Catracks

Absolutely anytime. I am almost 5 months out and last month I stalled but good. Just broke it, but I had to re figure my nutritional goals and take in less carbs, cut the sugar and exercise more. You'd think taking in less that 800 calories would do it alone. Nope! There is lots of advice in the archives about stalls.

What "clk" said!!!! 2,000 or 1800 is way too high for a sleever to loose. We who have yo-yoed or have become obese do not have the same calorie deficit formula. The sleeve cannot stretch all that much so you must be eating a lot of slider foods. It doesn't take much: a little Peanut Butter there, some mayo here, a few crackers there. I suggest using My Fitness Pal and documenting everything you put into your mouth. Eat dense, lean Protein first and then some good veggies if there is room. Cut the carbs way back. I don't eat over 40 grams a day. Go to The World According to Eggface for some great recipes. Substitute Greek yogurt for mayo and sour cream. You can add anything to flavor unflavored Greek yogurt (blue cheese, caramelized onions, spices, horseradish, a little avocado, SF Torani syrups, etc.) There are all kinds of tricks. Most important: Cut out the simple sugar. If you cannot limit yourself to tiny amounts of dark chocolate (and I mean tiny), do not touch it. If you cannot limit the crackers, get rid of them and substitute cucumber slices. We are like alcoholics in some ways and sometimes total abstinence is the only way to cope. You have the tool. All you need to do is pick it up and use it. I like the idea of going back to like you've just had surgery and doing the Protein shake thing. Again, go to Eggface. I learned how to make protein shake from her and they are so good that I actually look forward to them When I occasionally have one. You both do look pretty darn good! I see a thinner person in there too and there is no reason why you cannot reach your goal.

I am using the tightest hooks for the circumference and have had to slide the shoulder straps the shortest they can go. I can go down a cup size probably. Yesterday I tried on a size large bikini top (it must be juniors because it's Roxy). It fit more or less, but I have to make sure I'm all tucked in what with all the lose skin. I have 40+ pounds to go depending on if I revise my final goal. When I started I was sure I was not going anywhere near plastics. now I'm not so sure.

I wish I could find the article, but there is an absolute truth that the bodies of people who have yo-yoed their weights have to eat much less that a person who has always maintain the same weight even though they both weigh say 150 pounds. I think we have triggered our bodies to be famine resistant. It's weird, but I think we would be most able to survive and function well in a state of food deprivation. I need to find that thread about the poor woman who found out she was barred from the military for having WLS. I think we actually better able to function in the field. Bypass patients not so much because of the malabsorbtion and absolute need for supplements. I am actually getting enough from food and could stop my multi. There is also glycogen storage, Water storage in sore muscles and hormone fluctuations to deal with. You would think our bodies would be dropping like crazy constantly. It's not so simple. I have broken the last stall and it lasted for a MONTH!!!! I did nothing but cut the carbs below 40 grams and made sure I exercised every day. It's weird. I think you just have to confuse your body. Reminds me of an old Monty Python sketch about an overly complacent cat. It was called "Confuse a Cat Limited" and they did terribly silly things to get a reaction out of a cat. SO: CONFUSE THE BODY!!!!

That is too funny!

This is totally huge right? My blood work came out normal after only one month. Before that, I was a real sick puppy. Congratulations!

Genie bras huh? I'm wearing a bra that is a little big because I really can't replace them right now. I have sports bras, but they tend to mash the boobies together in a weird way. Mine are sad and droopy like deflated balloons right now. The extra skin is starting to irk me.

I don't drink it in huge quantities, but I have coffee occasionally with no problems. Everyone is different.

As soon as I got the go-ahead for solids at week 7. No troubles.

I have always used 2% milk or half milk/half coffee. I make really good protein shakes and still drink them occasionally at 4.5 months out. I couldn't make a decent shake with water.

I like both the Baby Bell and the Laughing cow wedges.

I try to stay under 40 exercise or not.

Mostly I am not that hungry unless I work out super hard (mountain hiking, etc.). Even then I can only eat a few ounces of food. I still have the head hunger, but I replace bad food choices with healthy ones. The aim is to eat Protein first always. After that there is not much room for anything else.

I just had some refried Beans with ground beef, avocado and a bit of cheese. i used a few Trader Joe's blue corn tortilla chips to scoop it up with. That was lunch. I usually eat something healthier, but that wasn't so bad. I came back from a ride and was hungry! Calories:232 Carbs: 17 Fat: 12 Protein: 15

I have just about every flavor of SF Torani syrup. You can buy all the flavors on their website of Cost Plus World Market carries a large variety.

