Catracks

I add Torani syrups and SF Jello pudding powder or Jello powder to my shakes. I made a pistachio shake this morning. I use Max Protein.

I went to Goodwill and got 6 pairs of pants and two tops for under $50. They were Levis and good quality too! I also got into storage and found all kinds of size 16 and L shirts that fit me now. Me so happy.

I was glad that right when I got back to my room they gave me ice chips. I'd walk a lap and take a spoonful, walk another lap and take another spoonful. So much better than a mouth sponge. Walking won't hurt. It'll get rid of all that gas though.

I couldn't love without my Popsicles either

44I - Oh your poor, poor back and shoulders. I didn't know "i" existed. I'm with you. I would like to have my B cup back. What is it with men. TMI, but why would they need more than a handful?

Don't sweat it too much. You know, now that you can buy so many things online these days, you will still find plenty of things. For used clothing in addition to thrift stores, there is also Ebay. I'm convinced that anything can be found there.

So I took the advice and went to Goodwill last night. WHAT A GOLDMINE!!!!! You do have to search though. I got 6 pairs of pants and two sleeveless tops for under $50. There was 2 pairs of cargo pants, 3 pairs of Levi's 501s and one sort of olive drab denim Levi-like pants. It would have cost me a fortune. They are in varying sizes that I can't wear yet, but I was just looking for things I liked. The 501s are the 30" length I need. I hate to get pants shortened. The best news is that I went into storage and found a bunch of size 16 stuff: 2 blue jeans, 3 cargo pants (all with tags still on), one pair of white jeans and 15 tops. I also bagged up my size 18 pants, XL shirts and some shorts to go back to Goodwill. Good riddance size 18 stuff! I am a

No hair loss. I hit Onederland and size 16 last weekend. I celebrated by going to Disneyland!

True, but I never minded if jackets were somewhat oversized, especially the warm ones. Not the most flattering when it comes to sweatshirt zipup hoodies though. I'm wearing one that I used to struggle to get zipped at the bottom. It is too big now.

What great responses! I do have a lot of clothes that I put in vacuum bags. I think I should get them down and sort them into sizes. I put them all away just hoping I could wear them again. I have some really cool old stuff that never really goes out of style. Depend on how many size 16s and 14s I have, I will make that trip to Goodwill. They have enough of my stuff, I should take some of their stuff off their hands. Just remembered. I bought the cool A&F olive bomber jacket with faux fur collar. Jennifer Anistan wore one and everybody just had to have one. I don't care about her much, but I got the jacket on Ebay and it's a junior large. I wonder ...

Like you I was a 32/34B. At this point I don't care if I have skin bags as long as I can stuff them into a swimsuit, truss them up and fake it, I'm fine. I do notice that even now they are pretty deflated, but like I said, they seem to be fine when compressed LOL, I keep thinking of myself like the old National Geographic pictures of the woman with tube boobs. BTW, I am simply terrified of plastics. I'm not going there.

Sometime the appetizers will be healthy. If it's a chain place then yes, you will have a choice of spinach and artichoke dip, buffalo wings, chicken tenders, sliders, jalapeno poppers and fried cheese. Children's menus are chicken fingers, hamburger, hot dog. macaroni and cheese and spaghetti. Sometimes it's better to order senior meals if they have them or order ala carte. It depends on my mood. If I want something different than the family I will order my own. Sometimes I eat off their plates and sometimes a combination of the two. They are so pleased to see me doing so well that sharing food doesn't bother them. Actually it never has, but they are actually giving me little tidbits without me asking and saying things like: "This is good Protein. Here, have some of this ..."

Wow! Just like a military jump (stand by for military flights) where an officer or their spouse can bump you off. Now rank does have it's privileges in some cases, this should be forbidden in medicine.

Thanks. I know you didn't mean to push it, but sometimes nutritionists seem to be pushing at times. The mostly protein, veg and fruit and then good carbs (high protein bread/crackers) seems to be working for me. Glad we have you folks that have met or exceeded goals here to give us the benefit of your experiences. Hope you all stay for years to come so we can squash the idea that there are no long term examples of successful sleeve patients.

