Creekimp13

As bizarre as this sounds....eating a little sugar is the worst thing you can do for really fierce sugar cravings. Particularly if it's refined sugar. Don't do it....it'll set you up for a blood glucose spike, followed by an insulin spike, followed by rebound hunger with more intense sugar craving. What you can do...is eat a moderate amount of a low glycemic carb. Oatmeal. One slice of low glycemic bread. Beans. Something that will raise blood sugar without the spike....and the rebound hunger. Do make sure you're eating enough calories. Starvation isn't a good diet strategy.

Stalls will come and go as your body adjusts. Don't panic, it's absolutely normal. Your body has a lot of natural defenses to fight against starvation and trauma....so sometimes you'll maintain shockingly well even when you're not taking in many calories. Wait it out....eventually, it all catches up and you have a sudden loss. Water will also play havoc in the first few weeks. This, too, shall pass:) Congrats on your surgery! Be patient...those fantastic results everyone is crowing about will come your way, too....just stick to your program.

Another vote for not much pain. My surgery was super easy. James's advice about walking is critical. Get up and stroll as soon as you can and you will feel better. I have had dental procedures that were more painful and debilitating than this surgery.

Rather than focusing on the very low risk of surgery complications.....focus on the very REAL risk of obesity related cancers, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and reduced mobility. If you frame it in your mind as something you must do to prevent harm coming to you....instead of something that could cause harm, you might be less afraid. The odds are in your favor of the surgery doing much more good than harm. PS...the first time I went in for a consult for weight loss surgery was almost 20 years ago:) Got it done in December and wish i'd done it years ago:)

1, Crush your meds and put the powder in sugar free Cool Whip....they'll slide right down...less nasty taste. 2. For the first couple of weeks get your protein from protein shakes. Alternate each hour between clear fluids and protein shakes. Get four ounces of clear fluid one hour, and four ounces of protein shake the next. Do this every hour you are awake and you will make your goals. Protein shake counts as fluid, too. One ounce per 15 minutes will get you there. 3. I like Smooth Move tea. It's gentle and sold in the herbal teas at most stores.

I think it's just your abdominal muscle healing. When you stretch...it stretches the muscle...and that can break down a little of the scar tissue. It's normal and will be ok:) I wouldn't worry unless it gets gets considerably worse, you get new bulges, or you have other symptoms. A little pain at a new incision as it heals is very common...particularly when you start to feel good enough to stretch a little:)

Kadidy...when you go to grief counseling, one of the first things they tell you is to try not to make any major decisions that require major change for the first year. No big moves, no changes of career, nothing that might be influenced by emotions you might come to later regret. Going through this surgery is emotionally hard. You lose one of your lifelong coping tools...food. Without it, it's easy to fall victim to even more harmful vices, particularly during times of intense grief. I think it's wonderful that you want to address your health and start working on your weight, but I think slowing down might be an appropriate approach. Give yourself time to find new comfort habits and new ways of dealing with stress while working on your eating habits and exercise. All of these things will be an important part of your success. I'm not saying not to do weight loss surgery....I wish I'd done mine years ago. I'm just saying...give yourself a chance to grieve and adjust. I think taking on two major life changes at the same time might be too much. Please take care of yourself and know I'm rooting for you.

Whooohooo! Hot damn, girlie:) You go! Great work:)

Karen, you need a professional therapist, not a message board. I am so sorry you're dealing with these terrible mental health issues...I know they're devastating, and I know how they can rob your quality of life. I think the place to start is with a really good therapist who specializes in anxiety disorders. I am so sorry you have to deal with these problems. Wishing you the very best.

Everyone says bone broth. I'm not a huge broth fan.

For heaven's sake, don't be ashamed. You're a lovely lady, and you were lovely even when you were bigger. But I'm glad you're healthier, more comfortable and happier now:) Here's to your health and nice new figure! Nice work!

I took Emend for nausea. $200 for one pill the morning of surgery, but it was more worth it than I can say. I had zero nausea. Absolutely none. No nausea, no vomiting. My surgeon is weird. We had to take a big dose of Tylenol the night before, and drink a huge amount of white grape juice the night before. Before surgery, we got another medication patch for nausea behind our ear...and a shot to prevent clots. I think we got the anti-clot shots every 12 hours until we went home. And another medication for motion sickness that helps with abdominal surgery nausea. We went home with Zofran (for nausea...I stopped taking it when I learned it was optional and I had no nausea) Omeprazole (antacid for healing...to be taken for 3 months after surgery) and Tylenol with Codeine in suspension for pain (took only one dose...the night I got home for a good night's sleep) I did take regular Tylenol for a couple of days. I was taken off my Lisinopril and diuretic after surgery, and my bupropion. I was told to monitor my blood pressure daily...and to call if it went over 160 on top or 90 on the bottom...it did neither. I haven't had either of these meds since and my BP today was 124/84. (and falling) I was allowed to restart my bupropion at 6 weeks (it's time released)...but I opted against it for now. Have not missed it. The only maintenance med I still take...is thyroid. I will take Omeprazole for a couple more months. And of course, vitamins:)

Lookin sharp, there, Beautiful:) Good work!

