Heather I

I keep reading so many women are recommended 65-80 grams of Protein, some with higher starting weights, and I'm a little worried if there can be kidney issues taking in so many grams of protein for me? My stats are: Pre-op weight: 281 Surgery weight: 268 (-14) One month Post-Op: 251 (-30 total) My NUT says 100 for my height (5'8") and it will go down about 10 grams around 6 months out, but for now keep it at 100. I'm hitting my protein/water targets fine (usually 2 Protein shakes and then a meal or two during the day,) but wondering if this is too much? My BMI was 42 to start, so definitely qualify for surgery, but it's not super high? IDK. Thoughts? TIA!

@butchluce, you are killing it! Great job! I'm -30 lbs at one month post-op, which I'm happy about. My schedule is still nutty until Thanksgiving, so I can only fit in 10,000 steps maybe 1-3x a week, but the days I do it, I lose at least 1 lb within the next two days. Have you had the infamous energy surge I hear about and want? LOL. I feel normal, but no surge. Don't get me wrong, I definitely have a spring in my step and feel lighter all around, and getting up off of the floor/chairs/couches is easier, but I'm still crashing and burning at my usual early hour. I haven't used my CPAP at all since that first attempt. My husband says the snoring is definitely less. But, I'm not waking at all in the middle of the night like before if I didn't use the CPAP. I used to be awake 2-4x a night and need a Tylenol PM to get back to sleep. Now, I crash and stay asleep all night (unless my son wakes me to use the potty.) How's your sleeping and energy? I feel like I never had surgery almost. I do have restriction and have had what I expect was dumping only once last week this whole time. I was really hungry -- went too long between meals -- and ate a double portion (1 cup versus 1/2 cup) and then had to lay down in bed the rest of the night with sweats. I didn't vomit, but if I could have and gotten relief, I would have. Totally wiped me out. Definitely need to keep fed/watered every 2 hours over here to maintain energy. How's your experience?

I use MyFitnessPal (MFP) as well. You can tweak the calories down to 1,000 and adjust the ratio of protein/carb/fats and macronutrients, plus track Water and see your progress in graph form. I like that you can add a daily note, too, how you are feeling and if you had emotional/stress triggers, etc., for journaling in one place. Super convenient and easy to use.

My NUT only gave Protein and Water goals; 100 grams protein and 64 oz (at least) water. I asked about carbs/calories/macros, and she said they don't believe in counting that (?) and just focus on getting in protein and water first and there should be no issues staying in the appropriate range of calories for weight loss. That didn't sit great with me, so I've come here and seen many people are in the 600-800 range of calories for the first 6-9 months, and then it seems to grow up to 1000 calories around the year mark. I am tracking everything for myself in MFP (My Fitness Pal,) and find I lose best at 35 carbs or less. Even 45 carbs slows/stalls me -- but that is just me. I've seen people who feel ill/weak in sustained ketosis, so there's some give/take for everyone, I think. I need structured rules to follow -- I had a lifetime of eating/drinking when and whatever I wanted -- and it got me needing surgery, so this is just what works for me (so far.) I plugged in my info into a rough RMR calculator and was SHOCKED how few calories I'd need just to maintain my weight. When I subtracted what I'm actually eating, it came out accurate (almost to the tenth of a pound!) what my weekly weight loss was so far. Amazing. It really showed me how out of whack my eating has been all these years, that I can survive on so much fewer calories. Unless you're REALLY active, it's a small number you need to survive and maintain, let alone lose. Just my two cents.

Okay, thanks, everyone! I'm reassured my crabby NUT isn't nuts:-)

Yes, I was told the same thing; acid mimics hunger, and I think they said you need it for Vitamin absorption the first year out? Something to do with that? I forget the whole explanation, but it made sense.

I'm not reading all the comments, but based on OP, yes, I would LOVE if hubby would take the lead and do the planning and just let me "be" on a date. It's exhausting doing this adulting thing, LOL, and a break would be lovely. A side note, I went to France with a girlfriend of mine, and she said she was a control freak and wanted to plan it all, did I mind? Um, nope! It was HEAVENLY. I felt like a protected kid who just showed up and had a good time. Same idea. So long as you trust the person, it's so nice to be taken care of that way!

Someone wrote about taking in tons of fluids pretty close to post-op and how they aren't peeing a ton. Got me thinking. I'm about 3.5 weeks out and also not "going" that often, whereas before I had to go all the time. I've been hitting all my Fluid and Protein goals within the first week no problem, and when I do go it's a normal color, not dark or brownish. Just curious if there is a "normal" range people remembered when you start having to go again? (As I sip my 24 oz Water here, about to head out for a walk and wondering if I'll have to "go" mid trip!)

