NikkiPen

Your losses will become slower as time passes. That's the natural progression of things.
As an aside, I lost 15 pounds during my first month with the sleeve. Thereafter, I lost at the rate of a whopping 6 pounds a month. Yep, you read it correctly: 6 pounds a month!
However, I'm not sweating it. The long term result (maintaining our goal weight) is far more important than losing like a house on fire during the weight loss phase. The important part is I lost 100+ pounds, attained my goal weight and have been keeping it off.
Good luck to you.

I consider my premier shakes a meal and separate them too. If nothing else, than for like what Missy161 said, discipline reasons or staying in the habit. But if you puree your chunky Soup, then that should be a meal together. Like cream of potato soup with skim milk, I added canned chicken and some fresh baked butternut squash, then blend it up just enough for mainly drinking.

HW 370, SW 350, SD 6/20/17

Yesterday I stuck to the yogurt and liquids and my stomach feels much better. It took me 3 days to get over it. So not worth it. And I'm with you I tried pureed chili and had heartburn and gas pain. Spicy foods are a no go. Guess I'll stick to bland food till I can handle the spice.

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I believe I just had the same with a part of a small chili (mushed up too) from Wendy's. Feels like a brick for sure, even hard to drink Water with the "full" feeling. Headache, no energy, and have that constipated feeling. Not quite ready for new foods, hard to know when though. Drinking the rest of my nutrition today, we will see what tomorrow brings.
We've got this though!!

HW 370, SW 350, SD 6/20/17

Lip balm! Last time I used this much lip balm was when I was a smoker. All the Protein Drinks and FF dairy products dry my lips out.
I had significant GERD post-op ( I suffered from it pre-op) so I wasn't drinking much day of surgery. Lips were very dry, lip balm was very much needed. I didn't touch my phone til next day, though my family was updating everyone and keeping things simple for me.

HW 370, SW 350, SD 6/20/17

I'll give you my honest opinion, as an Emergency room RN I would not be stitching this yourself. I know that you've had experience with suturing and I'm not trying to negate that but at the same time this is skin, not cow hide. There are also many different types of sutures and the one you are using might not be correct for this type of wound. It also concerns me that there are still puss pockets. The doctor might not actually want to suture this wound shut yet if that's the case. If there's any kind of abscess present that needs to be addressed, and possibly packed and left open. I'm not sure keflex, the antibiotic they put you on, is strong enough either. A surgical wound like this could contain antibiotic resistant organisms, in which case you need a stronger antibiotic. I know you don't want to make the trip to the ER, but I strongly encourage you to. Way better to be safe than to deal with the possible devastating complications that could arise from a bad infection.

Protein First, leave out all the rest until you are getting that protein in per day (cept for fluids of course). I think that's a key reminder, being that we are used to eating multiple things during our meals. This is a whole new ballgame. Things just don't work the same for us any longer, so we have to adapt. Sure, I'd like to grab for that nice banana, or apple sauce, but I have to stop myself and think... have I gotten in at least 60 g protein yet? If not, I grab the yogurt, or anything else with some notable protein.
I have a small dry erase board on my Fridge, everything I take out of it, I write down. It has an area for my protein, fl ounces, fat, carbs, and calories. This isn't forever, but until my "muscle memory" changes from blindly grabbing and eating, to focusing on my new way to eat, this is my go-to. I take a photo of my board every night before bed and that's my log. Clean slate every morning, and I try to add a few new things each week.

Protein First, leave out all the rest until you are getting that protein in per day (cept for fluids of course). I think that's a key reminder, being that we are used to eating multiple things during our meals. This is a whole new ballgame. Things just don't work the same for us any longer, so we have to adapt. Sure, I'd like to grab for that nice banana, or apple sauce, but I have to stop myself and think... have I gotten in at least 60 g protein yet? If not, I grab the yogurt, or anything else with some notable protein.
I have a small dry erase board on my Fridge, everything I take out of it, I write down. It has an area for my protein, fl ounces, fat, carbs, and calories. This isn't forever, but until my "muscle memory" changes from blindly grabbing and eating, to focusing on my new way to eat, this is my go-to. I take a photo of my board every night before bed and that's my log. Clean slate every morning, and I try to add a few new things each week.

I've done so much research on the Bariatric surgeries, especially over the past year... yet I never came across the "3 week stall", can't imagine how I missed it though. Boy I wish I had known about this last week, it would have saved me stressing. I couldn't imagine that I was eating too much to constitute a zero loss for 4 days- just 2 weeks post-op, though it sounds like stalls can last up to 2 weeks for some. I ended up reverting to my Phase 3 initial diet with super soft, mushy foods and Protein Drinks and the weight loss picked right back up immediately. Now I'm progressing back to more soft foods like fish, less mushy (but chewing 20-30 times), and I'm steady dropping .25-.5 pounds/day which is just fine with me. I'm 3 weeks post-op tomorrow.
I'm supposed to be moving to Phase 4 on Friday, but I think I'll continue on my current, more gradual path, which my surgeon and NUT fully support.

The early weeks post-op are the hardest part of the journey, in my opinion. That's why every time there is one of the "when should I go back to work" posts, I advise people to take as much time off as their personal, financial, and work situations will allow. When you are relying on liquids and mush for any nutrition, it is hard physically and emotionally.
It does get better, and in my case, it got better fast. I took 6 weeks off of work, and that allowed me to progress through the food stages with a little more ease. I can say right now, that had I had to deal with all the corporate drama that my work brings, I would have been depressed. It would have been next to impossible to work and be successful with everything (work and diet).
The other thing that people have to accept is that what is "normal" will change -- even months and years post-op. That old life and way of eating is gone, and, frankly, it should be gone. That's what led to obesity in the first place. That's why changing the relationship with food is the real key to this journey -- not the surgery itself.
I'm 9 months post-op. I've lost 205 pounds. I am 8 pounds from a "normal" BMI and 12 pounds from goal. I feel and look better than I ever have in my adult life. Life is wonderful, and having this surgery was the absolute right decision.

