Berry78

I went with Dr. Illan. Had a wonderful experience. Would do it again in a heartbeat.

Oh, and I forgot to mention.. if you are currently working so hard as to be exhausted (mentally or physically).. try to reevaluate your routine. Since this is forever, it needs to be sustainable.

Let's say you wake up tomorrow, and the scale says your goal weight. What do you do? What is your plan? I'll give you a hint. If you want to continue looking the way you do, you'll have to continue doing what you did to get there. You keep on doing what you are doing, without end. If your weight starts dropping lower than you want, carefully ease up on exercise and/or eat a few more calories. That's it!

Start with protein. That is your focus forever after surgery. Make a list of every food that contains significant protein. Meat/fish/dairy/eggs/tofu/beans/nuts/seeds Then you make a list of nonstarchy veggies (this one is longer, might want to google a list) These two things are the backbone of your meals. Aim for 20-25g protein at each meal (preop or a year postop). A single piece of fruit each day gets you some nice vitamins and fiber without excessive carbs. Nuts and seeds are high calorie, but they are also a great source of nutrients. An ounce a day is good. Grains and starchy veggies should be reserved for maintenance, as a way of increasing calories/energy. Refined sugar is for birthday parties and Christmas, period. Add a smidge of oil to your nonstarchy veggies to help you absorb vitamins. That's it!

I agree 50g protein sounds a smidge lower than most. 60-70g is more typical. If your doc specified 50 though, listen to your doc. I love 60g of carbs.. it's the right amount for me as well. Don't be afraid of adding a couple hundred calories of healthy fats. Fats are a necessary building block for hormones. Nuts, seeds, and avacados have good ones. Add a smidge with your veggies to absorb the fat soluble vitamins. Dairy is good, but you have to consume a ton of it to get the nutrition you need. Vitamin pills give more bang for your buck.

First, you have to really realize that you must be on a "diet" for the rest of your life. If you are working out, it may be a 2000 calorie one (maybe).. but you will always have to watch what you eat. (And don't just watch yourself eat that entire pumpkin pie!). Once you wrap your brain around that fact, then it is time to do the mental work of figuring out what sort of plan will work for you. Each of us must figure out what will work for us LONG TERM. For one, it's keto, another is vegetarian. Then, back to basics.. calorie free beverages, protein first, no drinking with meals, at least 3 meals and a snack each day, no flour or sugar during weight loss. Etc. Track what you eat now to get an idea if how many calories to start with.

So glad you're getting paid! Sounds like things are a bit out of your control right now, so you might as well sit back and relax (and heal up). Enjoy your vacation while you have it!

Awesome! Do keep in mind that those videos of people postop are put out there by people that are happy and successful. If they weren't, they either wouldn't be making a video or they would title it "fail", or "complications" or something like that. But, it's true... the vast majority of people do well, and a wonderful transformation is possible... even probable. My hubby commented the other day on how much smaller my bottom was

I've always been put out quickly and painlessly. Outside the surgery room, and they just have you count to 10 or take a few deep breaths (if the med is in the oxygen). Easier than falling asleep after Thanksgiving dinner

I should add that I'm 4 months postop, so my quantity of food is much more than you can do yet. At 4 weeks out, my diet was mostly milk, cottage cheese, and yogurt. This particular plan was evolving between 8-12 weeks. The main thing was to make sure everything I ate contained significant protein.

Since you haven't been weighing yourself, it's hard to say whether this is a typical weight fluctuation (likely), or actual gain (unlikely). Create a plan, and then stick to it. That is the only way you are going to be successful long term post op. What I do, is I have a marker board in my kitchen. I eat the same thing everyday, and as I eat something on my list, I check it off. (It takes less time for me to do this than to try and remember what I've eaten that day to figure out what I have left..). My list: (Yours may need to look different) 1 egg 3oz beans (black, pinto, kidney, etc.) 4oz cottage cheese (I eat full fat usually) 4oz fruit (any type.. mostly berries, and not dried) 1oz salted nuts or seeds 4oz meat or fish veggies (unlimited non-starchy veggies) 8-16oz coconut water (for potassium and magnesium) Vitamins I also drink about a cup of milk, mixed in with coffee and tea, spread out through the day. If I'm hungry at the end of the day, there are always veggies that I'm allowed to have. A nice 16oz cup of chamomile helps settle my tummy for bedtime too. I have no refined sugar or grains on my list. They have no real nutrition for the weight loss phase. My energy levels are steady (and if they dip, it means I need to eat). I don't get bored because the actual meat, fruit, veggies.. they all change each day. I feel that I can eat this way indefinitely. When there is a birthday or celebration.. I can splurge and eat some cake or whatever. As long as those splurges are only on special occasions, it doesn't interfere with my weekly caloric consumption, and I don't feel restricted. Living without food-rules got me to 300+ pounds. Some of us simply HAVE to put rules into place! The trick is to sit down and figure up the rules that YOU can live by, and that will also help you meet your nutritional/weight goals. I encourage the use of recipe nutrient calculators to figure out what you need to eat to meet your nutrition goals. It's a lot of work to make a plan.. but after you put the plan in place, your work decreases a LOT.

