gramaof4

I think it is very healthy for alll of us to write our dear food a memo...I am with most of you...things just don't taste like they used to... Food used to be my comforter in times of hurt feelings and bordom... I am sooo glad I am not foods best friend anymore!

I am so proud of you all, making the big decision...I to had taken 3 yrs to finally make the choice for my own health...I decided I wanted to be an active grama...not a watcher grama....I have lost 45 to date and I am just 3 weeks 5 days post opt... Go Get Em' and Good Luck!

Yesterday I read about adding a few more calories so I ate the topping off of a cheese and canadian bacon w/ black olive pizza....and whether coincidence or not, the scale was down 2.75 lbs this morning... wow...I love this forum and all the help it gives!

"Beauty is painful"...my mom used to say...when she was wacking my hair putting it in braids or curling or pinning it up...when I was laying on the bed stuffing myself into those pants that fit last month.... A little pain is well worth the gain of what you will lose....Now I experienced ZERO PAIN I do not even remember waking up in recovery...I remember being wheeled back down the hallway but don't remember getting into the hallway.... You will do just fine, I had myself syked out for a ton of pain...when I was pleasently surprized by the ZERO PAIN factor. Good Luck, God will keep you safe and with little pain trust in him...

I hear ya there... I had 3 shrimp and 3 dime size pieces of chicken when we went out to eat the other night and my husband says "you really made a pig outta yourself tonight" How thoughtful....I really wish he would do some research on his own! Hello people who do not have weight issues do not have a clue...He always tells my 12 yr old that he is growing his (my son's) belly.... I hate that...Who wants to have a big belly....grrrr

This is all so interesting....I have been vigilant at keeping my calorie intake to less than 600 a day...I have not lost any oz in 4 days...I will try upping the caloric intake a knotch. Thanks

Mexico is where I had my surgery done, I flew into El Centro and walked across the border hailing a cab to take me to the hospital....where I gave Dr. Aceves $8750 and they did the surgery on Monday. He is amazing and his staff and Dr. Campoz (nutricianist) was awesome!!! Just a thought... It took me 3 yrs of research $3000 of pre-opt in the states to figure out it was all just a money game to the dr.'s here in the states...They made me go to a physch apt..., a sleep test, a blood draw..., a nutricianist to talk about eating habits now and how much they could sell me stuff for after surgery...and then they wanted $27,000 more for the surgery.... NOPE....wasted money on that and then I found Dr. Aceves...my miracle man... I have lost 41 lbs and I now can put my own socks on....I am digging out my skinnier fat clothes...and doing water arobics 3 X a week and keeping calorie intake 600 and protein is hard to do but at least 65-70 g a day. Good luck with the process, but for your own health....consider self pay...the process is simple and quick recover...I got out of hospital on Thursday 7 a.m., friday went to movies, saturday to co. fair, sunday flew home, and back to work Monday.... Wish you the best of luck

"WLS cookbook for Dummies"...I ordered this book...and OMG it is the bomb....I love it...the first half of the book reinforces everything the docs tell us, but it is all in black and white and it gives you helpful hints on cooking as well as the protein/calorie/carbs/fiber counts for servings per recipie. A definate Must Have! I got mine on Amazon for I think $5 plus shipping, mine is used...but looks brand new. I would also reccomend tasting before you go the Protein drinks you purchase...purchase sample packs...I did not and I have 2 complete cases of Isopure that is yucky.... Buy a case of bottled watter to have on hand you will go through it.... Good Luck! Welcome to our losers bench!

