mousecat88

Diclofenac TOPICAL gel. It's an NSAID topical. Actually works. I also have Flexeril for muscle spasms. Tylenol sucks.

I went 17 days without pooping at one point so I know this pain well. LOL. I take Colace twice a day now and a Mag Citrate PILL (DO NOT GET THE LIQUID) in the evening. If I happen to go more than 3 days without going, I take some Milk of Magnesia. Smooth Moves tea works, as well, but I've found MoM to be better. You can also have Miralax twice a day... just add it to WARM drinks and not cold because it is not unflavored, despite its claims. lol. Miralax is meh, though. I was told not to take fiber because it is bulking. I had a hernia after surgery, though, and that may play a factor into why I was told no fiber supplements.

OP, I can share with you what my typical day is: This is during the work week (weekends vary much more) 8AM - Greek yogurt 10AM - Beef/chicken jerky 12PM - BariatricPal Lite Entree (the vegan chicken curry is my jam) or 6 small meatballs w/ cauliflower tots or 1 cup cottage cheese w/ fruit (this is standard lunch like virtually every day unless I go out to a restaurant) 2PM - TwinPeaks Protein Puffs or Kay's Protein Puffs (occasionally I will have a piece of fruit like a kiwi) 5PM - 5-6oz protein (beef/turkey typically) w/ portion of veggies (mashed cauliflower, green beans, cooked carrots, etc) And sometimes a diet ice cream bar in the evening (yay Breyer's carb smart... soooo gooood). When I go out, I get salads that have protein in them (chicken or shrimp usually) or burgers without the bun. I am 5 1/2 months out. Trainer and nutrition are super happy with this regimen and I rarely get above 60g of carbs a day. I am always over 70g of protein and don't need to rely on shakes anymore to get there. This is about 700 calories total, depending on what I have for dinner. Even though it's not a ton of calories, I feel full because everything is dense or high protein. Take advantage of the high protein options out there, even the ones offered through this website. I've found some really tasty things. The TwinPeaks puffs (off Amazon) are VERY FILLING (21g protein in a single cup and only 3g carbs). Yesterday on the weekend I basically only ate veggies and shrimp and steak and didn't pass 30g of carbs, but still hit like 900 calories because of the steak. Very filling and low carb. I usually have an egg with a slice of cheese melted on it for breakfast on the weekends or cottage cheese. They also now have egg white "crepes" stuffed with guac at Walmart which I am excited to try.

I take the following supplements: Super B Complex, Vitamin E, Vitamin D, Iron, Calcium, Potassium, Mag Citrate, Chia Seed Extract, Thyronine, Unjury Opurity, Inosine, L-Arginine, Beet Root Extract, and Colace. Maybe others I can't even remember offhand. If I can keep track of all that nonsense, you can do eet! Get a pill organizer and carry it everywhere. Baritastic App also yells at me when it's time to take my vitamins.

Flintstones!?! Crazy. I take Unjury Opurity Chewables. They are really cheap and once a day. I am probably going to switch to BariatricPal's multi pills, though, since it's "nicer" taking a pill than it is chewing a kinda tart vitamin. Not sure - the chewables probably absorb better (?) I take a LOT of supplements (some to support exercise, some required, some because they were BOGO [LOL!]) and nothing has stopped the hair loss. I think it's either inevitable or it isn't.

Awesome! One day at a time!

I am not supposed to have nuts until 7-8 months. I was told that 7lbs a month weight loss starting around 3 months is normal; I am at about that (sometimes 5lbs) and I eat well and exercise like a beast now (well, compared to pre-op LOL). My "honeymoon period" lasted like 2 months. I lost 65lbs in that period... and only 22 over the next 3 months. That's a little over a pound a week I am losing. You didn't have much to lose to begin with, so that's probably why you're losing slower. But you asked for advice and nice or not, everyone is right with respect to eating more protein over carbs. Just give it a shot and see if it helps.

Some people in another group I am in say they don't feel any restriction and never get sick or really feel full, but it's the malabsorption aspect that still helps them lose weight. So if you're not feeling restriction, you'll need to exercise greater self-control and rely on the malabsorption aspect.

Maybe (and I'm not a surgeon or anything) it's because some of those items are fairly liquid and pass through much quicker than a denser protein would. Oatmeal and yogurt probably pass through very quickly, leaving you hungrier sooner than say a piece of chicken would. I know every day I eat a greek yogurt for breakfast at 8am, but by 9:30 I am needing a piece of jerky because I am hungry again. But then the protein jerky tides me over until 12- 12:30.

