Muted_Tummy

Welcome. I am pre-op, too, and on my second surgeon. You'll learn quickly that the answer to all things WLS is "it depends".
It depends on your surgeon.
It depends on your insurance.
It depends on your nutritionist.
It depends on your procedure.
Some commonality I have found across pre-op tales of reputable WL centers is...
Some sort of orientation.
Meeting with the surgeon (who decides with you which procedure).
Pre-op work (this could be weight loss, classes/workshops, therapy, meetings with nutritionist, medical labs and tests)
Getting approval from insurance
Getting a surgery date.
Then,,Approaching surgery normal pre-surg routine (meet with anesthesiology, your surgeon again blah blah blah)
For some, this whole process is 3 months...for others 6....for others 12 and for others years of fighting for approval.
if you are self-pay, this all moves much quicker.

Feel free to start a post called "protein bargains" Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

fantastic status report! Congrats on doing so well.

Had my identity stolen and still cleaning up that nightmare, and, I've already seen enough trolls here and on gastricsleeve.com that I like my anonymity, but...this thread is spot on. So, I'll vaguely participate with what I am comfortable.
I am in my mid 40s, married and have three children aged 21 - 13. Professionally I work full time as a tenured professor and I have side work related to my credentials, weekly, and a lot of work in summers when I am "off". (everyone in academia knows you are never really off LOL)
I love to read, watch good TV and movies. Some of my TV obsessions are Orphan Black, Mr Robot and Walking Dead. When my body allows, I love hiking and biking. In the summers, the hubs and I take in as many concerts as we can (that appeal to us). Ummm....We always have dogs. I went through a stint of scrapbooking and hope to return to that at some point. Because work forces me to sit so much, I have tried to eliminate sitting hobbies for now.
I was born in New England then moved to the southwest as an infant. Family moved back here when I was still elementary school aged and I am an New Englander true and true. I would love to see the Grand Canyon again as an adult.
I've recently committed to better self-care so now I 'indulge' in weekly yoga and a bi-weekly massage. It really makes a difference when you put yourself on the list!
When I am an empty nester, I hope to travel the world with the hubs.

Had my identity stolen and still cleaning up that nightmare, and, I've already seen enough trolls here and on gastricsleeve.com that I like my anonymity, but...this thread is spot on. So, I'll vaguely participate with what I am comfortable.
I am in my mid 40s, married and have three children aged 21 - 13. Professionally I work full time as a tenured professor and I have side work related to my credentials, weekly, and a lot of work in summers when I am "off". (everyone in academia knows you are never really off LOL)
I love to read, watch good TV and movies. Some of my TV obsessions are Orphan Black, Mr Robot and Walking Dead. When my body allows, I love hiking and biking. In the summers, the hubs and I take in as many concerts as we can (that appeal to us). Ummm....We always have dogs. I went through a stint of scrapbooking and hope to return to that at some point. Because work forces me to sit so much, I have tried to eliminate sitting hobbies for now.
I was born in New England then moved to the southwest as an infant. Family moved back here when I was still elementary school aged and I am an New Englander true and true. I would love to see the Grand Canyon again as an adult.
I've recently committed to better self-care so now I 'indulge' in weekly yoga and a bi-weekly massage. It really makes a difference when you put yourself on the list!
When I am an empty nester, I hope to travel the world with the hubs.

With a very active job AND hitting the gym, 600-800 calories is WAY too low. You simply need more than that.
I've gotten slammed for this, but your metabolism will slow down the longer you stay under 1000-ish calories a day. Period. And you are still healing. Your body needs REST in order to recover. Back off at the gym and eat more.
How do I know this? I had my RMR (resting metabolic rate) tested. I also had a session with a PhD in exercise physiology who works for a major university medical center (that means she knows what she's talking about). I am over 60 with a desk job and in three months of calories not greater than 800/day, my metabolic rate dropped forty percent.
So I have been directed never to eat less than my RMR per day (right now, that's 1290 calories a day). That's what my body requires at complete rest, and I've recovered from my surgery. Anything less than that will slow my metabolism further. For now, I'm not to do any intense workouts until I can keep my calories at 1290 (and it's a challenge at ten weeks out). Walking is fine, I'm to increase both calories and activity.
I had this testing done on Wednesday. I was stalled. I've lost two lbs. in two days by upping my calories as directed.

Feel free to start a post called "protein bargains" Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

Feel free to start a post called "protein bargains" Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

Wondering out loud if anyone ever tried baby food prunes? I know I am cleared for stage 1 baby food in stage three (home from hospital til two weeks) , ot sure what stage prunes are....
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I have had many embarrassing moments that should have been it, but rock bottom trigger was one moment that was my enough is enough...but wasn't right to surgery.
I fell, again, in public with my family.
That day I declared I was done with this body. I checked in with doc the next week and began a 3 month exploration of labs to see what was what. I got a therapist to talk out my issues with food and if surgery was right for me. I got back on WW to stop gaining. As I came to terms with "yes", the universe presented three past friends and professional colleagues two post op and one pre. That, I guess, sealed the deal.

