bigmamaAfrica

My nut said that fresh fruit is perfectly fine. They say that skins on the fruits like apples and plums are the issue. They are tough and they don't want them getting stuck on us. However, when asked, watermelon and cantaloupe were perfectly fine for Snacks they told us. Not as a meal because they have no Protein or Calcium values that really aid us.
I will say this though... fresh watermelon has quickly become my new best friend. It's delicious to me. Not to me tonight the Water content is helping me get fluids in.
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Fresh fruit is very healthy, and there is no reason why it shouldn't be in your diet once your doc/nut recommends... so lets put that to bed first.
Fruit can be tough on some new pouches due to the sugar content (dumping)... also skin of some fruit can be difficult. As kristen pointed out, mashed fruit may be acceptable during the soft foods phase (it was for me.) Talk to your NUT about that.
Early on, I did not put mashed fruit into smoothies, simply because it added so many calories for very little satiety. I tried very early on to focus on foods that kept me full for longer... and smoothies slide right thru... thus I only used them for Protein delivery if I was short for the day.
Since then, I usually have a little fruit at every meal. I probably eat 1-2 apples a day and some berries. The Fiber content from all the fruits and veggies I enjoy is great for digestion... I have not suffered from Constipation since very early on.

At 5 weeks there is nothing wrong with a bite or two of cake. If you eat the whole piece, yes, you're probably going to get sick, but if you have a single bite of each sample, you will be fine. I love cake tasting now because I can literally eat a single bite of each option and feel pretty satisfied afterward. I would say that if you know which of thee 5-8 they have you taste you are most likely to choose, pick the three that you think you would like best and that your future husband does like and have a bite of only those.
You aren't going to hurt yourself with a few bites of cake and as you said, it's your wedding. The entire point of the sleeve is to be able to live a life you couldn't before surgery. Skipping a taste testing is not living a life.

Thank you @@Daisee68! I was wondering about that actually - regular billtong (which is the easiest to find) is quite thick and i am only about 2 months so maybe best to wait a bit. there is also a softer version, which is sliced more thinly and i think that could be better but its harder to find outside of South Africa..
Gotta send my friend to bring me some when she next travels to SA...

I agree/disagree. I am three years out and I still can't always meet my protein/water requirements. I couldn't even come close for the first year + and my surgeon only advised 64-80gr of protein.
I did the best I could, healed like a champ and reached goal with a 110+ pound weight loss in 9 months.
I do agree that you should do protein first and that protein is key in healing and loss, but I am not sure that you have to reach such high numbers to succeed/heal.

@@bigmamaAfrica It looks like it's the same.

I'm so glad I stumbled on this thread! I was sleeved last week and have noticed the sweat/hot flash feeling a couple of times now and shortly after knew I'd eaten too much! Haven't noticed the sneezing or runny nose. So remarkable these bodies of ours!

I'm 7 months post sleeve. At this point, I can get a glass of Water before my meal and drink some, but once my food comes, I set my glass to the side. This works well for me. From what my NUT told me, it's not harmful to drink during a meal, but it washes your food down and you won't have the fullness feeling.
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@@Express09 - stuffing is too risky IMO as it could form a ball in your new tummy. That is why the soupy type mashed potatoes are allowed at this point, although there is no Protein (unless you add unflavored) value.
I have added flavored powdered Protein to unflavored plain greek yogurt for a pudding type snack. I use 1 scoop (25 or so grams of protein, depending on what you are using) and added the flavored protein to a consistency I would call like pudding.

1. I don't know what you eat now, but if it's not low carb, high Protein, then you should not even think about eating the same foods you eat now. At least not if you want to lose weight. You will find that this still requires a lot of self control and willpower. WLS is not a magic bullet. You can easily sabotage yourself by making poor choices.
2. Portion size for me tends to be about 4 oz to satisfied, and as much as 6 oz to "crap, I ate too much" and dealing with uncomfortably full, hope I don't puke, feeling. Beware one bite too many.
3. No regrets at all!!! Aside from that ice cream I shouldn't have eaten last night....

I'm from Texas so I live on sweet tea, of course it's Decaf and sweetened with Stevia but it works. I also do one Isopure a day. And, I never and I mean never leave home without a cup and some flavor packs. Not just CL either anything sugar free will do, I found A&W root beer flavored the other day. That way when we stop for drinks or gas I can get ice and a Water or if I'm feeling really fancy a diet lemonade from the fountain drinks. As crazy as it sounds I also only go to big convenience stores like truck stops because there is always more options.
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Snapple makes a few great sugar free choices! Also, have you considered just adding some fruit or veggie slices yo your Water? Here are a few of my favorite combos-
strawberry and cucumber slices
Peach slices with a pinch of ginger
Honey dew melon and lime slices
Carro slices and some blueberries with a pinch of coriander.
Use your imagination! Your choices are limitless! And don't forget the spice cabinet. You can really create some wonderful flavors

Summer time..My favorites right now.....
Mix Crystal light sweet tea & Chrystal light blackberry lemonade together in Water and Ice. I have even added a few fresh blackberries to my glass.
Lime juice, Water, Lots of ice, Stevia and fresh mint mixed with water..Garnish with slices of lime....Virgin Mojito
Great value tropical pineapple coconut lime.
If you want to get some Protein in with your water- Isopure makes flavored water. Sample it first to see if you like it.
http://www.gnc.com/Natures-Best-Isopure-Lemonade/product.jsp?productId=58393126

http://www.gnc.com/Natures-Best-Isopure-Lemonade/product.jsp?productId=58393126

I swear I woke up from surgery and was hungry. I feel hungry all the time. I hate the phrase " head hunger " . I wanted to be that person that never fells hunger again after surgery, but thats not my story. I eat small meals and small Snacks in between. I dont over eat, and I dont count calories. Your so new out of surgery so keep an eye on your Water intake. Drink your broth, eat your Jello and when you are allowed to eat food, eat your food. I dont diet, I eat whatever i want. If I was good at dieting I wouldn't of had this surgery. Now it could be stomach acid like the others have mentioned. I take a prescription strength dose of Ompromezole (spelling) 40 mg every morning or I get mean heartburn from acid reflux. You're going to do great and lose a lot of weight, enjoy the ride.

