Lissa

I've found that I really like my chicken either grilled or boiled with a little Water and some spices. I also am a fan of salad dressings now in a way that I never was before! I keep some ranch, vidalia onion, and italian dressing in the fridge at all times. The italian dressing is great to use instead of oil to cook chicken. Egg Face says that the key to eating meat after WLS is moisture, and she's right. She makes tons of different sauces/dips for her meat and that inspired me to keep the dressings on hand. I also like yogurt (unflavored greek right now) because I can mix in seasonings if I want something "italian" or "mexican" flavoried. There are tons of pre-seasoned meats for sale in the freezer section, but I usually will read the ingredients to see how something is prepared and then try to re-create that item at home. I also buy frozen wings, legs and thighs and will cook one or two at a time because I find the serving sizes on most prepared frozen dinners are too big for me now. THAT's a huge change from pre-op when I felt like they were way too small! Oh, and I really love Beans now. They weren't my favorite before surgery, but now I'll throw some beans in the crockpot and eat them alone or with a small piece of meat for lunch or dinner. Yummy!! Each of us learns what works for us by trial and error, so don't be afraid to experiment.

Humph! Bragging Irene? I think you deserve to brag a bit! You'll get there!!!

broth saved me during the Clear liquids stage! Even my beloved hot tea tasted icky, so I tried the broth. It's kind of salty and when it's warm it goes down really easy on an uneasy tummy. You definitely need an acid reducer. Your doc should be more than happy to give you a new one if the one you're on isn't working. Good luck!! It does get better!!

I'm trying to figure out if I CAN do 100 sit ups a day. I know I'll be doing wall push-ups and my arms are already going WHOA!! Time to step up the game. BTW, I'm starting boot camp on Wednesday, too. Nothing but protein and water for 5 days, then strict to sleever rules after that. I'll be following Lil Miss Diva's plan!! I have a wedding to perform March 3 and I wanna look spicy for it!! I may not be hot, yet, but I'm getting there!!

Julie, You're doing great!! Keep rocking that sleeve!!!

The first three days of the liquid diet are the toughest, IMO. Once you're through that, usually your head and body are in sync and things get somewhat easier. Not that it's easy, by any means. Good luck to all of you!! It IS worth it.

I have the same symptoms if I don't take my B12 regularly. Not sure what you have available, but Walgreens and CVS usually have B1G1 sales on Vitamins. That's when/where I purchase mine. I have no idea on the tingling. Might be worth a quick call to your doctor, although it's probably nothing. Anytime you're worried about something, it's better to call and be sure rather than endure and have it be a problem later.

BTW, Mr J. I won't be offering to pass on any of my old clothes to you!

Susan, I just looked it up on google and amazon. The reviews on amazon are pretty bad, including a couple who said it broke very quickly. It's WAY cheaper on amazon, though, only about $8.

My doc actually recommends waiting 2-3 weeks.

Susan, It's a great town. Wish it was still little! I actually grew up in Ft Pierce and have lived in Okeechobee, Port St Lucie and now Vero. I'm here for the long haul, though. MrJ, you will LOVE Dr D and SRMC!! I was treated very well there and cannot say enough good about both the doc and the hospital. Many of the staff that took care of me (3 surgeries to have my VSG) have also had WLS with Dr D. ALL of them say he's awesome. I just had my post-op visit with him and was, as always, impressed that he takes all the time necessary to answer all my questions. Some of the questions I ask are "out there", but he's always calm and helpful!! Even though I have other health complications that made the surgery risky and recovery touch and go at times, he's been amazing about getting me through them. I didn't have any complications from my sleeve and have had no issues with that option. Also, there's a support group meeting every month on the 4th Tuesday at SRMC. You should attend sometime. Usually Dr Lynn Williams runs it, but she's been out the last couple of months. Personally, I think that's an improvement, but the group and it's members are great!!! Feel free to ask me any questions you like, either here or in PM.

Good luck to both of you!! Congrats on getting sleeved!!

Well, hello everyone! I missed this post until today. Like MrJ, I'm in Vero Beach. I haven't figured out how to change my profile location. I'm 45, 2 grown children and was sleeved Aug 30, 2011 by Dr Domkowski in Sebastian, FL. I'm halfway to goal!

Do your protein drinks include milk? If so, you may be lactose intolerant. A milk-based protein drink is how I discovered my lactose intolerance. Eggs are sometimes rough on our tummies, so that could be the culprit there. I'm assuming you are still on mushies. Have you tried refried beans or something else to see if you get the same reaction?

Ourborous, I'm betting that before pic isn't as bad as you think it is! I'm looking forward to seeing the after photos. Be sure to include some beefcake photos! Us ladies like those!! Hey, if I can post a pic of me in a dress that's cut down to there, you can post some beefcake!

