snokb04

So at my program we can't have fruits or vegetables until week 8 and then the veg has to cooked only for a couple of weeks and we have a list of which fruits we can start out with. Our NUT has told us as well that, when we start fresh veg to avoid lettuce as it has little nutritional value (especially for the amount you can eat) and that it can cause gas, bloating and diarrhea in a lot of people. As for lettuce expanding, lettuce has a gas producing starch called raffinose that some people lack the enzyme to process, making their stomachs feel stretched and bloated. That surgeon may find I it easier to just say it expands than explain all that. I hate it on here when people make fun of other people's programs (such as saying your surgeon needs to take a chill pill) simply because their program is different. The first thing I've found on this site is how different programs can be and that is because there is research out there that will support almost any opinion that a med professional out there can have. My opinion is that you chose your provider for a reason, so listen to them and adhere to their guidelines as much as possible, but as our NUT stresses to us, it is ultimately your choice as to what you choose to take away from it and your choice as to what you decide to follow.
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So I'm on this committee that meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month. I missed last month since I was on FMLA and this month's meeting (I'm 2 months out) was today. It is in the college of pharmacy in a classroom that we reserve so it has those chairs with the tiny desk thing that goes up and down in front of you. I hope you know what I mean. Prior to surgery, I would always have to leave the desk up and pull another chair over to me in order to write/look at portfolios on that chair's desk because the desk would come nowhere close to going down. Got some funny looks the first few months that I did that.
Today, I went in, sat in my usual seat, started to scoot another desk over and stopped. I kinda looked around to see if anyone was paying attention and decided to lower the desk on my chair to see how much farther I would have until I could put it down. IT WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had to tell someone and I was afraid people I know would think I'd gone crazy for being so excited about something like that....figured I could Celebrate here without anyone thinking I was TOO crazy!
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Frank's has a wing sauce that is low in carbs. If you are sticking to low carb and healthy fats your good. Grill the chicken wings with a rub, and dip once done in the sauce, then back to the grill! Vinegar will tenderize it and flavor it. Dip into low cal dressing!
These treats help us keep on plan. If it's a social time, once in a while. I've mixed blue cheese into avocado and added a little salt and it was great!
Tasty bites is all we have now! Make them count to curb fatty high cal cravings!
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@@johnbamber,
LOL! Living proof that there can still be joy in life and food after WLS!

As an FYI- the powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury brand makes a chicken Soup flavored Protein "shake". It is sooo good! Mix one scoop with a cup of hot Water. Yum! I've even taken to using it in recipes where I would use chicken stock ( I'm on a regular diet now at almost 4 months post op)
Try it!!!
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You likely don't need as much variety as you think. Don't overshop -- most people find themselves chucking large amounts of food/drink at the end of various stages because they really overestimated how much they'd be taking in post-op.

I actually researched for a year before deciding. I researched outcomes and complication rates for both and talked to people I know that have had either VSG or bypass. I decided on sleeve since it doesn't have the malabsorption issues and there are less associated complications and side effects. On my initial visit, the nurse practitioner that works for the program suggested I revisit bypass because I have PCOS and she said my weight loss would be better with bypass because of the malabsorption. (PCOS makes it harder to lose weight). However, I was set against bypass after all my research and when I met with the surgeon, he said I made the right decision especially considering some of the meds I take for asthma and with the fact that I sometimes have to take steroids for my asthma. He says with the malabsorption, my meds would not be as effective. So ultimately, I would say to do some research, decide what you can live with and then discuss it with your surgeon.
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I actually researched for a year before deciding. I researched outcomes and complication rates for both and talked to people I know that have had either VSG or bypass. I decided on sleeve since it doesn't have the malabsorption issues and there are less associated complications and side effects. On my initial visit, the nurse practitioner that works for the program suggested I revisit bypass because I have PCOS and she said my weight loss would be better with bypass because of the malabsorption. (PCOS makes it harder to lose weight). However, I was set against bypass after all my research and when I met with the surgeon, he said I made the right decision especially considering some of the meds I take for asthma and with the fact that I sometimes have to take steroids for my asthma. He says with the malabsorption, my meds would not be as effective. So ultimately, I would say to do some research, decide what you can live with and then discuss it with your surgeon.
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It's super easy. I started one at my first pre-op appt and have kept it going in the 3.5 years since then. You can check it out if you want...for ideas :-) It's themeiamnow.blogspot.com (also linked in my signature)

