DebbieDoo

On 4/13/2023 at 3:13 AM, tracy_b said:

I am at the 6 week mark and on soft foods. I have been stalled for 2 weeks at 185-186. I started at 223 pounds and was 200 and for the day of surgery.
It’s very difficult for me to even drink a Protein Shake and maybe one or two bites of food . I realize I’m on the smaller end of weight loss surgery but I am hopeful to lose another 40 pounds. My big wins are that I am off of all diabetes medicine and also 75% of the medication I was taking before my sleeve however I’m looking for any helpful hints I can get to break the stall. Suggestion please.

your stats arent all that far off from mine, but I am eating more. Stalls are part of weight loss, no matter HOW its done. You are doing fantastic and those are soe MAJOR wins!!! trust the process! Are you working out at all? if so, incorporate that as much as you are able. even if its 'just' walking! That helps as well!

28 minutes ago, Rdy4Change said:

Reached a scale and non-scale achievement. For the scale, I made it into onderland a couple days ago. This was big because it means, at where I live, I can go horseback riding with my son. Planning to take him during spring break this week! These kind of achievements are why I had the surgery, to be healthy and active with my kids!

HOW AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you have a WONDERFUL TIME! horseback riding is the BEST!

comparison is the thief of joy and your doctor is absolutely correct. I have not been doing shakes at all since week 3. It definitely takes planning, but is doable. Honestly, in your situation, I would weigh less often than weekly. I would do every 2 weeks or even once a month. your doctor is happy, that says a lot about your progress. youve lost a stone! think about a time when THAT would have seem like a fantasy! youve got this! stay consistent! only compare you to YOU.

im roughly 6 weeks out and am finding weight is coming off a bit quicker than it was (but im a lower BMI to begin with, so not as quick as many). i think it is REALLY important to NOT compare yourself to others. Its really hard NOT to do, I know, but if you are doing what you are supposed to, and being HONEST about that, than it will work. the SURGERY does not fail, PEOPLE do. Also often we lose inches and not numbers on the scale, and vice versa. important to not only go by ONE metric. I only do my measurements once a month (i weight twice a week) and am dying to do my measurements again but am forcing myself to wait till the 1st. lol its painful at this point LOL

hang in there everyone!

47 minutes ago, KimJJ said:

And the shakes are so thick that they just don’t sit well with me. I will have to try the yogurt!!!!

Thin them down with a bit of fairlife nonfat or other milk. it helps.

9 hours ago, RoxyChick said:

Surgery 2/10. First 24 hours was pretty rough with the gas but lots of laps in the hospital helped. During the two week postop diet, I was struggling with fluids and Protein because I was just so over it. I’m not stressing about it. I just do what I can. I’m now 16 days postop and it’s easier to get my fluids in but I’m still so sick of Protein Shakes. I found Oikos Greek yogurt with 15 grams of Protein. The vanilla flavor is amazing…. Yum! I’m on puréed diet for the past three days, threw up twice just eating too fast because I was starving. But now I have adjusted to eating more slowly so I don’t throw up. The only issue I have is the bariatric Vitamins. I’ve been taking the chewable ones and they are absolutely awful and they make me vomit. I’ve taken them on a full stomach too, and they still make me sick. I’m trying to find a good Vitamin to take that doesn’t upset my stomach. I just ordered the BariMelts which I know are not recommended by my doctor, but they are known to be gentler on the stomach, so something is better than nothing. I have the calcium chews and those are fine. Does anyone have a good Vitamin that they like it doesn’t make them sick?

Also, I’m down 18 pounds and I’m fine with that as I am a lower BMI.

I had surgery 2 days before you. nothing (literally, lol) makes me sick. I take the barimelts. Theyre... okay. initial taste is fine but have a terrible aftertaste/burp. lol

im on all solid foods (soft/chewed really well). about the only thing i havent tried yet are raw veg/salad. I figure ill give that a bit longer just because I know its a bit harder to digest. I am getting all of my protein from food at this point, 60 grams and am eating around 7/800 calories a day. losing around 3 pounds a week (lower BMI), which I am good with. Slower rate of loss means more muscle kept and less loose skin

5 minutes ago, Hawtry said:

Had my surgery yesterday and feeling pretty rough today. The gas is definitely the worst part. I’m on fentanyl Patches and a drip. I’ve been walking to and from the bathroom in the hospital to try and get the gas moving but nothing yet.

walk more than that. go up and down halls! for as long as you can!

