MSinger

My losses have been slower than what I've seen with most other people, and it has not been consistent. I lost 17lbs the first month and every month after that has been 4-8lbs/month. It's frustrating, but I decided I'm just going to work past the frustration and Celebrate anything that isn't a gain, because it's a step towards better health. It's not easy, but every lb counts and they do add up. Stay focused on your journey and celebrate the small wins!

Feeling full is different post op and it definitely takes some getting used to. The nerves in your stomach are also cut and regenerating, so you don't feel the same fullness you did pre op. I realized I was full when I felt pressure everywhere AROUND my stomach. I would feel pressure around my upper chest, my left shoulder, my lower abdomen, and the sides. It's subtle compared to how fullness used to feel.

Also, as far as satisfying head hunger, that was a huge challenge for me for the first month or so since I wasn't eating solid foods. liquids and soft foods are not as satisfying mentally as dense meat. Unfortunately, it's something we all have to learn is different from physical hunger and learn how to cope with it.

As you go further, your food choices will expand to more solid and satisfying foods which should help more. Hang in there!

One month in I started feeling hungry again. At 4 months I started feeling tiny little stomach grumbles. I can feel how small my sleeve is because I can physically feel the size of it when it grumbles. Granted, my hunger is nowhere near where it was pre-op, but it's just enough to keep me from gaining weight. I have to fight against my hunger to actually lose weight.

Yes I've heard of people needing to get their ID's updated, and personally I'm looking forward to it. I just got my DL and HATE the pic they took of me. It's now a strange source of weight loss motivation. Whatever works, right?

On 10/2/2017 at 9:30 AM, blizair09 said:

I still attribute so much of my success to losing 99 pounds during the six month pre-op diet program.

Yes, absolutely! I did not have this requirement, but I see so many people posting frustration, impatience, disappointment because of their 6mo requirements. I think they are incredibly useful as you get to learn more about your post-op diet, gives time to practice and learn how to eat before "showtime", and start your weight loss journey before surgery. You have proven how essential it is to use that time to your advantage.

Congratulations on meeting goal. As another poster stated I hope to continue seeing you around as I learn so much from your posts.

Damn girl, congrats! I am so happy to see ladies with a similar body to mine (I usually have to compare to men because of our height). You look so fantastic!

Deep fried foods. I may have to switch to air frying.

This may not qualify as natural, but buy a bunch of rubbing alcohol pads and sniff them when you feel nauseous. I was severely nauseous after surgery and those puppies helped. It doesn't last long, but it helps.

Don't weigh yourself for the first month post-op. Too much Water retention/fluid shifting going on to get an accurate read. If you do weigh, don't take the number on the scale too seriously. Just focus on meeting your Protein and fluid goals. The scale should normalize a bit by the end of the month.

I'm eating around 1000 cals per day give or take 50. I bumped it up to 1200cals for some time when I was 2 months post op, but I switched back to a low-carb diet 2 weeks ago and find that I don't need 1200. Right now I'm satisfied with 1000.

You look fantastic!!!

1 hour ago, Tpar09 said:

I'm 4 days post op and sitting here crying as I write this. I'm doing this all alone, no one knows I've done this, not even my immediate family. They all live out of town or in different states. All they know is that I had the hiatal hernia repair. I have struggled with my weight since I was a kid. I had thought about doing this surgery for years, but didn't want the negative feedback from people (including family) who don't understand, plus I was kind of scared to do it. But I finally decided to do it and now have fears that something will go wrong. I was also starting to have medical issues and lots of knee pain making it very difficult to get around, which was my final decision to do this. I live alone with my small dog. I don't feel good today, have trouble getting my shakes down without them going right through me. I just want this whole process to run smoothly and feel good again. Anyone in the same boat I am?

Thanks!

First of all, welcome to the boards here. I'm 4 months out now but surgery still feels like yesterday. It must be difficult to do this on your own, but when you get to the other side of the difficulties you are currently experiencing you will be all the stronger for it. The first week is so rough, and many people have said they started feeling better around day 5. Hang in there! Focus on the small improvements as they build up day by day, take this one day at a time, and have your surgeon's office # on speed dial if you are experiencing any symptoms you want to run by them.

