MeltsIntoWonder

Last night I bought knee high boots that were not wide calf! Not only that, they also don't have any stretchy material in them!!

Last night I bought knee high boots that were not wide calf! Not only that, they also don't have any stretchy material in them!!

Thanks! I totally assumed they were not going to fit when I tried them on; I was just wanting to see how far I still had to go. I nearly cried when I got the zipper all the way up.

Newbie/lurker here.
I've read many of the posts that you're referring to, and, if it makes you feel any better, feel just as incredulous. I'm still on the fence about having the surgery (I'm almost there - and sure that my upcoming trip to Tokyo, filled with stares at the fat American gajin huffing and puffing her way around the city, will push me off the fence entirely), but if/when I do go through with it, I can't imagine going back to the "I do what I want" eating habits that got me here in the first place.
Please feel free to hand my @ss to me when I start complaining.

Last night I bought knee high boots that were not wide calf! Not only that, they also don't have any stretchy material in them!!

Thanks! I totally assumed they were not going to fit when I tried them on; I was just wanting to see how far I still had to go. I nearly cried when I got the zipper all the way up.

Last night I bought knee high boots that were not wide calf! Not only that, they also don't have any stretchy material in them!!

I rode in a pedi-cab yesterday! I didn't even think twice about it when my friend mentioned wanting to take it to our destination. I'm down 89lbs from my highest weight and back then I would have felt too guilty and embarrassed to even consider getting into a pedi-cab. When I realized that it just felt like such a relief not to think about it and just go with the flow of things!

Love this!! Hoping I can say the same some day. Congrats!!!

FINALLY! 69 days post op, and I can have a salad! It's so hot here today, and I'm having the most refreshing arugula, watermelon, and feta salad. Feels so good!

FINALLY! 69 days post op, and I can have a salad! It's so hot here today, and I'm having the most refreshing arugula, watermelon, and feta salad. Feels so good!

FINALLY! 69 days post op, and I can have a salad! It's so hot here today, and I'm having the most refreshing arugula, watermelon, and feta salad. Feels so good!

FINALLY! 69 days post op, and I can have a salad! It's so hot here today, and I'm having the most refreshing arugula, watermelon, and feta salad. Feels so good!

FINALLY! 69 days post op, and I can have a salad! It's so hot here today, and I'm having the most refreshing arugula, watermelon, and feta salad. Feels so good!

FINALLY! 69 days post op, and I can have a salad! It's so hot here today, and I'm having the most refreshing arugula, watermelon, and feta salad. Feels so good!

I mean if you have the sleeve now, you would probably be okay to start training by the end of august. C25K is pretty easy, by the time it gets semi hard, its the end.
I don't know your weight but I wouldn't run extremely over weight. You are just damaging your joints and risking injury. Your health is more important than a half marathon, there will always be marathons.
http://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/why-weight-matters-when-it-comes-to-joint-pain
http://www.menshealth.com/health/biggest-running-myth-debunked
I'm not saying don't run, but losing some weight before can only help you.

This is the part that sucks, but you need to keep taking the Miralax and force yourself to walk - even if it's only down the street and back or laps around your living room. I also saw that you said you split the dosage of the Miralax. Obviously, if that's what your doctor told you to do, then you should keep doing it that way; if not, take the whole dose. If you're afraid of a blowout - don't be, it's super gentle and just helps get things moving.

Pinterest has a lot of good ideas. Also the blog The World According to Eggface has tons of recipes and some really good tips (she had RNY, but the diet is basically the same).

