Katie713

It gets better with time. I do use an OTC face firming cream and keep super hydrated. You can and should also do facial exercises...but over time the skin seems to adapt to your changing face and body. The story isn't over until the fat lady is skinny! My skin keeps adapting to my loss, so at first I thought this was how it was gonna be, but you know what, my skin is hugging my bone structure more and it's not worse at all...thats why I think they say not to do plastics until you are two years after goal, because the skin keeps changing as it heals. The skin is the largest organ in our bodies and it takes time to heal properly and respond to changes. It needs time to catch up.

You go girl !!

My doctor indicated I could go back on NSAIDS after 6 weeks when regular foods were introduced. By that time the stomach is healed from the initial operation. I never had problems with Motrin before - although I know some people do - and I don't have a problem now. I use them when I need them will NO ILL EFFECTS whatsoever.

Tomorrow is your lucky day!! Hope all goes well for you, don't forget if you feel anxious, do some deep breathing and positive affirmations in your head. I remember when I woke up in the recovery room I was out of sorts, but by the time they took me to my room and I started to wake up, inside I was filled with joy, that I went through with what I set out to do, and I was happy that I didn't have much pain at all, just some discomfort that was easily manageable, and by the late afternoon I was walking up and down the hallways, and the next day sipping my water without complications. Let us know how you're doing as soon as you feel able to. Again, good luck!!!

I set mine at 150 based on my previous healthy weight of 135 as a teen wearing size 5-7 and added some lbs to accommodate my age now 57 and changes in my body over time, but as I get closer to goal I may revise down to 135. I am just short of 5 ft tall but have a voluptuous body type, curvy with a large bust and a sturdy frame. If I do plastics down the road that may take me from my mental comfort zone of 150 to 135 anyway...we shall see. All I know is my doctor said I am in the perfect range of already having lost 60% at month 7 and should make goal at 1 year (next April 2013) if I keep up the good work, a healthy balanced diet 1000 calories, less than 50 carbs and 70 grams of Protein daily and all my Vitamins.

Ellamae, Cinders & Deb....I am so glad you are all doing so well. I did wonder if I would heal well and bounce back quickly as I was 56 when I had surgery last April but surprisingly it went well with one minor stretch that strained my stitches, but it wasn't bad, just reminded me to take it easy, even if I felt so good I had to be reminded that I had major surgery and to take good care of myself. I had my 7 month post op check up Friday with my bariatric doctor and he said I am doing great 90 pounds down since the beginning of my weight loss journey, about 26 pre-op and the rest post-op. I started at a 3X or 4X and now a 14-16 and although the weight loss is slower I know this is not a race...and I am paying attention to my health and nutrition, trying to make sure I get those veggies and fruit in addition to a high protein diet. I don't eat much in the way of starches as they make me stall out, but I do enjoy a little sweet potato now and then or a few tortilla chips with salsa and guacamole. I still have at least one protein shake a day and sometimes an Atkins protein bar, lots of fish, chicken and salads, cottage cheese with canned pears, pineapple or peaches, cheese sticks, olives and stir frys, like a small amount of beef with cabbage, shredded carrots and bean sprouts with a bit of ginger and soy sauce. I feel like MYSELF now...not overly thinking of my surgery, just so much more control, this was the absolute best thing I ever did for my health and I am workin it! !

Yeah that's the overview, then the classes usually start shortly therafter. Hope you get in with a good group. We had 25 in ours and it was fun and we got to the point where we could really share.

Is that your orientation or the actual classes?

As some have already stated, you won't feel the real sensation of fullness until you move to solids, then believe me you will feel full and you will feel your restriction. Fluids don't give the sensation of fullness as they slide through your stomach without much effort (even though it can be hard to drink - but that's because of swelling near the top of the stomach) but when your fluids hit the bottom of your stomach near the pylorus, the stomach empties quite quickly. When you move to mushies - it will feel feel better, and when you move to full solids, even better. You will get full on very little and although you may experience head hunger, your body will have the feeling of satisfaction. Good luck!!

Have you tried Isopure? It's a clear Protein liquid in a variety of flavors. A 20 oz bottle has 40 grams of protein. During the clear Fluid stage I had decaf tea in the morning, then sipped about 1/2 bottle of Isopure diluted with Water and ice, then at lunch chicken broth or beef consomme (for protein) and more Isopure in the afternoon, then more broth at dinner and SF popsicles and SF Jello in the evening. This way you are getting lots of clear fluids and lots of protein. I would make sure you are taking anti-nausea meds and a PPI like prilosec twice a day before meals. Hopefully you will start feeling better, and when you add dairy or whey protein later (maybe in a week or two) see if that makes you feel worse or if you can tolerate it. You may now have an allergy that you have to work around. Alot easier to deal with once you get on solids, but for now, since hydration is primary and protein for healing you can focus on this. Good luck!!

You've hit the nail on the head!

