foxgirl74

Having one or two cheese sticks a day is great!! I have one a day usually, for reasons you mentioned, low or no carbs and higher-ish protein!! They are one of the fews things that don't make me nauseous and I can eat easier. Don't worry too much about the fat, we get so little food and fat from everything else, and our body's need some fat. Besides they have reduced fat cheese stick that taste just as good in my opinion! While we are on the cheese eating topic, if you like colby-jack cheese, Land O'Lakes sells a package with little individually wrapped cheese slices and they are SOOOO delicious! And same calorie, carb and Protein advantages as the cheese sticks. Try them out!! And protein in general is going to make you have some Constipation, so get your Fiber other ways or use some Miralax when needed!

It is 100% normal!!! Just think of the tiny amount of fuel you are giving your body to live on right now, so it's trying to conserve it and tap into all of that excess stored fat to survive. I was exhausted until at least 3 to 4 weeks out, and some days I still get super tired because it's hard to get enough calories in still!! It will get better, especially once you start on Vitamins and start exercising more. Take it easy for now and just gradually increase your activity and I can assure you it will get better!!

My surgery weight was 236, I will be 7 weeks next Wednesday and will down about 32 pounds. I lost about 10 preop. I am 5'3. Seems like a "safe" average is about 30-40 pounds 7-8 weeks out from surgery, but we all lose differently so it's hard to really know. I have not notice any difference in my feet, but I have small feet and have not ever noticed much difference with them even at my heaviest. Since you have another month to go I would be pretty such you will lose at least 15-20 more pounds if you are following the diet and adding some exercise.

I had pizza about a 3 weeks out...well, I had the top of the pizza anyway and a tiny small amount of the crust/bread part. It was all I could fit after the toppings. If you are going to, make sure you eat slow and have the cheese and Protein toppings first, see how that does then have a little of the bread if you still crave it. Just be careful and don't over do it, because like others have said, just because my stomach handled it fine doesn't mean yours will!! You will get full very fast even though your head says you want/need more. And try to really put in your mind it's a treat, even if you are eating it the "sleeve friendly" way. There are still better options, but sometimes we just need a little fix!

I am nauseous just about every morning, especially right after I eat/drink my first Protein Breakfast, and force in Vitamins. I feel major restriction in the morning, but just plain sick half the time so it doesn't even matter that I have restriction because I don't feel like having anything anyways. I take a PPI every morning, but maybe I will switch to taking it before bed each night like other suggested and see if that helps.

It doesn't happen every day but it does happen, say -- every *other* day. I wake up in the morning and I feel sick, like my insides are trying to eat each other or maybe morning sickness. Not enough to expel anything out either end but..queasy and allover kinda bad. I checked my temp and it was 98.8 this morning, but it was 98.1 last night. That concerned me a little because it's supposed to be the other way around.

Funny thing is I felt fine yesterday -- the day before that I felt crappy in the morning. I take my PPI immediately after a glass of Water and then have another one right after and sort of try to walk it off -- most days it goes away.

I did not sleep well at all last night and really didn't get to sleep about six am which puts me at five hours -- I don't know, maybe that has something to do with it? Also TTTOM should be starting like any minute now.

Anyway -- anybody else feel like this in the morning or does it sound like a Bad Sign?

It is hard because it depends on what your doctor told you to do. I was not given a calorie limit or requirement, but I was told to get at least 55 grams of Protein a day and to only eat 3 times a day, NO snacking whatsoever! Well, I can only fit about 200 calories in per meal. I am lucky if I get 700 calories a day. And my surgeon does not seem to see a problem with that. And now it's created this guilt feeling if I consume more then that amount of calories, because that means I snacked and feel like I am cheating my sleeve somehow.

Why wouldnt you eat if you were hungry? 500 calories is NOT ENOUGH. I am always surprised people are proud that they are eating 400-700 calories a day. That is not healthy and not keeping your metabolism going...

I was sleeved March 16th also!! I have lost 38 pounds so far, so pretty close to where you are.

