Finding Erika

Sorry- I started late so I thought that counted as my 9/1 weigh in Anyway- I'm at 184 now [emoji6]

Great job Elise! What have you changed to make this happen?

Yikes! I'm just queen of the typos today! My highest was 240 and day of surgery was 226- sorry for being crazy! Lol

Wow- thanks for the info ladies Outsidematchinside- my doc and nut don't want us following calories- they won't even give me an estimate- it's so darn frustrating! They say to just eat 3 small meals of 4oz each Misty- thank you! I'm googling him now and will buy the books

I'm loving the idea that there's hope to get things going again- thanks for the info But since you go so low in calories - when you go back to normal again, do you gain since you put yourself I. Starvation mode?

I'm in the same boat- I'm 43 but only lost for the first 3-4 months- I'm 9 months out and haven't lost in 5 months! I was 326 on surgery day and now at 185- what's going on with this? Is it the set point thing? If so, didn't we have set points earlier in life that our body could jump to? I mean- how RUDE is our bodies to just quit losing like this! Lol I wish I knew what we all could do-

Dreamingsmall- the other thing I meant to say - sorry- this is getting long- is that you really need to eat breakfast and lunch- if you're skipping meals then that's probably why you're stalled. Your body will hold on to weight if it feels like it isn't going to be fed- even if it's just a yogurt or glass of milk - get your metabolism going in the morning by have something when you first get up. Your metabolism won't start up it's engine until it's challenged by food (or a liquid supplement like milk or a protein shake)- otherwise you're telling your body to only metabolize for half the day- and you want it to burn all day- it's your "fat furnace" for lack of a better term Anyway- I hope that helps- it will make a big difference if you have something every 3-4 hours - and that means protein- Keep it up! Just eat more [emoji4]

Hey dreamingsmall Sounds like what I used to do- lol I totally agree- it's individual to everyone- I don't even know if I would start being hungry if I added coffee back in- maybe not- I only know that this is the theory they have about it all- and for me I have so much more energy that I haven't considered needed a cup of coffee Now if I wake up one day and can't open my eyes or start to have to take a nap (translation: sleeping for 5+hours- lol) then I'd totally add the coffee or other caffeine back in- no question- but I'd just be more aware of if it affects my hunger level- Congrats on your WLS I saw on another thread that you e been frustrated recently with a stall- just know that you aren't alone at all- everyone has stalls and plateaus- and as much as I hated hearing this- just keep doing all the things you're supposed to do and do t do the things you're not supposed to do and it will break- your body just has to catch up- Keep up your good work and keep us posted- we're all here to help each other [emoji6]

I'm in too! Thanks for organizing this [emoji16] CW: 185 Goal for Oct 20th: 170 Today is 8/31/17

Hi They don't want us drinking caffeine because it's a stimulant. It can make you hungrier and eat more - for what it's worth I stopped before surgery and haven't picked it back up just because I'm scared of being hungry- I've had a cup two times though and boy did it work! I was buzzing around like a bee! Like someone else mentioned, you're going to have so much energy just from the weight loss and the change in diet (less carbs) that you won't even need it- good luck to you!

Hi guys! I'm so happy to have found this post! My RNY was last December 6th so I guess we're all about the same distance from our surgeries I've been looking for other people from last December so I'm thrilled to have found you all! I was 240 at my highest- 226 at surgery and I'm only down to 185 [emoji37] I'm following my plan and getting plenty of protein and water but I've been this weight since March! I've. It lost anything since March! Im just beside myself with frustration- I admit that I'm only at the gym about 2 days a week lifting with my trainer- and I could be doing more cardio- (I do about 30 minutes at the gym each time I see the trainer) - but I'm just not motivated for any of this anymore- I've only gone down 2 sizes and though I can wear a size 14 pants- I can't wear a tight shirt with them due to muffin top- lol- my body Fat has gone from 50% (crazy, right?) to 34% so I know I'm much healthier but I've just lost the hope and excitement about this working- Does anyone else feel like this?

Well damn! You look amazing! Wonderful reward for all your hard work! I am so happy for you that you've managed the pain so well- and all this without any major complications ) you're a rock star! How about any tips for those of us that have plateaued? I don't think I'll ever get to goal - so frustrating! Any word of wisdom would be great! Thanks, Love! Keep up the good work and keep us posted please?

