biginjapan

I'm just over a week post-op and I haven't told anyone. It's not that I'm ashamed of the surgery, I'm just a very private person and don't generally overshare with anyone. That said, there are some very negative people I do not want to share this with, so if and when I do tell people it will be a select few.

Lots of people chew and swallow gum! (surprisingly) - I'm one of them, which is why I almost never chew gum. I think the problem with chewing gum is it can let in a lot of air and give you a gassy feeling in your gut. It's a definite no-no on my post-op plan, not that I was planning on chewing any (see above).

Me too,

I've read a lot on this topic too, including a few of the studies mentioned in the article, and I totally agree with it.

Me too!

My surgery was also on the 9th, and I haven't weighed myself since then since I'm currently staying in a hotel and have no access to a scale! I don't arrive. back to Japan until Saturday, so that helps. I'm hoping to only weigh myself twice a week - on Mondays and Thursdays. I think that will help keep the obsession at bay,

I don't drink coffee, but I am a Starbucks addict. However, being less than a week post-op means that the only thing I can drink there is herbal (mint) tea. I have to say I find it really soothing on my new tummy.

I'm five days post-op and have had no pain. To be fair, they were putting pain mess into my IV, but since leaving the hospital all I feel is a little tenderness at the wound sites, but only after bending too much. :-) However, gas pain and nausea is a real issue for some people. I didn't suffer from any of these problems, but other people on my floor did. So everyone is different and it's hard to predict.

I had my surgery last week and met several companions for others having weight loss surgery at the same time. Two had had the sleeve (one was 5 years out) and they both looked fantastic. However, I also met a few others who were still clearly obese. Only one was upfront with me, and she admitted that after having bypass, she lost a ton of weight, but then went back to her old eating habits, just less because of the restriction. But she still gained a lot of weight back. It's posible that the others were still on their weight loss journey, but I didn't want to pry. Anyway, as others have mentioned, I think success clearly lies in making a lifetime commitment, and not seeing the surgery as only a quick way to lose weight.

Yeah, I had the same problem too. So I walked and walked and walked. Got to know most of the other patients and the nurses too.

I'm in the hospital waiting to be discharged. I'm full of energy but liquids are a little harder to get in now. Will have to be careful and just keep sipping, sipping, sipping. I'm m so glad that it's finally finished - now I can really start my my life (I feel I've been hold for far too long).

How's everyone doing post-op? I just had my surgery yesterday, and other than the scars on my belly and general fatigue, I feel great. Don't know how long that's going to last though!

I had my surgery yesterday. Some gas pain in my left shoulder for an hour or two post-op, but nothing more since then. Had some lower abdominal pain from the drain, but they just took it out and I'm already feeling much better. That said, now that I'm drinking liquids, I feel really fatigued. I've been walking a lot though, more than everyone else on my floor combined! To be fair, most of the others seem to suffering a lot, either from pain or nausea. I really haven't had a problem with either.

I'm tracking (which I think is different from journalling) my food, exercise, and weight loss on various apps. However, there are a lot of things I would like to write about my journey, so I'm thinking of keeping a blog (privately, for now). My surgery is next week, so I'd like to get that started soon. I also have been taking photos of random things connected to my weight loss - in the end I'd like to make a small scrapbook of those photos, plus random things like favourite recipes, etc.

First of all, everyone is different. That said, I lost 15 pounds in 15 days (not a pound a day, it's been much more erratic than that). I drink 2-3 Protein shakes a day, and have 1-2 meals that include lean protein (usually chicken or fish) and non-starchy veggies. I can have 1-2 tbsp of a healthy oil with my veggies (olive oil, avocado). I'm not allowed any dairy, alcohol, or simple carbs (Pasta, rice, bread, oats, etc.). This is my liver shrinking diet - it's not all liquid, like so many other diets, yet I've still lost weight, even with my calories in the 1200-1400 range. I've been surprised at the weight loss, as I thought I wouldn't be as successful not being on an all-liquid diet. Anyway. This worked for me - I'm just offering it as suggestion. As others have mentioned, you could try a liquid diet too.

With less than a week until my operation, I thought I would focus on the three big weight loss goals that I would like to achieve, in a Japanese way. Today is Setsubun, an old Japanese holiday that used to mark the change of seasons. It involves wearing a mask to scare children and throwing dried Beans or peanuts around (and out of) the house to get rid of bad spirits (and encourage good ones to come in). However, this holiday often includes getting a Daruma doll. In Japan, when one has a wish or goal they would like to complete, they get a Daruma doll, which is a small, hollow, wooden doll, usually painted in red, with the eyes blank. You fill in one eye when you make your wish, and then when that wish/goal comes to pass, you can fill in the other eye. These dolls are a symbol of perseverance and good luck, and are popular all over Japan. I happened to visit the centre of Daruma-doll production (Takasaki, Gunma), where I picked out a few of them. I thought they would make great visual reminders of the goals I want to achieve. The three goals are: hitting onederland, losing 100 pounds, and achieving goal weight. What are (or were) your three big goals?

I don't like Water in my shakes, except for Syntrax nectars. Usually I make my shakes with low calorie/unsweetened soy or almond milk (gives the shake a richer taste). My two favourite shakes at the moment are: a - 1-2c. almond and/or soy milk, 1/2 banana (optional), 1 scoop Syntrax chocolate powder, 2 tbsp PB2 Peanut Butter powder, 1 tbsp chia seed powder. b - 1-2c. almond and/or soy milk, 1/2 cup frozen berries, 1 scoop Syntrax vanilla powder, 1 tbsp chia seed powder. To make it really thick, like a milkshake, I'll use a small block of fresh tofu. @sleevinpops: I love the idea of using SF jello/pudding powder to add variety to the shakes, but they're not an option for me in Japan (nor anything even remotely resembling Fairlife). However, I hope to pick up at least a few boxes of a variety of flavours when I'm in the States next week.