Good to hear! I am trying to mentally prepare that I have to give myself a month but then sectetly hoping that is really enough time to adjust to the new normal

Mri scans show regained have not stretched their sleeve...they graze, eat high calorie easily digested crap, and don't follow da rules for Protein or Water. Do a pouch reset to get back to basics and reacquaint yourself with using the tool. Make sure you are also eating enough calories (check your nut notes). Pre or post op, folks who do not eat enough slow down their metabolism. Your body tries to protect itself with less nutrients coming in.
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You had me at 13 grams of protein LOL actually my NUT seems to not be inline with many posts here. Whole grains are added back in after 3 months. They still use that plate where some folks learn about healthy eating and whole grains and starches still have a place at a meal. As an all or nothing yo yo dieters, I really feel this approach will work for me. Today in pre op I had a bagel slim with greek cream cheese, cucumber, Tomato and a slice of deli turkey on each half. Both sides are 18 grams of protein....my understanding is maybe at one year I'll be able to do one half for 9 grams. I plan on days like that, my morning snack will be a Protein shake. My plan is to eat delicious and healthy foods asap while meeting protein and Water guidelines. I understand that won't happen for a while, but I'll strive to get there from week 3 on!
I'll take a look at the protein bread...do they make eng muffin and other bread products? How much "other stuff" that aren't nutrients come in ingredient list?
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Mri scans show regained have not stretched their sleeve...they graze, eat high calorie easily digested crap, and don't follow da rules for Protein or Water. Do a pouch reset to get back to basics and reacquaint yourself with using the tool. Make sure you are also eating enough calories (check your nut notes). Pre or post op, folks who do not eat enough slow down their metabolism. Your body tries to protect itself with less nutrients coming in.
Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

I am preop, but I hope my future answer is nothing. I have worked SO hard for 6 months (non my own) deciding if I wanted this surgery and doing research...before I ever set foot in an orientation. Scientific journals abt bougie size, results complications and regain....vlogs and blogs and forums seeing the range of woe is me to I feel f*cking fantastic!, printing out nutrition info from many diff weight loss centers to see the pattterns, Dr. Weiner entire vlog series and on and on. I also worked with my pcp to get to the bottom medically of all things in this body...really wanting to get how this body ticks. When I got to meetings with the team, I got fast tracked because I proved how mentally and lifestyle changed I already was. I have a binder with pages called dealing with constipation", "best products worth buying", "hair loss", "marriage" and so on. One big thing I keep preaching to other pre op folks about is get a therapist. You will read again and again. That successful sleevers changed their relationship with food. This takes work with a professional to identify what your unique issues are. They don't go away. And many regained show in their posts that 6mo to 18 months, when you can eat Cup to cup and half of food, all those habits come back. They work around their sleeve to still emo ti on ally eat, stress eat, feed their sugar addiction, etc. I have also had other surgeries so already have first hand info abt recovery that I will be able to separate out from sleeve. I didn't have hunger for three days after each of my surgeries (not wl surgery) Your body shuts that **** down to heal and you just focus on not dehydrating.
Like childbirth, I know there is only so much you can fully prepare from info and anecdotes, but, I truly believe I am as prepared as I can possibly be and that makes all the professionals around me reinforcing how successful I really am gonna be long term based on their years of experience. The other thing is everyone is different, what is the end if the world for one person. Might be happening to someone else and they're fine. Some have complications some don't
Nausea and vomitting...you never get the whole story on forums...which is why often you'll see replies that are lists of questions..did their surg not give them anti nausea meds? Is it remperature? Is it still not the right size sip or bite? We dont know. My NUT swears that the 'I can't get Water in'is BS. She told me to drink 1 to 2 oz every 15 min. That's my job the first two weeks. It's my life saving medicine. Just do it. So that is one I'll have to see on the other side. But going in. I have both expectations to help me cope...if I get it all in and it's work, my NUT prepped me for that. If no matter how hard I try I can maybe get half? Well ....many posters have prepped me to normalize that and just keep trying.
I am not looking forward to and most worried abt the flooding of estrogen from my fat cells on mood and my cycle.
Good luck in your pre op journey. Get out there and explore it all! There are even vegan sleevers out there. You can learn a lot about veggies from them!
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Congrats to you, @@AvaFern . I know how happy you are and enjoy your company here.
I'm coming up on my annual maintenance-versary in mid-April. My feelings of normalcy are similar to yours. I never thought I would be here -- normal-sized and not sweating it ... well, not very much.

