brandu
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brandu 18 years, 8 months ago
Hi all... I am now three months out and 62 (official) pounds lighter... Wearing size 40 pants... It's been unbelievable. When I am in 38's I'll be in the same size I wore in College. It seems totally weird. I am doing very much better. I went camping for several weeks in august and I have to say, except for the eating part (we had lots of steak and while I love the stuff, by the end of the day I was so tired I could not eat it at all), it was great. I walked huge amounts, and I think that is why I have lost so much weight. My loss most definitely slowed down when I came back (though I am still losing). I have another tip... They tell you not to dring while you eat, that you should avoid drinking from 1/2 hour before and 1/2 hour after eating... When I did this camping I was having trouble both eating and avoiding dehydration. But I hit on a notion... I eat about half my meal (at this point about half an Egg McMuffin), sipping water to "lubricate" it, and then take a bite every 5 minutes afterward with a sip of water. the water helps me move the food faster through my stomach, and because I am eating only a half a pouchful at a time, the water does not cause a lot of discomfort. (Of course chewing well is key... I am chewing a lot more than I did before the surgery, and chewing a lot less food for all that jaw action!) By changing to this method I can manage to feel like I am eating like a normal person, and not feel like my food is gettign all stuck in my throat when I am getting filled up. Even though it still takes over an hour to eat a small meal I used to make very short work of, I have a lot less discomfort in eating it. Oveall, my life is a LOT better now than I thought possible.
brandu 18 years, 8 months ago
Hi all... I am now three months out and 62 (official) pounds lighter... Wearing size 40 pants... It's been unbelievable. When I am in 38's I'll be in the same size I wore in College. It seems totally weird. I am doing very much better. I went camping for several weeks in august and I have to say, except for the eating part (we had lots of steak and while I love the stuff, by the end of the day I was so tired I could not eat it at all), it was great. I walked huge amounts, and I think that is why I have lost so much weight. My loss most definitely slowed down when I came back (though I am still losing). I have another tip... They tell you not to dring while you eat, that you should avoid drinking from 1/2 hour before and 1/2 hour after eating... When I did this camping I was having trouble both eating and avoiding dehydration. But I hit on a notion... I eat about half my meal (at this point about half an Egg McMuffin), sipping water to "lubricate" it, and then take a bite every 5 minutes afterward with a sip of water. the water helps me move the food faster through my stomach, and because I am eating only a half a pouchful at a time, the water does not cause a lot of discomfort. (Of course chewing well is key... I am chewing a lot more than I did before the surgery, and chewing a lot less food for all that jaw action!) By changing to this method I can manage to feel like I am eating like a normal person, and not feel like my food is gettign all stuck in my throat when I am getting filled up. Even though it still takes over an hour to eat a small meal I used to make very short work of, I have a lot less discomfort in eating it. Oveall, my life is a LOT better now than I thought possible.
L C. 18 years, 10 months ago
Hi Jeffrey, Thanks for the tip about dixie cups. I'll be sure to pick some up and give it a try after my surgery date. --
brandu 18 years, 10 months ago
Well, Now I am a month out. I am feeling pretty good, and have lost 4+ inches on my waist and over 40 lbs. It seems weird that it could have gone like that. My only frustration is that I am so limited in what I can eat... I just started my "chicken" week on the protocol. I really cant wait until next week, when I am finally off the ingredients limitations. I didnt get overweight without loving food. I dont mind eating super small quantities (dixie cups are good disposable measures - use them). It's just the lack of flavors I love that drive me batty. I did go to one of my favorite Japanese restaraunts, and I had some Miso soup, and one piece of a "Dragon" Maki roll last weekend. I was a bit worried because the main "meat" in the roll is shrimp, and shellfish is harder to digest than regular, but I ate slowly, and I did fine (I used to be able to eat three entire rolls! now I only had one piece of one roll... this is _so_ wierd.) I also tried smoked salmon, but it was very strong, not bad, but not something I like all that much. That's quite a change for me cause it used to just make me ill to smell it. I guess tastes do change after the surgery. My big problem is dehydration. I have to force myself to drink. It's much harder to do that once youstart to eat, because there is not "I'm Empty now, send the fluids" message after you eat something with a lot of protein. you stomach still feels full even when it's not. On the fluid diet, I was more than able to keep up because the liquid did not give em the same stuffed feeling. Now I have to remind myself. It's tough. But I'll get through it. I had my first chicken Monday the 4th in a nice soup at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, and some more later as we watch the macy's fireworks display. That was cool. I also had a small amount of popcorn. My Wife ( who went through all of this last year) was very active about stopping me form snacking too much, but I dont think she needed to be that concerned, I had had plenty of protein. It feels good to finally be eating "normal" food. I dont feel so wierd and deprived when I am out with friends. It's a relief. and the weight is coming off... that's like magic. I love it. Dixie cups are my friend.
