justhere4theshow

Your post was awesome. I loved it. I actually thought to myself: man, there has been a lot of fighting and negativity around here lately. And lots of people talking about making this site better, more supportive, more positive, but this woman is just making it happen.
Keep it up. We need you.

You really need to speak with Aetna. You don't want to waste time and resources if it won't help you in the end.

I use calcium chews that are the consistency of startbursts and gummie Multivitamins with no issues. Been on the chews since right after surgery and switched to gummies after two months. So aside from the sugar if you aren't having issues with other solids I don't think the consistency texture is going to be a problem.
One piece of candy every now and again is probably not enough sugar going to cause issues for your stomach, but you wont know until you try.
I think the bigger issues is just that the primary goal post op is to meet nutrition requirements as efficiently as possible and also build better habits. I definitely go off plan every once in a while, I imagine every has their little indulgences. A spoonful or two of Peanut Butter, some cashews or peanuts, but I still try to make sure those things are helping me it my Protein goals, even if the calorie to Protein ratio is less ideal that my normal meal choices.
Candy is just sugar, it's one of the big things we are supposed to avoid. Just added calories. It can also be habit forming, you can't just buy five skittles, or one starburst. So if you get it, it's always going to be there.
I see a lot of questions about "When can I eat "fill in the blank junk food/carb food". I'm pretty sure we all have those cravings. I almost had a panic attack pre op when I realized I wasn't going to be able to eat pizza or Chinese for at least a year/year and a half if ever. Once we hit goal weight and enter maintenance mode I think it's ok to experiment a little with those things and see if we can have them without binging, without affecting weight/nutrition goals negatively. But it's something to be very careful with I think. Building good habits during the weight loss period I think is important with building control for later on.
So basically that's a long winded way of saying one or two small pieces of candy a week will probably not affect you unless your new pouch doesn't like sugar. Buuuuuuutttt it's probably a bad idea until you hit goal weight/maintenance mode and even then food like this should be introduced verrrry carefully and you'll need to pay close attention to how it affects you.

@@fatgirlsvelte, I find you to be an absolute delight! I loved your photos and hate to hear that you are being censored. I hope you'll stay around.

@KristenLe: THANK YOU. I will ditch the crackers and meal replacement bars. I think I need to stay away from processed foods.

I will be more diligent in tracking my carbs for sure. I am so grateful for the advice. Thank you!!

@...when eating food are you tracking carbs?....I know for me staying below 30g of carbs is what it takes to see the scale go down............I eat mostly chicken or fish, greek yogurt, and non starchy veggies.....no breads, Pasta, rice or potatoes.

Seven weeks post-op is not an indication of what your life will be like after you have healed. You are still healing and recovering from major surgery.
I HIGHLY recommend that you stay off the scale and only weigh at your doctor's appointments.
Just follow your program.
Focus on getting in ALL of your Protein and fluids. For me that means at least 100 grams protein and 64 oz Fluid.
Take your Vitamins and supplements as directed.
Exercise when cleared.
Stay off the scale.< /p>
And, Embrace the Stall
http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

@@Kaze
I would think a fibrous, grainy cracker would be something like Triscuits, which kind of shatter when you bite them and are hard to chew up really well, or any cracker loaded with seeds/nuts/other firm bits.

My program (and mine is definitely a large, successful program with very few complications or failures among it's patients) allows moving to more 'normal' foods earlier than I see many of the others here talking about. I saw my doctor for my 2 week checkup and he removed almost all food restrictions, within guidelines like 'chewchewchew everything to a paste' and 'low carb, low sugar', and expecting me to maintain appropriate portions, which my sleeve greatly aids me with Maybe as time has gone by and bariatric surgeries have become more common, they've loosened the reins a bit. I also didn't have to do a pre-op diet, as my surgeon feels those mostly make his patients miserable and do little to affect the size of the liver. Anyway, enjoy your crackers. I can have them, but don't feel quite ready yet. Good luck!

I completely agree with @her1981. You really just have to figure out what works for you. We are all different and respond to things differently. I personally can't stop once I start eating crackers. I hate saltines, but I can down a box of Club crackers in a day and a half! I find that I have to keep my carbs pretty low if I want to lose. That's not to say I will never have another cracker, but for now I am mainly concerned with losing all the weight I can during the honeymoon phase.

