NEED SOME FEEDBACK PLEASE!

OKAY - I want to get in on this...I've read every one of these posts and you all seem to know each other very well...how did this happen? From these boards or what? Litttle bit about me...surgery on 10/6/04. 6 wks out and lost between 35-40 lbs...depends on when I get on the scale. Try not to often - it ****** me off if there isn't a drop so I decided not to get on the scale. Don't know if this is normal, but I thought I'd loose weight faster. Having a tough time eating food slowly - causes me to puke...don't know if i'm getting enough protein or liquids,...any suggestions? sample menus? ANYTHING???? I've been reading the MD boards since I live in MD, but I found tht no one there live anywhere near me (I live on the DE-MD state line)! So, since you all have the same doctors (Dr. Irgau did my surgery - great guy) and I have probably met some of you at PMRI meetings (I kind of hid out of the crowd before my surgery), I thought it'[s about time to get to know more of you! So... that being said, I'd love to get some feedback from anyone who has the time! Thanks.....Maria

Hey Maria! I haven't had my WLS yet... not for 2 more weeks. As far as knowing each other, yep several of them do know each other. And I'm getting to know them too ...they're great and lots of fun (just read my post entitled "what's a girl to wear") anyway, you seem very frustrated, but from the sounds of it, losing 40 lbs. at 4 wks. out is pretty darn good (and normal) to me. Question ... Are you following the plan? Are you getting your fluids and proteins in proper amounts? Are you keeping an intake diary? It might be a good idea to avoid frequent weigh-ins, just to avoid this frustration. I really can't speak from experience yet so I'm probably as worthless as boobs on a bull to you. So on that note I'll turn you over to the wise ones. Maxi

Hi Maria, Welcome to the Delaware Boards!!!! We probably only live about 5 minutes from each other, okay maybe 10. I haven't had surgery yet either, my date is December 13th (YEAH). Did you have to take the lifeskills class? If not I would be happy to share the things I learned from attending with you. Since we do not live that much apart we could get together and walk or just visit. Keep in touch. Ellen

Hi Maria! I live in Delaware but had no clue of Doctors/Hospitals in the area so I had my surgery at PA Hospital. ( I worked in Phila for many years so I was very familiar with the hospital's rep and my sleep doc from HUP suggested the surgeon who practices there!) I like the group at PMRI they have alot to offer others and are very supportive. My vitamin regime is the same as theirs....my diet plan was a bit different but sort of on the same lines. I think the 35-40 lbs loss in six weeks is great! You should be very proud of yourself. What an accomplishment that is. At six weeks I was still in the soft food stage....What am I saying...I am still in the soft food stage. I do eat meats and stuff but I prefer yogurts and cottage cheese. No muss No fuss foods! Where is Warwick located? Is it close to DelMar? Take care and perhaps we will see each other at the next meeting. Debbie

Hey Maria!!! Okay - your in! That's all it takes - to want it. Most everyone here met through this site and at the support meetings or simply online. The support and bonds here are fantastic. Good people, good friends! Just post away and you too will be saying what a great online support group this is and what wonderful friends you have made. About your loss thus far ... WOW - that is fantastic! Good idea to stay off the scale for a while ... it really will drive your life if you let it! I am speaking from personal experience here. About what is normal ... it is all different - what is normal for one, will not likely be normal for the next person. About the protein - what were the nutritionists guidelines for you? It is different for everybody - depends on your current weigh, amount of exercises, et****ep food journals logged at fitday.com or in a note book at home. The further out I get, the more familiar I come with food values so it is getting easier to keep my home notebook right now. You should be working on getting in 64 oz fluids minimum. I don't think I was doing that at 6 weeks post op. But many are able to do it, and if you can it will really help you out. At 6 weeks, I was still pretty much sticking to a soft diet also ... it helped me relearn to eat slower and not get sick. Linda had a fantastic soft/pureed foods menu (mine is very boring) ... check with her to see if she still has it available. If so, I think it will help get you through this time. I know others here also have some great food suggestions. Hopefully they will be on soon and post. Good to "meet" you. Hugs, Tammy

