The first few October guys and gals will be joining the losers' bench today! Please let us know how you are doing as soon as you feel up to it. I'm joining you tomorrow. :-)

Molly (10/2/13)

Hey gals and guys,

I just read some posts in another month's thread about what they are thankful for. In the spirit of the holidays starting this week (the US Thanksgiving and Chanukah) and the whole season, what are you thankful for?

I'm thankful that I am not bothered by cooking post-op. I have a feast planned for Thursday for my family and friends. I love to cook and have others enjoy it.

I'm also thankful for the support of family and friends and my new online friends who also have had WLS.

Molly

Won't you be able to eat the things you cook with them Molly?

My nut said 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food 3 times per day, 2 smaller snacks in between..

You guys are lucky!! I talked to my nut today and she said no snacking between meals. Only 3 two ounce meals a day for the first six months after surgery then I can go to 3 ounce meals for life. I'm supposed to drink lots of liquids and protein shakes between meals. It's crazy how different each plan is for the same surgery!!!

I'll probably have some turkey and squash, but most of the feast will have too much fat and/or carbs.

Here's the menu: roast turkey, sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, roasted winter squash, candied carrots, brussels sprouts with bacon, corn casserole, sweet potatoes with bourbon and pecans, grand Manier cranberry sauce, gravy, rolls with butter, apple pie and pumpkin pie.

Most of these things I only make once a year for Thanksgiving. When I've tried to make changes to the menu, I get puppy dog eyes from my family.

Molly

Sounds delicious. Do you have room for one more at the table?

Always room at the table. :-)

My NUT said she'd rather have me have 6 small meals than 3 meals per day.. Keeps blood sugar stable and I told her I was waking up at 3 in the am hungry, so that's why she'd rather I have more meals..

Every plan is different, every person is different.. If you truly are hungry, try having a small protein snack.. String cheese is good, low cal, low fat, and it has some protein.. The smaller cups of greek yogurt is good.. NUT suggested hummus with 6 wheat thins, cucumber with 2 tbls of tuna, 1/2 slice of toast with egg salad, sliced banana with 1 tbls of peanut butter, etc.. IMO, its very easy for a "regular" person to tell someone how to eat, when they are eating "normally".. Good Luck!!!

I am thankful that I am not having any complications from my surgery and seem to be losing steady.

I am also thankful that my husband survived a horrific car accident on July 5 this year when a large tree fell 30 feet onto the windshield of his car while he was driving at 45 mph. He broke his back and neck in several places when his seat collapsed, but didn't require surgery. He had to wear a neck and back brace for 3 months. Just thinking about it makes me shudder.

Molly, your Thanksgiving menu sounds wonderful. I too, will only be eating a bit of turkey and a veggie. I'm only 5 weeks out from my RNY. Luckily, I know when to stop 'cause I've had that little pouch/too much food feeling. I am also thankful I don't get hungry and want more than I am supposed to have.

Happy Thanksgiving to all you who share and support.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and good luck today. I know it's our first holiday since our surgeries and it has to be one where there's a ton of food!!! It will be tough but we can do it!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Molly

Hope everyone did well yesterday! I ate a very small amount of everything - turkey, broccoli, sweet potato, stuffing, turnips & carrots.. Did fine.. We ate at 2 and around 7 I was hungry again, so I ate another small plate of turkey, broccoli, and sweet potato.. I felt pretty good too.. For once I didn't have that thanksgiving full feeling!!

How did thanksgiving go? Ours in canada was back before my surgery, but I hope it went well for you all!!

I am a month out today, lost 24lbs in the first 3 weeks and have been stalled for a week (well no weight loss stall, still losing a little bit in inches).

I am struggling with getting fluids in. I am up to 5-7cups now, but my urine is still "dehydrated". I am also only getting in about 40-50g of Protein, so I really need to focus on that this week. I am hoping my stall ends soon. It is so amazing the head games it plays with you!! My kidneys are still not acting very good, so I need to see my doctor tomorrow about some more antibiotics. I hope they get better soon, this flank pain hurts.

I was also wondering, do you ever get hungry? I am never hungry and eating is so difficult. Every meal is a force. Do you force yourself to eat?

How did thanksgiving go? Ours in canada was back before my surgery, but I hope it went well for you all!!

I am a month out today, lost 24lbs in the first 3 weeks and have been stalled for a week (well no weight loss stall, still losing a little bit in inches).

I am struggling with getting fluids in. I am up to 5-7cups now, but my urine is still "dehydrated". I am also only getting in about 40-50g of Protein, so I really need to focus on that this week. I am hoping my stall ends soon. It is so amazing the head games it plays with you!! My kidneys are still not acting very good, so I need to see my doctor tomorrow about some more antibiotics. I hope they get better soon, this flank pain hurts.

I was also wondering, do you ever get hungry? I am never hungry and eating is so difficult. Every meal is a force. Do you force yourself to eat?

We're the opposite! I'm hungry all the time…. I can only eat a little bit and I get full really fast, but I definitely have hunger.. I also have trouble drinking enough and getting enough protein.. I'm up to 5 cups of Fluid a day and I can get anywhere from 55-75 grams of protein a day.. Its hard...

I'm 2 months post-op and I'm not hungry either. I asked about it at my 6 week checkup and I was told it may take 6 months or so before hunger returns and that when it returns it will be different than hunger was pre-op. My hardest days are the weekend when I don't work. I forget to eat. I've noticed recently that I get a bit crabby and then I realize that I need to eat or drink a Protein drink. Then I feel better. During the week when I work, I pack my lunch and Snacks (protein drinks) slim a bit better about eating them.

Molly