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A little over 3 weeks post-op here. Returning to work tomorrow. Sleeve is fine....hernia is still swollen but feeling much better. 13hr shifts and fast paced.....it's going to be intense. I'm taking 4 shakes to space out during the day and I'll be constantly drinking Water. Will be working these shifts for the next 6 out of 7 days. On an average shift I have plenty of opportunity to get the 10,000 steps my Fitbit is coaching for. I went out yesterday to run some errands. Trying to get things wrapped up before my work schedule resumes. Stopped at Best Buy to pick up a new CD that I wanted (full version not available on iTunes ). Walked around the store some.....went over to get the disc and had to stop a minute and steady myself on the CD rack. I thought I was about to pass out. Regained my composure and walked out of there. Freaking strange feeling. Energy was shot. Sat in the car a few minutes and resumed drinking water. Failed to get the CD I wanted. Mail ordered it later on. Reached back into the cooler and grabbed another Protein shake and sipped it down on my way to the next stop.....grocery store run for the family. It went fine. No issues. I'm very disappointed that I didn't kill it at the gym over these three weeks.....but the energy just hasn't been there and the wounds aren't fully healed. I did go a couple times but simply ran out of gas shortly after starting my treadmill sessions. Seven of the wounds have healed over. Two of them are still scabbed. These two were larger than the others and appear to have double-width incisions compared to the rest. I did go on daily walks and the weight loss has been steady. I've stayed with the liquid diet. I'll see my surgeon again on Monday. This will be our second visit. I'm expecting him to advance me to the next step of the permissible foods list. I imagine this will help with the low energy. *Today.....I know I have to go back out to the mall. I have to get some new clothes for work. Old stuff looks funny having to cinch it up tight with the belt tag end now really extended. *I'll be grabbing some more Blender Bottles while I'm out. They travel easy and work great on the job.....just add ice and water and instant Protein Shake is ready. *I'll be taking a water bottle that I'll carry around and keep refilling. *Evenly spaced protein and water in between is my plan for the long shifts. Any advice or tips on last day off considerations ????

70 pounds lost these past two months...........outstanding !!!! Your surgeon has to be grinning at every visit. Very well done.

I wouldn't touch it.....or any food type that I haven't been cleared for. I wouldn't even think about those foods or be out shopping for them. It's just a way to torment yourself and remain food-focused. Hopefully the NUT has given you a safe list of foods that are appropriate for the stage you are at. You just have to form you daily menus from there and be done with it. Let it go. Sure, it's going to be a limited menu......but it's supposed to be restricted to safe foods. Looking beyond at future foods is pointless and constantly doing so may keep you from breaking free from it. My two cents, anyway. Unsolicited, of course.

Guacamole ? One of the simplest and most flavorful homemade foods I've ever encountered. Maybe by then you'll be able to eat Quest chips or could make some kale chips to spread it on. Another thought that comes to mind would be a Crockpot of chili, stew, Soup. Sure is the right time for it and everyone could enjoy it. Happy Birthday and you have a great supportive family. Good stuff.

I agree with @@RILEYSMOM22 in that they are okay.....tasted fine to me and were actually on our approved list of Protein drinks......but they only have 15 grams of protein if I remember correctly. The 100 calorie / 20 gram protein MUSCLE MILK shakes are usually sold at the same locations and were better for me. Premier Protein Shakes were even better flavor and had 30 grams protein, I believe, but weren't as easy to find. The blue-topped Atkins shakes became my last choice.

Wow. Talk about giving yourself a great birthday gift. Look at ya !!!! Looking incredible. Happy 25th Birthday !!!!!!

That is awesome. You would have been the teacher's pet for my surgeon. He kept telling everyone all along that he discharges with minimal restrictions and fully expected us to be up and running in a few days....certainly no more than a week. He stated repeatedly that the quicker we return to normal the life the more successful we'll be. I can see what he means with this. Do you find yourself running out of gas at work or are you feeling like you are experiencing normal energy ? That does sound like a nice environment to got back to. Enjoying the folks we work with and the interaction makes a big difference, I think, too. Positive environments are where we all want to be.

