Lissa

Getting that reaction from your son is amazing in and of itself!! You go girl!! I know you're rocking your sleeve and working hard for it!!

SF popsicles are my go to for sweet cravings. There's also a recipe for Protein ice cream that's pretty yummy! You do need to de-sugar yourself for the best weight loss... and getting rid of the simple sugars will help remove the cravings. I think that's part of the point of the pre-op and post-op liquid diet, to give us a chance to change our eating habits. Good luck! (Says she who ate 3 spoonfuls of real ice cream at a friend's house tonight and is now craving junk!)

Potassium helps. It's an old wives tale, but put an unwrapped bar of soap under the foot of your mattress. It really helps. Lissa

B12 makes a huge difference for me in my energy and mental alertness levels. I take 500mcg daily.

I remember those noises! LOL They do get better with time.

Keep going back to your surgeon until they find and fix your problem. There has to be something they can do for you!!!

I knew there was a reason I liked you on sight, Patrick!

70 pounds in 7 months is fantastic! And, you are beautiful, both before and after!! Don't let the skin worry you. Since you're young, most of it will reabsorb! I wish I looked as good as you do after two kids!

I had your complications pre-op! Except for passing out, I never did that one! I took Coumadin for almost a year and it's a nasty little drug. I feel for you! Get well soon... and you'll soon be on the way to much better health!

Great job! Keep rocking your sleeve!!

Great idea! How nice!!

I drank egg drop soup during my clear liquids phase, leaving the solids in the cup. It's pretty high in sodium, but it was a welcome change from the protein shakes.

I totally understand the knee problems! I could barely walk myself pre-op and used a cane regularly to help cope with the knee pain from RA and old injuries. I just gave my cane away to someone who needs it more than me! Even if you just start with the other changes I suggested, it will help. As you take some of the weight off that knee, you'll be able to do more. I'm now up to riding the recumbent bike or doing the elliptical for a minimum of half an hour daily... and I can walk, climb, and run awkwardly (lol) without pain. I know I'll never be a runner, but it's nice to be able to walk without my knee hurting constantly!

Congrats! That's a wonderful health victory!!

Well, one small change you can make now is to start adding exercise into your routine. I'm not talking about going out, joining a gym and becoming a competitive bodybuilder. Add 5 minutes of walking to your daily routine, even if it's just a little extra walking inside the house. Next week, make it 10 minutes, add 5 minutes a week until you're up to 30 minutes a day. Start using 2 pound weights to get in a little arm exercise. Do 10 repetitions each of biceps curls, triceps kick backs, etc. Add reps as those become easier. Work on chewing your food 30 times before you swallow each bite and learn not to drink with meals. Wait 30 minutes after drinking to eat, then wait 30 minutes after eating to drink. Make sure you're drinking 64 oz of Water daily. Eliminate sugar, white bread and junk food from your diet. Little changes will add up to significant losses and get you in better shape towards having your surgery.

That's awesome!!

Awesome!!!

Elyse, 128 pounds? I'm bowing to you! that's fantastic!!! I know it's frustrating when the scale isn't moving, but maybe you were at this weight for a while on the way up. It only makes sense you'd hang there for a bit on the way down! Good luck, and don't be a stranger!

Actually, your signature ticker IS showing on the online forum! Congrats on your success so far and welcome to the loser's bench!

I believe the consensus in the Man's Room was that there is a limit to how much length men gain.

Hoping by now you've got your positive answer. Good luck!!

I'd give it a 20 on a scale of 1-10. I gambled with my life and rolled a winner (so far)! I was given less than a year to live because of co-morbidities just about a year ago. I think I may just outlive that prediction if the Lord is willing and the creek don't rise.

Glad to hear from you!!

Pinky, I can eat almost anything at this point. My "meal plan" consists of 70 grams of Protein per day and 64 oz of Water. I eat foods that help me reach that target. Breakfast is usually a Protein Bar and a mini babybel. lunch can be anything. I go in phases, today I had some chicken wings cooked in the toaster oven, about 5 IIRC. dinner, I haven't thought about yet. I usually do some lunch meat rolled up with cheese or I'll eat some version of a frozen entree like chicken or shrimp. I do a lot of stir fry with chicken or steak fajita meat and a little bit of frozen veggies. And, I'm constantly drinking water, decaf tea, etc. Work on your water. You need it more than protein early post-op. Getting dehydrated is a much bigger danger than malnourished right now. To stay on topic, I'm kegeling!

I'm LOL here Cleo. You must be new here. I've become a gym rat since surgery! I take everything out on the elliptical, weights or recumbent bike these days! My other addiction is this forum!