massindex

Go!! I wouldn't necessarily drink at that stage because it was empty calories but that's just me. Alcohol is a slider so just be careful.

Don't compare yourself to others and ditto on the comments here. Pick something you can live with and don't be afraid to adjust it or have a couple of sets of goals. This surgery is just a tool. How much you lose is up to you and your discipline. Enjoy it! By the way, BMI is not a good evaluator of fitness but it is a placeholder (when I played football in college my BMI said I was obese but I was very fit for what I was doing). I no longer play football so I don't need to carry that weight and now I'm pretty fit (triathlons will help with that) but not as strong as I was in college.

Ditto on the workouts. Also I see friends more often now!

I doubt it. Probably gas. You'll know fullness once or twice, when you exceed it, and then you won't want to go back there.

Only way could take was in egg drop soup and then the strands had to be very fine.

Both should be fine. Baseball will be interesting because if you are like me, I used to like to eat at the game. That won't be as easy. As far as the concert, chances are there won't be a mosh pit for the Beach Boys , so you should be good.

Egg Drop soup and Hot 'n Sour soup were my goto's post op before I could eat regular food.

I liked the both the Light and Regular Muscle Milk (vanilla and choclate, not the other flavors) and it was pretty readily available wherever I happen to be.

In a word - "Yes!" I traveled for business one week after my surgery. I had to go through terminals, finding a place to sit and rest, all the way to baggage claim. That feeling stayed for a few weeks.

You must be hearing the same things I'm hearing, like "You're half the man you used to be!" That's a great thing to hear

You are suffering the same reactions that some addicts suffer from. This is a reason we get this surgery. Without a smaller stomach, you would be overeating, feeling guilty about it, getting more depressed and then overeating again because of the pleasure you get from eating to combat the depression. It's an endless spiril we all have been through. Once you have had the surgery, this tool we have been given helps us through this period. Its normal. Your brain is focusing on the withdrawl. All you can do is recognize this and realize that this too shall pass. Stalls are normal and expected. Reward yourself occassionally for what you do, although not with food as you might have done in the past. Go do something for yourself.

I do this now with my wife now and she did it with me when I started - whether you are hungry or not, focus on getting your protein and eat. Your body will go into ketosis and start feeding on muscle. You have to keep the protein up to maintain you muscle mass. And don't forget to enjoy the ride, you will love your life.

Congratulations and welcome to your new and exciting world!

I eat pretty much whatever I want, just smaller portions, now that I'm at my goal. People who say these things about "not being able to sit down for a regular meal with my family" have no idea what they are talking about. If "regular meal" means tons of food and 6,000 calories, then they need to redefine the term.

I also did the Color Run here in Vegas. Great after party downtown, wasn't it?

I still drink soda but I do the following. I stir the soda very quickly, releasing the carbonization from the sides until the drink is flat. Ice helps release the CO2. I also open cans of soda and stick them in the refrigerator for a day or so until they go flat. But of course, always diet soda. I don't want the empty calories.

If you want some proof that more can be obtained, I'm your proof. I started at 427 and now weight 195, losing 232 pounds over all and 212 pounds since the surgery, With discipline and exercise, this tool we have can help you meet your goals. Doctors don't want overstate what is possible so they set your expectation on the low end. Mine was on the high end and that's what I'm doing.

Good luck! Remember to fuel up before, during and after!

Yep, Welcome!! We are just all prisioners here, of our own device (my Hotel California reference for the day).

The Color Run is so much fun, I highly recommend it.

I came across a great quote today that you need to look at whenever you feel frustrated. There’s a great line in the Desiderata by Max Ehrmann that says: “If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.” Just enjoy the ride. I hit my goal and thought I couldn't lose more because I plateaued for a month, although I was losing inches. It's inevitable if we consume less and burn more, we will lose weight.

Non-scale victory, and they are the reason we really do this...