You will do great! Choose a friend who you know will be supportive. I have a gal who had the LBS a few yrs back and she is going to be my rock, I also have my 2 besties that are super supportive, and I own my own business and my customers are my support even though they don't have a clue they are. One man came in and told me the other day (in front of my husband) "wow, did you do something different with your hair?" I of course said nope been the same for year...just needs a dye job He said "I almost didn't come in cuz it didn't look like you...something is different maybe your face is thinner....'ARE YOU LOSING WEIGHT?' he says....you look great! so the public even though they may not know you had WLS will be complimentive....I'm pretty straight up with most people about WLS but there is that line of personal/business.... I had my surgery in Mexico...My husband had many opportunities to say his peace but chose the morning I was to fly out...he said "Do you have your last will and testiment made out? Going to a 3rd world country for surgery' not sure how much stupider you could be" He left and went to work. I stopped by his work to tell him goodbye I also wrote him a love letter before I left and left it for him to have when I was gone. "For better or for worse, in sickness and in health"....Remember your vows. I have known for yrs...he is just like his father who after 50 yrs of marriage to his mother decided he did not want her to live with him anymore....HA not here he better straighten up and fly right.....And I think there is alot of insecurity going on in my man...as he tends to spend xtra time in my office but still manages to say and do things that are rude and unsupportive. I hope once I start losing more, he will continue to take notice that my activities are increasing and my energy is increasing, and my whole livleyhood is increasing...I am also reading a book how a woman should pray for her husband...It guides you thru how we should pray for our husbands and different things we can do to make them feel special and well loved. My book should be here tomorrow I think. I'm ready to put into action any idea that will show him my love and help reform his behavior and feelings toward me, fat or thin.

"40 Day Love Dare" is what it's called in the movie...and I have started doing it on my husband...and if you've seen the movie...it will help you not get discouraged . My sister is also sending my a book how to pray for your husband. I love him and I want our marriage to work, but there are things that definately have to change.

Cottage Cheese with peaches!

Have you watched the movie "FireProof"? Good movie to watch together even aas a family....as well as the movie "Courageous" Oh man can put a relationship back in check....

Also you need to find a good friend that is willing to be your sounding board and be excited for you and your loss.....I am so excited I have lost 30 lbs post opt and I lost 14 lbs pre-opt....My friends are excited and encourage me daily several times even...

Oh Lisa...I feel what you're saying everyday...My husband has said NOTHING about my weight loss, my kids are amazed that my feet have shrunk in size and that I had to dig into my closet to find amy smaller size fat pants because the ones I was wearing are slipping down around my knees (so to speak) I'll sew them up and they'll fit tight again...soon in my spare time. My husband on the other hand is 163 lbs and in shape...he is 11 yrs older than I am has a very large mother who has tried to lose weight his entire life. He told my 12 yr old son...I would not be able to do this weight Loss thing and I will always be fat.... And this may be true, but I will not be obese... My husband asked me the other day "wife did ya buy me any candy bars?" I told him no if he wanted those he would need to purchase them himself....well ....he did...40 of them. He brought them home put them on my lap and said you can have the dark chocolate ones...they are good for ya. HELLO....does he not get it or is he just out to sabotage me....I have yet to even taste one of those nasty little critters, but they are still sitting on the table... only probably 10 left now... I am cooking for me...and my family can eat what I prepare or they can go hungry or go out to eat without me. I decided Top Gun said it well in one of my posts..."the largest piece of fat I needed to lose was my husband"...well I do love him more than one could know...but I hate his behavior towards my new WLS. We went to Mexican the other night I had 3 shrimp and about 3 pieces of chicken that were dime size...My husband proceeded to tell me what a pig I had made of myself. Not sure I'll be going to eat with him much anymore. I calculated my calories and Protein for the day and well 260 cal/37 g protein....now if that is eating like a pig well...I guess I was the pig.

My incisions were all healed but the drain port was a very thin layer of new skin...so just as a precaution I used a Water proof bandaid (not in salt water)...but a regular swim pool....was in for 1 hr...and when I removed the waterproof bandaid, the incision was not wet, damp and had no condensation, was completely dry....Now they are all healed over really good with the brown looking scar.... So I would say follow what your doc says....mine said I was perfectly fine to resume normal activity with the exception of ANY TYPE tummy crunching...he said to wait 6 weeks for that.

