JKC2016

You are doing great. Keep it up. A gram of protein per pound of lean body mass is a good goal. If you don't have one, a scale that measures body fat and lean is super helpful. You may be adding muscle and losing fat.

I had a single incision with Dr Garcia at Tijuana Bariatrics. Great experience. It's been just over 6 months and I am nearly at goal. I started at a BMI of only 30, so had less to lose. The care was terrific, and follow up via email has been great too.

It isn't snacking that is the problem, it is what we snack on. Try substituting: a carrot and a one ounce piece of cheese An apple with a tablespoon of almond butter 1/2 cup of unsweetened kefir (yogurt drink) 12 almonds and 12 mini shredded wheat squares 1/2 cup plain yogurt with 1/2 c fresh fruit 15 grams 100% whole grain crackers with 1oz cream cheese 2oz hummus with sliced fresh vegetables 1/2 oz raw nuts If you want to stop cravings, stay away from sweets and refined carbs. Stay away from all natural and artificial sweeteners. If you indulge occasionally, no problem. Just don't have the stuff in the house, and be prepared for return of cravings for a day or two. Many of us hoped we could eat whatever we wanted, just less, and lose and maintain weight. Not true for a lot of us. Good food tastes really great and feels really great. Skin, hair, energy all respond well. Do weigh, measure and track. It's key to getting and staying on track. MyFitnessPal makes it really easy.

Get used to it. Until you get to purée it is pretty much all loose stool. And then the opposite for a bit, when you need to increase fiber, get a squatty potty stool and try smoother move tea. But all of that is temporary.

The Emotional First Aid Kit: a practical guide to life after Bariatric surgery and the Success Habits of weight loss surgery patients. Both are available on Kindle. I read both before, and then recently read both 5 months post. Really good practical stuff. Definite overlap, but I liked both books.

Feel free to delay and make that commitment to movement, good nutrition and portion control. I did that once after considering surgery, lost all the weight and kept it off a couple of years. This time when I realized I was headed back into obesity I had surgery. I'm so happy I did. I'm not sorry I delayed and lost on my own. The healthy habits I learned are making post surgery quite easy and successful. And I have more confidence in myself to be healthy. Only you know what is right. Just don't keep gaining or stay in place. That would be the wrong choice. Oh, and I still second guessed my decision some. We all do. I was self pay in Mexico. Pretty affordable. If you decide to wait, you could save up and or seek a medical plan with coverage. But I think you will likely be very happy if you embrace the change now.

Depends on the temperature, your activity (and sweat) level. Keep pushing water. That is the key. 64 is not really a lot of water. Go for 80-100.

Yes to sugar addiction. I had no sugar post surgery for about 4 months. At 5 months post I have tried a couple of times and done well with a single bite. I intentionally have nothing sweet in the house. I was traveling in Europe and enjoyed a bit of a treat a couple of times. I believe I am still vulnerable to sugar and I treat it with care. I also believe other sweeteners are no better. If you want to get rid of cravings, skip all sweets.

Sleeve has way outstripped bypass. Seems like a better choice for nutrition and long term health.

Try an acid reducer. Makes a big difference. You likely are not really hungry, but it feels like hunger.

27%

I'm 5 months out and eating 1200-1300 calories per day. It is important to get up to a healthy level of food and nutrition. Otherwise the body clings to every bit of fat for your survival, and lowers your metabolism too. You so don't want that. More food (especially protein and vegetables), more water (try for 100 oz), more exercise.

I mix my fruit with yogurt. And I'm not as strict with carbs as many are. Berries are high fiber and most are low glycemic.

My BMI was just a hair under 30 at surgery. Just over four months later I was in normal range. I'm about 10-15 pounds from goal at almost five months post. I think this should be an option for low BMI who have struggled with yo-yo weight or other conditions. I'll know better two years in. For now, I'm delighted.

This has been really smooth sailing. I didn't like the clear liquid stage post surgery and I didn't like protein powders. As soon as I could switch to animal protein it has been easy and I love the results.

Excellent experience with Dr Garcia at Tijuana Bariatrics. I chose single incision and am very pleased with the results.

Dr Garcia at Tijuana Bariatrics for a single incision sleeve. Excellent experience and results.

Excellent experience with Dr Garcia of Tijuana Bariatrics. Very good care and everything has gone super well post. I chose single incision, which I'm quite pleased with.

Soups are wonderful. Black bean was one of my favorites. And I found a butternut that wasn't sweet.

I've been using PatchMD multi and biotin since surgery. My labs were all in normal range at 3 months except Vitamin A was a little low. I like the patch, but think you only really need it for a couple of months. I have no problem taking pills now. I'm still using the patches. I got a year supply. I eat a wide range of healthy food so it could be my vitamins are good from food. That is my goal. I just take the multi for insurance.

I totally relate to your post and remember those days of self doubt. I have lot weight many times, but never maintained a healthy weight. Five months post surgery I'm super happy. Healthy, loving my food, satisfied with healthy food in healthy portions. I never drank a single protein shake. I did stir protein powder into soups for the first stages. Then as quickly as allowed I shifted to real whole foods. Lean protein, vegetables, fruits, whole grains. Delicious, filling, gives me great energy. And sure, the occasional treat when traveling or just because. Small portion, with enjoyment. I track everything in MyFitnessPal, enjoy tracking on my Fitbit, and have an Aria scale to track body fat along with weight. If you want this and commit to the journey you will be successful.

There are actual Overeaters Anonymous meetings that are a fabulous resource. I went to OA for quite awhile and found it a wonderful support. My unhealthy food patterns seem to come from a sense of need, emptiness, wanting to feed my emotional self. I am finding it much easier to cope with food since my sleeve, but when I'm stressed I still think of and want food. Now I work to look past that to the real need. Not always succeeding, but definitely improving! Thank you for the topic.

Be patient. Add some vegetables, don't be afraid to keep increasing calories. Most of us need more like 80-100 grams of protein a day, 80-100 oz of water is better too. But work up to that slowly in those early days. The goal is to get to a normal healthy amount and variety of food. Stick to 100% whole grains when you do eat grain-based food. And don't hesitate to change your mind. Of course you can eat just meat, and it's ok if you choose to eat bread. Track everything, vary the choices, and you will find a rhythm that works for you. Patience is key.

This is absolutely not normal. Being sleeved doesn't restrict our ability and need to eat a wide range of healthy food. St Et slowly and eat softer, moister protein like fish, boneless, skinless chicken thighs, ground turkey. Mix in cooked veggies with good moisture. Protein substitutes are not our friends. That was for those first food stages when we couldn't eat real food. Now the focus is on lean meat, vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Our goal should be 1200 or more calories and a moderately active lifestyle if we are women and still losing. Get support from NUT, counselor, friends and family. Best of wishes on your journey to health.

My understanding is we only get one period, right after our surgery, when we can calorie restrict significantly, lose lots, and reset the body set point for weight. After that, while we have restricted capacity per meal, the process of weight loss is pretty much the same as for everyone. Honestly, I'm having a similar weight loss pace and process as in previous times I've lost a lot of weight. It is just easier, since I'm full on a smaller amount of food so I don't feel deprived. Key is lifelong healthy eating and exercise habits.