Maybe keep your calories the same, but switch out some of the more carb heavy things for protein instead and see if that gives you a jumpstart! Then you won't be hungry, and cutting out some carbs. I definitely panicked when I stalled for so long, but it started again.

I'm sorry you don't have the same feeling of restriction. I really, really struggle to hit 800. My average is 500-600 now.

Whoops - my bad for accidentally not seeing page 2. Yeah, I concur - a LOT of carbs. Track using a mobile tracker like Baritastic or MFP. I try to stay under 50g a day max, and I am only that high right now because of my workouts (although I am told I could go slightly higher, but don't feel the need to). I am also around 800 calories a day, MAX. And we are about the same length out from surgery. Tracking helps significantly!! The only fruit I allow myself at this point is kiwi and a few strawberries (I'll have some others if they come in a salad I order or something, though). They are lower in carb but still give me the carb boost I actually need from working out (and some added vitamins).

Hunger isn't unusual. Mine returned 3 months out, fiercely. I had an 8 week stall, that started at 2 months out. A 2kg weight gain is only about 5lbs, right? I wouldn't stress about it yet. If you're eating and exercising like you're supposed to, it'll pick up again. I would up your exercise though. Maybe try circuit training and intense cardio, not just walking anymore (if you're physically able to).

Glad it's working out. I can't have isopure because it's also whey.

i hate cardio. i've always hated cardio. i will always hate cardio. forever. i would rather lift weights 7 days a week than do 10 minutes of cardio. i would rather clean the bathroom of a gas station at midnight than do cardio. i would rather experience 4 hours of dumping syndrome than do cardio. i would rather go to work than do cardio. cardio is doom. cardio is sadness. i do HIIT twice a week with my trainer now and he says i HAVE to do 30 minutes of "challenging" cardio every single day i am not with him at the gym. i have a stationary bike, arm pedal, and vertical climber at home. but i hate it. hate ittttt. i want to get to my goal weight by november-ish so i know i have to do it. why can't i get my lazy butt up and just do it? it's only 30 minutes. GOSH. #rant.

I also can't have whey protein - not because I think it's gross, but because it makes me vomit. NowSports Chocolate Soy Isolate is good! But really, I totally eff'd up on protein until like the 3 month mark. I got like 10g a day. Since whey made me vomit and I hadn't really found another kind that tasted okay, I just didn't drink any shakes at all. I lived. Try other proteins like pea, rice, egg, animal, or soy. And if you don't hit your goal right off the bat, don't sweat it.

28. A silver lining in one of my disappointments... hmmm.. all of my exes have taught me what I DON'T want in a relationship. lol.

I'm sure they do!

NowSports Soy Protein Isolate. Best on the market.

Vegetarians that eat dairy and eggs are lacto-ovo vegetarians. Pescatarians eat fish. "Regular" vegetarians eat no animal product. Vegans eat no animal product and refrain from purchasing any clothes, etc, that have animal in them (leather, suede, etc). I don't eat much meat anymore simply because my tummy doesn't handle it well, and I use soy shakes. I have become an involuntary lacto-ovo vegetarian essentially. haha. But I still get 80g or so of protein a day.

I have the same idea. I want something on my inner arm post-arm lift to cover some of the scar and it'll be weight loss related somehow. Not sure exactly what yet, though.

27! Biggest goal for upcoming year: WLS-related - get close enough to goal weight to be able to schedule brachioplasty; Regular life related- Finish several major home improvement projects

26. Looking back on my past and realizing that I turned out just fine despite the hardships. Also reflecting on my strength and independence. With WLS, not succumbing to any cravings and staying on track and killin' it.

They sell water weights you can use in the pool. You hold them at the surface of the water and push down, adding resistance. I have arthritis, too, and used to do pool-only exercise. There's a bunch of different types of water weights you can get. My rheumatologist told me to only walk on grass/dirt instead of concrete because it is lower impact on the knees. I've started doing *hard* workouts at the gym and my joints hurt very badly, but we don't have a pool here.

I can't drink whey at all - it makes me very nauseous and I get flushed and hot. But I can eat cottage cheese/yogurt just fine. I love NowSports Soy Protein Isolate - sold on Amazon. Unfortunately there's not a lot of good tasting alternatives that aren't whey. NowSports is really the only one I've found that tastes good - after spending $$$$ trying tons of different brands of egg, pea, rice, and fish/beef proteins. MRE Lite is pure animal protein (like salmon/beef) and their dutch apple pie is okay.