mylighthouse

So sorry to hear about your dog Jasper, Kate. I wish you the best and that Jasper feels better soon. No worries on your chocolate indulgence... you have already paid for that. I am sure I will be tempted down the road and do something very similar. Hugs

@_Kate_ awesome post and information!

I think everyone hits a stall or multiple stalls at some point or the other. I am over 13 weeks post op and I have hit a few stalls that lasted for about 1-2 weeks at a time. The scale didn't budge at all. I was doing everything right... low carb, high Protein, calories were fine, was getting in over 64 ounces of liquids. First, I would really like to suggest that you strongly work on getting that protein up there over 60 grams a day. You need that. That might actually help you break your stall. I really think that going up to near 100 grams a day on my protein and drinking fluids, keeping the carbs low is a great combination that will help get the scale moving again. At least it worked for me. At 4 weeks post op, and being on soft foods, you still may not be able to eat enough of your protein. I remember I could only get in close to 2 ounces of protein at 4 weeks. Supplement your protein with Protein shakes and/or unflavored Protein powder added to a non-caloric sugar free drink such as Crystal Light, decaf iced tea, or Powerade Zero. Gotta get that protein up! p.s. Yes it is normal to stall that early... my first stall hit after 2 weeks of losing. I have read here that a lot of people stall at 3 weeks. Your body has to have time to adjust, so it's normal.

@nruetze10 like orionburn said, doctors differ in what they say you can have in the different phases. If your doctor said that lentil soup would be okay, then great! I couldn't have it or anything else even if the chunks were pureed on the full liquid stage. Don't be nervous, if they said you can have it, then try it! Just eat it slowly and see how your tummy accepts it.

When I was on full liquids, I could not have lentil soup. In fact, all Soups had to be strained, making sure that I didn't have any pieces of food in it. Lentils would be way to hard on your stomach right now. You have to protect your stomach, so please make sure that you are doing full liquids only. Cream soups, broth, yogurt, sugar free pudding, sugar free Jello were all considered acceptable on my full liquids phase.

Hello everyone, I just wanted to share something with you all that will hopefully be helpful to those who haven't had surgery yet, or to those who are post op and need to be encouraged to get all of their liquids in each day (64 ounces or more per day). I made a post on here several days ago, I was concerned about dizzy spells that I was having. I wound up going to the doctor this past Thursday because of the dizziness. My blood pressure was fairly low (for me anyway)-- 96/70. I am 13 weeks post op and my blood pressure is usually up around 125/75. I remember my surgeon and nutritionist stressing from the very beginning how important it was to get in your liquids everyday. So I had been making a point to do that, and since the very beginning, I had no trouble getting in about 76 ounces a day. However, within the last couple of weeks there were a few days I had unintentionally slacked off some. I was finding that food and drink were filling me up more than usual, and by 7 p.m. each night, I could literally not drink any more liquids. So, after my doctor's appointment Thursday, things started going downhill. I went out grocery shopping Friday and when I got home, I was incredibly fatigued, I have never felt so rotten. It was like a ten ton truck had run me over. On top of that, I was dizzy, my blood pressure was low and I had a horrible headache. ALL of these problems continued through the weekend. I called my doctor's office this morning and they said to go to the ER. I just got home from the ER. They did an EKG, scan, bloodwork and gave me IV fluids. I found out that I have a urinary tract infection and that I was mildly dehydrated. Instructions are antibiotics for the infection and to drink more fluids. I want to say that I only got "off program" with my liquids for a few days. You just can't do that. It is SO IMPORTANT to get your fluids! Luckily, my case was mild dehydration and a UTI, which is no fun. But others have become dehydrated to the point where it can cause even worse problems and it can land you in the hospital for days if you don't stay on top of it! Sip, sip, sip! Don't forget to drink!

I agree with Kate, the Protein shakes played a big part in getting my protein in during the early stages. At 13 weeks out, I still drink about 4 oz of a Protein shake a day. Also, you can buy unflavored Protein powder and add it to your no calorie drinks, like Crystal Light, Powerade Zero, and my favorite thing to add it to... decaf iced unsweet tea. Two brands of the unflavored protein powder that I really like are unjury and Isopure.

Yes, I have had over an 8 day stall more than once. I am currently 13 weeks post op. I have had quite a few stalls over the past several weeks, and of course, they all have passed and I started losing weight again. I know that it can sometimes feel discouraging when you are doing everything right and the scale won't move for days on end! Just keep on doing the good that you are doing, get your Protein and liquids and it will pass! I just got through my stalls with the hope of knowing that it would pass and the scale would eventually move again. Also, if you aren't already doing it, track what you eat with myfitnesspal. Keep an eye on your carbs, if you eat too many carbs, it can have a negative effect on your weight loss.

@@Newme17 thank you and I wish you the best for your pre op phase and your surgery

@@shortyp79 Glad to help... good luck with your surgery approval. @@_Kate_ Thank you so much!

Eight pounds in 12 days.... that is great! Why does it bother you that you've only lost 8 pounds? You just had major surgery. You were pumped full of air and your body needs time to heal. How much did you expect to lose?

