blashlee

I found the powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury unflavored was better in things that were heated up, like Soup or in something blended like a fruit smoothie (if you're allowed smoothies) or a shake. When you put it in something just to drink, it gets thick and cloudy and you can definitely taste it. It's unflavored, but it's not tasteless.

@@Martene81

Wow. Your post goes to show everybody's surgeon is literally completely different and all over the place when it comes to what to eat. My doctor wanted me on liquids only for a week post op. After that I was able to try yogurt, refried Beans, soft cooked eggs, and soft cheeses for a week. Crackers, oatmeal, toast etc are foods she wants us to avoid completely if possible because they fill your pouch and absorb moisture. And they're not high in Protein so you basically fill your pouch without getting sufficient Protein.< /p>

My guidlines are to eat meals that are 75% protein and as minimal carbs as possible. I'm to avoid breads, rice, Pasta, oats, etc. Anything that absorbs or "swells" in the stomach is a no-no as far as my doctor is concerned.

Foods I do well with are chicken that's moist (grilled or baked is best), lean fish, ground meats, well cooked vegetables and soft fruits. I'm careful with foods that tend to be "slider" foods. Yogurt can be a slider food for me so I make sure it has lots of protein and is in low in sugar and sometimes I freeze it a bit so I can eat it more slowly.

Some days I'm not hungry at all, so I just my nutrition. Lots of protein and supplements.

When a featured model is said to be wearing a certain size (14/16, 1XL) but she's perfectly proportioned (flat tummy, hourglass shape, perfectly defined waist, perfect bust) and looks like she probably wears half that size.

I hate that plus size clothes have extra room in the bust; not all plus size women have large chests.

I hate that there's such a big jump from plus size to regular sizes; the inbetween phase is so not fun.

I wonder if the kind people with high blood pressure use would be ok.. I think it's called coricidin hbp..

Is that Rx? I'm just looking for something I can grab at cvs. I have alka seltzer and DayQuil but neither of those are ok now that I've had my surgery.

I'm not sure I'm qualified to agree with all of you yet given I'm so early in this process... but I agree with you!

I'm visualizing what I'm about to embark on as initially a sprint (the surgery and initial dramatic weight loss) that then turns into a long marathon (shedding the last pounds slowly til I hit goal), and then a nice run, keeping a steady pace of calories in/calories out to maintain the weight loss thereafter. From the comments I've seen here it sounds like I'm seriously oversimplifying what will happen at the running stage, but the point is, this is a long journey. The key is to keep your eye on the prize and keep on trucking.

Exactly!! This is lifelong. The whole point I'm making is for people just like you. I joined this site during my pre-op and I would see people actually complaining about weight loss. Who would ever complain about weight LOSS?!

Don't hate me, because I certainly don't hate any of you. But it truly bothers me to see people on here complain about how little weight they've lost. Especially when it actually isn't a little bit of loss. "I've only lost 40 lbs in 2 months since surgery! What am I doing wrong??" Are you crazy? Do you know how amazing it is to lose 40 lbs PERIOD let alone in just 2 months?? Yes, WLS is a tool that is supposed to help weight loss occur a bit more quickly than if you were to do it on your own. But downplaying your losses, regardless of how slow they are, is doing a disservice to yourself and also to people who haven't undergone WLS yet and are here to get some insight and do research for their own possible surgical journey.

Stalls happen. Weight loss slows down. It seems the closer you are to whatever goal you're working towards, the more evasive it becomes.

I think it's really important to focus on what you HAVE accomplished rather than to let what you haven't done yet get you down. This isn't a race. The journey to health is just that: a Journey. There's no finish line. This is something we do as a lifestyle.

The next time you think you might be about to complain that you've "only" lost xx amount of weight, please stop for a second and think about how you might feel if you hadn't lost any of that at all. And think about what message you might be conveying to someone who hasn't had WLS yet and is looking for advice here. It gives newbies and pre-ops the idea that weight is supposed to just magically melt away and that 30 or 40 lbs in 2 months after surgery isn't an acceptable rate of weight loss.

People make comments like this because they think they're being helpful. I've had all kinds of people say it. Then I tell them what my starting weight was and how awful my lab reports were when I was pre-op and then they STFU. I guess they think it's a compliment to say "I don't even think you're that fat!" Well. I am far enough where my health is affected. Maybe to you I don't look "that big," but I'm big enough where surgery is an option.

Anybody who gives off an opinion and isn't a bariatric nurse or doctor, don't listen to.

1. 18 lbs in a month is amazing. I keep seeing a lot of people post "I've only lost xx lbs since surgery." If you're using the word lost, you're doing great.

