LisaPunkinHead

I have read several articles that talk about starvation mode is a myth -- it was based on a study of guys in Minnesota or Montana or some place really cold. BUT -- I agree, work on that protein! And don't let the head hunger get you down - we all have been through it!

@@Tauruslady5, I can eat tuna but not mayonnaise!!

I can handle about 1/2 cup of green salad.

I could get in about 2 ounces at a time in that phase (1/4 cup)

Welcome to the three-week stall!

sugar free Torani Syrup makes it more palatable. I add about 1/2 teaspoon.

I see that some are taking calcium carbonate (like in the Caltrate chews). My NUT insists that for bariatric patients, calcium citrate is a must as calcium carbonate won't be absorbed by our little tummies. I take the Bariatric Advantage 500 mg Chewy Bites. I alternate between chocolate and caramel -- just keep them all in a big bag and grab one. Next order I will try other flavors.

One of the reasons I pursued surgery was to get my weight down low enough to begin running again. I started running in 2010, really got into it in 2011 when I did my first half marathon, did my second half in May of 2012. Didn't change my diet, and weight-wise hovered around 225. It was June of last year when my weight got to be too much for my knees and I had a meniscus tear. Waiting for the surgery and then the post-op process, I didn't get any exercise for almost 6 months and my weight just ballooned. I love running outdoors (only use treadmills if I am training for a race and it's pouring outside), I love lap swimming, and I am enjoying weight lifting. I exercise about 5 days a week, sometimes 6. It was hard for me immediately post-op when I couldn't do much more than walk around the block, but now that I can start running (starting from the beginning using the Couch to 5K program), I'm much happier!

I was told NO Metamucil ever -- it thickens up and can make a mess in your sleeve. I use Milk of Magnesia (I add a tiny bit of S/F Torani Syrup to make it palatable) occasionally and take docusate every day (PCP recommended that). I also use Benefiber in my coffee or other drinks -- you don't even know it's there.

My surgeon said as soon as you are comfortable!

I had them last night after I ate too fast at dinner. They were loud and painful and taught me to slow down again!!

You may have a urinary tract infection -- mention to your surgeon at your follow-up.

My surgeon said no high-intensity exercise for four weeks. I walked for exercise for 4 weeks and 4 days and then got out my Couch to 5K program and started it and then started lifting weights yesterday (5+ weeks out).

This is an amazing process for those of us who automatically thought that any growling in our intestines is hunger (::::raising my hand:::. One thing I learned is that what I thought was hunger is not. What I thought was my "stomach" growling was actually my intestines processing what was already there. I have learned to trust the other manifestations of hunger -- feeling a little light headed and irritable is where I look rather than intestinal/abdominal cues. When I was a week out and on liquids, I had intense head hunger. Being home and recuperating led to lots of TV, which led to lots of hamburger and pizza commercials. I also realized that all the things I had prepared -- pudding, sugar free custard (I had a great recipe), yogurt -- grossed me out. I wanted salt. So I found some Soup and pureed the heck out of it. That worked better!! It is okay to be hungry at this stage, though. Just don't eat what you're not supposed to. You won't die. Follow your doctor's / nutritionist's instructions to the letter. If they say don't eat solid food, don't eat solid food. If they say drink 64 ounces of liquid, drink 64 ounces of liquid. What keeps me going when I need to do things that my pre-op self didn't want to do is some self-talk: the old me may have eaten that, may have chosen not to exercise, may have not followed instructions. The new me has changed her lifestyle and does what she needs to do. It is too soon, though, even if you were allowed solid foods, to eat ground beef or a brisket. I'm five weeks out and I was advised not to eat beef in any form for a few months, as it might be too rich for our new plumbing to process at this point.

I like Premier Protein too -- and I tend to add a scoop of Protein powder to the shake itself (also Premier Protein) for extra protein, because I tend to have trouble getting enough. I liked the

@@vida81, When I woke up, I felt pain in my abdomen and in my back. I remember the back pain more. I don't know why my back hurt; maybe how I was positioned. The pain was worse the day of surgery. I was in recovery for a time and then went to my own room. I had a pain pump -- push the button and Dilaudid comes out and I go back to sleep. I have other meds through my IV. I didn't have to crush my home meds. The anti-nauseant was dissolvable in my mouth, the pain meds are liquid. I have a PPI for 90 days and it's a little bitty pill so it is not difficult to take.

My dogs sniffed me up one side and down the other. It's the hospital smell. But then they wouldn't leave me.

I know you don't want to be lifting over 10 pounds for the first 4 weeks post-op. You may be okay to go back, but you would have to modify a lot of what you do.

Never tried these -- I see an trip to GNC in my afternoon!!

My PCP told me to take docusate every night at bedtime. It has helped a lot.

@@sweetie716 -- mine does too!! I have noticed that my nose has been runny since my surgery. Hubby was doing the laundry and he said there were a lot more tissues in the wash than usual, lolol.

Poached fish is good too!

If there is a running shoe store near you, go and be fitted. They carry walking shoes also, but running shoes make great walking shoes! They will analyze your gait and give you several options to try on.

@@kndoster -- you are a very petite woman, and your current weight is 207. 14 pounds is an excellent loss!! It is easy to compare ourselves to others on this site, but we all started in a different place so we will lose weight differently. Some have started at a higher body weight and are taller, so their loss will look faster. I hit a stall between weeks 2 and 3 postop, and I was feeling a bit discouraged. Now at 5 weeks postop I am still under 20 pounds down, but I have never ever lost 17 pounds in 5 weeks!!! Another thing I discovered through all this -- my body does not let go of weight every 7 days. We are taught to weigh ourselves weekly, but my body doesn't work that way. 10-12 days is my cycle. The weight WILL come off. It won't be overnight. I can TOTALLY relate to the feeling that mom is disappointed. My mom lives 500 miles away, and has been supportive of me in this process, but I know the feeling completely -- my sister and I call it the "mother-pucker" -- she purses her lips and flares her nostrils when she doesn't agree with something we have said or done. It's hilarious. I don't know your age, but by your photo you look younger than me. I'm 53 and my mom still gets to me!!! Remember this is YOUR process, and you have done what you need to do. You are doing GREAT!!!

You will notice that each day is dramatically better than the day before!!! Slow and steady! I was still drinking out of the little bitty one-ounce cup that they had at the hospital when I was 2 days post-op because I didn't want to drink too much at once. I would sip about 1/4 ounce at a time. I couldn't have Protein drinks until day 3 post-op - just Clear liquids for those 2 days. It does get better! Much better!