Hello everyone! I'm about 3 1/2 weeks post-surgery (sleeved on 4/26) and I wanted to share with you all some resources I've found helpful in tackling this part of the journey.
Apps/Websites
Labdoor.com (Free) - "Labdoor is an independent company that tests supplements. We find out whether products have what they claim and if any harmful ingredients or contaminants are present. Then, we grade and rank those products, write reports, and publish that information for free, so consumers can confidently buy the best supplements for their health." My surgeon and medical team has me on a daily Multivitamin, B-complex supplement, Probiotics, Calcium + Vitamin D, Iron, and a Protein Drink. I used Labdoor to find the best ones for me. ***The top Protein was Muscle Feast whey Protein Supplement so I bought it and I recommend it. The flavor is really mild, like a watered down chocolate milk. It mixes really well in my Blender Bottle, and there's no added sugar. Thumbs up!
Amazon Subscribe & Save (Prime) - All those supplements are expensive, so I use the subscribe & save feature on Amazon to get the 15% off and the supplements get delivered every other month. It still kind of costs an arm and a leg, but if you already have Prime it's really worth it to get the extra 15% savings, plus then you don't have to worry about running out because it ships automatically. My "mini-pharmacy" (as my boyfriend and I lovingly call it) is set to arrive tomorrow.
MyFitnessPal Premium - I used the free version of MyFitnessPal for the year leading up to my surgery and it was great. I decided to go with premium after surgery since there are such specific needs with grams of protein and carbs and stuff. The main difference (for me) with the free vs. paid is that I can set more personalized goals (ex: 70 grams protein, less than 50 grams of carbs) and track the nutrients I actually care about; carbs, protein, fat, sugar and nutrients/vitamins. It also allows you to change the names of meals in your diary so instead of using Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I use blocks of time like 7AM - 9AM, 9AM - 11AM, 11 AM - 1PM, etc. Since I don't eat traditional meals/snacks yet, this works much better for me.
Glow App (Free) - A period/fertility app. At my highest weight(s) I stopped menstruating as the result of my weight and my form of birth control (Nexplanon Implant). I would still experience some PMS symptoms but not menstrual Fluid, so I had no idea what to expect with my cycle post-surgery. Since my period did return (just one week after surgery) I wanted to be able to properly track it and Glow has been fantastic. It's easy to use, the app is attractive, you can set it to "avoiding pregnancy", "trying to conceive", and "pregnant/nursing". It gives you helpful insights based on your unique circumstances, like if you have Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome for instance. It also syncs up with MyFitnessPal which sends your weight data - this has been great for me because back in the day, I would consistently gain about 2 pounds of Water weight right before my period which gives me a warning it may be coming.

Gadgets
Garmin Index Smart scale - First off, I'm a total nerd for data. I love charts and statistics and graphs. BUT, I hate calculating those things myself. I really enjoy math, but those things are usually just a bit above my level of ability. So, I really love things that figure the data out for me. So this scale measures weight, body fat, BMI, bone mass, lean muscle mass, and hydration. I find the weight, body fat and hydration most useful. It reports automatically to the Garmin Connect app via Bluetooth or wifi, and I sync that directly into MyFitnessPal. You can set up multiple profiles, so it recognizes individual users. I have a profile for myself and my boyfriend (and also my cat because he likes to sit on it).
Garmin VivoFit - A more affordable version of the Fitbit that syncs up with the Index Smart Scale perfectly. The reason I chose this activity tracker is because it syncs with the scale and MyFitnessPal and I don't need any of the more advanced features that other trackers come with. I love that it gives you a little warning light and beep after being inactive for too long which is a good reminder to get up and away from my desk and take a short walk. I also like that it sets walking goals for each day based on my habits. The app that collects the data from both the tracker and scale is great and easy to use, it even measures my sleep!
HydroSpark water bottle - This hasn't arrived yet because it's on back order but I saw an ad for it on Facebook and wanted to give it a try It's a water bottle that measures your daily water intake and can report it to MyFitnessPal. Like I said, I love data but I'm terrible at recording it myself, so I like that it's automatic. Really the water was the only missing piece of my health tracking puzzle, so I'm excited to see how it works out.

