kondasa
Gastric Sleeve Patients-
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Everything posted by kondasa
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I drank about 3 months after-- not a lot, but I felt 100% normal. I had one Rum and Diet Coke at a wedding and then last week I had a small margarita. I haven't had anything I couldn't tolerate like other people so I say use your cues. One drink will not ruin your weight loss efforts and for me has helped me feel like I am changing my lifestyle rather than being on this 1 year diet and then the gate open after a year. I think you have to know your slippery slope foods/drinks. For me I can't eat chips and ice cream because I can eat a lot with my sleeve... but alcohol--nah, just one every month works with my life just fine.
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Is there a way to break a stall
kondasa replied to perfectlyimperfect44's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
For me it was changing up my routine. I was in a stall at 240 for about a week and a half. I was tracking every day and getting in my Water, Protein and 600-800 calories-- but I wasn't losing. This past weekend I went out of town and did not track, didn't follow my established food routine and was convinced I would gain weight. In fact, I lost 5 lbs in two days. That works for me, but honestly, it could have just been time for my body to drop that weight. I am 2 months post surgery. -
What does it feel like when you eat too much or too fast?
kondasa replied to silverthreads's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I actually really struggle with telling the difference between too far and just full. I feel like I go from empty to full very quickly and have trouble feeling just satisfied. I would say that there have been a few times where it feels like my chest is tight and I assume that means I went too far. I actually try to measure 1/4 cups and keep to that amount (I am 2 months out) so I don't go too far. -
tired of being lectured on here
kondasa replied to ********'s topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I also have not read all the threads because gosh it started in 2013.. but I will say that when I was in my teens and 20's (I am 34 now) I used to think I didn't eat a lot. I would always say, "genetics, slow metabolism, big boned." The reality was, I did eat a lot and just didn't recognize it. I noticed it when I started dating my husband--his sisters and mom are healthy weights. I would hate being with them because they ate so little and didn't even need to eat three meals a day, let alone 3 meals and 3 snacks (like I had convinced myself I should be doing for my health). I once went on a vacation with them and ordered a "normal restaurant" meal and realized they would just grab an orange and maybe a cheese stick for lunch. So needless to say, it took me until I was about 30 to realize that I was actually overeating. I was surrounded by people who ate like I did so I didn't notice it. Yes,I do think my genetics didn't help and we all know the people who seem to eat and eat and eat and never gain, but it was living in another world/culture that made me realize that I just ate more than other people. I do believe now even with my rough genes that if I had eaten less my whole life I would not be a size 2, but probably wouldn't also be morbidly obese. After being sleeved for 1.5 months I feel for the first time that I am eating like my husband's sisters and mom. -
So for the rest of my life I need to take a bariatric muti Vitamin after sleeve surgery. For my first month I was on a special chewable version and the nutritionist at the office told me at a month to switch to a standard bariatric vitamin. She told me that I should purchase the Vitamins through the office because they are the best. I purchased my first month through the office ($30 a bottle), but now I am ready to make the switch at 1 month out. I am an hour away from my Dr. Office and can't count on being near the office for the rest of my life. I would prefer to just order them online, but they only sell my office's vitamin through the office... Ugg. So my question is, what vitamin do you use for a bariatric muti vitamin? can you order it online? do you think my weight loss center is just trying to make money? Thoughts?
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Water intake and fluids
kondasa replied to possum83's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Water is also tough for me because I used to down it. I drink a little water now, but honestly I am more successful with G2 and Diet iced tea/Lemonade (which counts as water). I hope my love for water returns. It doesn't hurt to drink anymore, but for some reason I have just lost interest in it. I am about 1 month out. -
All of our diets are different so it is hard to say, but for me I am on soft foods and this is what I eat: 7:30 am breakfast (egg salad, cottage cheese or cream of wheat) 8:30 a.m. at work and I drink water all morning 12 p.m. lunch( yogurt, etc. ) 1 p.m. drink water all afternoon 5:30 p.m. dinner (puree chicken, fish or beans) 8 p.m. protein shake with 30 g protein 11 pm. bed All my food equals 30 g protein and my one protein shake equals 30= 60 g
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Bariatric Multi Vitamins ?
kondasa replied to kondasa's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Not sure-- I asked if I could get them online and the woman said no that they only sell them through WLC. I may call to get the brand and check online just to see. -
I thought they were trolls
kondasa replied to csawesome's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I will say that right now I have a pretty strong sleeve (3 weeks out) and think I could eat more than my diet allows. I am only on soft foods and stick religiously to my diet, however I don't seem to have trouble with different foods like other people do at this stage so I wonder if he just has a really strong sleeve. Now before surgery at a pre-opt appointment I asked my surgeon if anyone of his patients have ever died from the surgery and he said he only lost one patient after gastric bypass. He said the day she was released from the hospital she drove through McDonalds and ate a big mac. After that I have been too scared to even consider cheating. -
I am 33 years old and I went back to work after a week. I had actually planned to take longer and after a week I realized that there was no reason I needed to be out because I have no complications at all and was feeling 100% after a week. now I did have a work friend who had the sleeve that had pretty bad diarrhea up to two weeks after surgery and took two weeks off because she didn't feel like she could be away from her home bathroom. So it is different for everyone, if you can be flexible I recommend it.
