Catracks

Hit the search function for "stall" or "3rd week stall" or a variation thereof. It happened to all of us and has been discussed almost to death LOL!

At one year out I still do not eat the pizza crust. I eat the topping off 1 piece and have a bite of the hard toasty part of the crust. I don't eat the doughy part. White flour breads/doughs are not on my menu.

Right after the surgery I really had no appetite. A little later it was mostly head hunger. Sometimes I just ate because it was about time to. Now after a year, I can tell you that I do not experience the ravenous hunger that I used to. I think what I feel now is the normal "I think I need a bite to eat."

This is the one I have: http://secure.laptop...2-BERRY&eq=&Tp= I've been using it for a year now and it has held up perfectly. It's also about $20 cheaper now. Like I said, this is perfect for breakfast, lunch and a snack. I will fill one of the larger containers with some kind of meat, the other large one will hold a salad or vegetables. The smaller container will hold a serving of Greek yogurt with a bit of sliced almonds and the other small one will hold a serving of cheese. If I want crackers with the cheese I will throw in a ziplock with about 6 small crackers that I get from Trader Joes that are high Fiber and high Protein like their rosemary raisin crisps or 12 grain crackers. The tiny 2 tbs container will hold dressing or dip if I want it. I change things out. If I want to up my protein I will fill one larger container with meat and the other with shrimp and put my veggies in the smaller one in place of the cheese. Bento boxes are fun and keep you honest

That's probably one of the reason they make you wait a year or more. I know my body readjusts itself. I have lost a pant size without losing weight at all. I just thought the finger skin (yes, elephant knees is the perfect descriptor) was too funny. I'm glad that I'm not vain. It's just that the lower stomach show with tight, thin dresses. I hate shapewear. Even the bras I wear are the really comfortable ones. My daughter tries to get me to wear Victoria Secret contrations, but I cannot tolerate them.

When the weight loss was at its peak I could lose a pound a day. I didn't care if it was Water or fat or last night's dinner. If I lost a pound and it stayed gone then it was all good! 9 pounds in a week is great. You will stall though, but it's just your body recalibrating. Don't let it get you down..

I love the beach too, but I've seen those 360 degree things. I don't think I can do it.

I bought two hams this year because it keeps well and I can use every last bit of it. I get off all the non fatty meat I can reach and then toss the rest with the bone, some navy Beans, chicken stock, celery, carrots, onion and garlic into a stock pot. The fat renders out into the soup and the rest of the meat falls off the bone. Good stuff! I HATE lima, kidney and garbanzo beans. It's great northern, navy beans, lentils, pintos or nothin'

I catalog books so I type all day. I can pull up a ridge all along my finger. I wonder If I dehydrated. It kind of stays there for a bit. Oh well. My calves have always been rock hard, musceled and on the larger size. I can just get into boots with a 15" circumference. My forearms are fine and my neck and face is pretty good. I wonder if any of it eventually tones up a little. "Melted candle." LMAO! Grammy, we have been running about neck and neck since the beginning.

Definitely a snack for later after you have fully healed and like Cheri says, stay away from microwave and movie theater popcorn. I pop mine in a little olive oil on the stovetop. I hate air popped. It's flavorless to me even with the seasoning. Nothing for it to stick to. I even tried coconut oil a few times. Not too bad. I don't tend to gain with popcorn. If I have gotten in all my Protein in for the day sometimes I will do popcorn for dinner. Yeah, I could choose something healthier, but I eat pretty healthy on the whole. Stacy, you know it's funny, but even with my Iron sleeve, I cannot really tolerate hamburger. A couple bites of ground beef and I am done.

Lissa, is there any way you can treat the gallbladder without surgery? I know there are non-surgical methods: http://www.everydayhealth.com/gallbladder/non-surgical-treatments-for-gallstones.aspx My gallbladder is full of stones, but I have no symptoms. Wonder why that is?

I measure, weigh and pack my food the night before. I use one of those bento boxes and it holds Breakfast lunch and a snack perfectly. Keep food away from your desk except for what you have packed. I tend to eat what I've pack slowly throughout the day instead of setting aside a "lunch hour." When I feel liker it I grab a piece of meat or a piece of cheese here and there. My sleeve does better with this method. If I eat all at once I get a full feeling I do not like. That's just me. I can't overeat this way because everything has been measured.

If you have a Trader Joe's near you they sell wonder 82% Belgian dark chocolate and is it ever cheep. I have a few squares with some almonds and coffee. It's heaven!

