BLERDgirl

@@greatestnameever - I'm truly sorry for you and others having your surgeries postponed due to the storm. I realize how frustrating it must be to be prepared for a certain date and then have that changed.

I was hesitant to bring salads back in as well. I started slowly. I was 6 weeks out and I made a simple salad of romaine, Beyond meat chickenless strips and olive oil. I took my time and ate it slowly. I'm now 4 mths out and I do still have a Protein shake for Breakfast but that was my routine before WLS. I'm now back to eating pretty much all the same foods I ate before WLS. The only exception is I haven't re-introduced pastas and "white" carbs back into my diet. I've had brown rice once. I'm now re-introducing whole grains like farro and quinoa back in. While my nutritionist is no pro-vegetarian. She cringed when I told her I've been thinking of going vegan eventually. She is not against me. She has been really good about working with me to figure out a balanced diet.

@@swtnss - You really need to sit down with your nutritionist and go over this. At 6 weeks I was told to eat regular food as tolerated and try to keep meals between 600 - 800 calories. I found that keeping a food diary was a great help in this. I eat out often and just get doggy bags for everything. For me it's the company more than the food. As for a beverage, I just order a water and then push it to the side. However I repeat, speak to your nutritionist. She should be able to give you sample menus. It's protein first, then veg and I always leave simple carbs (breads, pastas, rice, etc...) for last or not at all.

I honestly don't know. I know my meals are typically about half to three quarters of a cup, depending on what I eat. Not sure if that will be different a year from now. I am however completely satisfied with everything I eat.

Remember eating too few calories can also put you into a stall. The body will hold onto every calorie since it's doesn't know when more will come. I wasn't an overeater. I was a disorganized eater. I could wake up at 8, get a cup of coffee around 10 and then not eat anything until 8 -9 pm easily. Then when I did eat it was typically some carb laden meal. Usually a plate of Pasta with some veg and a creme sauce. One of the first things I did when I started trying to get healthy nearly 4 years ago was begin to eat regularly and change the quality of food I ate.

You're early days yet. The tummy needs time to heal. It also sounds like you have a bit of mental work do to. I eat everything I used to eat before surgery just in smaller portions and I'm only 4 mths out. I tolerate every food I've tried. Try mixing the Water 50/50 with apple juice. It may help it go down easier.

@@thinkpink13 - I actually prefer early morning surgery. There tends to be less of a delay. I wish I could reassure you how easy this all is. I sometimes wish I had a time machine to go back 20 years and tell myself to do this then.

Water is key to a good BM, so increase your Fluid intake. Did your doctor put you on a stool softener of any kind? I was on colace for the first 30 days post op. I was discharged on Saturday and had my first BM on Monday. I've been regular ever since. Other things that people have tired: ducolax, miralax, benefiber, prunes, prune juice, apple juice, psyllium powder, flax powder, smooth move tea to name just a few.

Refresh and/or clear your cache. Sometimes the site lags and the wrong photo shows up temporarily. It's usually a glitch easy fixed with a refresh.

It honestly varies person to person. My surgical course from DOS to present has been a breeze. No pain, not even the slightest complication and I have literally tolerated every thing I have tried to eat.

@ Target has a bodyshaper line that's pretty inexpensive. I forget what it's called.

Bread was not my friend in those early days. Sorry about the crouton.

Ask about things that matter to you. I am a vegetarian. My first question was what were her thoughts on plant based diets? I also have multiple food allergies and can't eat artificial sweeteners and food dyes. I needed to know we could work around these things. I found many dietitians point to the many flavored Protein drinks. Some programs even have deals with some of the bigger names. None of them would have worked for me. It took doing some homework but I have found that Isopure makes an unflavored whey protein isolate powder and Bob's Red Mill makes a soy isolate Protein Powder. I haven't tried the Bob's Red Mill although I do use a lot of their products. I do use the Isopure and like that is can be mixed in both hot and cold beverages. That sickly sweet taste often leaves many burnt out on Protein shakes.

