lisafrommassachusetts

Hello everyone! Hope you all are staying healthy and safe! I weigh on Fridays, so this is my 3 month mark. I am down 30 pounds in the 3 months since surgery, 40 including the 3 week pre-op weight loss. Not very fast, and this week was barely a pound, but I am happy with it. I have really been increasing movement and I am walking between 4 and 5 miles per day, spread out over the day. I am experimenting with food, and am eating 700 to 850 calories per day. My Protein intake is good, and I fight to get the Water in! Downside....my hair is soooo thin, and I am noticing lots of saggy upper arm skin. Hope everyone is hanging in!

Hey all! Hoping everyone is doing well during this anxious time. I am not sure I would have chosen to have this surgery done right before this pandemic...All my friends are stress eating and having virtual happy hours and I am counting Proteins and sipping water! lol. I'm (mostly) kidding; at least when this is FINALLY over I won't have an additional umptydump number of pounds to lose. I do miss wine.....
I just hit 25 pounds since the day of surgery; about 2.5 pounds per week, which is steady and fine by me, although not the really staggering numbers some folks have! But I'm 61, I have hypothyroidism, and a bum knee, so I know it is not going to fall off me, although frankly I am grateful for this loss! I am walking, walking, walking and I am hitting 10,000 steps almost every day, which I am thrilled with. I have half heartedly started some arm exercises, which I hope to step up.
I am using MyFitnessPal to track everything and just found out they have a recipe converter! Game changer. I am playing around with new recipes, which I am really enjoying. Tonight I am making a pesto/spaghetti squash casserole with turkey meatballs. I'd love to know what folks are eating/enjoying.
My current biggest challenges: I need to get serious with some strength training(!); My Water intake is a daily struggle (I forget to sip, and then the number is daunting!) and I am really struggling to NOT "snack" at night. I cannot be trusted around mixed nuts or peanut butter....One day at a time.
Re: Vitamins. The chewable Multivitamin was making me gag and it kept getting worse; Finally I checked in with my team (regular visit) and they said I could use capsules but I need to open it and put it in applesauce. Happily done! I just ordered some new calcium chews. I ordered some swallowable Calcium but they are horse pills! even chopping them in 2 I could not get them down.
These are scary times, and I hope you all are able to share this "lock down" time with supportive family and friends and that you and those you love are staying safe and well. However the world looks when we come out of this, at least we have this opportunity to continue this journey towards healthier versions of us!

I had my first tele-health follow up from the surgery today. I spoke with a PA for about 20 minutes; It was very helpful, although in fairness I am not having any real issues. She is happy with the amount of my weight loss so far, happy that I am walking 10,000 steps per day, was happy with my water/protein numbers. I had done a weekly report from MFP on calories, Protein, etc. My average calories are just over 700, and the average protein is 67 per day, both of which she said were fine. She encouraged me to add some light weights, she said not to buy anything,, look online, and use full Water bottles as weights.
My program (Brigham/Womens in Boston) does not recommend counting calories, just lead with protein.
On a much more somber note, most of the hospital is now devoted to treating virus patients. She was calling from her home; she has a young child. She is returning to the hospital next week, in a different capacity. She said she is not entirely sure yet where, but clearly it will be dealing with hospitalized patients. I am embarrassed to say I broke down and cried while speaking with her; while I bemoan how bored I am and that I can't see my family and friends, these medical personnel are literally risking their own health. Thank you sure rings hollow. Least I can do is figure out how to help flatten the curve.
Hope you all are well! And staying safe.

@niffer, thank you for the tip! I'll add it to my next Amazon order, although I am feeling hesitant to order any "non-essentials" from Amazon right now.

@ResaRoo, it is hard to not have a crunchy snack, right? I ordered some high Protein cheese Snacks (called Cheesies); They don't taste that great to me on their own, but a half serving has 5 g or protein, and my lunch today was 2 g of tuna salad and 1/2 serving of those and it was a nice crunchy way to eat my tuna! Plus, 20g of protein and only 7 carbs for less than 200 k. BTW, I use the Hellman's mayo made with olive oil, it's half the calories and although high in fat it is the "good" fat. I don't like the regular light Mayonnaise, it is too sweet for me.

After 40 days, I got to have coffee this morning! And, it tastes awful! lol. I used to have half and half and some sugar; I tried it this morning with some Premier Caramel, and nope, can't drink it. I may have made it too strong, or maybe coffee is something in my past 😢 Has anyone found a good "creamer" for coffee?

It is interesting adding new foods! Tonight my husband and son wanted take out Mexican; I ordered fish tacos, and ate one, without the taco part. About 1.5 oz of fish, a tablespoon of salsa and a slice of avocado. Yum! And I am starting to imagine what going out with friends to eat may end up looking like; Lots of ordering off the appetizer menu I'm thinking. Of course, we have no restaurants open for anything except take out or delivery. My heart is breaking for all the folks losing their jobs, and for the small business owners.
I'm finding I want 5 to 6 little "meals" a day. For example, I just ate 2 oz. of rotisserie chicken; I want a little Protein before I go to sleep. My calories are between 600 and 700, usually right around 650. How are other folks doing as you add foods?

