Tiffykins

YAY for no french fries. They were definitely a favorite of mine pre-op, but they've lost all appeal. I dealt with the food not tasting good, or nothing "sounding" good. I would have to say it lasted for me until the 4th or 5th month then my tastebuds went back to the way they were before surgery. Things tasted good again, I think they tasted better because I was eating slower and enjoying the food. The only solution I was able to find was to pretty much over season my food with various spices, and started really getting into cooking new recipes that challenged my tastes. I'm still dealing with the force feeding thing since I'm trying to maintain. It's definitely hard for me to switch gears from losing to maintenance. Congrats on your results, you're doing fabulous ! ! !

Try adding 50-100 calories a day for a couple days then go back to 600, then go back up. You really have to trick your body, give it more fuel, give it more water. Try getting in a Protein snack to boost calories. It'll break, and you'll start losing again.

Hey there and welcome. Best wishes on insurance approval. I honestly love life with the sleeve. It'll be best thing you can do for yourself and your future. Congrats on the fast approaching arrival of your baby boy ! ! ! Keep us posted on your progress.

That's what my post-op diet guidelines specified.

It'll definitely get better. Your stomach nerves have been severed and traumatized so you aren't going to get a full sensation. I felt much better when I got to full liquids. Cream Soups, sugar free puddings, and greek yogurts, I could only eat about 2-3 teaspoons each time, but it made me feel better. The food separation is different for everyone. I went 22 days without anything to eat or drink while I was being "fed" intravenously so the mental food separation took quite awhile for me to get over. I didn't struggle with a lot of head hunger because I dealt with that with the band. But, that doesn't take away the desire to actually put something in my mouth. Finding variety definitely helped once I was released for food. Going from sweet to salty, like sf popsicles to chicken broth to gatorade really made me feel better while on Clear Liquids. Hang in there.

Here's an interesting article on acute hair loss. It explains that there are several reasons why we lose hair. From my understanding, it's more the major shock to the system post-op and not just the rapid weight loss. Even patients that got in 100 grams of Protein immediately post-WLS have noted major hair loss. Telogen Effluvium Telogen Effluvium Hair Loss

I drink soda a couple times a week. I have absolutely zero ill effects. It hits my stomach, and I might have a little burp. For the most part, it's no problem. I've stuck to regular soda because I hated diet drinks even pre-op. I want to say I tried my first soda around 5 months out. I'm trying to remember that far back, but it was between 4-5 months out. I did let it go flat by twirling a spoon around in it for a few minutes. I didn't have any issues. Then, I just quit letting it go flat. Some weeks I have a couple sodas, some weeks, I have none.

Woohoo, you look amazing ! ! !

I'm really sorry to hear this news, but when one door closes, God opens a window. Best wishes, and I hope you do stick around here. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

I have not technically lost too much weight as I'm right in the middle of a normal healthy weight for my height/frame size. My up and down loss/gain is definitely related to stress. My eating habits have remained the same for maintenance, my labs were just pulled in February, and I was scoped as well during gall bladder surgery. Physically, I am fine, healthy. Mentally, it is draining to lose when I simply want to maintain my current weight. I'd actually feel better with a 3-7lb gain. The most recent stressful situation has been resolved, and I'm mentally clear, and no longer stressed. I'm not sure why stress does this to me now post sleeve, but it definitely causes a domino effect because then I begin stressing about losing more weight. Today, I'm weighing in at 123.5lb. So, now that my stress has been resolved, I'm hoping my body will cooperate and bounce back with a few pounds.

This is more of a vent than a question, but I need to share with someone. I'm having one those weeks. We all have them, we all know that sh*t happens. Anyway, what I can not wrap my head around is why stress causes me to lose weight. I'm eating a very balanced diet. Getting in between 1200-1500 calories a day, and have quit worrying about carbs. All I really make sure I get are my calories and Protein. I can't for the life of me understand this cycle. I've tried to stop stressing. I've been praying for peace and grace. I've been repeating "Let Go and Let God". I've slipped below 124 for a few days, and I feel so lost and frustrated. I'm doing everything "right". Yet, I can't get this figured out. Pre-op when I would stress, I would eat, and gain weight. Now, I eat and lose weight. The only thing that is different is my sleeve gets finicky when I stress. I can still eat anything I want, but I notice that I have to eat a lot slower than usual. I had a weird GI reaction to stress pre-op as well. My stomach would get sour, then I'd find myself in the bathroom for an hour. I think I feel like I'm not in control of sleeve anymore. I was so compliant, and truly diligent during my losing phase and saw results. Now, I'm trying to be compliant with maintenance, eating properly, enjoying life overall, but my clothes are falling off of me again, and my husband is truly freaking out. Please someone tell me that when they stress they lose weight. Thanks for listening.