Supplements
***Note, these are what I picked based on my individual needs and Labdoor ranking information. I'm a 27 year old woman without other major health concerns except anemia. Your needs will likely differ, this is just a quick look at what works for me.
1. Citracal with Calcium D Slow Release 1200
2. Garden of Life Vitamin B Complex (Vegan)
3. Garden of Life Whole food Probiotic Supplement - Primal Defense ULTRA
4. Garden of Life Multivitamin for Women (Vegetarian)
5. Celebrate Iron+C (Chewable - Mandarin Orange)
6. Metamucil Fiber Capsules
7. Muscle Feast Hormone Free Chocolate Whey Protein Isolate 2lb

I hope you find at least one thing that's helpful to you. I'm a research fanatic, so if you have any questions about other stuff - please ask! I may have already looked into it and can share at least a little insight

Ok. Rules are SOMETIMES meant to be broken. So, Here's the deal. I am 2 weeks post op today. I am one of those who had zero issues and had a smooth ride from recovery room to date!! This post is not intended to mean I am sure I will have a long term good go at this! It also doesn't address the future, but really ONLY the many threads that I have read regarding the preo op and post op liquid diets and the Pre and post few weeks Do's and Dont's!
I have read almost every post on here before and after surgery, lol. Here is the point that I will explain. Your/Our obsession over following diet rules is what got us here in the first place.. isn't it?? I mean, it's great to have black and white rules.. Do's and Don's. can and cant's.. That's why we were ALL great on Atkins (remember the carb counting obsession), and South Beach (remember how carefully we chose the meals), weight watchers, low cal, grapefruit, slimfast , yada yada yada......RIGHT?
Sure, it worked. THEN WE WENT OFF THE WAGON and got sick of the rules and restrictions and put weight back on (and then some).... That's because it was a DIET.. Why do so many of you do that on here? I'm not judging, but trying to help! Yes, it's easier for me, since I have had no issues. I come from a strong medical family (i had bio as a minor,4 docs and 2 nurses in immed family) and I always love to understand WHY the rules are in place. If something doesn't make sense, I want to know why and not just follow a rule because it was put out there.
My surgeon told me that "rules" are on here for the lower end of reaction spectrum. meaning, many need not follow them, but since 30%, for ex, will have issues with some things, they want to make a general rule......
As EVERYONE says on here, as well as EVERY doc, ALL OF US ARE DIFFERENT! We heal differently, We tolerate pain differently, foods differently, weight loss differently, etc..... EVERY SINGLE ONE So, the rules need not be applied to the T!
Now, as a caveat and from feedback so far on this post, this is not an excuse to eat junk NOR stay on bad habits. I don't mean to enable anyone. here is what BUTTERTHEBEAN wrote:
"The only reason I say "enabling" is because I think there are some people waiting in the wings to hear someone tell them it's okay to eat whatever they want. They haven't tackled their food addictions and they are hoping for "permission" to go back to their old ways. I know there are some that can learn to eat "all things in moderation." I have no problem with that. For me, I chose to embrace my inner health nut. It's not fear or weakness or lack of self control...it's the desire to live a long, healthy and active life. I'm not depriving myself, or sacrifing. The things I'm doing and the life I'm leading now feel way better than eating pizza and cupcakes ever did (even in moderation). By that I mean that food did not give me pleasure (never did, I just thought it did), so I no longer look to food to satisfy my needs, except nutritionally."
Ok... Back to the post. Specifically, here is what I have had debunked by my brother (Anesthesiologist for bariatric), My mom (nurse and nutritionist), my bro's good friend and bariatric surgeon, and my surgeon..........
* Yes, the liquid PRE OP diet is not to be messed with. It sucked, but we need the liver to be soft and looking like liver in a supermarket. That will happen in most cases with one week.. Many docs do one week only and many do 2 weeks..... So, if you have a 2 week doc, don't worry if you cheat a little and wants some low calorie food.. It's OK!! have the Soup... etc. I didn't cheat as mine was only a week and I did not want to have a lifetime of liver issues if it was frail and broke a bit/injured while being moved for my surgery....
* Most docs on here POST OP put you on liquids for 2 weeks.. Why?? NOTHING medical. Really? Many docs, including mine, put me on Clear Liquids only day 1 in the hospital and then put me instantly on pureed foods (tuna salad, chicken salad, egg salad, greek yogurts, ricotta cheese, etc).. Yes. DAY 2! He does this for EVERY patient.. He has had NO MORE COMPLICATIONS than anyone else ever.... It is NOT true that eating this will cause a leak.. It can't get caught in you stitches, lol, as they are on the outside and you can't see them even in your stomach.. The ONLY risk is a)that you eat way too much and thus can cause leaks, so don't do that. and that is WAY too much. Meaning you go out of your way to test the limits. As any surgeon will tell you, stretching the stomach to break the staples is no easy task.... easy enough to follow that rule .. and the risk is that you get nauseated.. Ok.. we are all different. Some take 90 minutes the first time they eat to get down 4 oz of chicken salad.. I didn't . I got it down in 15 min and could have done it in 5..... But the point is, listen to your body. start slowly and if you tolerate it, then screw the rules.....
