LuckyLady101515

Michigan

Michigan

Michigan

???? Lmao... Too funny that was a trip! But it got me thinking lol. Nice break from all the serious stuff on here.
I was afraid to post... I keep dreaming of putting a cheeseburger in a blender! But after that, what the heck lol.

Besides sticking to the Water and Protein, does anyone have any ideas to get my butt in gear. I feel I'm getting weaker not stronger.
I see the doctor in two days on wed. Hope to be put on Vitamins or something. Would love any suggestions, thanks!

Thank you for acknowledging the importance of our choices, day in, day out. Nobody is perfect at this game, if we were we wouldn't be on a board like this. And I can't believe that surgery is some kind of magic fairy dust that makes our journey perfect when we hadn't been before. I'm working on paying attention to the importance of choices while I'm pre-op, so this post was both timely and helpful.
Go get 'em!

Ok, I admit it...
I’ve been slack.
For the past six weeks, I’ve not been concentrating on ANYTHING related to my post-sleeving care.
I’ve not been making sure I’m having enough protein…
I’ve not been getting all my Water in…
I’ve not been thinking about what I eat..
Yes, I’ve still been going to the gym…
Yes, I’ve still been losing weight…
But what if I’d stuck to my plan all along and kept up the water/protein/good food thing?
How much further along would I have been?
Relatively speaking, six weeks is a long time.
It’s 17(ish)% of my sleeved life.
17%.
It doesn’t sound like much.
It’s not even a fifth of something.
But think about this…
What if I was 17% ahead of where I am with my weight loss…
What if, instead of being thrilled that I’ve lost 150lb, I was celebrating losing 175.5 lb.
That’s nearly 80kg in my terms.
And it’s 17% more…
But fear not…
I know what the reality is…
The reality is that I’ve nobody to blame but myself.
I chose to not get my Protein in…
I chose to not keep check on my water…
I chose to not watch my calories…
(And I also chose to drink alcohol a few times in there too… Shhhhhh)
Well you know what…
I’m choosing again.
Actually, I chose it last week.
That’s when I started a countdown in my profile feed.
To those who noticed it, it would have been random and quite possibly, nonsensical.
But to me, it was making a choice.
Re-making a choice.
Call it a do-over..
A re-launch..
Call it whatever you like
As of 0445 this morning (when I woke up), I’ve taken responsibility for myself again.
No more coasting thru this sleeved life..
No more taking losing weight for granted..
No more forgetting where I came from..
What I came from…
How far I’ve come…
This sleeve shit is NOT easy!!
This sleeve shit is NOT cheating!!
I have lost this weight…
Me..
Nobody else…
And you know what?
I’m about to lose a whole lot fu***ng more!!!

I felt the same way too. What have I done?! I wanted to eat everything I loved but couldn't even taste a bite. Everything smelled delicious. Its like you were forced to break up with your best friend and you never got to say goodbye!
But all of the sudden, a month later you gulp down Water and realize it wasn't a tiny sip..and nothing hurts! You go to tie your shoes and you can reach! You realize you're no longer sore anywhere. Fast food smells awful. Your feet/knees aren't screaming sore. Your old jeans fit. Your bras are loose. I could go on all night.....
As a professional cook who has unlimited access to food ALL day, there are few people who have temptation like I do. But I've never been happier or more in control. 100% sure you will be so happy with your decision xoxoxo

My dear, I feel your pain. I have felt your pain. Thank God for this forum. I don't know what I would have done without the support. Hang in there, ride the waves, it really does get better.
Prayers are with you for your strength.

So much this!
Would it help if I told you that what you're feeling is normal and that things will progressively get better and better over time? Because they will.
It's tough going early out. So many changes to deal with. But soon you'll hit your routine and and start really seeing the weight loss and things become normal again. It just takes time.
And do me a favor? Punch the next person in the face who says we all took the easy way out

???? Lmao... Too funny that was a trip! But it got me thinking lol. Nice break from all the serious stuff on here.
I was afraid to post... I keep dreaming of putting a cheeseburger in a blender! But after that, what the heck lol.

