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I too have been struggling with similar issues over the last two weeks. I’ve gotten away from logging my food into the Baritastic App, I’m not drinking enough fluids, and I’m definitely not hitting my protein goals most days. I also have found myself snacking on foods that I would’ve chosen pre-surgery and I really need to nip that in the bud. I think that it’s no coincidence that they harp on fluid and protein intake when you’re in the pre-op phase. I really think those two things are key for successful and sustainable weight loss post surgery.

First, congratulations on your surgery. Secondly, it’s okay not to be ticking all the boxes in the first couple of weeks. As long as you are making an effort & you are getting closer it’s okay. You’ll find some days are easy & otherwise more of a struggle. Your shakes, broths etc. all count towards your fluid intake and I used to dilute my shakes (doubled the water) to dilute the flavour & to up my fluid intake. Used to sip on them for a couple of hours or until finished. Also added a little more water to the soups & broths too. If you’re worried about your protein intake you can also add some additional protein powder to your shake & swapping in protein water for drinking water will help too. I embraced my dislike for sweet & used it to withdraw myself from sweet tasting foods & drinks. Once onto purees & more solid foods, you’ll likely find other foods, even old favourites, smell or taste bad too for a while. It passes. Vitamins can be a challenge. The taste, difficulty swallowing them, nausea, etc. I took capsules which were easier to swallow (once my swelling reduced around day 4). Some surgeons are strict on when you can begin swallowing meds & recommend chews or patches. So it can be a bit of trial & error to find the right ones for you. Expensive too.

It is. I had mine on 10.11 too. I'm still on liquids the booklet I received says stage 2 is for 2 weeks and then this other paperwork I got at the hospital says 10 days. I can only have protein shakes, soups, water, jello, and Popsicles. I did blend up some soup and then put it through a strainer and pretty much nothing went through =(. I can't wait for applesauce, or yogurt even! Scared but excited.

Howdy! I've been so busy enjoying this new freedom called get up and MOVE! I have joined a fun dance group called Body Groove and it is a fantastic way of getting up and get moving with low impact. It's an app you can download on your TV and dance along. Overall I have been able to resume normal eating, but the raw food are still kinda iffy. I think I'll wait awhile before introducing salads. I need to stay focused on protein and hydration. With my morning protein drink (coffee replacement) and adding liquid protein to my water, I haven't had any issues with meeting my protein requirements. I find more than anything is that I'm tired. I was successfully able to give blood and my iron count was 13.5 so I know my nutrients and supplements are absorbing. I go for my 3 month checkup soon and they'll be analyzing my blood labs a bit closer. Constipation is a real issue. even though I take a Dulcolax chew about once a week, I think I'm gonna have to up it to every other day. Suppositories work real well, but I hate when it has had to get that far. I also started drinking a green smoothie most days to get in my trace minerals in wheat grass powder, veggies, and adaptogens from mushrooms. Anyone else try Ka'Chava? I really like it My weight stalled around 207/208 for about three weeks but I dropped a considerable amount of inches. So far I am staying within the healthy weight loss bracket. I'm anxious to post my Onederland scale picture soon!!

(Warning: this is long) tldr; for ME, in MAINTENANCE, carbs consumption makes little difference to my weight. K. My NUT didn’t give me a carb goal/limit per se, but did instruct me to aim for my meals to consist of 25% carbs/starches (with another 25% being protein and the remaining 50% to be low-glycemic veggies). With that said, i did my own thing (and told her so): i ended up doing ultra-low carb, i.e., less than 25g NET carbs per day. Got to goal in 7 months, remained carbophobic, lost a few more pounds and basically still went out of my way to avoid them. I wasn’t ultra-low carb as during weight loss phase, but i was still pretty low. Eventually, i started eating more and nowadays (4 years post), i probably eat as much carbs as a “regular” person. I have remained under goal weight this entire time. These are my takeaways of going low-carb (and this is from MY experience, YMMV) 1) weight loss is rapid. but you need to remain low carb for an extended period. If i carb up on a day, the weight loss slows down or pauses. There is a science to this phenomenon regarding ketosis, the explanation of which is beyond the scope of my post (just google it if ur interested). Also want to say that i was also ultra-low calorie so obvs that contributed! 2) there is a period of a few days that, once passed, my cravings for carbohydrates went away. (Which is why once u start, stick to it because u may have to go thu the “white-knuckle” phase again to alleviate urself of the cravings (see note 1 above) 3) now here is the kicker: during MAINTENANCE (i cant say if this applies to weight loss phase because i didn’t try it)…i discovered that, for ME, it does not matter if my 1800 cals average i eat a day consists of 20g of carbs or 200g. My weight stays the same regardless. What does make a difference is CALORIES. So long as my calories stay at around 1800 (however it is comprised) then im good. 4) carb consumption affects my looks. When i low carb, my body is more defined (which i like) and my face more gaunt (which I don’t like). These days my face is lovely (lol), but my body could be better. Mind u i have also been slacking on the exercise front so that is also a factor, but i digress. In any case, the point is i am still basically the same weight as my low-carb maintenance days. And that concludes my dissertation for this evening lol. P.S. I want to point out also that i am NOT insulin-resitant, nor suffer any other medical conditions that affect my weight, nor take any medications that would either. So this may not be everyone’s experience. P.P.S. Sorry this was so long!

