Hi everyone! I just wanted to introduce myself-- I am a 26 y.o. RN and I had the sleeve done on Jan 24th. I have been overweight and/or obese my whole life. Stressful does not begin to describe my childhood and adolescence... that plus genetics and family influences, maintaining a healthy weight was a loosing battle by conventional methods. And I have strangely unstable weight (no set point?). When I hit 300 pounds w/sciatica from hell I'd had enough. I knew what was next: metabolic syndrome diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure. Its all down hill from there.

After doing my extensive (obsessive) research in medical journals, I decided that the sleeve was the most logical choice for me. So far I am very happy with my decision, though my surgeon frustrates me. It seems his diet regimen is very different (and less logical) than other surgeons. 3 weeks on Clear liquids or untill you experience hunger and then move on to soft Proteins (ground meat, tuna, Beans, etc). Well I was hungry 3 days post-op. Since being on my PPI, the intensity has lessened a lot and I've made it to 2 weeks on liquids. I'm starting to add soft proteins into my diet. I'm looking forward to the energy I'll get from the food-- more to burn I've got a LOT of Protein mixes coming this week (weather permitting) which eggface recommended and I'm looking forward to getting in the kitchen again and trying out her recipes

Since surgery, I have lost 18 pounds (god knows how much of that was muscle). I hope to kick start another loosing streak once I can get my protein back to a normal level. I've been hitting Wii fit 30-45 min a day and I'm adding Dance Dance Revolution in the morning

Also, I hate my Bariatric Advantage vitamins!!! Some of them are sweetened with sorbitol and apparently I am very sensitive to its laxative effect. I need something better and I'd rather not throw them out. Any ideas? Thanks!

Welcome! You did your research (like many of us) and picked the sleeve! YAY!!

Congrats on your loss so far! It sure is exciting to see those numbers drop. I can't imagine being on CLEAR liquids for 3 weeks, but I am sure there are others who have done it. The best advice I received was to "follow your surgeon's recommendations" so that tends to be the advice that I give others as well.

I use Celebrate Vitamins but I don't know off the top of my head whether or not they contain sorbitol. I do know that several Vitamin sites will send you free samples (both Celebrate and Bariatric Advantage do, because I signed up for a free sample kit and there was a lot of variety in each kit.) But keep trying until you find what works for you, you do not want to skimp on your vitamins.

Again, welcome ...to the losers bench!

Congrats on your decision!

Don't be fooled by some diet plans, I had clear liquids for 2 weeks, full liquids for 4 weeks and only after week 6 I was allowed normal soft Proteins and food (and then regular food at my discretion) -- pretty much the same as yours or even a bit worst

You can do it!

I take the Gummy Vites for adults, I recently heard Oprah saying she can't stop eating them, well they are good you don't get that medicine taste. I was tempted to buy the BA ones but I was waiting until mine ran out some people tell me I must take the bariatric specialized ones because they are better. My post-op diet was not nearly as strict as yours I mean I was on soft foods/mushy week 3. It's good that you are getting your cardio in I am a fan of Zumba if you have a Y near you check it out also I enjoy Dance Central on the Xbox. My kids have taken over the Wii not a chance I can get near it! The hardest thing for me to take is the calcium citrate wafers, those are going to require that I get botox soon due to the crazy facial expressions I make while attempting to get it down. But I wouldn't change a thing this has been the best thing I ever did for myself!

You might appreciate the laxative effect of the sorbitol after you start eating more proteins.

I chew 2 Flintstones Complete Vitamins a day and then take 500mcg of B12. I hate both of them, but they are better than the Celebrate. When I run out of Flintstones I will force down the Celebrate.

kkkkkk you have a great point!

You might appreciate the laxative effect of the sorbitol after you start eating more proteins.

I have a full thing of BA chewable vitamines and had a horrible time with nausea. I just couldn't tolerate them. Like you... I didn't want to throw them out so I started sucking on them. On a full stomach I suck very slowly until the vitamine is about half gone.... then about 20 minutes later I slowly suck the rest. I have had no problems since I started this, I think it helps alot to have it hit your stomach slowly. I do't know if it will impact the laxative effect.