I had surgery 8/11/15 and I'm experiencing the back/joint pain. I'm doing great getting in my Vitamins, Protein and Water. I am also exercising. From other post-ops who have experienced the same thing, they said it will pass. I think it's just your body getting adjusted to the significant weight loss. It makes sense. For so long, your joints have been compressed by the additional weight and now it's gone.
Also, I would certainly work on getting back on track with your Vitamins, Protein and Water. Talk with your surgeon/dietician and press the reset button. I bet you will feel SO much better. Nutritional deficiencies can wreak havoc on us physically and mentally. As the others have said, try talking with someone about the depression.
Best wishes to you on your journey! You can do this. Remember, you deserve better for yourself! )

I have been told in our seminar classes by a couple former patients of the center (who are at goal and living there) that being malnourished in terms of proper Protein and Vitamins will have mental effects on top of the physical impact.
They said that getting back on track didn't take long and they felt better in mind, body and spirit.
I've heard enough from these veterans and those on this site to not dabble with this, but to simply follow the plan and reap the rewards.
It's so simple....at least from my perspective.

One thing I've noticed after being on this forum for a year and a half is there seems to be a common thread with people who either stop losing or start gaining:
They've stopped following the protien first rule, and seem to be filling their pouch/sleeve with useless calories like crackers, Cookies chips, and yes, popcorn.
As a once in while snack, okay. But as pointed out above, nuts, Jerky and cheese will serve someone much better to lose weight and keep the weight off, plus giving you more of a nutritional bang for your buck.

Hi... I had the sleeve surgery done on October 15 it's been one week and a day. I felt ok after surgery besides the gas pains which I found if you get up and walk the more the better. If I ate or drank and had gas pain just moving around got rid of it quickly. Don't sit and suffer. I'm 42 years old and I have certainly done my homework with this but reading these blogs definitely helps and does not make you feel like you're alone in this.
I am on stage III which is full liquids and one of the best things my doctor said you could have is a chili from Wendy's and putting it in the blender. Omg... It tasted so good but after four days now I'm sick of it lol, but maybe it will help someone threw a couple of days. My doctor did recommend after putting the chili in a blender, putting it in ice cube trays and freezing it. That way you can take a couple cubes out at a time and not waste it.
Also I have never heard anybody talk about medication for gas relief. The day after I woke up from surgery in the hospital they had me on infants simethicone drops. (For gas relief) They sent me home with it. It helped me. I still take it every morning as long as I don't eat or drink too fast I don't have much problems with the gas pain now. Hope this helps someone. Some of people's post really makes me laugh!
Stay strong everyone, we can do this!

DISCLAIMER: This FAQ is in no way intended to replace or undermine the advice of your physician. Every person is different, every surgeon has different guidelines, and no two situations are identical. Therefore if any of the answers below are unclear or contradict your physicians’ instructions, always follow your physicians’ instructions. The responses given are a compilation from multiple sources and references.
How do I embed the weight loss ticker? There are many ticker generators you can use, but the majority of us use TickerFactory.com or MyFitnessPal.com – Once you create your ticker, embed the code into your signature via your “Settings”
*Adding* liquid stage? During your clear liquid stage you can have anything that you can sip through a straw that is translucent, meaning see through. For instance: Water, juice, broth, sugar free popsicles, sugar free Jello, Isopure Protein Drinks, Gatorade, Powerade, decaf tea just to name a few. Once you move on to full liquids you may add liquids that are not translucent. For instance: creamed Soups, soups with the chunks strained out, milk, Protein shakes etc… NOTHING CAFFEINATED
When can I have coffee/soda/tea? Decaf coffee is typically OK about 30days post-op. Decaf tea is OK starting with your clear liquid diet. Soda is typically never OK, with the reasons varying from the carbonation causing painful gas to the carbonation stretching your sleeve. Regardless of the reasoning, it's generally a good idea to avoid sodas entirely, or to consume them in extreme moderation.
When do I start mushies/purees? Every surgeon has different guidelines for the progression of your post-op diet. The majority of post-op diets progress as follows:
Day 1-7 Clear Liquids
Day 8-14 Full liquids
Day 15-21 Purees
Day 22-50 Mushies
What’s the difference between mushies and purees? The major difference is that purees are anything that has been blenderized/pureed to a baby food consistency and has no chunks. These should not be watery, but instead a thicker pudding like consistency. Mushies are soft foods that have not been pureed.< /p>
I'm on liquids/purees and I feel no restriction, should I be concerned that my surgery didn't work? Nope! You'll feel your restriction as you start to take in denser foods. In reality, you never want to experience that over stuffed feeling again because that means you've over stuffed your sleeve. There's much debate over whether or not you can stretch your stomach by over stuffing your sleeve, I for one am not trying to prove or disprove the theory. Best to play it safe - when you start to feel full, stop eating.
Should I be counting calories or carbs or both? Both. Again, every surgeon is different, but the majority of sleevers will be on a 600-1000 calorie/day diet with carbs kept at 60-80g or less. The general guideline is this: When eating, protein is always first, veggies are second, and if you have room carbs/starch last. The majority will rarely have room for the carbs.
How much protein should I be getting per day? The recommended protein intake may vary from 55 to 100g per day, depending on your individual needs and the bariatric diet provided by your surgeon or dietitian. The generally accepted minimum protein requirement for women is about 50 to 60g per day and men need at least 60 to 70g of protein per day.
How much liquid do i need for the day? About 60-80oz
When can I eat salad? Once you reach the point where you’re on normal solids you can try salad. Start with a small amount and see how your sleeve tolerates it as it can be difficult to digest.
Best Protein Shakes? This one depends on your particular tastes, however most seem to enjoy powders? utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury.