Congratulations on you success from all the hard work. I haven't weighed myself in a couple weeks, so I don't know If I've broken through my plateau. My 1 year is on Nov 15... I wanted to be 259 by then, but I think I'll have to be happy with anything less than 269 the way things have been. I'm concentrating on increasing my protein again and cutting out unnecessary carbs, getting more water, etc. Hoping this will help me break through. I'll report back again in a few weeks.

The only real way to know this would be to have your Basal or Resting Metabolic Rate analyzed. While BMR and RMR are technically slightly different, they are often used interchangeably. The tests to determine this are readily available in clinics and even some gyms. You should be able to find some options by googling something like "metabolic testing near me". Note that there are a few different types of tests used (feel free to research them), and some are a bit more accurate than others, but they are generally pretty close. Alternately, there are online calculators that you can use, and even some digital scales (those that use BIA), that can also provide either your BMR or RMR. Unfortunately, neither the scales or calculators are all that accurate. It's not uncommon for those to be off by 10 or even 20%. Obviously more than enough to have you potentially eating too much.

Neither of my programs really limited carbs. (My *** refers Bariatrics out sometimes) However, my PCP did ask me to limit my carbs to under 50 grams per day. This is due to diabetes. What our plan was is for me to increase the amount of carbs slowly. I do find that most of the food I eat is not that high in simple carbs and now I tend to choose healthier options for myself. I think along with your doctor you can find a happy medium for yourself.

Are high protein, sugar free bars classed as cookies? You could make these for yourself and have no guilt. The ones that I make are made of dates, peanut butter, oats and protein granola. Very good for food on the go

Thank you! I've purchased the clear peach protein water. I will check if they have an unflavored one. I definitely have the unflavored protein powder ready for when I am able to go on to puree. Thank you!!!

I was just thinking maybe this was an option. I wonder if you should check with a pharmacist first. I know it’s just vitamins but if they absorb differently that way an overdose of some vitamins can cause issues?? Better safe than sorry I guess. Ask your team first though because I was swallowing my pills in the hospital. Not huge ones, but not tiny either. I was able to do the chewable vitamins and did those for a few months but I THINK I could’ve swallowed the vitamin if I had needed to.

You may feel a little tired, but I think the distraction from food might be nice. Just make sure you are carrying your water and Protein with you while you're out and about.

They are driving. Nope I do not work outside the home. I am a stay at home mom and wife. My husband will be off work while they are here due to the holiday break so I will have his help too. I don't think going home to nap would be an option. However, maybe cutting the days a little shorter would work. Thank you both!

Hello, glad your recovery is going well. As far as the sweetness, you can try to add more milk to the shakes or even water. This will thin them out and cut the sweetness. Or, as @ShoppGirl mentioned try clear protein drinks which you can also add water to cut the sweetness. I liked gatorade zero with protein the best but it was sweet. In the liquid stages, my shakes and everything counted as liquids. So your shake is counted towards your liquids and your protein. Again, thinning it out adds more liquid to your count too. It is hard to hit your goal only a week out. I hit my protein and fluid goals around 2 weeks and have been able to maintain them since. You will get in a groove and be hitting goals before you know it, be patient. OHHH those chewable vitamins are the absolute worse. I couldn't get past the smell, let alone the taste and texture. It was horrible, I worked with my team. I tried every brand and flavor I could found, all gross and I wasted so much money. They were not that concerned, at my 2 week follow up the surgeon cleared me to take pills/capsules as long as I could handle them. I was fine and have been taking capsules ever since. Maybe reach out to your team and ask for help.

I thought the shakes tasted to sweet as well. Try the clear protein waters. These should count as fluid and protein and while they are sweet they didn’t taste overly sweet like the shakes did. I didn’t realize now many options of clear protein there are. You could start with what they sell at your convenience store so you can try a single. I splurged and for a case of premiere protein clear and luckily I liked it. Once you get to purées you can add unflavored protein to things if necessary or purchase some of the protein soups. I didn’t do either of these, just kept doing shakes as well but I’m sure others will have suggestions on specific products.

Hi all, I am one week post op (Sleeved on 10/11/22). I am feeling like I cant get in the rythm of what is right for me. Pros: - Been getting all fluids down - Have not had much pain, only where they pulled stomach out -Been able to walk and move around - Only had gas pain for 3 days -Normal bowl movement Cons: - I don't like the taste of sweetness. So I am having a hard time getting my protein in from shakes and protein water. Any recommendations for other sources of protein? -I've been able to have some strained soup/ broth. But I am only able to take like 4 table spoons over an hour. How is it expected to get all protein in while trying to get water in as well through out the day? - The bariatric advantage multi vitamins are terrible. I am not able to take them so I started taking 4 Flinstone vitamins a day. I know these are not good enough for a person who just had bariatric surgery. I am taking my gallstones pills, calcium, iron, and b-12 with no problem. Are there any other recommendations for Bariatric Multivitamins? Smaller or better tasting? Any input is appreciated. I feel that protein and supplements are very important with the new change to my body. Thanks guys!!!

