Swanton_Bomb

So I'm a month out, and I'm still struggling with water and to a lesser degree, protein. I abhor the shakes and try to get most of my protein from food, but it is hard because at this point I can only have teensy portions. So I find that I do best with one super high protein shake, and I tolerate it best if I sip it throughout the day. It takes me a long time to finish, even though it is thin. I also need to constantly sip water. So do shakes count as food or fluid when the rule of 30 is concerned? I personally would count it as a food if it was thick or had added fruit, but it feels like a fluid to me (Premier or Atkins RTD, over iced but not blended with ice). So is it ok to slowly sip it and have water in between, or should I try and drink it faster and wait for 30 minutes, the way I would with food?

I think it is completely reasonable to skip out on your usual cooking related obligations or attending events a few days after surgery. Don't feel bad saying that you can't do it this year. You can cook the stuff now and freeze it, or you can get those dishes from a restaurant to contribute. You are having major surgery, and it is perfectly fine to take time for yourself right now. I am realizing more and more that a major contributing factor to my obesity was always putting others first.

If you have acne, WLS related or not, Spironolactone (prescription, but cheap) can really help. Also, if you are more comfortable with topicals, Aczone (prescription) is absolutely amazing. It brings down redness and inflammation fast and doesn't promote drying or photosensitivity. WAY better than Retin-A or anything like that. It is very expensive but I think it is worth it, and most dermatologists can give you samples and coupons.

I think your "failure" was a smashing success, actually. You learned on several different levels what your body can and cannot handle, and how to better prepare yourself for temptations in the future. Bravo!

So I haven't lost much yet, 15lbs. since surgery + 20lbs. pre-surgery for a total of 35. 35 lbs. on a heavy person doesn't show much, but I'm short, so I do see a teensy change. What is weird is that I am losing in spots that are different than previous diets and weight loss attempts. I do see some difference in my neck, but not as much as usual (usually my face slims really fast, even after just 25lbs.) and yet, I see a noticeable difference in my calves. I have never, ever, ever seen even a slight difference in my calves, they always stay huge. This is very exciting to me! I carry almost all of my weight in my abdomen, so it will take a huge loss to notice anything there, but my waistband is a little looser. Have any of you noticed that you lost differently after WLS than you have in the past?

Part of me still thinks about food constantly, drooling over what I will be allowed to eat at the next phase, and the other part of me finds eating a chore and a bore. The taste thing is weird, it isn't just the extreme aversion to artificial sweeteners, it is other things too. I was looking forward to trying salmon, and I took the tiniest little bite and spit it out, it tasted awful! Last night I practically choked down a piece of string cheese (which I still like) because I just wasn't hungry but I needed more protein for the day. The whole thing is weird, but even at this early and difficult stage, I am so very grateful for this surgery making food less appealing. I know the reduction in hunger is temporary, tastes will continue to change and that my stomach capacity will increase but I am hopeful because I can see that I building better habits. No eating plan, therapy or diet pills have ever any sort of impact on my food addiction, and I am so happy to have something to help me while I try to work on that addiction. I was skeptical before the surgery and thought for sure I would be crying non-stop these first few weeks out of desperation for food, but for the first time in my life, I feel optimistic about becoming a healthier person.

I was sleeved on 11/8. I was told not to try chicken yet, but I am up to fish (tilapia was good, salmon disgusted me, and tuna was ok, it felt heavy). Some things go down very easily, like ricotta cheese and lentil soup, other things, like eggs, are a little bit of a struggle still. I have a shake for lunch and a protein cocoa at night so that I can make do with the very small amounts of protein I can consume for breakfast and dinner with "real food". Maybe try that, and try to back off the chicken for a while?

Oh man, that really sucks, I know you were trying so hard. I can't believe they didn't test for that sooner. I hope they can treat it quickly so you can reschedule soon. Don't lose faith, don't let all your hard work go to waste. Keep up with your appointments and try and watch your carbs and calories as much as you can. Best of luck to you.

