mama3beartn

Yes... that is the amount. 500 cal till you hit goal...I wasnt given a range. Just 500.

Morning Morning Bariatric World, Well I am 8 Weeks out today from my VSG on 07/17/2017. I'm down to 258.2 from my high of 315. Don't have a clue what my day of surgery weight was since I missed that somehow, but was around 286 I think. I'm feeling very good physical wise. Starting to notice some skin on my upper arms and definitely on my tummy. Needing to up my exercise with some weights now. Other than that I'm doing very good. Eating well. No more than 1/2 cup 4 - 5 times a day. But Oh man - did I mess up Yesterday. I had waited a bit too long to eat since i was running around so much. We stopped and got a rotisserie chicken since it was getting so late. I was shaking so I knew I was needing to eat something. I ate too fast and too much since I didn't take the time to weight or measure my food. first up - i do note throw up - just never could well. Usually had to be pretty bad for me too. Last time I did was in 2003 when I got the stomach flu while pregnant - not cool. But I was able to last night. It took some work but I finally did. (I had to make myself) It felt like food was stuck up into my chest. Like it was all back up. Hurt to move, to talk, to even breath. I will so never do that again. I'm feeling good today and started off with just a simple shake this morning. Doing well Lesson learned - -I keep handies in my purse now like the fantatic "Think turkey" on this site. Thanksgiving flavor is the bomb. But other than that just going day to day, week to week. About all there is after you get to this point. I'll probably get on here every few weeks or if something different happens. Hope everyone is doing wonderful pre or post-op. Many blessing to you all on your Weight Loss Journeys. LaTeR gAtErS

Thank you - thank you very much - as it's said here in Nashville. LOL _ Never thought about it like decades. Ha ha ha - thats great! I guess the 270s were my hurdle. I was 264 this morning. Doc was please with how I'm doing so that was good. I've been released from all restrictions (except on food of course) so going to add some weights to help firm up as I go. Don't have too much loosey goosey going on yet, but I knows it will come. Tummy will be the worst. Yes the belt rocks. I'm off the normal holes now and onto these rings (decor things). My husband asked if I should get a new one and said nope. This is my measure thing. The rings work. They are about an inch apart so each ring is an inch down. whoop Whoop. I walk the miles here at work. Our parking garage from bottom level to top level is exactly 1/2 mile. So I walk up (hardest since it's up hill some) then back down. I do get walking in on weekend when we go to the mall and walk the loop (opry mill mall here is made in a huge circle) I need to my fitness pal it and see how long it is? Hmmmmm But I've cut it back to one or two times a day since my hours are all wonky at work now. They got changed this week now. New flex time. Love it but different. I come in at 5am instead of 8am so I don't do dark garages when there are no peoples around - But I feel the once or twice is doing me good. I try to take the stairs now since I was released from restrictions so that adds more stuff. Wowzers those are rough on this out of shape body. Whew Can't wait for our trip to Gatlinburg. We go every year. I just want to enjoy the woods and streams. Cool, quiet and Ahhhhh - I hate hate summer so it's like a I survived reward to go up there where its nice and cool. Have blessed Day, TTYL gater -

Well the scaled moved some today. yay I'm five weeks post op today and I did my Monday weigh in and it's on 267.0 finally away from the 270. But like I had mentioned before, I was still shrinking because I could tell by my belt. I could tell by my belt. I never got to measure last week. seems my tape measure did a hoodie and can't locate it. But I'm good. Not letting stalls or anything get to me. I feel much better and that is all that matters. My goals are to up my working out. I walk a mile 5 times a day, but would like to see about doing more cardio. I see doc tomorrow for follow up and see what he says. I do still have incision pain on my largest incision. So not sure what I'm allowed to do. I am still trying to get the eating down too. I know I'm not suppose to snack, but to do just three meals a day doesn't get my protein in. I do like five mini meals. All good stuff like diced chicken, yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese stick, protein soups from this site ( so yummy), etc. It works for me. My big excitement beside the eclipse everyone is going bonkers over today here at work is, my husband and I are going to Gatlinburg here in TN in Oct. for my 45th birthday/ 23rd Anniversary. So excited. This will be a different trip since we usually focused a lot of our trips on FOOD and places to eat. I'm not a big shopper so trying to figure out the best way to enjoy a NON - FOOD focused trip. Well hope everyone is doing well in Bariatric Land. Blessing to you all, Later Gaters