Have done a search of this topic? It comes up a lot. I'm having my surgery done in Mexico next week, so I can't comment yet on my experience there. However, if you check this post, I made a list of surgeons I had considered before choosing mine.

That must be really disappointing! I'm going to Tijuana for mine, but I've built in some extra time into my trip just in case something like this would happen pre- or post-op. My liver shrinking diet is exactly what Berry78 has described - 2 meals of lean Protein and non-starchy veggies, plus 2-3 Protein drinks a day (no dairy). My nut wants me to stay over 1200 calories a day to prevent my body from going into starvation mode. My calories have ranged between 800-1400 a day, but I've still lost 15 pounds in 2 weeks (not, that that's a goal at all). Anyway, I'm sure if you stick to something similar, it won't be so hard to go back to a liquid diet (I'm assuming that's what you were on).

Phenomenal! I hope I look this good in 6 months!

+1 for asking your surgeon/nut, but I would also agree that it's best to eliminate it now so you are also not struggling with these cravings post-op.

Raw vegetables: I don't think they cause flare-ups for me, but some definitely add to the pain or rectal urgency, especially gassy ones (broccoli, Beans, etc.) or fibrous ones (apple skins, lettuce, etc.). I also seemed to have developed some allergies to raw veggies and some fruit (with a skin - cherries, carrots, apples, etc.) in the last couple of years. Cereal: I was a cereal eater all my life, but it was clear that eating it (with milk) virtually every morning was contributing to going to the toilet 10-20 times every morning before heading off to work. I don't really miss it, but that's because there really isn't much cereal here in Japan - about 5 or 6 choices at the supermarket, all for kids, except All-Bran flakes (which is what I ate). But the box is so small you only get 3 bowls out it anyway. Same thing with bread - all there is here is white, sweet, Wonder-bread-type bread - no whole wheat or other grains or other kinds of bread. It's not bad, but I just prefer more variety. And only bread - no rolls, buns, etc. While Japanese enjoy a hamburger at McDonald's, it's impossible to find hamburger buns to make your own. They do something called "hamburger steak" here - I guess, in a way, they've been doing a kind of low-carb meal for ages (although the burger is covered in sauce, probably made with sugar). You should definitely come to Japan - it's a great place to visit!

@Hoping052017: My surgery is a week from today! I leave Japan on Saturday for L.A., where I'll spend a few days recovering from jetlag and doing a little sightseeing and shopping (while on liquids only for the final days before surgery). My favourite "terms" are not mine - these are medical terms that my gastroenterologist(s) have used. I just remember hearing (or seeing) them for the first time and thinking - that's me! As for dairy, although I'm not lactose intolerant (I think), I cut out drinking milk a few years ago when I experimented with going gluten free (for Cereal, which was cut from my life). Although I was amazingly free of any problems, that only lasted a month. However, I never went back to drinking milk (or eating cereal). Now my only dairy really comes from yogurt or cheese, which I thought didn't give me problems, but I guess they did since I'm having no issues now. We'll see how things go once I'm post-op. (I've already bought cheese in anticipation). I'll be gutted if I can't handle cheese, since that seems to be a common item for most people pre-op due to its Protein content. Our stats are really similar - we're even the same weight at this very moment! I'm an inch taller than you though.

I had IBS when I was younger, but it eventually developed into ulcerative colitis by the time I hit 30. I've been on meds (Pentasa) to help control it, which really helps, but I reduce the recommended dosage since it produces intense hunger cravings for me (not a normal side effect). Anyway, I'm used to going to the bathroom 10-30 times a day when I have a flare-up (which is pretty much always, just different intensities). Two of my favourite, very well-known terms are "rectal urgency" and "explosive diarrhea." So I've been on my pre-op diet for 2 weeks now, which allows for 2-3 Protein shakes plus 2 small meals a day, and is very high protein, low carb (fats fall where they may). No alcohol, no dairy, no simple carbs of any kind (carbs from non-starchy veggies are ok). I have to say it has made a bigger difference in my life than any of the meds I have ever taken. I am now passing almost normal stools (still a little soft) and have no urgent need to go to the toilet multiple times a day. No cramping, no pain. Have you tried a similar diet? I'm wondering if something like that might help. Because of my UC, I've chosen sleeve since it does not mess around with the intestines, which is important to me. I've done some research on the effects of WLS on patients with UC or Crohn's (sorry, did not check for IBS in general) and generally speaking sleeve has a better effect on the symptoms of these patients, especially those with UC. In any event, I'll also be curious as to how the sleeve will impact me post-op. I'll keep you updated.

I don't know if I'm anxious about how I'll feel about being thin(ner) but I am worried about the social aspects of it, such as people being nicer to me, guys flirting (instead of running away), etc. I've mostly been overweight most of my life; obesity is relatively new for me (about 8 years I guess). That said, when I was on the high end of the BMI overweight scale, nothing ever happened. But when I dipped to the low end of overweight or even into normal weight, I got noticed a lot more. Not just by guys, by everyone. It always kind of annoyed me, since I was still the same person, only with or without a little more padding, but it's amazing how differently people treat you. I've read articles from people who have lost a lot of weight and this is something that bothers them as well (to the point of depression) - as it was something they were not expecting.