Hi Maria and welcome to the board! You will meet many helpful, good hearted people here and some that are a bit..well...weird ( Joe ) *runs* Seriously, you will meet all kinds of people and someone is bound to have more in common with you than just the rearragement of our anatomy too! I'm also on the Md/Del line ( Md side ) but in Cecil County. Not too far from you. Make sure you stand up and and at the next meeting so I can meet you in person. As for your weight loss, it's very good. I mean realistically, if someone were to come up to you as a pre-op and ask you how you would like to lose 35-40 pounds in 6 weeks time and keep it off, what would you have said? I know what you'd have said That's an average of FIVE pounds a week girl! Don't let the scale numbers get in the way of your true progress. Those numbers are ever changing due to fluid retention etc and are really only relaible when averaged over time. Use it as a guideline only and don't make it the endall beall of your experience. Glad you're here! Linda

Hi Maria, I know it seems frustrating at first and seems that you are loosing slow. You really are loosing at a VERY good rate because you are just out. I too wanted the weight off and off now! I lost alot the first 2 months then averaged about 11 pounds a month and NOW I am plateauing I am 9 months out and didnt loose but 2 pounds in November!!! So it does slow and seems more unusual because we eat so much less than we did before. BUT every pound gone is a blessing right? I know it seems like it should be FLYING off the first 3 months because if we ate like this before surgery it WOULD be flying off. I think the surgery just affects our metabolism in a different way and our bodies are in shock and trying to adjust to our new system inside hence the slower loss (not that it really is slow but feels like it should be more) and plateaus that we hit. Its definitely not unusual if you are about to hit like a 3 week plateau because once we loose that initial loss our bodies pause to catch up and recover from the dramatic drop. So just in case that happens to you soon keep that in mind, that is what my nutritionist explained to me. Also, you dont want to eat TOO slow because the slower you eat the more you can eat. They say to eat your meal within 20-30 minutes no longer because after that our pouches start to drain and we can eat a little more. I find that to be very true with me. Welp, welcome to the boards and keep on posting, thats how we get to know each other on here. I havent met alot of people in person, Tammy, Karen, Kathy, LB, Elissa and many other people but just being online you create new friendships! I was always PMRI Shy! I would go to the meetings and just be shy period. I haven't been to any in a long time, but when I do go I swear I will walk up and introduce myself! heh! There are so many awesome people here! (((hugs))) I wish you all the best and continued success! Elizabeth M

Hi Maria. Since my picture is on my post, the next meeting make sure you talk to me or any of the others that are on here. The 1st meeting I attended and recognized everyone, I felt I already knew them. But to meet in person has been very special for me. We have had an ongoing relationship like none I've ever experienced before. They encourage me when I'm low, listen to me when I need to vent and ask me for advice. We exchange info on health, protein, recipes and life in general. We can council you and confuse you too. We are a great group that can help each other through this journey. You sound like you are doing awesome. I still have to remember to slow down when I eat. I was always a gulper. Suggestions. Protein. Have you found any you like? I have 2 thet I'm hooked on and liked from day 1. I am 1 of the lucky ones. I use unflavored Unjury. I mix 1 scoop with either crystal lite Red grapefruit or sunrise orange and drink it twice a day. 16 oz and 20 gr protein each drink. Other is Isopure strawberry powder. Mix 2 scoops with Carb Countdown fat free. 62 gr protein & 14 oz liquid. So far 102 grams of protein. I spread the drinks out throughout the day. I do eat 3 times a day also. Some Oatmeal for breakfast. Soup or tuna or egg salad or cottage cheese maybe for lunch and then my diner. Usually 3-4 oz of chili, fish, chicken, pork or whatever. A little veggies and at least 1 piece of fruit a day. This all keeps my protein levels up and everything is pretty regular. I stay away from pasta and rice, bread & sugar. These are all bad for me. I have loads of info in my profile, take a peek. A lot of us have tried to keep a journal. Helps keep you straight. Focusing is hard to do sometimes with our busy lives. So Welcome and have a seat on the looser's bench. Make sure you look me up at the next PMRI meeting, excluding tonite. I won't be there. Elissa

Welcome Maria Glad you posted, hope to meet you soon. Dianne