songsmith

Wow! I couldn't take in 5 ounces just now. 3 1/2 TBSP is my absolute limit--and that's pushing it! Funny how we're all different and what our doctors have us do is all different. I know as my sleeve adjusts I'll be able to eat more so getting in the Protein won't be as much of a problem.

Thanks, everyone! Like I said, I met the Protein requirements during the liquid stage, but not since they scaled back the number of shakes for the pureed stage. I don't think it can be good for my body. I will try it for a few days to see how I feel. I don't want my body to start cannibalizing my muscles! I do have Greek yogurt. Last night I felt guilty about having an "extra" meal so grabbed the first "allowable" protein I saw.

Surgery on 02/15. I'm losing on average about a pound every other day or so. I'm fine with that. I know my body is doing what it needs to do. I am, however, concerned about my Protein intake. My doctor has me on 3 small meals of 3-4 TBSP of pureed food plus one shake. The amount of protein available in the eaten portions is negligible in those amounts. I have no problem drinking the Water. I get 64 oz a day pretty easily. I was always a huge water/coffee drinker, so I'm used to taking in fluids. Last night I actually felt hungry. I had another 2 TBSP of cottage cheese. That's when I thought about how much protein I must be eating daily. I was consuming more protein during the full liquid stage where I had 3 shakes a day. Thoughts?

Did your doctor prescribe you any sort of reflux medicine? If not, you might want to call them. I like it! Your sleeve is officially the Audrey 2!

I get horrible cramps in my calves, thighs, abdomen, hands and sometimes even my tongue (!). They're a side-effect of a drug I have to take. They're exacerbated whenever I'm low in electrolytes (potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, etc.). It's hard to pinpoint which you're low in without a blood test. The best quick cure I can suggest is a sugar free energy drink like Powerade Zero. In my case after months and months of trying the more likely candidates, I discovered that lack of magnesium (for me) is the culprit. We're all losing weight. That means we pee a lot. When we pee a lot, we lose electrolytes at a higher rate--yet another reason to meet our Water requirements!

My mom and yours must be related. Same thing with the weight. I had an aunt who weighed 350 pounds. My mom was always telling my 12-year-old self I was as huge as Aunt B. She'd buy hand-me-down tops (no way the pants would fit, but I have huge boobs) from my aunt and make me wear them. One time (when I was an adult) I had lost 75 pounds doing Atkins. My mom knew my size. For Christmas she bought me something 3 sizes too big and then threw a temper tantrum when I said I couldn't--not wouldn't!--couldn't wear them. The pants wouldn't stay up. Then again my mom was BPD. I used to laugh that it was sad a grown woman was still afraid of her mother, but there you have it. She's gone now. If she was still alive, I would never tell her about my surgery. Never. Telling you this so you know I really do understand how that feels. Could you be more specific about how your mom isn't supportive? The things she's saying? It will be easier to think of responses with examples. You could try the, "I appreciate your concern for my well-being, Mother, but my doctor gave me strict orders about (whatever she's on about) and I need to follow those." It sounds counter intuitive to telling her off, but I always found it better to deflect my mom than attempt reason.

You look terrific. I'm only one week out from my surgery and just had to set a goal weight. I went on the low end of the healthy range for someone my age and height. I read someplace that people do gain back a small portion of the weight. I figured if I had a lower goal and that happened I would probably be happy at the new, higher weight anyway. Win:win Hubby is probably worried about you and your health more than he is appearance. Sweet but a little maddening! In the end it's your body and your health and only you can decide where you're happiest. It's not like you can't come back up if you change your mind. Taking off those final pounds, though? That's hard. Best to do it now.

I used to power lift--heavy compound movements. The idea is strength. Anyway, despite squatting over my body weight and benching a little under it, I only firmed up, never bulked. Don't be afraid to lift. Think about how heavy your purse or books or toddler is!

Do you mean March 1st?

Keep us posted! My surgeon doesn't do a leak test. He thinks the nausea caused by the stuff you swallow is worse than (according to the physician's assistant who gave me this stat) the 1% of his patients who've had leaks. Anyway odds lean towards too fast eating and not the leak. Crossing my fingers for you!

Thank you for sharing all the in-depth information. I also thank you for not liking the Smith machine. I'm a huge free weights and compound exercise proponent (I make an exception for the awesome cable machine). *Oops in the guys' room. Closing my eyes. Didn't see anything!

Kansas here. Sleeved Feb. 15th. I used the narcotic button pretty much that first day/night and didn't hurt nearly so much the next day, though it felt like I'd been doing crunches forever. It gets better.

You must just be settling in. Welcome to the Losers' Bench!

I do ask her about activities and gently encourage her to keep up with them. Funny you mentioned a color run. There's one that will be about 6 mos. out from my surgery. I already asked my husband if he'd do it with me and was thinking about asking my daughter. I honestly think if she found something active, the problem I see on the horizon will be gone.

You said you were having your 3-month? Did your doctor offer any solutions? /Concerned

How much protein are you taking in daily? You said enough, but I didn't see a number. Possible you need more because of the weight lifting. I agree you should talk to your primary.

Sorry. Got nothing. But I am interested on how pregnancies are handled. Generally, you do take in more. Then again, when I was pregnant and had lost 50 lbs. on Weight Watchers, my OB told me to keep following that because it was fairly balanced and I already had enough stores to feed the baby. I only gained 13 lbs. during my pregnancy. The huge surge came after when I believed the hype about how much more you could eat when you nursed!

Does 2/15 count? Feeling much better. My doctor had me on Clear liquids for 3 days, then switch to full liquid. One week out he has me on puree. Next week I'm supposed to try soft foods. It's much faster than other schedules I've heard about, but so far, so good. Not having problems with the Water, probably because I easily drank 16-24 oz. of coffee plus water each day pre-surgery. I was already a "sipper." Discovered my limit is 3 TBSP of pureed food. Anything more and I feel it. Gained 5 pounds from the surgery. But that went away fairly quickly. By my scale, I've lost that plus another 5 pounds. My doctor's scale weighs 3 lbs. heavier than mine does. As far as they're concerned I've lost 2 lbs. Grrr. Oh, and I had my stitches out!

Does it feel heavy because you're full? Newly sleeved, so wondering if that could be it. Remember the more carbs you eat, the more cravings you'll have. It's a vicious circle. Is there an activity you have fun with? Walking? A class? Swimming? It's winter, but gardening (the heavy stuff) is also great exercise.

Sleeved 02/15. Looking for a buddy or people in my area to share experiences with, local sales when they happen (like there'll really be a run on the perfect low carb/high protein wonder food).

Hi, what part of KC are you in? I'm in Johnson Co. (Whoops. I see you're in Independence) Who's your surgeon?

See? I felt great the first day and night and like hell the second. They slipped anti-nausea meds into my IV. But it does get better. Stitches coming out today and I feel great.

I was shocked to learn my surgeon doesn't do leak tests. He thinks the nausea caused by the stuff they make you swallow is worse than the very low percent who might have a leak. They did keep me only on ice chips all night. About 6AM the nurse told me I could try taking very small sips of Water, wait a few minutes, sip. If that was okay, then she would bring me broth or a popsickle. I had to swallow that stuff for my thyroid swallow test and it is nasty.

I take HBP medicine, thyroid medicine and an anti-depressant. The hospital called me about a week before the surgery and told me I could take the thyroid and the anti-depressant, but not the high blood pressure pill. It acts as a blood thinner or something or other.

Makes you want to stare at them, totally flabbergasted and exclaim, "OMG! Genius! I never thought of to try that way first!" The sotto voce "idiot" afterwards is optional.