That is just scary control over a person. People have NO Business obsessing over YOUR food. Even family IMHO. Good for you.

Definitely worth it. I eat all kinds of good food now. There is so little room I do not waste my time on junk. I'm a bit of a Protein junky now. Even the crackers and bread I eat have at least 10 grams a serving or I don't even go there. The liquid phase will soon be over and a bit of refrieds or mashed potato will be like Nirvana. 4-wheeling huh? We have two 4WD and motorcycles. Fun!

No regrets unless I regret almost 50 pounds lost in two months, blood pressure normal, sleep apnea gone, cholesterol normal, blood sugar normal and the complete inability to overeat. I suppose I could gain weight if I shoved soft serve ice cream down my throat, but I have no inclination to do so.

I'm where you are I believe. It's a minor irritant when I am eating good food and I have to stop, but once I am full, I have no trouble stopping. I just try to eat really slow so I don't have to sit there. The times where I have been sick with restaurant food is when I eat too much or too fast OR the food is too rich. I ate some Spanish sheeps milk blue cheese last night that kind of sent old sleevie into overdrive. That was some rich and STRONG stuff! Yes, the fact that I can eat delicious food and I just do not have the ability to overeat anymore makes me want to cheer.

How are you doing with the popcorn? I miss it, but everybody has a dire warning that you should wait 6 months. I eat nuts and seeds and everything else under the sun. Just wondering if there is anyone out there that caused a leak or abscess caused by popcorn roughage.

The sleeve won't stretch, but that is sure a lot of calories. It's true they told me only to count Protein and keep the carbs down, but that would stall my weight loss I think. I am eating quite a lot of very good food and only managing 600-800 calories and I am 8 weeks out or so. I'd have to literally eat butter if I wanted to get to 1300 calories. There is just no room in my sleeve for 1300 calories of healthy foods. Don't push it. Eating too much makes me sick - I mean really physically sick.

My backyard. My husband and I have worked hard to make it a little oasis. We don't have a pool or anything fancy, we just worked on the landscaping ourselves and have two Water features, fruit trees, rock and drought tolerant gardens, dry stream beds, herbs and other edibles, a large chicken coop, etc. My other place is on the back of a good horse.

Sara, I think you nailed it.

Onederland!!!!! 198.9!!!!

I started out as probably a size 20 as I was literally squeezing in 18s. Now almost 50 pounds lighter I am in 16s - sort of. OI have a pair of 16 Lee Jeans that are too big. I have a pair of size 18 Liz Claiborne that are almost falling off, but a pair of Levi's 550 relaxed size 18s that don't like my lower stomach. The waist is too big, but the hips are too tight. Am I an 18 or a 16 or a 14 or what? I'm about to hit onderland. Do the sizes go down faster over there on the other side?

40 grams in the clear ones. Debly, I am a TOTAL foodie. Do you know what I had for dinner? Homemade crab cake and just a few purple, red and white roasted potato slices with onions. You can eat the very best food, just not much of it. the sleeve won't allow it. I eat ribs, ribeye steak, scallops, grilled salmon, pulled pork, tarragon chicken, cheeses, all kinds of things. The only thing I really had to give up was regular bread and Pasta. There are alternatives for that stuff. Oh yeah, and popcorn. My surgeon says 6 months. I can do that. What's the rush? When people complain about not liking food and of hating the protein shakes are not doing it right. Go to: theworldaccordingtoeggface.com and look at her recipes. She is a bypass patient that was 5'2" and 350 pounds. She now wears a size four. Her recipes are incredible and there are a lot more things out there on the internet. All you have to remember is protein first and to not eat too fast or overeat. The point of the sleeve is so we can eat like normal thin people do. It doesn't mean you can never taste pie again down the road. It means that you have a bite or two and savor it. Then you can walk away. It's normal to be scared, but just don't fall into the trap that you should be depressed about not being able to scarf down at a buffet. What you will be able to do is wear nice clothes, ride a horse, wear a bathing suit, hike, walk, run, skip, feel good ...