turtlebutt825

Hey everyone feel free to introduce yourselves here, don't forget to add where you are in your journey, and where you are stationed

Hey everyone!! Check in with your weight lost so far, or even some non-scale victories (NSVs) you'd like to share! I'm down a total of 56lbs, and my biggest NSV is that I was able to avoid the post-Thanksgiving food coma, by sampling a little of everything and not stuffing myself. I didn't even eat any of the Desserts, and that was a big deal to me

So my hubby totally loves these and so do I!! It's a great way to get your faux-frying skills on!! What you need: 2 chicken Breasts (or 8 oz worth) (Cut into your choice of tender size) 1c Original Panko Breadcrumbs 1 Packet of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Seasoning Barbecue Seasoning (to taste) Onion powder (to taste) Garlic Powder (to taste) Ground Black Pepper (to taste) Kosher Salt (a big pinch) 1 egg Optional: You can use a cookie cooling rack to bake your chicken on and it allows it to get completely crispy on all sides, even the bottom!! Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In one bowl beat egg. In another bowl mix together breadcrumbs and all dry ingredients (I keep it in a tupperware so if I have leftovers it doesn't get wasted). Place some of the breadcrumbs on a plate. Place chicken bits in egg to coat and shake off excess. Roll in breadcrumbs, and place on cookie rack (or cookie sheet). Repeat till all pieces are coated in crunchy goodness, adding excess breadcrumbs to plate as needed. Place chicken in oven and cook for 15 mins (flip halfway throughout if using cookie sheet, no need to flip if using the rack) Set oven to broil and broil your crispers for 1-3 mins depending on how brown you like them. Remove and enjoy!!! I like them plain but you can serve with lowfat dressings, or low sugar bbq sauce! Let me know what you guys think :smile1: Recipe yields 4 Post Op Portions 1 serving is 2 oz of chicken and nutritional facts are as follows (according to mfp recipe maker) Calories: 208 Fat: 4 Protein: 15 Sugar: 1 Carbohydrates: 24

Ok so the beginning of my surgery was amazing! Everything went according to plan, the day I went in for my surgery I weighed 299lbs, and as of this morning I weigh 243, so that is a total of 56lbs in 3 months. But I Have only lost 6lbs in the entire month of November. I hit my 50lb mark on Halloween (Lost a total of 27lbs in september, and 23lbs in october). And it seems like it has just been barely coming off. It makes me so upset because I have no idea what I am doing wrong. I eat approximately 1000-1400 cals a day depending on how much Protein I get in, and I get in the majority of my Water. On top of all this, my period is 2 days late, and I have been super hormonal/emotional/gassy/nauseous and I keep getting bladder infections. It's really frustrating. My husband just got home at the beginning of November (he's military) and I was on bcp and antibiotics at the same time, so I know a pregnancy is faintly possible, but my husband and I struggled for 2 years to try to get pregnant, when I decided to get sleeved instead, so I have little hope of an easy pregnancy. I took an HPT today and it was definitely negative. And I have had 3 cycles since getting sleeved all exactly 29 days apart. So I guess I'm coming at you guys with 2 questions. Is a 3 month stall typical, and can irregular periods randomly set on 3 months post op?

Hey everyone!! My name is Sarah, I'm 20, and I was sleeved 11 days ago on the 26th of August. I'm really happy that I was able to do this young. My support group at the hospital is all people who are like 50 plus. Which doesn't really bother me, but it is very hard to relate to someone who has 30+ years on you, regardless of the experience you share. I am happy to know I'm not the only one who had this done in my 20's!!! I was just wondering, since we are younger, and for those of you who are further out, how bad is the extra skin once you've lost most or all of your weight? That is one of my biggest fears after weight loss, is having a ton of extra skin. Well let me know!! Thanks!! Sarah

I've been overweight my entire life. Done the merry-go-round of yo-yo dieting. And I struggled with bulimia starting at the age of 13. 4 months before my 20th birthday, I sought out counseling for my eating disorder, and came clean to my husband and my family. After months of counseling I realized my body wasn't getting any healthier, and the warped mindset I had/have from my years of distorted eating were making it impossible for me to adopt a healthy eating style, all I would do is diet for a couple of weeks and fall back into old habits. On top of all of that my husband and I had been trying to conceive since we got married (2 years ago) and were having no luck.( I am thankful now that I wasn't able to conceive because my mind was not in the right place.) Anyways I had gone to talk to my OB/GYN about our difficulty conceiving and she assured me that it was because of my weight, and that is how I got put on the pathway in February of this year. On August 26th 2011 my life was forever changed. This year I celebrated my 21st Birthday (Nov 18th) 53lbs lighter than I was on my last bday. My sleeve has given me so much. It's helped me (well that and counseling) to realize that I don't need food to comfort me and the detrimental cycle of binging and purging is absolutely worthless. I feel good about being able to nourish my body. Something I have never seen in what I eat. I eat food for it's nutritional value to my body, not because I have a hole inside that I am trying to fill. This was my first Thanksgiving where I was truly able to enjoy the company of my loved ones and not be focused on having to empty out my stomach so I can fill it again 3 more times. I'm no longer self conscious about eating in front of others, and I just feel like the whole world has opened to me. I never would have been to this point without the support of my husband either. I'm not saying that the sleeve "cured" my bulimia, because I still hear that nasty little voice in the back of my head on occasion (particularly lately since my weight loss progress has slowed a bit). But I am saying that it has given me the self restraint to not give into my defeatist alter ego. I will forever be grateful that I was given this chance, because for the first time in the last 8 years I have been able to live my life without fear of food. And that to me is absolutely priceless. Sorry for the book lol.

