momof3_angels

Sorry, just excited. Just finished two weeks post op and dr said I don’t have to do purée anymore as long as I take it super slow and easy. I am soooo glad cause I hated that stage worse than liquids. Anyone have any other super soft and moist recipes? I haven’t even checked my book yet I just came home and made a chicken breast In the instapot first thing. Lol

I am 8 months out and up until the last month or so, I usually needed Protein Powder to reach my goal of 60 grams of Protein per day. It varies from one person to the next (and your surgeon may recommend a different protein goal than mine), but it could be a while before you can eat enough to get all of your protein from food. That doesn't necessarily mean you need to drink Protein Shakes every day (I know we all get sick of those); you can mix protein powder into other foods or beverages (a lot of people like to use caramel Protein Shake as a coffee creamer).
My go-to Breakfast for a long time was half a scoop of protein powder mixed with half a container of triple zero Greek yogurt, for a total of 19 grams of protein (my favorite combo is birthday cake protein powder plus vanilla yogurt, topped with raspberries). Another good one is protein oatmeal. The BariatricPal Store sells some with 15 grams of protein per serving, and you can add some more protein powder to that. There are a lot of protein pancake mixes on the market (and you can even buy frozen protein pancakes and waffles). eggs, chicken sausage, and turkey bacon are always good high-protein options for breakfast.
For lunch and dinner, I usually have about 2 ounces of meat and 2 ounces of veggies, like a salad with chicken, or BBQ chicken (with sugar-free BBQ sauce) and air-fried veggies (green Beans, asparagus, carrots, or broccoli), or lettuce wraps (like PF Chang's). Another favorite is Mexican-seasoned chicken with cauliflower rice, salsa, black beans, cheese, and nonfat Greek yogurt. And taco bites, with Quest chili lime protein chips topped with Mexican-seasoned chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, and nonfat Greek yogurt.
You can't eat much at this point, so you have to keep it simple and focus on protein. I love my air fryer and Instant Pot and I make a lot of recipes with them, but if you don't have those, you can find similar recipes that use other cooking methods. Here are some great recipes that I've made recently:
Chicken Divan with cauliflower cream sauce (the cauliflower cream sauce is fantastic and can be used as a white sauce in a lot of recipes) Instant Pot Carnitas Instant Pot Mexican Chicken Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken Garlic Parmesan Carrot Fries Buffalo Cauliflower (I make it in the air fryer) Turkey Ragu (excellent with Shelly's Ricotta Bake, roasted spaghetti squash, or shirataki noodles) Instant Pot Egg Bites Instant Pot BBQ chicken White Chicken Chili I have a freezer full of bariatric portioned meals and Pinterest boards full of more recipes that I'm dying to try! If you don't already use Pinterest, you definitely should -- it's a gold mine.

Sorry trying to multitask and work and do this. I'm on stage 4 and beyond.. had surgery on 1/11/21

Ok. @OAGBPal (& others)...I feel like I'm walking into a confrontation here so I want to tread lightly. I have a catholic grade-school upbringing, AND I'm Canadian so confrontation is my kryptonite!)
I guess I just want to clarify where the perceptions that there is ordering around and telling others what to do comes from? I'm on these boards ALOT (and I mean ALOT), and I honestly don't see this. Which is why I was surprised (shocked, really) that someone is hassling @Creekimp13. I read opinions, suggestions, expressions of feelings and stories of a person's experiences.
Sometimes someone will post something a little tone-deaf, but I don't see widespread maliciousness/bullying/pressure to be a certain way. Of course there was a thread or two that got pretty ugly. But these are the exception and not the rule.
Obviously I don't see everyone's PM's*, so I dont know what is going on behind "closed doors".
I dunno, maybe I'm naive, but I really don't see/read people "basically telling others to starve themselves to death to be 'okay'." on here.
Honestly, the members on here I find to be very PG-13. Wanna see some real fighting/bullying/ordering/pressuring? Go on a Reddit board.
Edited to add: UGH. Of course, as soon as I post something saying that I believe we all generally play nice on here, I immediately read a couple threads where we aren't. Sigh.