Well my weight is normal (not me so much )
According to the BMI calculator I am no longer overweight. Yay for that :)

I am very sorry to hear that you are having this problem. So what is the QUALITY of the Iron supplements that you have been taking to date? And are you sure to take them at least 4 hours away from any and all Calcium?
Most supplements do not contain the actual amount of active ingredients stated on the label. Nor do they always contain an absorbable version of the Vitamin in question. Most supplements at Walmart and GNC are crap. My Iron only slightly dropped. I started supplementing with Vitron C with a handful (1/4 cup) of whole cashews (which also have iron) as my post-lunch but pre-dinner snack about 2-3 times a week and my iron came right back up.
I also had to supplement Calcium with cal citrate. I got a chewable version from Country Life. It was tricky to do both of these simultaneously.
Also, how much red meat are you eating? meat is the best source of iron.

well. yes, I would hope for better for them and us. however. from 600 to 300 is not most or all of her weight. and is still, I would think, a significant health benefit. For Ashley, 60 pounds is still way less than before.
We have to stick with the moving our bodies and eating Protein first. We have to view this is a forever lifestyle change.
I do have a friend who had bypass over 10 years ago, and while her weight fluctuates some, she has not gone back to being obese, ever. if anything she leans towards the dangerously low end. it all hinges on personal responsibility
*if* I do gain it all back after 10 years, I will still see it as giving me a good 10 years I wouldn't have otherwise had. and, I would still have the tool to work it again.

Had my identity stolen and still cleaning up that nightmare, and, I've already seen enough trolls here and on gastricsleeve.com that I like my anonymity, but...this thread is spot on. So, I'll vaguely participate with what I am comfortable.
I am in my mid 40s, married and have three children aged 21 - 13. Professionally I work full time as a tenured professor and I have side work related to my credentials, weekly, and a lot of work in summers when I am "off". (everyone in academia knows you are never really off LOL)
I love to read, watch good TV and movies. Some of my TV obsessions are Orphan Black, Mr Robot and Walking Dead. When my body allows, I love hiking and biking. In the summers, the hubs and I take in as many concerts as we can (that appeal to us). Ummm....We always have dogs. I went through a stint of scrapbooking and hope to return to that at some point. Because work forces me to sit so much, I have tried to eliminate sitting hobbies for now.
I was born in New England then moved to the southwest as an infant. Family moved back here when I was still elementary school aged and I am an New Englander true and true. I would love to see the Grand Canyon again as an adult.
I've recently committed to better self-care so now I 'indulge' in weekly yoga and a bi-weekly massage. It really makes a difference when you put yourself on the list!
When I am an empty nester, I hope to travel the world with the hubs.

I am pre op and hope to have your experience! I am going in with low expectations so anything better feels awesome! LoL
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I'm 19.5 months post-op, and I can and do eat everything. Just not all at the same time. But to use words like "everything" and "normal" and "regular person" would probably give the wrong impression.
Viewed more realistically, I eat NOTHING like I used to eat!
For one thing, I am completely aware of what I'm planning to eat and what I eat. I eat more nutritious foods, fewer empty calorie foods, and a lot less food.
Successful maintenance, which I've been doing for nearly a year, is dependent on my understanding the macronutrients of what I'm about to buy, cook, put on my plate, and put in my mouth.
Happily, I don't have a grazing problem, even at night. I eat 3 meals a day and 2-3 Snacks, which keeps my motor humming.
I do have treats, but I know in the morning what they're going to be and when I'm going to eat them.
Every day I thank the gods, the angels, the fairy godmothers, my surgeon, my PCP, and whoever the dude or dudette was who thunk up this sleeve thang for giving me a chance to get this obesity monster off my back.
Finally, this is a fair fight! And I'm beating obesity's ass.
*happydance*

@@Monie717, if you don't believe the good people who've already responded, stick around for the endless parade of those who are approaching their surgery dates as though they're being led to the guillotine. Dreaming about fried chicken is okay as long as you don't bite the stuffing from your pillow.
@@agalindo17, nope, we didn't all feel the same. I'd been so preoccupied with preparing in advance (buying supplies, making charts of what I'd need to do and when I'd need to do it in the few weeks following surgery, et al.) that nervousness was not on the menu. I walked into the OR ready for anything.

I highly recommend you Google post op sleeve diet nutri to on and look for dr. Weiner. You seem to be woefully unprepared for effective sleeve life. Get a nutritionist if you do not have one that I nderstands wls. As a grab and go...look for boiled eggs, cheese stix, beef jerkey, nuts. When rest stopping.
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You've listed a lot of things at 3.5 months that m6 post op food stage list doesn't allow. The first 5 months are really healing and learning how to live wi th your sleeve. I'd recommend going back to documents from ur surgeon or make an appt with your NUT to review nutritional requirements and needs at the stage you are in.
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