@@BarnGirlWK -If I could offer a suggestion. It sounds like you're burnt out on food journaling because of the counting calories aspect. I can't say I blame you. However the one thing I learned was that it's much more than calorie in calorie out as you seem to have discovered with the whole "fats are bad" deal. I use MFP not so much to count calories as to keep better track of what I am eating. My NUT wants me to eat around 800 calories. I probably fluctuate somewhere around 675 - 875 and that varies depending on my day's activities. I look at the macros. So I can say with a certainty I've gotten in X mount of Protein. But also I'm looking for a healthy amount of sodium, sugars, fat and carbs. For my body I know even if I meet my protein if my sodium is too high, the scale won't move. Similarly if I don't get the right type of fats or carbs, scale is not budging. Even checking off how much Water I drink helps me make sure i'm getting it in. One last tip; I find getting in the bulk of my protein between breakfast and lunch makes a difference for me. So 5 days a week I start my day with a protein shake using 1 scoop of Isopure unflavored Protein powder, ½ - whole cup of Fage 0% Greek yogurt. Then I add whatever natural flavorings I like. Sometimes fresh fruit, sometimes a bit of cacao powder, sometimes some chopped spinach. My Protein drinks clock in at roughly 30 - 38gms. That takes a lot of pressure off my eating for the rest of the day.

@@losing_the_band - Good for you! That's exactly the approach I take with mine.

@@lucy0911 - People are usually surprised to find that Protein is in most things, particularly dark, green leafy veg and whole grains. I was already keeping a food journal prior to WLS. I averaged about 50 gms of protein a day. When I met with the nutritionist we discussed how to increase that to 60+gms a day. The key for me was finding a Protein powder I could live with. I've finally found that I prefer Isopure unflavored. I just add it to my morning Breakfast smoothie. I use a lot of FAGE 0% greek yogurt. I also eat a lot of bean, grains like farro & quinoa, cheese and the occasional egg. Occasionally I use meat substitutes like Beyond Meat, Gardein, tofu, tempeh and seitain. My protein average for the past week is 72gm. Here's a helpful chart on protein sources.

@@nprcowboy - Given your history I wouldn't wait a few days. I would call the doctor tomorrow. I would also ask if protein shakes even if only as a back up is an option for you. Perhaps a protein water like propel.

My bad. I wasn't trying to make light of anyone's concerns. I'm in Philly and they are predicting that here as well. I just tend to take most weather reports with a grain of salt. I am prepared but not scared. Wasn't Friday's storm supposed to be 3 - 6 inches and we got like 1 - 2? Anyway in my experience most hospital's in the NE are prepared for bad weather conditions. Unless roads are shut down I doubt they will cancel anyone's surgery. I love how positive you always are! I'm a glass half full gal myself.

Self preservation is rule number 1. You know how on airplane they tell you to put on your oxygen mask first? That's because you aren't any good to anyone else if you pass out because you were trying to help (please) others. I love my mum but I may as well take out an ad in the NY Times. She tells ALL her business and anyone else's if she know it. That is not me so for many things she is on a need to know basis. My surgery was about me. I did all my prep and told my sister and bestie 2 weeks before surgery. I told my mother the day before with the threat of death if she blabbed. (She lasted 2 weeks before letting the cat out of the bag). I'm not hiding my surgery but I pick and choose who I share that information with just as I pick and choose personal information about other areas of my life. I'm not a paid spokesperson so I am under no obligation to educate anybody. I was asked to attend my program's support group to speak and did so because I was requested to by my nutritionist. I have a cousin going through the pre-op process so we chatted about my experiences, but in general I don't need to share with the world. I have found there is nothing more obnoxious than a former fatty.

This will be your 2 week check up? Maybe you're still swollen and just need to be on liquids a little longer. Hopefully the doctor can work something out for you.

I think many of us have self sabotaged in the past. The key is this time you recognize it. Perhaps speak about this with your nutritionist or get some counseling. Much of the success with WLS is mental and if your mind is not ready for the changes you need to make, you may be setting yourself up for failure.

They key for me was making the egg super soft almost custard like. Have you tried adding a bit of milk? I add a tiny bit of yogurt to mine, but then again yogurt is one of my go to foods.

I eat whatever I want. However when I started on my journey to better health nearly 4 years ago, I changed the way I eat. So while I eat whatever I want, my wants have changed. Friday I was at a family event and ate a mini crème brûlée. Is that an every day thing? No, not even close, but as an occasion treat I don't have a problem with it and it doesn't trigger me to overeat. There are foods I'll never have again like soda. I practice 'clean" eating so I eat pretty much whole foods, no artificial sweeteners or artificial dyes. For me it's about a lifestyle that I can live with with. I'm done dieting.

@@lucy0911 - that could be acid. Are you on any antacids? Initially it's hard to tell the difference.

@Pac-woman OMG -that's hysterical. Have you tried a soft scrambled egg? Scrambled egg with cheese was a life savor for me. Mind you it took nearly a hour to eat one egg, but OMG! food.