Kay07

It’s a gluten free bread recipe! [emoji7] I’m an unwilling gluten free person, and all of the recipes I’ve found to date at like 15+ weird ingredients.@fluffychix I kind of adore you right now!

Hi! I feel kind of guilty but also kind of happy my pre-op is only 2 days. My surgery will be on a Monday (hopefully soon!) and I have be liquid only for sat and Sunday until 8pm, then only water until midnight. But welcome! I felt like you too and stalked the forums like a creeper for weeks before putting on my big girl pants and joining in the discussions.

Thank you both so much! I am gluten-free, so seeing multiple options is great for me! How long post surgery did it take you to establish an exercise routine? Additionally, did you find yourself very low energy during the bouts of intense weight loss?

I wish you the absolute best tomorrow! I got a bit nervous for you when they said there was snow in the forecast... luckily it all melted immediately

Ohhh I so hope so!

Hi everyone! Looking for some quick thoughts on my concern: My nutritionist told me to aim for 1600- 1800 calories, which at first I was able to do with a few cheat foods. However I think I mentioned in another post that overeating has never really been my issue, but actually undereating. Eating only 1 meal a day because I tend to ignore my needs and focus on my job responsibilities. I've worked very hard to correct this, and have now been eating 5 meals a day religiously for over a month! (It is MUCH harder than it sounds, I gained 9lbs the first two weeks and promptly wanted to throw an epic tantrum that would rival my 4yo) So this brings me to a concern of mine: a recurring pattern in my myfitnesspal diaries of getting only 1100-1300 calories in per day. I am eating what feels like a ton of food. I eat so many veggies, I'm surprised I'm not green! I am always hitting my protein goal of 85g, but sometimes exceeding it because I'm testing out different protein shakes, and my nutritionist wanted me to practice eating a bit of protein in every meal. But I try to keep my fat and sugar intake low. I am eating a variety of things in moderation, but I still can't really get above 1300. My concern is that maybe I am going too low? I don't feel hungry, but I guess I'm afraid I am sabotaging my diet? But if I try to add in heartier things, the fat content pikes. And if I try to eat more healthier things, I end up feeling like a stuffed Turkey on Thanksgiving. I KNOW the pre-op diet isn't the be all end all, but I want to make sure that I am living the healthy changes now. I don't meet with my nutritionist until April 6th, so I suppose I am hoping someone on here can advise me!

My nutritionist says the pre-op is the absolute worst because you're dealing with your hunger, and your anxiety which makes I want the food all the more! I'm pre-op, so I can't comment on whether or not you will still be hungry after the surgery but I hope it get's better for you. Wishing you all the best in your remaining week, and your surgery.

Oh I know! My kids always want to go on the roller coasters, but they are still too young to go alone, but both my husband and I are too big...

Hello! The questions I have... At a year out, what does your diet look like? Do you find your diet is still restricted as to certain foods? Do you still drink protein shakes? What about your exercise routine? Did you do anything special to minimize the possibility of excess skin? How do you feel? Congrats on the amazing weight loss, it's truly inspirational! I hope you are living the life you wanted and DESERVE

Keep rocking it!

I want to be able to run. I used to love running! And I want to go hiking, and get my kids into it as well.

Can’t wait to read about your journey!!

Hi everyone! So I've been doing LOTs of lurking through the forums, and I noticed there were tons of recipes and food encourangements for POST-Op, but was wondering what you are all doing PRE-Op? I know many of us are required to lose a little bit of weight prior to the big Surg day, so was hoping to stir up some converation on how you are starting your life-changing diets. Not so much the 2 week pre-op liquid, because @FluffyChixhas a fabulous recipe selection for that, but more the diet you enact from your first day up until then! (I must admit guiltily that my surgeon doesn't require a 2 week liquid diet... only a 48 hour one) So some of the drastic changes I have made over the last month: Gave up caffeinated coffee. DAMN did this hurt. I am fairly certain my blood is 60% coffee. Many people mention that food is their go-to comfort source, coffee is mine. I switched to decaf cold turkey, and lord do I NOT recommend that. The headaches were a real PITA. Started focusing my food intake on protein: So my thought process behind this was to start learning what types of foods I would incorporate into my new life and start experimenting. I LOVE cooking, and the thought of challenging myself to find healthier versions of my favorite foods was exhilarating. For example: I am Italian, pasta is a major major (and did I say major?) part of my genetic makeup. I make homemade pasta with my kids once a month that we use for the rest of the month and its literally one of my favorite things to do. However, apparently I have a gluten sensitivity so I was pretty devastated. And it's like solid carbs so it'd have to go anyways. So I sought out ways to keep a pasta substitute, but bring on the health benefits. That's where my new spiralizer comes in! I made a zucchini pesto "pasta" yesterday that was pretty orgasmic (you know, for a veggie that is). AND super super healthy. If you cook the zucchini a bit longer than you ought to, it does become slightly mushy, making it a GREAT post-op meal too. (Nutritionist approved! Or at least mine did and she's pretty fabulous). I made butternut squash spaghetti for today's lunch to mix with a low-sodium beef soup punched up with super tender beef and a half scoop of Isopure unflavored protein powder that you can't taste which is a serious win in my book Gave up carbonated beverages. So in all honesty, this was easy peasy. Mainly because I haven't really drank them in a YEAR in hopes of losing a bit of weight. Because you know the hubby gave up soda for 6 weeks and lost 18lbs. Bastard. I gave it up for a year and lost... nothing. NOTHING! But anyways I gave up seltzer water too, which I did drink more often. Switched out high fat/high calorie things for substitutes. So this one sounds easy, but it kind of isn't. It required a ton of research. Some of them are a bit easier, like say for chicken salad swapping out the mayo (yikes I NEVER realized how fattening it was but damn it makes amazing chicken salad) and replacing with Greek Yogurt. This was difficult for me since I am kind of awkwardly texture sensitive. I also up the quality of meat I buy. With a family of 4, it was just more economic to purchase say 85/15 meat and simply strain the grease. But I've splurged on the super lean 93/7 much to my hubby's dismay (he can be a bit of a cheapo) and it has made a difference. To my wallet but more importantly to my intake counts! Non-Food Stuff My Fitness Pal. This app is amazeballs. Honestly. I realized that prior to implementing said changes, I was eating an average of 800-1000 calories a day. I would love to say this is because I was super health conscious, but that would be a total lie. It's because I didn't make myself a priority. I work in an extremely fast paced job and would end up not eating ANYTHING except for a banana here and there (they are free at my work), an obscene amount of coffee, and then go home and stuff my ever loving face with dinner. Now I am consuming anywhere between 1500-1800 calories a day, and f me sideways I've lost 9lbs! Fitbit. I totally thought I walked a bajillion miles a day because I am literally always on the go go go. But my bajillion miles is actually like 8-12k steps a day depending on how busy it is. Which to some people is GREAT. But my body is just apparently used to it and it doesn't really do anything for me. So I bought a fitbit (totally wanted an apple watch, but then I wouldn't be able to lie and say I didn't see that text message...) Not going to lie, the fitbit kind of turns it into a competition. My goal: Start walking before it beeps at me. Some days I win, some days I don't. But I like being able to see. If I notice I am say 1k shy of my goal, I will take the long way to my next meeting instead of the easy way. I know its not MUCH, but it has made a difference. I am down 9lbs since March 15th, and feeling really excited without feeling like I'm giving up the world. My next task: Find a protein shake that I can drink without all of the fancy crap I put in them now because that's not allowed. THAT will be a difficult challenge... HOW can you possibly hide that chalky taste? I tried the PBFit, but even that doesn't hide it! Anyways, I hope you all will share your pre-op diet and recipes!

