DianeJarrett

The same weight... the EXACT same weight. The scales have not moved a single ounce. NOT ONE SINGLE OUNCE. Workouts, cardio, dieting... NOTHING. It is the most frustrating thing ever. Since halfway through week 3, NOT ONE SINGLE OUNCE. I want to take my scales and throw them out the window. If I didn't have to weigh myself daily for my nutritionist, I would! It is so disheartening, especially when you hear people say they lose a pound a day, 4 pounds a week, 40 pounds since surgery, and I have lost 20 since surgery, and nothing in almost 3 weeks. I've heard everything about the stalls, how to jumpstart, what to do, and after trying everything... NOTHING. Not even going back on my liquid diet helped. I actually gained a pound, lol, before it dropped back to that exact SAME WEIGHT. I know it happens, I've heard every platitude. "It's a marathon, not a sprint." "Don't worry, it will come off." "Stalls happen, it will pass." Heard it all. At the end of the day, they help. But during the day, when you know you are doing everything, ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING to lose weight, and you barely crack 600 calories, none of those wonderful words of wisdom help. I'm just venting, a little blue and trying desperately to hang on to some kind of confidence and good thoughts. All that keeps going through my head is, "It would really suck if I did all this for 20 lbs." LOL I know many go through this, and get past it, but no one preps you for it, for the depression that goes along with it.

My doctor is one of the best in the country, that's a fact. While he said I am mostly healed, what he meant was for eating regular food, meaning meat, protein, for the most part. Not the things that fill you up, those are still off limits. Rice, bread, crackers, etc. Still no carbonated sodas, nothing that will give me gas, fill me up, etc. No hard core workouts on my abdominals. All the things that all doctors say. Every surgeon tells you that you need 6 months to fully heal, but that's a complete healing, basically when your body isn't tender, when you can no longer tell you have had surgery when the area is touched. Full recovery on the stomach itself is 6 weeks, meaning the sutures have healed, and the pouch is tightly sealed. I have a huge pamphlet from my doctor on recovery guidelines, along with pictures, a full video with graphics and images and a 100 page eating guide. All say that after 6 weeks, your stomach is healed. It's the surrounding tissue that still needs time to heal, will be tender to the touch and should be treated gently.

I'm still very cautious about eating anything, because I'm worried about the healing process. I'm 6 weeks and was told that I am mostly healed, just to not overeat, chew chew chew and approach food in a less is more fashion. Never get full. I will continue that, simply because I'm a nervous person. LOL

I haven't tried them. Do they have a taste??

I have omeprazole but the doctor took me off of that. I’ll let him know that and see if he wants me to resume. My trainer is recommended by my doctor and is very familiar with GS patients. He has 25 clients, all Bariatric surgical patients. BTW, watermelon gets a bad rap. It isn’t that high in sugar, calories or carbs. Besides, I can’t handle more than 1/4 cup. My protein intake appears to be the issue. I’m back on that horse big time and the shakes are going down smoothly, as long as I don’t smell them first lol.

Now THAT I cannot do. I'm barely tolerating the Premier Protein shakes. Adding the powder, which, in my opinion, is nasty, I would just not drink it.

I returned to the liquid diet yesterday, mostly. I had a protein shake in the morning and in the evening, with 40 ounces of water in between. I also had 2 ounces of chicken breast. I actually gained weight today, lol. It is just to jump start my metabolism, which is low (I've had a hysterectomy). The oatmeal was for the constipation and the doctor insisted I NOT use a fiber supplement for that week. Once it cleared, he said I could use a supplement, and I've ordered some. The watermelon is for working out, it gives you energy and helps jump start your workouts. I only do that 3 days a week and recommended by my personal trainer. I think I'm now on the right path, thanks to everyone's advice. Now that the protein shakes no longer make me gag and I'm drinking more water, I feel like I will work my way out of this long stall and get back to losing weight.

Yes! Try the Clementine one! It's amazing!

BAI is a low calorie drink, 5 calories, fruit infused. It's very good. A nice break from water.

This was very well said. Exactly. Why go backwards when you've put all the time and effort into a life change?

I sooo miss it! I'm so glad to hear about your stalls... not wishing it on anyone else but just happy that I'm not alone on this journey! I can't wait for the coffee!!! LOL

Coffee? My plan doesn't allow that for another week when I hit the 6-week mark. Not sure why, they just said to wait. Perhaps they think my stomach won't tolerate it. Maybe. I miss it. Mmmmm... coffeeeeee.... Thanks for the advice. I just started working out last week, finished my first week of workouts, and my personal trainer is changing it for me every day. So I think that part is good. I'll be patient.

Yes, sparkling water is carbonated. Let it go flat. Open, let it sit, shake it, take off the lid and drink. I let my flavored carbonated water go flat and it is still wonderful, a nice break from plain water.

