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!

Wowza! Congratulations!

I went through the same thing post op. You will be able to enjoy food again, but the priority you place on food is going to change drastically. Don't misunderstand, you will be able to enjoy eating out with your family & sharing meals with friends, but food will no longer be the central focus of your life. Good luck and congratulations on taking the steps to a better you!

Feeling fabulous & loving the new lease on life I have now. Achieved another one of my reasons for having his surgery last night, a wonder NSV. Attended Open House at my daughter's school for the first time in 2 years--I hadn't gone since I couldn't fit in the desks last time and had difficulty climbing the stairs and running around the building from class-to-class. Not only did I fit into the desks, but I lapped lots of parents running from one side of the school to the other. What a joyful moment when I realized what was going on!!!

I, too, am so proud of everyone. Seeing the scale move has been validation of what is happening, but I think we should all also focus on the other improvements in our life that may not be directly reflected on the scale. I feel so good now, it scares the hell out of me. I don't hurt and ache all over all the time. I don't spend my life wasting away on the couch anymore. I have stopped being an observer and started being a participant in life I went to the movie for the first time since my surgery last week and I fit in the chair with some room to spare. I no longer have to wait in public restrooms for the handicap stall to become available. I found other things in life to derive pleasure from rather than food--playing in the pool with my kids, walking aimlessly around the mall or Wal mart for hours for no reason other than spending time with my friends or family. I can volunteer for activities at school without fear or shame. All of this has happened in just over 3 months! Never did I think so much wonderful-ness would come in such a short time of being sleeved. Like I said--the scale tells one story, but when it doesn't, reflect back to your life before you were sleeved and now, I'm sure you can find some things that validate your success.

I started about a month 1/2 out. I find the Perky Jerky brand was moist, so my sleeve tolerated it the first go round. I have had other jerky brands since and have not had any issue. Jerky is great in that it is high protein, low carb and low fat. Only downfall is high sodium, but compare brands and choose the one that is lower in sodium.

The Flintstone Complete chewable has iron--my NUT said to use the chewable & not the gummy since the chewable has a higher level of iron. I take my chewables at lunch, at least 2 hours after my a.m. calcium and at least 2 hours before my evening calcium as per my NUT's instructions.

Jerky--the "Perky Jerky" brand to be exact. I buy it by the case in 1 oz bags. It's moist and so yummy.

My NUT told me that lactose intolerance following the sleeve was extremely common. I had some issues preop, but now if I have a shake with milk in it, I better be very close to a bathroom. Funny, though, cheese isn't a problem.

I like the ones in the spray bottles--I have the Ranch, Caesar's, and Raspberry vinaigrette. The ranch are also great with grilled chicken wings, "buffalo style" and are a great way to avoid unnecessary fat & calories in your condiments.

I'm just over 3 months out and the few times it has happened to me was when I take that "one more bite" or if I eat too quickly or with peanut butter. It is very uncomfortable and painful, You will eventually figure out your full signals or the foods that just don't agree with your sleeve.