What else counts as a liquid? Anything that can be sipped through a straw or that will reduce back to a liquid. For example: Jello, sugar free popsicles, frozen yogurt/ice cream (these are generally no no foods)
Why can't I tolerate plain water, is this normal? It’s called water nausea and it is completely normal. This is very common during the first few weeks following surgery and should eventually subside.
What is sliming/slimes? Sliming or slimes occur when you eat or drink something and then regurgitate a slimy, foamy, saliva like substance, usually when belching.
What is grazing? Grazing is when instead of consuming your standard 3 small meals and 2 small Snacks per day, you simply munch all day grabbing a handful here or a bite there. The rule is that your meals should take you 20-30 minutes to eat and should be about 3 hours apart with only fluids in between.
What do all these acronyms mean?
In no particular order:
WLS – Weight Loss Surgery
NSV – Non scale Victory (ie: smaller clothes, compliments, climbing a flight of stairs etc…)
NUT – Nutritionist
PCP – Primary Care Physician
VSG – Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
TOM – Time of the Month
SF – Sugar Free
WFL/WFD – What’s for Lunch/Dinner
How much did you lose at 1 month etc.? How much can I expect to lose in what time frame? Everyone’s body is different and so is everyone’s journey. There is no set amount you should expect lose in a set amount of time, and you should never compare your journey or your progress to someone elses. As long as you’re sticking with the program and following your surgeons guidelines, the weight will come off.
What is a stall? How long does it last and how do I break it? A stall is a point at which the scale stops moving for a period of time. The length of the stall varies from a few days to a few weeks and sometimes a few months. Non VSG’ers typically call it a plateau. Stalls are perfectly normal and to be expected. As we lose weight so dramatically, our bodies need time to catch up physically - this typically happens during a stall. While the scale may not be moving, you may notice an increase in compliments. This is because while the number on the scale isn’t getting any smaller, you are physically getting smaller. There are many tips and tricks for breaking a stall (increase your fluids and protein, increase your activity, up your calories…) but the reality is it will break on its own.
When can I have sex? When you’re ready. Keep it simple for the first few weeks post-op and don’t attempt any tricky positions. Be careful until you’ve been cleared by your surgeon for strenuous activity.
When can I start exercising? Typically right away, though the types of exercises you can do will be limited. Most surgeons restrict weight training/resistance training for about 3-4 weeks after surgery, but you should be walking/speed walking at least 30-45min daily starting from the day you get home.
What do I do with flabby skin? What's the best exercise etc.? The severity of the flab will vary based on many different factors. While there’s no way to tell how bad it will be or whether it will even be bad, there are a couple of proactive measures you can take. Make sure you’re using a moisturizing lotion with Vitamin E and Keratin several times daily. The vitamin E will help add elasticity back to your skin and the keratin will add moisture, both of which may help your skin bounce back as the weight falls off. The best exercises to target your problem areas are resistance and strength training in order to tone and build muscle to replace the fat. Lastly, be patient. Just as your weight stalls while your waist catches up to it, your skin will sag until it gets the signal to shrink. While it probably won’t ever be as tight as you’d like, it will shrink.
Will I lose hair? How much? What causes it? When does it return? Do Vitamins help? The truth is, yes, you probably will lose hair. Because of the drastic changes going on that are caused by the extreme reduction in protein and vitamins coming in as well as the hormonal fluctuations caused by the rapid weight loss, it takes our bodies a while to adjust. Don’t worry, as our hormones level out and our bodies get used to the new us, it will come back. There is no set time frame for it to do so however.
I’m constipated - what is it okay to take, especially in the beginning when newly sleeved? Will it get better? Worse? In the beginning a simple stool softener like Colace should do the trick. You don’t want to take a laxative or anything that may irritate your new sleeve. While you’re in the liquid/puree stage, Constipation shouldn’t be an issue, but as you reintroduce solids you may have to go back to your stool softeners. If you do find that stool softners are only offering temporary relief, try increasing your fluids and Fiber and decreasing your cheeses.