3 hours ago, sleeved_up said:

Amazing! It’s great to hear this side as well thanks for sharing. I think it provides a good balance.
It hasn’t been all bad for me Infact I think it’s been mostly good. The pain was intense and still comes from time to time (I’m nearly 2 weeks post op) but that’s probably because I’m doing a bit more with 4 young children. I don’t know how you’re managing to hit your Protein goals. I still struggle with mine but I’m not yet at the purée stage so watch this space. Water is especially difficult to hit 700ml never mind the 1.2litres I’ve been told I need daily. I’m definitely hitting my 90 minute walking target so that’s a plus. And I am starting to feel my jeans fall so an additional yay!!

definitely still working on the Water and youre walking more than I am, but I do live on a farm, so its not like Im sitting still all day lol id still rather chase after livestock than 4 kids! LOL

1 hour ago, Rdy4Change said:

Cleared for pureed stage! Enjoyed my cottage cheese this morning and ordered a bariatric recipe book.

yayyyyyyyyyy!

I cant read that but I have cigna open access plus and it was covered, minus meeting your deductible and all. It will of course depend on your specific plan (not all are the same) and I know that we have EXCEPTIONAL insurance.

With my plan, you have to have a BMI over 40 or if under 40 but over 35, at least one comorbidity. In my case, the arthritis in my back and hip was my comorbidity (BMI was 39). I dont have high BP or diabetes, or any of the common ones.

My plan did not require a period of attempted weight loss, but did require a letter from my PCP stating I had multiple attempts to lose and would not lose or lose/regain.

For those getting ready for your surgery (YAY!) I just wanted to pop in with my experience (I am 2 weeks post op tomorrow). I see a lof of 'problems' and sometimes I think its easy for us to talk about negative or 'not great' things trying to help others, but then it makes it seem like everyone has those issues, when im not sure thats the case.

For ME.... no nausea. not once. no vomiting. no tiredness. no dizziness. I did have more pain than i expected, but it lasted less than a week.

food wise.... I am eating around 700-800 calories a day. hitting Protein goals on puree/ semi soft diet. Struggling to get in enough Water, but doing my best. Not back at the gym yet but thinking probably next week, based on how i feel (obviously no weights yet lol).

My tastes in foods have not changed at all. I have not had any bad reactions to any foods.

All in all.... sometimes i wonder if i HAD surgery, aside from I can't eat much at a time. But, really.... I kind of think thats ideal LOL

I haven't lost much weight yet but I remind myself that my body is still healing, With a (relatively) low BMI, I will lose slower anyway, and the slower you lose, the less loose skin you have. so.... #perspective

All of yall are amazing and strong! ...............................

oh sweetheart..... the surgery has NOT failed, I PROMISE! put ALL the scales away. old ones. new ones (which by the way, those things are not as accurate as they would like you to think). Lets look at this from a SIMPLE SCIENCE AND MATH viewpoint, okay? Lets say you are eating 700 calories a day. That is not MAINTENANCE for ANYONE. Not even my 5' self who has a below average metabolism. Add on to that, our bodies are retaining Water and hoarding fluids, to HEAL our bodies. We had MAJOR SURGERY, even if it doesnt look or feel like it. That takes WEEKS AND WEEKS to heal. Theres a reason we are on exercise and lifting restrictions as long as we are. So we can HEAL. That healing takes a lot of water and a lot of our bodies energy. Add on to that, depending on your age, you may be holding on to water due to your cycle. Hormones, which go all kinds of out of whack with surgery, also can make us hold on to weight. Think about it this way... No one who went into concentration camps came out big. not even average. not even thin. Right? Our bodies WILL FIGHT to hold on to weight as long as they can. its life support at its most basic. but it can only do that so long. I know it is hard. I am in a very similar spot to you. I too, and looking at the scale not moving and sticking my tongue out at it. But heres the thing.... it WILL move. BE PATIENT. FOLLOW YOUR PLAN. Get in as much water and Protein as you can. move move move. and know it WILL come off. We are BOTH doing everything right... and it WILL come off.

((((hugs))))