brandu 18 years, 10 months ago
Well, Now I am a month out. I am feeling pretty good, and have lost 4+ inches on my waist and over 40 lbs. It seems weird that it could have gone like that. My only frustration is that I am so limited in what I can eat... I just started my "chicken" week on the protocol. I really cant wait until next week, when I am finally off the ingredients limitations. I didnt get overweight without loving food. I dont mind eating super small quantities (dixie cups are good disposable measures - use them). It's just the lack of flavors I love that drive me batty. I did go to one of my favorite Japanese restaraunts, and I had some Miso soup, and one piece of a "Dragon" Maki roll last weekend. I was a bit worried because the main "meat" in the roll is shrimp, and shellfish is harder to digest than regular, but I ate slowly, and I did fine (I used to be able to eat three entire rolls! now I only had one piece of one roll... this is _so_ wierd.) I also tried smoked salmon, but it was very strong, not bad, but not something I like all that much. That's quite a change for me cause it used to just make me ill to smell it. I guess tastes do change after the surgery. My big problem is dehydration. I have to force myself to drink. It's much harder to do that once youstart to eat, because there is not "I'm Empty now, send the fluids" message after you eat something with a lot of protein. you stomach still feels full even when it's not. On the fluid diet, I was more than able to keep up because the liquid did not give em the same stuffed feeling. Now I have to remind myself. It's tough. But I'll get through it. I had my first chicken Monday the 4th in a nice soup at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, and some more later as we watch the macy's fireworks display. That was cool. I also had a small amount of popcorn. My Wife ( who went through all of this last year) was very active about stopping me form snacking too much, but I dont think she needed to be that concerned, I had had plenty of protein. It feels good to finally be eating "normal" food. I dont feel so wierd and deprived when I am out with friends. It's a relief. and the weight is coming off... that's like magic. I love it. Dixie cups are my friend.
brandu 18 years, 10 months ago
well... I learned something yesterday. I overate a bit yesterday morning, and I guess I bruised my stomach a bit, cause I was then in rather profound pain all afternoon and evening... everythign I ate or drank caused pain as it emptied form my stomach. I could just about feel every bit of food that passed through. I had to use the percasets just to get some fluid into me, and even so I think I am somewhat dehydrated today. I am still rather tender today, though I can eat and drink, which I am doing. I figured out a trick to prevent this form happening again: Since my pounch is about three ounces, I now keep a stack of three ounce paper dixie cups with me. I simply put anything I am gonna eat in there first, and eat that. Then I can toss the cup out with my napkin. No more stretching! Did that this morning with my oatmeal and it worked great. SO for those of you waiting for your operation or first foods afterwards... when you do get to eat again, use the dixie cups. It's way better than estimating by eye. At least for me. --Jeffg
brandu 18 years, 10 months ago
well... I learned something yesterday. I overate a bit yesterday morning, and I guess I bruised my stomach a bit, cause I was then in rather profound pain all afternoon and evening... everythign I ate or drank caused pain as it emptied form my stomach. I could just about feel every bit of food that passed through. I had to use the percasets just to get some fluid into me, and even so I think I am somewhat dehydrated today. I am still rather tender today, though I can eat and drink, which I am doing. I figured out a trick to prevent this form happening again: Since my pounch is about three ounces, I now keep a stack of three ounce paper dixie cups with me. I simply put anything I am gonna eat in there first, and eat that. Then I can toss the cup out with my napkin. No more stretching! Did that this morning with my oatmeal and it worked great. SO for those of you waiting for your operation or first foods afterwards... when you do get to eat again, use the dixie cups. It's way better than estimating by eye. At least for me. --Jeffg
brandu 18 years, 10 months ago
Hi there... well, I had my first food Tuesday night... I scrambled an egg. and I was very happy about it. but... Next morning, I woke up dizzy, with the room spinning. Never had it like that. You know the feeling you soemtimes get if you stand up too fast form a sitting position? like that but not stopping.<br> I laid back down and called in to work. After an hour of feeling like I was falling, I called the Doctor's office. I thought I had done something wrong... <br> the Nurse asked me a few questions, I told her what I had eaten nad she said, "Oh you nead a lot more than that!" <br> Seems my mistake was to have my first meal as the last meal of the night, and then fast for 10 hours till the next morning. <br> So I spent the next day eating my Category 1 foods up to six ounces, and drinking plenty of water. I felt better about mid afternoon, and I am pretty good today.<br> So here's today's Clue for you all... When you are ready to go off your Liquid diet, wait until morning, and make it a day long project! Till later!
brandu 18 years, 10 months ago
Hi there... well, I had my first food Tuesday night... I scrambled an egg. and I was very happy about it. but... Next morning, I woke up dizzy, with the room spinning. Never had it like that. You know the feeling you soemtimes get if you stand up too fast form a sitting position? like that but not stopping.<br> I laid back down and called in to work. After an hour of feeling like I was falling, I called the Doctor's office. I thought I had done something wrong... <br> the Nurse asked me a few questions, I told her what I had eaten nad she said, "Oh you nead a lot more than that!" <br> Seems my mistake was to have my first meal as the last meal of the night, and then fast for 10 hours till the next morning. <br> So I spent the next day eating my Category 1 foods up to six ounces, and drinking plenty of water. I felt better about mid afternoon, and I am pretty good today.<br> So here's today's Clue for you all... When you are ready to go off your Liquid diet, wait until morning, and make it a day long project! Till later!