Some "elder" knowledge

I've been kind of floating around this group for a while. I had the gastric sleeve in December of 2013 and I find myself wondering about sharing advice to anyone who might need it. So here we go.

  • The gas is going to suck for a while. My best advice is get the gas X dissolvable strips, just like Listerine breath strips, but for gas. And don't freak out when your stomach is louder than your own spoken voice for a bit, mine was noisy for over a year.

  • get comfortable and acquainted with adding protein powders to your normal recipes. (( for example - sugar-free brownie mix/keto friendly mixes - add a scoop of your favorite sweet protein powder OR add an unflavored protein powder, which also is perfect to add to Keto friendly biscuit or pancake mix)) Don't buy into the idea that you need a certain brand either, get what works for YOU.

  • Remember there is nothing unhealthy about eating real food, at this point it's about relearning to choose the right foods. Denial won't aid success. Temper. Go slow. Don't be afraid to ask your program nutritionist for advice and recipes. Serve fruit and fresh veg alongside your meals IF YOU CAN TOLERATE THEM.

  • there's going to be times down the road when you get sick with a stomach bug and eating solids is going to suck. Find the liquid forms of things you don't mind consuming Now, and keep record of when you can't have them anymore and what you replace them with. As you go through sickness and all that down the road, you have an arsenal of ways to survive it :)

  • Do not Skip your surgical check-ins and do not stop taking your vitamins. Some of us can skirt this. Some of us cannot. I personally cannot - and I'm now on Iron infusion therapy and I have Osteoarthritis. Not everyone will get to my situation but it IS possible esp if you already had nutrition deficiencies. Find liquid vitamins if you can't tolerate solid. But don't stop taking them.

  • USE BACKUP BIRTH CONTROL DURING THE WEEKS AFTER YOUR SURGERY. I got pregnant 3 weeks post op. Just.... be careful lol

  • You may start having sensitivities to some things, and you may even develop food allergies. Or you might now. The process is different for many and it will change you completely, not just your weight, so I wish you to remember to be gentle with yourself.

  • and I want you to know that I'm proud of you. You chose yourself in a world that doesn't like that. Keep going.

((feel free to ask about anything, I'm an open book))