MINI-Me

The best bet is to ask your doctor. I don't know why, but many people have issues with red wine & some doctors say to avoid red wines completely (maybe the tannins?) Hopefully you will be allowed a small glass of white wine. But, ASK YOUR DOCTOR!

I hated watching people eat when I was newly sleeved. It seemed like all people did was eat, eat, eat. Just try to visualize yourself in a cute little summer outfit looking all hot and sexy. If that doesn't work, stuff a cookie down their throats! LOL

Give yourself some time ... while on liquids and mushies, it's hard to find the "full" spot. It will come. I promise! Right now, focus on eating the quantities you've been given. Your staple line needs to heal. I found that warm liquids really helped soothe the hunger and generally made me feel a lot better those few weeks after surgery.

Personally, I am celebrating Christmas and the New Year. And, I too plan on enjoying every minute of it. I'm hosting a small dinner on Christmas Eve with my kids and in-laws. We are having porkloin (being "good" on that point). I also plan on making a lower-fat/calorie version of "cheesecake". I cannot remember what site I got it off of, but it sounds good. Can't wait for a small slice of this junk food: Ingredients: 10 Small sugar free Candy Canes or Peppermint Disks 1 Deep Dish Graham Cracker Crust 2 - 8 Oz. Fat Free Cream cheese, Softened 1 - 8 Oz. Light Sour Cream 1 - 9 Oz. Light Whipped Topping 1 T. vanilla 1 t. Peppermint Extract Directions: First take your candy canes & unwrap them and place in food processor.....grind till they are about powder (a few larger pieces are OK ) Remove from processor and set aside. Add cream cheese in food processer (Don't wash after you take peppermint powder out!). Turn on and blend till creamy. Add sour cream, vanilla, and extract. Keep blending ... then add whip cream. Take out about 2 T of candy and pour the rest into the filling. Mix well and pour into pie shell. Sprinkle with the remaining candy and refrigerate overnight. 8 servings.

Glad to hear that things went well. Yeah for being an official loser now!

AWESOME work to everyone! Wanted to point out our "over-achievers"!

SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal Avilda .................270.............196..............184............12 (12-9-10 191 down 5) Back on track!!! BlackBerryJuice...........208...........155...........155..............0 (Dec. 19th goal - reached a week early!!!!) Brendasgonnalose 335......244.............235............4 ( 12-20-10 239 down 3) Chilo1.............216...................169..............154................15 (down to 160- so back to original goal of 154!!!)) Dansha...........220..................220...............195................25;) DJackson........246.................230...............220................10 Filosophia Scandinavia...205...205.............187...............17 (Will be sleeved on the 30th November) Fit ..................290.................250.8..............235.8............15 GayleSBennett ....232.................201................189...............11 Good Luck everyone! =) Juliarh............303.6.................236.6..............225................11.6 Kgremmy........225..................221..............199................22 (being sleeved 12/14/10) Labrys............238..................208.................193...............15 Laylasmojo......242.................200.6.............185.............15.6 LilMissDiva........247...............236.............226.8..........9.2 Lisalu..............210..................137..............130.................7 livelovelaugh....236..................216................196...............20 Maddie............257.................167................147................20 merieri............240..................206...............190................16 Mini-Me...........203...................128.6..............125.............3.6 (Getting Better!) Mommy2Girls....275..................256.............240...............16 mp8btpc.........199...................160...............145...............15 pattimomof3NJ.....203.4..........168.1............170...............-1.9 BELOW GOAL!!! Pumpkin97....220...................150...............143...............7 (this is my goal for Jan 1 2011) Sleeve 4 me ...204...................167..............164..............3 Stacy160.........258..................174...............148...............16 StaySea........299...................299.................275.............24 twoboysandagirl..226..........212................199..............13( made goal 8 days post op) NEW GOAL 185

I'm really into Pinot Grigio right now. There is a local winemaker, Hogue, that makes the best. If you can find it, I would definitely recommend it! Cheers! (When will it be 5:00? All this talk of wine is making me thirsty! )

I have hypothyroidism and have met goal. The one thing we have learned is that I need less of my thyroid medicine - I am assuming because my body is smaller??? Make sure your doctor keeps a close check on your thyroid during weightloss. My medicine has been adjusted 3 times since surgery. Good luck!

At a recent support group, we had a doctor come visit to talk with us. The meeting includes all WLS patients. Two of us had VSG. She grinned and asked us how much wine we drink now. Apparently, white wine is the drink of choice for VSG'ers in her experience. It takes a while to get used to, but doesn't cause the discomfort of beer bubbles, doesn't have the kick of shots, and less "wasted" calories than fru-fru drinks. I have to admit, she got me on that one - I love my wine. (The other girl admitted to drinking wine as well - much more than pre-surgery.) Doesn't seem to be a problem for weightloss/stalls for me, but I do track those calories when I partake.