The boards here are a great source of support and information. Sometimes there's some friction and negativity, but the best thing to do is ignore those moments and focus on your journey. There are plenty of kind and knowledgeable people willing to help

I take a 250mg magnesium supplement every day. It keeps me regular without going overboard, but be warned - if you take too much it will give you diarrhea.

I'm 3+ months post op and don't like to eat breakfast first thing. I've never been a big breakfast person and I still feel a little icky when I wake up first thing. I start my days with a Premier Protein shake, then eat some eggs at about 10am.

On 8/26/2017 at 4:00 PM, Introversion said:

Most of my monthly losses were single digit (1 to 7 pounds a month).

That makes me feel better as I've only been losing roughly 5lbs a month. I was hoping for more so it's a bit frustrating, but on the plus side my losses have been consistent and I am very satisfied with my food plan right now. At this point, I'm just happy to see the scale moving in the right direction

chicken is the food that gives me the most restriction and I have to eat it much slower than any other food. My first time eating a grilled chicken breast I threw it back up because I was eating it as quickly as the other meats I've been eating. Didn't go well. That's pretty much the only food I have to still be careful with. But once it's in my belly I'm satisfied with it.

Other foods that give me restriction:

tuna

cottage cheese

yogurt - some people say yogurt is a slider food for them, but it keeps me very full

lean cuts of meat

I'm wishing the both of you the best and a speedy recovery

I have issues with Constipation as well and try to eat Fiber one Cereal, prunes, and oatmeal. At least one of these foods every day. It's helped me quite a bit. Also, I'm not sure if yogurt helps, but I eat yogurt every day.

Midol would usually help me. Also, I noticed when I had a car with seat warmers they helped my period cramps amazingly well, so if you have that I'd say go for a drive, lol!

I have a Mirena IUD now which decreased my periods to only occasional spotting, but the first couple of weeks were hard. I had lots of cramping as my girly parts adjusted. Also, I got a full-blown period after my sleeve surgery.

HTH!

Are you diabetic or pre diabetic? I was prediabetic preop and had headaches before my meals which went away once I started eating. I this sounds familiar, it could possibly be your blood sugar dropping. If you have other symptoms like dizziness, weakness, moodiness, sweating, it may be worth checking out.

I typically get them from drinking coffee or eating acidic foods like tomatoes. Are you possibly eating foods that would irritate your gums/mouth?

I agree with @Berry78's advice. Try drinking right up to the minute you eat. I do this per my surgeon's instructions and feel fine when eating. However, if I have even a sip of Water after I've eaten I feel it. I typically have to wait about 45mins after eating to start drinking again.

I used to love ice cream and would at times eat 2 pints of hagen das in a day. Now I can only have a spoonful of ice cream, and only certain flavors at that. I stick to Halo Top now, again only certain flavors, but I bought a couple of the single serving hagen das cups post op and it tasted completely gross - like a pile of sugar and the fattiness of it made me feel sick. Could only take a spoonful and threw the rest out. I can't tell you how happy I am that I don't like ice cream post op. It was a real problem food for me preop.

I also dislike caramel flavored anything now, which I used to love. Ah, well... I'd rather be thin.

I had no hunger the first two weeks. I had lots of nausea post op. As the weeks went on I was still taking anti-nausea meds and noticed I was having to take them at times when it made sense I would actually be hungry, like when it's been over 4 hours since my last meal or first thing in the morning. I decided to try and eat through the nausea instead of taking medicine (which was tough because I was scared I would vomit) and it worked.

Now at 8 weeks out, when I'm hungry when I still get nauseous and have an unpleasant warm feeling in my sleeve. Overall, my hunger is extremely mild compared to what it was preop.

I'm 8 weeks out now and I can drink 4-6oz at a time. My surgeon's rules with eating and drinking are that I can drink right up to the minute I start eating, and then no fluids for 30mins after eating. The first few weeks were pretty much the same as anyone else: eat and drink slowly, take small sips and bites, but after about the 4th week I was able to take in more Water at a time.

Right now I have no issues with starting my meals right after I drink, but if I take even a sip of water while there is food in my stomach I feel extremely full and uncomfortable. I occasionally take a tiny sip of water to help a dry piece of food down, but I do that only when necessary. Otherwise, I'm used to it and I don't think they way I eat looks abnormal to anyone around me.