The New Kel

I have been struggling with Protein shakes since surgery, mostly nausea. I bought a trial envelope of Naturade Vegan Protein in vanilla. 20 grams of protein for 2 scoops. Slightly higher in carbs (10g) than the non-pant based shakes. I am sipping a shake now and it's slightly chalky. However the taste is not bad at all. I think I could stir it into foods to make high protein recipes. Does anyone have thoughts on point based protein? I am hopeful my stomach handles it better.

Hi @Sicilian_stephania, Welcome to the boards! Lots of help and advice here. It's a great place to share concerns, success, etc. As far as your particular pain, I believe aches are normal. However if it feels like tearing, burning or sharp pains, you should call your surgeon. I had pain in that area for 3 weeks. You are right about the food issue! I have had food addiction issues and like you said, we can't just stop food. It's a true learning and retraining process mentally. The good news is, at least from my experience so far is that your body stops wanting crap, and starts wanting good stuff. I'm 4 weeks out, and I literally have to make myself eat now.

The most important thing I've learned so far is that your body requires a certain amount of Protein and Water in order to burn fat. Before this journey, I lost weight by seriously restricting calories, and I always gained it back. I hadn't known that my body required a certain amount of calories, protein and water to fuel the fat burning process. There is a balance and formula that works for each of us. This is what I am learning daily and trying to get good at.

@@ella37, I too am currently trying to 'embrace the stall'. I am 4 weeks out and my stall began on week 3. However, my clothes are fitting looser, regardless of the scale numbers being stubborn. Have you tried anything on recently? You might notice it's looser! And that will help keep your chin up through the stall.

Thanks. I will call. I've been reading about strictures this evening and now I'm a bit concerned. I just don't know of pain when eating is normal at four weeks out.

I'm just about 4 weeks out and have been doing pretty good with soft foods. Yesterday was really good- I managed to get in 80 G Protein through soft foods! Today suddenly I simply can't eat. I try, because I'm semi-hungry, but everything seems to hurt. It feels like a big lump or air in my upper stomach area whenever I swallow. Are there days when the sleeve just does not want food? I'm fine with liquids still.

I started the gym at 3 weeks, just cardio like the Elliptical.

I'm just about 4 weeks post op as well. I eat turkey cold cuts. I recommend taking little bites and chewing to oblivion. Take about 10-15 minutes to eat one slice. Works for me! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Wow.... That is fantastic! You look great! Way to go!!!!

I/m sorry to hear you're not feeling well. I would have thought the dizziness would be from dehydration, but sounds like you are drinking pretty good. I would keep going with that till you can get 64 a day. I know it's tough! Have you called your doctor about the vertigo?

I think I had an idea but shoved the thought away as eating that crap was more important than numbers. Thats how I tricked myself into eating that stuff for decades.

Lol! Yeah, anything that resembles cat food...not so good! It really does taste good though!

Jean-cowgirl You- Rainbow Dash (My Little Ponies)

It is amazing what we used to do, isn't it? Eating without any consideration of calories, carbs, etc. I think I just stopped caring, and was only conserved about the pleasure of it.

@@saramarie, fellow recovering Big M addict! I had the same thoughts. One of those menu items equals all the calories I am getting in these days. On the subject of Big Macs. Allow me to bore you with a story of how I became addicted.. At age 14 I got my first job babysitting 1-3 year olds at the YMCA. It was stressful, the screaming babies! The manager paid me in cash. After my first week, I took my $ and went down the street to McDonalds. Growing up, my parent really limited junk food, and we never ate at fast food. So, I bought the Big Mac, probably due to a new surge of independence, because I could, and also I was stressed from the job. I can even remember the day. It was mid summer, 1984, and the Olympics were being held in Los Angeles. McDonalds was putting Olympic game pieces on food. It was my first Big Mac, and I thought "what is the main wizardry that made this?" I was hooked on first bite, not online a drug addict's first hit. Needless to say I became a regular of that McDonalds. As an adult, I continued to enjoy them, probably about 3 a week. It was my greatest weakness, until the day I began my pre-op diet. I literally had dreams about them, and also Carls Jr Super Star burger. And now, close to a month post op I can say that finally, the craving is almost completely vanished. I think those da** fast food joints put something in the food to make us addicted @@Babbs, It would literally take me all day to eat a fast food burger now, even if I wanted one!