Hi there! So I met with my nutritionist, and we got to talking about my goal weight. I am 5'6, and currently at 284lbs. She mentioned that my range should be 114 (I am 100% this is unachievable for me!) up to 147. She suggested a goal weight of 135. However I can't help but think that's kind of low? I guess I kind of expected 160 or around there, shows what I know. My question to you is how did you calculate your goal weights? Did you pick the highest, which in my case would be say 145, or did you go towards the lower, or perhaps the middle? I don't want to risk setting an unrealistic expectation for myself. Or perhaps your doctors picked your goal weight? Any advice would be appreciated! Kind regards, Kay

Looks delicious!

I can understand avoiding office food! At my work, I am constantly setting up lunches or large scale catering events. Luckily, I am usually so busy with the catering setup that I don't have time to eat before the big crowds come in, and then I have to keep an eye on maintenance and refreshing when things get low.

So my appointment with the surgeon has been moved up! I now meet with her next week, and I've already been given the green light by the nutritionist. My main concern is that I have not had the Endoscopy. However there is a possibility I won't need it? They use it to check for Barrett's Esophagus, but since I have NO issues with acid reflux/heartburn or anything like that, my nutritionist said they may most likely waive it. Has anyone proceeded without the endoscopy?

Inspiration at its finest!

5 years ago, and it was quite terrible. I have many health issues stemming from that pregnancy, and its definitely connected. This surgery is definitely a last hope in my book!

They look for Barrett's Esophagus, ulcers, hernias, etc I suppose. I am still waiting to see if I need one. They make you pretty out of it for the procedure, but around my part its apparently a LONG process to get an appointment and my PCP doesn't think my insurance will pay for it since I have 0 symptoms, and no reflux/heartburn problems. But my insurance is also pretty lax so I am sure they can be talked around if needed.

I am going to try this @fluffychix! I've read a few others used this method to break stalls post-op, so maybe it will help me. Thanks!

Hi @aNYCdb My nutritionist and doc think that eating more regularly will help my metabolism bounce back. I think that's why I am so nervous about the calories I am taking in. That by not meeting the target I am somehow sabotaging myself? I know I am capable of losing weight, the past month and a half I've lost the weight I initially gained, and I have successfully lost some weight previously, it just never stays gone. Although, one thing I have noticed is that the more regularly I eat (I am trying for same time each day), the more energy I have, and the less problems I have digesting. So here's to hoping? However I am 100% knowledgeable that my initial weight loss has a very high probability of moving at the speed of an old arthritic dog with three legs; capable of short bursts, followed by a long nap! As long as it's trending downward though, I'd be happy.

Yep, had the full work up! All normal. My weight gain was probably 60% medical, annnnd 40% bad habits. I had HG while pregnant, resulting in being on TPN through an PICC line for 6months. I then had to do food therapy to reintroduce solid foods, and put on weight RAPIDLY. The past 30lbs though, that was all me only making time for one large meal a day.

I am a VERY slow loser, so fluffy your situation is probably going to be me. I’ve resigned myself that. I’m losing, but my nutritionist said it’s mostly water weight. Plus when I started this diet a little over 2 months ago, I gained 9lbs because my body wasn’t used to eating so frequently (which was totally expected)Now I’m down 10lbs from that weight, But I guess my biggest fear is that I’m further slowing my nonexistent metabolism by not eating enough? I tend to be a dedicated rule follower, so I guess I feel like not meeting the target makes me worry that I’m not being as effective as possible.

Thanks @elforman! I've done some research and adjusted my diet a bit, and I've lost another 2lbs! THANK YOU! What did your nutritionist say about the calorie intake?