tntransplant06

Very nice...and be sure to SUPPORT her if she has a stumble after the surgery

Can't wait for you to have your surgery! You will be sooooo pleased! Just remember the first few weeks "may" stink, but beyond that, it's all good.

I like your post, Jeannie....very good advice.

All I can offer is I was a stress eater, and a happy eater, and a boredom eater, and a sad eater....I had reasons for everything to eat. That's why I weighed 350lbs. So, that being said....I still feel like eating when all of these things happen. The difference? I may pop a Hersey's kiss instead of the whole bag. I may eat 2-3 doritos instead of half the bag. I still have my "fixes" but I'm ok with just a few things instead of totally giving myself a food coma. I also try and distract myself by getting away from the thing that is stressing me. It doesn't always work, but it helps.

I would have put before pics on, but I'm not at my home puter...here's some photos to show you the difference in one month. First one was last month, second one is today. Difference of about 10lbs but I think it looks like more. I'm happy. Down just under 50 lbs since Jan, 20.

Let me just give you the best compliment possible........BITCH!!!!! LOL!! You look fabulous and I'm very very very jealous!! My day will come and then you can return the favor of giving me a compliment.

For those of you wondering what you can eat after the surgery. ..... I had my surgery in January....almost 3 mos ago. Went to Chili's and ordered chicken Fingers. First picture is how it arrived, second pic is what was left....alot. I ate the two little chicken fingers on the bottom of the plate and a bite of one on the top. Ate about 4 french fries and 3 bites of corn. It took about 20 min. About 10 min later, to be completely honest, I had to use the restroom to rid myself of the last bite I took. (the bite of the chicken) This meal was actually pretty good as for volume of food I was able to eat. I've learned to slow down, and more importantly, I've learned it is not important to clean the plate. Pre-surgery I could've eaten it all plus a side salad and two glasses of iced tea. Now, just the food I mentioned and maybe 4 sips of the tea. Am I upset? NO! I must admit a month ago, this would've upset me. Now, the "need" to eat all the food is gone. It's a wonderful thing.

I just want some of you that have been doing this a few months or longer to tell me if my weekly losses look right. I'm at almost 3 mos and have lost 46lbs. I feel like this last month has been FOREVER bc not much has come off. START 1/20: 349lbs 2/20: -27.2 (one month) 2/25: -3.4 3/4: -2.6 3/12: -4.6 3/18: -.6 3/25: -.6 4/1: -3.5 4/8: -2 (304.4lbs) This week looks as though it'll be -1. Those 2 weeks in March with the -.6 have me all crabby. I know, it's a loss, be thankful, and I am. I guess it's my goal of -50lbs by my bday next week (which looks like I won't meet) that has me sad. Nevermind the fact that my husband, who did this at the same time, is approaching -70lbs. I know, don't compare. I'm just resorting to my old habit thinking of, you'll never do this. I keep saying to myself "12 weeks and you've lost 44.6 lbs---3.7 lbs a week" then my mathmatic brain says, "yes, but over 1/2 of that was in the first month and the other 2 months have stunk". Instead of being really happy that I've lost this weight, I'm depressed and worried I'll always be fat. I'm wondering if I should see my doc about depression. I really do think I need to see a counselor to go over some issues, but my insurance doesn't cover it and I really can't afford it. Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Thanks for this post, Steve! It sounds very much like my experiences. More often than not, my issue is eating too fast and within 10 min of eating, I have to go visit the toilet, too. It's hard trying to change all these years of bad habits. I don't want to continue to be visiting the toilet, so I'm working on this. Good luck to you.

It sounds to me like you have an anestethia hangover. That should last a few more days. As for the pain, my guess is gas trying to work it's way out. Walk, walk, walk. It really helps. Walk for 2 min. if you're tired, sit down for a few minutes, and walk again. It really does get better. I wouldn't worry about protein just yet. Your body will tell you when it's ready. Try to just drink water (and if it hurts b/c it's cold, try warming it a bit) and in a few days try the protein. If anything worsens, call your doc.

add milk to the mashed potatoes so they are very runny. Think a new baby eating food for the first time..not pasty, not watery, but very runny. I did this 1 week after surgery and the nutritionist said it was fine. Just make sure you take looooong breaks in between bites to make sure you don't puke.

I think it means you are expecting too much too soon and are being whiney. (in the nicest way---because I was pissy like you at first, too) -18lbs in 10 days....really??? almost 2 pounds a day??? I can't find a thing wrong with that.

Agreed with everything said above. I asked my doc point blank and he said "NO we remove the part that stretches, you won't be able to eat like you did before so it won't happen." I believe him b/c I eat about 1/4 to 1/2 cup at meals and "JUST ONE MORE BITE" always finds it's way back out of my belly into the toilet. So, a bit of advice, stop the second your body tells you your full, you really can't just get one more bite in.

I didn't, just do your best. That is a "recommended" guideline, your body knows what it can accept...drink as much liquid as you can.