When was your surgery? The first 4 days were the worst for me as far as pain goes. The worst place was the largest incision, like you said... where all the action took place. I had quite a bit of bruising there too, so that hurt. I took my liquid pain med for over 2 weeks because the pain bothered me quite a bit. Some people have hardly any pain at all, others have quite a bit, it varies from person to person.

Almonds, hummus, Greek yogurt or cottage cheese with a few blueberries. The blueberries have carbs, so I don't eat very many of them. I found a bag of Tyson's frozen fully cooked grilled chicken strips... they're great as a meal or to just have an ounce or so as a high Protein snack. No carbs, low fat and high protein in the chicken strips. Dill pickles if you want something crunchy that is low calorie. And parmesan crisps (which I couldn't find at the store today). They are crunchy, high in protein, no carbs and if you just enjoy a few at a time, you won't get your calories too high.

Update: Went to the doctor this past week and my blood pressure was on the low side. Keeping track of blood pressure daily, a few times a day. Still continuing to get several dizzy spells a day upon standing and in addition, headaches and just a general fatigue and very tired all day. Doctor told me to monitor things. He thinks that because of all the weight loss my body is adjusting. He thinks it will be beneficial to start exercising again (I had stopped because of the dizziness). So I will monitor things over the next couple of weeks, and if it doesn't get better, he wants me to check back in with him.

Hello everyone. I'm looking for advice/ideas on this issue and also wondering if anyone else has dealt with it after surgery. I'm 10 weeks post-op. About a week and 1/2 ago, I started getting dizzy spells, usually upon standing. I could be sitting and stand up (slowly) or I could be lying down and then stand up when it happens. It has also happened a couple of times when I have already been standing up for awhile. Like earlier today, I was doing dishes in the kitchen and all of a sudden I got very dizzy and had to go sit down. It happens everyday, at least a couple times a day, sometimes more. I am currently getting about 900 calories a day. I eat 3 main meals, and add in a couple of Snacks at late morning and late afternoon. Keeping my carbs below 40 grams a day. I get in about 100 grams of Protein a day and I drink about 80 ounces of liquids a day. I had an idea that this might have to do with blood pressure. I have never had high blood pressure. I believe the last time I saw my surgeon at 6 weeks post op, my blood pressure was 122/75. Thank you in advance for any help on this.

@@Hollyhock so sorry to hear that. I know the constipation can be horrible, but I hope you are able to go and don't have to go to urgent care. Feel better!

If you are on soft foods and going out to eat, you can have a soft fish, like salmon. I can go to almost any restaurant here in town and find salmon on the menu. You could get it with a side of mashed sweet potato or mashed potatoes.... you will be shooting to eat your Protein first, of course. Take the leftovers home.... or don't.... whatever. No alcohol. No soft drinks. You've got to take care of your healing tummy and it is way to early to consider a glass of wine and the chicken wings.

Hello everyone Went through all of the comments and saw lots of Texans on here. I'm from Bryan (College Station), Texas. Sleeved 11/14/16

Hello, I have tried a couple different brands and found that my favorite is the Premier Protein shake in chocolate. An 11 oz serving has 30 grams of protein. It's a good shake, doesn't taste chalky at all. You can find them at quite a few different stores including Walmart and Sam's Club, with Sam's Club carrying the 12 pack for a really good price. For unflavored Protein powder, I have tried GENEPRO, unjury and Isopure. So far, taste wise, I like Genepro the best, but was disappointed when I heard that Genepro's claims of 30 grams of protein per serving may not be true. My nutritionist said to stay away from Genepro. Therefore, out of the three brands that I've tried, Unjury and Isopure are my favorites. I used them in the full liquid stage after surgery.... mixed them in my cream of celery Soup. Now at 12 weeks post op, I still use the unflavored protein powder in my iced decaf unsweet tea. Tastes great. Hope that helps.

Yes, the first 4 days after surgery were very painful, especially day 4. After that, things started to improve. I wish you a speedy recovery!

Your best bet is to go ahead and call your doctor's office and see how soon they want you to start your pre-op diet. I called mine a few weeks before my scheduled surgery and they told me to start 2 weeks before. Different doctors, different pre op diets.

Congratulations to both of you ladies on your surgery! I actually enjoyed the full liquid stage and never seemed to get tired of strained cream of celery Soup with unflavored Protein powder mixed in it. Also @@Hollyhock don't be surprised if it takes you several days before you are able to poop. I went for 8 days until I felt like I needed to go, and also I was constipated (I was still on pain med and it was part of the reason). Wound up taking Miralax and Milk of Magnesia (doctor said those were fine to take). Then I was able to go. Good luck ladies!

Try not to be down about it. I am 12 weeks post op and have had a few weeks of slumps over the past several weeks. I even went up a pound on the scale one week, and I have followed everything to a T since surgery. It is just something that happens. Your body will start to lose again. And from what I understand, the slumps pretty much happen to almost everyone at one point or another.

Way to go! Keep up the hard work!

Congratulations! You look awesome!