natnat919

I tell them the truth...... that I'm eating 5 small meals daily, high Protein and low carb, and exercising like a fool. For me, it's a personal matter and no one needs to know unless I want to tell them. And I also just cut my hair off as a distraction.....LOL LOL LOL. I was also concerned about what people would say when I'm out with "the girls" and didn't eat as much as I used to eat. I went out to lunch with 5 people last week (my first outing) and I noticed that all 5 people cleaned their plates in about 10 minutes. Just devouring the food. I ordered Pork BBQ sandwich without the bun and 30 min later asked for a To Go box. No one noticed, no one asked "isn't your food good" when I was picking at it. I had planned on saying "I have an early dinner planned with the family" or something like that.... but no one noticed.

I was sleeved June 22, since then I've lost 29.6 pounds. Every day I marvel at how effortless this has been for me.... I'm one of the lucky ones, never had any nausea or pain. And it's been almost 5 weeks and so far (knock on wood) I haven't had a stall. I know I shouldn't weigh every day, but I do. Every day I've lost even just a small amount, .2 pounds minimum. Since I started with a low BMI, I expected my weight loss to be much slower...... SURPRISE! A typical day of eating: - Protein shake for Breakfast (start off the day with 1/2 the Protein I need) - Egg with FF cheese late-morning - Crockpot chicken with broccoli around 2pm - Cauliflower Casserole (add in unjury unflavored for more protein) around 530pm - 2 oz of Dannon Lite and Fit Greek Toasted Coconut at 8pm This is only a sampling, but I always get in at least 65-75 grams of protein daily and drink tons of Water. I make large batches of food at a time and then divide them up into small plastic storage containers and freeze/refrigerate so I can grab and go. I'm exercising as well..... usually walk 1.5 miles a day (25 min) and ride my stationary bike at least 20-25 min as well daily. Floor exercises are done like 5 days a week.... Just starting to use some light weights now, since I'm almost healed (was told to not do strength training until week 6). I'm like the Energizer bunny.....When I used to sit and watch TV for 6 hours straight and not move, now I can't even sit for 6 minutes without getting up and feeling the need to do something. I walk into the kitchen to get water, then see a hammer that needs to be put away, so I think "Let me go hang that picture", so I do that, which reminds me that I need to pull down the wallpaper border in the bathroom, so I start that. Next thing I know, I'm painting. All of that from going to get a glass of water. Hail to the sleeve.

I had a similar situation where the NUT gave me an ongoing plan (for down the road after surgery) that includes carbs, but are to be eaten last during your meal. He said to divide the plate into 3rds, eating Protein first, then veggies if you have room, then carbs if you're still hungry. That's the "ongoing plan" for maintenance. My surgeon gave me a sheet that says "For the rest of your life, this is what you can and cannot eat". There was a list in the YES column that had lean meats, good carbs, protein based foods. In the NO column there was bread, rice, Pasta, sweets, etc He said to follow this and I'll be fine. So when I was in nutrition class and the NUT said I could have carbs within reason, I showed him what I got from the surgeon. His reply was "I wish he would leave the nutritional part to the experts"

Another thing I thought of that the Urologist said that you guys might want to know.... When I came out of surgery, I couldn't tinkle so they gave me a quick "In and Out Catheter" to dump out the urine I had stored. I filled up the bag..... so the Urologist thinks that my bladder got really stretched out by holding so much urine. He said it doesn't bounce right back after stretching, can take weeks to get back to a normal size. If it's truly stretched out and larger, of course I wouldn't feel that it's FULL like I used to feel.....

My surgery was on a Monday.... released from the hospital on Tuesday. Wed/Thurs were my worst days, very tired, zero energy. Friday was like a light bulb came on and my energy was back. Saturday I was 95%..... everyone's story is different, but that's my experience

Hey there.... just got back from the Urologist appointment (although it has been getting better in the last week or so). He asked if I was Diabetic right off the bat, saying that's one of the things he expects to hear from Diabetics. I told him that back in the Fall my A1C was tested and it was a marginally high number, I was put on Metformin but never could tolerate the drug. Every time I was tested in the hospital my sugar level was normal....and has been since surgery. He really didn't have an answer for me, but he said for me to "Urinate every 2 hours whether I need to or not" and he took some bloodwork to see if my kidneys were functioning properly. He said my urine was "concentrated" today when they tested it, as if I'm not getting a lot of fluids. I told him I am drinking Water nonstop all day..... Told me to come back in 6 weeks if I'm not better. He just said that some people have reactions to the anesthesia but it wouldn't last 4 weeks.

