Seastars

Hummus has nearly twice as many carb grams as protein grams. Other beans have twice as much carbs as protein. Alas, no way that beans can regularly fit into a low-carb life. I became obese in large part because I figured if I exercised a lot, ate healthful whole foods (including "good carbs"), and listened to my body, I'd be fine. Turns out that the whole foods were very high carb and my pre-diabetic body was sending my an overdose of hunger messages. So part of surgery, for me, is starting over with NON-whole foods (lots of supplements and shakes with artificial sugars), NON-plant foods (lots more chicken and fish now; cut out almost all grains, beans, fruits). As I realized, the way I was eating wasn't working - so time to listen to the professionals. Which gets frustrating because the professional dietician is telling me to eat a little MORE now while you guys are mostly saying eat less!

I like these tips! Dr. Gail, I do think I'm over-relying on shakes. I still have at least 2 per day. (Pre-surgery, I was similarly reliant on Protein bars - at least one per day.). Pre-surgery I was mostly vegetarian, with some low-fat dairy, eggs and fish a couple of times a week. I ate a LOT of legumes and whole grains, and some nuts, for my protein. Unfortunately, those are high in carbs (part of why I got obese) so I've had to cut them out except as a treat. Fish is my main "solid" protein source now, at least once per day. I try to eat chicken and turkey but am getting a little burned out on it. Ditto cottage cheese. So all that is to say: (1) my body may be adjusting to a new, low-Fiber part of dieting along with the low-carb part. (2) since I'm still relying on shakes to meet my protein goals, I might not feel as satisfied - mentally at least. Maybe adding more fat will help. What are some good,non-red-meat fat sources? I do get some from oily fish. I have my 2% cottage cheese (higher fat, harder cheeses are not tolerated now). I could add more eggs. I used to (pre surgery) have ground flaxseed and olive oil on popcorn - nearly every day - but I know popcorn is out for sleeve patients, and nuts and hummus have too many carbs. I had a little avocado yesterday. I haven't reacted well to salad dressing, so that's out.

Thank you so much, guys. Your encouragement and advice means a lot.

Thank you! I had two teaspoons of quinoa today but I promise, usually no grains (or pasta or potatoes). I usually eat cold-Water fish at least once daily, 2% cottage cheese and sometimes nuts, but that's not a lot of fat. I had a teaspoonful of avocado though today. I will have to brainstorm what I can do to add more fat - maybe eggs. And yup, no sugar at all! Reduced fruit intake to just a partial serving once or twice a week (I used to eat tons and got pre-diabetes - and obesity - as a result). sugar-free popsicles is my post-surgery go-to. And most Protein shakes and supplements are sweet.

My dietician just emailed back. She says: -stop weighing myself, be patient "since you have been very active you may need to add an additional mini-meal and add just a little bit of carbohydrates" So she says I'm not eating enough (maybe). Argghhh!

I can't get a dietician appointment for a couple of weeks (I've emailed her with no luck), so eh, you guys have convinced me. I'll eat less- back down to 800 cals, which was working to lose. I'd rather reduce food than add more workouts. And thank you for the explanation of reflux sounding/feeling like hunger! I do take a daily Rx acid reducer, but once I get a clinic appointment I'll ask if I should increase my dosage. If I could reduce those symptoms, it would be easier not to eat as much.

That is GREAT to hear! Around this board and in my support group - and from what my docs advised - I heard just the opposite: that the fastest weight loss happens first, tapering off after 3 and 6 months, until at ~18 months there's not much effect (body used to slower metabolism and sleeve expanded a bit). So I hope, like you, that my weight loss rate will INCREASE soon!

Well, I love SOME daily cardio - and lots more on weekends - as you say, fun stuff like biking or running daily (60-90 min) plus a few hours of hiking on weekends. Depending on the season, I've usually got squash or snowshoeing going on, too. So that's not a lifestyle change - I've always been fit and athletic (just fat, too). But I dislike being in diet mode where AFTER my usual workout (today: bike-commute, 90 minutes) I need to have another workout in the evening for at least another hour just to burn more calories. And I hate strength training. I know it's good for me, but I hate it. That's the overexercise that makes me miserable (no family time, overuse injuries, disordered thinking/obsession) and I thought I wouldn't have to do post-sleeve.

No offense to you and your surgeon's handout, but I need to follow my specific medical provider (dietician's) rules for me in particular. She wants me at minimum 800 but better 1000-1200 calories. She wants 100g (better 125g) protein given my particular muscle mass, and spread across 5 meals. 125g x 4cal/g is 500 cals just for protein; add in some legumes or the fat in canned fish and I'm at 800 cals easily - without any junk or refined carbs.

That's the amount my NUT "prescribed" for me based on my exercise level (which is high). I checked in after surgery and she says to keep doing exactly what I'm doing and by three months they are "pretty sure" I'll see weight loss. But I know most people lose at their highest rate in the first month after surgery. The fact that I've slowed so much already scares me a lot.

Oh, I track diligently (and did so for years before the surgery). My nutritionist based my calorie range recommendation on the workout level I did pre-surgery (which I resumed pretty quickly afterwards). I eat 5 small meals, per her recommendations. What do you mean about the PPI? I do take a daily acid reducer (Rx), since surgery. I didn't need one before. I do track clothing fit/inches and believe me, it's a real stall - I'm not losing inches or gaining muscle. Just stalled. Still in my same, pre-surgery-sized underwear, you know? Ugh.

