Like sands through the hour glass... My magic months are slipping away

When I was 6 months post-op I recall being so conflicted because I felt the honeymoon was slipping away and I wasn't as successful as I thought I should be. Just felt like it would all stop- and I'd be stuck where I was. So I get how you're feeling. The Great folks here reminded me that I can juice this for as long as possible if I put in the work in. and while it took me a minute to accept it- I learned I had to constantly reevaluate my intake. 

Now you being a revision my understanding is your rate of loss is slower, and I'm not sure if your docs special design to your pouch impacts things any further-- but you can control that by weigh and measuring everything. By all means make sure things are alright medically but it really does come down to what your eating. (Yeah calories are important, but I'm talking about what your calories are composed of). 

Not sure I have specific advice other than constantly "shuffle the deck" in terms of intake. Somedays I feel like a mad scientist wondering what combination will yield results- but for me-- doing this has kept things moving-- even if it is slowly. 

That makes sense

Hi Sheri,

Sorry you are frustrated...

At what point did you go up to 1000 calories?  I will be straight up honest that at 4.5 months I would not be going over 600-700 calories let alone 1000.  Your Surgeon is flat out wrong to advise someone that early out to eat that many calories and clearly you are not losing weight.  At 4.5 months out the weight should be dropping off you if you were eating a lot less calories.  I am almost 3 years post op and I aim to eat between 850-950 calories a day I personally strive really hard to keep it under 1000 calories, but if I do go up to 1000 calories I am okay with that as I am 3 years post op and at my goal weight. I do a minimum of 100 grams of protein daily and I like to drink a minimum of 10-12 glasses a day of liquids (I do struggle with this but its something I track and work on daily).

Do get your thyroid checked and hopefully your lab work all comes back fine, but in my opinion you are just eating too many calories for 4.5 months out.

You can listen to your surgeon who I am sure did not have WLS himself and take his advice and eat the 1000 calories a day or listen to those of us here on OH who have lived this and drop your calories.  And I think regardless of the "shape" of your pouch calories in is what matters. And are you weighing all your food and tracking every bite on MFP?  That makes a huge difference!!

I wish you the best Sheri and hope you can figure this out.

GOOD LUCK you deserve the best and I want you to be successful!

 ETA: fixed a spelling mistake

I began early out getting in my 1000 calories as his directions indicated. I even posted a picture to my profile of his instructions warning of going below 1000 . He has indeed not had the surgery . I'm gonna drop the calories 

I seriously want to scream when I see Surgeons and Nuts and Dietitians advising new post ops (people under 6 months) to eat that many calories. I will say it over and over that these people would not be taking their own advise if they had WLS. My Nut at 3 months post op wanted me to start eating potatoes and rice.  NO WAY!

I sound like a broken record when I say this but had I not found OH and listened to the Vets on here that eating the crap my Nut was proposing I would never have got to goal, plain and simple. I don't doubt for a second that your Surgeon is a skilled surgeon but he's not living this life, we are. Take our advise, drop your calories. Its going to be hard Sheri if you have been eating 1000 calories of food but you need to do it if you want the weight off.

Here is a sample day of what I was eating at 4.5 months post op:

B: 1 cup of Almond milk with 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder for a homemade protein shake

L: 3oz of grilled chicken breast with 1 tsp bbq sauce

S: one babybel cheese

D: 3 oz of grilled chicken breast with 1 tsp of bbq sauce & if I had room a few sticks of raw red bell pepper but I usually didn't have room

S: one babygel cheese

TOTALS: 621 calories, 98 protein, 23 carbs, 29 fat

Ok. I can do hard. I can drop these calories! Thank you for the example . 

This, exactly.

Hi,

Can I ask you a question?  My surgery is Wednesday and I'm making a note of your menu.  Should I be trying BBQ sauce not knowing if I dump yet?  Can that make me sick?

Thanks for the information,

Hi Karen,

When exactly did you want to try bbq sauce?  If I understand your question you are saying right after surgery?  Or did you mean 4.5 months out like I was?  You will note my response to Sheri was that I had 3oz of chicken and 1 tsp of bbq sauce at 4.5 months post op.  

If you want to give me more info or have any more questions about menu's and what fresh post op looks like I am more than happy to help.  Feel free to PM me if you want.

Its a very exciting, confusing, anxiety filled time, we are all here to help you through it.

Best of luck!

Hi,

No I meant when I was ready for real food.  I'm scared of dumping so I was wondering if people were able to tolerate BB! sauce, when ready.

My nut said to use things like BBQ sauce and apple sauce to make food wet and slippery to get it down.  (again, talking later in the plan).  I'm just trying to be prepared on what I can and can't eat.

Thanks