march1

Hey guys it's been a while since I posted. I'm very happy with my progress and new stomach. I'm down 43 lbs from my all time high before surgery. Is this in line with your experience in terms on weight loss?

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi y’all I’m in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn and was sleeved at Columbia on 12/28/17. I’m down 20+ pounds and have my first post op meeting with the nutritionist tomorrow and will need to make some tweets most likely.

I didn’t wait and had coffee 2 days after surgery and every day thereafter. Not advising you do this but I was fine. Had a latte this morning after 12/28 sleeve.

SERIOUSLY!!!

My only cheat has been coffee everyday since sleeve +1 day. I’ve had a small mug each day and one day I had an espresso. There hasn’t been any real consequences except the one day I didn’t have anything but coffee and went out on a 40 minute walk / errand. I was pretty exhausted and felt bad and spent after that. Now I know to have Water and a Protein Shake too before doing anything strenuous.

In a little over 8 hours I will be arriving at the hospital to have VSG. Wish me luck!

Hey, I’m your 12/28 buddy. I’m going to try for two Protein Shakes today as I was able to have one yesterday. Water hasn’t been a problem. How about for you? I find warm tea to go down nicely. All in all, I feel like I’m recovering well. Took a 25 minute walk outside today. Felt good.

Hi I’m new to the forum, my surgery is on January 11th, I’m on my 3rd day of the pre op diet, it’s actually not that hard for me I’m very pleased with that. But I’m feeling very nervous I know it’s just because it’s coming up fast, was anyone else a bundle of nerves at this point I guess I’m just needing some encouraging words.

Let’s buddy up! Good luck tomorrow people. We got this.

Hi there! Always good to have NYC in the house! And enjoy that Vitamix! I am in Washington Heights now, recent transplant from Bushwick. Best two decisions I've made in the past year was moving out of Bushwick for Washington Heights (there's green up there! lots of it!) and having a gastric sleeve. I know the former is probably heresy to BK devotees.
I did my surgery memorial day - my stats are in my signature, but it's gone pretty smoothly for me. My surgery was self-pay due to insurance and I did that in Mexico - which was also simple and straightforward and managed the preop work and post op work my PCP who is affiliated with NYU.
Being on this board is a good structure, I've learned a lot here that has been very helpful about various topics.
Since surgery I've lost 115 lbs, and about to cross from obese to overweight according to BMI charts and have fallen in love with exercise/working out (actually, it's better to say I have fallen in love with the benefits of that).
You will have a blast prepping and cooking with your background - I should be asking you for tips!

Thanks for reaching out. Always good to connect with those who have are further down the path. Glad to heart Mexico worked out, it seems popular due to our f’ed up healthcare system.

Congratulations on your success so far. I’m excited too! I also find this app very helpful and it’s endearing that people pay it forward.

Wow, 115 pounds is amazing. Go girl! I wish you continued success and a great holiday and new year.

I have a small cuisinart food processor, a Blendtec blender and a cold press juicer. I use my juicer and food processor the most right now and it’s seasonal.

I am making a lot of savory dishes that get portioned out and frozen, in particular meat and bean dishes. Doing the work that needs to be done with garlic, onions, peppers, herbs, shallots, etc just works best in a small food processor.

I prefer juices over veg smoothies but truthfully the fiber would do me good and I may lay off on the veg juicing. You can just get a lot more bang for your buck nutrient wise with juicing so it’s a trade off for the post op patient and my juicing is 90 pct veg and herbs with a boat load of ginger. I don’t do as much juicing in the winter. Not sure why, probably just all the growing up years of savory and saucy things when it’s cold.

The one kitchen accessory that has been shockingly valuable is a high quality knife sharpener. I cook and prep food so much more often now. I am a single New Yorker and this demographic lives on take out and dining out. But that just doesn’t work for me. I am now heavily invested in food prep and cooking and I love it.

I don’t use my slow cooker as much as I thought I would. It’s a hand me down from a friends upgrade to the instapot. I haven’t quite nailed how to use this without the incredible dulling of flavor that comes with the slow cooker but truthfully I haven’t done as much experimentation as I could have. I did do a Boston but in the slow cooker recently for a dinnner party to make pulled pork tacos that turned out really well.