I am a little shocked at how many calories you are eating this early out. As I said, I am a bypass patient and if I eat 1200 to 1300 calories I maintain and do not lose. If I am closer to 1000 calories, I lose consistently. ....That's the calorie range my nutritionist prescribed based on my exercise level (which is pretty high). I was only at about 800 on the liquid diet, but once I could eat softs I could get more in. Nutritionist warned me never to go below 800, and if I'm doing my usual workouts to aim for 1200. No more than that, though. When is the last time you lost 3lbs per week? That is great progress and you should be very proud of it. ...The month before surgery, I lost 21 pounds in 4 weeks. 3 pounds per week is pretty usual for me in my dieting phases (and then 1 pound per week regain).

Oh, I totally agree. I always get 64oz "base," but hydrating enough when I'm outside working out to make up for the workout sweat loss, is difficult - especially because guzzling water doesn't work anymore, you know?

Of course that's a jest. But I didn't think I would have to go nuts with cardio, or feel (and ignore) hunger pangs, in order to lose. I thought it would be easier and more successful than other diets I'd tried.

Before the surgery I was exercising daily anyway, but had learned that in order to lose I had to go nots (like, 3 hours cardio per day). I was really hoping to put that kind of obsession behind me. Hunger. Like, stomach cramping, a little gurgling, sometimes feeling a little light-headed and weak.

Not everyone has pounds melting off. You have lost 34 pounds total and that is a lot of weight. Your body doesn't know preop from post op weight loss. It is healing and adjusting. Make sure you are getting your Protein, Water and enough calories in so your body doesn't go into starvation mode. I average 125g protein, no worries! Only 800-1000 cals (max 1200 on a heavy workout day), but that is per my dietician's precise instructions. Your take on "Your body doesn't know preop from post op weight loss" is interesting. I lost 21 pounds in the month before surgery, so it sure seems like post-op - with reduced hunger and forcibly smaller portion size, not to mention a two-week liquid diet - I'd be losing MORE than that, you know? I mean, the surgery is meant to make us lose weight, not just maintain it. But that didn't happen. The loss I had was mostly from crazy cardio. I just didn't think losing weight with the sleeve would be this hard. I read posts about the three-week stall, but that's AFTER someone loses, like, 30 pounds or so! I guess my frustration is exacerbated by the fact that I self-paid. This was a very, very expensive 12 pounds. :/

This thread makes me depressed. I was sleeved 6/22, lost 12 pounds in the first 3 weeks (mostly because of a LOT of cardio) but have been stalled for the last 9 days. I feel great and have zero side effects, but I keep waiting for the freakin' weight loss to begin! Everyone else has pounds "melting off" and I have to literally sweat it off to lower my weight, just like pre-surgery.

I'm jealous of your weight los, soccer girl! I've only lost 12 pounds in the 3 weeks since surgery. Phooey.

I know the stomach swelling can last for a few weeks, but I was hoping to see some movement on the scale by now. :/. I've been getting in 100g protein, 64oz water and 2 miles walking each day, and my calories are between 400-800. I dropped a pound around day 4 but regained it. Could drinking salty broth have kept me retaining water, so weight loss doesn't show? My clothes fit the same (because if that probably-swollen stomach). When did you start losing weight after surgery?

What do you mean, "popped"?

...and also because, like OutsideMatchInside, I didn't need to change my lifestyle. I was already very fit, ate high protein, no junk, had logged my food and diets for years. Didn't drink/smoke. So I had a ton of appointments (blood tests, EKG, dietician visits, psychologist etc) to squeeze in but I didn't have to, say, demonstrate weeks of months of diets, or high-protein meals. I just handed off my existing logs.

34 days for me. Self-pay so I didn't have to jump through insurance hoops.

I slept on my side from post-op day 1. It's been a week. No problems at all. I figure if back-sleeping was required or even preferred, my doc would have mentioned it.

was there a period after surgery when you felt fuzzy-headed and had difficulty focusing (on anything that wasn't related to your surgery and recovery)? I've read that many people feel tired for a few weeks, and had difficulty working full days for a while (going to bed right after work). But how was your concentration after surgery? How long did it take until you were able to give 100% mentally? I anticipate surgery for late June/early July. I can work from home some, and I'm definitely planning not to work at all the first week after surgery. But then I need to focus on a big project with an August deadline. It's a desk job, not physical, but does demand a lot of written analysis and focus. If it matters for recovery time, I'm pretty fit (daily cardio) and have a low-ish BMI. Thank you for all your insight and tips!

Update from OP: I'm writing this from work on post-op day 8. I needn't have worried at all! I was sleeved on a Wednesday afternoon and discharged late the next day. I easily could have gone to work Friday - post-op day 2 - and almost did. I ended up taking it easy for a week and working from home, until today when I started back full-time. No difficulties at all. Brain was a little impaired for say 18 hours post-surgery (from aneasthesia; I didn't use the painkillers but they would have extended brain fuzziness if I had). As long as you have a desk job, and no complications, you can probably go back to work right away. But it was fun taking off a week and getting stuff done around the house. Hope that helps other pre-sleevers in their planning.