2. You're healing. Your stomach is inflamed and tight. It makes it really hard to get anything in, even liquids. My first few weeks I would get so frustrated about not being able to get my liquids in. Now, I'm 7 weeks post op and still I can barely finish a kids portion of Beans from Chipotle. But I take down all the fluids! Anything i ever eat there's either leftovers or i end up throwing something out (or feeding it to my dog).

3. If eating is a struggle for you, then drink your nutrition. If you're on a proper Vitamin regimen, your body can survive on Water, Vitamins and Protein for awhile. Protein and fluids also aid with healing.

If you're feeling restriction in your stomach, that means your surgery is working. If you're not able to pass any food or liquid at all, you need to see your doctor. It doesn't sound like the latter is your problem. You will eventually get more comfortable eating. Some foods work better than others. Try soft foods for longer than what your dr recommends. Add protein to Soup or yogurt etc. I found yogurt to be the easier thing to tolerate in my first few weeks.

You'll get there! Focus on your fluids and protein to maintain your nutrition levels. If your vitamins are too big or are gross, try some other ones. Everything I take is chewable or liquid except for my B complex, which is a very small gel cap I bought from my Dr's office.

I work with a bunch of jerks who come to work sick and use their sick days for vacation. Now I've got this terrible cough happening. Can anyone recommend cough Syrup or cough drops or cold medicine that are ok for us bypassed folks? Everything I have at home seems to have alcohol of some sort in it :-/

Yes. It was a sign I really needed to focus on my fluids.

@@blashlee, That's awesome! keep going. Can't weight lol to be there, too! :-)

Haha I see what you did there

Yeah! I am so happy for you and green with envy. I have 9 lbs to go to hit onederland and it cannot come fast enough.

You're almost there! It evaded me for a little while. I was hovering at 208-209 and then the last week I've been really stepping up my exercise and paying better attention to getting my fluids in.

After 10 years of watching my weight creep up up up into the 200s and finally topping out at 260, I am finally seeing a 1 before my weight again! I really like it here, I'm never going back!!! Another 8 lbs and I'll weigh what I lied and told the DMV I weighed LOL

I had it last month. I'm 28. I'm glad I didn't do it much earlier because it would have been for the wrong reasons and I likely would have failed. Losing weight to look better rather than to live better was why so many diets and programs and previous efforts weren't successful for me. I'm older and thinking more about my future and how I want to live my life instead of focusing on looking like my peers or what clothes I can buy.

I think she definitely helps. My frustration with seeing "plus size" models was that they were still a seemingly unattainable standard of beauty and size. Like, how are you gonna tell me this goddess with her perfect hourglass is a size 16? I was a size 16 and I looked like a watermelon with limbs. I had absolutely no waist or shape at all. Just round.

There are size 20+ women who need to see someone who represents their demographic in fashion. Many women that size think that fashion doesn't exist for them, and it's simply not true. They're just underrepresented. If you follow Tess's social media, she seems to be a pretty regular woman. She works out, she's got herself a man (a damn good looking one too) and just works and lives like you and me. I can't speak to her bill of health because I'm not a doctor, but if she and her chosen medical professional are okay with her weight and shape, then who is anybody to disagree?

I don't eat them because they're breaded. Most chicken tenders are frozen after being fried, so there's that also. A lot of places offer a not breaded alternative. Chick FIl A has "naked" nuggets (unbreaded grilled chicken bits), and Wendy's offers a grilled chicken piece vs a breaded chicken piece in just about every chicken item they sell.

To be at a size and weight where I can shop in "regular" clothing stores.

To be at a point of health where I can safely conceive, carry and deliver babies.

To be able to run around and be active and play with forementioned babies as they grow up.

I set my goal weight as 150, but truthfully I just want my BMI and body fat % in a healthy range that my doctor and I both agree with.

I'm on IG! @tinytummy_biglife

My surgeon's guidelines for eating are different. I'm only to eat about once a day maybe twice, and only if I'm truly hungry. Not because others are eating, not because I think I should eat. I only eat if I get a slight headache or after I've gotten in a heavy workout so that I don't feel sick later.

Some favorites I eat: soft chicken (grilled or baked), Wendy's chilli, chicken or sofritas + black Beans and guac from Chipotle, casseroles with ground meat and lots of cheese, refried Beans mixed with ground turkey and cheese, baked ricotta with meat sauce etc. Mostly soft foods, but I keep everything very moist and chew. I'm not allowed many vegetables yet, but I've tolerated fruits really well so far. I've had strawberries, blueberries, watermelon and banana with no problems.

I've also had tart/plain and no sugar added lowfat and fat free frozen yogurt, which I also tolerate really well.

Back at work, back in the gym and down 26 lbs since surgery and 54 lbs overall.

