've lost over 55lbs

The only people I know who have gained back their weight were not following the program. This isn't a cure all. You still have to put in the work by making good eating choices and exercising regularly. My only challenges were finding what I could eat as a vegetarian with multiple food choices and the mental game of making good food choices on a daily basis. Other than that I've had a relatively easy time of it. Despite having a high BMI going into this I had no co-morbs and I had been exercising regularly prior to surgery.

I didn't have any nausea but I did get sick of all the sweet protein shakes. I switched to Isopure unflavored which can be added to anything hot or cold. I mostly add it to my coffee, tea or soup.

I'm glad you called. Hopefully they can figure out what's going on. You should be able to enjoy this weight loss.

I never had any issues with going out to eat. I went out to eat as soon as I could have soft foods and have gone out several times since then. Just be prepared for lots of doggy bags.

Nasty brown stuff? Not good. Please call the doctor ASAP. If it happens again I would call the oncall service.

I understand now. Yes bypass patients typically lose a little faster. Did he offer any suggestions to help speed up your weightloss? I was sleeved on 9/18/14. I'm having more trouble with my fingernails than my hair. May I ask what you ladies typical eat? Are you getting in all your Protein & Water. Do you exercise regularly? If your weight gain steady as in about the same amount of weight loss each week? I tend to have a big weight loss followed by a smaller one, but so fair I have steadily been losing.

I need to engrave this on a pillow. *That's* the key thing in all of this to me. Not just losing, but keeping it off.

Even if you don't get sick I don't think it's wise. Part of why most of us are overweight is because can't stick to a "diet". Foods tempts us even when we know it's not good for us. In retraining our bodies we are hopefully trying to learn new food habits. For most of us the liquid phase is only a few weeks. Mine was 2 weeks of full liquids. I'll be honest. I was ready to throw those drinks out the window after 1 week. I stuck it out. I want to finally learn how to tel myself "NO". I didn't want the lure of food to continue to rule my life. I sucked it up and stuck it out for the full 2 weeks. Yes I wanted to chew. I wanted it sooo badly it wasn't even funny. My sister even came over once with a cheesesteak & fries. I don't even eat meat but that smell was tempting. Then I remembered I just went through surgery to help put me on the path to better health. I just wasn't willing to chance that by not following orders. Looking back, I think I'm glad I did. Not because I think I would have gotten sick, but because I won the mental game. I wanted to change how I viewed food and I think that is the real battle that will decide if my weight loss sticks.

No at all. Protocols vary from one doctor to the next for both pre and post op. For me part of the reason to attend the seminar is to figure out if this is the right program for you. I looked at another hospital near me and I didn't like it. I then checked out the program I ended up choosing. This doctor didn't require a pre-op diet. That wasn't the reason I choose him, but in retrospect I'm happy I did. My point is, if you have options of other hospitals in your area, I would check them out. Ask questions and compare programs and then decide which one best meets your needs.

@@Peace Love & Sleeve - Are you doing protein shakes of any kind? If all you can do is keep liquids down that might help you get some nourishment, even if you need to dilute them with water. Even some of the protein enhanced waters like Propel might help.

If you are over 18 and you feel this is the right thing then you have to decide for yourself if you really want to do this. It's your choice. You can't convince or talk someone into something. So you have to decide for yourself if you can do this and stick to your guns and follow the bariatric diet you will need to follow in order to be successful.

No unless you are self pay. Otherwise it's just go through the process. A few things I suggest you work on that they may not have told you to do is work on eating more Protein. You have to post-op so it helps to already be in the habit. Likewise with eating really slow, chewing your food until it dissolves and separating your eating from drinking by at least a 30 minute window before and after. If you smoke or drink sodas, now is the time to stop. They are no-no's for surgery and bariatric diets. Join a gym or start some sort of exercise program. These will all be part of your life post-op.

I'm sorry I honestly had an unremarkable course. No depression or sadness about missing food. No gas, nausea or vomiting. I didn't have pain and so far I've tolerated everything I try to eat. I felt pretty much back to normal within about a week. Stopped getting super tired that I needed a nap midday probably around week 3.

You had the sleeve done in Oct and lost 100 lbs and your surgeon isn't happy? I'm sorry but that's darn good and he needs to go eff himself.

I haven't from the the OP, but I will say in this case "Suck it up" wouldn't be a bad thing. She had like 2 days left before she transitioned to purees. I was ready to toss Protein drinks after a week so I totally understand the feeling. It just seems that if she made it this far, 2 more days wouldn't kill her.

@@shahada - If you have a Protein powder you like try adding that to your oatmeal. It will increase the amount of protein you are getting for the day. I use plain unflavored that I can mix into everything. Try adding black Beans, lentils or even quinoa to your salad. They are also good sources of protein. Greek yogurt is also a good source of protein. I buy FAGE 0%.