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A new lease on life...



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Or a new contract? I definitely feel like I have signed a life-changing contract of my life by being banded (second only to my marriage). This is great! I am 26lbs down since surgery on 6/11, and I feel just fine. All of my foods go down very well, my body definitely tells me when to stop eating. Intaking 500-800 calories each day, I am striving for 60g of Protein each day, it's not easy and most days I get to 45-55g. I can honestly say that I hate tuna even though it has tons of Protein. I will eat it, but I definitely don't like it. I have learned to remove myself from situations where the food is tempting - it was difficult last night visiting friends and they brought home a fried chicken dinner complete with rolls. I excused myself and went home.

I have been working out 45-60 minutes each day - WOW! What a difference exercise does to the body! Today, I went to Water aerobics - it was hard work, but seriously the most fun I have ever had exercising! I am looking forward to adding strength training to my routine once I have clearance from the surgeon.

I am glad I waited to find the right doctor to do this - he and his staff have made this a wonderful experience.

I know the hard part will come when school starts back up and my routine shifts, but that's okay! I am ready for the challenge.

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Hi Triser

What about canned chicken instead? It's much nicer than tuna.< /p>

How are you functioning on only 500-600 calories though? Honestly I don't see how you can keep that up before your body decides it's starving and has to hold onto everything and eat up muscle. I was under the impression we should be getting around 1200 calories a day. If I get less than 1500 I am happy. When I was on Jenny Craig I lost consistently on 1500 calories daily.

I just don't want you to crash and/or get frustrated because you're not losing.

I understand the new lease on life though. Even with a small % of the weight I need to lose off I feel so much better!!

Keep up the good work though!

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I agree with Grey! You need to up the calories to between 1000 to 1200 per day. Better for your health and you won't burn out so quickly. Remember this is for a lifetime!

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I guess since I am only 3 weeks out from surgery, I wasn't thinking about the calories were as big of a deal as the Protein and the H2O intake. I'm eating such small amounts of food - how would it be possible to get 1000-1500 calories. Since I am finished with the puree stage - I will probably see an increase in calories as I move on to soft foods in larger amounts than 1-2oz.

Thanks for seeing something that I should be concerned about, I'll email my nutritionist and see what she says - it's her food plan.

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I agree with your first post 100%! This is a total new contract on life! its awesome! I've only lost 17 pounds but I am so friggin excited for whats to come! I find that I have so much more energy now than ever before! it's fantastic!

I also agree that you def. need to get those calories checked out! Let us know what the nutritionist says!!

btw awesome weight loss so far! you are gonna do great!

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OK - so I talked to my nutritionist and she said that based on my H/W - yes, I do need to increase my caloric intake per day to 1000-1100 calories. So, thank you, Grey, for keeping me accountable on that one.

My only question is HOW? I feel like I am stuffing myself as is with an average of 700 calories. So, I have find 300 more calories each day?

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I dirink a glass of skimmed milk with sugar free carnation instant Breakfast to help boost my calories and get the added Protein also!!

do that twice a day and u add 280 calories and 26 grams of Protein

If you are not concerned with the sugars from milk products (they are supposed to be naturally occuring and not as bad??) then a regular glass of choclate milk!!

8oz = 210 calories and 9 grams protein

I also drink the K2O waters... 50 calories a bottle with 5 protien and 5 Fiber 16 oz. bottle = 2 Water servings!!!

Between the milk and 2 bottles of those I am getting 6 servings of fluids as well so extra bonus!!

Just a suggestion :thumbup:

Edited by Huggie Bear

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Wow I am having the opposite problem! I have restriction still so have to be careful but can still manage to eat plenty o calories and am having to report to things like 10 calorie popscicles and Jello to keep away 'mind munchies'. I would recommend things you can drink like smoothies/protein shakes, well chewed low fat cheese strings, and cottage cheese w/shredded pineapple.

I am focused on getting enough Calcium, Protein, and potassium so end up drinking alot of calories since meat is a bit much right now.

BTW, Triser I hope I wasn't a debbie downer for you. You are totally kicking ass and taking names with your workout routine! You inspired me to get my big bum back on the elliptical today!! So thanks :thumbup:

PS, what part of Houston are you in?

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Grey - I am in the Spring/Klein/Tomball area of Houston - northwest. You were not a downer, but you definitely saw a problem that I didn't see. That's what this forum is all about!

Well, I am doing all the things that ya'll are suggesting - I'll just keep trying! Thanks so much.

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Me too. I live near Klein HS.

After my 4th I need to renew my lease on life. We went to a 4th Party/Fireworks extravaganza at some friends. My parents kept our little man so we pretended we were young again and I drank a vineyard. I nibbled a bit too much and ate dessert. I took some liquid tylenol and drank some coffee this morning for the sore head/sinusitis and not long after ending up with the heaves, guess my stomach was protesting at the abuse. :thumbup: 35 going on 15 me thinks!

So back to healthy living. I can tell I got off the wagon because I am craving chocolate.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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