Hello new me

I'm in. I am sure I will gain a few pounds over the holidays. I am a year and 4 months out.

Ok, so I am 10 months out from my gastric sleeve surgery. I am 5 foot 6 and currently weight 149lb. I am 4lb away from my stretch goal. I am still losing about 1/2 lb per week. I consistently get 70-80 grams of protein in. I keep my carbs around 50 grams. I drink 70-80 oz of water per day. I eat around 1,200 calories per day. I also get in around 10,000 steps per day with strength training 3 days per week. My question for the veterans is should I start moving towards maintenance yet or wait until I get to my stretch goal? If maintenance is in my near future, what should I do? I was self pay, so don't have any great resources such as a nutritionist. I also recently had all of my labs done. No issues there. Everything in the high end of normal range.

I am a 15 months post op. I went camping and hiking with my husband. I hiked 12 miles in one day without an issue. We saw so many amazing thing. Life if Good!

My Thanksgiving will include working. I am administrator on call for the hospital that I work for. I am actually thankful for this. I had been passed over for many promotions in the past. I contribute my knew found position not only to my talents, but also to my overall appearance. Don't get me wrong, I will indulge in a thanksgiving feast. However, now it most includes turkey with a few bites of sides. This is so unlike my plates of food in the past. I love my WLS!!!

Actually having a higher BMI can keep you from being a organ donor. If you are healthy and meet all of the donor criteria (there are a lot) I don't see how having WLS could keep you from being a organ donor.

Don't let people get to you. I don't tell anyone that I had surgery. As far as anyone needs to know is I don't eat carbs and run daily. I still get the comments at work all the time about wasting away. My standard reply for the last 6 months is " Yes, I am trying so that you can't find me to ask me questions." It is said in a joking manner. This normally stops that question. I am really not a smart a$$, but hey you can only been asked that question so many times before you are!

Oh, I love Starbucks. I go about once a week. I get the bacon, egg, and gouda. I throw the bread away and only eat about 3/4 of the inside. Yes, I get many strange looks. However, they are worth it. I will say I am over a year out from surgery.

By 3 months out you will be fine to travel. I went to San Pedro island 3 months out. I didn't have any issues at all. You can eat regular food by then. Look for protein items on the menu and skip the sides no problem. I also would eat off my husbands plate, since I couldn't eat much. I also packed my bag with protein bars, laughing cow cheese, and beef jerky for filler items. I brought half of it back home. I never had issues finding food that I could eat. I had my surgery over a years ago now. I have been out of the country numerous times without issues. I actually have more fun now then before, since I have so much more energy and can do what I want. Go have fun! Don't stress! It will have a great time.

You are doing great! Keep it up.

I am a year out this week. I am allowed lettuce, but it doesn't agree with me. I would rather have the meat, cheese, and any other delicious salad topping anyway.

June 2015 Pre-op 234 August 3 2015 Surgery weight 218 Current weight 148 Goal was 155, but hit that 9 months out

I am a nurse, so this is only my opinion. Unless you have a history of kidney issues, then your elevated creatine is more than likely due to not getting enough fluid in. Dehydration can cause an elevated creatine to put it in easy terms. Also the protein in your urine is more than likely due to the high protein diet, if you are following that. Drink more fluids and everything should correct itself without any worries.

I am 11 months out from gastric sleeve. I really never eat lettuce. I hate to waste the space in my stomach for the nutritional value. I would rather have the things that go on top of the lettuce, like meat, cheese etc. Usually if I eat my protein first, I don't have room for much of anything else.

The first couple of months are the hardest. I felt like all I did was drink water and eat all day long. It was a constant struggle. Try to find thing you like to eat. I personally hated retried beans pre-surgery. Now I keep 2-3 can on hand because I eat them all the time now even 11 months out. Also, ricotta cheese was something I didn't ever eat pre-op, but now it is a staple in my diet. Greek yogurt was another go to the first couple of months pre-op. It is good for getting protein in with some calories. At this stage just remember to eat or drink a protein shake every couple of hours and the calories and protein will add up. You can do this. Before you know it you will be 6 months out and this phase will be a distant memory.

It is an amazing feeling when you can fit into clothes size you haven't seen in a long time. Congratulations!

Thanks for sharing. You are doing a great job. Keep up the great work. You have got this.

Good luck! You can do this.

LMAO - not sure if it is real or not, but that was very entertaining.

Great job!! You have done awesome.

Thanks all for the great advise. I decided to keep trying to lose until I hit my stretch goal. With the 4th weekend and summer in general (weekends at the lake and going to the beach), it seems like I have hit the dreaded lose one gain one time. I am trying to tighten up on what I eat so that I can lose those few last pounds before my one year Anniversary.

I have flown numerous times since surgery. I have not had a issue at all. I do have TSA pre-check and global entry. However, this does nothing when you go out of the country. I have y had any issues in foreign countries either. I would recommended getting the pre-check to anyone who travels a couple of times per year. It is great! Save a lot of time at the airport when you arrive.

I was a self pay patient. No issues as far as health went pre-op. I had labs only as my requirement. I had my consult the send of June. I had surgery August 3rd last year. I could have done it a few weeks earlier but couldn't arrange it with my work schedule. It all goes fast if your self pay. It was the best decision I have every made. 218lb on day of surgery and now I am 149. Life is great!

Pre-planning is a great idea. It allows you to be prepared for the many different situation. I am a little over 10 months out myself and at goal. I continue to take may food to work with me. Typically on Sunday, I get my lunch bag (I rock the plastic grocery bag) together for each day of the week. This lunch bag includes breakfast, lunch, protein shake and snacks. I have them all stacked in the fridge so that I can just grab and go in the mornings on my way to work. It has help me to stay accountable for my food intake on a daily basis. Good luck on your journey. You can do this!

You will start to feel better after you can eat real food again. You are in the toughest part of recovery right now. I am currently a little over 10 month out now. I can pretty much eat what I want, but my restrictions are there. I can eat about 2 oz of protein on average with a few bites of veggies. I am full. I am about 5 lb away from stretch goal of 145. Couldn't be happier with my new life.

Great job! Isn't it fun to shop now. Keep up the great work.