Hi all,

I am trying to stock up on a few drink choices to have in the house to try right after surgery besides or in addition to Water. I am getting sugar free ice pops and high Protein both and was looking for some kind of what enhancer, but what? What else should I try? Also planning on trying warm tea.

I am only buying a small amount of each so I can find something I like and then buy more. I am also going to try this: Bariatric Choice Low-Carb Liquid Protein fruit Drink Concentrate - Green Tea & Cranberry Drink Mix To Enhance Water.

What else?

Thanks!

Do you use a blender or food processor more for your new diet / lifestyle? I need one or the other and I'm not sure which one or what the difference is... Any thoughts? Which do you use more and do you still use it 1 year plus after your surgery?

Thanks!

Hello again,

My surgery is 9 days away and amongst other things, I am wondering about drinking coffee or espresso after my surgery. I know it's a diuretic so is bad for staying hydrated especially until I have mastered that.

Knowing this, I currently drink 2 cups of coffee per day plus a quad espresso on average and have for years. What was your experience with drinking coffee and or expresso after your surgery? How long after surgery did you wait for your first caffeine / coffee? How has your coffee intake changed and what is it like now?

Curious minds want to know.

Thanks!

December 28th...tic toc, tic toc...

Hi all,

I wanted to make sure I have everything I need for the first couple week post surgery, here is what I have so far. Please add anything you think is a must have or would be helpful to have in the house ahead of time:

• Bariatric Vitamins (the ones recommended by my nutritionist)
• Gas X
• Laxative
• A scale for weighing food
• Protein Shakes

What else should get food / liquid wise? What else?

Thanks!

Hey Sleeved ones,

I know there is a lot going on physically after surgery, and the process varies, but can you quantify about how long it will be until My body is healed from the surgery? Speaking about pain in stomach, incisions, abdomen, etc.

Thanks!

Hey y’all,

There is a feature in the Baritastic app called ‘connect to my program’ where it asks for a code provided by your program or surgen.

What is this code and where does one obtain it? My doctors office at Columbia Presbyterian in NYC has no idea what this is. Any incite appreciated.

Thanks.

Hey y’all,

Is there a best single app for the following. Also, am I leaving anything out that I should track?

Calorie and Vitamin intake

food log

Drinking and eating reminders

Weightloss tracking

Exercise

Thanks in advance.

Yes my mom thankfully. Plus she’s a nurse but she’s not too excited about the whole thing. Also worried about my medications I take and it will affect those. Dr said no but it still makes me nervous.

I’m just scared I won’t be able to keep anything down and will be nauseated all the time. And getting dehydrated scares me too. I have anxiety as it is so I worry anyway.

Mine is 12/27 and I’m nervous as heck!

Let’s do it. I’m 12/28. I’d be happy to stay in touch.

Greetings all,

I am about to start my two week pre op liquid diet tomorrow. I just finished a fair well steak and oysters with my family. I’ve been drinking Protein Shakes for Breakfast and lunch for about a month but as of tomorrow it’s three meals a day. I have a few misc questions as I get closer.

1. Should I get a scale for weighing food at home until I can visually know correct portion sizes? Any other suggestions for portion sizing?

2. What about measuring cups for tracking Water intake? Anyone find this useful?

3. What phone apps would you recommend for either tracking Weightloss, caloric intake, or eating / drinking reminders?

Another question which maybe more suitable for a separate post but what the heck: I have had some depression and anxiety in the past (not food or weight related) and although I’ve been free of this for around 2 years I’m nervous about the surgery and metabolic change triggering an imbalance and reoccurrence. Anyone have any thoughts / first hand experience with any of this kind of thing?

Thanks to all.

I tried it without nicotine it was absolutely disgusting to me. I sold all my mods and got rid of everything. I don’t feel the need to smoke or vape at all. It’s how you feel. And if someone who has never vaped before tells you to quit just ignore it. But nicotine is extremely dangerous to use after surgery.