Knowing what you know now.......

[kpay10 95]

I bought the food scale, waste of money since I eat small amounts anyway.

How do you keep track of Protein if you don't measure anything? Just curious...

[msfitn2014 248]

Haaaaaaaaa "never trust a fart" so true so always have a night bag to change and clean up!! I use my scale and measuring cups so I can accurately put everything in my fitness pal which also tells me how much Protein i have had....i stocked up on choc protein which i loved before sleeved, after sleeved it was disgusting

I also dont like leftovers since being sleeved.....you will slowly learn what food u can and can not eat...i can not eat any fried food and i found out tonight i cant eat ice cream

[LindafromFlorida 1,542]

kpay10, on 22 Jun 2014 - 20:55, said:

LindafromFlorida said:

I bought the food scale, waste of money since I eat small amounts anyway.

How do you keep track of Protein if you don't measure anything? Just curious...

Our surgeon/NUT said eat healthy. Period. At 3 months we were told no more shakes, that I was eating too much Protein. We take good Vitamins, lost 60 and 90 lbs each, bloodwork is good, so it is working for us. We eat protein, salads, and add a few things when we want. Keep in mind we are both 67, our only exercise is swimming daily. This regimen would probably not work for younger people but we are making good choices, and have no bread, carbs or sweets in the house because of diabetes. We feel so good!

[chris1142 148]

Follow your program's plan to the letter. If you want to make changes to your plan consult with your NUT before doing so. Remember that it is way easier to stay on plan than to get back on plan.

Best wishes to you for a speedy recovery and great results

[teshadb 203]

Definitely don't stock up too much because I had a nose like a pregnant person right after surgery and everything I thought would be good I hated cuz of the smell! I couldn't stand sugar free things after surgery! I had Water, Soup, cottage cheese, tuna, potatos, added unflavored Protein Powder to things that didn't have much cuz I can't stand puréed meat. Get 1% or skim milk for your shakes cuz milk made me gassy at first. And yes never trust a fart!!! I had severe diarrhea for quite awhile after surgery. During the hospital stay I recommend bringing feminine wipes in case this happens because you will get raw from going so much. Or you might be the complete opposite. Bring Chapstick. sleep all you can. I recommend chewable vitamins . My dr did not want me to even care too much about Protein or the Vitamins until my follow up appt 2 weeks later. Hydration and rest was the most important thing. I'm 7 weeks out now almost 8 and most of my energy is back. I do recommend cleaning all you can right before. Don't get frustrated if you are not reaching the protein and fluid goals right away. That takes time. Do what you can and try to stay hydrated. I still struggle with getting in all the fluids. Be patient with your body and new stomach. Just when you think you are killing yourself from lack of calories and Fluid and you feel so weak you can't even make it to the fridge to get a drink, you will one day in a few weeks start feeling more normal. Day by day drink more. Bowels get back to normal. It's rough the first month but hang in there around six weeks I felt almost completely normal again. It's the best thing I ever did for myself!!!

[slvrsax 301]

Stop drinking soda. Start taking a Multivitamin to establish the habit if you don't already. Start exercising even if it doesn't result in weight loss. I went on Amazon Local and bought a 10 class package of Zumba classes and started 2 months before surgery, I think this helped me heal better and helped my lung capacity. Now I'm hooked and it is my main form of exercise six months out of surgery. Stop drinking before/with your meals because you won't be able to drink and eat together anymore.

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

Well, I feel I have been very successful so I wouldn't really change anything in terms of how I approached the eating/exercise part of it all.

I continue to be astounded at what losing over 160# has done to my headspace. At first it was the attention and looking different - I am so over that now. Now, it is more of the peeling away the numbing effects of all that fat ... I am still trying to figure out what my new life looks like. This has been a big deal and it is turning out to be a wondeful opportunity for me but it has been pretty hard too. I thought this wouldn't be so hard because i am a sensible, analytical, confident person. I didn't freak out over losing food as my best friend (was a cruddy friend quite frankly) so I had more of a delayed reaction to all this. I don't know that I would have done a thing differently but it was for sure the shocker of this whole journey.