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How fast do you see results
kondasa replied to bellabeans's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
My surgery was 3/15-- so about 3 weeks ago and I have lost 20 lbs. since surgery -
Honestly why r men A****? 5days post op
kondasa replied to choicemun's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I know initially my husband was having a hard time adjusting to me eating different things then the family. So when I was on a liquid diet I would prep an entire dinner for him and the kids and he would feel awkward and hated it. So he started to just get himself something either from fast food or frozen pizza so I didn't have to cook a big meal like I used to do. I eventually said to him that I thought his eating was getting worse because I wasn't cooking healthy meals anymore. I am still on soft foods so I make my own meals still and when I started that phase I asked him if he would go on weight watchers while I did this. One reason being that no one but him knows I had the surgery and if we lost weight together it would be an easier sell to friends and family. He agreed and we both have been tracking our food via My Fitness Pal together--we just eat different things. -
4 months of weight watchers already....
kondasa replied to cookiefierce's topic in Pre-op Diets and Questions
Nope-- mine was proof of previous weight loss programs (that is where the WW print outs will come in handy) and then 6 months supervised by a Doctor. My doctor had to be a center for excellence, which meant that I had to do it at bariatric center's office -
Caloric intake @ Stage 2
kondasa replied to LMSWNYC's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Everyone's stages are different so I am not sure what you mean by stage 2. I am about 3 weeks out and still on soft foods and I am at about 500 calories. Most of my calories are from Protein shakes right now. While 1000 might seems high I do have to say if you were not sleeved 1000 would seem very low for your weight and you would be dropping weight. I would definitely ask your Doctor about what your calorie intake should be at 6 weeks. For me it would be impossible to take in 1000 calories because my food plan is B,L,D 1/4 cup of soft food off of a list of pretty low calorie foods. Typically my food is about 200 calories and then my Protein Shakes make up about 300. I am not allowed to snack or drink anything with calories (other than 4 oz of juice a day). So for me it would be impossible to go over 600 calories on my stage 2. But... everyone is different. -
Decisions to make
kondasa replied to Snowbutterfly's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
I could lose weight, but could never keep it off. I lost 100 lbs on my own when I was 26 years old and now at 33 I put that all back on again. I noticed early in life that I could not control my portions like other people. I was always hungry even though I was losing weight. So I wish I would have had the surgery when I was younger even though I thought I could do it on my own-- I just couldn't keep it off. I have been sleeved for 2 weeks now and I am so thrilled. Every time I think of eating some of my old favorites I 1. have the sleeve to restrict the amount or 2. realize that I won't make my Protein goal if eat/drink that. I couldn't be more pleased with my decision to have it done even though I have lost weight on my own and do know how to do it. I finally feel like I have a normal persons appetite. I could lose weight, but could never keep it off. I lost 100 lbs on my own when I was 26 years old and now at 33 I put that all back on again. I noticed early in life that I could not control my portions like other people. I was always hungry even though I was losing weight. So I wish I would have had the surgery when I was younger even though I thought I could do it on my own-- I just couldn't keep it off. I have been sleeved for 2 weeks now and I am so thrilled. Every time I think of eating some of my old favorites I 1. have the sleeve to restrict the amount or 2. realize that I won't make my protein goal if eat/drink that. I couldn't be more pleased with my decision to have it done even though I have lost weight on my own and do know how to do it. I finally feel like I have a normal persons appetite. -
I can't get over how diet progression plans differ so widely from doctor to doctor. My doctor seems to be a lot more liberal than many of yours. My plan: 1.5 days home- Clear liquid day 2-7 at home- full liquids (including plain yogurt as a liquid) day 7-21 at home- soft foods adding meats at day 14 day 21- full foods I feel great and have felt ready for each phase change. I changed to soft foods yesterday and I am taking them quiet well and haven't had any problems thus far. I have also lost 15 lbs since my surgery date on 3/15. So I am not worried that something is wrong. I was just wondering if anyone else has a similar liberal plan because it seems like many of you are on a much stricter post op diet? * I also didn't have a liquid pre-op diet.
