KevinS62

I've been using MyFitnessPal off and on for quite a few years. It's pretty good and has lots of features. They are in your face a bit with trying to make you purchase their premium plan which is $20 per month or $80 per year. I'm not planning to purchase the plan.

70 calories, Low carbs and high in protein. Sounds like a great find.

Hey all. Just wanted to post a 1 week update. I have dropped 12.6 lbs since surgery last Thursday. And when I include my pre-op weight loss, I'm down 40 lbs total. I am definitely happy with my progress and anxious to see where this goes in the coming weeks. My 3XL shirts are fitting much looser and I'll need to see where we put the 2XLs this weekend. I'm tracking my food, protein and water in my MFP app. It looks like I'm only consuming 450-500 calories a day. I am not doing a good job of tracking my water yet, but I'm trying to get with the program. I think I'm getting 6 cups (3 bottles) or 50 oz per day, so I need to remember to do better at some point. Today I moved on from clear liquid to full liquid, but I haven't done anything too different as of yet. I am putting a full day of work (from home office), so I didn't have much time to prepare anything different at lunch. Maybe I'll get a little more creative this evening. I did have one of those chocolate Fairlife protein shakes for my breakfast. Those taste really good, so I I savored it. I will go back to my BodyTech 24 protein powder and water when I work from home and save the premade protein drinks when I'm on the go. Overall, I think I'm on track with this thing. No regrets. Heading out for a walk now. Go July Peeps!

Hey Kbennettaz. Hope all went well with your surgery!

Of those using MFP, has anyone paid the monthly fee to have the have the premium app/services? I found a few things are not available without paying for Premium, although I don't recall what at the moment. I've had MFP for a long time. The adds to go premium are kind of in my face and I'll also add the app has changed a lot and I'm still getting used to it.

Just an observation. I was cleaning out my in-box and had a half dozen food e-mails that I subscribe to (Command Cooking, All Recipes, Cooking Professionally, Easier Eats, etc.). I did not realize how many I am subscribed to. While I won't unsubscribe, I think I will make a rule to throw these e-mails in an archive folder for now. Why add misery to my post-op recovery? Have a great day July 2022 Peeps! Kevin

Good luck today. After they get the IV in, it's easy-peasy. Make sure to give us an update when you feel up to it.

All - Thanks for the great responses. It gives me faith in this forum that I can ask a question and get real answers, without worrying about the negative crap and the shaming you might get in a Facebook group or other forums I have been in. Today is my last day of my "Week 1 Clear Liquid" stage so I wait till tomorrow to choose a few items from my "Week 2 Full Liquid" stage. I'm still a week away from oatmeal and bananas. The clear liquid week, as sucky as it has been, did allow me to lose 10 lbs so far. So I'll call it a win.

Thanks for your informative response. It helps a lot and I wish that that my post-op diet could have been explained better. As I said in a previous response, I think the dietician follows the script and did not vary from it. When I asked questions, her answers were vague. Like she didn't know the answer or she didn't want to give me the full answer.

Thanks for your response. I didn't quote your full response, but everything you said makes total sense to me. It's how I think, but could not put into words. As I sit here sipping my black coffee (that does not count towards my daily 64 oz of liquid) one thing I remember from the meeting with the doctor's suggested dietician. She dealt in absolutes. I NEVER deal in absolutes. When she said "Never again" on things such as potatoes and rice, I wanted hold up my hand and say, Easy there." She was just going by the script and probably never really questioned anything.

Thanks for this. As I said, I am following my guide to the letter, but a little frustrated that things weren't explained better. And of course, I am anxiously looking towards when I can have small bites of soft food.

I'd like to know the reasons/purposes of the post-op diet and the different stages. I am following my instructions exactly. I think. I hope I'm doing it right. Now, likely all y'all know that a clear liquid diet sucks. The guide I was given says I have to be on the clear liquid stage for week 1 and I have 2 days left. But I have heard others only having clear liquids for 1-3 days. I'm doing well and I'd like to try a few things that are on my list for week 2 if it isn't going to hurt me. Which leads me to the question. What is the purpose of the clear liquid diet? Am I on a clear liquid diet to allow my new sleeve stomach to heal or is it so I won't have issues with reflux, heartburn, nausea or gas? If I knew, maybe I'd try a little of the food from the next stage. Or at the very least, not worry as much when I try to decide if my soup is as clear as it's supposed to be. In two days I graduate to a week 2 full liquid diet. The guide doesn't use the word puree', just full liquid. Is this the same thing or no? According to the guide I can add cream soups (strained). premade Protein shakes, sugar free pudding, V8 Tomato juice, low fat yogurt and Fat free milk. This is much better than week 1, but by the end of week 2, I know I'm going to start looking ahead to week 3 and want to try something from it. Week 3 is really not much different. Just adding bananas and oatmeal. But I can add unsweetened fruit to my smoothies. And, then I see this. NO GRITS & NO POTATOES. Really? Don't just say I can't have it without telling me why. What harm is going to come from potatoes, other than carbs/calories? In week 4, I am finally allowed to have cottage cheese. Not that cottage cheese is something I have to have, but I would love some right now with my clear liquids. I can also finally have well cooked beans and veggies, as well as 2% milk. Then I see, NO RICE & NO GREEN PEAS. Why? Again, I assume its starches and carbs from the rice, but tell me why... Week 5 I can finally have a scrambled egg.. Finally I can have an egg? In week 6 I can finally baked fish. Why not week 5? And then they say, NO HONEY & NO DRIED FRUIT. Why? Again, this is mostly my curiosity. But it frustrates me that they did not give me much (any) background information. I will continue following the guidance they gave me, I mean I'm dropping weight daily so it's working. But when I go to my follow-up appointment next Tuesday, I'm going to bring up some of these specific questions. I know this was a long post, but if any of you can shed some light on any of the questions I have, please feel free.