I am so tired of water. So tired, in fact, that I drink mostly Crystal Light and Propel, and sometimes I indulge with a BAI (which has only 5 calories and is sooo good.) But, I wonder, could that be the reason behind my hard core stall? (I don't drink enough fluid and I am going to go back to an all fluid diet for two days to see if that breaks my stall, advice from doctor and nutritionist, FYI.) Could Crystal Light be hampering my weight loss and not helping? Should I go back and just drink plain water? My weight loss plan encourages Crystal Light and Propel so you won't feel boxed in by water, but I would love to hear if it has hurt/helped anyone else. I can go back to plain water. I will hate it and feel punished by life (lol) but I will. LOL

IT IS very frustrating, especially when you hear about people losing 30-40 pounds in 2 months. I'm still stuck at 27 since surgery, but that includes the 7 pounds of just swelling. The day I went in for surgery, I lost 18 pounds. When I left the hospital, it was only 11, because of the swelling. Do I count that? Sure, for a total of 37 pounds, before and after. But since my surgery, I feel like I've only lost 20 lbs at 6 weeks and I'm at a hard hard stall. I work out 4 times a week and the scale is just STUCK. I know I'm older, I've had a hysterectomy and I will lose slower than most. And I don't drink enough water. I have to do that, it's just super hard. Tomorrow, on the advice of my nutritionist and doctor, I'm going back on the liquid fast, protein shakes and water for 2 days to kick start. I hope it helps. LOL I admit I weigh myself daily and I shouldn't. And, at the gym, I'm 2 pounds lighter, and I like that. LOL I know this is a process, but I see younger women shedding pounds like dog hair in the summer, and I'm mad jealous. (LMAO!!) It's a process, and I'm on board for the whole thing. Good luck to you. We'll get there. And may I say, 34 pounds pre-surgery? WOWSA!!!! WELL DONE!

I actually broke my scales, so I am estimating the 1-2 ounces. I do love refried beans. I replace my meat with that sometimes, just for a change!!

(No need to sound so snippy.) I said I eat 2 ounces of Greek yogurt in the morning, I have chicken breast for lunch, about 2 ounces, and turkey or chicken for dinner, again the same amount. Before I work out, I have about 2 ounces (maybe) of watermelon, recommended by my trainer, and I will finish the 4 oz yogurt cup before I go to bed at night, if I feel like my stomach is empty, which is often. I often switch the chicken or turkey breast for tuna, or salmon and sometimes, I eat oatmeal instead of yogurt to get some fiber. The yogurt and oatmeal, both recommended by my nutritionist to ensure I don't get constipated again. I drink water all day, mostly Crystal Light but occasionally plain water. I drink Propel during my workout and finish a bottle of it in about 1.5 hours. I just started back drinking Premier Protein shakes, I can finish 1 - 1.5 a day. My initial question was more about the empty stomach feeling and how people cope with it, how they ensure they are eating, what habits they have developed to make sure they would eat.

I'm not really eating rice. Just tasting it when I cook. I've only actually eaten it once, when I reached 4 weeks. The doctor told me to celebrate the return to real food. I had 4 pieces of sushi spread out over hours. (Doctor approved, I lived... but I won't do it again. It was terrible.) I do track my food, but I know I'm not eating enough. I haven't been drinking enough protein shakes because they made me gag, the smell of the protein shakes just set me off. This week, I started back. I'm going to go back on my liquid fast for a couple of days to get back in the swing of the shakes, and then try it all over again. I just have to remind myself to eat. Or drink. And not get an empty stomach that aches.

I'm 5 weeks out of surgery, I'm down 38 lbs and happy (I'm a slow loser who stalls). But I'm wondering, how do people overeat? I see some people even vomit. How is that possible? Honestly, I have no appetite and I can't hold much food. A 4 oz cup of Greek yogurt has to be eaten in 2 sittings, because about halfway through, I am incredibly full, to the point I feel sick. It springs up from nowhere! My proteins fill me up quickly, I can only eat 2 oz portions of everything if that much. Even a taste of rice, while I'm cooking for my BF, makes me feel like I've had a full meal. Even trying to stay hydrated is such a chore, because I feel incredibly full after a certain amount of liquid, sipped slowly. I can't imagine overeating. Am I supposed to feel more hungry? And that's another thing - I'm supposedly not eating enough? Because I don't feel hungry, sometimes during the day, I will get a pain in my stomach and realize, it is completely empty. And I didn't feel hungry, it just occurred to me that my stomach aches because it is empty and it's been hours since I have eaten. Does anyone else feel this? My nutritionist suggested small meals and maybe even a timer for eating (I do one for drinking water and Crystal light now, so I won't forget). It's the primary reason for my stall - my body is hanging on to everything I'm eating because I'm not eating enough. How did you handle this? I'd love some advice.

I love carbonated flavored water, but I no longer drink it with carbonation. I buy it, open the top, shake it, let it go flat and drink it. It's still wonderful but I avoid the carbonation.

Fabulous advice! I'm joining a gym with unlimited fitness training assistance, and they will give me a program to get started. I'll be sure you follow your advice. Thanks SO MUCH!!!

Okay, I've hit the 4-week mark! Cleared for eating regular food (which, so far, is eating about 1/8th of what I used to eat, lol) and working out! Any insights on what to start with, how much pain you experienced, energy, etc? My doctor recommended joining a gym that had fitness training, meaning a trainer would give me some advice on where to start, what not to do, etc. My doctor has a fitness expert that said, in a loud voice, "upper arms, inner thighs and booty - they are your goals! Don't focus too hard on the stomach, for now. Still needs to heal more!" Do you agree with that? I was hoping to start on my core, but it sounds like the core isn't quite ready. I'd love some insights. Thanks!

I love the name! I will try it next time. For the tough days, I used a laxative and a glycerin suppository. I NEVER want to go through that again. My nutritionist recommended oatmeal, which changed everything. I've started eating McCann's steel cut oatmeal every other day. I puree a few strawberries to add in, or, if I'm feeling extra good, I will steam an apple and add to it. Thank goodness for my electric steamer! I can steam it in about 15 minutes, with a little cinnamon, add it to the oatmeal. IT IS YUMMY!

Constipation kills.... you'll lose weight. No worries.

@bayougirlmrsc, absolutely possible. Whatever the case, hopefully, he will recover. We all know the rules and those that don't follow them suffer the consequences. Forced portion control.