You shouldn't need a wheelchair at all. The walking will be good for you. Mind the weight restriction (not lifting more than 10lbs).. so a wheeled suitcase is a lifesaver. If you can, the direct flight is a good idea. You'll get pretty tired with the layover (it will be doable, just not as fun). If you opt for a flight with a layover, make sure it's at least an hour, so you have plenty of time to saunter over to the next gate. I always recommend compression socks (medical grade) for flying, especially after abdominal surgery. You'll have to be fitted at a local medical supply place. I had my surgery on Monday, and flew home on Friday. I highly recommend having at least that much time between the procedure and your flight home.

For those that felt "slighted" when they were heavier, and now that they've lost weight they seem more desirable.. that's because it's true. WE ARE MORE DESIRABLE WHEN WE AREN'T MORBIDLY OBESE. Morbidly obese people have a puffy, swollen, sick look to their faces (not even talking about the rest of them). Attraction has a biologically driven motivator.. reproduction. Sick people aren't going to reproduce as well as healthy people. This is biology people, and your men can't help it. My hubby started a diet about a month ago, and has dropped 25lbs. He looks SOOO much more attractive! He DID look puffy and sickly. (And I'm SURE it cost him a promotion at work, even!) Did I love him before? Of course! But healthy is attractive, and he is also a tad more... exuberant? Before starting the diet he was very sullen and angry, he seems more even-tempered now. My point is that weight loss changes so many things for us, in addition to our looks. So just take the increased attention as a natural consequence of your decision to get healthy, and enjoy it! (I love my physical self more now, why wouldn't someone else get to too?)

I just wanted to say I hope you start feeling better. I didn't have anything like that.. but you could ask your surgeon if it might have been from a strap-down, or it might be coming from laying flat on your back, putting pressure on your lower spine... (in which case a chiropractor might be helpful). Let us know if you find out anything...

Congrats on making the decision to change your life! Oh, I remember the days of BBS's.. and my 600 baud modem! Lol! Of course, a BBS (bulletin board system) is only a local system, so you must have been on one of those new-fangled chat rooms! Are you permitted protein shakes or protein water on your clear liquid diet?

He actually doesn't have a stent. He had an abscess that they drained, but no one has mentioned a possible leak to him.. so he's still eating normally. There are 2 words/definitions here.

I'm so happy you went in and found out what was wrong. Keeping my fingers crossed that this will take care of things, and it'll all be downhill from here. Feeling that "it wasn't worth it" is normal, especially when there are complications.. just try not to dwell on the negativity. Try and take everything one day at a time, and look for positives. The healing will go by faster, and hopefully when you get all healed up, you'll start feeling differently. At the moment, you have a lot of work to do. Count your fluids and protein, make sure you're up walking, and now taking care of your drain. My MIL had 2 drains that stayed in for 6 weeks after a tummy tuck. A week after the surgery she had pus start coming into her drain tubes. I live with her, so it was my job to empty those things, and rush her to the ER when we saw the pus (against the advice of the home health nurses.. they wanted us to just wait until the next day). (Turns out I saved her life that night since she was going septic). So I do know a bit about what you are going through. Now that you're on some good antibiotics, you're gonna do just fine. Just keep a tab on how you're feeling, and things should keep getting a bit better each day. If you start feeling worse.. be sure not to ignore it. {Hugs}

For the first about 6 weeks postop, you'll really only be walking. Lifting weights, stairclimbers, and the like will come later. By 6 weeks postop, your incisions should be pretty well healed. BUT, I don't know what a waist trainer is, or why you'd want to use it, but it's not really a great idea. Anything that makes you sweat more than necessary will just cause you problems with dehydration (which is a huge concern for months postop). Working out moderately (and later when the weightloss slows down, you can go hardcore).. these things will do the body sculpting you want.. not gadgets and gizmos. Good luck!

