Lisa :)

I LOVE Torani syrups!!! I use them to make SF Protein ice cream and cakes (theworldaccordingtoeggface.com recipes). I love the Peanut Butter and caramel!!! I also use them to sweeten my greek yogurt!!! I buy mine directly from Torani as you get a HUGE 750 ml bottle for $7.95!!

I think they ALL have some flavor to them. I used Isopure when I was initially post op but I can't say it didn't add flavor....it did. I think you will need to try several out since Protein powder is such a personal preference. I was told at The Vitamin Shoppe that if I tried something and didn't like it, I could bring it back for an exchange. You might want to try Jay Robb unflavored whey. His products are very fine....they don't have that flour like consistency that most powders do. I use the Jay Robb vanilla in all my recipes for cooking and baking because of how easily it mixes.

I was told by my surgeon to leave all raw veggies out until, at least, 6 months. I attempted to eat salad at that time and it was horribly painful. Now at almost 14 months out, I still have a hard time with salad (but not raw veggies for some reason). Lettuce just seems to fill my sleeve up and I'm only able to have about 4 bites of it....so I just don't bother!!! It's the ONLY food I really miss.

I think most of us have been RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE!!! You are absolutely not alone!! But I'm here to tell you that the day will come when you will absolutely LOVE your sleeve and you will not regret your decision!! Buyer's remorse is normal and lasts a little longer for some people. I was a train wreck (mentally) for about 3 weeks after surgery. I was angry about not being able to eat, I was having dreams of eating and eating and eating and I was so afraid that I would never enjoy food again. Well, here I am almost 14 months out and I love my sleeve!!! I couldn't be happier with my decision...because it's changed my life!! I feel like I have a fairly "normal" relationship with food now...not that I'm perfect--I'm soooo not!!! But I don't think about food constantly anymore and even when I overeat, my sleeve keeps me in check. Most importantly, food is not the star of the show anymore....my life is!!!! You will eat again!!!....I promise!! This is the most difficult point right after surgery....but, it's going to get better!!!! Hang in there girl!!!!

WOW!!! You look FABULOUS!!! Congrats on your success!!!

It will absolutely get better!!! Walk, walk, walk....I cannot stress this enough. The more you walk, the better you will feel!!!! Just hang in there!!!!!!

Every surgeon has different requirements. My surgeon requires 10% weight loss before she will clear you for surgery. She wants to see committment as well as shrinking the liver. My first visit with her was late Jan 2011 and I didn't have surgery until Nov 2011. I had a really hard time losing the weight I needed to. My starting weight was 339 and I was 312 the day of surgery...27 pounds.

Most of us stall around the 3rd week....you may just be there a little early. Don't be discouraged...stalls are part of the process. Your body needs time to adjust before moving on. Hang in there....it's definitely a journey!!!!

Italian Christmas at my in-laws involves LOTS of homemade ravioli, or ravis, as they call them!! I ate 2 small meatballs, 1 ravi, 3 bites of salad and about an hour later I had 4 spritzer Cookies for dessert!! I probably ate a little too much but I wasn't stuffed to the point of feeling sick. So happy with my sleeve and what it does for me!! Last year, at 7 weeks out, I was only able to eat 1 meatball!! 2 years ago, I ate more food than I can even imagine eating now!!!

I'm not sure how I came across the subject, but I found a site where this surgeon came up with a way to test the pouch size of patients after gastric bypass. I figured that this particular test should work just as well for sleevers and, after a little more online research, I found that sleevers HAVE used the same test!!! So, I gave it a try. Here's how it works: The Cottage cheese Test Purchase a container of small curd low-fat cottage cheese. Begin the test with a full container of cottage cheese, and perform the test in the morning before eating anything else. This will be your Breakfast on that day. Eat fairly quickly until you feel satiated, but not overly full (less than five minutes). Note that the small soft curds do not require much chewing. You are eating rapidly so you will fill the pouch before there is time for any food to flow out of it. After eating your "fill" of cottage cheese, you will be left with a partially eaten container that has an empty space where cottage cheese used to be. Measure the volume of cottage cheese you have eaten by filling a two cup (16 fl.oz.) measuring cup with Water. Pour water into the container of cottage cheese until the water level rises to the original top level of the cottage cheese. The amount of water poured into the container is the functional size of your pouch. At one year out, my sleeve is holding almost 7 ounces. I was also reading that this same test can be done using egg salad if you can't stand cottage cheese. Just be sure to cut the eggs up into pieces similar in size to cottage cheese curds. Anyway...just wanted to post this since SO MANY people here ask about sleeve size on a daily basis!! Hope this helps!!

I had a very severe period of reflux about 6 months out. After seeing my surgeon, she ordered a barium swallow test which came back normal. She switched my PPI and upped the dosage and it eventually went away. Hopefully, your surgeon will get you on track to providing some relief.

