sillykitty

I go through times when I feel hungry and have cravings as well. But I figured out it is head hunger vs. physical hunger. If I eliminate triggers, like food on TV, or food smells, then I go back to not being hungry. I live alone, so it's easier for me, but could you do that as well? I tend to crave savory over sweet, but I do like Trader Joe's Cold Brew Latte Dessert Bars, they are only 40 calories https://www.traderjoes.com/digin/post/cold-brew-latte-dessert-bars

That's great, congrats!

Let me start off by saying I'm totally against hard and fast rules, and nevers and can'ts. Everyone has to find what works for them. If you can manage the calories into your diet and still lose, then good for you. But I'm swearing off alcohol while I'm in my weight loss stage. At 3 week post op I went on a business trip that was a very social, cocktails and dinner every night event, and then stayed the weekend with a friend and did the lay by the pool thing. I had a beer or cocktail each day, rarely finishing it. I was more active than I had been since surgery. I got my protein in, tracked calories, and averaged 700/day for the week (including the alcohol). I got home, jumped on the scale, anticipating a big loss. Nope, up two pounds! So that did it for me. Also, your tastes may change post surgery. I was a big social drinker. I never drink alone at home, but put me out at a bar, I really like to have a drink, or two, or ten. But since surgery, I don't have that desire. I'm fine being out w friends, coworkers, clients and having water while everyone else is drinking, don't feel any need to join at all. The week I did drink, it wasn't out of desire, it was out of habit and not trying to attract any more attention than necessary to my changed diet and eating habits. So you may not even want that wine after surgery. Or if you do, your desire to lose weight might outweigh it.

I have recently started taking Whole Foods Prenatal Multivitamins. I love them because they don't upset my stomach like almost every other multivitamin I've taken. I can even take them on an empty stomach with no problems. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B074KKKMBQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I also take Calcium + Vitamin D, Biotin, and have gotten B12 shots from my surgeon's office, and will be changing that to a B12 nasal spray.

I have kept who knows down to as small of a group as possible. I have told all of my friends, as I wouldn't have friends who judge me. I have told only coworkers whom I consider friends, and they have been told it's completely confidential. For family, I've only told my mom and my sister. I have actively misled everyone one else I work with, my management, associates and clients. I'm in sales, so eating and drinking out is a multiple times a week thing. It's very obvious how little I'm eating, especially if it's one on one or with a small group or over more than one meal. I've had to say that my stomach has been bothering me lately. I also have to explain why I'm not drinking. For my extended family, I'm a little torn on that. We are close and see each other pretty often, so at some point I'm going to be asked. I don't really want to tell, but I wouldn't feel right lying, and it would also put my mom in a situation to lie for me. They are all loving and supportive. But I have an aunt who was a NUT in the 80's (and is now a psychologist) and is a lifelong calorie counter. I just know she will be silently judgemental, lol. My sister is the one person whom I had to tell, because I didn't want to lie to her. She has opinions on everything and they are usually 180 degrees from mine, lol! As predicted she told me I shouldn't have the surgery and just do yoga in the park w her. It's ironic because she is far from fit herself. One unexpected thing is my friends whom I have told have been so supportive, and not thought it was a big shameful thing at all, have gone on to tell people. I can't be mad at them because they just really didn't think it was something that needed to be kept a secret.

Personally, I would be hesitant to cut back on my protein. I totally get wanting to get yourself lower than 900 calories, but I think that lowering your protein would be self defeating. Where are those other 600 calories coming from? Can you cut back those instead? Or if you do want to eliminate the protein shake, can you make the protein up by adding unflavored protein to your savory dishes? As far as still feeling great with less protein, I think that is normal. Protein deficiencies don't show themselves overnight. I became intolerant to whey protein and for a while was not able to meet my protein goals until I found alternatives. I did some reading at that time, to see if I could get away w a lower amount. What I found is that your body slowly pulls what it need from your muscles, bones and organs. So the effects most likely won't be felt until we get much older. That scared me, because being healthy and strong in my old age is important to me.

I agree with this. One of the things I had to learn after surgery was to separate head hunger from physical hunger. Seeing, smelling, thinking about food makes me feel hungry, and it is indistinguishable from physical hunger. It took me some time to realize, if I didn't have a trigger, I wasn't hungry. Since realizing that, it has been way easier to reason with myself that if I'm feeling hungry, it's not real, and a protein shake will do. Everyone is different as far as recovery. I had no issue with gas at all, neither surgical gas nor gi gas. I'd suggest talking to the Dr about the long hotel stay. I stay at hotel frequently for work, but the thought of being in one for ten days straight makes me want to climb the walls. I would just want to know the reasoning behind it, and if the reasoning doesn't apply to my situation then to ask for an exception.

I have been using this silicon gel. I'm not sure if it's made a difference and it's pricey. ttps://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TBYW74/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s02?ie=UTF8&th=1 I just ordered this silicone tape. I'm hopeful that each applicaion will last a couple of days and it'll work out to be more affordable. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VE9AL8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Congrats, you look amazing and happy!

I think everyone is different. I am almost 8 weeks post op and my capacity for any solid food is pretty exactly 1 oz. Soft food or liquids I don't feel any restriction on, even surprising foods that seem solid like edamame. My neighbor had the same surgeon and is now 4.5 months post op, and she still has a 1 oz capacity. I asked my surgeon's PA about it this week, and she assured me it was normal, a desired outcome, and not to push it. I personally LOVE having such a small capacity. A majority of the time I'm making good choices. But times I give into cravings, or am traveling and lack good choices, it really limits the amount of damage I can do to my weight loss.