I completely agree that anything you pop into your mouth or any activity you do or don't do is completely your choice. If you're not supposed to eat cake and you do, you made the choice to eat cake. And I've made that choice and it was mine to make all by myself and I don't need to share it or seek advice about it because I already processed what I did and how I feel about it. What someone else does or doesn't do shouldn't influence you. Some people I follow on Instagram or other social media outlets for WLS go eat In N Out fries and shakes and have Starbucks frappachinos almost daily. That's their walk to walk. I don't and won't do that because it goes against my doctor's advice for one, and for two, eating and drinking like that is how I ended up in a bariatric doctor's office looking for help in the first place.

I've had a few in the last couple of weeks

1. No more bra extender!

2. I am able to run! I ran 20 minutes straight on the treadmill without wanting to die.

3. This weekend I learned that I have sized out of the Plus Size selection at Forever 21 (My favorite store even though I'm 28, OH WELL!) I'm still too big for most of their "standard" sizes, but getting there.

4. Size 12 jeans I bought two years ago as a goal are now fitting me, but only for so much longer, there's a little room in them.

Congrats to everyone for their NSVs!!!

I think sometimes we should focus on the type of calories we put in our bodies. Something may be low calories yes but starches bread carbs sugar processed meat etc..... No good!

I completely agree. Trust me, I don't intend to encourage fast food eating. But life happens and I've quickly learned that it's dangerous to let yourself get hungry without knowing what your options are. I eat at home almost exclusively because i'm only 5 weeks out and I don't want to end up sick or uncomfortable away from home. But in the event that I am going to be faced with having to eat outside of home, I always research where I'm going so I know exactly what my options are and what I'm ordering.

It sounds like you're forcing the process. My first four weeks, I walked and did some very light jogging, but no weight lifting and no intense cardio. I simply wasn't taking in enough calories for that. On a good day I MAYBE get 500 in at the most. If you're burning off 700 calories and you've only eaten 500, you have a deficit and your body has to compensate for that somehow. So it doesn't allow you to lose any fat or mass because your body is relying on it for energy.

There's also so much more to focus on when it comes to weight loss than just calorie counting. Not all calories are equal. There's 100 calories in a mini snickers bar, and there's 100 calories in a low-fat greek yogurt; which one feeds your body best? Don't rush this process. Stick to your basics for nutrition and it's just fine to exercise 5 days a week if that's what your doctor says. You mentioned not wanting to tone at your current weight. The fact is, when your body is overweight, building muscle won't be "toning" until the fat has been lost. And it's truly a process the body has to undergo. Trying to go from 172 to 145 in a month or whatever your goal and deadline is, you kinda just need to let it happen how it's going to happen and not put so much stress on weight falling off fast.

You didn't gain it overnight, it won't come off overnight.

While we all know fast food isn't the preferred way to eat healthy, sometimes things happen and hey, ya gotta eat. I've been really good about meal planning at home ahead of time and eating things from home at work or otherwise away from home.

So far I've discovered Wendy's is a pretty safe stop for me. I tolerate their chili quite well (about 1/3-1/2 cup as a serving) and also their value menu Grilled chicken Wrap (i open it up and eat the insides only). If you consider Chipotle fast food, I'm able to eat their sofritas, black Beans, sour cream or cheese, Tomato salsa, corn, and guac. I can only eat about 1/4 of a bowl at a time, so it's not my top choice for having to get something "easy."

What are your go-tos for when you have to eat fast food?

I kept my surgery from no one. I have been deeply criticized, complimented, supported and then the "you're brave" comments. I am ok with all of those, but it's the questions about how much weight I've lost, or what I want to lose, or even the discussion about clothes size.

My bosses know and three of my co-workers that I'm very close to know. It isn't a secret, if someone asks me about it I'm okay with sharing. I've been finding it really empowering to share. Mostly I just feel really on display right now LOL it makes me a touch uncomfortable, it isn't something I'm used to unless I put myself in the position to be noticed.

And having a hard time with the "welcome back, where have you been?!" And the "you've lost weight haven't you?" Remarks. Mostly I just smile say thanks and scurry off. Glad I wore sweats LOL

Anybody else horrible with weight loss comments? I always have been, I feel like such a jerk but compliments legitimately make me uncomfortable haha.

Loosing weight I've noticed people compliment how beautiful I am now. I went to my lung doctor for a check up and everyone was so nice to me and complimented me on how amazing I looked and how beautiful I am. My dermatologist even said I was beautiful and he said I should learn to thank people when they complement me it's all so new to me but also I can't help but feel like crap. Was I ugly before?

Right?! LOL it makes me so self conscious. I am extremely proud of myself and happy with my progress. I just hate feeling so noticeable for it. I guess it's just gonna take me some time to feel comfortable with it.