I am also losing 2-3lbs a week, but although "slow", it's relatively steady, and I'm so happy with how much better my body feels. Sure, I'm not changing sizes every week, but that's ok.. less expensive that way! Lol. Before surgery, I would be talking along, and the least bit of strong emotion would make me tear up. I mean, I'd be talking about how beautiful that rainbow I saw was.. or something equally stupid to cry over. And it was happening ALL. THE. TIME. Several times EVERY DAY. This problem has gotten so much better! I think it's only happened once in the last month!! Makes me wonder what was causing it.. hormonal imbalance, blood sugar issues.. I dunno, but am grateful the surgery seems to have fixed it. My skin has gotten much better! I started my period today, and I barely had any warning.. a couple clogged pores maybe. I used to know for several days in advance because my skin would go nuts (like 20 zits) and I would get ANGRY. Aunt flo kinda sneaks up on me now! Lol. Yesterday my hubby took a selfie with us together (first one ever I think! Lol!).. I saw my face on that camera screen, and couldn't believe my eyes.. for so long, I've had a puffy, embarrassing visage, and now I look like a young, vibrant woman!! I even puffed out my cheeks in one, because the sensation was so strange! (My hubby mentioned that I was "aging backwards"!)

It is really important to keep a journal of what you are actually consuming. That way you can take it to your doc and say.. hey, look! I'm only eating 200 calories a day! Maybe you already are, but if you only have the info you just gave, it's not enough. Measure (weigh) everything, and write down what, how much, what time, how you felt... everything. You should be pretty comfortable consuming at least 800 calories a day of food. It sounds like you might not be getting that much. This is something you should bring up with your surgeon, because strictures can happen, and it will make you unable to eat or drink enough. The idea of water hurting for a day and a half.. this sounds all wrong to me. If I take too big a swallow, it'll hurt for a few seconds, or maybe a minute. Not a day!

Awesome! Sounds like you are on the right track with everything! Maryland is a nice state.. it has ocean, bay, rivers, and man-made lakes (no natural lakes!).. mountains, plains,.. D.C right next door, and Baltimore (historic port city). All that stuff in one fairly tiny package. I never was fond of blue crab (from which crab cakes spring).. but with my tastebud changes, maybe I'll like it more

Outside has a lot of good points. A well-fitting bra is super important. I also agree it sounds a bit odd for your bra to continue bothering your incision. If your doctor says it's ok, it's probably due to scar tissue, and hopefully over the next 6 months it will become supple enough as to no longer be a problem. Keeping your shoulder straps tight will help lift the weight off the underwire (and you may need extra padding on the shoulder straps to keep them from digging in). Personally I love the Balconette style. I've seen them at Lane Bryant and JCPenny. I am currently wearing a 38-40 DD. http://www.jcpenney.com/p/ambrielle-underwire-balconette-bra-92496/pp5003590613?pTmplType=regular&catId=SearchResults&searchTerm=ambrielle+balconette

Welcome! Do you have a surgery date, or know which procedure you're looking at? Where abouts in Texas are you? I have family in Austin, and friends in Houston. My hubby spent a summer in San Antonio, and loved it. (I'm in Maryland, so no worries about me tracking you down.. lol!)

There seems to be two types of people. Those that can weigh every day, and don't obsess (they get used to the normal day-to-day fluctuations), and those that never seem to get used to it, and tend to "obsess".. all their hopes and dreams are wrapped up in that number. So, what to do? The obsess-er still needs to weigh occasionally in order to keep tabs... but not so often that it stays on their mind all the time. Once a month is probably a good frequency, and if the scale calls to you, then get rid of it out of your house, and find another place to get weighed (doctor's office, gym, etc.). Put it on your calendar that you will weigh yourself on the first of each month, but not more often than that. Congrats on getting to goal! And good luck!

One thing that no one has mentioned.. digestion partially takes place in the stomach. Food is supposed to sit in the stomach for a couple hours, being churned up well with stomach acid and digestive juices. The acid helps break down the protein and other nutrients so that the intestines can absorb those nutrients. When we have a sleeve or pouch, the food doesn't get to sit in there as long, and probably doesn't get mixed with the acid as well. (I mean, how could it? The stomach isn't a soft, floppy, muscular holding-sack anymore.. it's a narrow, stiff tube or small pouch with a hole in it!). So even when we eat protein, we just aren't going to digest it as well as a typical person. So.. we need to eat more of it, spread out in a bunch of smaller meals, to give our bodies the best opportunity to actually absorb the nutrients. My surgeon recommends 70g protein, and as a fairly sedentary female, I feel this is a good amount. If I begin working out, my needs will go up.