Kurt W

What's going on? Feel free to PM me. -Kurt Sent from my Nexus 5X using BariatricPal mobile app

I have had no trouble with spices and chili. I agree with the others though, stay away from sugar and candy. Sent from my Nexus 5X using BariatricPal mobile app

I take a crystalized multivitamin called Baritrack. If you ever had pixie sticks it is very similar. They come in lemon-lime and orange. They are made locally in NJ but there is a website. You only have to take one packet each day. -Kurt

Last Monday was my first day back in the office. Many of my coworkers whom I worked with regularly knew I had the VSG but not all 300+ people in the office. That first day re-affirmed my belief that most people will be very supportive and amazed at what I am going through. Yes, by the end of the day/week it got kind of old retelling what I was going through. But in the end I only found support (or silence in a couple of cases). More than supportive words I had offers of help to exercise, recipe suggestions, etc.. My advice would be to eat communally. Talk to the cook about your dietary needs, bring a measure to get the right amount if needed. The first meal, when your table-mates wonder whats going on, tell them. Even if you don't get the response I did, you won't have to lie for the rest of the event. -Kurt

Hey, I suspect that pretty much all of us here understand what you are feeling. And everyone has their opinion on going to the gym. Here is my experience. I started walking a couple of days post surgery (I'm 4 1/2 weeks post) and have settled on a six day a week exercise program. I am doing it because I have have been able to do so before and I want to build muscle. And the calorie burning will help. Oh, and it builds a habit that will serve me. I decided that not only was a gym going to be part of my routine, but that I was going to go swimming in the gym. Now that means wearing a bathing suit over my fat body around all these buff men and women. Oh crap, what was I thinking. But, I went ahead. Walking into the gym and the pool I found three things: 1. There were all sorts of people there. Some were incredibly fit, others closer to me. I did not completely stand out like a sore thumb. 2. The pool, exposing (er, probably a bad word choice there) my fat for all to see, was a non-issue. Most days I go the pool has a mixture of old men and women doing water aerobics and all sorts of differently shaped with their heads down swimming. I get in, start swimming, and become part of the crowd 3. I am sure some people there are looking at me and going "Oh, how gross." Well, that's why I am there, to change. Same reason they are there. I don't care what they think. I just got clearance to start strength training so now I am exposed to more people at the gym. Once you go a few times you will find that its not so scary. Lastly I think all gyms are different. Take advantage of free passes to try them out see what the clientelle is like. Also check out your local Y. Don't get pressured into a membership until you find the right place. And if you decide a gym isn't your cup of tea, just keep walking. Not sure where you are in NYC but I commute into Manhattan a couple of days a week from NJ and would be happy to walk with you sometime. -Kurt

My surgery was a week before yours and I am experimenting with more solid foods. Pretty much everything and anything I eat is protein in order to hit that goal. I also continue to drink a protein shake a day. With the amount of food I can eat I don't see any other way to do it. I suggest that you drop the cooked veggies at this point - focus on protein. Many folks, including myself, find that chili is a great soft food. I have made both an italian turkey chili and a tex-mex turkey and bean chili. Both are protein rich yet tasty. I found the recipes on Pinterest but would be happy to get you the links. Another thing i did this weekend was to make my own version of P3 Protein packs. The commercial version has a mixture of proteins (cheese, meat nuts) but are very expensive for the amount/quality of food. It is easy to do yourself and provides me with another way to get protein in snack form. How often are you eating? My nutritionist has me eating every 3 hours or so during the day. -Kurt

I agree. I bought a 20 ounce vacumn jug and keep it filled with ice water. I sip it throughout the day and I think that does help.

OH man, I am so going to use that (a whole person of fat) when I have gotten to that point. I am 4 1/2 weeks post surgery and can say that the worst days were when I had to drink Isopure. The best day was the morning I had my first scrambled egg post surgery. You will be amazed both at feeling real food again & that one egg can fill you up. I am starting to experiment with more solid foods. Chili is great; I have made tex-mex style chili and italian style chili. Both are easy to eat and tasty. I have found hundreds of recipes on Pinterst and started making some. I suggest using that as a source. It is such a waste (and hard to find meals on my plan) to eat out at the office that I have started pre-cooking and freezing meals for work. Besides eating what I need I am saving a chunk of money. Plus its a lot of fun to sit down with co-workers, watch as they lay out their big lunchs and pull out my 4 ounce container and go "here's my lunch." I have purchased a bunch of little rubbermaid take-along 4 ounce containers to put my meal into. Makes it easy to eat the right amount. Protein is hard - that is pretty much all I eat to get 80 grams in a day. I still drink a protein shake each day to hit my goal. Some days are easy, others not so much. Some of the things I was afraid I would crave (bread, chips, cookies, etc) I am don't so much. Pre-surgery I had weined myself off of soda and some other foods, which I am sure has made my transition easier. And 3 days post surgery I started walking; 3 weeks post surgery I started swimming; and now I have started strength training. I highly suggest you get into an exercise routine. Not only did I have much more energy but it promotes fat loss and feels great to exercise distances I couldn't before. -Kurt

I have used a straw almost since getting home; it makes thick protein shakes go down easier. I have never had a problem with swallowing too much air. Perhaps I am doing it wrong, er, right?

I had my gallbladder out a long time ago. It was also laproscopic, an overnight stay in the hospital and about a week's recovery at home before going back to work. The usual lifting limitations for a few weeks. I don't remember much pain, since they don't cut the diaphragm. -Kurt

Great job - you are an inspiration. -Kurt

I was sleeved on June 21st, so a few weeks before you. Live in NJ and happy to be sleeve friends (if you want a guy's perspective). You can find me on WhatsApp and FB Messenger. Or private message me here for contact info. -Kurt

I know some people have had real struggles with getting time off, fear of telling their supervisors, etc. Fortunately I had none of those issues. While I didn't announce it to the world, those I work with and my leadership chain knew well in advance what I was doing. By being open about the surgery I have gotten a tremendous amount of support. I had plenty of accumulated sick leave and was able to telework for two weeks straight without any problems. I was concerned early on that there would be some sort of stigma attached to having bariatric surgery but I have never found anyone (at work, neighbors, etc) who has been anything but supportive. I hope that you end up with a similar experience. -Kurt

When I get to the stage I can eat something crunchy I plan on trying this recipe: http://foodwishes.blogspot.com/2013/10/cheesy-crackers-simple-joy-of-homemade.html

I am at the soft food stage - shredded chicken is one of the "allowed" foods. Next week I can try low-carb wraps. -Kurt

I took two chicken breasts, covered them with wing sauce, and put them in my slow cooker for about 5 hours. They were juicy and shredded easily. I put the meat in a plastic container, added some addition wing sauce and shook it up to coat evenly. Tonight I took a couple of ounces, put it in a bowl with some more wing sauce and a sprinkling of cheddar cheese. 40 seconds in the microwave and I had tangy buffalo chicken. My stomach had no problem with the spice (YMMV).