Katie713

I hope they give you a thorough exam. Be as clear as you can about what happened and the pain level you were experiencing. Let us know how it goes.

Sometimes you have to be extremely insistant to get them to be more responsive. Did they give you something for pain?? How is your pain level now?

Sannah....you hang in there. In time you will hopefully be able to move full steam ahead with this process and look back at this time as a transition that was hard but worth it nonetheless. You have a good personality that shines through in your posts, so dont lose hope, you're gonna get through this!!!

Hope it goes ok...concerned for you. Sending my good thoughts your way. Check back in when you can.

At 14 days my NUT allowed pureed food and refried beans, bean soup, pureed chili beans fit the bill as well as yogurt, ricotta cheese, mashed potatoes with gravy, etc. Also hot cereal.

Liz....hope you're recovering well and transitioning to food without too much internal turmoil !! Give us an update when you feel up to it...

ir·rel·e·vant /ɪˈrɛləvənt/ Show Spelled [ih-rel-uh-vuhnt] Show IPA adjective 1. not relevant; not applicable or pertinent

BTB...I hope it's not a gorgeous plastic surgeon who you have to have evaluate your body...it might be embarrasing if the flag pole is raised up for the stars and stripes

You Aussie girls are a hoot Being that I'm older, actually I'll be 58 this July - this next chapter of my life includes being able to enjoy so many of the things I avoided when I was really huge. As I move toward retirement, I look forward to those long walks on the beach, heading to the YMCA for morning aqua-aerobics, traveling abroad (without the seat belt extension) riding all the rides at theme parks with my grandson and enjoying many tasty but tiny meals along the way....oh and there WILL be shopping

Is it too personal for me to ask the general range of costs if you decide to get what you described done? I will probably look into plastics once I have made enough progress to satisfy me, but if I can get work combined with a panni - then I can probably pick up the rest of the cost for a breast reduction/lift apart from what my insurance will cover. Not sure if this is the route I will go....I will probably wait a full year and then decide what is my best approach, and also to see whether I can tolerate things as they are as I move forward. For now, clothes fit ok but I would love to be tighter especially where my "jelly roll" now resides

There are aged based groups on the forums, but seems not much happening over there!

Dee Dee....it's been a few weeks now, I am wondering how you are doing? I am so glad that you got such supportive responses. It is hard to admit when we are struggling, but you know what, most of us struggle at times during this process. I am a slow loser, but after tracking for so long now, I see the pattern. My body holds onto the weight for awhile, then I lose 3-5 lbs overnight. I was going thru my closet this weekend and getting rid of the rest of my larger sizes and trying stuff on, I had this favorite brown jacket and it was my "small jacket" of all my jackets, I could snap it closed but barely. I thought I could get a few more wears out of it, and as I slipped it on and the jacket wrapped from side to side...the buttons under my armpits...I had that NSV my little private reminder that I am so much smaller. Lately the scale isn't moving...and I started to think that I was the same size I was before....I still have weight to lose and have my tummy fat to contend with you see....but I allowed myself to realize that I am already a success with my healthier me campaign!!! I am doing it .....and so are YOU !!

cyncitygirl....hopefully you were able to have some Cereal this weekend and that it made your tummy content!! After you get to full solids, you may elect to cut carbs somewhat when you need to keep losing - it's all a balance. I mostly have cottage cheese for Breakfast (1/2 cup) and some canned pears, peaches or pineapple or I have a Protein Bar (Atkins daybreak - Almond/cranberry) I also enjoy a couple of huge cups of coffee in the morning. It's like a soup cup - and I am able to drink two of them at 16 oz each = 32 oz. then a Protein shake for 12 oz and later I sip Water from my 24 oz water bottle, sometimes I put a packet of crystal light in it, or MIO sweet tea, or a sugar free Hawaiian punch. Tada...that's 64 oz right there. Getting in your liquids is so important!! Oh I meant to tell you I love San Diego too. Old Town Cafe for good Mexican food. We used to go every year a couple of times down from L.A. last time I was post op - and I was able to enjoy a chile relleno a la carte!

I had my surgery last year, April 2012 at 56 years old. Best thing I ever did for myself. It works for the young, and it works for the old. Let me know if you have specific concerns.

