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Gay male 46, with an extremely supportive husband. We have been together 18 years married 2. SW 282 CW 270 goal 180. The Sleeve for me today went really well. Able to eat jello, drink broth and isopure. All staying down. I do have discomfort but not crazy pain. Been on several walks today. Also an amazing nurse recommended ice packs on tummy area. Feels really good.

I am not struggling with eating out of boredom YET, but I understand exactly what you are going through as I have done this my entire life. Planned snacks are great, and the nuts or jerky can fit into that plan. The key is having the mindset that the snack is fueling your body instead of just doing it because you are bored. I smoked cigarettes for 10 years. When I quit 10 years ago, I realized that "triggers" as they call it, were real. I mentally and unconsciously had a cigarette whenever a trigger was present. That trigger might be getting in the truck to drive. It might be the end of a meal. The point is that if you are snacking when you are bored, you are continuing the bad habit that got you into trouble in the first place. I think this is a big problem for most of us. We have to use this time to change that if we are to continue being successful. I work at a computer all day. I got my job to purchase a Veridesk for me, so that I can stand up and work. It does help. It takes me out of my comfort zone of sitting, and the cravings dissipate. I also burn more calories standing than sitting. Mind you, I don't do this all day. Just periodically. Maybe you can take a break and walk around the office for a minute or two whenever you get that craving. You are doing really well, and I have no doubt that you will continue to be successful. Mindless snacking might just be the thing that hinders you from meeting or exceeding your goal weight as the weight loss will undoubtedly slow down in the coming weeks and months. Anyway, good luck and thanks for bringing this up. This is a topic that is a real problem for most of us.

As long as you are being carful not to fall back into old eating habits and your staying on track, don`t over think it. If you are still headed in the right direction what ever you are doing is working for you. The trick comes when you get closer to your goal, that is where you really need to ratchet things up a bit. Make good habits now and it will pay off later.

I don't do artificial sugar, I think it tastes like chemicals. I am okay with the taste of Stevia in my coffee but I use very little. I like the liquid Stevia drops from Trader Joe's because I can use about half the regular amount. A bottle is going to last me years. I can't do dairy since my WLS so I don't consume sugar in yogurt or pudding. When I want something sweet I eat something with real sugar, just a really small serving, like a fun size candy bar. It doesn't bother me at all.

I too always had bad headaches with artificial sweeteners. Also learned years ago on the FDA website, that they're linked to causing symptoms of 90+ diseases..always hated putting that kind of thing in my body. Never liked the taste either. Tried stevia once, it's still up in my pantry. Call me an exception though, I don't do artificial. If I want sweet, I use honey or agave and regular creamer for me coffees. Gasps! 😱 Lol

SOME OF THESE COMMENTS UNDER THESE THREADS ARE CRAZY ... EVERYONE'S EXPERIENCE WITH SURGERY IS DIFFERENT HOW CAN YOU BASH SOMEONE FOR FEELING HOW THEY FEEL??????!!!!!!! ONE THING I DO KNOW IS THAT AFTER I GET MY SURGERY AND I EXPRESS HOW IM FEELING AND YOU COME FOR ME IN A NEGATIVE WAY IM GONNA LET YOU HAVE IT AND THEN IM GONNA BLOCK YOU.....

My NUT/Surgeon will not give me calorie goals. I'm sitting at about 1200 calories a day at 9 months out and still losing. 10 pounds from goal so slowly upping my calorie intake. I've asked my NUT several times where my calories should be and she just told me to make good choices and it won't matter.

Thank you for your concern! But I promise, I'm just fine I eat as much as my sleeve allows - pretty much every two hours. From what I read on these boards, I seem to have a much smaller sleeve than most - which is fine with me! I'm doing great, running half marathons, all my labs are normal, and I don't deny myself a shared slice of cheesecake on date night, haha. It's not so much "caloric restriction" as it is "I eat almost all the time and this is what my sleeve can hold"

Ask the dietician attached to the surgical team for a meal plan. and stick to the level she suggests. so free fluids first, then the next level. then soft food - I had low calorie jellies ready and pureed fruit (baby puree level). For me she suggested that I get in plain yoghurt as she knew I liked it. and eat protein first. my protein was mainly chicken, fish, eggs, and cottage cheese. But my greatest help was fresh unsweetened pineapple juice, to sip. It helped rid me of all the foamy mucous phlegm that was making life a misery for the first three weeks at home. Fresh pineapple juice really saved the day. My Doctor suggested it and it worked a treat after three hours of sipping it , a little at a time, I finally gained relief from all the vomiting of foamy phlegm. Here is why - fresh pineapples contain digestive a digestive enzyme in them called, "Bromelain". Bromelain helps break down hard to digest proteins in our digestive tract naturally so we do not end up with gas, bloating, nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea, burping or constipation. - enzyme bromelain is known to reduce phlegm and mucus in throat

Did your dependency begin after surgery? To have established addiction to alcohol and pain killers after surgery is pretty radical. Have you talked to a therapist about your concern? Aside from the affects of these behaviors on your tummy, the repercussions to your quality of life are huge. Sharing on this board will get you opinions but your addiction is way bigger than an online support group. Please work hard to get personal help. My daughter is a meth addict that has been clean for over a year. I could do nothing to help her. She had to do all the work to help herself. Thinking of you. Take care