I am bottom heavy as well. The last place I gained weight was my stomach. When I started losing I expected to lost it from my stomach first. Nope, most of my weight has come from my thighs! The worst thing is, it's looking like I'm going to need a thigh lift of some kind, ugh!

Yes! My first few weeks I was fine on whey, and I was getting most of my protein from shakes with whey protein as the main ingredient. Then I started getting extreme nausea about 1 hr or so after ingesting whey. Whey from shakes, protein bars, protein water. I started looking for non whey alternatives. I tried some vegan shakes, powders and bars, but could not tolerate the taste. What I have found that works is Muscle Milk Pro & Medifast soups, bars and powdered shakes. There are some other non whey premade Shakes that I can also handle, EAS Advant Edge Carb Control, Slim Fast & Lean Shakes, but they aren't as protein dense, and taste worse then the Muscle Milk. Hope that helps!

I waaayyyy overbought preparing for surgery. I just didn't, and still don't have an appetite. Things I bought and didn't eat, or barely ate; sf popsicles, sj jello (premade & powdered), cottage cheese, oatmeal, instant mashed potatoes, soup, so much soup, sf pudding (premade and powdered), frozen fruit to blend into my protein shakes, gas x, mira lax, microwave protein muffins, beans (canned and dried), canned chicken, turkey lunch meat, apple sauce, powerade zero. I'm sure there is more I can't recall. Between all the items above and becoming intolerant of whey protein, and not being able to use my protein powders, premade shakes, protein water etc., I wasted 100's of dollars. I'd also echo check with your program on your post op diet. Mine did not allow juice, or any non protein liquid calories. I was also on full liquids, as opposed to clear, as soon as I was discharged from the hospital. So that meant protein drinks from day 1.

I overpacked. The only things I ended up using were, tooth brush, toothpaste, change of clothes to go home, phone, iPad, chargers, chapstick, hairband to make a messy bun.

I'm super envious as well! I'm almost 8 weeks, down 32 lbs and wearing the same clothes! Your results are great, congratulations!

This isn't about your WLS, this is about you being married to an a**hole. While you are undergoing this physical transformation, consider transforming other parts of your life as well. You're accepting and making excuses for someone being malicious and calling you names. People who know their self worth don't put up with that behavior.

My surgeon wrote me a prescription for Nascobal, and my insurance also doesn't cover it. I found this, which is $130 off each week's dose http://www.nascobal.com/vitaminb12/save-on-nascobal-with-a-co-pay-card I haven't used it yet, so not positive it will work. Also this site gives you the prices at pharmacy's local to you https://www.wellrx.com/prescriptions/nascobal/ For my area independent pharmacy's are $60 per 4 weeks supply cheaper than the national drug store chains. So if the co-pay card works, I'd only pay $10 for a 4 weeks supply.

I've gotten a couple of B12 shots from my surgeons office. I have a prescription for Nascobal nasal spray going forward, although it is not covered by my insurance, grr! I just need to find a complete calcium pill that doesn't upset my stomach

Premier Protein Chocolate was my favorite protein drink, until I became intolerant of whey. Now Muscle Milk Pro Chocolate is my go to. I struggle with vitamins making me nauseous as well. The only chewable I was mostly ok with is the Centrum Chewable Adult. Now that I can take pills I've switched to Whole Foods prenatal, which I am loving, it causes no nausea! https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B074KKKMBQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I was talking to my surgeon's PA about struggling getting my vitamins in due to all of them causing nausea, and having to be taken on a full stomach. She told me she has the same issue, and told me she takes Whole Foods Prenatal vitamins. I ordered some, and I'm amazed, they don't upset my stomach at all. Being able to take vitamins on an empty stomach makes it much more likely I'll get them in! https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B074KKKMBQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We did a buffet brunch at a restaurant with my extended family. Only my mom knows about my surgery. I was pleasantly surprised that no one noticed I barely ate. My capacity is only 1 oz, so just moving stuff around doesn't really work. I was prepared to tell if someone had asked, as I didn't want to mislead my family, but grateful no one did. The hardest part was paying $40!

I did. I was traveling for work & got a very grudging ok from my Dr to do move to soft foods. I had no issues with it at all.

I work from home, so I technically took no time off. But I had an easy surgery and could have been back at a desk job after a week, or even sooner.

I try to take Trader Joe's Chewables, because they are very complete. But they are hard on my stomach. When my stomach isn't feeling up to the Trader Joe's ones, I take the Centrum Chewables, much easier on my stomach.

I'm glad to hear that most are doing well. I'm almost 7 weeks out, and down 30 lbs. I'm a little disappointed in that, tbh! And to add to the frustration I seemed to have entered my second stall, ugh! Also, I don't look any different, and my clothes fit the same, double ugh! Overall I feel really good. My main issue is I get nausea when I have an empty stomach, and drinking water makes it worse. Since I don;t want to eat all the time, this is frustrating. And I'm not good with water to begin with, so this isn't helping. I've also not been getting my protein in. I became intolerant of whey protein, so I had to experiment with alternatives. I think I found some that work, fingers crossed! In good news, my energy is great. I was really easily exhausted for a while, but I think a B12 shot solved that. I'm back to my normal work/travel schedule without any problems. I'm getting better at navigating business meals and dining out. Oh, and the best part, I'm literally never physically hungry! I have cravings if I'm smelling food, or looking at a menu, etc., but the lack of hunger makes it easier to make good choices. Even if I do give into cravings at eat something less than ideal, my stomach capacity is only 1 oz of solid food. So it's not like I can have a huge set back! And it seems that I have an iron stomach so far (except whey protein!). I've eaten every type of protein it seems without issue, no issues with vegetables either. I've only had limited starches, but no issue so far. I haven't really had much sugar or sweets at all.