GradyCat

Have to have my GNC Lean Shake with 25 g of protein every day for breakfast.

I was a size 18 or 2XL. I've donated them all to St. Vincent De Paul charity thrift store.

So the scale is finally moving again after stalling for a whole month. Even though I was supportive and encouraging to others in the forum who were experiencing stalls, deep inside I was jealous of the ones who've lost 90 pounds in 6 months and I've only lost 35 pounds in 4 months and have been stalled for 30 freaking days. I was secretly discouraged. So I decided to try something different to shake things up. I went back to just drinking protein shakes and no food, 170 calories each x 4 shakes a day = 680 calories. Sure enough, the scale has finally started to move downward! I don't think I was doing anything wrong before. I was eating around 850 calories, getting exercise 4 days a week, drinking enough water and getting in 60 g of protein each day. I guess it was just a natural stall point. But so happy to finally see the scale moving. I've been within 3 pounds of entering Onederland for a whole month and finally can see that I might make it there in a few days.

My surgeon recommended 4 vitamins for the rest of my life: a multivitamin, D3, Calcium, and B12.

I had hunger in Month 3 post-op but I think it was mostly head hunger from thinking about food. I get dizzy when I stand up too and my surgeon said to increase my salt intake.

It sounds like from a dietary standpoint and vitamins that you're doing everything you can.

Sip, sip, and sip some more all day long.

How long did it take you to regain and how much did you gain?

That's a good analogy.

Congrats on your surgery date! I knew my surgery date about 6 weeks ahead of time, so I "practiced" eating small meals with fewer calories during that time so it would come more naturally after I had the surgery. To shrink my liver my surgeon had me on a calorie-restricted 1500 calorie diet for two weeks prior to surgery with no fatty foods.

Congrats and take care and good luck on your WLS journey.

I was able to hit the 64 oz a day right away, but it was literally drinking ALL DAY LONG because it was just in small sips. No gulping.

I was on a full liquid diet for 3 weeks post-op, then soft mush pureed foods for two weeks, then finally transitioning to solid foods

I don't think there's an appeal level there for you if your employer opted out of that specific coverage under your plan

No, I didn't have any requirements for approval other than meeting BMI and comorbidities. I didn't even have to do six months of weight loss management.

Yes, any sugar-free liquid. I even include my protein shakes as liquid intake.

My sleeve actually cured my GERD and acid reflux. Go figure!

Your body gets vitamin D in three ways: from the foods you eat, from supplements and from exposure to sunlight (which helps your skin make vitamin D). The easiest way to increase your level of vitamin D may be to spend more time outdoors.

I was encouraged to eat real food as much as possible starting at 4 weeks and only use one protein supplement meal replacement each day if necessary

I was too afraid to not follow surgeon's instructions to the letter, so I stuck with my pre-op diet.

I had to use the antibacterial soap wipe thing but they never said anything about not shaving.

That's great news. Good luck on your WLS journey.

Mine was just calorie-restriction to 1500 calories/day for two weeks prior to surgery with focus on no fatty foods.

I didn't think it could be done outpatient because you have to do the "leak test" 24 hours afterward. I was in the hospital two nights and thank goodness for it because I was so nauseous on Day #1 post-op.

Good luck and take care.