Well that's normal to only be able to eat 4-6oz of food. 3 oz of shrimp and I'm stuffed.

You guys are all welcome to join, the more the merrier!!

Come join my group Military Spouse Sleevers on VST. We only have 2 members and I know there are lots more tricare patients on here Anyways I would love the support of others and to offer my support to you!! Hope to see ya there! Sarah

Oh ok, I'm already using MFP and it says that I should be getting about 1450 cals a day, but maybe I should schedule a visit to the nutrition clinic.

Once you make it through the first couple of hell weeks sweetybabs you will be completely and utterly in love with your sleeve. I know I am lol!!

Lol I didn't even know chili's had something called that, I haven't been to that restaurant in years haha, the closest one is like 2 hours away. I named them that because my hubby is super picky and only likes popcorn chicken so I named them chicken crispers so he wouldn't see them as nuggets and refuse to try them. (I know he's ridiculous but I love him lol)

Even those of you who are pre-surgery can check in, let us know where you are in your surgery journey and something interesting about yourself!

Congrats and Welcome Summer!! Feel free to post it up on the discussion board. I would really like to make our group more active!!

Thanks! I know the pathways program can be a little frustrating, but if you're anything like me, it will seem like it's d....rrraaaaagggginnnnngggg by lol. But once you're actually in that hospital bed, you're like OMG it's finally happening!!! Lol! Best of luck to you!!! Do you have a surgeon yet, or have you just been to the seminar?

Hi Everyone!!! I know I have been a bit MIA for awhile but a lot has happened in the last 2 months since I've been on VST. So for those of you who do not know me, I am the group creator, Sarah. I had my sleeve done on 8/26 and as exactly 3 months later I am down a total of 56lbs. In September I started working, then 2 weeks later we got orders saying we were leaving in Nov so I quit lol. Well most of you know how fickle the Army likes to be, my hubby went for training the whole month of October and while he was out there his orders got cancelled and pushed back till January. So Lord only knows when we will actually be moving, but I do know that we are going to Fort Bliss. I know we have been a bit inactive in the group for awhile but I would really like to get some more activity in here. Also I am looking for someone else to co-own the group, so if you are interested send me a PM and we can get you on board! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and you all remembered to nibble nibble, rather than gobble gobble!!! Onward to Christmas (or Hannukah, Kwanzaa, or whatever fantastic winter holiday you prefer I hope everyone is having a safe time, and didn't get trampled too hard on Black Friday Happy Holidays!! Sarah

Do you guys think we should start a VST group? We could call it August Allstars, but of course

ice cravings or spice cravings?

I just turned 21 on the 18th, and although I drank pre op (shame on me yadda yadda) I was so excited to celebrate my rite of passage by going to a bar and ordering a cosmo haha. Two hours, one cosmo, and a lemon drop later my hubby was dragging me out of the bar because I was sloshed!!! Haha, and the sad thing is, when I was pre op I was perfectly capable of taking down 3 or 4 shots with my hubby before even feeling the buzz!! So yeah just be prepared you will be a complete and utter light weight!!! But think of it this way it's less money you gotta spend to get your drank on!! haha

Go Kart Mozart: I was just thinking the same thing. I was sleeved only 3 months ago, but it was so nice to have this be my first thanksgiving where I wasn't dying from my post-feast food coma!!!! I even had a glass of wine. I promise you guys it's not the end, it's only the beginning. And since I've had the surgery, I don't crave the junk I used to love so much. I used to hate vegetables and love ground beef and now I am the complete opposite. You never know what your gonna get till you jump in, and 9 times out of 10 that last supper syndrome will seem silly to you once you are further out (But I totally went through it too!!). But I promise you my first post op turkey day, was the first one (not to mention the best one) I've had where I wasn't focused on the food, but more on my family. And it made it so much more worth the while!

I like that!! It's so true. I'm just trying to take it one day at a time. Thanks again for your kind words, I really needed them :biggrin5:

vertical sleeve talk

Nice to meet you too!! I've been incredibly inactive over the last few weeks but I'm back lol!!