I'm 58 years old, divorced with no kids. I am one of those lucky people who was able to retire early, my house is paid for, have no debt. instead of going to a 9-5 job that I hate, I'm able to be a Dog Walker, which is like getting love all day and getting paid for it! But, although I have a wonderful life on paper, I'm very lonely. I want to feel that kind of love that God meant us to feel........I've been in love before, but it's never lasted. When I was thin in the past, men would fall all over themselves to open doors for me, find excuses to meet me, etc. Then I gained weight and have been invisible since 2008 to the opposite sex. I would walk into a building and men would let the door slam in my face. I could afford to do whatever I want, I just didn't want to do those things. Looking in the mirror was shocking. I had gone from a vibrant personality to a person who was embarrassed to leave the house. The fear of running into someone that knew the "skinny" me was mortifying.. I know that I'm valuable, that I deserve everything that life has to offer. I want to be thin again, so I feel good enough to do the things I love, the things I miss. I want to be confident enough that I can find the love and companionship that will bring back my smile. I miss that girl.

Is this a cakewalk? No..... but it will be the best decision you've ever made. Hopefully you will breeze through it and this moment of doubt will be just a memory. It will change your life, for the better!

You could always get a slice of pizza with meaty options on it and scrape it off the dough, eat only the toppings. I used to go to Dominos on Tuesdays and buy one of their Large meat lovers pizzas for $7.99 and scrape off the toppings into a bowl, then divvy them up into several small meals. Chick Fil A has grilled chicken nuggets.....

You're getting closer to the surgery! That's great news!

I like Unjury Unflavored powder.... I add it to anything that needs a boost of protein.

I was sleeved 6/22 and started this process at my highest weight. The first 2 - 3 days after my surgery were "couch potato days", then on day 4 it was like a light switch was turned on. I have been like the Energizer Bunny since then...... but I do crash earlier in the evenings than I used to, it all runs out about dusk!

I was sleeved 6/22/15, so I'm almost 4 weeks out as of today. I'll be 58 next month..... I've had zero complications, no nausea, no acid reflux, no vomiting. It's been so easy, I feel like I must be doing something wrong! Also, I was a low BMI (35) to start with, that coupled with my age I really felt like I would be a slower loser. I've lost 26.6 as of this morning, which I think is fabulous! Best decision I've ever made.

I'm 3.5 weeks out and getting in 450-550 calories a day. A typical day: - Protein shake for Breakfast @730am - Scrambled egg with Fat Free cheese @ 1030am - 2 oz Taco meat (crumbled low fat hamburger with taco seasoning) with FF Cheese @130pm - 2 oz Cauliflower casserole @430-500pm - 2 oz crockpot soft cooked chicken and broccoli @ 700-730pm I log all the information into My Fitness Pal daily...... normally adds up to be 70-75g protein.

When you get to the soft foods stage, a crockpot is my best friend. I buy chicken Breast Tenders at the grocery, a packet of Chicken seasoni, along with a bag of broccoli and some of the 4 ounce plastic food storage cups/lids. Throw it all in the crockpot for 8 hours and it's done, stir it once or twice during the process. Then divvy it up into the small containers weighing out 2 ounces of food for servings. Freeze some for future use.

HAHAHA, a Pig Pickin' is a southern thing. I'm from NC and it's pretty common. Actually it's pretty disgusting, so if you're squeamish then stop reading. A huge cooker (like a typical BBQ grill only much larger, (about 4 feet wide and 8 feet long, approx) is set up and a (dead) Pig is put on it to cook. Generally, these pigs have an Apple in their mouth (rednecks do that, LOL). Then it's cooked all day....... then the chef splits open his belly and pulls out the pork and we eat it. Anyone ever heard of Pulled Pork? That's exactly how it's done, only usually behind the scenes and not right in front of you. Most people who have Pig Pickins' have the cooker way off to the side and no one sees the pig, thank goodness. They'll pull off a lot of the cooked pork and put it in a large serving dish. I couldn't handle having that little pig's face staring at me!!!

I'm one of those organized freaks, love being prepared for everything and have it all in the proper place. So I just started the Soft food stage and my surgeon wants me to have 4 - 5 small (2 ounce) meals a day. So I've been cooking like a fool.....and bought a ton of those little small plastic containers to perfectly fit my 2 ounces meals. chicken and broccoli in the crockpot, some taco meat, cauliflower casserole..... then put them into the containers so they're perfectly sized (and weighed) meals, then color coded them in my fridge/freezer. LOL Then there's my Ready to Drink shakes in their own drawer, so I can grab and go. Don't believe me, see the pics. LOL

The surgeon's PA called it "Neurogenic Bladder", if you want to google it.