Hey Iggy...sounds like you're doing well. At almost 7 months I take in about 1000 calories and about 75 grams of protein and try and stay under 50 carbs...but I can eat almost anything, I feel like my old self...just with less capacity. No bread, no pasta, no rice, no flour tortillas, no white potatoes, no crackers, no goobers. I do get carbs from veggies and fruit and nuts, dairy. Once in awhile I do cheat, I am not perfect. When I do cheat its usually a cocktail and maybe some tortilla chips with salsa& guacamole. Holy Moly I love guacamole!!

Just wanted to say the Atkins bars only have about 3 net carbs, the entire point of Atkins is little to no sugars/carbs in their products, but some of the bars are high in calories so I only eat them on occasion. The day break bars have 150 calories the full meal replacement bars are about 200 calories.

Remember getting your Protein and fluids are the most important thing...I would have decaf tea first thing and take my PPI then wait 30 min an have Breakfast, either hot Cereal or yogurt or soft scrambled eggs....then wait 30 min then get have a sugar free drink and daily Vitamins...wait about an hour then a Protein shake...then at lunch have your pureed meal...then 30 min after a big glass of iced tea or crystal light or Water....maybe a late afternoon snack a SF pudding, yogurt, or Jello, or a protein shake. dinner a pureed entree, then 30 min later have a SF drink, in the evening maybe jello or yogurt, SF popsicle or SF hot cocoa....that's what I did and I got my fluids and protein and felt great. Most meals at this stage are about 1/2 cup drinks were about 8-16 oz over a hour or so. Good luck!

3-4 oz at mealtimes only take your time eating try to stretch it out to 20-30 min for the meal then wait 30 minutes before you drink.

jimbo - embrace the process, you won't be dissapointed. Everyone who had the classes that I've met so far, in person or on-line has nothing but good stuff to say about the Options program! Have a good weekend!

Glad to hear the good news and also happy that you don't have that wrong diagnosis hanging over your head.....now the journey begins.

thats just what I was thinking, canned foods...water, beef jerkey & assorted nuts and some fruit - canned and fresh. Take care, I heard this is gonna be a doozer.

I guess you could say the proof is in the (sugar free) pudding.... I have lost and regained on every diet I have ever been on usually within 3-6 months, but with the sleeve, the extra element of control, the commitment to myself stronger than ever before, is showing me that it would take conscious effort to suddenly start gaining weight. You cannot eat in quantity any longer, but if you chose to eat the wrong things, then your little but highly caloric diet could lead to gaining. This is the best I've ever done in my adult life - and with only about 40 pounds left until goal, I know that YES IT WORKS and I am not deprived!! Lovin my sleeve!! :wub:

Bryan....here's the lowdown on bougie size in relation to your sleeve size. I pasted a very educational link at the bottom of this post. My surgeon did the standard 32 french bougie. I am 6 months out and I can eat pretty much normally and I have about 8 oz capacity. I do feel the restriction especially when eating a firm protein and that is such a useful tool in managing your weight. During the losing phase, if you concentrate on that, you simply have that feeling of satiety much sooner than you ever did. I am very happy with the size of my sleeved stomach, I don't feel starving, I don't feel weird going out to eat with family and friends, and I am easily satisfied. If I want a little indulgence, I have a few bites and I'm good. Good luck on your journey...but as so many have said, you have to be willing to go all the way...there is no half-way in this game. When people talk about eating 2 oz in 30 min...that is usually right after surgery when your stomach is healing and may be swollen. That might still happen to you...but soon thereafter, it is much easier to enjoy your meals, you just eat so much less than you ever did before. I may crave an In-N-Out double double, but my tummy only allows me a slider!! But I get full and enjoy every bite!! Here's the link....http://www.obesityhe.../2011/03/31/-2/

Don't worry you can't really have too much protein...I think you're doing fine.

I still get uncomfortable when I get full. In some ways this is a great deterent to over eating a sort of aversion therapy if you will. You do not want to repeat that feeling. Measuring is good for keeping the portion controlled. Early on if something didn't jive, I would feel nauseated and have to vomit, sometimes sliming as well, a thick mucus...gosh I hate remembering that feeling. Solid Protein really gives that crazy sense of fullness...I can almost see why some want to gravitate toward slider foods that go down easy and don't seem to give you that uncomfortable feeling, but the down side is that you will probably gain weight!! There are times when I feel "just right" but those times are not as often as either feeling hungry or too full. And you get full FAST. I guess it just takes time to normalize....but believe me, I love the results!!!

Thank you. I consider myself a slow loser, but I guess I am the tortise and not the hare! I don't care, I still have a ways to go...just six months out, this isn't a race and I am pleased with my skin, sometimes if you lose too fast, you have major loose skin issues...I do have some, but I am pleased that in some places, it is getting better and not worse, like my thighs. I have lost about 60% of my excess weight, so I am in line with what my bariatric doctor said is considered a good success rate for the 6 month mark. I am on a very restrictive low carb diet right now and it is making me a little cranky today though!! Not cheating though...just craving