BrandiBird

Hi Georgie! Thank you so much for your reply! I'm sorry that your healing was slowed by other concerns, but I'm glad to hear you're getting there. 🩷 I'm very happy with the food I am getting in and my exercise. I think I have a healthy balance right now where I get at least 80g of protein every day (usually more, if I'm honest). This is what I have to watch out for because too much protein seems to dip back towards too many calories, as my surgeon told me. I work with a dietician who specializes in PCOS, so I have specific macro goals geared towards that and my bariatric requirements. I'm losing weight steadily - I just got over a stall, and I'm getting closer to a 50 pound weight loss, which is exciting to me. 🤩

Hey March Sleeves! For anyone who counts their calories or tracks their food, how many calories do you get in a day? I'm so curious! I'm not being super strict with myself when it comes to calories, but I'm tracking my food and listening to my body to eat slower and only until I'm satisfied, not overfull and to focus on whole foods and eating intuitively. I was sleeved on March 7th, so I'm a little more than 2 months post-op. I eat around 900-1100 calories a day, give or take. (This isn't for comparison, but more out of curiosity. Sometimes I worry I eat too much, but I'm never grossly full or anything either.)

I got my sleeve done exactly two months ago, with a two week pre-op diet. I've lost 40 pounds, but it feels like it should be more. The last few weeks I've been fighting a stall where I'm not seeing much of a change on the scale. My energy is high, I tolerate almost all foods, and I get 8-10 cups of water a day. Lately I've been going over my protein goals, so I'm trying to get more fruits and veggies in to keep my calories lower. I walk 5 days a week for 30 minutes, resistance train 2 days a week, and I've been trying to get extra exercise through stretching or swimming on the weekend. I'm concerned I'm not strength training well enough because I'm never really sore. 😔 But I keep telling myself any movement that gets my heart rate up is good movement. I'm trying not to obsess over the scale (I weigh once a week). I've been getting a lot of positive comments from people I know that they can see a difference. I just can't see it myself. 💔

I'm so sorry you're having a mental struggle, and I completely empathize. I also have been experiencing a weird and nebulous relationship with myself. I've had clinical depression for several years, but my medication has always been able to help keep me afloat. Right now I feel kind of disconnected from my body, and I haven't seen the results that others see in me yet. A lot of times I find myself doubting if the surgery really worked, or if I'll ever get to my goals. I'm having a hard time processing the work and effort and the results I'm actually getting - I think, for me personally, it is because I've gone so long putting in work and never getting results. Now that I am (even if I can't see them), it doesn't feel right. So I'm getting in touch with a therapist to help me work through it. Can you reach out to your weight loss program and ask to be included in a support group? A counselor might also be helpful (something I also have experience with). I'm wishing you all the best. ❤️

I know the feeling of the "ball sitting your throat"! I also get pains every now and then in the middle of my chest (right on my diaphragm, so I think that has to do with my hernia repair, too). I don't and haven't had complications as bad as you, and I'm so sorry you're going through that. You may just have a longer recovery time. Chewing thoroughly is what helped me the most, and taking longer on soft/pureed foods. How are you doing now? I hope your doctors were able to help!

I understand this. I'm going through a plateau right now as well, but both of my dieticians have reassured me that if you're hungry, it means your body needs food. It may not need a full meal, but something small and satiating is better both for your stomach and for your mood/mind.

I thought my progress was slow going, too. Even this week I'm feeling a little down about it. But two steps forward and one step back is still progress (my daily affirmation lol), even if it's not what we're hoping to see.

Hi there! I had my VSG + hiatal hernia repair surgery on March 7th, 2023. I am 13 days post-op today, and at my one week-check up, I was approved to eat soft foods, take medication whole, and start gentle resistance exercises. I am having moments of pain when eating certain foods. It hasn't been often. The first time was when I tried soft scrambled eggs, and I've since paused eating eggs because they just don't feel good going down. I've since eaten various types of soft foods - refried beans, pudding, soups, and tuna fish. The latter is one that I really enjoy and it goes down well. It's also how I try to get a lot of my protein in for the day. Today, though, I was eating some tuna and a little mayo, and it hurt. It felt like someone was poking me in upper center of my chest and it went through to my back. It's the first time I've had the sensation of feeling like food was "stuck" and that it might come back up. Luckily it didn't, but it was super painful for about five minutes of deep breathing. I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this, and what might help? I can accept some foods not going down well for now, but I haven't had a problem with tuna until now! Any advice?