What does this mean? It means so what if you doc put you on 2 week post liquid. That is soo hard.. so, do it mostly, but don't obsess about cheating. have a friggin plate of tuna salad.. It will taste yummy.. Add some great yogurt. If you can handle it, you are good to go! I did.. They also want you on this liquid to max your weight loss for motivation up front? do you really need that?? I don't care if it takes me 1 more week than you to hit the same goal? Frankly, I decided to keep my calories around 800ish anyway for my first 2 weeks. It was a little hard, but nothing like your liquid nightmare and i lost as much weight... I'm now on 1200 cal full diet plan (less hard carbs and hard veggies) as of last night.
I've heard people say they are craving one Dorito chip.. Then the advice replies were "lick the cheese off" or "take a bit and spit it out...." LOL. Really? This is your diet/lifestyle for the rest of your life. HAVE A CHIP.. See if you get a lot of gas.. Chew it well.. If not problem, then enjoy the one chip. You got here because you at a half bag . One or three chips won't kill you! You need to find a way to eat what you will do.. The docs want you to build your healthy habits now.
*The first year is where you get your max weight loss- Ok. For sure,, so, as noted, build your healthy habits now.. but make it last. So, if I want a Dorito chip. I have one or two.. On my pureed phase, my kids had pretzels at a game. I took 2 small ones....I had a qtr of his hotdog meat.. The point is, if we can seriously lower the number of calories we eat (which, for me, they figured i was eating between 3500-4000 per day and needed to be at 2400 or so.. Now, with 1200, which believe me, with the sleeve is a mini feast, I will be eating half the amount and will lose a lot of weight. So, yes, build good eating habits and i'm working on good food choices that I can live with! Can I eat white bread. Damn right?should I// nO?? it's a waste of calories and spikes your sugar and appetite. But, I sure will if i want a hamburger or great sandwich. A month ago i would have had 2 cheeseburgers and 2 hotdogs at a bbq. .So, guess what, i'll lose weight. Can't make it a daily thing.. But, again, stop obsessing..
*Eating and drinking slowly eating- well, you don't HAVE to eat slowly, but as we have been told our whole lives, eat slowly so that when you are really full, you know it! Also, you need to see what your bod can tolerate and if you eat too quickly, you may not have realized you were about to puke. If you can tolerate it, you can eat and drink quicker than others, but not a good idea for reasons mentioned. so work on it, but don't obsess.. At the hospital, they told me I had to drink in in little tiny medical cups a few cc evry 20 min. I laughed, as Water went down easily in recovery even. ALL NURSES TOLD ME NO. When I saw my doc, i asked why I can't just drink as I can tolerate it at home and get my 64 oz is. HE said dont' chug, but do whatever you can do without discomfort. So, 8 oz bottle of Water went down in 5 minutes... etc....
*Chewing your food- ALL true... We have that banana sized stomach.. So, the doughy breads, and stringy veggies and large pieces of non chewed enough food INDEED often get stuck! Not stuck like a lap band, but rather, they move toward the pyloric valve and are too big to pass through it, since there isn't as much acid, etc in your stomach and, well, the route to the valve is now MUCH shorter.. So, it sits in front of it and as soon as the next item goes there, it waits in line. your body puts out gas and then knows there is a problem, so will signal you to vomit it up. not fun... So, chew! All true! Also makes us take longer to eat and thus enjoy the tastes more than ever and have the full signal sent to our brain while we are still eating or pretty close to that!
*Caffein is bad... Ok. Google whether it's an appetite suppressant or stimulant.. It's hysterical.. You'll get equal replies from GREAT sources that say the opposite. I WANT my one cup a day. I'm not an addict. I asked. I am now sipping on my first REAL one. It is indeed a diuretic for some. So, drink a half cup more water than a day! If you feel it makes you hungry after you have it and you don't want to hold back, then stop the coffee.. It doesn't for me. It does for some... But what will you be doing in a year from now??/ There is NO medical reason why you can't have caffein after a few weeks
*ALCOHOL is a no no for 2 months. NONSENSE.. Again, just there so we don't put empty calories. BUT what if I WANT one drink or two on a date tonight?? I am told, go for it, but just know you will have ingested 400 wasted calories. Ok. I get it, but I WILL drink in my life, although never drank a ton and that was not the cause of most of my weight.. Watch the calories and don't do it twice most weeks.. Or if you will, then cut back a bit on your Snacks, etc. Anyway, looking forward to a martini with my date tomorrow at dinner.. Oh, most people on here for a while, will tell you since there is less food to bind with alcohol, it goes into your intestines/blood stream much quicker and you get a nice buzz faster with less! way cool!
* Most other rules and comments on here are just not universal and again, if you feel the NEED to cheat, then well, cheat! How can it be cheating if this will be your new life! WOrk hard at right food choices and don't make this soooo hard. The harder you make it, the more YOU WILL revolt and end up going off the wagon like the good old days... Since I have had no pain, etc and pretty much eat what I wanted (and cheated on my puree period even), I feel this is just toooo easy. I hear so many of you struggling (not because you have pain, but because you want to break a rul) and so many of you "supporting them" to stay strong, that I just wanted to add this post! Also, again, much of the medical advice that our well meaning friends on here provide, just isn't true. Sorry, but it isnt.
I hope this helps some of you enjoy your Pre and Post diets much more than you may be now!
Best, my friends!