I don't know if they carry Bariatric Advantage brand at GNC, but I can tell you how heavenly their Calcium/Vitamin D chews are! I have chocolate/peanut butter and I LOVE them. They are like candy, and they settle my stomach after I take my other pills. They sell them on Bariatric Pal.

I don't need to add anything other than support; the folks who've already commented are giving you great advice. I just wanted to let you know that I went through the exact same thing as you. Your tummy hurts because it's doing some major repair after what it's been through. I was so convinced that I would never lose weight, that the surgery would surely fail just like all of my other attempts to lose weight have failed. I no longer believe that, because even though I am not dropping pound after pound as fast as I would like, my clothes are fitting looser and my face and hands are "deflating". We all lose in individual ways I suppose, and I find it fascinating that I have such tiny wrists now. My watch spins around on my wrist and my rings are all loose. Go figure. I hope you start to feel better soon. I know how hard it is, and how much you want to see that scale move. I am with you all the way on that one. Hang in there. It will get better. It just takes time.

You are very welcome, Friend.
We are here to help one another, are we not??
I think we are.

Just about any grocery store----in with the spices. The same place where you would buy vanilla.
There are dozens of flavors. Root beer is one of my favorites. Added to a vanilla Protein Shake and I have a root beer float.
Think outside the box. Go a wee bit "extract/flavor" crazy..
Make it fun!

1. Stay off the scale for a while
2. You are doing just fine in your weight loss. Lower your expectations (or try to get rid of them completely).
3. It isn't a race to solid foods. I wasn't even allowed to try purees for four weeks post op. If your body isn't ready for them, then stick with your liquids for another week or so then try again. It won't hurt you to wait.
4. It is completely normal to be exhausted for weeks (multiple weeks!) after major surgery like this. Give yourself a break and treat yourself kindly.
5. Yes, your stomach will eventually be able to handle all textures of food and you will get your energy back. But this is major, traumatic surgery! You need to give yourself time and not expect everything to be back to "normal" right away. But you will get there, I promise.

I completely agree with @her1981. You really just have to figure out what works for you. We are all different and respond to things differently. I personally can't stop once I start eating crackers. I hate saltines, but I can down a box of Club crackers in a day and a half! I find that I have to keep my carbs pretty low if I want to lose. That's not to say I will never have another cracker, but for now I am mainly concerned with losing all the weight I can during the honeymoon phase.

Regarding carbs and fat, I think you have to monitor your body's response. I found that after surgery I couldn't and still can't tolerate carbs and lose weight, thanks to insulin resistance and metabolic impairment.... even with a 500 calorie per day intake.
So while the nutritionist made certain recommendations for me (80 grams of carbs per day), in the end, I had to craft my own plan (30 grams or less). Do I eat crackers? Yes, sometimes. Do I lose weight if I eat them? NEVER!
Only you can truly determine what's going to work for you.

The pre-op diet is not all about shrinking the liver. It's about whether or not you can make a change as directed by your physician. Your chances of success after WLS largely depends on your ability to change your eating to what is recommended to you by the professionals, not to "do the best you can". If you are struggling this much prior to surgery, you might need to do some soul-searching as to whether or not you are willing to change and to what extent. If you cheat before you even have your surgery, what happens when you are post-op and cheat? You don't lose weight. Don't put all your faith into the surgery enforcing the changes that are necessary; you can absolutely eat around your sleeve/pouch. You have to be 100% commited to the program prescribed for you. Lots of little cheats add up quickly. And yes, there have been people who go in for surgery, and the surgeon closes them back up and sends them home for having a liver that is still too large. Please don't take this as me being mean, I really do understand how hard it is; I was on liquids only for 2 weeks pre-op and 3 weeks post-op. I did 5 weeks of liquids because I wanted my surgery AND I wanted it to work. Best of luck to you! You can do anything you set your mind to!!

I am a newbie, and after reading the Bacon fiasco, I am getting ready to say some things that may make me very unpopular here...
First of all, this is not high school and people need to act like adults. If someone can't take advice and not let it ruin their day or their life, then they need to participate in a much different forum than this one. Having said that, I find it very discouraging to see someone with a lot of solid knowledge get chased off by such stupidity. So why let those kinds of "newbies" ruin your experience here? The world would be a much better place if people could just learn how to coexist without constantly poking some thing or some one with a stick all the time.
What ever happened to take what you like and leave the rest? Who cares if the bacon eater doesn't get it? It certainly has no bearing on my experience here. I came here to soak up the knowledge of those who came before me and who speak from experience. I really couldn't care less if someone is non-compliant; it's none of my concern. I just need to get what I came here for, and I can't get much if the veterans throw up their hands and leave over a conflict. It's not personal, and it's highly unlikely that any of us will ever interact outside of this forum (I suppose it's possible, but unlikely). If you can't handle ignorance and take it with a grain of salt, then that's your business. It's all around you, and if someone leaves every time someone says something stupid, then who will be here to help the ones who listen and take advice when it's given? WE are the newbies that matter, and we need your wisdom. I hope you'll stay. I need to hear what you have to say.