Hi everyone I had RNY with Dr. Moazzez last December 6, 2016- the whole experience was great- the hospital, the nurses- dr. M and his whole staff are incredible

Hi everyone, So today I am 7 months post of RNY. I have lost 57 pounds since my pre-op diet. I am so far past the excitement and hope I had when the weight was coming off during the first 2 months. Since then though, I have lost a total of only 10 pounds in 5 months (!)- I don't even really know what to say about that- I voiced my concerns to my surgeon's office at 2, 3, 4, 5 months but they keep telling me to just follow the plan and it will fall off- they won't give me a calorie count of where I should be- just 60g of protein in 2 shakes and then 3 meals of 4oz each. Obviously protein first, then veggies- but they want me eating fruit and whole grain carbs too. Obviously 64oz of fluids and 30min of cardio plus strength training 4x per week. I've been doing the eating part really well until about a month ago and then I got to the point where I realized this is just like I was before- there's nothing special about what I'm doing. I feel little to no restriction when I eat, NOTHING (and I've tried) has made me dump. I haven't vomited or had any GI problems since the surgery. So I came to the point that I realized I'm back to just being on a diet- like I've been on since I was 9. So of course my old habits and thinking came right back- I give myself excuses for grabbing a few Hershey's kisses at work from someone's desk or having just 1 cookie at a party. It's just made me more frustrated and feeling like a failure. I feel great when I exercise. I hired a trainer to see twice a week for resistance training which I think has helped. I've lost a couple of inches here and there since starting 5 weeks ago and I feel good physically. I'm just stuck. I mentioned this in another thread- that I'd been in a 4 month stall- and someone - who is brilliant by the way- corrected me and said that was called a plateau- ha! Made me laugh but it also made me feel like I wasn't imagining this all and there is something not right here. My meals are usually either ff cottage cheese or plain vanilla Greek yogurt (4oz of either) for breakfast, a premiere protein shake for a snack, salad with 2-4oz of chicken breast with veggies/beans on it for lunch, another premiere protein shake for an afternoon snack and then dinner which varies but is some lean meat (hamburger- no bun, steak, chicken, shrimp or fish) any of them of about 2-3 oz, with a veggie usually. I wait to drink until 30 minutes after eating and I take all my vitamins like clockwork each day- What am I doing wrong? And how can I get back to that place of hope where I am expecting to lose more weight. I started out at 240 and now I'm 183. Don't get me wrong- I'm not angry about having "had surgery and failing" or something- I'm thrilled about where I am but I don't think I went through all that plus complications afterwards for 57 pounds when others around me have lost almost and over a hundred at this point. Is my metabolism that screwed up from years of dieting? Or is my food addiction just not letting me see the forest through the trees? I feel like I've lost hope again- which is what this surgery had finally given me after so many years. Anyone's input would be sooo appreciated- thanks everyone for making this such a comforting place- just reading everyone's posts over the past few months has given me so much info-

Oh good! I've been thinking about you and praying you feel better- it sounds like it was an unrelated bug- it will pass- then you can move on to more exciting things! Like moving to the losers' bench [emoji16]

Holy crap! You're unbelievable! What a HUGE change! You're my hero! I get so frustrated about how slow I'm losing - and that I've been stuck in a five pound ping pong game for 4 months and then I see you and have no problems keeping to my plan- if I can be half as successful as you are I'll be thrilled!! Tell us how your plan worked? What are your tips and tricks? Especially for breaking extended stalls-

Hey Sylvia Does your doc have you on a PPI like Protonix or Prevacid? Most patients come on them- if not you can get Prevacid OTC- ask your doc first but they really help! Plus they keep your hunger down as that starts to come back- keep us posted

Good! I'm sorry it took throwing up to feel better but I'm glad it worked- Good job on the shake - those berries aren't that bad for blood sugar rises if you only do a little - because they're really high in fiber so fun! Sip it slowly and see how you do- then if they work do them for a couple of days with your shakes and then wean off them- your body won't have to go cold turkey then- Keep us posted

Of course sweetheart! You're not alone- we've all walked this path- I'm only 7 months baths out but I remember the first few days- good job with the Zofran and coconut water (I didn't know that one- thanks!)- keep up the ice pops and broth (they saved me!) and Jello was so helpful- some people can't stand it but it at least gave me something to "chew"- As for the ounces of water- keep striving for your goal but remember that sips are the best way- I actually got those little condiment cups - like for Jello shooters- on Amazon they were cheap- And my husband (Thank God for him!) made me 2 oz cups of SF black cherry Jello that we kept in the fridge- like 30 little 2 ouncers at a time' it was funny- but they helped me keep track of what I was "drinking"- The little containers were also awesome because I would use them for actual liquids too- I marked 4 of them with a Sharpie with :00, :15, :30 and :45 and then filled them with crystal light I think- or whatever I was drinking (try Powerade Zero too) and very 15 minutes I was just sip down one little cup- so that's 8 oz in one hour- I was able to hit my goal that way- maybe give that a try- Anyway- we're here- let us know how you're doing- and ask tons of questions! They won't annoy anyone - we all asked a bazillion (and I still do) at the start too [emoji16]

