Creekimp13

Sometimes it's just shitty genetics. If you don't believe this....look at dog breeds. There are damned few obese sight hounds in this world. Most Labradors would eat themselves to death if given unlimited food. Terriers and huskies generally (but not always) can self-regulate a free-feeding arrangement and maintain healthy weight. Try this with dachshunds, bassets, cockers, or pugs...and they'll be round little foot stools in months. Any vet will tell you that some dog breeds are much more prone to obesity, and others are almost universally fit. Sometimes it really is just the luck of the draw.

Sports bra? Get a bigger one so it's not so snug...but offers some support and camouflage.

Watch FluffyChix posts. She's VERY into creative recipes and has a bazillion of them....and she just had her surgery a week ago. She'd an awesome resource for foodies.

When that happened to me a couple times...I found that breathing deeply and walking really helped. The deep breathing causes the diaphragm to push down on stomach and stimulate peristalsis. Walking just helps jiggle things loose and gravity helps. Breath deep and walk. It will help. Drinking liquids might make it worse. Did for me when food was stuck for a bit in the beginning.

Just suffer through it a day at a time. Was the worst part for me...worse than surgery.

Extreme eating wasn't good for you...and extreme exercise isn't either. (nor is extreme calorie restriction) Work on moderation and making loving decisions for yourself. Think of yourself as some other person you have to take care of. You'd never make them work out until they were sick, and you'd never overfeed them to the point of being unhealthy. Do the same for you. You're worth loving, thoughtful care taking. Moderation is normal and healthy. Make the new normal....more normal and less extreme.

I was never an exercise person. I mean...I like active things, but in the past ten years or so as my weight crept up....not so much. I started walking with a Fitbit in June. Super easy goal at first....and just worked up a little at a time. The water aerobics is an excuse to get into that incredibly hot pool! LOL Love that thing! And I figure, while I'm there, I might as well circuit train a little. Kinda fun to use all the different weights and stuff, and you do a little cardio before the circuit. Reading that, it sounds like I'm big into exercise...i'm really not. I just picked up the walking habit and like to swim. LOL

I walk about 7 miles a day and do cardio, circuit training and water aerobics in a heated pool twice a week. I'm on my elliptical a little each day. I'm COLD. All the freakin time. Exercise doesn't help...except when I'm doing it.

Well...during the act of exercise, you'll warm up. But no, it won't make you warmer when you quit. This is how my doctor explained it: Your body has noticed you're starting to starve to death. It wants you to survive, and it has all sorts of defense mechanisms to help you survive that it has developed over thousands of evolutionary years of famines, bad hunting seasons, bad weather, bad conditions. It has learned to survive when the calories dwindle. Heat is a MAJOR expense calorie-wise. So your body goes.....Need to keep your core and brain warm, but your limbs? Meh....we can turn the thermostat down a little and save some energy expense. You won't die from cold limbs. It's uncomfortable, but you'll live. The only way to warm up....is to eat more calories.....which is counterproductive during the losing phase. So what can you do? Invest in sweaters, cardigans, hoodies, and lots of layers. Take a hot water bottle to bed with you. Wear lots of socks. Take showers and baths. Down throws and blankets. Supposedly, when we hit maintenance, it improves.

Good job, Linda:) You're ahead of the curve!

Really brave post, Kate. Thanks for trusting us with it to help others.

So often we get the question here.. Am I losing enough weight? I don't think I'm losing fast enough. I'm six hours/days/weeks from surgery and I've lost only 2/12/40 pounds. What's WRONG with me? Am I FAILING? Never fear people. I just read this in an article in a health magazine: Weight Loss by Month Since weight loss is reported as a percentage, the number of pounds you shed per month depends on where you started. It also depends on the time since surgery. Findings in the October-December 2013 issue of the "Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons" suggested that people having sleeve gastrectomy lost more of their excess weight in the first few months after surgery. In this study of 100 patients, on average, subjects lost about 18 percent of their excess weight in the first month. Average weight loss by the end of 6 months was 50 percent of the excess body weight, and by the end of the first year, they had lost about 63 percent of their excess weight. Now, really pay attention to what this says... 18 percent in the first month. If you have 100 pounds of excess weight....you will lose on average...about 18 pounds that first month. Those of ya'll who have only 60 or so pounds to lose....can expect to lose around 11 pounds that big first month. And it all narrows from there. Typically, a little less loss each month. So please don't panic if you've got 85 pounds to lose....and you're not dropping 46 pounds a month like a Dr. Nowzaradan patient! If you've got 85 to lose....and you drop 15 pounds that first month? You're average. You're doing great! If you've got 50 pounds to lose (cause ya did well with your pre-op diet and you're kinda short)....and you only lose 9 pounds the first month? You're average! Good job! If you lose a little more or a little less than average? That's still OK!!!! Everyone's a little different and people's bodies love to stall and make them crazy:) Just wanted to provide a little perspective to those feeling discouraged because they haven't lost the massive amounts of weight you see on the TV shows and Youtube channels:) Stick to the program. Trust. Be Patient. You got this:)

Research two questions: What percent of people who lose weight through diet and exercise alone...maintain that loss at 5 years? What percent of people who lose weight with surgery...maintain that loss at 5 years? At some point, it becomes necessary to surgically overcome a metabolic set-point. I'm not saying it's impossible without surgery....but the odds are really brutal. Look into that data to make an informed decision.