Thanks so much - that makes sense with the scale. I have a scale, just not real good at using it yet. I actually used it for the first time last night weighing out my fish. I had mentioned that about the calculating because my yogurt said serving size was one container (some crazy 5.2 oz). I took three bites and was done. The other hard thing is my program want me to do three meals a day with no snacks at 20 grams of protein at each meal. I can't eat enough to get that much at one meal. Sometimes the differentiation of programs is so hard on here and at our office. There are three docs at my doc office and each has their own rules. And everyone's program on here is so different. I agree with Aunt B's comment above : While we all want to follow our instructions perfectly, I have to remember that part of this journey is listening to and trusting my own unique body. I totally agree. I love this site. Y'all are like the most awesome group. Thanks again for the help. GrInS.....

Four weeks today I did something that was to change me for the rest of my life. I had the Gastric Sleeve done at Centennial Hospital with Dr. Dyer on 07/17/2017. My highest weight was 315. I as of today weight 270.0. i never got my Day of Surgery weight, but I think it was 286. I have been on a roller coaster stall for a couple weeks now. I've read this is common but it can still be frustrating, especially since I'm only four weeks out and already hitting one. It seemed to happen when I changed stages and the problems with Constipation started. I was worried also about changing stages a little early may of caused the stall. I did stage one, good. But I did stage two like a week and then moved to pureed stage 3 early. I was getting so nausea's on the shakes. So I added the pureed stuff a little early. I'll admit I'm not good at pureeing the foods. I just chew chew chew till it's pureed in my mouth or eat already soft stuff like eggs, cottage cheese and yogurt. No problems with anything yet, well still no jello and anything strong mint, like toothpaste.... it makes me nausea. Not sure why. But doing good with everything else. I'm still under 500 cal a day. I'm going to start my food journal this week as well as measurements. I was told this can help see any bad trends I might need to nip in the butt and make sure it truly is under 500. Its so hard when labels state 1 cup 200 cal, but you only eat 3 T. Hard to calculate. Still have trouble with the Anal Fissure. Fibers and stool Softener help, but like I had mentioned. Normal stool even for me is not fun. Going to have to go to a specialist and have this looked into more. Really don't want to go through another surgery right now. Not cool - nope nope. Any others who stalled early on? Love to hear your advice. Hope everyone is doing well in Bariatric Land. I'll let y'all know how the week goes. I have my follow up next week so can't wait for that. Lots of questions. Later Gaters

