4ALongerLife

You didn't stop taking any medication during your surgery and these few days didja? I was emotional... but I had a leak and pain so I assume that was why I was that way! Perhaps you are just so excited to finally have this 'dream' come true?

I HAD a leak and the last time I went to my dr., I unfortunately asked this question. Honestly, you don't want to truly know... but he said he's heard of ppl with leaks even up to 12 months. That scares me... but ditto Lissa. I didn't do anything to cause my leak, unfortunately I was that 1% freak of nature that it happened to. Don't worry too much on this and FOLLOW YOUR DR'S INSTRUCTIONS. Don't overfill your belly and don't eat what your dr. says you aren't ready to eat (they have their reasons). That's all I can tell you.. oh and lots of prayers and convos with God. Believe me, after my leak, He knows I'm banging on his door rather frequently!

Still in the hospital? Sugar get your rest and if the fever continues, push that nurse's button and ask for something. Pleasssse.

Joni hang in there. I know it's not easy, but after surgery .. I swear it's much much easier... you don't get the same hunger for a bit right after surgery. The 23rd is in the horizon girl... YOU CAN DO IT! unjury is good. For a clear liquid Protein I am loving the Cytomax, still drinking them every day (tropical and tangerine flavors, I still haven't tried the watermelon yet). Premier Protein drinks rock... or at least I thought so before my leak. I have kinda stuck to clear drinks since then, thank God for Cytomax. And Carol M., you put the tickers on your profile in your autosignature.... (click on your name at the top and choose 'my settings', then on the left side, options down on the left - one of which is autosignature). Go to any of the ticker sites and make your ticker, then copy the code and add it to your autosignature. Hope that helps!

Someone in my dr's preop educational class suggested getting silicone scar sheets to put over your scars. They work better than mederma per the girl that said this. They are also expensive lil buggers... like $25 for 4 in a package, I got them from Walgreens. I got a leak after my first surgery so due to my complications, I got scared and havent' tried them yet... but maybe look it up and see if those would help with your scars. And yes, I did have a stitch in my largest incision but it's healed up better than the one on my right that had a JP in it. Looks like a durn dimple on my abdomen. But better than that muffin top for sure! lol

Girl you rock at the records you keep! But I just wonder if you are getting enough calories? Don't go off and eat more based on me saying this. But what's the nutrionist say? I know you said she doesn't have anything more to suggest..... but if you are only getting 500 to 600 calories a day, and working out 3 miles a day, I'm thinking your body isn't going to let anything go. And you might need more carbs. Good carbs (i.e. banana not banana bread). With your records, you know what I mean! But see if I knew better, then would I have been fat in the first place? Genes and hypothyroidism have contributed but I love to eat.. or loved rather. I was doing 5 miles a day on the elliptical 5 days a week prior to my surgery. After my stress and metabolic tests, prior to my surgery, my dr. said I should expect that I will need 1800 cals a day after surgery to get to a sensible weight (150 ish probably) and keep it there. Yes, that's alot of calories .. but for so much gym time, he said I have to have it. So I'm really wondering if you are getting enough calories with all that you are doing. Have you asked your trainer for their input? I'm sorry I'm not much help on this ... how about a second nutritionist's opinion? Have you gotten your hormones checked? I have hypothyroidism and girl, let me tell you, no matter what I do sometimes, you can hang it up Jack. Then bam, they change my synthroid and BAM... I lose 30 lbs. Hormones are some tricky lil buggers (I was thinking of an f word instead, but keeping it PG here)..... I think you are doing wonderfully, jeesh with all you detailed, I need to be more like you mama. Keep up the good work... and maybe in time your body will finally just overcome the plateau... and maybe that's all it is?

I haven't really tried coffee yet. I did have a sip of my husband's this morning and no problems. Sorry you had issues. Maybe it's just a one time thing (I hope!).

First off, Celebrate your joys and stop focusing on the negative. Holy guacamole you lost 120 lbs. JEESHHHHHH that is awesome! But why the self destruction? I can relate.... I'm a child of an alcoholic ... but then again if I had had to live with my father.... All I can say is counseling counseling counseling.... WLS is a tool but some of us have an addictive personality that takes over and rears it's ugly head in so many other ways. That's a fear for me, that I will cross over into something else. Just remember to take everything as one day at a time. Tomorrow is never promised for any of us. But on a bright note, every day is a new day... and every day you have to meet that challenge and overcome it. So you didn't for a while. Let it go, the past is gone... now pls forgive yourself. Get that critic out of your head... the best thing you can do is be kind to yourself and get tough on the addiction and destruction that you are doing to yourself and your success. You need to KNOW that you are worthy of being successful. Get a good counselor and get on some good antidepressants and antianxiety pills (not benzodiazipines) if possible. Benzo's are addictive, so watch it (i.e. xanax, valium, etc.). I got my masters in social work with an emphasis in mental health and substance abuse, so that's how I know (no, I don't know drugs from my own experience). I've always been 'worried' that my addictive personality would take over in destructive ways. And I told ya, child of alcoholism, so yeah I tried 'curing' myself whenever I was too embarrassed to tell others of my issues. But know this, you have nothing to be embarrassed of. What life has brought to you, God has seen you through. Don't listen to the internal critic, wherever you learned that voice from, just stop that lil pain in the arse/voice in your head pls. Stop the thought in your head about I screwed up for x months. Instead, think of it as ... ok so I fell off but guess what? Today's the day that I'm back on and I'm gonna keep trucking and lose those pounds! But definitely get on good meds & get into constructive counseling... it DOES help. I am pulling for you... and praying for you as well. Sincerely, xoxo