Sip sip sip! Get your Fluid in, court everything: Popsicles, coffee, tea, Soup, Protein Drinks, etc... Sip one cup every hour and you will do great.

I struggle a lot also...they want two full Protein shakes and 64oz of Water which has been impossible. Most days i focus on 1 shake and hydrate as much as i can...working on this right now.

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Im doing ok for the most part.. When i left hospital i was tired and had discomfort as well.. It should get better. I just took it really slow. Im still taking it slow. Lol. Not doing anything too strenuous exercise wise , except for lifting and carrying my 13 mo old twins. food is meh.. Im not enjoying this liquid stage, but I'm following it.
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The NP at my surgeons office has me at 1200 calories, not adding any back in with exercise. She said that anything under my body would think it's starving itself. Upping my calories helped me get out of a 3 week stall. I am 6 weeks post op.

Unflavored Protein added to Soups without noodles or rice.
Hummus
Egg salad
Imitation crab salad
Guacamole
Refried Beans with cheese and green chili sauce
Unflavored Protein Powder added to cheesy mashed potatoes
Greek yogurt
Ricotta bake
Salmon/cream cheese balls
Mashed cauliflower with butter and cheese
String cheese

One of my favorite things I've had so far:
A grill pack made if squash, zucchini, and onion. Grilled in foil until soft. SO GOOD!
-Tilapia.. skillet cooked in cooking wine with blackening seasoning.
-Sloppy Joe with ground turkey or high grade ground beef.
-baked potato with shredded chicken breast.. shredded low fat cheese.
-Baked sweet potato
-Egg white omelette with mushrooms, onion, ham, and cheese.< /p>
-beef sticks or Jerky.
-Tuna salad
-Salmon patties
....just some of the things I've made and handled well.
....oh... and sugar free vanilla pudding with bananas .. top with no sugar added cool whip!
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You cant stretch you sleeve!!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3_aahPETzH0

I have lost all my weight from just walking 2-5 miles a day. I work out here and there, but not consistently (although that is about to change).
If you are doing Aqua Zumba with a good instructor and really giving it your all, you will get hot as hell. Just because you are in the Water doesn't mean you won't sweat. There are all kinds of intense Water exercises. Working out in the water is the hardest and you use all muscles because you have constant resistance because of the water, on forward and back motions.
If you can find a place with it, AquaLogix is the best water workout you can get.
https://www.aqualogixfitness.com/
Your Surgeon is an asshat. As long as you are moving for more than 30 minutes at a time, you will lose.

You guys are rockstars! Thank you so so so so soooo much for bringing a smile back to my face.. I needed it. (Oh did I mention he was running late from surgery so he was two hours late for my appointment at which he did nothing but ask if I was feeling healthy and then the other conversation ensuded and then I nodded and he said okay see you in two weeks and left? aiii)
@@VSGAnn2014 - the thing about losing weight in the kitchen and not the gym makes quite a lot of sense.. exercise is important but nutrition (and proper nutrition) is even more vital so.. seems to me that it's time to do what I do best with him... Nod.. curse illinois medicaid again.. and figure it out for myself. So glad this forum is here. Gosh knows what else he'll have bad advice about. I'm a little afraid to find out!!!
@ - I'm stuck with him due to my insurance restrictions. So.. I just have to make due and lean on you guys and the wealth of knowledge here and not let him get me down.
@@2goldengirl - Right? I thought lap swimming was at least equal to jogging if not running in intensity? So why does it matter if I'd rather build up to that.. it's a whole lot easier on my joints and doesn't hurt me. Clearly he doesn't know enough about Water exercise. He must think about Water aerobics for senior ladies with an instructor that babies them or something.
@@Babbs - you made me LOL for the first time all day. No kidding his bedside manner stinks for sure! I will be so happy to just.. not see him anymore.. every experience (talking) that I've had with him is negative.. (thankfully his reviews for actually doing surgery are stellar or I'd be even more terrified that I'm stuck with him!)

@@ChooChi73 Sorry to say I never did exercise. Maybe 3 x. I'm still lazy!

I hit goal in Feb 2013 after losing 150# (surgery was Dec 2011) I was morbidly obese or overweight most of my life. This morning I am 4# over goal...I have to work at this pretty constantly. I am very active and avoid fast food and crappy food generally but I do indulge too.
So, here is the scoop. The surgery is still there as a tool even years later BUT it's probably 80-90percent on YOU at that point. Given the decades of obesity, it's no wonder my body is always"wanting" to regain.
I am ever diligent that my 4# over doesn't turn into 40 or 140....right? I stay ON IT. I view obesity as a disease that I have in remission but will never be cured of. I have a level of determination that is sharee by quite a few die hards on these forums and frankly that FOCUS is one of the reasons I am still here on BP. I can't ever forget that I am not just a normal trim woman. I am someone who can easily regain. It is also one of the reasons I got skin removal...it is like tossing those 3X sweatpants cuz I ain't EVER going there again.