YEP only three weeks post - op and I had my first stall. I lost . pounds instead of pounds. With one day of gain. Not much but a little. I started last Monday at 271.8 and today I'm at 271.0. Now I've read enough on here that this is very common. I changed stages this week from clear liquids to full liquids. And that stalls are common with Stage Changes. I'm not freighting. I'm getting my two premier shakes in a day and plenty of water. I did - bad me - have a bite of scrambled eggs a couple times this last weekend. I have 13 Hens and well the eggs are really building up. I made the Family eggs both Morning this last weekend and just took a bite each day. It didn't hurt my tummy or anything. But was very nice. I've heard some people are on food food by the third week, so I feel I'm doing very well for three weeks out and still on liquid. Any hoo just wanted to say if you go through a stall, don't freak. It's common and will pass. I'll let you know how this next week goes. OH! And I had another issue with the stage change. I totally had a brain fart about the constipation. OMG - I started the first Protein shakes on Saturday 28th and forgot to start the fiber and stool softener with them. I did't go till Tuesday and it was HELL. I suffer from Anal Fissures. They seems so much better. No pain with the current bowel movements (since they were mostly water due to the clear diet) But that was NOT cool. I don't try to give TMI but we are all in this together and I wanted you to understand it happens. And Bad. After two enemas and very painful - not pushing but pushing... I cleared it some. It took another bout of issues the next day. Of course the fissure is PISSED and back to feeling like passing glass, but the fiber and stool softener is finally all kicking in and hoping I can get all back to control. Please please don't forget to start at least a stool softener when you change to denser liquids and foods. I do both fiber I put in my water and two stool softener at bed time (without stimulant). BUT DO SPEAK TO YOUR OWN DOCTOR.. THEY MAY HAVE SOMETHING OR NOT WANT YOU ON A CERTAIN THING. ****I must share this recipe - I made it as a trial for my future Bariatric Recipes and my family was the guinea pigs. They are used it. LOL PIZZA FOR SLEEVIES I used two cans chicken breast- drain REALLY well - (keystone all natural is best) - you can even put in oven and dry out a bit before mixing the rest. I didn't but it suggest this if you want. 3 eggs 2 oz Parmesan cheese - REAL STUFF - NOT POWDERY STUFF Mix all this and press into desired shape on parchment paper placed on baking sheet. I shaped into a square since I had it on a square cookie sheet. Bake at 500 for 10 minutes. Remove and add Toppings. I added just a little spaghetti sauce, turkey pepperoni and shredded cheese since this is what my kids like. Return to oven for 10 more minutes. Remove and let cool a little. Cut and enjoy. Everyone said it was great. Of course I could try since on Full liquids still, but will definitely give it a go in a few weeks. LATER GATERS

So I didn't know I wasn't able to blog on here on my phone. Totally frustrating. I don't have a computer at home so taking two weeks off work for the surgery; I was unable to get on here. Pooey. I tried to recap the last two weeks quickly as possible. So it's now been two weeks since my gastric sleeve surgery on 07/17/2017. I arrived at the hospital at 9am and didn't get taken back to surgery till about 2pm. Boy that was a long wait. ugh ***My surgery was performed by Dr.Dyer at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville TN. Surgery went well. Minimal pain. I was on the pain pump and used it for a bit. I'm allergic (severe itching) to morphine so I only used the pain med for the first two days since they gave me a drug related to morphine and of course I was miserably itchy. I had a drain on my right side. (I attached pics of the incisions.) I had a total of 10 marks – a couple you can’t see. One was in my belly button and another on my left side. It wasn’t real visible in the photo. Some were small incisions, some punctures (needles where the gas was inserted), and the largest where they took the stomach out was near the drain. It still hurts a bit today, but not much. I was up walking pretty quickly. No problem. Drinking was bit hard. It felt like swallowing a rock. And it hurt went it hit the stomach. But I just sipped sipped and it got better each day. The second day I was given a bowel suppository of some sort to help reactivate my bowels since they freeze up due to surgery and anesthesia. I had a small movement the next day. Same stuff each day, walk , drink, sleep, walk , drink sleep. I was released early Thursday about 10am. I still had the drain and had it taken out that following Tuesday. I felt pretty good. I was probably ready to go back to work Wednesday but already had put the time in so just took the rest of the week off. So the worst part of everything was the clear diet. Ugh ugh. I couldn’t stand Nectar, Isopure and started to have trouble with the Unjury. I don’t throw up, but just hated the tastes of the water based proteins. I was only getting 40 grams in a day. So I started the stage 2 a few days early. I was suppose to be on the clear diet for two weeks then start stage 2 liquid diet. This just adds the Premier protein drinks. I drink two a day right now. I did have my first “too full” feeling yesterday when I drank my shake. I think I just had too much at once. It was like a large burp that couldn’t come out stuck just below my sternum and I was nausea's. Because of course my gag is broke (wink) I don’t throw up. So I just didn’t move for a bit till things moved on through. I only drink a bit at a time now. Much better So I’ll be on this Stage 2 liquid for three weeks. It’s only suppose to be two, but my doctor doesn’t want me changing stages till I see him and the nutritionists and he is on vacation the week I’m suppose to transition, so I get an extra week of liquids. Oh Joy. We’ll see how this goes. LOL Other than that I’m back to work today. I have my schedule with my vitamins and drinks and will see how it all goes. I listed my schedule below case you were interested. I’m suppose to add a third shake if able when I can. But doc said doesn’t have to be everyday. Hope everyone is doing well in Bariatric Land. GrInS ***this is just a layout to try and help me get everything I am suppose to in. Awake – 4am – take thyroid pills (crushed) Start first 24oz cup water At Work – 6am – take multivitamin Start second 24oz cup water 8am – drink ½ protein shake 9am – drink ½ protein shake – take first calcium 10am if not completed – finish second 24oz water Start third 24oz cup water 12pm – walk 30 min (lunch break) – take second calcium 2:15 off work 3pm – drink ½ protein shake 4pm – drink ½ protein shake – take third calcium – biotin and D3 ( I take B12 once a week on Sunday) Make dinner for family Have another 24oz water available as I want ( I don’t feel pressure to finish it since I’ve hit my goal of 64 ounces already) but drink as I want so I’m not thirsty. 6pm – yummy sugar free Popsicle. 7pm – Bed time Oh my states right now are highest weight 315 - DOS 286 (I think- they weighed me in Kilograms ) - today 273.8 (42 total lost)

