Christinamo7

I am sure it is tricky when you are the medical professional. but rest assured, you can feel free to tell me how fabulous I look any time at all.

no cheating here. any modifications to my teams plan in the first weeks came through conversation with doctor or NUT. not taking any chances on my healing stomach! I felt I was ready for soft foods a bit early and doctor decided that yes, my post op swelling had likely gone down enough to allow it. moved me forward a few days. then, because I don't eat fish they allowed me to try slow cooker chicken - and I did fine with it. but, not cheating - I talked to my team before going ahead, even though I was fairly confident I was ready. it's major surgery inside there! after I was judged to be healed and cleared for any food I have had a chocolate chip cookie, a cinnamon roll and a small ice cream. not on a regular basis, but I have had those foods once or twice. 90% of the time if I want a sweet it is fruit or a sugar free fruit popsicle. probably more like 95% of the time.

thanks for this article! this is the approach my bariatric team uses too. and as a person who had the surgery to combat diabetes I have to admit, fruit scared me. I had given up most fruit as a diabetic because I could not control my blood sugar if I had anything beyond berries. I almost cry now when I "indulge" in a piece of fruit and my blood sugar remains normal. (a few apple slices and reduced fat string cheese is my morning snack right at this moment!) at 6 months my A1c is 5.4. it almost feels like a miracle to me.

yup the practice where I had my surgery also has follow up and labs at 3,6 9 months and at one year, and yearly after that. it's good to keep an eye on things!

one thing that jumps out at me, while all of this is true and good - and that's the last one about planning ahead - because I think it comes down to good self care. making time to take care of your needs a priority. I think one reason a lot of women anyway (men pipe up if this is also true for you!) put on weight is because they are so busy taking care of everyone else that they do not take the time for good self care. Any yet, it's a trap, and we know it even while we are doing it. You can not take good care of others by neglecting yourself. There are a lot of things I could be doing on a Sunday afternoon besides preparing my food for the week, but it is really important to have good, appropriate, measured food ready to go so that I can stick with my program. one of the things to learn from this WLS process, in order to be healthier coming out the other side is what does good self care look like, and how do I do this? many times therapy is needed, sometimes just a friend to talk through the process as you go along. Good article, Alex.

@@RJC5197 love your profile picture! GO BLUE.

they are full of nutrients. some benefit those at risk of heart disease especially (walnuts), others offer benefits for our brain (cashews), some are anti-inflammatory(almonds), and most of all they give you a long term feeling of satiety. I do choose to eat nuts, usually almonds or walnuts on a fairly regular basis (oh 3-4 times a week) worked into my food plan. usually along with dried cherries and a couple of chocolate chips. weighed out so I know exactly how much I am getting. makes an easy, filling, portable snack.

one of my favorite Snacks is 1 ounce of almonds, 1 ounce of dried cherries and a few chocolate chips.

Hi, it's nice to meet you! I am 46 I have 7 kids. don't hate em, glad they don't all live at home anymore I have a dog and a cat I grow herbs and tomatoes on my deck I like to quilt, sew and crochet, smock and embroider I do not like centipedes. or any other creepy crawly I love cheese too! oh. don't get me started! looking forward to seeing your updates as you go through the process. edited because I had a birthday and forgot I am 47 now.

I use lettuce too - I make a big mac salad that is so YUMMY and I love it. I can't say I eat a *lot* of lettuce, but I do enjoy it. I love spinach and kale too - one of the things I do almost ever weekend is a ground meat blend so that the peeps can make tacos, or nachos or whatever during the week and I can make my lettuce wraps or big mac salad or whatever.

not yet, but I will. I've been in perimenopause for a while now. what a wild ride. I had a total hysterectomy last year, but kept my ovaries - hopefully another 5-10 years before they kick over on me. I'm not gonna lie. I love my sleeve, but the hysterectomy was the best surgery I've had so far. life changing.

at 4 weeks I was cleared to eat whatever sits well with my tummy. Protein first, veg, fruits. I have had part of an orange without any problems at all. There's not much room left when I get to the fruit part

you've been given some good ideas here! I know it is a challenge. I never know if I am going to be 'allowed' to leave work on time to eat - so I tend to pack two meals and two Snacks just in case. so, since I eat my egg on my way to work I leave the house with the whole day's food. not quite the same, but enough to sympathize.

its rare enough to even get your PCP to mention your weight !!! I am thankful my PCP was fully supportive and so was my GYN. It is worth forming a team who have your best interests at heart.

so my question for the OP, do you think no one WLS or not, should ever consume alcohol? it is a toxin for everyone, afterall. I do enjoy an occasional drink - and hope I will tolerate that again once I get to my maintenance level, however if I no longer care for it that will not be the end of the world for me either, but some of my friends will get lovely presents.