Hi everyone. I'm almost a month post sleeve and have found a couple recipes for chicken I really enjoy. 1) Huli Huli Chicken (Hawaiian), the healthy way: Mix together in a bowl make the marinade: 1/3 cup sugar free peach or apricot preserves 1/3 cup low sugar ketchup 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce 1/4 cup sherry 1 tsp minced garlic 1tsp minced or grated ginger Remove the skin from 4-6 chicken bone-in thighs. Put the skinless thighs in a large ziplock bag along with most of the above marinade. Reserve a bit for basting. Put in the fridge for 1-4 hours. Heat oven to 375. Remove thighs from marinade (do not discard marinade) and place in an oven safe dish and cover with foil. Cook until just done and cooked through but not dry, approximately 20-25 min. Remove the foil and add the marinade, cover with foil and let it sit for another 30 min. Fire up the grill. Grill the thighs to warm and give char marks. It won't take long since they are already cooked. Baste while grilling with the left over marinade. The original recipe calls for brown sugar and pineapple juice. I use the peach or apricot sugar free preserves instead. Sprinkle with green onions if desired. 2) Easy, healthy chicken salad Take a cup of cooked chicken, remove all skin and bones, and put it into a food processor. Pulverize well. Add 1/3 cup of plain, non fat greek yogurt, mix well. Add bacon crumbles to the top before eating if desired. Sorry no pic, but it's yummy! And I find it goes down better than a lot of other chicken.

Here's a way I eat chicken that sits well: Put some pieces into a food processor and pulverize the hell out of it. Then add some non fat plain greek yogurt and mix. This works for me and is very high protein!

LOL!!! Right on the sink....now that's funny! One night post-op my husband made dinner for him and the kids. Home made pizza. the next day I found cheese all over the stove and mushroom in the bedroom carpet...wtf? At least he was trying.

Oh my!! I have gone online and researched the calories that are in foods that I USED to eat quite often. I must have been in quite a state of denial. I can't believe the calories in these foods! Plus the carbs and sugar. I know that as post WLS we don't focus on calories as much as +protein and -carbs/sugar, however I can see from this quick research that what I was consuming regularly pushed me WAY over what I needed in calories and carbs. I now track just about everything I eat. Someday I will relax and not track so much but it is helping me a lot right now. Here is a list of stuff I used to eat pre-surgery and when I was in complete denial. Starbucks Iced Lemon Pound Cake: 470 calories, 68 carbs (yikes). Starbucks chicken Artichoke on Ancient Grain Flatbreat (sounds healthy, right?) 510 calories, 37 carbs. McDonald's Big Mac: 563 calories, 44 carbs. (Hello, I'm Kel. I'm a recovering Big Mac Addict.) Jack-in-the-Box Portobello Mushroom Buttery Jack: 810 calories, 51 carbs. (!!!) Jack-in-the-Box Breakfast Platter: 640calories, 47 carbs. Jimmy Johns Club Tuna Sandwich: 1000 calories, 73 carbs. Snyders' of Hanover Honey Mustard Pretzel Pieces, 3 oz bag: 420 calories, 60 carbs. Einstein's Everything Bagel with Regular Cream Cheese: 430 calories, 60 carbs. Loaded Baked Potato w/sour cream, cheese and bacon bits: 535 calories, 62 carbs. And to think on any given day pre-surgery life I might have had 2 or 3 of these items. Sleeve life is truly a learning journey!

@, great recipes! I wish I had know about them when I was on full liquids! Anything that tastes like cheesecake is a win for me. @@TanishaP, Beyond my Protein shakes, I ate Oikos triple Zero yogurt, and strained Soups. My favorite was (and still is) Tomato Basic Bisque (strained). I wasn't very creative in that stage.

Nighty-Night! Have a good nap! that's literally what it feels like. The next thing you know, you'll be here on the losers bench. take a breath, you got this.

Your fears are valid, but I think you will see post surgery that your new sleeve tool will really, REALLY launch you into success. For me, I like to feel good and not sick. Therefore, I am daily discovering what feels good (soft, healthy Protein mostly). Your body will tell you what it wants, and I would't be scared about failing. You will begin to want the good stuff. Post surgery, don't be too hard on yourself. You might have craving for crap (it's mental), but that goes away. With your new stomach, it is hard to "fail", unless you deliberately try and sabotage yourself, which from what you wrote I can tell you don't want to do. I think your confidence will sail after you get used to your new life post sleeve. And when the clothing sizes start to drop your confidence in yourself will grow even stronger. Good luck! You'll do great.

Congratulations on the beginning of your fantastic journey! Complications are rare during surgery. You will get wheeled to the OR and within seconds you will be under and the next second you'll wake up! When I woke up, I was amazed it was over. Literally a blink of the eye! Good luck and best wishes. You will be fine!

Best wishes for an easy surgery and fast recovery!

Tylenol is OK but no Advil. (Advil was my friend too!) I am allowed to swallow them whole, but since surgery I have gagged on pills/vitamins a few times. Have you thought about crushing them and putting them in a bite apple sauce?