I’m having very loose bowel movements, is this normal? Totally. You do need to monitor stools of this consistency to ensure they contain no blood, but very loose stools, even watery stools, are completely normal for a few weeks post-op. When in doubt – ask your surgeon.
Will I feel fatigue? Will fatigue go away? Yes and yes. Your body has just undergone major surgery and it needs to heal. While it’s healing you will feel more fatigued than normal. Subsequent to having such a large portion of your stomach removed is the fact that you can no longer take in as much food (read: fuel) and therefore your body has to adjust and find a new fuel source. Your body will eventually begin to burn fat for fuel and some of the fatigue will subside. Your surgeon should also prescribe a B12 supplement which will also help with energy.
When can I go back to work? How much time should I take off? That will be entirely up to your surgeon. Most return to work within 2-3 weeks.
How many days in the hospital? Your hospital stay will depend on your recovery. When you are able to keep down liquids, are up and about and walking as directed, and your surgeon and nursing staff are confident there are no complications, you’ll be released. Your surgeon should be able to give you an expectation of the length of your stay.
Do the staples dissolve? No. The staples used to close the stomach are titanium and do not dissolve. The stomach tissue will eventually grow over the staple line. Your staples do not make metal detectors go off or make you ineligible for an MRI. They are completely benign.
Why am I always hungry? The most likely culprit is either head hunger or reflux/heartburn. Head hunger is a false sense of hunger triggered by boredom/emotions/the clock or any number of things which make you think you’re hungry when you’re really not. Heartburn is the most common culprit of constant hunger. Even though you may not feel as though you have heartburn, you may find that a simple antacid will eliminate that constant hungry feeling.
What is dumping syndrome? Dumping syndrome is what happens when the contents of your stomach are rapidly dumped into your small intestine. It is characterized by cramps, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Most people that complain of dumping syndrome associate the attacks with eating a certain type of food IE sweets, carbs etc.. It generally resolves on it's own once the offending food has left the system.
What is a stricture? A stricture is what happens when scar tissue builds up in your esophagus (sometimes caused by reflux) that causes your esophagus to narrow and makes swallowing difficult.
What is a leak and what are the symptoms? A leak is an opening along the suture line of your sleeve that allows bile and other digestive fluids to leak into your abdominal cavity. The symptoms of a leak vary but the most common symptoms are pain radiating across the abdomen, fever, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, and abdominal cramping. It is important to note that leaks are rare and only occur in about 1 out of every 100 cases.
Can you get a leak any time after surgery? Or is it just immediate? Most leaks happen very soon after surgery, but there is still a risk for about 4-6 weeks after. Again, it is important to note that leaks are rare and only occur in about 1 out of every 100 cases.
Some of my incisions are oozing - is this normal? If they’re oozing a green or yellowish Fluid, absolutely not. Green and yellow are the colors of infection and should be reported to your surgeon immediately. If your incisions are oozing a pinkish or clear watery fluid it’s your body’s way of keeping your incisions clean and isn’t usually a concern. When in doubt, ask your surgeon.
I see a lot of people posting about drains - I don't have any. Should I be concerned? Drains are tubes that are temporarily placed in the abdomen that allow fluids to drain from your abdominal cavity in order to prevent infection. Not every surgeon uses them so if you don't have any, don't worry. It likely means your surgeon saw no need to place them. That being said, it doesn't mean you're immune to infection so you should still be on the lookout for fever or any areas that a red, warm to the touch, painful, swollen, or oozing any green or yellow fluids.

