Newme17

I only packed a robe, slippers, and some essentials like lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste, and chapstick. Of course my phone, charger, and some headphones. After surgery, there’s no time to relax. Always being checked for vitals, given meds, and hoping to catch some sleep in between all the poke and prodding. Also, you’ll be having to walk as much as possible...so there’s really no down time for anything else, at least for me there wasn’t. Didn’t take much because the hospital supplied basically all of my needs, just ask for it. They even had toothpaste and toothbrushes and shampoo/conditioner, etc.

Uh, three months is about 90 days....you should ask them to be more clear and present your visits again...that is, if you’ve got those three months of consecutive visits. I have Cigna as well, but it took just about 4 months from start to finish. When did you start your journey?

1 hour ago, FluffyChix said:

She doesn't have a problem with tiny amounts of condensed cream Soups as long as I'm not sitting down to bowls of the stuff and eating multiple things like that each day. She said one meal a day will be okey dokey.

That’s a good RD! I’m all for moderate intakes. That’s why nothing is off limits to me at this point in my journey. Enjoy your soup! I’ll add some mushrooms. Yum!

@Little Green You've got my prayers hon. I hope this all works out very soon!!!

6 hours ago, Little Green said:

I love how eating meat is a given and you don't have to worry or do extensive math or have some strategically planned diet to be nutritious, but eating plants - OMG, no, call a medical summit to analyze it first!

Bahahahajajajaja!!!! That's good.

For anyone who is doubting: I eat plants, a lot of it. I eat lots of Beans, kale, quinoa, just to name a few. I haven't had any issues not meeting Protein levels, 1) don't need as much as we're led to believe (western issue) 2) my work ups for the doc prove this. My system is very regular, although I haven't tested this, I'm quite sure my arteries are clear of fat and plaques, I have lots of energy, my body feels good. The only time it doesn't is if I eat processed foods and the occassional meat (holidays)-so I stay away from it for the most part--and I save tons of money too not buying those things. I lift weights and have been gaining my muscle. I jiggled my thighs yesterday for my hubby and showed him how much less jiggle there is! Satisfying!

I've been at this for almost a year now...so, it is very doable.

Hey, one more thing...before surgery and my change in lifestyle diet, I had excrutiating (sp?) heartburn. I haven't had one episode of it since. Now, that's pretty amazing...and I'm pretty sure it's eating healthy plant based foods.

Public or not, RESPECT should be rendered whether or not you agree or disagree with someone's beliefs, or just don't post at all and keep it to yourselves.

@FluffyChix Thank you! And I'm confident that your pain will reduce as well. Heck, I'll pray that your pain diminishes all together! Now, that's a trade off....weight loss=LESS to NO PAIN!!!

16 hours ago, FluffyChix said:

Engineered a cup of tasty chicken broth for 17cals.

Chinese chicken broth (pre-op friendly)

8fl oz low sodium chicken broth (Central Market Organics)

1 pinch ground ginger

1 pinch granulated garlic

1/8 tsp toasted sesame oil

1/8 tsp tamari

1/4 tsp Sriracha sauce

Nuke for 2 minutes, stir and sip like a cup of tea. Mmmmm!

Nutritionals: 17cals; 2g protein; 1g fat; 1g carbs; 0g fiber; 1g net carbs; 1g sugar

DId you come up with this? This is awesome...I can taste the broth already...even though I don't do chicken anymore. LOL Wonder if it'll taste just as good with veggie broth??? I should try....I have all those ingredients on hand.

Update: totally missed that you ENGINEERED it. LOL

19 hours ago, FluffyChix said:

Hey, do you know on a liquid pre-op diet, can we use a little bit of condensed cream of mushroom or chicken Soup in our broth? Or how about small amounts of sugar free Hershey's chocolate Syrup? Any thoughts on this? I forgot to ask my RD.

I'm am not too sure, I wouldn't see why not for the syrup, given that it's sugar free but I would for sure check with your RD first. My thoughts on the condensed cream of mushroom Soup, even though it's just a tiny bit of amount, it's creamed...that usually means fat. Now, at how far I am now, I don't give a hoot about having that, but during my pre-op and early stages I stuck to the list I had.

I had to do the cortisone and PT when I had the pain too. It was just awful. Just kept reminding how bad I needed to get my body in some kind of health and shape and I am too young for this mess. I hated PT, just made it feel worse. I've lost so far, 81 lbs...that's a pretty significant amount of pressure off of my body for which I'm so thankful for. Now, I'm on the Quest for the last, very slowly coming off, 40lbs. I feel you...I couldn't move without so much pain too; you'll get there!

@Apple203 I'm excited to hear when your aches and pains have been diminished greatly or completely!!!! Got to get those knees feeling better....in due and appointed time. Yay!

On 2/5/2018 at 7:28 AM, FluffyChix said:

I went from 228 up to 234 for my official Pre-Op liquid diet weigh-in. It's so bogus that I can gain up 10lbs overnight.

It was the salt. Bet it's gone now....and yes, day 3 it just gets easier. It did for me. hang in there...and keep posting! You'll be helping out so many others who need encouragement to get through...and get a good laugh through it. Cause we all know...laughter is the best medicine! You can be Dr FluffyChix! How's that for a name?

