Daenerys Targaryen

Coffee and decaf coffee do that to me too.

You are so inspirational to someone like me that has so much to lose. I started at 426, am currently 238 at 13 months post op, and hope to get to the 150's. I don't have much advice for the boob situation, but I just wanted to let you know how much I admire your success.

I would take all the help anyone has offered. Definitely have someone stay with you when you get home. I had trouble bending over to pick things off the floor, etc.

I recommend the 5 Day Pouch Reset/Test to get some restriction back and get started back with a Bariatric eating plan.

Breakfast: premier protein shake Morning snack: half cup blueberries Lunch: grilled chicken, shrimp, onions, and mushrooms with fajita seasoning Afternoon snack: half cup watermelon Dinner: beef taco made with lettuce as the shell

I am 10 months out and I eat fruit almost daily, but I try to keep it around one portion and earlier in the day. For example, a fresh peach with a couple spoons of low fat cottage cheese was my lunch today. I don't eat canned fruits. I try to eat fresh or frozen. So far, it has not harmed my weight loss or anything.

If I eat carbs in veggies and fruits, I still continue to lose weight. If I eat bread, pasta, sugar, etc. my weight loss stalls and then starts creeping up.

That's a good weight loss amount in a month! All the months will eventually add up and you'll realize how much you lost. It takes time and patience and remembering to look at the big picture.

Yes, for many (me included) meat will cause the most restriction. At 10 months out I can still get full on just a few bites of meat. That is a good benefit of the bypass and the reason my dietician says "protein first" when I eat a meal. I will get more restriction quicker. A rule of thumb for most is that the denser the food is, the more restriction it will cause and that is great for weight loss. So maybe eat a little less of the meat and chew really thoroughly. Hope this advice helps. [emoji4]

It doesn't matter how well I stick to a diet or eating the way I'm supposed to post-bypass, it is a given that I am going to gain 3-5 pounds of water weight before my period. So I can totally relate, and hopefully it's just hormonal water weight for you. [emoji4]

One of my favorite meals is taco-seasoned ground beef with everything you'd put in a taco (cheese, taco sauce, sour cream, tomatoes, etc) inside of a big leaf of romaine lettuce. Use the lettuce leaf as the taco shell. It is great! It tastes the same as a regular taco without the carbs. I also like to chop up grilled chicken breast and mix it with corn, black beans, and avocado pieces for a southwestern flavor. For quick snacks, I roll a couple slices Deli turkey or chicken with a slice of cheese inside of a big leaf of lettuce.

Congrats! This is one of my favorite things about the bypass too. Even at 10 months out, I can't eat more than 3-4 ounces comfortably. My 11 year old daughter commented today about how I eat so much less than her. It's a wonderful feeling to eat just a small amount and know that you are done and satisfied. Good luck on your journey!

I meant to say you "could" accidentally hurt your stomach since your nerves may not be healed enough to let you know when it is too much. Just be super careful. [emoji4]

Congratulations! You are such an inspiration!

The nerves in your stomach may not have healed back from surgery, which means you wouldn't have full feeling yet. This is also means you couldn't accidentally hurt your still-healing stomach. I would just move past it and make sure you don't do anything like it again. [emoji4]

You look 15 years younger!

In your situation with the struggle to gain and get in enough calories, I would ask a dietician if they would recommend upping your carbs. Carbs like bread, crackers, chips, etc go down easily and are higher calorie. Since you are a special situation and need more calories, I think I would consider asking my dietician if that would be ok to try.

When I'm craving sweets, sugar free Reese's cups or a sugar free pudding cup are the way to go. I also like to go to TCBY and get a cup of sugar free soft serve frozen yogurt.

Our school district has a person that handles paperwork for FMLA. She sent me forms that my surgeon filled out and faxed back to her.

I struggle with cravings and hunger a few days before my period every month. I have tried to find alternatives to help during those days. If I'm craving sweets, I go for sugar free pudding or sugar free Reese's cups. If it's something salty I may have some salted nuts or even bakes veggie crisps. It helps that I know it's only hormones and only temporary, so I don't really feel like a failure during that time if I eat a little more than normal.

Yes to SF pudding. I still keep some in the fridge 9 months out. If I am fighting a hormonal urge for something sweet or creamy, the SF pudding satisfies it.

I had mine two weeks, but the fluid levels gradually decreased to almost nothing over that time. I did notice that if I moved around a lot, the drainage got worse and when I rested and healed it would become less.

I revised band to bypass and am so glad I did. The bypass has a more natural feel. You just get full like a normal person, and I don't have to deal with foods getting stuck and all that. Plus, the weight loss is quicker and better than the band.

I'm a teacher and went back after two weeks, but that was a mistake. I should have taken at least three weeks. I ended up having to take a day off mid week because it was just too much. Looking at the big picture now, I should've just taken the third week and healed some more.

Most just wear the hospital gown from my experience and seeing other Bariatric patients walking the halls in their hospital gowns.