Walk and stretch, and then walk some more. You can actually feel it moving around when you walk a lot.

Oh, I don't have any issues with my rate of loss, I think I'm losing at a fantastic rate, I'm really pleased. I just meant that I'm very early in the game and I have a lot to go. I am thrilled with my rate of loss though. Even with really hardcore diet and exercise in the past the most I ever managed was 10lbs. in a month, usually more like 7-8. This is fantastic!

The bariatric cocoas are good. If they are too sweet add decaf instant coffee and/or unsweetened bitter cocoa powder. 15 grams of protein too. I have it before bed to get my protein in for the day.

Also I have found bullion is helpful. Yes, it is full of salt but I figure it is better than not drinking when you can't tolerate water (mt BP is ok though). Water is nauseating and sometimes actually painful for me still, and the flavors with sucralose and stevia are revolting to me. I'm trying to water down the bullion a little more.

I believe they are discontinued but the chewables dissolve very fast and I tolerated them well, just ask the doc if you can use them.

I would use glucose gel or a type of candy or juice that you don't really like. If I had low blood sugar and had some gummy bears or Starburst to bring it up I would crave more and eat more. I am a surgery infant, not a veteran but I am already developing a fear of even tasting certain things because I'm afraid it will set me off, you know? My NUT told me I could have mashed potatoes, which I like, but I couldn't bring myself to eat it because ˆ was afraid.

Bariatric cocoa is good and has 15 grams of protein, but it is much thinner and tastier than a shake. It is too sweet for me so I add a spoon of decaf instant coffee and a teaspoon of bitter unsweetened cocoa powder.

Yep, me too, and I haven't lost much yet. It sucks a little now, but it is always easier to pile on the clothes than take them off. I can't wait for summer. I suffer so much in summer, I feel so exhausted and uncomfortable especially after working all day and then taking the subway home in the heat. I know nothing can help NYC humidity but it will be nice to be a smidge cooler even if it is still hot.

I know the info states starvation mode is a myth, but I do think it happens in the short term sometimes just as your body gets used to things, but that is not going to happen on 1500 calories.

The anti-nausea drugs work very well, if you are still feeling sick I would call the surgeon right away, something might be wrong.

This can be controlled very well for most people with drugs. They gave me a patch, my second night in the hospital it got a little worse and they gave me Reglan.

I used a muffin tin to portion.

I think the surgery really screws with your hormones. The protein shakes are vile and not enjoying food does suck, but it is more than that. I was sleeved on November 8th and for at least a week I was extremely emotional. I found myself choked up at mildly sad or touching scenes on tv. I am very slowly starting to feel a little more normal. so improvement is coming soon.

I'm so confused and frustrated. I know stalls are very common around week 3 (I am 19 days out, so I am almost there). Earlier in the week, I was down 12.7lbs. since surgery, for a total of 33.8 including the pre-surgery diet. Then two days ago I went up a pound, and I figured, ok, water fluctuation, but then today, another pound. I am getting in my protein and eating between 400-500 calories now. I went back to work, so I am more active. Why am I gaining? I expected a stall, but not a gain, is that common as well? Am I eating too many calories for this stage of the game? I had really hoped to lose 15 the first month.

Good point about sodium. I went from shakes and yogurt to beans and cheese in the purée stage, that might be it, thank you!

I know you are right, I’m going to try but man, it is soooo hard for me not to get on every day, I’ve gotten so used to that in the 6 months prior to surgery. I’m going to do my best though. If I can deny the temptations of the cookies at work today surely I can pass up the temptation of the scale!

I used it pre-op for PCOS. I saw no benefits and it upset my stomach. No natural supplements really helped my PCOS. Spearmint made it worse! Spironolactone helped the most. I discontinued it post surgery because it has a diuretic effect and I am struggling with water right now. My skin immediately got oily again but so far (knock wood) the cystic acne has not returned. I plan on resuming after I am able to get more water in.