Veronica_mm

It is completely up to us to maintain. You don't lose the restriction, you learn to eat around it.
Your pouch begins to empty 30 minutes after eating, I guarantee you that I could graze to keep my pouch full all day long and gain every pound back.
The most I should ever be able to eat is about 1 cup of food. (Think of that 1cup as already chewed up food). Of course I can eat a lot more salad than 1 cup in its original form yet dense Protein I cannot even come close to a cup.
This is why it is so Important to ensure the food on your plate is Protein heavy, with good carbs like fruit and veggies.
If I were to fill it with Pasta bread and rice, I would become hungry faster and therefore would eat more frequently.
Having this surgery takes a lot of hard work on your part. It is a tool that can help you achieve your goals if you follow the rules. If you don't and you graze you will gain your weight back. If you don't and eat garbage you will become malnourished.
It is a huge commitment and requires 110 percent focus every single day.
I have not entered the maintenance phase but I am close and I know that my focus will need to continue. My life has completely changed for the better and I never want to go back there.
I hope that you guys continue to research until you are positive this is something you want to do. For me, it was a no brainier, I am the healthiest I have been in 28 years. My only regret is that I didn't do it 15 years ago when I was in my forties.

@@VanessaVSGforme - Hummus is basically ground chickpeas with some spices. I bought Athenos brand - Roasted Garlic flavor. It has 2 g Protein per 2 Tbsp. And girl I just ate it with a spoon! Desperate times, desperate measures. Once I could have some more vegetables, I eat it with cucumbers.
http://www.athenos.com/products/hummus/roasted-garlic

don't be sad buttercup your always so positive. It's gonna be ok, you'll see!! This is a process and you are bound to start loosing, my god we eat so little!! Stay on track

Now I'm back to being discouraged/worried. I've lost less than you three weeks out - 15 pounds. I try to stay away from negative thinking/self talk but... I can't help but think it would be so ironic but so freaking normal for me to somehow screw this up too, even though it's my body's fault and no choice of my own. The ironic patterns of my life just repeating and repeating and repeating. Can't tell you all how frustrated and sad I am.

I looove Premier Protein shakes they are very good

I agree with cowgirl on this. The premier Protein ready made shakes have so many positives:
1. They are ready made, no fuss, no muss!
2. They tastes delicious, especially their chocolate
3. Only 1 gram of sugars 30 grams of Protein and 160 calories
I honestly have not found one that tastes better and provides that level of nutrition for us gastric bypass patients.
It was recommended by my bariatric center of excellence after I struggled with the powders.

It IS miserable. Bless your heart. Drink your Protein Shakes slowly and stay hydrated. Every time I started feeling hungry, I'd get a big glass of Water and try to find a drawer to clean out! I got rid of so much stuff those two weeks trying to keep my mind off of what I was missing, haha! I'll be praying for you. Press on, Girl! ❤️

Hang in there kiddo! Remember how you used to look forward to Christmas or a birthday party and time seemed to stand still? Well, now you're grown up, but going thru those pains again. The preop diet is crappy, the post surgery diet is crappy, but this too shall pass! Think of your shiny new bicycle waiting for you as your prize! (Or in this case, your shiny new body) It's worth the wait and the craziness the experts put us thru! No one here will tell you not to follow your doctor's orders, but I think a phone call to the doctors office might be in order if that's what it takes to keep you on track. Maybe your NUT can give you some suggestions. I switched from New Direction drinks they suggested to me, to Unjury which wasn't nearly as awful. So there are always alternatives if your body can't tolerate something. And instead of Protein drinks/shakes afterwards, I've been making my own homemade broth and straining it. It tastes like Real food, not a pouch full of chemicals. That plus sf popcicles keep me going. Because of your special medical needs you should check with the pros though. And keep pushing those liquids! Pee out those free radicals, no more free rides for them!
Just try to keep positive thoughts running thru your head. Once Old Man Doubt finds his way in, it's hard to kick him out. And post often. Folks here can offer other helpful ideas how to cope. After all, you're worth it!!

@@UalreadyKnow
Not even CLOSE to doomed

Wow!!! Never knew that! That's great info, good to know we're not doomed

I know it's hard, but PATIENCE PATIENCE PATIENCE.
You didn't gain all the weight overnight, and you certainly aren't going to lose it overnight. These things take time. Yes, even with WLS. Put your nose to the grindstone, keep working your program, and it will come off. I promise.
Our bodies are weird. You would think barely eating would cause the weight to fall off, but it just isn't as simple as that sometimes. With the surgery comes trauma, hormones going crazy, etc...it's not all about "calories in, calories out" right after surgery. It's so much more complicated than that. Here's why you either don't lose a lot or stall so early out:
A "stall" a few weeks after surgery is not uncommon, and here's why.
Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs. of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when a patient is not getting in enough food, the body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. Then when 2 lbs. of glycogen is used a patient will also lose 8 lbs. of Water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs. that most people lose in the first week of a diet.
However, when the body stays in a caloric deficit state the body starts to realize that this is not a short-term problem. Then the body starts mobilizing fat from adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But the body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. As it puts back the 2 lbs. of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs. of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though the patient might still be losing energy content to their body, the weight will not go down or it might even gain for a while as the retention of water dissolves the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.

Thank you..my husband wants to throw it away..and i think i will, i dont want to get discouraged..
I appreciate your words

Don't be depressed. What you are experiencing is very common. You are recovering from major surgery which included lots of IV fluids and swelling. Plus, almost everyone experiences a stall about week three as your body catches up to the trauma.
As long as you focus on following your post-op instructions, reaching your Protein target, and staying hydrated, you will be fine. If the number on the scale is going to depress you, then stay off the scale.< /p>

I think we have to go to the web site I tried from my phone it foes not work

I went through lots of plateaus. They stink! But they are temporary. Just stay on the plan your doc gave you. Congrats on losing the first 25! You are on your way!