That doesn't make much sense. I thought our doctors were are advocates, right ? Seems like you would have a greater span of control of your return dates. "No...you must work.....you should have 2 jobs by now". Smacks of communism. On the flip side....perhaps the doctor feels that a nudge in right direction will be helpful for you at this point......getting back to routine living.....moving around.....back in the flow of things. Doc may want to get you moving in order to add in some more calories to fire up your metabolism. I know if left to my own devices.....I'd have stayed in that hospital bed for much longer than they allowed me to. Doc wouldn't allow it and had the weightlifter male nurse in there 3 hours after surgery to "persuade" me to get the hell up and go walking. I knew it was coming and I knew it was in my best interest......but the hernia repair & newly ventilated abdomen with 9 fresh new holes protested like a beast. Turns out that those walks were key to my healing. Sometimes the docs push us harder than we'd push ourselves.....and it winds up getting us on track and progressing better. All you can do is evaluate the situation and think hard about your's and other's safety. Is it safe for you to proceed with the doc's instruction ? If so....then maybe it's worth a bit of a struggle. I sympathize and understand about work being antsy. I've taken 3 weeks out of my schedule....to allow the umbilical hernia repair to heal and stop hurting......but I worry that's not how they will see it....."He's had some radical weight loss surgery and is laying out of work......all he needed to do is lay off the biscuits and pizza". I know they really aren't thinking like this.....but I've had the "no trusting" wall up so long that it's my often initial reaction. Are you safe to return?

Sounds like a great plan. I drive by a Whole Foods store almost every day. I'll have to stop in and grab some of that.

The folks that were in our final surgeon's workshop asked him this question and told us that typically his instructions are to allow a couple days for the meds to clear out and to not take your post-op pain meds when driving.

Amazing. You look great !!!!!

That sure does sound really aggressive. I guess all you can do, if asked, is to let 'em know they can always stick to shakes & pureed for longer.

I'm sorry that you had to go through all this.

Very cool.

Sounds really good. Things are progressing along for you. I wish you the best of luck and know that you'll benefit greatly. As a side note.....have you had time to do much deer hunting this year ? I've pretty much given up on the chance to go this year....didn't even buy a hunting license. That's going to change next year. Hoping to have more time and certainly more energy to go.

Maybe Greek yogurt is what you want for a while. There are dozens of different flavors and many are 80-90 calories for a nice sized bowl that still has 12+ grams of Protein. There are enough different brands and flavors of Greek yogurt that it's not likely you'll get burned out on it like most of us do with Protein shakes.

Work....smerk......you guys are my peeps. Good, bad or ugly.....I'm here to stay. Cool thing for me is I work a goofball rotating shift schedule that is impossible to follow. I'll be able to pop in and pester you at hours of the day and night............................like a ninja.............................just bigger, fatter and less stealthy...........okay, more like a big dude in dark pajamas that he thinks are slenderizing. Ninja......or fat house ninja.....see, I'm already thinking about my costume for Halloween next year. I guess it'll depend on how busy I get in the gym. I don't always make great choices with such things, though. There was that time in my mid-30's when I went to a Halloween party with a fur loincloth and sword. I thought I made a badass Conan the Barbarian. Even had sexy wench at my side...... Yeah...made it to the party and didn't even make it to the freakin bar and was faced with, "Hey.....dude? WTF is a Sumo wrestler toting a sword ????? Dude???????" FUUUUUUUUUUKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah....I'll be getting some professional guidance prior to next Halloween's parties.