Once I'm finished with this bottle I will get a different brand

I am using the bariatric advantage, our office sells different flavors and at our pre-op nutrition seminar, we got to sample them to see which flavors we liked. I never had any problems with the nausea. As for the laxative effect....I do not see this in me at all. I have had to Miralax to my regime twice a week to keep things moving nice and softly (TMI). I have been looking at the costco brand (Kirkland) and they appear to be very similar in the vitamin % so I may switch them to as they are a little lower in cost.

You might appreciate the laxative effect of the sorbitol after you start eating more Proteins.

I guess I'll hang on to them just in case

I take the Gummy Vites for adults, I recently heard Oprah saying she can't stop eating them, well they are good you don't get that medicine taste. I was tempted to buy the BA ones but I was waiting until mine ran out some people tell me I must take the bariatric specialized ones because they are better. My post-op diet was not nearly as strict as yours I mean I was on soft foods/mushy week 3. It's good that you are getting your cardio in I am a fan of Zumba if you have a Y near you check it out also I enjoy Dance Central on the Xbox. My kids have taken over the Wii not a chance I can get near it! The hardest thing for me to take is the Calcium citrate wafers, those are going to require that I get botox soon due to the crazy facial expressions I make while attempting to get it down. But I wouldn't change a thing this has been the best thing I ever did for myself!

I LOVE my vitafusion gummy vites! I agree with Opra. I need to take them with me to my dr's appointment for his blessing. I've also signed up for samples with those other companies.

I will have to go and find other multis - I have the ones from Costco/Kirkwood right now and they are just huge.

At the moment, I am taking:

1. Multi Vitamin

2. PPI

3. Vitamin B12

4. Vitamin D (just a precaution because I was low on D before surgery, and they are tiny gel caps)

5. hair, Skin and Nails stuff (trying to fight the hairloss before it starts, it's Biotin with some other stuff)

6. Crazy pill (as my husband lovingly calls it, Wellbutrin)

The problem is 1 and 5 are huge - I often have to gag and don't get them down with one swig and it is driving me crazy. I dread taking them. Who likes to gag unless it is...well, never mind. Pill 5. screwed me over because I only realized after I bought them that the serving size is THREE HUGE pills - I only take 2 because I can't handle 3 of those. I love the Ds because they are those nice little gel pills.

I like the idea of the gummy Vitamins but the only ones I can find are for children and don't have nearly as many vitamins as the other one - which ones do you get specifically?

I will have to go and find other multis - I have the ones from Costco/Kirkwood right now and they are just huge.

At the moment, I am taking:

1. Multi Vitamin

2. PPI

3. Vitamin B12

4. Vitamin D (just a precaution because I was low on D before surgery, and they are tiny gel caps)

5. hair, Skin and Nails stuff (trying to fight the hairloss before it starts, it's Biotin with some other stuff)

6. Crazy pill (as my husband lovingly calls it, Wellbutrin)

The problem is 1 and 5 are huge - I often have to gag and don't get them down with one swig and it is driving me crazy. I dread taking them. Who likes to gag unless it is...well, never mind. Pill 5. screwed me over because I only realized after I bought them that the serving size is THREE HUGE pills - I only take 2 because I can't handle 3 of those. I love the Ds because they are those nice little gel pills.

I like the idea of the gummy Vitamins but the only ones I can find are for children and don't have nearly as many vitamins as the other one - which ones do you get specifically?

I have been taking Vitafusion multi vites, calcium and Vitamin C. I have also taken the prenatal ones and they rock. Costco's website is selling most of them right now with $2 off. The multi isn't as complete as most, but I'm happy to have more gummy goodness to make up for it That sucks about the hair pills. I should probably consider looking into that as well. I'd love to avoid loosing my hair.

Congratulations on your sleeve

I prefer Celebrate Vitamins.... they're not as chalky.

If you go to their site you can find free samples! good luck!

I take 2 celebrate multis

2 Vit b12

2 calcium citrate

2 fish oil

4 fruit and vegetable caplets

I got a sample pack of the BA vitamins from my surgeons office and tried the Chocolate Mint one yesterday, it was horrible. I still have the other flavors to try, no idea what vitamins I will end up with one sleeved.