I hafta say... I'm glad you asked this question! I learned from quite a few ppl's responses. For instance, I didn't know there were microwaveable pork rinds! Awesome! Let us know how it goes! I've said prayers for you and wish you and easy and thoroughly enjoyable time!

Are you getting your liquids in and your protein? I think it's water weight probably but yes, I understand how defeating that can be. Are you tracking what you are eating so that maybe if there is a 'sneak in' you can identify it?

Thank you for the encouragement. IDK how that will ever happen, but that's what my dr. says too. I love to work out. LOVE it... I'm a creature of habit (elliptical 5 miles a day before surgery). I hope to be where you are one day. You keep it up girl.. you are ROCKING it! I wish you only the best to reach all of your goals

Ok I'm envious... mind you I didn't say jealous, but you go girl. I wish I could and can say that one day like you have! I've never been smaller than a 14, so I hope to know what that size feels like... ONE DAY. Keep rocking it girl! Boo yeahhhhh! Congrats... happy dancin'

Girl you ain't got a leak! Stop that mess in your head and stop that over googling.... from one worrywart to another! lol I DID have a leak and didn't do anything wrong. My staple slipped and opened because my skin necrocted away from the suture line. Schtuff happens... but feel bettter... I'm here to claim that 1% of the population that I've read (yes by googling) of who this happens to! (stop googling! and smile mama!) Follow your diet and stop worrying on this one time..... but follow your dr's orders. He gives them for good reasons... ok? Hugs

Take some pork rinds in your purse and a Protein drink...... both have protein and that "crunch" (if you can have it) on the pork rinds feels like a bad movie theatre food lol. Remember, there is NO nutritional value in popcorn. Doesn't help whenever you smell it. I'm so dreading the movies for that reason, I will soooo miss popcorn. Stay strong and good luck! (sorry if my idea wasn't wonderful... but omg is there anything decent at the movie theatres??? i mean what ARE the hot dogs made of? if worse comes to it and you put any popcorn in your mouth, don't swallow it.... just get the flavor and spit it out...? it sorta dissolves and one kernel would be enough for me, i'd hope lol) Don't risk a leak. Just concentrate on the movie and spending time with friends. And remember, you aren't alone... these challenges are the same for all of us (I too have been avoiding anywhere out to eat or social, but my first "outing" is this thursday. If nothing else, I'll sit and drink sips of Water while everyone else eats I guess.....)

You lose the most weight on clears. But yes, I hear you. Just please make sure you take it slow and follow dr's orders. I did and got a leak and an abscess..... even following orders. I was the freak 1 percent in nature that this happens to. I had to stay on clears for like 5 weeks I think it was. I ended up loving those durn Cytomax drinks and yes I post it everywhere trying to help ppl that are on clears and might be struggling with their Proteins..... Good luck ladies!

IDK that about cocoa powder! I need the fiber so thank you (I'm just not huge on chocolate). But it sounds better than mirolax! lol

Ditto to dorrie robles. Don't add frozen yogurt to your shakes. There are so many other items you can add that make it healthier and low fat. For instance, SF flavored syrup (like what they add in coffee shops but make sure you get the SF) or SF jello packets - yes, that's right, they add flavor for you w/o adding too many calories. The frozen yogurt just adds calories is why I said what I did.

Ok what was your Protein intake 3 months ago? From what I've read, it takes that long to show in your hair, etc. So you might do well now, but if you struggled 3 months ago, well there ya go. Or so I've read (as I've been struggling... a LOT). It's just hair though girl. Thank god there are options nowadays.... or so I tell myself now whenever I've struggled and worry about 3 months from now lol.

I say ditto to what all they said! Try to exercise discipline. It's not easy, but practice makes perfect. Good luck!

Good lord girl.... God bless you, you have been through a lot... but still going. You rock!

Have it checked out pls. And I'm not doing much on milk drinks... but I love Cytomax clear Protein Drinks. One cytomax drink and a Protein pudding a day is 70g of protein a day. Good luck to you. Hope your pain passes soon!

I'm giggling... did you read my post? I am SERIOUSLY craving deviled eggs or egg salad (the yellow part of the deviled egg is what I'm thinking). I boiled 6 eggs last night and just trying to figure out the "right" combo. But yes, my cravings are more intense so far. I thought maybe it's just because I finally got on pureed/softs but maybe not.

Thanks ladies! Sounds GREAT to me!

OMG you totally ROCK! Seriously....