The pre-op diet is not all about shrinking the liver. It's about whether or not you can make a change as directed by your physician. Your chances of success after WLS largely depends on your ability to change your eating to what is recommended to you by the professionals, not to "do the best you can". If you are struggling this much prior to surgery, you might need to do some soul-searching as to whether or not you are willing to change and to what extent. If you cheat before you even have your surgery, what happens when you are post-op and cheat? You don't lose weight. Don't put all your faith into the surgery enforcing the changes that are necessary; you can absolutely eat around your sleeve/pouch. You have to be 100% commited to the program prescribed for you. Lots of little cheats add up quickly. And yes, there have been people who go in for surgery, and the surgeon closes them back up and sends them home for having a liver that is still too large. Please don't take this as me being mean, I really do understand how hard it is; I was on liquids only for 2 weeks pre-op and 3 weeks post-op. I did 5 weeks of liquids because I wanted my surgery AND I wanted it to work. Best of luck to you! You can do anything you set your mind to!!

@
I had the same thing....for years. Fibroids causing big problems. Finally I went to a new ob/gyn who said, you are not having any more children as you had your tubes tied 20+ years ago. Why don't you consider a hysterectomy?
I said, sign me up now please!!!! That was another surgery that felt like Christmas morning! Ha. Although they left my ovaries and now I am 53 and in the worst phase of menopause. Hot flashes about 50 times a day.
I am either bundled in blankets because I am thin and cold or I have a fan blasting me in the face to control the spontaneous combustion going on in my body.
If only they could figure out a way to allow you to skip menopause!

I wouldn't do it myself, and here's why: Sugar craves sugar. You're setting yourself up for a big struggle for one or two pieces of candy...it's a slippery slope, and to me it's just not worth it. You can sneak in a lot of calories before you know it! You're better off eating your favorite fruit if you must have something sweet. Good luck to you!

Why in the world would you refuse IV fluids if you are so dehydrated?
You NEED 64 oz of fluid just to stay even. If you are severely dehydrated it is going to be almost impossible to drink enough to catch up (hence the IV fluid).
Dehydration is life threatening. You are already experiencing health repercussions.
If you are making this decision based on the numbers on the scale then please, please get rid of your scale.

I am a newbie, and after reading the Bacon fiasco, I am getting ready to say some things that may make me very unpopular here...
First of all, this is not high school and people need to act like adults. If someone can't take advice and not let it ruin their day or their life, then they need to participate in a much different forum than this one. Having said that, I find it very discouraging to see someone with a lot of solid knowledge get chased off by such stupidity. So why let those kinds of "newbies" ruin your experience here? The world would be a much better place if people could just learn how to coexist without constantly poking some thing or some one with a stick all the time.
What ever happened to take what you like and leave the rest? Who cares if the bacon eater doesn't get it? It certainly has no bearing on my experience here. I came here to soak up the knowledge of those who came before me and who speak from experience. I really couldn't care less if someone is non-compliant; it's none of my concern. I just need to get what I came here for, and I can't get much if the veterans throw up their hands and leave over a conflict. It's not personal, and it's highly unlikely that any of us will ever interact outside of this forum (I suppose it's possible, but unlikely). If you can't handle ignorance and take it with a grain of salt, then that's your business. It's all around you, and if someone leaves every time someone says something stupid, then who will be here to help the ones who listen and take advice when it's given? WE are the newbies that matter, and we need your wisdom. I hope you'll stay. I need to hear what you have to say.

I had a huge epiphany this morning. While I feel like I will never lose this weight, I know I will. I lost 2 more pounds, and if that is all I lose in a week or two, it's still pretty good. I don't have to lose every single day to know that I am succeeding. All I have to do is stay on the program, and my body will do the rest! Thanks to all of you for taking the time to give me words of wisdom and support.