OH my if you want to be treated like a queen....Dr. Aceves and his staff are your best choice. My sister lives in El Centro, and speaks fluent spanish....however, Dr. Aceves, Dr. Campoz all speak very clear english.... Clean private hospital, and you mean the most to them...They make you feel as if you are the only one in the room. I also had ZERO pain after surgery...They let you stay until you are commfortable leaving and I might add at no extra charges....It is all inclusive. Yolanda, Nina, and Blanca, and Gaby are the office crew and they ensure things get done right and in a timely fashion. They are awsome!

My surgeon sent me all of the pre opt, and post opt information prior to surgery. Also when I arrived for surgery he gave me a printed duplicate copy and asked if there were any questions, Also he is just an email away and is very good to email back with hours... I think there are some really good sites on the web that will give you some concrete instructions. I saw someone who was same day surgery as me who had tried fish, so I went out bought me a piece of cod (3 oz = 45 g protein) and had that with a little fresh squeezed lemon ...baked of course

Alaskan Cod is super high in protein, good, and tastey....remember protein first then veggies and fruit...but protein first...ALWAYS!

I started swimming a month before my sugery, I lost 14 lbs and felt much better. Also the first place you lose weight is off your heart and liver...this makes it much easier for the doctors to move around inside with the laproscopic tools, So the more weight you shed before surgery the better. I am 3 weeks 1 day post surgery, I have lost 29 lbs and 2 pant sizes. I am all healed up and back to swimming arobics (only no tummy scrunching) I am loving it, it is such good exercise and easy on your joints. Good Luck

You will definately want to have a wheeelchair on your return home. Your incisions will still be tender and that much walking quickly may tiered you out. I also suggest check your bag on the way home....you don't want to be lifting that much weight above your head after surgery..... I have never been clostraphobic before....but on the plane home it was so full, I was by the window and I got a back/side pain...and could barely breathe. Also on your return trip home if you bring with you a Water bottle, and tell the security it is for medical purposes and that you just had surgery, they will test the water but allow you to board with it...I brought a Vitamin water....with no troubles...(something the airlines don't promote). On the way home leave all stress to the airlines...they will take care of you, some of those gates can be way far apart. Good Luck, and welcome to the losers bench!

I had my surgery in Mexico, Dr. Aceves...they treated me as if I were a queen...I never had ANY pain...zip zero...none! Amazing...20 minutes after surgery I was up walking and cruising the halls, visiting with the other ladies...I felt nausious only 3 times, the nurses got a shot in my IV quickly and it stopped immidiately...was amazing... I was in hospital for 3 days (although I could have left on day 2) in Mexico if you did not feel comfortable leaving...you stayed till you did. I happened to have walked over the boarder to have surgery and if I stayed until day 3 then the staff would give us a ride back across the border. Was way better no walking...waiting in crossing line...just sat in a nice clean vehicle for 2 1/2 hours...was dropped right at my sisters home. I went to the county fair, to the movies, to church...all the same week after surgery...had no pain.... You will do fine!

I'm just 3 weeks and headed into my 4th week. I have lost 29 lbs post opt....and my husband sabotages me all the time...tonight he brought home 40 yes I sad 40 candybars of every color shape and size...he tells me dark chocolate is good for you.... Yikes...he drives me mad...before surgery he would say things like "you can lose weight it's all in your head" "you'll always be fat..why bother"....yikes I have spent alot of money on my sleeve and by George, I am gonna be as thin as him...and show him how much it is all "in my head". keep strong Sleeve Sister, you can do it...just say no to yourself and grab a glass of water.

I specifically asked about driving restrictions...I was told many people drive themselves home from the hospital. I flew home to the closest airport and drove home the next day 130 miles and have been driving since, I had ZERO pain so I was not on any pain meds....so no worries there. Good Luck, Let your body lead you...

you give me hope. You have 2 days on me...I think I will get some Alaskan Cod Fillets and bake them tonight. I was gonna have bean w/ bacon soup.... I am tired of soup and even eggs... but I had to find a way to get my protein in somehow, and the protein shakes just seem nasty to me... Thanks for the encouragement

I had surgery on 2/27/12 and my incisions are healed, and I started water arobics yesterday. The water keeps you boyant so there is no real strain on your belly and incisions.