focusonthefuture

I appreciate your reply

I don't log my calories. Protein Shake for Breakfast, lunch is something I make or the workplace cafeteria's healthy option section - example would be grilled chicken breast, salad. dinner is typically something I make versus a take out option like a chicken gyro salad. I never felt the urge to track my food because I thought I was where I was supposed to be, perhaps I'll start.

Working out is an hour to an hour and a half. Split between cardio and machines. Cardio is always the same, stairmaster followed by eliptical and/or stationary bike. Machines would be different muscle groups, like back and abs. Ironically I meet with a personal trainer for the first time tomorrow.

I was told six months. It's supposed to hit you more quickly and stay in your system longer, along with slow down weight loss. Interestingly, the literature shows that having gastric bypass is more likely to increase your risk of being an alcoholic.

Hey

I started this journey about a year ago, had surgery at the end of July 2017

Started on the high side of 460

Pre surgery weight loss had me start around 430

I'm now in the 350s, going to the gym 2-3/week as well

I'm asking because my doctor's office says that I'm at where I need to be, that I should be expecting between 10-15lbs/month lost, I'm at 11lbs/month, I'm going to the gym and building strength and endurance through cardio and weighlifting, I'm sure some of my mass is also with building muscles. I see that some people here have posted numbers that kill my own. I'm not sure where I'm supposed to be.

Complicating matters, I'm in a relationship. Where around two months ago, I had lost 60 pounds after surgery, she had a coworker who had lost 100lbs. There were times I plateaud and not lose weight for a week or two, there were times I would guestimate my weights and be inconsistent. These things were unintentional but they eventually combined where she concluded that I was lying about my weights and/or not losing weight quickly enough.

I can say my weight feels like a deal breaker - she agrees that I have lost weight but I still look like a smaller version of myself, but wherever we go I'm still the biggest person around. People in her life ask her questions about me, she feels the need to defend herself. We get along great, but we've spoken about my weight being the major roadblock in our relationship.

So yeah, I'm frustrated. I'd appreciate advice and insight. Does my relationship have the writing on the wall? Are my numbers **** or are they where they need to be?

Congratulations and good luck!

I had back pain, I think mine was because I had poor posture after the surgery (learning forward was less painful than sitting up straight and stretching out my belly). This did start in some degree while I was in the hospital but continued after as well. The surgeon's main initial concern was if there was a leak (typically shoulder pain but it can be back pain, per him) and it did not appear to be.

I don't mind cooking, it's the cleaning up after that I hate. I make quite the mess. I'm not sure what phase you're in, so these may not all be appropriate.

Things that I do on the convenience side:

Soups, Cottage cheese, sugar free Jello, pre cooked meats (mostly chicken breast), canned/frozen vegetables (ie green beans), there is a low carb milk out there as well.

I would also throw in sashimi, mexican food (ie chipotle ordered without the no-no toppings), etc.

One idea is that Effexor comes in two different types, extended release and immediate release. I am not familiar with doses of effexor xr above 300mg a day. Talk to your psychiatrist about this. If it was me, I would give the office a call and give them a heads up.

I'm another person who had surgery on 7/25. Doing well, still some lingering pain but nothing that needs tylenol let alone opiates. Still feeling tired and a little wore down. Down 30lbs!

Here is a paper. Short version, we do not know why but there Calcium and Iron together do not mix. There is a chance your body will adapt and you can take them together, but I wouldn't wouldn't put my health at risk for it.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21462112

My two cents are it's important to space out your medications. Your body is capable of only absorbing so much at a time.

Other things to consider: Talk to your surgeon or dietician if you need B12. Definitely necessary after bypass, not sure with others.

Kind of an aside, if your goal is to be in ketosis, you can buy ketosis test trips pretty cheap.

It should be in the paperwork somewhere, or you can call the surgeon's office. Mine was 10 pounds for four weeks and then no weight restriction afterwards, no gym restrictions after four weeks either.

Speak to your suboxone prescribing doctor and also to your surgeon. I worked directly with a doctor that prescribed suboxone. This was part of a teaching hospital in a rural area with two main hospitals about 15 minutes apart. The suboxone doctor would coordinate with the surgeon to create a pain management plan after surgery. It was easier to do on patients with lower doses than on higher doses of suboxone (aka more wiggle room). This is by no means what everybody does but I thought it was effective. Another resource to ask would be your outpatient pharmacist or to see if the doctors need to speak to the hospital pharmacist. Good luck!

Here is an interesting article

http://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/news/20120618/after-bariatric-surgery-alcohol-abuse-more-likely

Though I did not get my procedure at Tufts, someone on the forums posted this. I like how detailed it is. What might be helpful is that the last stage, stage 5, has six times you eat per day. Perhaps this can be helpful. Good luck.

https://www.tuftsmedicalcenter.org/~/media/Brochures/TuftsMC/Patient Care Services/Departments and Services/Weight and Wellness Center/GBP Diet Manual12611.ashx

Dietician said cup in an hour, no speed recommendation other than start off slowly. I can do about three ounces at a time (but I know when I get to soft/regular food, that volume will be impossible). Post op 7/25

So after insurance approval (was sent very quickly after my 6th monthly weigh in and approved quickly), I was told to wait for the surgeon's scheduler to call me. They called me in around two weeks and offered me a time six weeks later, I asked if that was the closest and they said no... I got in for four weeks after. So around six weeks after approval.

I had dreams about hot dogs and pizza, but only while I was still half zonked out on anesthesia after surgery. Maybe it wasn't the drugs... glad to know I'm not the only one!

That's wonderful, congratulations!

My first question is mechanics: Though tiniest sips sounds good, pay attention to how much air you are swallowing. You are definitely experiencing more symptoms than I am but I didn't have anything until the very very end of day two and it was two bites of Jello (I had surgery a week ago).

My personal policy and my main recommendation is to call the surgeon/surgeon's office and say what's going on. I think they'll be the best ones to get answers from.

I think insurance company is good, but it may also be good to go through your doctors office. If they need to modify things, it will have to be on their end. Not worth it to be the middle man between your doctor and the insurance company. Also great to get things in writing if possible so there's no run around in the future.

A fellow 7/25er. I'm also feeling pretty exhausted and struggling with not just sleeping my days away. Feeling weak, a little winded when going up a flight of stairs. I'm liking my shakes and Soups, but missing solid food too.

I had my temptations. My way of dealing with it was to acknowledge that these things were going on and recognize potential traps. Where is the food coming from that you were tempted with?

My temptations were "extra" food that lingered around the house like popcorn and cheesecake in the freezer, and fast food coupons almost giving the food away for free. Then it was to promise myself to eat what I was supposed to and see how bad the temptation was then.

Good luck, I'm post op less than a week and still struggle with the same temptations. Thankfully I am able to feel full most of the time so it's easier to say no to.

Fantastic news spindoctor! Rest up and I hope the pain meds keep everything manageable.

I had my surgery, too and made it home today. Still having some pain, but doing well overall

I appreciate the advice and insight, my program doesn't want me to use straws because you get too much air. I suppose if you drink carefully that may not be a big issue... something to consider.