Now, I couldn't find the exact article/science from this guy, Dr Peyton, but here's a quote from a forum...which leads me to think it's pretty accurate, given the experience I've had with my hip not hurting and my knees finally getting a break!

“Every additional pound you carry equals 3 extra pounds of pressure on your hip joint, 4 extra pounds on your knee joint, and about 9 extra pounds on your patella femoral joint (which you use going up and down stairs, standing up, and getting off the toilet).”

1 minute ago, FluffyChix said:

Do you know how many pounds of pressure is reduced in those areas?

I don't, but now I'm intrigued. I'm going to look it up! I do know that building our cores will help significantly for the back and spine. I had hip bursitis...I was told it won't go away even with weight reduction...but I haven't felt that stupid pain for the past few months...so, with my experience, I'm quite sure it's weight reduction!!!

14 minutes ago, FluffyChix said:

I WILL learn to love my body as it stands. Wanna make a pact? Let's do this thing and nail it!

Absolutely!!!! Let's nail it...LOVING ourselves as we are or get to be.

Hey, did you know that for every pound you lose, it takes off about 4lbs of pressure off your knees? You will indeed hurt less with the loss. Keep looking forward to more of it!!!

I am in an unpopular subject...I don't focus on Protein (haven't since about 3-4 months post op). I do get my nutrients mainly from plant based foods though. All blood work comes out fine too. I eat plenty in a day, with legumes, grains, and lots of veggies, especially green leafy veggies. You can eat a considerable more of this and feel content knowing you're eating good nutrient food. Just another idea...look in the vegan/vegetarian forums to get some ideas if want. This is not a ploy to have you come over to that side, just another idea of what foods you can introduce and still be successful...and healthy too.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this thread!! I FEEL like I look like this, all muscle and fit....but alas, I know it's not true. But, I will learn to embrace and love myself, ALL of myself!!! Even in pics when they clearly show I am not as I feel. haha

There's a source behind your eating or lack of. Try to identify it and you can beat both of these awful habits. It may take a while though, as it took me months to realize mine, unless you already know the culprit. Be mindful of this 180 you just did, because after surgery, many tend to shift from one thing to another, in the form of addictions. And I know you didn't want to hear it, but your stress level is contributing to it as well. I think you've identified one..stress.

On 2/4/2018 at 9:45 PM, FluffyChix said:

@Newme17 Thanks so much for the calculator! What you say makes a lot of sense! The numbers were only a hypothetical--although you hear it here all the time of people living 1 year out on 1000-1200 cals/day.

You're welcome! Those folks have that miracle metabolism energy gene...hopefully they don't go off the rails, cause then it will pile back on, unfortunately.

@FluffyChix the numbers will vary and should vary as you lose weight. Let’s say that 1000 cal a day should only be working to maintain if you were 4’2” and 80 lbs. I believe that any doc/nut should/will adjust the amounts you should be taking in for maintenance. Or you can figure these numbers out yourself. Here’s a calculator I like to use. It gives you an idea of what should be. Notice I didn’t say it’s 100% accurate...someone will always find something wrong, but it gives the general idea of what your numbers should be based on your age and activity level and your goals. Obviously this doesn’t work for us who have tiny stomachs now, but it can when we get to goal cause we do eat more by then.

http://eatmore2weighless.com/weight-loss-calculator/

Hey I’m not a vet but from my nutrition studies (yes, I used to study this) if you’re still eating a 1000 cal a day even at that 2-3 year mark and working out as you described, you will gain weight because your body is not getting enough food/calories. For example, I'm 5’6”. My goal weight is about 150-160 (due to being muscle heavy). I workout about 3-4 times a week. When I get to goal, I should be eating about 2200 calories a day just to maintain. My BMR is 1450. Even that is above the low 1000-1200 cal a day. So gaining weight, one is...not eating enough and two is, back to eating the way you did.

Many of the vets who are maintaining and working out eat more as well, for the ones I’ve read. If anyone is still in that 1000 calorie mode and working out and maintaining, well, they must have some miracle working metabolism/energy. Lol

Now, this is an unpopular subject but I gained probably half my excess weight from not eating enough food. My doctor always got on to me for not eating!!! Go figure...it’s true. So, now, I make sure I eat. I can’t eat a lot NOW, but I’ll make sure I eat enough when I get to maintenance.

Just one more full day until you can find out. Did your surgeon tell you three weeks? I was cleared for fully submersible activities (bath, swim) when I had a checkup about 2-3 weeks. Will you be having a check up?

On 2/1/2018 at 6:39 AM, orionburn said:

any one diet being superior to another

I don’t think anyone here in this thread thinks this. It’s preference and lifestyle we choose just as all others choose theirs.

Hummus...mmm, a favorite! Snap peas, cauliflower, carrots, broccoli, and even pita chips. I’m also almost 9mo out.

Ay yi yi..,I did not know he ate meat either. His gaining weight back has everything to do with not living a sustainable healthy lifestyle. And we all know the healthiest one is a plant based one. 😉