Vickichacha

Hi everyone.
I am now 18+ weeks post op.I would love to hear from those that have been sleeved before me.I feel 'normal'.The small quantities of food I can now eat even seem normal to me and I am finding I am becoming less thoughtful about my WLS and much less obsessive about proteins and fluids etc.

While I feel great I am concerned that I might not be policing myself enough.
Have any of you sufferred due to becoming less regimented with the early rules of having the 'sleeve" eg eating the right amount of protein everyday.I don't count the grams anymore and eat whatever I feel like.Some meals might be all protein while others cake or biscuits-a tad naughty at times.Most of the time I just graze and don't eat set meals at set times.Much of the time I don't even recall what I have eaten during the day.My portions are still very small but I am always peckish-which leads me to the next question.

Am I peckish because I am freezing cold for the first time in decades?We are going into Winter in Australia.For those going into Summer in the Northern Hemishere are you finding it easier to stick to the WLS rules? Was it harder for you when it was cold?Do you think that when Summer roles around for me I will find it easier to eat 'lighter' food such as fruit and salad?
Once at this 18+ stage and you feel normal is this it?

__________________
Cardiologist:03/02/09
Next Pre.op visit:07/02/09
Sleeve date: 16/02/09
Heaviest Weight 2007:abt 245lbs/112kilos
Pre-op:231lb/105kilo
Current:167./75.9kilo

weza215

Vicki,
Hi, I just read your thread and wanted to reply. Sorry, I'm not on here very much lately so it takes a while sometimes for me to reply. I'm over a year out now and I still try to get my protein and water in. I have more days that I don't get the right amount in but I'm always aware of it. At 18 weeks out you should be very strict with your protein and water. You are still in the honeymoon phase and you should be taking every step necessary to get to your goal. The first six months is when you teach yourself new habits and it's the easiest to lose the weight. Once you are at goal then you can incorporate more carbs into your diet. I'm not saying I was perfect I did cheat and still do. I struggle quite often but I always go back to the protein plan because I feel my best with it. I've lost over 100 pounds. I went from 260 lbs to 144 pounds. I still would like to lose more but I'm happy with my weight where I'm at. My body seems to want to stay between 140 and 150. I have good days and I have bad days. I feel in my opinion losing the weight is the easy part but maintenance is where the struggles come in. Lisa

Vickichacha

I am so pleased that you replied as I need a nudge every so often.Both my protein and water levels are too far down.For a four week period I am visiting lots of different schools observing student teachers before they graduate.I usually end up visiting 3-4 schools a day and driving about 100 kms to do so-PLUS I have to observe 18 students teach 4 sessions in 4 weeks.I started off hyper last week but am slowly crashing probably partly due to my poor eating and forgetting to take my supplements.I need to get a grip on what I eat.

Yes I think I am deluding myself about cheating.One thing I need to ask you.I seem to be getting by because I can't eat much-even the bad things.Does that change?Currently it takes at least 30-40mins to drink a coffee. For breakfast I can eat a fair amount which is a worry eg 2 Weet-Bix and one slice of toast with vegemite.Our McDonald burgers are suppossed to be ????smaller down here and I can manage one half and then finish it a few hours later.But if I do I can't eat my dinner that night.Yes another bad food choice but not eaten frequently-just quoted as an example for food size reasons.I am now happy -psychologically-with my portion size but from what you said I gather this portion size increases.Usually even without something naughty I can't eat much at night.I normally just pinch some of the meal that I have cooked the family-just nibbles.The nibbles also worry me as it wasn't until I 'nibbled' at the kid's left-overs that I gained weight.

Weza can you give me a basic description of portion sizes for you-ones that you can eat if you didn't watch what you ate-more or less to give me a guide to how much you can fit in.I am curious about that.Even with my current bad habits I couldn't fit in more than 800-1000 calories.Then I will be better prepared for what lies ahead and will further motivate me to be more vigilant.
Thanks Weza
Vicki

I have bought some protein bars for when I am driving around and food choices are limited. Just have to remember to take them with me!!Are you able to handle salads at your stage? Strange that I can digest a cheeseburger but not a salad and not fresh bread with healthy protein!!!

__________________
Cardiologist:03/02/09
Next Pre.op visit:07/02/09
Sleeve date: 16/02/09
Heaviest Weight 2007:abt 245lbs/112kilos
Pre-op:231lb/105kilo
Current:167./75.9kilo

ardita

I don't feel ready for salads yet-am seven or eight weeks out-so it helps to hear that's not necessarily strange. Baked chicken killed me two weeks ago. Not ready for hard core meats either.

__________________