So I'm on this committee that meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month. I missed last month since I was on FMLA and this month's meeting (I'm 2 months out) was today. It is in the college of pharmacy in a classroom that we reserve so it has those chairs with the tiny desk thing that goes up and down in front of you. I hope you know what I mean. Prior to surgery, I would always have to leave the desk up and pull another chair over to me in order to write/look at portfolios on that chair's desk because the desk would come nowhere close to going down. Got some funny looks the first few months that I did that.
Today, I went in, sat in my usual seat, started to scoot another desk over and stopped. I kinda looked around to see if anyone was paying attention and decided to lower the desk on my chair to see how much farther I would have until I could put it down. IT WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had to tell someone and I was afraid people I know would think I'd gone crazy for being so excited about something like that....figured I could Celebrate here without anyone thinking I was TOO crazy!
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I took what I wore and the loose ugly pants that I wanted to wear home...wore the same shirt I wore in. The hospital gowns covered it all and I looked seriously sexy in their non-skid socks. Otherwise I took my phone...barely looked at it after the cursory texts answering others and saying I was fine. Kindle...didn't use at all. CPAP mask and tubing...they used their own machine. And Aquaphor....my lips were soooo grateful. I actually spent more time than I thought I would sleeping or dozing so when I wasn't sleeping I just watched HGTV and dozed.
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My surgeon told me that 2 weeks is pretty much the norm, but because I am a nurse he took me off for 3. I'm still not sure it shouldn't have been longer but I made it through.
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I tried a Pinterest thing where you use the cheese to make a crust as you cook it. So I put some mozzarella cheese usually about 1 1/2 - 2 ounces in a 8" skillet on medium heat and then put pepperoni about 1/2 to 1 oz on it. Now that I can have veg, I plan to use mushroom. Then let it cook until it's melty and the bottom seems kind of solid when you lift up the edge with a spatula. Then I put it on a plate and the bottom gets more stiff after off the heat. Then I put some sauce on the top and cut it up. I'm only 2 months out so that portion fits right in my plan at the moment. I actually like it so I'll prob keep doing it that way and add a side salad once my portions get larger.
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I had the same issue and when I would drink I would take smaller sips and not big gulps and that really helped me
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I skip the crust entirely. I had my first pizza at about 9 weeks out, but went with toppings only. The crust is really unimportant and takes up valuable space you need for the nurtrient richer tasty stuff! I ate the toppings off of one and half slices of pepperoni, mushroom, onion, and hamburger with extra cheese. It was awesome awesome and I even dropped a pound the day after Had I eaten the crust, I probably would have stalled or gained. My friend ate the rest of the pizza

Stop doing this to yourself, In the initial four to six weeks, your body has one overriding objective: to heal from major abdominal surgery.
You and your head may think weight loss is the be-all-end-all, but your body needs to heal FIRST.
Get in your fluids. Get in your Protein, however you can do it. do the best you can. And stay off the scale. It isn't going to be your friend right now. The weight loss will come, but it isn't a race. Treat your body with respect and kindness, it's been through a lot lately.

You may not be eating enough. 500 calories a day IS extremely low. I wouldn't worry about the enriched milk if it is helping you get in your Protein.
Your priority right now is healing. Getting enough Protein and Fluid is critical for healing and weight loss.
None of us lose at a constant or steady rate. We all experience stalls and slow downs in weight loss. Almost everyone experiences a stall about three weeks after surgery.
I highly recommend that you stay off the scale, especially if you are still struggling to get in enough nutrition.
Embrace the Stall
http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

@@gary5862 .... I have that too! I thought I was just weird. I'm about 17 days out and that feeling rubbing / slight pain is getting better . I just pull my shorts/ underwear down below my belly and sit doing a modified Al Bundy and it goes away ( tmi hee hee). It is getting better daily !
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I can't stand Protein bars that tastes like protein...I know that is kinda silly but true. I also don't like the chewy ones. I feel like it takes me forever to eat one.
But I have found that I love Power Crunch bars! I actually like all the flavors but my favorite is chocolate mint. You can buy individual ones at Walmart and Kroger to try them out.

I don't know who put the crazy thoughts in your head, but I have seriously never heard of anyone thinking 17 pounds in two weeks was slow. I lost 17 pounds the first 3 MONTHS after my surgery and I thought that was fabulous. If you don't change your expectations to match reality then you are going to be a very sad camper in a couple weeks once your loss comes to a complete standstill when you hit a stall and your weight loss slows to a much more normal rate.

Seventeen pounds in two weeks. Yup. You're definitely a slow loser.

You think 17 lbs in two weeks is barely losing? What were you expecting?
Couple pieces of advice looking forward:
--you are very likely about to hit a stall that will last a couple of weeks. Stay off the scale if that will upset you.
--30+ lbs per month (which is what you would be at if your rate of loss stayed the same) is almost unheard of, especially for women. So you should expect your long-term rate of weight loss to slow down significantly. If it doesn't, you can be pleasantly surprised, but in no way should you expect to keep losing at the incredibly fast rate you are losing right now. Enjoy it while you can.
--don't look to compare your rate of weight loss to other people's. I know it is tempting but it never ends well. "Comparison is the thief of joy" -- Teddy Roosevelt. Though to be honest I have never heard of a woman losing as fast as you are post op so maybe it would make you happy!

Yes I would love to see them too. However I'm not even going to bother. I found another NUT locally that I will be working with. I just cannot take the chance of not having Protein for 5 weeks.

I would LOVE to know what studies show this. It is the first I have ever heard of anything like that. All the studies I have seen are about the importance of Protein.

@@taracutch - my hiatal hernia was causing painful hiccups and food coming back up, and both of those stopped afterwards. I'd had severe anemia for years and though I'd gone to several specialists they couldn't find where I was losing blood. No active ulcers or Gi track bleeds, etc. what they couldn't see was that fat deposits in my hiatal hernia (which created a pouch) where blocking the cameras from seeing striations which would actively bleed like an ulcer, causing the anemia. Fat deposit removed, striations repaired, hernia repaired to prevent recurrence, and no more anemia for me. Such a happy thing!!