I manage to stay under 30 carbs or just about that intake each day by having two Protein Shakes a day and one small Protein filled dinner. Meaning a cheese stick and a few slices of turkey or other meat. I am on solids and have had no issues with any of what I have eaten. I feel lots of restriction when I eat after about 3 ounces of anything dense. But if it's carbs I can fit a lot more in, so I am careful of them!!

I have over eaten a few times and had horrible stomach aches. My head is yet to catch up still, but slowly coming around to the fact that I just simply do not eat the portion sizes that I used to. But I am kind of glad for the experiences I have had with the stomach aches or just feeling sick when I eat something with just too much sugar or carbs as it is a reinforcement for my head not to do it again.

I had a stall around week 3, increased calories and carbs for a few days then went way back down like the guidelines suggest and broke out of it pretty easy. Plus, I put the scale away!! I only weigh once a week or sometimes once every two weeks! Ensures that I will see a loss no matter what for when I do step on.

Anyway, congrats so much on the weight loss!! You are doing great it sounds like so far so keep up the great work!

Moving helps jump start healing. You get your blood going and circulating and it naturally goes to places in your body needed to heal. But there is a good point mentioned, heavy lifting! Don't do it yet, or ab work outs. Just because the outside healed doesn't mean the inside is done healing yet. Glad to hear you bounced back so quickly!! I am 25 and feel great, have since 2 weeks outs. And the first two weeks was just exhaustion from lack of calories!!

Sometimes I am not sure if people get that this surgery IS a diet and exercise. There is no difference. Your body just forces the diet part. So, why can we not just say we are doing that? On a diet and have been exercising? You could even say you are doing a medically supervised diet that begins with liquids and moves gradually. If they put the pieces together good for them, but who cares? They probably won't have the guts to say anything if they figure it out anyway. And trust me, this is not going to be a walk in the park, you are going to be exhausted the first two weeks and you probably do need a story if you don't plan to admit to the surgery. Which I don't blame you, I don't want very many people knowing either. But I am honest, I am on a diet and I am increasing my exercise. That doesn't change just because we have surgery. It's about you taking control and changing your life. The sleeve is just a little tool that you are utilizing to do that. They don't need to know about the extra tool you bought for the extra guarantee of success.

Friend and Enemy!!! There are those weeks you will hate her dearly, but she is still a good idea to have! I had to put mine away as I found myself weighing WAY too often. This is pretty common. If you can only weigh once a week or even every two it's best. And don't forget to take measurements. On the days where you hate your scale, you'll be glad you have your measurements to compare!! And congrats!!! Only 16 days to go!! Woohoo!

I *hear" StriVectin does work some. But this is not from personal experience. I have also been told that tanning can help, or doing chemical peels. Both of which can be harmful in the long run to your skin so I would consider them carefully. Hopefully you find a cream that works! If so, I need it too!!

Oh gosh me too!!! Some days I have no hunger and other days I have tons!! Not sure why, just something with the way our body tries to balance things. Maybe your body has adjusted to the amount of calories and knows the normal intake you have had for the last 4 months has been sufficient so it stopped craving food and telling you it was hungry? Either way, I would be thankful for it!!

I used to hear that when I worked at a bar. I just used against the person and made them buy more and tip me better, but it didn't change that fact that it hurts. But LOL @ Tiffany's response!! Would have been a priceless look on the guy's face!!

What better way to reward yourself then with something that will only aid in losing more and keeping off the weight you already lost?!? I think it's a great idea, gonna have to convince the husband of that too once I reach 100 lbs lost

Do you like Pork rinds? ? They are all Protein and zero carbs. Be careful with the fat content, but the calories are pretty low. I cannot even fit a full serving and I am almost a month out from surgery. They sure solve the crunch factor for me!! I have tried dipping them in cream cheese prior to surgery and may try again, just gotta watch the carb, fat and surger intake. Also, just make sure you chew really good, and eat one and test it out on your new tummy. Some tummys handle food way better then others. Mine so far has done great with just about everything. If you don't like them, I know Walmart sells little snack packs in their diet section that are suppose to be high in protein and are this crunchy little snack thing. But if you go to Eggface's blog you might find some good ideas too. I know there are these cheese thingys sold at Trader Joe's or you can order them through Amazon. Just The Cheese Rounds I am pretty sure they are called and they come in a variety of cheesy flavors!!