Everything is going really well! So well I almost catch myself wondering if I had surgery at all. XD I'm on the pureed stage, and I have no issue getting down my 1/2 cup of pureed lean Protein. I've had no stomach problems, no stomach pain from eating or drinking, even my incisions feel just fine, though my left side gets a little sore if I sleep on it. I'm supposed to be getting 3 pureed meals in a day, 1/2 cup each, plus two 8 oz Protein shakes. I'm currently only having 1 meal, sometimes two, as I find I'm just not hungry. However, I am getting in all the Protein I need, and 64 oz of Water daily, so I'm not too worried.
Here are some tips/things that helped me a LOT:
- If you have a comfortable recliner, I would suggest sleeping on it for the first several days or the first week when you get home. Laying flat is really uncomfortable, and it's hard to get up and down. sleeping in a recliner really made things a lot easier and less painful.
- It's going to be hard to get in all the Water you need. I got a plastic container from Wal Mart that is 64 oz exactly and has measurements on the side. It made it SO much easier to see exactly what I'm drinking and make sure I'm getting enough.
- Get yourself a couple boxes of Gas-X Thin Strips... you will thank me later. They work instantly and are a God-send.
- Make sure you have a really good blender that can puree food into a baby food consistency. We borrowed my mom's crappy Kitchen Aid blender and thought it would be fine... nope! We ended up getting a Nutribullet at Target. It's not exactly cheap but it works so, so well and is very hardy. It's worth the money, and you'll be using it every day.
- Before you leave the hospital, ask them for a bunch of hot packs. They will feel amazing and really reduce your gas pains.
- I would highly recommend getting chewable versions of the Vitamins and supplements you're going to need. My doctor prescribed me chewable Multivitamins but I have to buy my own chewable Calcium. I got a pill stuck once last week... worst. experience. ever. Avoid it at all costs!
When you're in the hospital, as soon as you can get up and walk, even if it's only for a couple feet and back to bed, do it! The gas pain will not be fun at all but walking is the fastest way to get rid of it. I mean, don't hurt yourself, obviously, but just try to get in some little walks even when you really really don't want to.
If you have any specific questions or want recommendations on shakes/vitamins/anything, don't hesitate to ask.

I definitely experienced buyer's remorse from the day of surgery until about the beginning of my second week out of surgery. I was lucky to not feel sick or vomit or anything like that. My issue were my stomach muscles. The only way that I was comfortable and in no pain or discomfort was if I was lying completely flat on my back. For awhile I thought that I would bedridden for the rest of my life! That made me regret the surgery. Then I started feeling better and saw the weight melting off and became grateful for this tool. I've been stalled for a few weeks so it's been somewhat challenging to stay motivated and upbeat but I just keep telling myself that it can't last forever and that I just have to keep doing what I know is right. You're not alone girlfriend!! Go look at some before and after photos - that may pep you up a bit! It sure got me out of my funk! We're here for you! We're all in this together!

When I was first sleeved, I felt distraught, I constantly cried and thought "what have I done to myself" the first two months are tough, in my honest opinion. No amount of training or prep can really get you ready enough for such a drastic change. Once I was moved onto soft then solid foods, I got happier, the weight was coming off and I didn't feel trapped in my diet anymore. Now at 6 months, I feel happy with my decision and glad I went with it. I feel confident and healthier. It gets better!!

You've lost more than I have, and I'm told it's not uncommon to lose even less than me. I agree with @@James Marusek, the focus is on getting in enough Water, your Vitamins, and the required amount of Protein. I'm supposed to be getting three meals of 1/2 cup (4oz) of pureed food a day (and two 8 oz Protein shakes), but I'm only getting in 1 pureed meal, rarely 2. As we speak I'm drinking this sort of savory shake I made, which consists of 1 cup of milk, 1/2 cup of nonfat cottage cheese, and 1/3 cup of white meat chicken, pureed. I planned on having this as a 4 oz meal but it made a liquid with all the milk and seems to be sitting well. It made just under 2 cups and has 37 grams of protein with very little fat or sugar. Really it boils down to getting in all your required stuff, the rest is just a take-it-as-it-comes kind of deal as your body heals and gets used to food again.
All in all, you seem to be doing fine. Take it easy, listen to your body. Good luck!

It is common for people to hit stalls during the process. Right after surgery, the most important requirements are Protein, fluids and Vitamins. Meals are secondary because your body is converting your fat into the energy that drives your body. Thus you lose weight.
I had RNY gastric bypass surgery. The prescribed meal plan for the first 8 weeks post-op was 3 meals per day which were 4 tablespoons in volume each. Surgeons may differ in what they prescribe for meal plans.

i couldn't have said it better myself

ppl are such prudes lol drink up ull be fine im about 6months out and i drink more now than i did before surgery and im fine lol well everything is fine so far since i STILL cant eat as much

Guilty. Licked cheetoo puffs. : /
it's natural to feel like that. Not eating anything for weeks is really hard. I've done pretty well. I'm 2 weeks out. One more week and I move to puree

I feel you. It's almost like we have to defend our decision. Most of the people I did tell were so happy for which me, which told me they know I'm big. Few people were trying to talk me out of it. Didn't listen, 13 days out : ))
Who cares what they say. Don't tell anyone unless you want to. I've told who I wanted, everyone else will just have to wonder.

I'm 13 days out, still can't sleep on my sides : ( in had bypass not sleeve, but still can't sleep on my sides. Back only and it's sucks lol