Lissa

Congrats and good luck to you both!!

Mine is zero, at least for the Century Club. Congrats on being so close!!

One of the reasons I've refused to believe in good food/bad food on my whole journey is because of the thinking you're going through right now. It's okay to miss foods that you loved before; it's even normal to miss those foods. But don't get hung up on thinking you can never have it again. That's a surefire way to end up with bigger mental issues over food. Once you're back on solids, and you're very close, most of that thought process will go away. Or, sleevie will make it go away. Some things I loved pre-op don't sit well now. I don't drink milk or eat cottage cheese. My sleeve also doesn't like very spicy foods. It is what it is. As I've progressed, most of my cravings have gone away. I don't eat bread, Pasta, or potatoes, except for a bite of mashed here and there. For me, those foods fill me up too quickly and make it hard for me to drink even after 30 minutes, so I avoid them. Good luck! The cravings will lessen as you get farther out from surgery.

My personal favorite tactic is to say "No thanks. I'm not hungry" and I keep repeating it until the person who is trying to force food on me gives up. I nearly gave in to lemon cheesecake today, though. That one was tough.

Yay!! It IS the little things that count!

Nanny, If you weren't scared you wouldn't be normal. Everyone goes through the same thought process. As for cooking for the family, you can have the same things once you're cleared for mushies (puree your food) and back on regular food. So, you won't be able to eat the exact same meal for a few weeks. That's not a HUGE deal in the scheme of things and it isn't for very long. Post op hunger is very different from what you experience now. It's not that gnawing sensation that screams at you. After surgery, mine was more a "hmmm, I could eat" kind of thing and my acid reducer even takes care of that. Do NOT psyche yourself out now. The liquid diet before and post op diet are not lifetime changes, but losing the weight IS a lifetime change. You will be so happy that you took off this weight now and get to spend more time with your family!

You can remove a lot of the sodium by asking for no sauce on Taco Bell's refried beans. Then ask for a packet of sauce and put your own on there if you like it. Those beans were my first mushy food! Yummmmmmmm

The very few people who have made negative comments to me soon regretted their words. Especially since one of them was the obese aunt who has had 20 different surgeries because of her diabetes. She made a snide remark about me to another aunt and the second aunt told the obese aunt "Well, how's YOUR diet and exercise plan working for you? Lissa had ONE surgery to your 20!" It seems that it's always the person who has the least "right" to say something negative who does come out with the cutting remarks... and that tells me that their remark is based in jealousy. I'm VERY open, as many here know, about my surgery and about my journey. If someone else doesn't like it or wants to be negative, they can be negative somewhere else.

Nancy, Working out IS fun!! Even when I'm sweating and feeling like I'm gonna die, I make myself think about things like how good my arms and thighs (and butt) are looking and how much better they are GOING to look once I've done a few more workouts! THAT is motivating to me!!!

I understand why you want to wait, and I think your surgeon would as well. If you're going to delay the start by a day, try to eat as clean as you can. Avoid high fat, high carb and sugary foods. I'm sorry to hear about the death in your family!

Wow!! What a nightmare and it is amazing that you have survived this ordeal!! Are you suing that doctor for malpractice? You don't have to answer that in an open forum, but you should be suing him!! I know that you're looking forward to June 12 with hope and with trepidation! I will pray that everything goes well for you and that your sleeve turns out to be everything you were promised that the lap band would be.

Those are all great NSVs!! You're rocking that sleeve already!!

I need to do this again. Maybe thats what I should be doing this afternoon instead of sitting around on the computer.

Great job!! You've also lost almost half your weight already!! That's wonderful!!

So, you've proven that you're "Normal". Now, since you know you shouldn't have done that, you have to make the change. Was it worth the guilt you're feeling right now? I'm saying No. Look for some SF alternatives to keep at home so that you aren't tempted to slip again. You'll use them up during the pre and post op diet, so they won't go to waste either way. This journey is tough and the amount of head work required is huge. No matter what the docs do to our tummies, though, we have to do the mental part. I, like PEvette, have enlisted a therapist to help me do all of this. It's not easy, but it is worth it!

I'm not going to fuss at either one of you. I've eaten a McD's cheeseburger (no bun) and, on a different day, a taco bell taco with the shell. Of the two, I prefer the taco. I drive a lot for my job and sometimes fast food seems like the only option. I've noticed that most fast food isn't appealing to me anymore. I literally find myself standing in front of the menu trying to figure out how to get a decent Protein out of one of their foods. I know grilled chicken and salads are lots of folks' go to, but some of those "grilled chicken" salads have as many calories as a big mac! I'm not willing to invest 800 calories to eat some chicken and bland lettuce. Wendy's chili is usually my go to if I must do fast food. I prefer to keep a Protein Bar in my purse and have that if I'm out at mealtime than to eat at almost any other fast food place, though.

Good luck!! It does sound like you've got tons on your plate, but at least you can find the silver lining in it all! (((Hugs)))

I understand what you're saying. I can't seem to get my head to look at clothes that I "think" are too small. It's getting frustrating because I have to try on 2 or 3 sizes to find one that isn't hanging off me! But, I say we should enjoy this dilemma!!

I think you need to call your doctor and insist on a physical exam. Throwing up bile is not normal.

Great Job!! You can definitely see the differences!! Keep rocking that sleeve!!

Carrie, When were you sleeved?

That is a great attitude, Toyier! I can't wait to see your journey!! Good luck!!!

Yeah, it's pretty normal for your tummy to rebel a little. The swelling is going down and nerves are coming back "online", so you're healing! The bad news is that now your sleeve is going to be picky about dealing with heat or cold. Try changing up the temp of what you're drinking. Try hot, warm and cold drinks to see which goes down easiest. Try changing the consistency as well. Soup, broth, Water, just a little thicker or thinner may work better too. Good luck!

Joni, Look in the coffee flavorings or over by the drink mixes (tea, mio drops, crystal light). I've found them in both places before.

It took my quite a while to find a Protein drink I "tolerate" well. I'm getting used to them because they are a somewhat necessary evil. I learned to make protein ice cream right here on VST and that's really good, especially now that it's getting warmer. I also still eat a Protein Bar several times a week for Breakfast. My breakthrough came when I realized that I'm not all that interested in food for it's taste anymore. I usually think of food as either protein or not protein and eat accordingly. There are notable exceptions (cheetos), but most food is just fuel these days. You can do a lot with Protein drinks and powders, too. If you don't like them as a shake, try adding them to pudding or protein ice cream. The World According to Eggface is a great blog! She has tons of recipes for food and drinks that are high protein. She's an RnY girl, but her recipes are great for all of us.