Well, there's really no "standard" answer for this. You have to want to do it. I can tell you that I've never been able to lose more than 40lbs on a ANY diet due to migraines, hunger, and boredom with the diet. I did this bc I wanted to be able to succeed. My main goal was to cure my diabetes. The skinny part was secondary. I've never been skinny so I don't know what I was missing. So, one week after my surgery 2.5 months ago, I no longer have diabetes. Normal blood sugars. So, that very reason made this all worth it. But, on the skinny aspect....I never knew how wonderful and liberating this could be. I stayed on the post-op diet STRICTLY until I was able to eat Mushies. It really wasn't hard and that's because you simply don't want any food. It's like when you have the flu, you don't want to eat (only you don't feel like sh*t, food just isn't appealing). I was able to start mushies a month out and I was craving things like Doritos and crunchy stuff. I put a Dorito in my mouth, chewed it up, and spit it out. I was truly amazed at how rotten it tasted. It was not appealing at all. (Doritos were my FAVE before---could eat 1/2 a bag in a sitting, no prob--now, if I eat them, I only eat about 5 pieces and that's all I need/want) When normal food was allowed (a week later) I ate some crackers, some soft fruits and, yes, gasp, some bread. I do not believe Carbs are evil...you just have to choose the carbs wisely. Whole grain bread and crackers, fruit and such. Now junk carbs, I do eat in moderation. I read labels religiously and only take what I think is "worth" it. (usually under 150 calories) I'm at almost a 50 lb weight loss in 2.5 months so I think I'm succeeding. IT IS LIFE CHANGING, and there will be times, if you like to eat, that you will be pissed and wished you didn't do it. I've done that when I've been out to eat, but to be honest, going out to eat has lost it's appeal bc of that very reason. I don't want food to be my main focus in life anymore. I still struggle with certain mental aspects of it, but I understand that will probably go away. If not, well, I'm healthy and I made the right choice. I want to see my kids grow up and go to the beach and go on airplanes w/out embarrassment. I want to LIVE not just EXIST and that's why I had the surgery. Only you can decide if you are willing to change, and maybe change in ways you're not ready to do. The surgery makes it happen, but not necessarily makes it easier. I can't say that the surgery removed my hunger completely like some on here claim, but for those first few weeks, that was definitely the case. I'd say after beginning real foods the hunger started appearing. BUT, it's not like prior hunger. It's some rumbling, but not the GET ME FOOD NOW hunger or I'm going to give you a migraine and make you throw up! Sample: Today at breakfast I ate 1/2 a bologna sandwich and 3 bites of pea salad. That was at 8a. Now it's 11a and my stomach is just starting to think it's hungry. I can deal with it for about 45 minutes and then I'll eat. I try to make myself wait a while, but definitely not more than 45 minutes after it begins. If I do, I get SUPER HUNGRY and tend to eat too fast and too much and then I see that food all over again about 15 minutes later (if you get my drift) There will be new rules you will have to follow in the form of what your doc says and most importantly, what your new stomach says. PS..I was self-pay, too...money well spent.

Hard to say, could be, though. Have fun getting that one out...not to be mean, just you could be constipated. Maybe you can ask your doc what you can take?

Really? You wonder why she wants to keep it a secret? Just like a lot of us want to on here. Don't need the s**t that goes along with people knowing your business. Your damned if your fat and your damned if you had weightloss surgery. You just can't win. I don't think she had the band, too much weight too quickly.

Bread actually sits really well with me. I eat one slice in the morning, 2 slices for lunch. I just chew it up really good with the meat that's on it. Really, the only food I've avoided is really greasy fast-food type, popcorn, and nuts.

I'm still looking for the post that Mommy Tawnie now says thank you for all the replies! You bitched, you got replies! LOL AND BTW...she's only 3 months out and has lost a great deal of weight! CONGRATS!! Don't worry!

GOOD LUCK WITH THAT, DAWN! LOL!! I think we all obsess to "make sure" it's working. Too many failures of the past.

I was certain I wasn't going to meet my goal when I hit the stall 3 weeks ago.....my goal is to hit -50lbs by April 20. I have 4.2 lbs to go---c'mon fairy, do your work!!

Hey, thanks for this! I had that blood test done before the surgery and it was covered ($1500!!). I am due to have mine done this month and have been wondering if they'll cover it again.

How many calories are you currently eating? I was stalled for two weeks at -.5 both weeks. I was eating about 800 calories, I ate a few more carbs and went to about 1100 calories and lost 3.5 last week and am at -2 this week with 4 days yet til weigh in. If your post doesn't get answered, trying searching for topics that are similar. A lot of the people on this board have been here awhile and probably get tired of answering the same question over and over. For goodness sake, don't take it personally.

What do you do when the urge to eat is very strong even though you are not hungry? The reason I post this is bc I've found myself a couple of times grabbing a quick snack when I'm not hungry and meal time is about an hour away. A few whole grain crackers here, a slice of cheese there, a piece of deli ham, you get the picture. I know I'm not hungry when I do this and I hear my brain saying not to do it, but yet I do! I'm 2.5 months out, so is it maybe I haven't broken this habit yet? I do miss the full feeling after eating meals (it was a calming feeling to me before) and I wonder if it's some sort of compensation thing happening. I'm averaging 800-1000 calories a day (I count the snacks--at least I'm honest there--lol) and I'm still losing really well, it's just I'm trying to stop bad habits before they become too bad. A lot of times, I find I'm bored or stressed when I do this. If I'm at work and it's really busy, I can go hours w/out even thinking about food. At home, it's like a comfortable bed, I'm drawn to it, whether I need to eat or not. I've been wondering if I should see a doc about this, but really, what would they do? I'm certain it would be the big pep talk and then the big bill. IDK...I just want to be able to put that needy demon to rest.

I am very afraid of settling into old habits....the night time TV snacking urge is unbeatable....I try to not even watch TV any more. I've read that some overcome this in time, I sure hope I'm one of them.