I had a seminar at a hotel that was like an island, and they offered no breakfast/restaurants but had a Starbucks in the lobby. I was pregnant at the time with gestational diabetes, so I was doing the healthy/low carb diet then. I actually did really well with their bento box-style meals! They had hard boiled eggs, salads with Protein on top, yogurt with fruits, protein boxes with meats, cheeses, and a couple bites of fruit -- plenty to fill you up. It wasn't CHEAP, but you won't be eating as often as I was if you go that route. You can also add vanilla Protein shake into your morning coffee to get in some protein as creamer. I do that every day and have had no problems (if you are a coffee drinker.)

@highfunctioningfatman, just wanted to say your post was adorable! LOL. I'm so happy for you! You are justifiably proud. Now go rock them jeans, you stud!

Hey, @ButchLuce! Great to see you again! Just wanted to say; A, you're killing it (-35!) and; B, I'm not stalling (yet) but have really slowed down. I'm so happy you are doing great and progressing fine! Yay!

I lost the same. I was expecting more, too!

This could be the first step in your life of not letting people pleasing hamper your life. Believe me, there's a LOT of people on here who put EVERYONE ELSE ON THE PLANET ahead of themselves. You're not being a bad person to take care of yourself. They probably will be very negative, especially due to your age, so I wouldn't tell if you can!

Started liquids 9/4, sleeved 9/19. Lost 14 pre-op, 6 post-op, but scale hasn't budged. Is this the stall I hear about? I'm not freaking out or upset, just mind blown to stall one week post-op!

Do it now before your health goes to pot, joints are blown, you waste the best decades of your youth and health being self-conscious and uncomfortable, throw fertility in jeopardy, and have the best chance of your skin bouncing back! Why wait? I SO WISH I could have done this in my 20s. I only got bigger and more uncomfortable in my own skin. I'd kill to go back 20 years and do it over!

I was sleeved 9/19, have had an excellent recovery, am meeting protein/water/vitamin goals no problem, staples out last week and healing great. I am seeing my Dr. and NUT this Friday for a follow-up and will ask them, but I've talked to them before about exercise and they are totally vague and noncommittal in the past, so I expect more of the same from them this Friday, which is why I'm coming here to ask. I asked repeatedly to the Dr., I have 40 lb toddlers, when can I lift them? What are restrictions? He said, "If it hurts, stop." No specific lbs restrictions given. I told him I have a sedentary job from home, if I had a good recovery, could I got back to work after a week? He said, "It's up to you how you feel." No specific restrictions -- and I asked a TON of questions like that beforehand and have just gotten the "If it hurts, stop" spiel. I feel great and am down 26 (pre & post-op,) and am already noticing the saggy skin on the arms, inside thighs, and tummy. I'm not looking to get a hernia or go run a Tough Mudder, but I'd love to bust out some low weight exercise DVDs, or even ab DVDs to get moving and try to tone. I'm pinched for time crazily right now until Thanksgiving and can realistically only fit in walking 1-3 miles about 2-3x a week until then, but the DVDs at home I can do super early in the morning before work and the kids are up. Thoughts? Suggestions? Tips? Recommendations? I can't get to a pool -- working out from home is really my only option for the foreseeable future. I love walking and hiking and yoga, but my schedule is crazed right now and, like I said, I can do walking/hiking 2-3x a week. Has anyone worked out -- not crazily, but enough to break a sweat -- at 2 weeks post op? Tips? I'm open to suggestions! Thanks for any advice:-)

I hate hearing this! So annoying! How fat do I need to be? I was close to 300 lbs! WTF! Is it okay if I'm 400 lbs to take care of myself? 500 lbs? 600? Frankly, if I could be sleeved at 30-35 BMI years ago, I'd have been thrilled! 200 lbs is plenty overweight for me, IMO. When I'm not cranky, I try to think people are being nice, saying I carry my weight well/dress nice, etc., and think that over 50% of the population is obese and the average size of women is now an 18 -- not a 14, so I'm holding up a mirror with my weight to them seeing that they need to lose lbs, too, and it sets of a knee-jerk reaction of denial. IDK. When I'm cranky, I don't freaking get it! What's wrong with being a healthy weight range and feeling good, cutting my chances for cancer down, no diabetes risks, improved joints, and looking good? What's the problem? Why do you care if I get slimmer? Shut up and be happy for me. If it were them, I'd be happy for them they quit smoking/drinking/lost weight/exercised more/saw a therapist to work on depression -- whatever the issue is.