Start the Zofran (ondansetron) as soon as you can get it- it will work like a charm- also- make sure you're taking some sort of stool softener now- like Colace Or something else witlhOUT the stimulant- (ask the pharmacist)- because nausea can be made worse by constipation- which as I'm sure you know is made worse with narcotics- Oh- and about those- good job being conscious of taking them only as needed- but you don't have to be a hero- if you're in pain then take them! You're body can't heal well if you're in a lot of pain because you put out adrenaline and cortisol when you're here in pain- but these don't allow your body to rest and heal- so if you're in pain then take them- that's why you have them- especially at 2 days post-op- This will all get better- the first few days are the toughest after surgery- But we're here with you- keep us posted!

Hi again So the nausea can be from lots of things but pre-op it's probably a regular old bug- or it's drops in blood glucose- Post-op- nausea can commonly be from too much volume in your pouch at once- including water- gulping water or eating too much volume post-op can make anyone nauseous- The caffeine thing isn't just because of dehydration- that's a big part but also- the caffeine starts a whole mini fight or flight reaction in your body- you release adrenaline and cortisol because it's a stimulant and this triggers hunger- that's the big reason we have to avoid it- I know it sucks- this cold turkey thing could definitely be the reason for your nausea, cold sweats and headache- but the best way to get through it is to just get through it- don't do the coffee at all- no caffeine- I know how hard it is- I had to do it too- but it will be worth it- the withdrawal from caffeine can take a few days but then it's smooth sailing- no more headaches or shaking/ sweating- SF popsicles will help- so will jello- just mix it all up- and try different shakes until you find the ones that you like- Bariatric Advantage is good but my faves are Premiere Protein and Unjury- Unjury has really good chicken soup flavor/broth kind of stuff that gives you a break from the sweet shakes too- This will pass- like you said- you've come so far! Keep it up- I think the pre-op is actually harder than the post-op diet- it WILL get better- Here's a good quote for you- I seem to have a bunch today [emoji12] "When you feel like giving up, remember why you started in the first place" That one got me through NP school- keep it on an index card and laminate it- then keep it in your purse or back pocket Hope this helps!

Hi Dave- I'm so happy for you that you've come so far! Not just in your weight loss- which is fabulous!- but even just having the fortitude to get to Tier 3, qualify for tier 4 AND come here to look for more information, education and others' advice is so, so brave! Please pat yourself on the back for us all and know that when we say encouraging things like this- we mean every word- we have all been where you are- in the "researching" the phase. We came through it with as much info as we could stand at the time- and eventually a feeling- or change in perspective hit us. We just knew it was the right thing for us. This will happen for you too- just be open to this whole experience- it's a journey- not a destination even though that's what brings us all to the table. Just keep researching, asking tons of questions, reading, asking more questions- even when you think you're asking too many- you're not- we're here to help each other- were all at different stages of the game so we can help wherever you are in yours. You're on the right path- and as we all know- dipping our toes into a brand new pool that we don't know is intimidating! But you just keep going- keep doing what you're doing I've amassed a bunch of quotes and tips along the way because I'm always researching still [emoji849]- but my favorite has been "Courage is taking those first steps to your dream even if you can't see the path ahead" As for my story - I was always chubby- "thick" as some people told me- and just plain bigger than I needed to be- after the birth of my second child I never lost ANY weight- I was at 240 lbs and I never came back down- it was horrible! I didn't even look like myself- I didn't know who I was- this was 10 years ago. During that pregnancy I was told I had to have surgery at 20 weeks pregnant to remove what they thought was ovarian cancer- they took out my uterus with our daughter in it, removed what was left of my right ovary, tube, and a bunch of other tissue- the surgery was a success- out daughter was fine and after 4 horrible days we got the pathology back that it was "only" endometriosis- what a relief! What the surgery put me into preterm labor and I ended up on meds and bedrest for 17 1/2 weeks! Not that we counted- lol- I ended up with other major complications and toward the end my kidneys and liver kind of shut down and my body stopped making platelet- not a good scene- so we delivered at 37 1/2 weeks- she was perfect! And still is [emoji5] The problem though is that all this "trauma" left me with autoimmune diseases, chronic infections, insulin resistance, PCOS, metabolic syndrome and migraines every month-even though I was on 13 meds (!) I could not get it together- I just kept gaining and losing multiple times- I couldn't walk well and definitely couple exercise because of my fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis- it was a never ending cycle or so it seemed- I asked my PCP and he said to start looking at it more seriously- so I started the phase that you're in right now- I was desperate for answers on how to get back to a healthy weight which I hadn't been since high school (I'm 43 now)- I found the best doctor and a Center of Excellence- in the US this is like a special designation for programs of different specialties that are vey highly rated and most importantly that have passed rigorous qualifications set forth by accrediting bodies that look over medical centers, hospitals, clinics, etc- So basically, a Bariatric Center of Excellence is one that has a multidisciplinary team of at least 3 board certified bariatric surgeons, a psychologist, an exercise physiologist, nurse practitioners or physician's assistants, registered dietitians and therapists that work with patients' food issues (God knows we all have those!)- I would think in your health system they have the same types of practices though I don't know- if your practice doesn't include all of those specialties please find these specialists individually- each one of them plays a huge role in patients' successes- Hang on a sec- I have to start a new page- I've written too much at once- I'm sooooo sorry! I'll finish in a sec-