BRAVO!!! This is what we are trying to accomplish. Besides the immediate danger, the OP is setting herself up by continuing her normal "I crave it so I'm going to have it" habit. Not only are these months for healing, they are for completely changing you eating habits and your issues with food. It's a training period for when most people just really do not feel like eating normal foods anyway. Maybe we should have a pinned DO and DO NOT list posted and pinned like: DO follow your surgeons post-surgery diet to the letter DO eat Protein first and fill in the edges with a little healthy carbs like veggies and Quinoa. DO take your Vitamins, minerals and Calcium daily DO exercise when you get cleared DO drink all your water/fluids DO NOT eat popcorn or nuts until cleared to do so. DO NOT eat until you feel sick or hurt. DO NOT drink alcohol until cleared to do so and then WATCH IT. Cross additions are common and alcohol has tons of calories. DO NOT eat nutritionally devoid high calorie foods such as white flour, white rice, high sugar, etc. DO NOT eat highly processed foods. The last two are debated by some people, but as a rule I follow the last 3 except for very special occasions.

I'm a little tired of the "Stop judging me" line. Supportive means setting someone straight when they've messed up. The OP must not know the dangers. She knows that her choices were unhealthy, but it seems like she didn't know that they are potentially dangerous. If the poster is like me, she needs to practice abstinence. I could not do the everything in moderation bit. It's dangerous and gets out of hand. This may be her last chance to get healthy and I'm willing to risk scaring her. We are not saying she is a bad person. We are saying she did a bonehead thing. Nothing wrong with that.

What worked for me was taking myself completely out of situations where the wrongs foods were available. I wouldn't even go to fast food places - even for the kids. You don't need it and neither do they. I haven't had fast food for a year except for (funny as it sounds) Chick Filet. I got an order of the grilled chicken nuggets. Not too bad, but the sodium was through the roof. Just don't even go there. Keep junk food out of the house. You don't need it and neither do the kids. If they have to indulge, let them do it out of the house and away from you. It's not depriving them. it might save them misery down the line. Besides, you are the adult. There are ways. When I was allowed to eat solid food I would eat the cheese and topping off one slice of pizza and take a nibble or two of the crust. When we went out to eat, I would eat Protein until full and maybe have a bite of baked potato. Early on, get the Soup and sip the broth. I cheated a bit while on Clear Liquids. I mushed up some fish in some mashed and gravy. I could only eat two bites. I went straight back to my Isopure. Just remember to stick to things that are good for you. Staying on the restricted clear and full liquids will help you heal and the weight will fall off. Just make sure to get your protein and fluids. I do have to say that popcorn was a bad move. Many aren't even allowed popcoirn for several months post surgery. It's hard to digest and the kernels can get trapped in the suture line I've heard. Don't go to the movies until you can bring in your own healthy Snacks and be able to walk by the refreshment counter without a twitch.

I like my mocha protein shake or flavored Greek yogurt with a sprinkle of sliced almonds. 1 egg with a little cheese and hot chili pepper and onions on 1 slice of thin Roman Meal bread is good too.

Your menu and recipes sound so wonderful. I just wanted to say that you are far better off health wise to use butter instead of margarine. Margarine is full of hydrogenated oils to make it solid. The oils I use the most are Olive, coconut and butter. I also use lard and even duck fat. Animal and saturated fats are not the enemy. Transfats, cheap vegetable oils, margarine and white refined flours are. I know it sounds like I'm lecturing and I don't mean to. It's just that this was such a revelation to me.

1/2 of a pork and beef tamale, 1-2 oz of ham, a small scoop of homemade au gratin potatoes, 1/4 Italian sausage, 1 tiny scoop of my aunt's macaroni salad (she uses olive oil), 1/2 of a manicotti, a sliver of pecan pie and a snowball cookie. I had a little bit of everything and was very happy. I am 1 year out.

Go here: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2007/06/my-favorite-protein-shake-recipes.html I use these recipes and these shakes taste so good that I actually look forward to them. During the summer I use them in my soft serve maker for Protein ice cream. The Protein powder I use is SEI Max Protein. The vanilla and the chocolate is a good base for anything. I use 2% milk. In the mocha ones I use 6 oz. of coffee and 2 oz. of 2% milk.

I was sleeved on January 11th so I went on my liquid diet the day after Christmas. I was hard with all the Christmas food still around and New Year's coming up. Keep this in mind though: This time next year if you will be a brand new person. I am just about at goal and am very happy with how I look. I can wear clothes with some style now and wear those cute equestrian style boots that are so popular.

Yep, the last 20 are a killer for me. Granted, I have been off the wagon for the last few days. I seem to be able to maintain well. I just cannot break 145.

I will be at one year on January 11th. There is still restriction, but I think I can eat about 8 oz. (1 cup) at a time. Way less if it's very dense Protein. It's plenty for me. I certainly do not eat 1800 calories. That is WAY too much for my 5'1" frame. I am still around 800 and will raise it maybe to 1000-1200 on maintenance. I will have to find that sweat spot where I can maintain.

Personally I would dump the Slimfast (there is not enough protein in there) and make your shakes with Max Pro or Click or some other whey isolate Protein powder. I would also dump the protein bars and eat more fish and shellfish. I think protein bars are too high in calories and carbs. I'd rather have real food anyway.

I never do net calories. I try to get 70 grams of protein and stay under 45 grams of carbs.