I'm 43 and am on BP meds and CPAP for apnea, but other than that, a very healthy (morbidly obese) person, LOL. I, too, am pretty active and exercise 2-3x a week before surgery. I stayed Monday-Wednesday, and I needed the whole time. I slept like 30 hours straight after surgery, from Monday morning to about Tuesday midday (aside from nurses poking me and going to the bathroom.) I was horribly sick Tuesday from the anesthesia and felt like death. I had them stop all pain meds Tuesday midday, and by Wednesday I felt 100% better and was discharged midday. I rested at home Wednesday midday to Saturday, only took pain meds at night in case I bumped incisions, but by Friday I was constipated and felt really good, so stopped pain meds. I covered a little 2-hour shift Saturday morning from home, and then had hubby take the kids to swim class so I could rest some more in peace, but I really did feel good. I went back to work/crazy schedule that Monday balls to the wall and have only had 2x of where I felt light-headed and exhausted. I had overdone it and had to lay down and nap -- plus am only getting 600-800 calories in, so that doesn't help the tired factor. The episodes were only that first week back to work, haven't had one in over a week now.

Okay, walking it is! Thanks everyone for the responses!

I was sleeved 9/19, have a 2.5 and 3.5 YO, both 40 lbs and tall for their age. I have had a fabulous recovery and went back to work from home (sedentary, 25 hours a week) within 5 days and feel totally fine 1.5 weeks out. My kids are in daycare though, and hubby did the morning dress/change routine the first week, and I had friends do the post daycare pickup evening routine. I was able to help the p.m. routine once I was home from the hospital, just didn't lift them. My experience isn't necessarily the "norm," but I'm honestly doing great and just don't lift the kids -- they have to climb on our bed to be changed. If you have help the first two weeks, I think you'll be fine.

I think you look great, but if you wanted to lose another 10 lbs, I think you could pull it off, too, and not look sickly or anything. You do have a petite frame.

I say do it, but don't let it lead to a total bender of booze, McDonald's afterwards, and a Denny's Grand Slam kind of pork-fest. I can't drink heavy like that and go out with friends without the after-party binge of crap, so THAT's my weakness. Totally be prepared to have this be your ONLY swan song though. Back in the saddle the next day guzzling water!

Sleeved 9/19, awesome recovery; able to get in all protein/water/vitamin requirements, back at work FT, etc., etc., trying to squeeze in a little walking in between hectic schedule. I'm hungry though! I thought I wouldn't be, but I'm at 2 weeks out and need some sort of solid food. I'm having 2 ounces of smoked salmon, and that holds me. I kind of skipped the week of puree/mush/cream Soups and have one "meal" of salmon or pureed ground turkey mixed in pureed chili -- about one half cup. Then I can get by with the Water and Protein shakes, but I was going crazy on all liquids, and broth wasn't cutting it. I lost 14 pre-op, 6 the first week, only 2 the second week. I know, I know, healing, not a race, don't compare, yada, yada, yada, but I feel like this is kinda slow for the first big month of loss! I expected a slowdown in month 2-3, not week 2-3!

I'm doing good, but losing slow, IMO. I had the staples out Tuesday, 9/27, and was only down about 6 lbs since the surgery, and the nurse said I was doing great and had an impressive loss? Um, okay. I lost -14 pre-op, 6 post, total of 21 lbs in 3 weeks of eating -1000 calories, some days post-op nothing? I tried to console myself with the body healing spiel; maybe bloated with IV fluids/gases, etc. -- but this Monday is 2 weeks, and I've only lost another 3 lbs. I'm following the plan to the T -- able to get in all my protein/fluid requirements with no issues, and I honestly feel wonderful. My complexion is RADIANT being off carbs/dairy/everything the past month, so that's a nice side effect. No more chicken skin bumps on the back of my upper arms! Maybe I had a gluten/dairy issue and never knew it? So, IDK. I'm certainly glad I had the surgery done, but I guess I'm not going to be one of those people who loses 45 lbs the first month, like I hoped. I guess, if I can lose 3 lbs a week this month, that will get me close to 20 lbs the first month, but who knows. I haven't had a second to exercise and, realistically, won't have time until December to really do anything consistent, but c'est la vie. I'm not cleared for vigorous exercise until 11/1 anyway, so not the end of the world to hold off another month. I love to walk and will try to get out as often as possible for the fresh air. I never had time to take measurements, but I am down a size, from 22 to 20. I feel my face/back bra fat/upper stomach is definitely reducing in size, so that's cool. I'll take my victories where I can find them!

Sort of off topic, but now that I think of it, I shopped around Labor Day-ish, and we have our 5th anniversary tomorrow. IDK if it still applies, but I got my dress at a great sale price, too. I think this time of year is their annual sale? Might be worth a shot to buy now 1-2 sizes down if it's a good deal!