Good morning all! I hope everyone is doing well with these post-op weeks. And staying healthy as we face this pandemic! I start full foods this week-end; I actually had a little corned beef yesterday; 2 ounces of sliced lean corned beef with a couple of carrots and some cabbage. Tasted delicious and I tolerated it fine.
By and large I have had no problems adding foods; My calories tend to be between 550 and 650; Yesterday, however they were well over 700! How odd that 700 calories seems like a lot, what a different perspective from 6 weeks ago.
I'm still battling a cold...it is just hanging on. This is NOT the time you want to cough in public, by the way. My work has gone to skeleton crew; I go in Mon., Wed. and every other Friday. I work from home, but everything is so slowed down; I actually like being in the office because it feels more normal.
These are anxious times. I find I am enjoying community where I find it! My book group is doing a "virtual" meeting, not bad for a bunch of aging baby boomers; My extended family is doing a group email where someone is posting pretty much daily and I enjoy hearing about my nieces, nephews and grands, as well as hearing from my brothers and their wives. My friends and I have re-discovered phone visits. We are not banned from public parks, yet, so we have taken some nice walks.
I'm trying to remember to be grateful! That and not hoarding toilet paper! Our local foodbanks are really being stretched, so we've made an effort to make a monetary donation and my office has a donation box. Everyone seems to be doing what they can.
Take care of yourselves and each other! I love reading your updates.

@Xx1jpt5xx, I admire that attitude! I, however, am just too darn curious. I am trying to just step on every few days. I think I'll try to just do Fridays.

I started on eggs; but I have also really enjoyed a turkey sausage link with steamed cauliflower rice and spinach with some Cajun spice; I made Shelly's Ricotta Bake tonight and added some spinach (yum!); I've had baked salmon, tilapia, tuna salad and rotisserie chicken. Can't eat much, 2 oz fills me up if it is meat, but it feels great to eat something with some texture. I just wish I had room for a little more vegetables!

I actually gained weight around 3 weeks; but the scale has moved downward again. I feel like eating soft food has helped a bit. What are folks enjoying eating as they move to soft foods?

Wow! Great weight loss! A month on the liquid diet is loooong. I got to eat smooth foods after 10 days, and soft after 20. Good luck!

4 weeks out today! I am down about 13 pounds since the day of surgery, plus the 10 I lost during the 3 week pre-op. I have lost 10% of my body weight from my high of 260 last October.
On the upside: I am getting all my Protein in; I'm not hungry; I seem to be getting in to more of a rhythm with this. I have had no pain to speak of.
Downside: I keep getting colds, sore throats, etc. I think my immune system is just really low; I had the flu before surgery, then the surgery, and have not really gotten my strength back. I am hopeful I won't get that coronavirus! I'm still struggling with the liquids; I can get to 50, but getting to 64 is a stretch. I have not been able to significantly increase my exercise (which is just walking). Also, although I was not a heavy drinker, I did enjoy a glass of wine or a beer, and I have to learn how to meet up with friends now that I am not drinking. Seems odd to meet for a glass of Water
I'm looking forward to getting healthy, not feeling so run down, increasing my walking especially as the weather gets nicer, and being released to full foods so I can experiment with some different meals that I can share with my family.
How are other February surgery folks doing as we move through the post op phases?

My surgery was 2/10, and this week I GAINED A POUND AND A HALF!!!! I am trying not to overreact; I have been weighing and/or measuring everything; I have met my Protein goals every day, my liquids have been between 48 and 60, I am walking every day, slowly trying to gain some stamina. I have bad arthritis in both knees, and I walk several times a day for 10 to 15 minutes, and get up every hour and walk a bit. I went back to work this week, which seemed to make it easier to fall into a rhythm. I track everything on My Fitness Pal, including my Vitamins. My calories have ranged from a low of 480 to a high of 632. I am on soft foods, and am eating things like 2 oz. of rotisserie chicken, 2 slices of deli turkey breast with 1 tbsp. of low fat cheddar cheese rolled up in the slices. I have to just keep the faith, but boy is this frustrating!!!!

I had my first tele-health follow up from the surgery today. I spoke with a PA for about 20 minutes; It was very helpful, although in fairness I am not having any real issues. She is happy with the amount of my weight loss so far, happy that I am walking 10,000 steps per day, was happy with my water/protein numbers. I had done a weekly report from MFP on calories, Protein, etc. My average calories are just over 700, and the average protein is 67 per day, both of which she said were fine. She encouraged me to add some light weights, she said not to buy anything,, look online, and use full Water bottles as weights.
My program (Brigham/Womens in Boston) does not recommend counting calories, just lead with protein.
On a much more somber note, most of the hospital is now devoted to treating virus patients. She was calling from her home; she has a young child. She is returning to the hospital next week, in a different capacity. She said she is not entirely sure yet where, but clearly it will be dealing with hospitalized patients. I am embarrassed to say I broke down and cried while speaking with her; while I bemoan how bored I am and that I can't see my family and friends, these medical personnel are literally risking their own health. Thank you sure rings hollow. Least I can do is figure out how to help flatten the curve.
Hope you all are well! And staying safe.