HAHA! Ahhh your post cracked me up! I have had very violent threatening conversations with my scale. So he issued a restraining order and is now safely tucked away in some closet of the house! Because I swear if I stepped on him one more freaking time and saw no weight loss I was going to strangle him. So it's for his own good, and mine.

OMG I love her things so much!! I just had my daughter's first birthday party and made about 6 appetizers all from her recipes!! They were all a major hit and for the most part healthy!! It was awesome, cannot wait to make more of them!! Anyone who needs ideas for new things, or hasn't tried some of her stuff have seriously got to try it!!

You are not alone! I have been hungry since about a week out from surgery, and it's the smells from making food for my kids and husband that get me the worst! But we knew this would happen, and it's not much different from a regular diet. It's about making the choice to say no and lose weight. Lucky for us, even if you decided to eat you would fit very, very little in your new little tummy. Not that you should, but that is the point of this surgery. Once you move to mushie stages it should help with the hunger issues. Try to stick with Protein mushies. The shakes don't help with my hunger much either, but a piece of cheese, a little bit of egg, or some canned chicken with light mayo has helped me a lot with hunger. It will get better!!

I am two weeks out and use a straw all the time, better yet, I have a Camelbak and LOVE IT! And I have personally not had issues with either one. I would try it, wait a little bit and if you have no issues go for it! If it helps get in the liquids I don't think it's going to be that big of deal.

Congrats!!! Now to the rest of your journey! How cool that your doctor took a picture of your removed stomach. I got some pics of my insides while he was doing the procedure, but would have loved to seen my stomach part that was cut out! Here's to your speedy recovery!

Sounds to me like you are doing everything exactly like you should be! The Water and Protein is so vital and you seem to be doing great on both, and having that low carb intake is key. It will depend on the surgeon, but mine considers the protein in the Protein Drinks just the same as with food. I think you have done awesome losing 20 pounds in a month and if it slows down a little that is not such a bad thing. Only weigh once a week, and make sure you take your measurements! That will help show even when pounds are not dropping inches usually are! I try to think of weight loss this way, it works from the inside out. First our bodies need to burn the fat that is suffocating our lungs, kidneys and other essential organs, then it can focus on burning some of the outer fat. Plus, we do not just lose fat, we do lose some muscle mass. I think you'll notice more improvement with the light resistance training and once cleared by your doctor try and increase some of the muscle building and toning work outs. I wish you the best!! It will work, we have come this far, we just gotta be patient and let this process work itself out through our body like it should!

I have the SAME feeling just about every time I drink. I found warm Fluid seems to go a little easier for some reason. It's so hard for me because I LOVE Water and love to gulp it and now I simply can't! I think it will get easier, but maybe you should try warm water or tea and see if it helps. And take tiny sips, like a tablespoon at a time and wait 5 - 10 min then do it again. Who knew this would be so time consuming?!?!

I ran a 99 for a few days after surgery. I was told this is normal as antibodies are released to help heal all the incision sites and that unless my temp got to 101 or above there was no concern unless I had other accompanying issues. Best bet always is to call the surgeon and ask what he or she would like you to do.

Don't worry, EVERYONE has a hard time getting fluids down the first few days!! And it gets easier everyday to get the liquids in so you'll be fine I'm sure. Congrats on the new sleeve!! I had a day of remorse too, but there's no going back even if we wanted But trust me, in time it will be the last thing we will ever regret!!

My insurance covered my surgery, but they actually required a letter from my PCP recommending my surgery and notifying them of her support. So, it will just depend on the insurance if you are using that, and if not it's probably just up to you, but it does sound like you might as well have them in the know. For nothing else like others have said, you can probably avoid duplicate blood work!!