The biggest thing that surprises me post surgery is my change in personality. I am more aware of how toxic some people in my life are and I am no longer tolerating or enabling their behavior. It was like a night and day switch. I don't know if it's a physical/hormonal change, or an emotional change, but right now I feel like I am fighting for me and have no patience for the poor behavior of others around me.

Visiting my brother and his family 5 years ago, one of my nephews was eager to show me something in his room. I went to sit on the side of the bed, and as I did, it crashed to the floor. I'll never forget that moment, I began apologizing. My nephew was at a loss for words, never laughed. He was quite young, maybe 5. I kept saying how sorry I was, and inside I knew I was apologizing for being fat, not his poor bed. Turns out his bed sat on those adjustable slats, and sliding off can sometimes happen. No matter, I'll never forget. So here I am, and surgery is one week away!

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Visiting my brother and his family 5 years ago, one of my nephews was eager to show me something in his room. I went to sit on the side of the bed, and as I did, it crashed to the floor. I'll never forget that moment, I began apologizing. My nephew was at a loss for words, never laughed. He was quite young, maybe 5. I kept saying how sorry I was, and inside I knew I was apologizing for being fat, not his poor bed. Turns out his bed sat on those adjustable slats, and sliding off can sometimes happen. No matter, I'll never forget. So here I am, and surgery is one week away!

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Another SD 6/20/17er here. 5 was a tougher day for me too. But since then much better. Should have tube removal Friday, and maybe get to move to pureed foods. Can't wait to add some thicker consistencies. All for taking it slow though, no whammies.
We've got this!

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Another SD 6/20/17er here. 5 was a tougher day for me too. But since then much better. Should have tube removal Friday, and maybe get to move to pureed foods. Can't wait to add some thicker consistencies. All for taking it slow though, no whammies.
We've got this!

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7 days post op, liquid diet
I have Premier Protein RTD shakes and clear. V8 is refreshingly different from the sweetness. I take plain non fat chobani yogurt (no sugar in it), add key lime juice and a little Splenda.. it's a fabulous key lime pie taste, refreshing too. I also make peppermint Patty shake= 8 oz skim milk, 1 scoop chocolate Protein Powder, few drops of peppermint extract to taste and ice in blender. It's nice after bubbles (froth) settles.
Ready for phase III though, I feel hungry most of the time.

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I want to add -- to me, the idea of keeping it secret is like admitting it's something to be ashamed of. And, in my opinion, it simply is not, and so we shouldn't act like it is. The more people who know about surgery and associate a face with it, the better. It'll help them learn about an option.

Because I was honest with my friends, I have ANOTHER friend who's now having the surgery. If I hadn't been so open/honest about my journey, she probably would never have considered it. So, for me, it's worth telling.

But then, I've also never had anyone be weird or cruel about it, aside from some jealousy...

I'm honestly surprised at how many "don't tell"s there are. I guess I rather assumed people were so excited to shout it from the mountain top, after such a long struggle. No judgement at all, as this appears to be my struggle. And with these replies, I'm finding I'm not alone in my thoughts.
No this isn't the kind of thing for workplace conversation, but people love to talk about other's hardships. I think the gossip will happen either way. We spend 12 hours at a time with each other, often time more than our own families. Very personal matters arise in a small room, equipped with kitchen and bathroom, in a 12 hour shift- whether we like it or not. Every moment away from your station is announced. This is my conflict, yes it's possible, though stress involved either way.
Every one I work with appears to struggle with their weight in some form or fashion, men too. It has even reached my ears that others are in the process of wls, no business of mine.
You've all made very valid points, and you're speaking from experience. Since my work is already so stressful (911, police, fire, EMS dispatcher) I'm desperate for a least stressful solution. I just hate the reason to not tell, the negativity. And it's very real, as you've shown me.

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I work in a Dispatch room, with 2 partners. Neither of which I'm particularly close with. My whole family and my closest friends all know that I'm having surgery next week. I'll be gone from work for 6 weeks, so it's not like I won't be missed. HIPPA allows me the secrecy, but I'm absolutely​ stressing about not telling them, trying to figure out why this is a big deal. People love to gossip and thrive on drama at my workplace, which is why I don't have close relationships there with many people.
Did/Does anyone else struggle with the "who to tell, who not to tell?" And is there really any gratification in not telling??
Nikki
Surgery date June 20th
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Visiting my brother and his family 5 years ago, one of my nephews was eager to show me something in his room. I went to sit on the side of the bed, and as I did, it crashed to the floor. I'll never forget that moment, I began apologizing. My nephew was at a loss for words, never laughed. He was quite young, maybe 5. I kept saying how sorry I was, and inside I knew I was apologizing for being fat, not his poor bed. Turns out his bed sat on those adjustable slats, and sliding off can sometimes happen. No matter, I'll never forget. So here I am, and surgery is one week away!

Sent from my XT1585 using BariatricPal mobile app

I like Muscle Milk light, not as thick as the others. I also like Premier Protein shakes but have found them to be really sweet since surgery. I've discovered that putting a drop or two of peppermint extract in the shake is a game changer - makes it really refreshing. I put it in both chocolate and vanilla flavors.