Thanks Lori G

Jul 19, 2009

Lori G giving addvice on what to do post-op.  So much for me worrying about getting a 40 bougie.


No matter what size bougie your surgeon used, everyone has slightly different sized stomachs. Mine used a 40 Bougie ( considered medium to large size) and I can still barely eat significant quantity, it seems.  A cup of Greek yogurt. Cottage cheese- 1/3 cup. TriTip Steak- 2 oz. And this at over a year out. If you are eating consistently to an uncomfortable full feeling, you are not listening to the "full" clues your sleeve is giving you.

So you should focus on following the rules, which are:

PROTEIN FIRST, 70+ g/day: In your meal, for example, I'd eat as much of the pork chop as possible. You should be filling up on that, not the other stuff.  Maybe a few bites of cooked veggies sich as green beans. No potato or only a bite of sweet potato if I had room. Sandwich- eat the turkey and cheese, not the bread. I was hitting 70g protein per day by 3 weeks out, and by 5 months out upped it to 100 g per day when I began weight training.

NO BREAD RICE PASTA REFINED CARBS: I still do not eat any of this stuff ( except the sweets since I am under goal and trying to up my calories to maintain- things like frozen NS added yogurt, NS Added tapioca pudding, chocolate covered edamame. I still do not eat bread rice or pasta because they  fill me up with empty calories, and I do not miss them at all- again, protein first. If I do eat simple carbs such as fruit, it's with a handful of nuts or string cheese or Greek yogurt- something protein laden to offset the blood sugar spike caused by the simple carbs. Because that causes a resultant insulin spike, which drops the blood sugar rapidly, causing us to crave more carbs.

WATER: 64 + oz per day. No carbonated drinks, no caffeine. Helps clear your body of toxins, avoid constipation, prevent kidney stones.

VITAMINS, CALCIUM, JOURNALING or SUPPORT GROUP: Get in the habit now of prioritizing your vitamins and calcium. Journaling or tracking your calories helps you see where you might be slipping or lacking in protein or water. Support group reinforces that we are all very different, but people have terrific ideas there.

EXERCISE: I urge you to start this now, or if you have already, be diligent about it. You don't need to exercise every single day but you should be getting in 300 minutes per week for weight loss. This should be a combination of cardio and strength training (such as weights, resistance bands, Pilates, pliometrics or Gravity machines). Cardio is not a leisurely stroll on the treadmill at this point-  try mixing it up so you are using different muscle groups- cycling on stationary bile vs outdoors on real bicycle where your balance, wind reststance, hills make for a tougher workout. Walking on treadmill inclined vs walking up hills with hand weights. Swimming laps vs intervals vs aquasize. Keeping your body guessing prevents it from becoming  efficient and "cheating" which will actually burn fewer calories per workout. Adding strength training wil build lean muscle mass while accelerating fat burning, and raise your resting metabolic rate, and make you look better.

The first six months are when it comes off the fastest- you will continue to lose well after this, but if you are one of those scale junkies who gets motivated by those big weekly losses, you will be disappointed after six months as it slows slightly. Take advantage of it now.

Good luck- get that protein in first and you will be too full for the other stuff! XOXOLori

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