I am scheduled for my sleeve on Nov. 7th. My husband's family (2 to 6 people) always comes up from GA for Thanksgiving break. They sleep in a hotel but we spend the whole 4 or 5 days with them doing different things. My house is too small to entertain them all (plus me, hubby, and 4 kiddos) so being home to nap is not an option. I am worried that I'm not gonna be up to entertaining that soon after surgery. Should we ask them to reschedule or do you think you would have been up to it? They will arrive Nov 24th and be here 4 days or so. So 17 days after surgery. Sent from my SM-S115DL using BariatricPal mobile app

plans differ. My clinic's plan was balanced and they didn't give a hoot about carbs. Never mentioned them at all. Although honestly, you take in so few calories the first few months and the protein requirements are so high, that if you follow the plan you can't really take in that many carbs *anyway*, due to the protein requirements. The first few months I rarely went over 80 carbs a day - and I don't think I ever went over 100 (I do now...but then, I'm several years out from surgery)

My surgeon and dietician didn't stipulate any particular post-op diet, the only advice was to drink "plenty" (honestly). I got my general advice about fluid and protein goals on this forum. I do eat small amounts of all kinds of carbs but am still losing weight. I do think when I eat bread in particular that I want to snack more afterwards, even if it's wholegrain bread, so it's something I will be careful about and think I'll always have to be careful about. I don't want anything to be off limits completely though - that way obsession lies (for me anyway).

It's great that you've pulled yourself up on this so early. My advice would be to prioritise your water and protein goals. Every meal starts with protein, then veg, don't worry about carbs (they cause me to get food cravings too). Even snacks should be protein based if possible - I keep deli meat and small cubes of cheese in containers in the fridge so there is always something decent that's grabbable. I also keep carrot and celery sticks sometimes (I'm lucky, I can process raw veg) for crunch. You can do this - you've had a successful six months, you don't want to scupper that and that's why you retorted in here. Most of us relax on holidays, that's what they're for, but now it's back on the horse! Best of luck.

This right here! I am the same, I can lose significant weight doing low carb, but I can't live the rest of my life like that. Or should I say, I don't want to live the rest of my life like that. I have taken the same approach of "smart-carbs" and limiting simple and highly processed carbs. I want my body to learn that no food is off limits and respond with huge weight gains. Overall trying about to be smarter about food choices, focusing on protein first. I'm learning that carbs aren't the enemy. But high carbs + high fat can go wrong fast.

My team/ Dietician is VERY balanced. Nothing is off limits. They only stress to hit your protein and fluid goals before eating other things. Some days I eat 150g carbs and some days I eat 30g carbs. Just how it works out, not with any extra efforts.

I can tell you what my dietitian and exercise guide told me. There are 3 things to try, eat more calories, eat more protein and make sure you are getting enough vitamins. I seem to stall and even gain weight when constipated, so usually my stalls have been fixed by doing a laxative. Not every day though, like once a week. Good luck and if you find something that really works well, please share!

I am on day 7 post op. I have diarrhea anytime something more solid substantial than a protein drink hits me. Like I tried some creamy soup, and bam! I had my gallbladder out a long time ago, and it is normal for me to have what I call "gastric distress" if my stomach got too empty (pre surgery). So I am equating this period with that. Because I was mostly living off water for the first 5 days post op, my intestines are just having some "distress" after finally having something in it. I think it will get better though. If it doesn't once your body kind of adjusts, I would definitely ask your doctor. Be mindful of dehydration with it though.

My therapist (who I got to help combat my food issues) said cravings usually last 30 mins or less. Try to keep that in mind when you are craving something. I think you are like me. I am going to have to be very careful around certain foods (carb heavy hitters like bread and pasta for me). If I start, I won't stop. Kind of like an alcoholic in recovery. Some people can have a little bit and not suffer from "withdrawals", but if I were to have a little bit then my cravings spike and can spin out of control fast. My recommendations: 1. Track what you are eating in an app if possible cause sometimes that will help reign it in 2. Wait 30 mins when craving something and drink water. Go for a walk or pick an activity to distract you. After 30 mins, see how you are feeling and what your body may really be after (protein/more water/?) 3. Try to find healthy substitutes for what you are wanting. Pizza? Find a low carb recipe that tastes good and fills that urge. Sweets? Are some sugar free options or low carb options a possibility? 4. Journal and track when these cravings are happening. What's going on when they do? Are you stressed/bored/angry? Are you around others who are eating things you want? Are you out of the house and having to do fast food as quick options? Etc. See where your weak points are and then start identifying ways to help deal with them. 5. Get a supportive therapist to help you deal with your mindset around food. You can outeat wls. For many of us, this is going to be a lifelong addiction that we can defeat but will always have to be mindful of.