My tastebuds changed drastically after surgery. I couldn't stand sweet anything for months. I'm sad to say that I like sweets again now, since about 4.5 months out. I also can't eat spicy food still. It's not my tastebuds; it's my sleeve that says no to that.

I'm 5 months out and I just had 2 eggs scrambled and two slices of a 6 oz sirloin, with leftovers for later. I didn't order a veggie because I had (gasp) a yogurt parfait instead! So, 2 oz of yogurt with a few crumbles, 2 eggs scrambled with cheese and about an ounce and a half of steak (it was kind of tough, so wasn't able to chew up the whole 2 oz portion).

I'd love to hear the information from/on these classes!

Congrats on being sleeved!! You are doing an awesome job and rocking your sleeve!! I think it's amazing that you realize that there is a head component to the surgery and you are doing something about it!!! Your daughter will realize that you did this for her and for you!! Keep doing what you're doing! Good luck on your journey!!

No, you are NOT a coward!! It takes bravery to have the surgery. It takes bravery to make the decision to improve your life, especially when you know that family members will be negative. Keep it to yourself until the results start showing and then announce it from the mountaintops if you like! Good luck on your journey!!

Thank you all for the compliments!!

Alexleni, What a great idea! I'll try it!

I used to say "Don't get between a fat girl and her food. It's dangerous". I was the one always making jokes about my weight while, inside, I was dying of embarrassment. I'm still big, but I don't make fat jokes anymore. It's not funny and, SOOON, I will be at a good, healthy weight. I feel so much more alive now than I did before!!!

Lucill, You have the answer right in your signature line: You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think... This journey requires us to believe in ourselves and to do the work required to get there, but OH, what a great feeling to finally start being successful. I'm 5 months post-op tomorrow and I've lost 81 pounds, so I'm halfway to goal. Yes, It's been pretty easy so far, but I do have to eat right and exercise to keep losing. I am amazed every day at my improved energy level and ability to move, bend, twist, get up and down off the floor, walk up and down stairs, in short...I have a new life and a new outlook on it. Yeah, sometimes I wonder if I'll ever actually reach my goal, but that thought soon flees when I think about how far I've come in only 5 months. Just before surgery, I was so sick and out of shape that I could barely walk from my front door to my car. Now I walk 2+ miles on the treadmill at a time, ride 6-8 miles on the exercise bike, lift weights, walk the length of the mall FOR FUN and, in general, am much more active! So, while I still sometimes wonder if I'll get to my goal weight, I have hope that it will happen. To misquote an 80's song: My future's so bright, I gotta wear shades![/font] Teri, you've lost 42 pounds in two months and Lucill has lost 111 pounds in a year. Those are AMAZING numbers and they show that both of you are rocking your sleeves! Even if neither of you believe it, *I* have faith that you will both reach your goals. Good luck!! :smile1:

Chrissy, I get what you mean about not wanting to throw up. I absolutely hate to vomit, even when I know it will make me feel better. One of my good friends had GB back in the 90's and she had horrible reflux problems. She's be eating and fine for a couple of bites, then one tiny bite too many and she'd be running for the bathroom. I thought that was disgusting and my exact thought was "I'd rather be fat then getting sick all the time". It was one of my real worries about having the sleeve cause I sure didn't want to be sliming or getting sick all the time. I was sleeved Aug 30, 2011 and have never slimed. I really work hard to under eat my sleeve, take small bites and chew very well. I also have been sure that I take a tiny bite of a new (after sleeve) food and let it sit for a few minutes before I try any more. That's how I found out I can't do very spicy food yet. I have vomitted once and that happened recently. I went to Carraba's with friends and we all shared a couple of appetizers. I even ate a small piece of their bread with olive oil and spices, yum! Right before we left, I took a quick sip of my drink because my mouth was dry. By the time we got to the car, I had to find a bush and be sick. Luckily, only the drink and bread came up (sorry, TMI?), but I learned that I REALLY cannot drink immediately after eating, especially if it's carbs. Don't be afraid of food. Once you're back on solids, make sure you try something new at least every few days, even if it's only 1 or 2 bites. Be adventurous so that you don't end up in a rut of only drinking Protein shakes or eating Protein Bars. You had this surgery to improve your life, so take advantage of the opportunities it will open for you! I know that right now you feel bad and you're probably frustrated by not being able to eat much and have very little variety. It will get better. May I say that I think you are very brave to seek therapy for food issues! I think it's even braver to admit that you know you need help and are asking for it! I believe that most obese people could use some therapy to deal with our food issues, but I think it's especially important for WLS surgery patients to deal with those issues to prevent regain. I'm sure you'll talk to your therapist about your fears about being sick as well. I hope that the therapist is well-versed in bariatric issues and can give you some real help there! Good luck and please stick around so we can watch your journey to a new you!!