[JeanZ_RN 378]

Take your Before measurements and pictures. I didn't do this, and now I REALLY wish I had. Make a plan regarding when you're going to take your progress measurements and pics - eg once a month on your surgiversary?

Look at others' pics on this site and notice what kinds of backgrounds make it easiest to see changes - like always standing in front of the same closet door so you can see later how much smaller you are in relation to it. You might want to keep the outfit you wear for the Before pics so you can let it hang off of you later and enjoy how different you look in it.

Best wishes!

[sleeversue 93]

Try different Protein Drinks and see what you like. You will need some on hand because you won't feel like shopping for a week after.

Start taking Biotin for Hair loss.< /p>

Start having Protein drinks ahead of time.

Get some of the following that you like on hand for the first week or pre-op liquid diet, sugar free popsicles, applesauce, chicken broth, Jello, and find what yogurt flavors you like. I love the one recommended by my Dr. Dannon Light and Fit Greek yogurt. 12 grms. of protein. Peach, strawberry, blueberry, pineapple, Key lime, raspberry chocolate, vanilla, and coconut. I lived on these the week I went on full liquids and puree stage. I still start every day with a yogurt because it soothes my stomach first thing in the morning.

[livvsmum 2,368]

I think one of the biggest things I've learned is that changing your diet is not enough. you have to be willing to do the hard work to figure out why you were overeating to begin with. I can reiterate all of the diet and nutrition tips that everyone else above gave, and they are all great, but if you do all of that without getting at the root problem, you will still find yourself facing your old demons. I read the book "When food Is Love" and started working with a therapist who specializes in eating disorders. That was really pivotal and important in my journey.

[devint 162]

Hydrate yourself before surgery to help with healing. I slept in a recliner for the first week because i'm an awful back sleeper, so move that if you need to. I recommend buying at least two types of chewy Vitamins, I had thrown up on my first brand once or twice and from that point I couldn't stomach the taste in my mouth. And we had to buy more tupperware because of all the portioning and leftovers. Someone else recommended I get ice trays to freeze my left overs. I thought, how over the top is that? I should have listened.

[kimba6999 125]

What advice would you give someone that's getting sleeved in September? From exercising, eating, Vitamins, and anything else you could think of that they should start doing more or less of. How did you prepare & what would you've done differently?

Mourn your food losses before surgery. I did this and boy was it easy after surgery to not crave or go back to them. Treat them like a loved one who is dying. Mourn them and say your good byes and move on. Dont try to do anything cold turkey. Make sure u get in ur Protein from the first and make sure u get in ur walks. The more active u are and the more protein u get in the faster u will heal but dont overdo it with exercise to fast. Find the protein u will like and be able to tolerate for the first 2 wks.

[mochax 50]

This has all been so helpful.

[NMJG 1,266]

I wouldn't bother stocking up on anything before surgery because you will most likely have completely different tastes for 6 months post surgery. Wait and see what you feel like. Just buy enough to get through the first week. Lots of people cannot abide sweet Protein Shakes after surgery, so you don't want 6 tubs of it laying around.

[hrhlaurie 185]

I wouldn't bother stocking up on anything before surgery because you will most likely have completely different tastes for 6 months post surgery. Wait and see what you feel like. Just buy enough to get through the first week. Lots of people cannot abide sweet Protein shakes after surgery, so you don't want 6 tubs of it laying around.

I agree worth not stockpiling too much but maybe a variety of the liquids or foods you'll be allowed to have. I didn't like a lot of the flavored waters and have to drink them half and half with Water. Crystal light Pure is a brand of drink mix with truvia and I just add a little to my Water. Popsicles were also too sweet so I use the popsicle molds and make my own from the drink mixes.

I have some tuna in the pantry but haven't felt like eating it yet but I loved tuna before surgery. I've had grilled white fish but just not feeling the tuna yet. Yesterday I had a craving for turkey, not a big favorite pre surgery, so I got some sliced Cajun turkey meat and had a slice for a snack. Accept the quirkiness that is your new tummy.

The weight won't always fall off so accept that now. Focus on the healthy and stick to your eating plan, exercise and sip, sip, sip water all day.

Edited June 24, 2014 by hrhlaurie