Well it was 30 minutes before I was to drink the Magnesium stuff and I got a call. The pre-cert was denied because it was put in as In-pt and they had it as an Out patient procedure. So long story short, my surgery was moved to Monday since they can't talk to the denier till Friday morning. As frustrating as it is, I'm okay. The worst was getting all the work time off situated. My husbands is unfix-able. He planned off the whole week this week and now we have to figure out how we are going to do Monday. He is off the day of surgery but not the rest. All will be good. We will figure it out - So back to my regular pre-op diet till Sunday when I have to do that clear all day thing again and the drink Sunday night. They are to get back with me on Friday to let me know how everything went with the fixing of the Pre-cert. Praying there is no more delays or problems.

Well this is the last day for my pre-op diet. Tomorrow is the day before my surgery on the 12th and it’s a clear liquids all day with a 4pm Magnesium drink – yuck. Then Wednesday Morning at 6:30 am is it. I’m down 22 lbs so far from the pre-op diet. I battled with edema a lot due to the broth and sodium it contained, even with the low sodium kind. The last couple days I’ve cut out the broth and dropped 5 lbs after gaining some due to swelling. I expect to swell some again since tomorrow is a clear liquid only and broth will be my main thing besides jello and Popsicles. I will try and get on her before the surgery but if unable to, I will try once feeling up to it after. I'm not really worrying about the pain, the skin issues or my hair falling out. I just want to get through the surgery and get on with my new life. I'm feeling better just being on the pre-op diet. Don't feel as hungry anymore or think about food like I used to. I can totally see the benefits from doing the pre-op diet before the surgery. It helps us really get in the right mind set. The only thing I do worried about is the constipation. As I had mentioned I have chronic anal fissures. I’ve been babying them and it is doing better, but I take a daily fiber in everything. (about 6 tsp total daily) and this has helped a bunch. I’m hoping I can still add this to my liquids post- op. I have to call and find out from the nutritionists. This stuff below is the bomb. It goes in everything, no grit, no flavor. Oh and I wanted to follow up on the experiment with the chicken unjury soup mixed with unflavored gelatin. Nope – total fail But I did add to my cottage cheese and it was pretty good. Kinda strong, but good. Well hope all is well in WLS land and wish everyone many blessing. GrInS