This reminds me of last March. I was 4 months out and wanted to have a Shamrock shake so bad!! So I went to McDonald's and got one....brought it home....drank it in about 15 minutes and then proceeded to have an absolutely horrible episode of dumping!!! Needless to say, I haven't even THOUGHT about a shake (or ice cream for that matter) since!!!

Oh, and I absolutely agree with you on this!!! For about 6 months, I was not very active here and didn't even come on to the site. I find that when I'm here reading and responding to other people's experiences and struggles, it helps keep my focus!!!

I can relate!!! I'm a little over a year out, have about 45 lbs to goal and have hit a wall in terms of weight loss. Like you, I can't say that I'm super disappointed in myself because I've come so far in a year. But my food choices for the month of December have not been all that great and I know I need to get back on track!!! I get on the scale daily, not to obsess, but to keep myself honest. Well, I have just hovered over a 3 lb range for weeks now. And, I know, the only reason I haven't gained weight is because I exercise 6 days a week. I think I'm gonna do Lil Miss Diva's "Basics Boot Camp". Anyone wanna give it a try?

I'm over a year out and still have restriction...and hope that I always do!! I can pretty much eat whatever I want but there are some types of foods I don't tolerate well and I make it a point not to ever push my sleeve....I have no desire to stretch it out. I LOVE the restriction!!!

Studies have shown that nutrition plays a bigger part (like 85%) in actual weight loss than exercise...so, yes, you absolutely can lose weight without exercising. But in my own experience, I've discovered that my exercise habits have a direct impact on my nutrition habits!!! There is also a mental aspect for those of us who have struggles with weight loss/weight gain. Exercise is as good for your mental health as it is for you physically!!! I take one day off each week for rest and on those days, I don't have as much energy and I just feel kinda "blah" mentally.

WAY more energy!!! Being able to run up a flight of stairs effortlessly!! Increased metabolism (which means I don't have to worry about every little thing I eat) Helps you stay focused and on track Being able to do things that most people wouldn't even think of doing (triathlons!!)

Congrats and welcome to the loser's bench!!! Walk as much as possible!!!!....the more you walk, the better you'll feel!! I second the Gas X strips.

I know exactly what you mean about just wanting veggie soup!! I remember just wanting to eat a carrot!!! Your frustration is completely normal!!! I swear I was so cranky and angry about not being able to eat that I felt like I could kill somebody!! LOL Isopure is not the best tasting thing in the world. My surgeon MADE ME drink 4 bottles of it before I was allowed to leave the hospital, so once I got home, I nixed it from my diet!! What I ended up doing, was adding unflavored Isopure powder to my broth. I couldn't taste it at all and it kept the broth clear!! Have you tried SF hot chocolate (just mixed with water)?...and how about SF popsicles?...I think I went through a box of popsicles a day for the first 10 days!!! And even though, you're "supposed" to be getting your protein in...don't stress about it!! Your hydration is way more important right now and, in time, you'll be able to tolerate more and more. And you aren't failing just because you're having a hard time. This journey is THE HARDEST thing I've ever done but it's also been the BEST THING I've ever done. Like others have said, keep your eye on the prize!! It's going to get easier. And once you start eating regular food, you won't think about it so much....your relationship with food will change

Oh, and as far as losing your hair....it will grow back!! I had quite a bit of hair loss for about 4 months and then it stopped. By the time you start losing hair, you will have dropped a significant amount of weight and the trade off will be worth it!!!

Don't be so hard on yourself!!!....Everything will be okay!!! I think all of us have buyer's remorse at some point post op....this is normal!! Not being able to keep anything down and not being able to eat anything can be so frustrating, i know. You just need to hang in there!!! If you can keep broth down, then drink broth...it will help you stay hydrated. Can you tolerate any other Clear Liquids (i.e. Isopure, Water, SF popsicles)? In the first 10 days post op, I lived on these things. Also, you don't HAVE TO move to pureed foods exactly when you're "supposed" to. If you aren't ready for the next stage, then stay where you are. The first few weeks after surgery are the most difficult and, I promise, 6 months from now you will love your sleeve!!! Just hang in there and try and stay positive!!!

I'm almost 14 months out and STILL cannot tolerate salad....it's really the only thing I miss!!!

Unfortunately, psoriasis is a life long condition (I hate to call it a disease). I can actually tolerate it on my arms and legs....it's my scalp that just drives me nuts!!! When it's not under control I feel like I'm snowing all over....and I live in Southern CA!!!! I've finally found a combo that works well!!!....clobetasol/zinc spray (it's a compound) and Tarsum shampoo. I only use the spray a couple of times a week to keep myself clear and the Tarsum is a full strength coal tar shampoo that you apply about an hour before showering. It can be purchased for about $25 on Amazon. I only use it every other time I wash my hair.

I'm in CA and took a month off and got disability. I received the maximum weekly amount which was nowhere near my salary but at least it was something!!!