Musharooni

First off, congratulations on taking the steps towards a happy, healthy lifestyle. Things in your life are going to change, and you, your friends, and family will all need to make adjustments along the way as you figure this stuff out. The first thing everyone asks me is, "how much have you lost?". I have found that we can get too hung up focusing on what we've lost and not looking at what we have gained. Personally, I have gained the ability to enjoy my family by being an active participant in daily life rather than sitting and watching from the sidelines. I have gained a feeling of confidence in the way I am perceived when I walk into a room full of strangers--I have found I am no longer "invisible"!! I am happier, I am healthier, and I am a source of pride to my family in all that I have accomplished. I suggest that you make a list of the things you want to achieve through your weight loss--not just the number on a scale, but the things you want to do and no longer want to do. Personally, the ability to get on an airplane and not have to use a seat extender, ride amusement park rides with my children, go to Victoria's Secret and go through the whole fitting experience and actually walk out with a bra that fit were a few of mine. Good luck to you and, again, congratulations on making one of the best decisions for you that you could have made!!

I feel your pain and agony. One of the most important things I have taken away from this journey is that my relationship with food has changed drastically. The sleeve is the tool that provided me the ability to stand back and look at food from a different perspective. This can be an emotional process, more so for some than others, depending on what your psychological tie to food is/was. In my case, the first week after surgery was spent watching Food Network almost exclusively. Friends and families commented that they couldn't believe I could watch that knowing that I was on liquid/soft foods. I came to realize that this was my "mourning" process, similar to looking at photos or videos of a loved one that is no longer with us. You are still early out on your surgery. Take a deep breath and relax. As you go through the physical healing process and eat in a more mindful manner, you will learn the things that you can eat and those things you should avoid. At this stage, it is best to incorporate foods into your diet at home first, that way you know what will work and avoid spending unnecessarily or, worse, getting sick in public. Although I eat more slowly now than I did before being sleeved, the quantities I eat are much less than those of my dining partners (I don't have appetizers or desserts), I have learned to make the dining experience more about the company than about the food, you will get there, too. Good luck & congratulations on making a healthy commitment to yourself!

Ricotta cheese with sugar free torani syrups

I use the tuna in a pouch and Dijonaise. I find some brands of tuna are moister than the others, so try a few different brands until you find the one that is right for you. I enjoy the convenience & portability of the pouches as I can toss them in my desk, purse, briefcase, etc. and I kmow I will always have something good to eat.

Could be constipation or gas.

The carbs before bed will cause your body to increase insulin production and go into fat storage mode. I would eliminate the bar before bed and have it earlier in the day. As suggested previously, watch your sodium intake as well and get your liquids in. If you have a nutritionist, talk with them, if you don't, and can swing one, definately get one, its worth it.

I had dry skin pre-op and it has only gotten worse. I use Palmer's gel oil, lotion, and Vaseline with Shea & Cocoa. I also notice that on the days I don't get my fluids in, it is much worse with added itching.

Thanks for sharing--looking awesome!

I was sleeved on April 18, 2012 and my weight on surgery day was 350 lbs. My current weight is 230 lbs--I am down 120 lbs from the date of surgery a little over 8 months. I, too, have done everything pretty much by the book--I haven't eaten bread since March 2012 and closely monitor my carb intake, no carbonated beverages, no alcohol, lots of Protein & Water, and I watch my total calories closely. I was getting around 30-45 minutes of cardio at least 4 days a week and, with the holidays have fallen out of my formal exercisingn schedule, but I continue to incorporate cardio in daily wherever I can--brisk walks, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, etc. Monday, January 7 is D-Day for me to get back into the gym & on an exercise schedule. My doctor never set a goal weight for me, I set 175 as my own goal At my 6 month visit, my surgeon was totally impressed with my progress & told me to keep doing what I have been doing. I know several people who have been sleeved--some who do it by the book and some who don't and there is a definite difference in the rate at which the weight is lost, how & where it is lost, and the ability to maintain. You are doing great. Keep up the good work and best wishes for continued success.

Surgery Date: April 18, 2012 Starting weight: 377 Current weight: 230 Goal: 175

How true! My MFP logging is the best thing ever. I recommend it to anyone and everyone who is trying to achieve any type of health or fitness goal. Love my MFP peeps! Y'all are the best!!

Hey there Doot! I am struggling with the same demons--Tootsie Rolls are the devil, that's all I have to say on that subject. I am using this struggle as a learning experience just like every other part of this process has been. I think those people who have maintained a healthy weight throughout their lives as well as are truly healthy have done so through balance. They don't binge eat on sweets or junk, but when they do indulge, they balance that with exercise and eating healthy the rest of the time. I am in no way trying to justify binge eating or stuffing my face with those danged tootsie rolls, but I have figured out that if the urge hits and I have a "midge" and I LOG IT INTO MY DIARY AND ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT, its not the end of the world. But I get you, I can easily see how the old ugly ways can begin to rear their ugly head--emotional eating, boredom eating, making excuses to skip exercising, etc--if we open that door just a little too widely.

Congratulations! So happy for you and your success!!!

Good luck! You on your way to the best journey of your life and sooner than you think you won't miss those old friends near as much as you do now!

Woohoo!