Amylou

I've never been a gym rat but now that I'm down 40 pounds since my surgery, I'm feeling more confident about working out...and the trick for me was I found something I LOVE. I do a circuit training kickboxing workout twice a week that I sincerely look forward to. The other days, I hop on my treadmill or my elliptical for 45 minutes to an hour and watch something on tV at the same time. Do I love that?? Not so much...but I can do it without pain and I feel amazing afterwards. Find something you love. Do some research - try different things - our Community Education offers a ton of recreation for kids and adults...that's an inexpensive way to try out some activities.

It is the sugar kicking and screaming it's way out of your body. I had the headache too...and the more Water you can drink, the better. It should go away for good around day 4...I'd think you could have some tylenol until it subsides.

Have you seen that adorable 'cake' on Pinterest made out of watermelon? That would be cute...

I started back with my coffee (only one cup tho) a month post-op but I am not going to drink pop again - probably nothing carbonated. it's not good for you to begin with and I don't want to deal with any pain in my new gut.

In the weeks leading up to my surgery date, I had massive mood swings from elated and excited to scared and angry and wanting to cancel it. I, like you, stuck to the liquid diet without a single cheat and lost nearly 20 pounds in 2 weeks. And yes, the thought crossed my mind "well I could just keep on the liquids and avoid surgery" but is that realistic? Probably not. It works for the short-term but it too would fizzle and I'd find a way to self-sabotage. Surgery was the only sure-thing to keep me on the straight and narrow. Hang in there. I promise, some of this is just the sugar leaving your body kicking and screaming and holding on for dear life. It gets better.

I had a big stall for almost 3 weeks at about 3 weeks post-op too...and eventually my body resigned to the fact that I was not going to take in more calories and to just deal...and the weight started coming off again. Just make sure you're drinking all the Water you can...that you get some exercise in...and all your Protein in. No cheats. Not even a bite. And make sure you're getting decent sleep. Stalls come and go...but keep on the path and you'll still have success. I had a big stall for almost 3 weeks at about 3 weeks post-op too...and eventually my body resigned to the fact that I was not going to take in more calories and to just deal...and the weight started coming off again. Just make sure you're drinking all the water you can...that you get some exercise in...and all your protein in. No cheats. Not even a bite. And make sure you're getting decent sleep. Stalls come and go...but keep on the path and you'll still have success. I had a big stall for almost 3 weeks at about 3 weeks post-op too...and eventually my body resigned to the fact that I was not going to take in more calories and to just deal...and the weight started coming off again. Just make sure you're drinking all the water you can...that you get some exercise in...and all your protein in. No cheats. Not even a bite. And make sure you're getting decent sleep. Stalls come and go...but keep on the path and you'll still have success.

I have three boys - ages 10, 4 and 2 - as well as my husband. I cook for them every night and I was also concerned about losing this expression of love. If anything, I'm more committed to cooking for them almost every night than I was pre-op. I make healthy choices for them...and I make their favorites - not necessarily things i can easily eat. I have no problem making food without tasting as I go. Once you're post-op a little bit, you'll see that you will be able to have a bite here or there but you probably won't WANT to have more than that.

I have a blog - www.gastricallydifferent.blogspot.com. I found 'breaking up' with food to be my biggest struggle since my RNY - I write about it frequently. I miss it a lot...however a couple bad experiences brought me back to reality. I like how I feel when I follow the rules so much more. I love not hating myself for making a bad choice. I love that I simply cannot over-indulge. Do I miss food?? Yup. Every single day. However, I love watching the scale inch backwards every morning more.

You need to determine if you're experiencing 'brain hunger' or legitimate hunger. If I feel a pang that resembles hunger, it's my sign that I need to drink more Water. I do not feel real hunger anymore...however the water hunger, I do feel.

Barely any pain. Could have easily made it thru with just the Tordol.

I slept in my bed with my maternity pillow. it worked awesome.

Yes don't worry so much about calories. Focus on Protein. I just recently found something called Quark. It's by the yogurt in my grocery store but it's actually a cheese. It's very similar to Greek yogurt - similar texture and taste but not quite so sour. Best part? Quark is 80 calories and 14g of protein. So, a Quark, a Premier Protein shake and some cottage cheese and I'm golden for daily protein.

I've had an upper GI and an endoscopy - not related to WLS pre-op. In both cases, the anticipation was way worse than the procedures.