I miss those 66 pounds (so far) like I'd miss an itchy pinworm infection:)

Fluff, you mean a 220 pound person who wants to be 150 pounds isn't gonna lose 50 pounds a month????? WHAT! Why the hell not??? Fluff! Where's my yellow brick road? LOLOLOL:)

Naieshait, you're gonna be ok, and you are losing weight. Keep clicking along and trust your program. The exercise you're doing is awesome, keep it up. So you had a damned cookie and chips. Everyone's going to experiment with junk again at some point. (Or close to everyone?) LOL. I sure have. For me, I kinda do test out riding that dragon a little....just to prove to myself that I can. Just to say...hey, I can have a bite of this and step away. I've got that control. It's important to me to do that. Some people think it's dangerous to do this and they avoid temptation completely. It's individual. I need to prove I can do it to feel in control. If I can't have a bite and walk away...food has won. Isn't that weird? For some people...if you take a bite...food has won. We're all different. But the key thing is....stepping away and not getting sucked into old habits. It can happen when we're feeling discouraged....so you really need to watch out for that! But you can do this. You're actually doing really, really well so far! Just gotta be patient. People who generally lose a little slower...lose a little longer...and at the end of 18 months, everyone loses about the same percentage of their excess body weight....if they stay on track and don't hit that slippery slope of bad habits.

Some of my loss is pre-surg (I started my diet in June)...but thanks:) I'm pretty happy with it:)

You got this. Sorry about your sis and grandpa....that had to be tough. Wishing you the best on your new start:)

My group did full liquid in two phases. Phase one was just protein drinks and clear liquids. We did this until we hit seven days. Then, at one week out, we added the yogurt, pudding and cream soups. As far as I can tell....bariatric surgeons have very little consistency on this stuff. Lots of different ideas out there. My personal advice? Do what you feel up to that you have permission to do. Take it slow. If you have nausea, slow up, drink clear fluids and protein drink for a while longer and give it time.

I've watched every single episode of My 600 pound life at least a half a dozen times. I put them on in the background when I'm on my elliptical, or walking laps around the house, or just generally trying to be active. They keep me moving. I love that Dr. Now is extremely compassionate, but also really honest. I love that he gives people multiple chances, but also doesn't accept manipulation and excuses. Have seen some fascinating people try...and it's pretty hard to play him. He's a smart cookie. I get extreme satisfaction from him telling it like it is, and letting people know he sees through their crazy behaviors. I like that he keeps people accountable. He seems to genuinely care. He's like my adorable little imaginary weight-loss fairy god father. I think of him saying..."Creekimp, how is your eating habit?" when I'm struggling. Or..."You did well, I'm proud of you!" when the scale moves and I hit my next mini-goal. I know this post sounds totally goofy...and it is. This is a ridiculous post. A REALLY ridiculous post. But it's true...I just love Dr. Now. He inspires me. Think about dedicating your life's work...to helping folks who are so heavy other clinics won't work with them. It takes an amazing person to dedicate their lives to helping a population that other doctors are afraid to work with. I dunno. I just wanted to sing his praises a minute and admit my goofy secret.... One of my support people...whose no-nonsense approach helps motivate me every single day....is this reality TV doc who doesn't know I exist. LOL. Thank you Dr. Now. You're wonderful:)

Talk to your doc about this. As long as it isn't getting worse, you could give it some time to see if it improves...but definitely bring it up at your 6 month check up and follow up on it if it's still bothering you in May.

That was a typo...I actually lost 36 pounds before surgery. My Bad. I love my group, and I believe in the research they're doing. I did a lot of looking around to find the right folks for me...because I knew I didn't want to do keto diet, and so many bariatric groups ban carbs. (No offense to those who benefit from keto...I know you're out there...it's just not for me) One cool thing about going with a major research hospital is that they serve a very diverse population....there are many patients at my clinic who are vegan, Kosher, Halal...folks from all over the world with all sorts of eating traditions. So, there's a great deal of care and flexibility put into customizing nutrition for each patient. Starvation is a serious factor in stalls. The body has a multitude of evolutionary defense mechanisms in place to protect us from famines, bad hunting seasons, stressful times of healing. There are hormones and enzymes...set point triggers that can save our butts in times of hardship and survival....but wreak havoc on dieting efforts! it's maddening. All of this said....it's very hard to work with a group when you're not following their advice. I don't think discussing variances from the program is ever a bad thing....but ultimately, you need to be working together with common goal with a common philosophy.

Damn the bad luck. Sorry, janet, that stinks!

http://www.laparoscopic.md/questions/coffee-safe-drink-after-bariatric-surgery

While caffeine itself doesn't cause ulcers, it can make them worse if they get started and it can increase acid production in the stomach. Your team want you to go through caffeine withdrawal now because you don't need extra negative symptoms later when you're trying to recover from surgery. Some doctors will allow you to drink one cup of regular coffee per day after surgery. Some doctors will allow only decaffeinated coffee. And some will ban both entirely. Some will allow it only after a few months. Also....doctors may be stricter with bypass patients because there is a particular type of leak they're prone to that is more affected by increased acid. Decaff was allowed on my presurg diet.