Oatmeal, cream of wheat, malt-o-meal, grits all good soft choices for this stage and all whole grain. You can make with water or milk, maybe a sugar free sweetener.

How cool is that iggy? Suddenly I was picturing the son of Liam Neeson in the movie" Love Actually" when he fell in love with a classmate a cool little girl everyone loved...he learned to play an instrument just to get her attention before she moved from England to the states, awe he was so IN LOVE. His father never for one moment minimized his love for her! I went to a wedding up in Anchorage about a decade ago during the summer. Temps in the 70's it was really wonderful. Went down to the glacier at Portage...I want to go back and take my grandson, he's almost 10 and a very cool kid.

Birds of a feather flock together iggy.

My one cup containers are my staple! I get perfectly full with one container and that is my limit. Most mornings I fill one container with 1/2 cup of low fat cottage cheese and 1/2 cup canned pears or pineapple. Keeps me full all morning with no snacks before lunch. They are perfect for soup too and basic leftovers. Makes portion control easy and food tracking as well.

Yes, I had my gallbladder removed 22 years ago in an open surgery, as they didn't do it laparoscopically in 1990, so I have a scar from under my sternum all the way to the bottom of my right side ribcage. I was told pre VSG surgery that I may have to have an open surgery if scar tissue was obstructing my VSG, however it was not the case, my surgeon said no issues presented themselves and my surgery went perfectly without complications is just under 45 minutes.

As you transition to solids you will feel the restriction, no doubt. For most people 6-8 oz is about the most one can tolerate at a sitting. If you eat too much you'll know it. Don't get discouraged, you're lucky to be able to tolerate what you can, you healed well! I was also lucky like that from the day after surgery I had no problem getting my fluids in and I logged everything and follwed my eating plan. At 9 months out I can eat almost anything in very small portions. I love my sleeve!!

Who woulda thought a cheeseburger post would incite a riot? I enjoy slider size cheeseburgers at home without the bun with some sauteed mushrooms and onions., maybe some pickles on the side. I haven't eaten any donuts, but I did enjoy a few pieces of pie over the holidays. Once in awhile I think its normal to have a little indulgence! I'm not at goal yet but I will be, I have faith in my ability to get to my goal.

Just caught up on the Veterans posts. Enjoying the easy banter and stories about everyones culinary delights and dislikes!! I do love me some PB but not nutella, hazelnuts are not a fave of mine. Still weaning myself off holiday carbs, and getting there, albeit slowly... Culturally, a piece of my heritage includes Mexican delights but seeing my mother opening a strange foil packet from the oven when I was a kid was a total gross out...a goat head that she declared a delicacy...especially the brain, but also the tongue and eyeballs. I ran out of the room! Over the years I've enjoyed foods that my grandmother made including nopales (cactus) with tortas de cameron (shrimp patties) in a rich red chile sauce, chile rellenos which I still enjoy post op, beautiful stews and Soups, etc. This is the year I intend to hit goal. 2012 was an amazing year for me losing 100 pounds and I feel really proud of myself and I feel normal, not the fattest girl in the house. I enjoy getting dressed up and enjoy feeling sexy again at 57 no less! I may do plastics down the line, but for now, I'm feeling ok and look ok dressed up. Still wear spanx for a night on the town. My face looks pretty good for an older gal and I have a neck again!!

Thanks for the info. Reminded me of when I was a kid, I used to like the Vitamix booth at the Los Angeles County Fair, they would throw evrything in but the kitchen sink and hand out little paper tasting cups, and no doubt, the concoction was always delicious and nutritious.

Hey guys...what do you put in your green shakes? My son does a morning smoothie with banana, frozen berries and spinach. Is it something similar, and is it strictly juicing (what you drink) or do you consume the entire fruit/veg pulp and all?

You may need to add some dense and high caloric food that is still healthy to bring up your calories to over 2000 so that you can see if you can level out. Perhaps add 2 protein bars, avocado, nuts, full fat cheese, peanut butter, fruit. Perhaps a nutritionist visit might be warranted. You would think with calories - it is more of a numbers game...making sure you are taking in more calories than you are burning. What have you tried already to level out. 1650 calories is not all that high of calories for a "normal" weight person, after all.