Mine was overnight. In at 7 AM, surgery at 9, stayed the night and was discharged before 1 PM the following day. I would say that it was good since I had an IV for fluids and pain meds. I had nurse there incase there was trouble and of course the nurses could answer questions. It was a good, if not great, experience.

And that's why it's so hard to share this with others. Even my mom was a little less than encouraging the first time I mentioned it to her. She just said that I needed to talk to my sister since she had it. But back to my thought, as soon as I tell some, they say "Say good-bye to your beer", or "You know you can never have xyz again.", or "I'm losing weight the natural way.", meaning their way is the right way and I'm taking the easy way/cheating. To those, you can either laugh it off or try to enlighten them.

That's awesome. Good for you.

I had coffee (Black, no sugar/cream) on day 2 after surgery. No issues. I agree with your group that it was the sugar that caused your issues. That is in my limited experience and understanding. I'm only on day 4.

I figured out how to do this finally. 1. On the Bariatric Pal website, sign off. 2. Intiate the sign on process but select the Forgot Password link. 3. Follow the process to reset (in my case, ceate) a password. This should be the same whether you registered with your Google, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter account.

I didn't create a password. I used the option to register/sign on with my Google account. It's similar to signing on with your facebook account. The Android app doesn't have that option so I would have to create a second account..

I have a love/hate relationship with my CPAP/BiPAP as well, so I know that feeling. Hopefully they'll allow you to start using it sooner rather than later, otherwise, I would probably ask at some point. Hey, I used mine the first two nights after my sleeve and it didn't kill me LOL. I had a nice burp when I got the mask off this morning which has been the norm this past couple months. I probably need a new sleep study, as mine seems to pump a lot of air into me, but will hold off and maybe do it after I get closer to my GW of 190.

I created my account by signing onto the site using my Google/Gmail account. Since then I have downloaded the app and when I try to sign on using the app it wants my name and password. But I have never used a password and cannot find a way to add one. What do I need to do so I can sign on from the App (specifically the Android App).

Glad your recovery is going so well. I guess I don't understand why they don't want you using the CPAP. I know all doctor's have different schedules and plans. I was told to bring mine to the hospital when I went in for surgery. I 've had mine for 3-4 years and don't know if I could sleep without it.

Good topic. I told my boss and maybe one co-worker. Of course I told my family and my close friends. Otherewise this was a private decsion and I think I'll keep it that way unless I am asked specifically. And then I'll probably tell the truth. While I want to say I don't care what others think, I do. And right or wrong, I don't feel like I want to have to explain myself when someone says, oh, you took the easy way out or something. I know most won't say it, but you can tell they think it. I could tell them about the hiatal (sp?) hernia that was repaired. Like others have said, most of my coworkers have seen me lose 60-70 lbs a couple times in the past, so there might not be many to ask specifically if I had WLS.

Hey all. Day 2 Post-op. Thought it was time for an update. Surgery was 9 AM on Thursday, 7/14. During surgery, the doc repaired a Hiatal (sp?) hernia. I am thinking that's where most of my pain is coming from. That night I had an issue taking medicine and it got me coughing non-stop for an hour or so. Was not good. The nurse had me take some warm broth. It helped. I still have the cough, but not as consistent. Kind of a tickle at the bottom of my throat that I can't get rid of. I was discharged yesterday afternoon after the surgeon came in and saw me. Overall a good/great experience and I would recommend Dr. French and the Crescent City Surgical Centre for their nurses, facilities and staff. The day of surgery I weighed myself at 289. Out of curiosity, I weighed myself last night at 296 or something. I attribute that to all the fluids they pumped into me. Plus all the broths I drank had a ton of salt in them. No worries on this. Just thought I'd add for the update. I have some rough reflux/heartburn and some gas pain issues that I'm dealing with. Overall not too bad I guess, and about what I expected. At least I don't feel like I'm dying. A few times I took too much water or broth in and found it is very very uncomfortable. This is something I will need to continue to work on. Oh, and before I forget, Norco helps for pain. I'm on a clear liquid diet for days 1-6. I'm already tired of beef/chicken broths. This morning I had a protein powder/water shake and now sipping a black coffee. Both were on the dietician's planner/menu thing. My plan today is mostly rest and recouperation, but I will get up and walk a little. I will contine working on figuring out how much is too much when sipping water or broth or whatever. But...typos No regrets.

Like @ShoppGirl said, I was also told the insurance companies have 30 days to respond. In my case, I have BCBS and it took 12 days from my last visit at the surgeon's office to get the call that I was approved. After turning in some consent forms and a co-pay, I was called the following day to schedule the surgery.

@HealthierMe2022 - Glad you're feeling better and thanks for the update. I'm to go in tomorrow for mine, and I am a bit anxious.