Dayum, Girl!! Way to go! I walked two miles around a flat path today and was proud of that....😅

I climbed a mountain. No seriously, I CLIMBED A MOUNTAIN! I stopped doing uphill hikes MANY years ago because my tachycardia was so bad it made me short of breath to the point I had to rest every 20 feet. Today? I hiked for 14.2 miles. I took the shorter but steeper path up, and the longer but less steep way down. I climbed 3989 ft. I reached the summit of our local mountain. It was amazing. And for most of the uphill, I was able to stop at normal people intervals. And only 4 people passed me (one at the beginning, one in the middle, and a couple at the end. I did stop more frequently when was getting closer to the summit, but I really don't think it was moreso than the average exhausted hiker. My HR WAS quite high during all the incline, but my breathing was still controlled. And this is WITHOUT my tachycardia medication which I had to stop several months ago because my BP was getting too low. Needless to say, this is a major victory.

I had forgotten about this thread. Thanks for commenting!! Here was my predicted numbers:

80% of patients reach at least 212 lbs 18 months after surgery. 50% of patients reach at least 193 lbs 18 months after surgery. 20% of patients reach 174 lbs 18 months after surgery. Im almost 6 months out and 185 lbs (-120lb total). So I guess you can beat the calculator. I’ve been fairly strict on food choices, not that strict on Water (I know...shame), and have gotten a lot more active. It’s a little off because I used pre liquid diet weight bc it wouldn’t let me do it after with the BMI rules. (Too low and it says you shouldn’t have surgery)

Thanks @catwoman7. Most of the time I feel committed, though lately sometimes I feel like I should be committed! lol. Hope you are staying well, and, as always, I appreciate your feedback.

Hi Lisa from Massachusetts, My surgery was 2/28. I’m in the same boat as you. I’m weighing in at 195. Saggy arms and slowly losing. I have 50 more pounds to lose and it seems it will take forever.

I am coming up on 3 months out, and I also thought about food all the time during that first few weeks. I still think about food a lot! It's hard work to get my Protein in 🙂 I am NOT one of the people who does not like food; I still very much like food, and I have been enjoying making different meals my family can enjoy with me. You just had a major surgery to change the way you eat, you are living on liquids, you are in pain, you are stuck home in the middle of a world wide pandemic....of course you are thinking about food. Hang in there, it does actually all get better! (for the vast majority of us....).

Lisa

I am coming up on 3 months out, and I also thought about food all the time during that first few weeks. I still think about food a lot! It's hard work to get my Protein in 🙂 I am NOT one of the people who does not like food; I still very much like food, and I have been enjoying making different meals my family can enjoy with me. You just had a major surgery to change the way you eat, you are living on liquids, you are in pain, you are stuck home in the middle of a world wide pandemic....of course you are thinking about food. Hang in there, it does actually all get better! (for the vast majority of us....).

Lisa

Ditto on both counts for me as well, even though I am about to run out of TP and still can't find any in my city.
Since you work in the healthcare profession, I expect that either directly or indirectly, you've been deeply affected by covid-19. I'm a biologist with a secure job and career, but also a long-time volunteer in the field of end of life care. The nature of my volunteer work hasn't changed lately, but the volume of patients we’re seeing and the environment in which we’re caring for them has been meaningfully altered. The pandemic does not allow the luxury of time with my patients and their relatives. News is broken quickly, visitors and families are largely absent, faces are obscured by masks and visors, and more people are dying alone. The atmosphere in hospitals and hospices is taking an emotional toll on us all. Perhaps you’re experiencing something similar at work, as well.
I'm grateful that my WLS surgery is in the rear-view mirror (or I’d be worrying about access to enough fresh foods, since pre-op I ate 3lbs of raw veg and fruit daily), but still not too far away, as I remain relatively uninterested in food (cooking and food science used to take up a lot of my free time and without a doubt I'd be doing way too much cooking and eating right now if I hadn't had surgery). I still have to work hard to adhere to a strict eating and exercise schedule, but I'm at ease with that and view this is a beneficial intensive training period that will serve me well over the long-term.
Like you, I embrace this as an opportunity to learn more about myself and others. One of the few consolations of the coronavirus is the possibility that it could (eventually) lead to some progressive economic and political changes. I find it (somewhat) helpful to frequently remind myself that none of what we are experiencing right now is permanent. Please take care, and stay as safe as you possibly can.

Thank you. This whole situation has created an undercurrent of low level anxiety for me. I am not in any dire straights financially or otherwise. I have my family together and I have enough food and TP! But I feel vulnerable and more emotionally labile. I find myself more tempted by emotional eating. There is a sense of uncertainty and loss of control. It is actually good to see these things surface, so they can be dealt with. I know this experience will make me more resilient and will help develop coping mechanisms to a higher level. Thanks for the article. We all need to use this as an opportunity to learn and grow.

@Danny Paul; I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. These are terrifying times, and people are going through so much. You are so right when you say being kind really does make a difference. That and stay home. My thoughts are with you. Stay well.