This is a great point. It's something that I can only respond to from one perspective......my own. I'm not advising anyone or making suggestions. I'm simply not trained or equipped to do so. These are just my thoughts on the matter. I think that goals should be achievable. By this, I'm referring to the ultimate weight goal. It has to be a weight that our medical experts say is achievable. It should be a weight that is healthy and will be maintainable. Some don't seem to set realistic goals.....some don't even set them at all (in terms of weight). My goal is the weight that I want to live beneath. It has been a normal weight for me before and one that I know I can achieve and live normally with. Normally means without binge eating junk food....proper meal composition and proper timing of food....plenty of rest....plenty of exercise.....living normally. I really don't have incremental goals....because they simply aren't places I want to stop and hover at. They are just weights that are plotted along the way to my ultimate weight goal. Sure....there are certain milestones that I'll take note of and be happy about.....but achieving them in no way is a reason to take it easy for a while and enjoy things at that weight. No....they are to be noted and pat myself on the back....but then to blow pass them and reach my ultimate weight goal. My sleeve is a tool that is going to help me. My success isn't limited to the sleeve.....but it is a big tool for me. I have to take it.....my new way of eating......improvements with back and knee pains and push myself hard to get there. My success isn't contingent on one facet of my approach, but a combination built on using all my onboard resources to get me there. Reaching my ultimate goal weight this first year is very important to me. Living below this goal weight for the remainder of my long (I hope) life is MOST important me. I want to reach the goal.....but then put up very specific boundaries to live with. Examples: A 7 pound gain leads to immediate corrective action. If I'm unable to meet my cardio for that week....then I ensure that I'm measuring my calorie intake so I can stay at or below maintenance (example could be during the timeframe I'm having my shoulder repaired).......life at goal is LIFE and will come with very careful balance. Right or wrong.......for me there is only the ultimate weight goal that I want to live below. Everything else along the way are simply fun milestones to be noted. For far too long, I've plotted mini-campaigns to make it to a better weight. Birthdays have come and gone and I've not made it due to one reason or another. The culmination of these attempts are not failures....but, nuggets of wisdom that help me see better now how to attack next time. I had my sleeve 11 months (almost to the day) before my 48th birthday. I will reach this next birthday with the best gift to myself that I've ever "given" myself. Healthy, free from any medications, moving with lower pain.......and ready to pounce on opportunities to thrive and enjoy life. Again....for me......there is only one goal.

This sounds exactly like how I plan to approach things.

@camerolegend I get exactly what you mean. I'm feeling younger already. It's on the beginning stages....but there is a marked improvement. Very sweet ride !!!!!

Miss my stomach ??? SSSSSSHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT................that thing was wore slap out for a while now. Hell, my jaws are now happy. They were tired of chomping, chewing and working way to dang hard. i don't miss my stomach, I don't miss constant back pain......I don't miss knee pain at every step.........I don't miss a thing. It's nice to look down and see.......my junk. I swear it may even be growing, too. I don't miss the food & drink that I abused to achieve such a heavy weight. I not going to miss shopping at the oversized dude store. I'm not going to be missing......for much longer anyway.....the motorcycle jacket that wore in college 25 years ago. That jacket kept me from getting too scraped up in a couple wrecks. It'll feel great wearing it again with the same style Levis I work in college, too. I miss nothing and look forward to EVERYTHING.

At 47 years old.....all I can say is that I'm very happy to see you each take your health so serious now. If you work hard and adhere to your plans....strictly......you can achieve mighty impressive results. It can truly change your life......while at my age it is to save my life. It's not a "one and done" type situation, though. Those of us who've struggled through this for decades understand that. It's imperative that you grasp this......it's going to take a lifetime of watching your calorie type and amounts. The surgery doesn't just fix it all. You will always be in the driver's seat and in control. Stay on track and you'll profit tremendously. I'm not trying to preach.....please understand this. I'm simply wishing you each the very best. Gain control and stay in control and live without the burdens of obesity. Slim, trim and young.......you'll be living the dream every day of your lives. Great stuff !!!!!!!!

We all understand. We know that it's not that much fun at the point you are at. You don't have much say so in things, though. You must drink your shakes and your Water........or else we are going to come by your house and sit on you. You don't have a choice in the matter. Small swallows.....over and over again......even though you aren't hungry.....you've got to have the required nutrition. There are many, many Protein shakes on the market. I only had 4 choices in my plan but I had to go beyond that to find some damn variety (but had similar macros to the approved drinks). Try some different flavors and brands. I'd feel like an elephant sitting on you right now. You'd better get to sipping..................

As I understand things..........our superpowers will be doled out to us in small doses. For now.....I'm grateful for these little enhancements all along. Being able to leap tall buildings in a single bound is coming.................