Thanks for confirming I'm not losing my mind. I thought the same thing, my big belly isn't sitting on my bladder any more, it makes logical sense to me. But, the PA said she had never heard of that before, so I have an appointment with a Urologist on Monday. I'm not sure I'm willing to go through a bunch of testing/treatment, it's not that big a deal but I felt a need to mention it.

The weirdest thing happened..... have to share. On 7/3, a house 3 doors down from mine had a Pig Pickin' for the neighborhood. It was my first "outing" since surgery on 6/22, so I planned to just say "I had gall bladder surgery last week and haven't gotten my appetite back yet" if someone noticed I wasn't eating. There were a lot of new neighbors there that I hadn't met yet. The hosts of the party (Rachel and Ron) asked if I had gotten enough to eat, so I gave them my pre-planned speech. Rachel said "oh goodness, I had surgery last week also". She said she had her gall bladder removed in May, then hernia repair the week prior to the party. I remember thinking to myself "This girl is about my size, isn't eating at her own pig-pickin', had "surgery" last week (both can be related to my surgery)....wouldn't it be funny if she is a bariatric patient as well". I even mentioned it to my best friend the next day, then dismissed the idea. Fast forward 2 weeks.... today I had a nutrition class to attend at the surgeon's office, arrived at 8:30 and there were like 10 people in the class. There was a girl was in the corner waving at me like crazy, I smiled and nodded. Then she came over and said "how long did it take you to get here today"? Then I realized.... it was Rachel. We talked afterwards and exchanged contact info and plan to get together to talk.... My original instinct was right, she's a bariatric patient as well. She lives 3 doors down from me and I had never met her before the party. She had the same Surgeon I did (there are 5 in the practice, and this is one of many practices that do this surgery in the area), and her surgery was the SAME WEEK as mine. Amazing, huh?

I did the same. I told only my 3 immediate family members and my 3 closest girlfriends. I was lucky that I had to get my gall bladder removed at the same time, so if anyone else found out I was in the hospital it was for Gall Bladder Removal. When people ask about my weight loss, I just say that I'm on a high Protein, low carb diet and eating 5 small meals a day.......exercising a ton. All of that is the truth, right? It's your business, no one else's.

Sleeved 6/22...... lost 25.2 as of today, 3 weeks after surgery date. And I started as a "Low BMI'er" and the weight loss normally is slower for those people.

I look forward to being able to throw on a cute sundress and flip flops and look adorable! I look forward to doing all the things I used to love: dancing, going to the flea market, festivals, downtown events....and not worry about running into people who used to know the "Skinny" Natalie and have them look at me like "What happened to you"? Those people I've avoided for 8 years will see me (when I reach goal) and say "Wow, you look great". I look forward to men falling all over themselves to open doors for me, rather than how they let it slam in my face now!! LOL

I went for a 2 week followup appointment today with the Surgeon's PA. According to their scales I have lost 25.8 pounds in 2.5 weeks, but my scales are a little closer to 23.8. But I'll take it!!! She called it an "incredible weight loss" in a short time. Blood pressure was 114/73 and I've been off all my meds since a week before the surgery. Incisions looked good....healing properly. She did fuss at me because I seem to be exercising too much. All I had ever heard from the staff was to listen to my body and only do what it can handle. So that's what I've been doing and she scolded me for it. She said I shouldn't be doing any floor exercises, situps, or weights for the next 2 weeks. My incisions are healing on the outside but she said they're not healed on the inside yet and I shouldn't do any CORE muscle exercises, it could cause a hernia. But she said I've dodged a bullet right now, but to only walk and ride my bike for now. I also have never fully regained the urge to Pee-pee yet, so I brought that up to her. It's normal after being catheterized but shouldn't last this long. I just go to the bathroom every 2 hours because it's time to go, not because I feel the urge to go. Even in the morning, nothing. She said that's not normal, wants to refer me to a Urologist. Otherwise, I'm the picture of health. LOL

I had one put in before surgery while I was under anesthesia. Took it out in recovery. I had trouble "making pee" after I got into my room, so they put in one to quickly drain my bladder. They called it going "in and out". Still couldn't make pee, so they put one in late in the day (surgery day) and it came out the next morning. Finally turned on the shower and the sound of the Water created pee. Yippee! Then I was released. It's no big deal, no reason to worry. It was my first time hospitalized also