My only experience with melatonin was not positive. I had horrible, lucid, violent dreams. It could be a mixture of both, your emotions from not eating real food and the melatonin. I don't think having this surgery is selfish at all. You're going to succeed. Snap those negative thoughts right out of your mind because all it does is breed more negativity and self-doubt. I believe in your ability to succeed, and you're gonna have to do the same ! ! ! If you need to vent, cry, or scream, feel free to message me, I'll listen openly.

So, I'm a little late on this one, but not a lot has changed between month 9 and 10. I'm wearing a range of sizes depending on where I'm shopping. Old Navy and Wal-Mart in a size 4-6, small to medium tops. Rue 21, and more juniory sizes I'm in a solid 7, sometimes a 5. Life is good. I'm happy, healthy, figuring this stuff out is still a learning process. Things are tasting better these days, and some of my old stand by favorites have lost their luster. BUT, I am finding that I'm eating a very balanced diet including veggies/fruits/proteins/carbs. I'm short some days on Protein, and over on carbs, but I'm not stressing about the numbers with the exception of calories, and I'm staying between 1200-1500 per day. I did buy a new dress (Old Navy) and super adorable wedges (Traffic) this last week. I'm super stoked to be wearing springy dresses. This is all new territory for me as I've never worn this kind of stuff. I mean NEVER in my life. Sleeved life is good. It's still a journey for me, I hope to keep this mentality up for the long haul. I still have bad days, do not believe that every day is perfect. It's not always easy, but thus far, it's been completely worth it. Sorry it's blurry, the kiddo snapped these for me real quick. I promise I know how to Iron as well, but I had been sitting in my truck for at least an hour before taking these. He was making me giggle during this one so ignore the squinty eye thing.

You are doing so great, and your determination and positive attitude is going to carry you through to your goal ! ! ! Keep it up gorgeous. . .

Yes, and none of the damage was found during pre-op testing. The amount of scar tissue and adhesions that formed around my stomach tissue and the band really damaged my stomach tissue. I was my surgeons first and only leak and at that time he had over 500 staplelines under his belt with major zero complications. He felt confident that he had removed enough of the damage tissue to proceed with the sleeve at the same time. Unfortunately, with revisions a risk of leaks quadruples, and I knew that going in. The major complications were anesthesia related, and my lungs not recovering post leak repair.

I made my own broth from the chicken bouillon cubes. I could control how strong or weak it tasted this way instead of the boxed broth. For creamed soups, I ate cream of chicken soup diluted and warmed with Water, then strained to remove the chunks of chicken. I tried cream of potato and that was a disaster on my GI system. Cream of celery was okay for me, but I found it to be pretty bland. Cream of broccoli was totally yummy, but it was difficult to strain because the pieces of broccoli are so tiny they would sneak through my tiny strainer. I used the 98% reduced fat/sodium cream of whatever soups.

Hey Lynda you're doing great ! ! ! Try shaking things up a bit with a few more calories per day. That seems to work for a lot of people that hit stalls. Fingers crossed the stall breaks soon.

My program stated 60grams of Protein per day. The body can absorb as much protein as you put in it. There's a myth floating around that our bodies can only absorb 25-30grams per meal, but it's been debunked by several medical professionals. Apparently, we can digest as much as we consume as long as we are getting the proper amounts of amino acids to help promote protein usage in the body. It also depends on our own individual bodies. There's a lot of factors to consider when it comes to protein absorption and usage in the body. There's lots of articles on this topic found through Google if you want to read more information that's published out there.

Many congrats on getting your date. I agree with Cajun on the Greek yogurt. It's still a major staple in my daily diet. You're gonna do great ! ! !

Stacy welcome to the loser's bench, I promise it's a great place to be ! ! ! Once you get your ice chips, I'm sure you'll feel better. Take care of yourself, sip, walk, and repeat.

YAY for getting rid of the band. I hope you get a date for your sleeve soon.

Hi there and welcome. Congrats on getting your date, and fingers are crossed for insurance approval. The sleeve is absolutely amazing. I've had the band, and now the sleeve for the last 10.5 months, and it's been great. Keep us posted on your progress.

Great news Sassie ! ! ! We'll all be here to cheer you on.