Hope you feel better soon. Been there...and (over)done that:)

I think Stevia is disgusting. I use sucralose (Splenda)...by the bucket....and love it.

Ouch! That wasn't the smoothest move....and sounds exactly like something I'd do. I'd be really surprised, however, if you did anything that caused any real damage. 10 days out, some serious knitting has already occurred. They put really heavy duty suture material in the muscle wall, too. So, while the sutures probably pulled like crazy and caused some irritation...I doubt you did anything dangerous. If you're scared...keep track of your temp and your heart rate. If both are in the normal range and don't start going up....all is well. obviously, if you notice heat that doesn't improve, or new bulges ....or systemic symptoms like nausea or spreading pain...seek help right away. I think you just overdid it...and pulled on those healing tissues in a way that let you know it was the wrong thing to do. Ice packs might help.

hdbuttahz, if you slept for 24 hours when you got home, you're probably really really dehydrated. You need to sip, sip, sip, and you might not be able to make up for that lost time on your own. Please pay special attention to the symptoms of dehydration. If you think you're in trouble, call your doc and maybe even consider going to urgent care for some fluids IV. Not only will dehydration make you feel run over by a truck...it can also increase your risk of blood clots. Pour yourself four little one ounce cups of water every single hour you're awake and challenge yourself to drink one of them every 15 minutes. Drink anything you can tolerate....but please drink an ounce every fifteen minutes you're awake. I totally understand feeling discouraged and freaked out....have so been there. But seriously, girl...hydration is critically important...and that floaty feeling you're describing concerns me. Sip, sip, sip. And you're dead right...no one gets it who hasn't been there. One of my discharge nurses told me when I went home that the most common cause of emergency dehydration was sleeping for extended periods of time after arriving home. She actually cautioned us to set a timer and take 30 minute naps...so that we could get our water in each hour and not get behind. Pay attention to the color of your urine. if it's very dark, you might be suffering dehydration. Pick up the skin on the back of your hand...it should snap back down. if it sort of tents and oozes down...you're dehydrated.

I keep thinking of the same thing being told to someone with obstructive coronary artery disease... "Did you do it on your own and correct your diet to avoid a heart attack? Or did you do it the easy way and have that pesky triple bypass they said you needed. That's not natural! You must have low self esteem!"

You bet, Peaches:)

It's easier to help each other...and ourselves...when we are truthful. But again, to each, their own. Good luck to all:)

Email them and ask:) As long as they can get around to it at their convenience, it's not a bother, and the questions are important. Also, if you got any paperwork, make sure to read through it. Best wishes!

I think.... CW= current weight SW=surgical weight GW1= first goal weight

I really like the Mayo Clinic diet. Mason jar salads are my go-to for work lunches: https://www.buzzfeed.com/carolynkylstra/mason-jar-salads?utm_term=.ouMPZYqa0d#.buyv0YWnG7 One way hubby and I compromise on junk food...he is only allowed to bring things into the house that I genuinely don't like. LOL. All other junk had to be consumed at work. (Rumor has it, he has ice cream for lunch a lot) I'm not a fan of certain types of cookies and treats he likes...so those are the ones I'll pick up for him....ones I kinda...hate. Apples are wonderful things. With peanut butter, they're even better. If you have a fridge at work, keep cheese sticks, baby bellas, yogurt, single serving cottage cheese. Also keep low sugar oatmeal packets, sugar free pudding, and anything else you can find that's either low glycemic or high protein. Fruit and veggies are good food. Rediscover hard boiled eggs. Switch your bread to low gycemic options...pumpernickel, whole grain, sourdough...and cut your bread in half if you can. Try high protein wraps. Experiment with chia seed pudding, avacado toast, and homemade protein packs with nuts and cheese and dried fruit. Try several different protien shakes and bars....try for low sugar and high protein. See if you can get a metabolic test to get a true idea of your body fat and set a reasonable calorie goal. if you shoot too low, you'll cheat. Don't cheat...start working on a forever diet you can live with:)

Six months is the recommendation at my group, but the overwhelming advice it to avoid it permanently. I know some people do continue to drink after six months, but alcohol will feel different...both in absorption rate and the way it's digested. It might cause you problems, so approach reintroduction very cautiously.