Congratulations!!!

Welcome ... you now have more support - you have everyone on this board. To tell or not to tell is your choice. But, after going through this process for almost a year, I can tell you that anyone who calls this "Cheating" or "The Easy Way" is either uninformed or a complete idiot! This is not easy - you will have to monitor your food and nutritional intake for the rest of your life (assuming you want a healthy post-op life). You are making a courageous decision to be be a happier, healthier you. How is that cheating? Again, welcome to the board. Let us know what questions you have. We will be here for you.

You look absolutely FABULOUS!!!!! And, I am not "just saying" that. WOW! 168 looks great on you!

Congratulations! Good to hear that you are feeling so well. Just don't overdo it!

Congratulations on your date. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations. You have done so well. Get used to all those compliments!

That is so AWESOME! What an amazing accomplishment. You are rockin' that sleeve girlie!

You are definitely worth it! But, it can also be good therapy to complain and have yourself a good cry. If you don't want to voice it to those around you, feel free to come out here. We all know what recovery is like and will glad to sympathize with you & remind you of all the good things to come. You go girl!

SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal Avilda .................270.............196..............184............12 (12-9-10 191 down 5) Back on track!!! BlackBerryJuice...........208...........155...........155..............0 (Dec. 19th goal - reached a week early!!!!) Brendasgonnalose 335......244.............235............9 ( 12-2-10 241 down 3) Chilo1.............216...................169..............154................15 (down to 160- so back to original goal of 154!!!)) Dansha...........220..................220...............195................25;) DJackson........246.................230...............220................10 Filosophia Scandinavia...205...205.............187...............17 (Will be sleeved on the 30th November) Fit ..................290.................250.8..............235.8............15 GayleSBennett ....232.................201................189...............11 Good Luck everyone! =) Juliarh............303.6.................236.6..............225................11.6 Kgremmy........225..................221..............199................22 (being sleeved 12/14/10) Labrys............238..................208.................193...............15 Laylasmojo......242.................200.6.............185.............15.6 LilMissDiva........247...............237.............226.8..........10.2 Lisalu..............210..................137..............130.................7 livelovelaugh....236..................216................196...............20 Maddie............257.................167................147................20 merieri............240..................206...............190................16 Mini-Me...........203...................130.4..............125.............5.4 (Decided to be "real" and put the real number for today. Still discouraged, but not giving up!) Mommy2Girls....275..................256.............240...............16 mp8btpc.........199...................160...............145...............15 pattimomof3NJ.....203.4..........171.7............170...............1.3 to go (start NY on an even number!) Pumpkin97....220...................150...............143...............7 (this is my goal for Jan 1 2011) Sleeve 4 me ...204...................168..............164..............4 Stacy160.........258..................174...............148...............16 StaySea........299...................299.................275.............24 twoboysandagirl..226..........212................199..............13( made goal 8 days post op) NEW GOAL 185

Welcome to the board. You are definitenly among friends and career dieters out here. Please feel free to ask any questions that you have - combined, we have a lot of experience out here & love to support one another. I totally understand your fear of success. The good news is that you don't wake up from the surgery thin. You have time to get used to your changing body and making this a lifelong committment. I admit, it's still strange to catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror or doorway & wonder "who is that thin person". But, it's getting easier with time. The best part is feeling "alive" again. No more excuses of being tired and unable to move. I love my new energy level. The pain in my knees has GREATLY reduced and I actually like to feel movement (not that I'm a huge exerciser, but I can run up and down the stairs 10+ times a day and not be winded, go shopping and not need to take a break, etc). Again, welcome!

Happy Birthday my friend!

Congratulatons! So happy to hear how things are working out. Keep us posted as things progress.

LOL ... If I were pregnant I would have a lot of explaining to do to my "fixed" hubby. Thanks for all the kind words ... Not sure what is going on. I will continue to track my foods. I have an appt with new nutritionist on the 4th. Hopefully I won't have gained even more by then.

You guys have been great. I know there is a lot of discussion about weighing everyday. I've been doing that since the beginning of my journey. I track on a chart & I am used to normal fluxuations. What I am not used to is a steady up, up, up. You guessed it. Today the scale shows 131.8. And, no, the scale is not faulty. My husband and son both use it and report no changes. Well, actually, my husband lost 2 pounds. So, since 11/29/10, I have gone from 126.0 to 131.8. That's almost 6 pounds in 2.5 weeks. I am truley upset. What is going on? My diet has not changed. I'm eating around 1200-1400 calories a day. Up until now, I've lost on this amount. How can this be? 6 pounds is A LOT of Water weight. Am I done? Am I going to keep gaining? What can I do??? I cannot have come this far only to fail now. I really need/want a good cry.

OK ... Diva made me smile. You made me laugh out loud. My husband is considering calling those "men with the little white coats". Love ya'll as well. Thanks for helping the day a little brigher.