Pannilectomies can be covered by insurance. This is only for the removal of skin that hangs from the lower stomach and it does not include a tummy tuck (tightening of muscles in upper abdomen). Keep exercising, taking care of your skin and getting all your Water. Work on what you can work on now and don't worry so much about later. Our goal now is to get to goal and maintain it. You shouldn't get plastics until then anyway right? The insurance demands that you maintain your goal at a normal BMI for 6 months. I think Kaiser is below 30 BMI, but IMHO. that is too high.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1kot37XxE8&feature=youtu.be Here it is. I live in Los Angeles and I think I just need a pannilectomy and will try to get insurance to pay for it. I want to see if I can use Dr. Katzen. We should all be working to make most of these procedures covered after massive weight loss. You all know as well as I that this is a medical issue.

Make these: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2009/06/its-national-donut-day.html

I just read something interesting about PPIs and the effects on acid production and digestion. I haven't needed a PPI so I didn't take any. I don't have or have never had GERD. I do not trust most meds. There are more side effects than good with them. One to look at in the short term is the lack of stomach acid to digest Proteins. You get little benefit unless they are digested properly.The long term effects are when you stop taking them the stomach produces even more acid than you did before you started taking them. Who wants to maintain that regimen for life? http://www.health.ha...e-effects.shtml

I take my Vitamins throughout the day. I have three chewable multi and 2 Calcium chews (love them!) and a weekly b-12. I take the multi-vitamins with my meals and the calcium in between. Sounds like you take a lot., Why so many and all at once?

Surprising about the MREs. I have one of the cheese packets. Not a bad protein count. You could also try to get the MREs with the meat Entrees. I wonder if they stopped the ham? We were the first units to get the MREs in the 80s. Up until then it was Vietnam era C-rats. YUCK. High protein is always best, but it is not imperative that a strict high protein diet be followed while in the field. I think the training would kick the butt of any carbs you ingested. As for the lack of water, we sleevers need hydration as much as any other person and are no different one we are healed except for the stomach capacity for solid foods.

I used these: http://www.amazon.com/Natures-Best-Isopure-Zero-drinks/dp/B0012NZ9U0 You can get your liquid and your Protein in one drink. Each bottle has 40 grams of protein. I drank two a day. Basically you just have to suck it up for awhile. Things get better as you introduce more solid foods.

I skipped the morphine all together. The morphine makes me sick and since I was not in any pain, but only discomfort from the gas I stopped hitting the pump after hitting it one in recovery. It made me do nothing but sleep and they kept demanding that I stay awake. 'sides, your bowels will move better without the narcotics. So will you.

Three months of nothing but Protein shakes would plug you up, but good. I don't think it's nutritionally sound. Your body really needs to process what it was made to eat and the protein shakes are a broken down form. Vitamins and supplements are not near as good as food. That said, I occasionally drink a Protein shake when I am in a hurry or just feel like it. I can make some that are as good as shakes or better. I told my nutritionist that I occasionally have one and she asked my why I'm still supplementing. I had to tell her that I just liked them once in a while. I think the goal is to ease into regular food by phases. I had 2 weeks clear liquid, 2 weeks full liquid, 2 weeks mushy and then regular foods. You do need to learn how to eat correctly. Ha, just saw this. Our post surgery diets were the same and we got the same reaction from our nutritionists. I do believe they are right, but I also think an occasion Protein Drink is fine.

"Bariatric surgery represents a major and permanent change in your digestive system that requires strict adherence to a specific dietary regimen that may interfere with operational deployment. A history of bariatric surgery is already a bar to military service and receiving bariatric surgery while on active duty may be grounds for separation. For more information, view the Health Affairs Policy 07-006." I would appeal if possible. We are not gastric bypass patients and do not require a specific dietary regimen due to malabsorbtion. During the weight loss phase, a high Protein diet is needed, but in maintenance I don't think this is always the case. Small, normal meals should do. This is no different than any overweight soldier on a prescribed diet. They should be eating high protein as well and is possible in the field. We have no problem drinking and staying hydrated. The military needs to review the Gastric Sleeve. That said, a contract nurse or VA nurse would be a most admirable choice. I am really impressed on your wish to join the military. When a lot of this country seems to be going to the dogs, there are young people like you, my younger brother and my friend's sons and daughters who honorably serve and yearn to serve. Thank you Bnorms!!!