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I have been reading different forums and I have seens two references to a big sleeve vs. a small sleeve--meaning some doctors leave a larger sleeve and for others it is smaller. My doctor and I never discussed this so I think he will just do a standard sleeve/his choice, but I wanted to see if this was a discussion point for others or if you were told before/after that you were getting a bigger or smaller sleeve. My surgery is currently scheduled for March 15.
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Big Sleeve vs. Small Sleeve
kondasa replied to kondasa's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Wow! Lots of good information. Thanks! -
Why sleeve and not bypass?
kondasa replied to seaniepoohbear's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I chose the sleeve for all the reasons listed including: lower recovery time (2 weeks recommended out of work for sleeve and 3 for bypass). I am taking 7 days off work in addition to the two weekends. I am not telling anyone and just using vacation time. I am at a 40 BMI, in my young 30s and no health related issues-- so while the bypass was sold as the gold standard, my doctor said I was not a good candidate because the bypass is a bit more extreme. He said if I had Diabetes he would give me the choice... but for me I didn't really have an option. -
I just finished all my pre-op stuff and was approved by insurance!! woohoo!!!! So after my nutrition appointment today they scheduled me for surgery and offered me December 17th. I felt that it was too close and right before the holidays would be very difficult with traveling and having my kids out of daycare for the two weeks over xmas. I asked for a date in March (because it is Spring Break where I work) and the woman looked at me like I was insane for waiting and even asked if I was sure I wanted to wait so long. Has anyone booked their surgery that far in advance? any concerns or regrets I should be aware of?
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Feeling [not so] hopeful ????
kondasa replied to glitterpockets's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I felt the same way before approval. I just knew they were going to find a reason to deny me because I am barely over the 40 BMI and didn't have co-morbidities. But low and behold I was approved and it went fine. Hopefully the same outcome for you. I felt the same way before approval. I just knew they were going to find a reason to deny me because I am barely over the 40 BMI and didn't have co-morbidities. But low and behold I was approved and it went fine. Hopefully the same outcome for you. -
Tomorrow is my last weigh-in of my 3 month Pre-Op diet, which will allow them to submit to insurance. They told me if I gain weight over the 3 month period I will not qualify. I am soooooo nervous about tomorrow's weigh in. This morning I am about 5 lbs down, but I have this fear that throughout today and into tomorrow morning I am going to hold on to Water and gain back 5 lbs, or the scale will be different than mine and show a gain. I am keeping to 1500 calories today and drinking a ton of water, so hopefully there is no fluke. wish me luck for a happy scale so we can submit to insurance.
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What are you looking forward to?
kondasa replied to hollybower's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Trying StichFix-- everyone in my office does it, but it only serves sizes 0-14. -
I am a little frustrated. So in August I started my Sleeve journey with my first Pre-Op appointment where they weighed me, measured me, went over history etc. At this point I was 264 lbs. I was told for insurance I would need to do a 3 month supervised diet with a doctor and lose weight during that time-- it didn't matter how much. So in early September I met with the dietitian at the center and was 268. I told her that I was ready to lose some weight and meet the insurance goal of at least losing weight in three months (I had to putting on weight like crazy the months before). I weight in again for a monthly appt. in early October and weight 267-- not great, but I did lose a pound. The dietitian looked at me and said I will see you for your last appt. in early November and remember you have to be lower than 264 to qualify for insurance. What? that is only two months dietitian supervised diet and when working with the dietitian I was 268, so shouldn't I be lower than that? She said no and that it is the date and weight I started working with the center. I had no idea. So I have been struggling to lose weight and due to something unknown I have seen increases of a 1 lb a day with eating very little. So I am at about 268 now and need to be under 264 in three weeks. I just don't know if I can do it. Anyone find themselves in a similar situation where you had to really work to lose weight at the end of qualify for insurance? What did you do? I was initially worried about losing too much and dipping below the required 40 BMI, but that isn't even a concern anymore.
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My Big Fat Fabulous Life - Do you watch it?
kondasa replied to MIMISAN's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I have a love/hate relationship with her for many of the reasons you listed above. I have had those days where I think I am doing well, exercising more, eating healthier and then step on the scale to see that I have gained 5-10 lbs. so I get it--it is frustrating. Also to see your family and friends eat the same or worse than you be able to maintain a 155 lb frame is exhausting. However, I do think she is lazy on the job front. She has lived with her parents a bit too long, hasn't really had a full time job and when she did get a job with a boss she really struggled and acted very immature. The whole, " I am too fat for khaki's is ridiculous because she did find some in her size and just refused to wear them. I am not a fan of someone putting down a body type, however I am also not a fan of celebrating an unhealthy body either. I hate being overweight and frankly it brings me down everyday. I don't know how she is so happy about not being able to do normal things and have a normal life.