Hi everyone,

As I have begun the process of getting "sleeved", I've been doing a lot of research. BTW, I love this forum. You guys have been so helpful. As a chef, my goal is to maintain some sort of "normalcy" in the types of foods I eat. I've read that we can pretty much eat anything we want, once we go on to solid foods. What types of foods are you all eating during post-op? I hear it is not at all glamorous. Are you buying prepackaged foods? My doctor/RD advised Medi-fast for pre-op, which does not excite me. Are you all doing medi-fast after too? I'm in the process of making tons of Soups and freezing them. What else should i be prepping? It's just me for the most part, with the help of my mother. But I am doing this on my own. Any help would be great! Thanks!

I'm only six weeks out but I think having a passion for cooking will help you. Don't eat processed/precooked junk! You want to feed your body healthy food with nutrition! If it's empty calories, don't eat it. The surgery has helped me learn to eat to live not live to eat. I cook all of my food so I know exactly what's in it. I wouldn't prepare too much before surgery because sometimes your taste buds change and at first you really can't eat a whole lot (1/4 cup for me).

My Protein shakes were the only "Processed" (Premier Protein from Costco) food I ate. I made lots of soups, too. All you have to do is listen to your body. You'll know what you can and can't handle and progress at your own pace. Eventually, you will be back to eating anything and everything, just in smaller quantities.

17+ months out here and I can eat anything.

Well, it's just me, so unfortunately, I'm going to have to do some prepping. Since I am a chef, I am able to throw some stuff together and freeze it( and yes I use fresh ingredients). I have food allergies(recently diagnosed), so I don't/can't eat too many processed foods anymore.

How soon, after surgery are you able to move around? Exercise? Are you in a lot of pain? I'm getting nervous.

I was not in a lot of pain at all. I was up and moving immediately after surgery. By the time I came home, I was looking after my 7 wk old and 4 yr old boys.

Well' date=' it's just me, so unfortunately, I'm going to have to do some prepping. Since I am a chef, I am able to throw some stuff together and freeze it( and yes I use fresh ingredients). I have food allergies(recently diagnosed), so I don't/can't eat too many processed foods anymore.

How soon, after surgery are you able to move around? Exercise? Are you in a lot of pain? I'm getting nervous.[/quote']

The pain varies from person to person. Some feel none or little pain, while others (me!) were in tons of pain. I needed help for things like getting out of bed (sleeping in a recliner avoids needing help) and getting off the toilet for the first few days. Bending is what hurt. And I needed someone around to remind me to drink and walk bcs i just wanted to sleep the pain away.

Good luck!

I actually felt so good I asked my surgeon if he really did take out most of my stomach. I can drunk easily and don't experience any nausea. I may be on of the lucky ones but I think there are a lot of us out there. I heard so many of the horror stories before hand that I just assumed it was the masses.

They will give you pain medication, so, I used that and stayed ahead of the pain, so no problem there for me.

I was outpatient and was out noon. Took a 4 hour nap and took my wife out to dinner (surgery was in Vegas, baby!) We walked around downtown and I even played a couple hands of blackjack.

The next day, we went to M&M, Venetian, Wynn and all over downtown again. Day after that was more of the same. Moving is essential to aid the body in getting the surgical gas, which is trapped in your body, out. This gas causes the most discomfort, but it's not a deal breaker.

I froze all my prepped foods, too. I have many posts about using glass canning jars (jam jars). They're great. Cheap, reusable and pop right into the microwave. I can grab one on the way the door to work and it is thawed by lunchtime. I still do this today 17+ months out. The jam jars are perfect portions. I have soups, lasagna, german cabbage and ground turkey ... all leftovers. They're great.

Thank you for all of the feedback! I have a pretty tough job(letter carrier) and also wanted to gauge how much time to take off of work. I know it's different for everyone, but, it's good to know I won't be laid up in bed for a long time.

My surgeon said no lifting more than 10 kilos (25lbs) for 6-8 weeks.