Well this is new one. And I thought I've seem/read everything already. I'm surprised there are actual people that would have the audacity to send messages like that. I'm glad you can let it roll of your back, but maybe you could report it case this person(s) directs their vitriol to someone who is not as thick-skinned? Just a suggestion.
For what it's worth, in my insignificant opinion, I don't find you "outspoken" in an sort of negative way at all. You have your opinions yes (we all do), but you read pretty cool about it all. Granted, there are the few here and and there that come off as a bit abrasive at times, but you aren't one of them.
Keep on keepin' on.
❤️
Regarding goal weights: its a personal decision. We all have different ideas on how we want to look/feel/etc, and how we want to go about it. What anyone else says is irrelevant (unless of course you are in immediate danger to yourself or others!)

Hi. I'm just 4 weeks post op, and still finding recipes that work for me. But a friend of mine bought be a couple of cookbooks before surgery that have been amazing. They are written by Sarah Kent, and my favorite is "The Gastric Sleeve" bariatric cookbook. She has recipes for all stages of the diet, full liquid, pureed, soft and general. They are all high Protein.

I work in a congregate setting where transmission is rampant and social distancing nearly impossible. I specifically asked my surgeon in mid December if given my recent surgery, there was any reason not to get the vaccine as it was likely to be available to me soon. He said there was no reason not to. I had my first dose of the Moderna vaccine 3 1/2 weeks ago. I had a sore arm for one day. I also did develop what is now being called Covid arm (Google it) but it is nothing serious. I get my second dose next week.

Good on you for taking the initiative to get back on track, glad things are going well for you. I struggled so on the pre-op diet that I could never go back to it, LOL. But I do understand the impulse to make a clean break with previous bad eating habits and start fresh. Once in a while, I allow myself a treat and then I do go right back to extra clean eating for a couple of days. I'm not convinced it does anything for my stomach but it definitely helps snap my mindset back to where it needs to be. Don't forget to plan for how you will eat once your reset is over, successfully making that transition back to "normal" (new normal) eating will be crucial.

I am guessing everyone is different on this one. I lost that feeling over the last few months and I wanted to get it back myself... but I know there are degrees of restriction feeling I like and degrees of restriction feeling I hate... trying to find that sweet spot right now. Have you been measuring your food? Does it help if you cut back your portion sizes just a little bit for all meals and Snacks? I know that has help me in the past.
Have you considered seeking professional help to have someone you can talk to to help you through all of this, and deal with the things that are draining you? Might help... dunno. But it seems like you are equally or perhaps moreso worried about your mental health. And with the last year we had, a lot of people are struggling.

This is one we can all agree with! Honestly... I am a nurse... I ALWAYS have to first remind people to work with their medical team. But I also like to caution people that not advise is created equal Anyhow... none of us would be here if we didn't also want to do our own research. Your doctors/nutritionists should be the first person you go to for guidance after surgery... they are experts in their field.... but nothing wrong with seeing what others are doing!

I appreciate everyone’s input. I do seek my doctors and nutritionists advice and input. However I am not someone who just only considers and follows what my doctor says. I also look up videos, read books, blogs, YouTube, Ted talks, research articles, and yes personal experiences. While my doctor and nutritionist may consider themselves experts on bariatric surgery they are not actually experts on me. I am the only expert on me. So if I come on to ask a question it is to gather additional information, insights, experiences, etc to add to the already existing information I have. And to use it to make the best overall decisions for my health and my life. I have seen people following diets their doctor gave them even though it made them throw up daily and they couldn’t even eat. They wouldn’t consider any other information and the doctor didn’t recommend a plan change or further follow up. There is room within reason to think for oneself. Again I literally appreciate every single person that would even take the time to respond to my question. But if your main point is I should be asking my doctor and no one else well I already asked my doctor and am now asking others lol.