I've often wondered when the point would come that I would start craving my old stand by's ...
you know the Cookies, the cake, the brownies, etc .... but 15 weeks out ... that hasn't happened yet ... THANK GOD ...
I've often thought that it won't happen as a craving from my body because of the Ghrelin that was in my tummy part that was removed during surgery ...
I think that it would be more of a "mind" craving ... if that makes sense ...
I know that I've not had any sugar since the 2 week pre-op diet ... so that is 17 weeks total as of now ... and I'm very thankful for that ...
I keep telling myself if I do dare indulge ... that may be the end of my story ... as @ForLfKlovr said ... in past diets once it got started, that was the end of it ... ( end of the diet )
so I stay as far away from the old goodies as possible ... and even if I do run into them ... I'm on "auto off" ... seems to be the best course of action for me ...
I do like that we are NOT perfect ... no one is ... and we WILL mess up ... most important thing to remember is ... we are HUMAN ... fall off the wagon ... but get right back on ...

I was like that on day 5 and 6. I kept trying to figure out how to put a cheeseburger in a blender. I was craving one so bad, but the caving passed after a couple days. I'm on day 8 and I don't have that feeling anymore but I do find when I have a Protein Shake it seems to help with the hunger. I think I heard the Protein is suppose to make you feel fuller longer. Does anyone agree?

I know the feeling... Lol

I'd personally be careful with Tomato Soups. Lotsa acid in those.

Can we talk about Halloween candy?

NO NO NO
why do those little monsters come to OUR door
not only do a bunch of rascals have the nerve to come to our door
they want candy!!LOL
i love kids, really i do !!!
my 3 little grand-kids are kids LOL
they live far away in GA!!!
i'm gonna try and find some candy i don't like
that's hard to do LOL
don't want my hubby to put his hands in the bowl either LOL
give me strength strength, strength, strength !!!i
I'll try and be strong
this too shall pass
lol
kathy

Hi... I had the sleeve surgery done on October 15 it's been one week and a day. I felt ok after surgery besides the gas pains which I found if you get up and walk the more the better. If I ate or drank and had gas pain just moving around got rid of it quickly. Don't sit and suffer. I'm 42 years old and I have certainly done my homework with this but reading these blogs definitely helps and does not make you feel like you're alone in this.
I am on stage III which is full liquids and one of the best things my doctor said you could have is a chili from Wendy's and putting it in the blender. Omg... It tasted so good but after four days now I'm sick of it lol, but maybe it will help someone threw a couple of days. My doctor did recommend after putting the chili in a blender, putting it in ice cube trays and freezing it. That way you can take a couple cubes out at a time and not waste it.
Also I have never heard anybody talk about medication for gas relief. The day after I woke up from surgery in the hospital they had me on infants simethicone drops. (For gas relief) They sent me home with it. It helped me. I still take it every morning as long as I don't eat or drink too fast I don't have much problems with the gas pain now. Hope this helps someone. Some of people's post really makes me laugh!
Stay strong everyone, we can do this!

Thanks to you all! Yes your attitude towards everything will make you are break you, stay possitive push urself a little more each day to be active and to stay on track and anyone can do this if they put there mind to it! I never had any doubt that i couldent do this and now that im doing it in proveing myself each and everydayand when i reach goal weight it will have alllll been worth it! But its changed my whole life mentally and physically the way i dont obess about food like i use to and how i just have so much more energy i put towards working out now! Its an amazing thing and i truly wish everyyonne the best in there journeys it may not always be easy, temptation will always be out there and around you, but you halfto learn to fight it off(:

Yeah the gas will get ya, as soon as i got out of surgery i was ready to get up bc i couldent breathe it was chokeing me i remember barley opening my eyes but screamin get me up get me up i cant breathe once they got me up n got the gas off my chest i was good and when i started walkin round the hospital after my gas just kept coming out walkin all over the lil nurses were laughing at me but i couldent help it cuz i kept apologizeing lol
Im glad to hear that ur recovery is going so well though thats amazing!(:

So seems like I've hit the 3-week stall as my weight has stayed the same since Monday. My surgery was Oct 1st and the first couple weeks, I weighed myself every few days. However, with the scale not moving, I've been stepping on every morning in hopes it will change. Very depressing way to start the day when that number doesn't move. I feel better though, so I'm hopefuly I'm just building back up some Water weight and still losing some of the fat.
One other thing I did yesterday is start looking around online for local gym/trainer options for when I'm allowed to start lifting weights. I also went to a few exercise forums to looks for info on how to build muscle post gastric bypass (or when on a calorie restrictive diet.) All that really did was bring up a bunch of topics where meatheads got together to discuss how little respect they have for someone that gets weight loss surgery. Very little useful info out there on how to build muscle after surgery. I want to end up in good shape, not just be a skinny fat guy. I'm hoping my NUT/surgeon has some good advice for when I get to that stage.
Anyhow, just needed to vent on those two topics as I'm feeling rather frustrated this morning.