AlteredReality

Starting out is the hardest, because you don't really know what to expect. You have aspirations of what you want to happen, but it doesn't really go that way. It's a day by day learning experience and it gives you a new respect for food, your body and self acceptance. Stay encouraged!!!

I got sick with a bad cold last week and started having stomach spasms. At first I thought it was something I ate, disagreeing with my stomach. It kept happening though. There hasn't been much that takes the pain away, except for drinking some hot herbal tea. It's also caused me to vomit more than I would care to. A lot of times it's painful dry heaves though. I go to see the gastroenterologist on the 19th and i'm hoping they can figure things out. Has anyone else experienced this?

You know yourself better than anyone else. You can do it though...just stick with what you know it's right and best for your overall health

Thank you. I wish you much success on your journey! You can do it!!!

It's literally about will power and determination. The temptations to eat the food that aren't healthy are hard to fight in the beginning. However, when you set your mind to never become that obese person again it gets easier. You just have to not give up on yourself and remember that there are painful consequences to eating and indulging in the unhealthy foods and beverages.

I take bariatric melts (vitamins and calcium citrate). Had to start a zinc supplement, because I was a little deficient. My meals always consist of a protein (seafood, ground turkey, chicken or beans) and vegetables. I don't eat any bread, rice or regular pasta (I do zucchini noodles) and absolutely no sweets, caffeine or carbonated drinks. Starting out my exercise was just walking about a mile a day. I still walk, but do low impact strength training and will begin jogging soon. I do still have an occasional protein shake after I have finished exercising

Thank you and best wishes on continued success along your journey.

For the longest I thought my highest weight was 297. However after going through my papers from the beginning, turns out my highest was 300. Don't people wouldn't think the 3 pound difference was anything major. For me it meant a lot. The day I had surgery my weight was 246. I had started changing my eating habits close to 4 months before surgery. So by the time I went on the liquid diet, I was down to 273. I had my surgery 6/25/2018 and as of today I am at 158.

I can totally relate to how you feel. I didn't see myself as big, when I was overweight. It's an eye opener when you realize for yourself, just how much weight you used to carry around. Finally taking the rose colored glasses off and accepting what was and embracing what can be, is the most liberating feeling though. The journey has just begun

You're very welcome. I'm glad that my words have had an impact on some way. It's definitely not easy at all. It's a lot of determination. I've had to go through my journey alone with no real support from family or friends. So I know the importance of having someone in your corner rooting for your success. It would have been easier for me to cope with if I had

Hopefully your husband will compromise to help you succeed and adjust. Nothing wrong with meat and potatoes though, because you can substitute the potatoes for mashed cauliflower, baked cauliflower or riced cauliflower. I'm not a fan of regular burgers anymore, but I have found a plant based burger that tastes very close to a regular burger. It's by a company called Beyond Meat and it contains no soy and no gluten. I used to have to drink at least one protein shake a day, to make sure I was getting in enough protein. Now I get plenty in, due to eating so many times a day.

Just try and find a method that works for you and definitely don't rush through. You can still enjoy meals with your family. You just may have to pre-prep your meals, so that you can all sit down together

I take in a little over 120 oz. of water daily, but I drink all day long and throughout the night. My vitamins dissolve in my mouth, so I don't have an issue with having to worry about swallowing them in between meals and feeling too full. I struggled with the triple 30 rule in the beginning, due to the fact that I have dysphagia (trouble swallowing). I just eat in stages now, to help with it. I eat for a couple minutes and then rest for about 5 - 6 minutes in between bites.

I found out through lab work that my surgeon ordered, to make sure my levels were where they need to be. So they checked all vitamin levels and my protein level.

I'm not so sure if I have become intolerant to lactose, it's not an issue I had before. I've even tried almond milk and had no success. Where as I used to love almond milk before I had surgery

I didn't have any strips. My incisions were sealed with a liquid called dermabond. It was almost like liquid bandages and as the wounds healed, it pushed the dermabond out on it's own.

You're at the weight I started out at. My first goal weight was 165 lbs. and my new goal weight is 145 lbs. I am currently at 158 lbs. I'd be happy to be your buddy asking your journey, even though we are both living in different states.

I haven't had much success with any form of milk. Not sure why. I keep trying to reintroduce it about once a month. Maybe at some point I will be able to tolerate it again

Thank you. I already implement done of those days into my diet, except for yogurt. My pouch no longer like yogurt sadly

You're absolutely right about not eating the wrong foods and yes protein is the main focus. I stayed on my soft and liquid food a little longer than normal, simply because my pouch was rejecting solid food during the last stage of food introduction. I finally leveled out though. I haven't had a need for extra B12, because my levels are at a normal range. I am however lacking in my zinc. So I am taking an extra supplement for that. Everyone's body is different, so just because some people need extra vitamins doesn't mean you will. It's all about the food choices you make and finding the vitamins that work best for you.

As far as exercise...I walk about two miles every other day. On the other days I do lie impact cardio and try to do strength building exercises

I take back bariatric melts(vitamins and calcium citrate). I eat seafood, ground turkey, vegetables and occasionally beef. I eat most of my food at room temperature or cold, because my stomach doesn't seem to like hot food anymore. I eat about 6 - 7 times a day (very small meals) and I have about 3 snacks (usually nuts, raw veggies or a protein bar). I drink fluids from the time I wake up until I go to bed, as well as throughout the night. I am still unable to eat 1/2 cup of food. I can barely take in 1/4 cup. I think my not being able to increase the amount that I can eat, is the biggest contributing factor. I try to eat a little more, but my pouch just won't let me and I end up throwing up all my food if I try to overeat. I don't eat any bread, rice, pasta or sweets of any kind, no caffeine and no carbonated drinks. I stay away from sugars and I limit the amount of fried foods that I eat

Believe it or not, I literally eat off and on all day. I don't stay satisfied for longer than two hours and my food digests in about thirty minutes. So I get hungry fast, because my metabolism has sped up so much

I'm losing too fast in my opinion. I change clothes sizes literally every three weeks. I'm now down to 158 lbs.

I don't exercise as much as I would like to, but it seems I am always on the go. I don't sit still for very long