Ok. Thank you both. I initially didn’t want to do the low carbs but I am a type II diabetic and stopped meds right after surgery. My sugars for the first month were averaging like 130-150 and they said I’d they continue up to 150 I might end up back on meds. Being diabetic I don’t know that my body does so well with the carbs. At least not at this weight. Maybe if I get smaller I almost wouldn’t be a diabetic and it’d be different. But right now it makes sense about the carbs. Thank you! Your responses were very reassuring and helpful!

Yeah my pain level was super high and horrible. Same thing for me it was the biggest incision where they pulled the stomache through as well. My other incisions were good and no major pain either. It was 3 weeks for me and finally starting to feel better. Best of Luck on your WL journey!

Sent from my GM1915 using BariatricPal mobile app

Really the only person who should be encouraging you to up your calories at 5 weeks post-op is your doctor or nutritionist. You are losing weight at a good pace. You are getting your Protein in. And hopefully you are also getting in your daily Water requirement. In the first couple months that is all you should be worrying about. I wouldn't up your calories yet unless you are instructed to do so by your team. Your incisions are still healing.
What you are referring to is people giving guidance to folks who have stalled for long periods of time. You aren't there yet. And when you do stall (YOU WILL... ) you should stay your course for a while and wait it out. Everyone has a couple of "long" stalls. It is absolutely normal. And if you hit one and you feel it is going to long... talk to your team first and foremost. Now... down the road you may need to up calories at different times in this process, but don't do it too fast. Let our pouch do it's thing!

YES! Mine hurt for several weeks... mostly the one where the stomach was pulled though. I think that one hurt for about a month. Not constant pain, but definitely at times like changing positions. The other incisions were small and didn't hurt for long at all.

It can be challenging to keep your Fluid intake up at work because you get so focussed on a task & an hour has gone before you know it & you haven’t by drunk. I found it easier to drink green or herbal teas. Something about the warmth made them easier to drink. Just reheat them as they cool. I also mixed up hydralite in my Water (a diluted mix as it can be sweet), Good energy boost as well as a change from plain water. Don’t forget things like soup/broths, drinking yoghurt, etc. all count as liquids. I took a small thermos flask of Soup to work. Got my nutrients in as well as some fluids.
I also kept a bottle of water next to my bed so I could sip whenever I woke which was 4-6 times a night. (You drink you pee 😆.) I still do. Every bit helps.
Congratulations on having a surgery date.

You’re even smaller than you thought. I believe a 28 = size 6!

I went clothes shopping today at a store (with the pandemic haven't done much of that). Not sure if it is the pandemic or my weight loss, but my experience today was SO different then in the past. I had a number of sales people approach me right off the bat. Friendly, offering to help. In the past, I would wander the same store on my own without anyone offering to help. I've seen others post about being treated differently after losing weight and while i'm not positive that's what this was, it's certainly something I'll watch for.
The NSV --- I took one of the sales people up on their offer to help and mentioned after losing weight I'm not really sure what size I am. She knew immediately what options to pull and I am in a size 28 jeans! That's a size 8, as in single digits!!! I am also wearing a Small in a number of tops. Holy $(@*. 🤯

And that is all we can really ask of ourselves. You've got the right attitude ❤️
P.S. Thank you for all your efforts in battling this pandemic for us...and to all the other front-line workers out there. Mwah.

I find that even with what a person is advised, there is still some tweaking to do at the individual level. There really is no one-size-fits-all method. I got to goal in 7 months as well (yay, goal sisters!), and it took me about 3-4 months to figure out what my maintenance calories were, eventually dropping another 12-15 lbs until I did. Granted, I have no real intention to get back up to that original goal weight, so am totally fine with losing those extra few lbs.
For me, I credit my figuring stuff out by tracking everything (I recognize this isn't for everyone). Its in my nature to track/gather data, discover trends/patterns, fine tune stuff, etc....I'm anal like that. I figure i'll always have to be making adjustments (or make acceptances) and its just part of life. Always learning, always changing. Weight maintenance is no exception.
Case(s) in point: I thought I knew what my no-exercise maintenance calories were, but obvs not. I also track my activity (well, at least when I had activity, sigh), and I realize I have greatly overestimated how many calories I burn during dedicated exercise....so PSA to those out there, don't but blind faith into your fitness trackers to tell you what your energy expenditure is. I also learned that ultra-low-carbing made little (if any) difference in my weight in the long term. All that my body seems to care about is total calories (though my stomach does still care about volume).
In any case, kudos to you for recognizing an opportunity to tweak your behaviours and acting upon it. Eventually it will be second nature...until you have to tweak again. ❤️