My tastes haven't really changed but my desire has - I love spicy food - still love spicy food - but due to the 30/30 rule, I don't eat things as spicy as I used to because I can't put out the fire for a while. TEXTURES have changed for me. Some textures I just can't handle anymore. Yes. I am no longer hungry anymore. Ever. My entire life, I've lived by the 'if you're not hungry, don't eat' mantra however now, I have to watch the clock and conscientiously eat in the morning, at lunch time and at dinner time. I KNOW that I can eat my 'largest' meal at lunch - meaning a cup of Soup and sometimes a few bites of fruit (watermelon is a favorite). I could easily go days without eating. When I do feel 'hungry' it's typically because I'm behind on my Water intake for the day. You will struggle with 'brain hunger'. Your brain is telling you "feed me feed me, you're hungry' but you really are not. You cannot be fooled by this or you can do damage to your pouch or make yourself sick.

I had shortness of breath for the first week to 10 days - and I believe it was a pocket of gas sitting under my sternum. It went away during the second week of recovery.

First of all, fear is normal. I think we'd all be concerned if you joined saying "I'm not afraid at all!!". Deciding on WLS is a big deal. It's a gigantic life change. It's permanent. It throws your entire life out of 'norm' into a new normal. I don't think that the surgical plan from sleeve to RNY should be a game-changer. You will still get amazing results from a RNY. I had mine 8 weeks ago and am down 31 pounds since surgery and 51 pounds since the pre-op diet. I had some extreme anxiety before my surgery - one day I'd be super excited, the next day I'd be freaking out and wanting to run and hide. However once the day came, I just did it. And I don't regret one single thing about it. Recovery wasn't bad AT ALL. Slowly introducing foods back wasn't horrible at all. The entire process has been so much better than I thought it would be. Yes there are moments of difficulty...but in the big picture, they are just that - Moments. Not hours, not days, not weeks of hating my body. They are mere moments of self-pity. I would have been way more nervous about the sleeve!! I was told that there's greater chance of leaking and infection in the sleeve procedure. The RNY is the 'gold standard' and the procedure that's been practiced for the longest period of time. Feel confident in that - hundreds of thousands of people have had it....and lived to tell about it!! You will enjoy this forum - it's very supportive and there are hundreds of people who have been right where you are.

I joined 9Round - it's a 30 minute circuit workout with a kickboxing focus. The workout is changing everyday - no two days are ever the same - and it keeps your body guessing. I LOVE it.

It's not a huge concern because I have plenty of hair - PLENTY of hair - but I'm noticing more coming out in the shower when I wash then usual. When does hair loss happen typically? Is 8 weeks post-op too soon?

I loved V8 juice - spicy or low sodium - and I'd put a dash of something - BBQ sauce or Siracha (like 1 teaspoon) in and stir it up - made me feel like I was 'eating'. I also loved the Swanson's Infused Broths - Hot and Sour, Thai Ginger were my favorites.

I'm 7 weeks out and have had pizza already - super saucy, not a ton of meat toppings, didn't eat the top crust...but I have enjoyed 1 small slice on two separate occasions.

When our third baby was weaned and we had made the permanent decision to be done having kids, I realized that for the first time in several years, my body was my own again. No one residing in it our on it for food. I was so tired of being the largest person in the room everywhere I went - so sad of being asked by my 8 year old to stop volunteering at school because the kids would make fun of him for having a fat mom - so depressed from failing every single diet I'd ever tried... However the last straw was having a friend have the surgery and absolutely glow afterwards. She'd always been a gorgeous person but seeing her spirit leap from her eyes in her new body is what pushed me over the edge - knowing that could be me too if I just started the process...that's what made me harness the negativity and use it to propel my journey into WLS. 7.5 weeks later - no looking back!!

Grocery stores here have them - Costco too. I'll check on carbs - I know they have 6 grams of protein

I love Yasso bars - Greek yogurt, 100 calories and they come in amazing flavors.

I was out 2 full weeks and was totally ready to go back.

I'm 7 weeks post op RNY. I've followed the doctors orders to a t. I get my Protein and Water in religiously. When does food become enjoyable again?? Right now, something can look appealing and I'll have a bite and it will be painful...or l will have a couple bites and feel nauseous. Pretty much, the only thing that doesn't do this is water. Help?