Hi Dave- I'm so happy for you that you've come so far! Not just in your weight loss- which is fabulous!- but even just having the fortitude to get to Tier 3, qualify for tier 4 AND come here to look for more information, education and others' advice is so, so brave! Please pat yourself on the back for us all and know that when we say encouraging things like this- we mean every word- we have all been where you are- in the "researching" the phase. We came through it with as much info as we could stand at the time- and eventually a feeling- or change in perspective hit us. We just knew it was the right thing for us. This will happen for you too- just be open to this whole experience- it's a journey- not a destination even though that's what brings us all to the table. Just keep researching, asking tons of questions, reading, asking more questions- even when you think you're asking too many- you're not- we're here to help each other- were all at different stages of the game so we can help wherever you are in yours. You're on the right path- and as we all know- dipping our toes into a brand new pool that we don't know is intimidating! But you just keep going- keep doing what you're doing I've amassed a bunch of quotes and tips along the way because I'm always researching still [emoji849]- but my favorite has been "Courage is taking those first steps to your dream even if you can't see the path ahead" As for my story - I was always chubby- "thick" as some people told me- and just plain bigger than I needed to be- after the birth of my second child I never lost ANY weight- I was at 240 lbs and I never came back down- it was horrible! I didn't even look like myself- I didn't know who I was- this was 10 years ago. During that pregnancy I was told I had to have surgery at 20 weeks pregnant to remove what they thought was ovarian cancer- they took out my uterus with our daughter in it, removed what was left of my right ovary, tube, and a bunch of other tissue- the surgery was a success- out daughter was fine and after 4 horrible days we got the pathology back that it was "only" endometriosis- what a relief! What the surgery put me into preterm labor and I ended up on meds and bedrest for 17 1/2 weeks! Not that we counted- lol- I ended up with other major complications and toward the end my kidneys and liver kind of shut down and my body stopped making platelet- not a good scene- so we delivered at 37 1/2 weeks- she was perfect! And still is [emoji5] The problem though is that all this "trauma" left me with autoimmune diseases, chronic infections, insulin resistance, PCOS, metabolic syndrome and migraines every month-even though I was on 13 meds (!) I could not get it together- I just kept gaining and losing multiple times- I couldn't walk well and definitely couple exercise because of my fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis- it was a never ending cycle or so it seemed- I asked my PCP and he said to start looking at it more seriously- so I started the phase that you're in right now- I was desperate for answers on how to get back to a healthy weight which I hadn't been since high school (I'm 43 now)- I found the best doctor and a Center of Excellence- in the US this is like a special designation for programs of different specialties that are vey highly rated and most importantly that have passed rigorous qualifications set forth by accrediting bodies that look over medical centers, hospitals, clinics, etc- So basically, a Bariatric Center of Excellence is one that has a multidisciplinary team of at least 3 board certified bariatric surgeons, a psychologist, an exercise physiologist, nurse practitioners or physician's assistants, registered dietitians and therapists that work with patients' food issues (God knows we all have those!)- I would think in your health system they have the same types of practices though I don't know- if your practice doesn't include all of those specialties please find these specialists individually- each one of them plays a huge role in patients' successes- Hang on a sec- I have to start a new page- I've written too much at once- I'm sooooo sorry! I'll finish in a sec-

It also could be low blood sugar- do you have diabetes? Or hypoglycemia?

You're pre-op right? It sounds like you have a regular old bug- do you have a fever?