I'm a little over 6 weeks post op, and was doing really well until a few days ago when I wound up in the hospital with a very painful kidney stone. I had been feeling so good that I stopped paying attention to my Water intake, which lead to dehydration and the stone. (To make me feel even more like an idiot, I already knew I was prone to kidney stones, which is why I was such a freak about water consumption pre-surgery.) The doctor at the hospital also told me that bariatric patients are at a higher risk for kidney stones. If you've never had a kidney stone, consider yourself very lucky. It's a kind of pain that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. (Okay, that's a lie - I would wish it on my very worst enemy. ) Now I'm struggling with staying hydrated and have had to go back to a liquid diet, thanks to the nausea that comes with the kidney stone. FUN!
TL;DR: Stay hydrated or you may wind up with a kidney stone.

I'm a little over 6 weeks post op, and was doing really well until a few days ago when I wound up in the hospital with a very painful kidney stone. I had been feeling so good that I stopped paying attention to my Water intake, which lead to dehydration and the stone. (To make me feel even more like an idiot, I already knew I was prone to kidney stones, which is why I was such a freak about water consumption pre-surgery.) The doctor at the hospital also told me that bariatric patients are at a higher risk for kidney stones. If you've never had a kidney stone, consider yourself very lucky. It's a kind of pain that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. (Okay, that's a lie - I would wish it on my very worst enemy. ) Now I'm struggling with staying hydrated and have had to go back to a liquid diet, thanks to the nausea that comes with the kidney stone. FUN!
TL;DR: Stay hydrated or you may wind up with a kidney stone.

My surgeon wanted me off for 6 weeks. I'm about 2 1/2 weeks post op right now, and I feel like I could probably go back to work next week if I had to, but I'm using this time to get used to my new relationship with food.

My surgeon wanted me off for 6 weeks. I'm about 2 1/2 weeks post op right now, and I feel like I could probably go back to work next week if I had to, but I'm using this time to get used to my new relationship with food.

My surgeon wanted me off for 6 weeks. I'm about 2 1/2 weeks post op right now, and I feel like I could probably go back to work next week if I had to, but I'm using this time to get used to my new relationship with food.