Thanks! Yes, I know I always have to meet my Protein goal first. That would be a minimum of 60 grams. Veggies second. Other foods after. But we also discussed Macros.... and while I can find most of my other paperwork... I haven't come across this note yet! LOL I know she wanted me to keep a lower percentage of carbs, and wasn't so concerned about fat as long as it was healthy fats. Anyhow, I am pretty sure I remember the macro ratios I was doing, but when I program them into myfitness pal... it has me eating WAY more protein than I know I can eat in a day lol.... so thinking maybe the carb ratio I remember was from when I was eating lower calories than I know I need to maintain. Perhaps we discussed macros when I was at lower calories and not when I had to raise calories for maintenance? Before I got off track, I was at roughly 1200-1300 calories per day.
Anyhow... I do know what foods I an allowed to have and which ones I can't. For protein I have a mix of animal/plant Proteins. With carbs my nutritionist has me avoiding the same things Arabesque avoids: No rice or bread and MINIMAL pasta/potatoes. Of those, potatoes I eat a little more frequently. Very small amounts. For alternatives, she prefers I eat whole grain crackers and low carb tortillas which I use for my breads most of the time. And then of course, I try to stick with healthier fats.
Ugh... my appointment two weeks ago was with the FNP at the surgeons office. We discussed weight, nutrition, and all... but not the same as when I do it with the nutritionist lol. Might have to schedule an appointment with her soon. She had to quit when she had to be home with her kids during COVID.... but I saw her in the office as I was leaving... so I think she is back! If not, I am sure they hired a new one... but I prefer to stick with Kasey.

I never lost any hair. I did switch to a Shampoo though that supposedly helps with Hair growth because I have very thin hair... and while there isn't a HUGE difference, my hair doesn't look so scraggly when I grow it a little longer than a short bob lol. My daughter swears it looks thicker. I probably didn't start the shampoo until 4-6 months post-op though.

Just make sure you follow your diet... and when you are able to... get in as much Protein as you can and try to meet your goals. It will be hard at first, but you will get there.

what they went through is pretty uncommon. For most of us, the hair does grow back - and also, most people don't lose enough for others to notice (YOU'LL notice - but again, for most of us, it's not enough for others to notice). Some lucky folks don't lose any hair at all.
I Just want to say that most pre-ops (and early post-ops) are super concerned about Hair loss (and loose skin, too), but I think I can speak on behalf of the vast majority of "vets" when I say that in retrospect, both of those are a small price to pay in exchange for finally getting rid of excess weight. I would take temporary hair loss and loose skin any day over weighing over 300 lbs again. ANY DAY!!!

I'm RNY, but the diets are pretty much the same. I haven't worried about any macros except for Protein since I hit maintenance. We do have to meet protein requirements for the rest of our lives, but beyond that...?? I just try to stay within my maintenance calorie range at this point - and have for a long time.

Nope. I do 1400-1600 calories a day to maintain. I eat tons of complex carbs, but avoid overly refined sugars and white flour. I get 50-60g of protien a day and 25g of Fiber. I eat fruit, Beans, potatoes, nuts, veggies, healthnut bread, whole grain english muffins, and of course...protien, but I try to get at least half from plant sources.
Basically, I just stay within my calorie goal and I do great. I love the flexability of an occasional treat if the rest of my day is balanced.
I eat pretty much anything I want. In moderation and balance with the rest of the day. Maintenance has been incredibly nice. No major weight fluctuations in over two years. Few pounds up and down here and there. If I go more than five pounds up, I see the bariatric therapist and it does the trick....helps me get refocused pronto. Getting much better at identifying my eating triggers and the triggers that cause me to self sabotage. Therapy has been an incredibly useful tool:) Very glad to have extreme diets behind me.