Update! I am one month and three weeks post-op, and I've had some dramatic improvements. Chewing thoroughly has helped the most with the pain, though some foods still do not go down easy (smoked sausage, heavily fried foods, etc.), but not a whole lot. I got sick once when I ate some asparagus and tomatoes (cooked), but I think I ate them too quickly. It was not very bad, but it was unpleasant, as getting sick always is. I also had blood tests, and all of my numbers went down! I'm most excited for my cholesterol, as it's 185 and was over 200 previously. Most days, I start with a protein shake for breakfast, then a higher protein pasta with lots of fiber (handfuls of spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, etc.), and some pre-cooked meat for lunch. Lean Cuisine protein meals are perfect sizes for me right now, though I don't finish them all. I don't want to overly rely on frozen food, but on the days I don't feel like eating what I cooked, it's a nice option to have. Dinner is usually soup - Proper Good is my favorite, made with lots of bone broth for extra protein, or Amy's soups. Snacks include mini Babybel cheeses, protein puddings, Greek yogurt, and Braniac brain bars. I have PCOS, so I try to eat to balance my hormones with an emphasis on protein and a healthy amount of good fats and fiber. I have lost 35 pounds so far, and I can't tell a difference yet physically, but my energy levels are SO MUCH BETTER. I don't feel like I'm constantly fatigued, and I've been able to do loads of spring cleaning after a full work day. I was cleared to start resistance training, so in addition to walking for 30 minutes 5x a week, I'm incorporating 2-3x a week of resistance workouts. They're small right now, and not very intense (10 minutes tops), but I like to think it'll still benefit me. 😅 Thank you to everyone who's been replying to me. I really appreciate it!

My weight loss was rapid pre-op, but post-op has been a lot slower. My surgery was on the 7th of March, too. I think - for me - it's been better to not weigh myself on a scale every day and just focus on staying hydrated and moving in small spurts.

So sorry to hear you're in pain. Small walks throughout the day are best. I do at most 5 minutes an hour or so. So glad to hear that you got your surgery done and that you're back home!

I'm in this boat, as well. I lost a good amount of weight from pre-op diet and from my first two weeks post-op, but since then the scale has barely moved for me. I am back onto solid foods now that I'm more than three weeks post-op, and I'm tracking everything I eat and even walking/moving more than pre-op. I've started some very light resistance training because I'm afraid of losing muscle instead of fat. But I was hoping to see a faster weight loss than what I'm currently seeing. I think because so many people tell you it'll happen fast, but in the moment it seems so slow. How are you since you last updated? I hope you're well.

I haven't tried bread or rice. Mashed potatoes go down nicely, so I think I eat them slow enough. I gulp water unless I drink with a straw. It's the only way I can sip. I've had no problems with any liquids, either! I think what I'm learning right now is how important the consistency of foods are.

My dietician and surgeon both said crackers are okay as long as I chew them well. I have had a few pita chips / crackers, and they go down nicely. Sometimes I don't have an appetite for much of anything, so plain things like mushy crackers sit well for me. Eggs are a problem, for me. They hurt going down. I was able to eat tuna yesterday with no problem (Honey BBQ Starkist). I think it must have been something to do with how it was mixed or flaked. I'm not sure, but it sat well. Right now the name of the game for me seems to be like finding what I tolerate best and balancing it with my protein.

What kind of crackers do you enjoy? I'm trying to find some good ones that are soft and not too rigid so I can chew them really well. I can't imagine eating something like an apple right now. Anything super fibrous kind of makes me want to gag just thinking about it. Right now mashed potatoes, creamed soups, protein shakes, and refried beans are my go-tos. I did have some pimento cheese, and that went down okay, but it feels very heavy once it's in my stomach, so I don't overdo that.

Thank you! As I said, it's not really anything to do with my stomach as much as how it hurts my chest. I had added mayo to the tuna, but maybe I could've mashed it up more? I could probably do with eating slower/smaller bites, as well. Thank you again! ❤️

Sip on your water, and get some sugar free jello and sugar free popsicles. You can do it!

I've had a suspiciously easy recovery so far. I was approved to go home the same day I had my sleeve surgery, and I only had nausea coming off anesthesia. I had no gas pain, and honestly, I'm doing really good still (10 days post-op today, I've been back at work since Monday). All this being said, I'd prep yourself for everything just in case. I recommend extra comfy clothes, a pillow and blanket for the plane, a good neck pillow, eye mask, etc. Pack some single use alcohol wipes (my nurse opened one for me the one time I felt nauseous, and the scent chased away the nausea fast - great in moments where you can't move fast / aren't near a bathroom). Look into getting a couple LiquaCel packs. They travel good, and they tend to give these to you in the hospital, but you can order them online, too. Invest in some powder/liquid Tylenol. And give yourself extra, extra time. You will be moving slow, and you could hurt yourself going too fast. Give yourself enough time to move as slowly as you want/as possible. ❤️ Good luck!

I had my VSG & hiatal hernia repair March 7th. I had no gas pain, brief nausea on day 1 coming off anesethia, and have been doing well. My first week I didn't have much hunger (I was very weak and tired, and also on my cycle). About day 4/5 post-op, I started feeling hungry; liquids don't offer a lot of satiety. At my 1 week follow-up, my surgeon approved me to move onto soft foods, to take vitamins, and to not have to crush pills. Their goal is between 700-800 calories, and today (so far) I have met 700. Soft foods are tolerated great, though eggs sit a little heavier in my stomach. I'm surprised at myself. I didn't think I'd be able to eat or drink this much (50oz water today; average 8 - 10 cups). I'm down 22 pounds, but I feel a little worried that I'm doing too well. I'm scared of eating too much and stalling weight loss. :( I feel conflicted, like I should be happy and energized, but I'm mostly anxious.