kiki19

I have felt like that a couple of times...it has gotten way better the last couple of weeks...In the beginning, it's like you are so consumed with what you can and can't have. As you go along, you learn what you can and can't eat...you quit trying things and really start using the sleeve to your benefit. I ate about 10 pita chips today...five of them had hummus, the other five were plain...I was so full I could barely move...But for Breakfast, I had about 1/4 cup of frittata, lunch was about 2 oz of chicken, and then I ate those pita chips...I most of the time eat five meals a day, but today, I have only eaten three times. Probably cause I ate five times yesterday...and I am just not that hungry today. So don't beat yourself up over it. I remember drinking 12 oz of Protein drink when I was doing liquids...my doctor said that was normal in the liquid stage. I did not gulp it down, but I don't remember savoring it for any great amount of time either...I don't think there is a lot of stretching going on in the first months anyway...I think that probably comes with overindulging over a period of time...

I think it takes a little while to start feeling the real restriction. As long as you are consuming mostly liquids and really soft foods, you can take in way more...once you add meat to the mix, it seems you fill up quickly. I actually think you are not as sensitive nerve-wise and it takes a little while to start really feeling the restriction. I think that is the reason it is so important to follow your post-op diet...

It works...It won't be overnight, but it definitely works...In a few weeks, you won't really think about your surgery that much...It took about 4 weeks to be normal, but it will be the best thing you have ever done for yourself...just take a deep breath. Everything will be all right...It works....I mean, after four weeks, you will be able to eat something substantial, and you do worry a lot over food choices in the first few weeks...Now, I am trying to get into exercising and being on a healthful diet that works for me...which means protein, veges, and a few fruits...Everybody here will be sending prayers your way!!!! Think positive...I thought about baling out in the pre-op area...haha...the nurse said it was my last chance to change my mind...I told her to just put me to sleep so I wouldn't chicken out. Sending positive thoughts your way.

I occasionally still have left side pain, 7 weeks out...if I eat too much, I guess it is, my stomach will get sore, and I go back to liquids for a day or so. I still protect it from my child, and try not to pick up things that are too heavy...just trying to stay cautious for a little while longer.

Roasted Zucchini with lite Ranch...

Three days, I was still tired. It took about two weeks to start feeling good. Even now, at 7 weeks out, I still sometimes get a little tired, but now I don't have to worry about food...or no food.

I had about an 18-day stall after my third week...then, I magically lost ten pounds overnight...so just hang in there. I will be 7 weeks, Tuesday, so my stall was really at 4 weeks out:)

I had not lost one single pound in the last 18 days...I thought I was doomed...that I had defeated my sleeve...woke up this morning, hopped on the scale, I was down ten pounds from yesterday...from yesterday...yes, I had to repeat that. It blew my mind...I started wondering if the scale had been stuck or something...anyway, I am ten pounds down in one day!!!! I knew I was losing, because my clothes were getting bigger, but the scale had not budged. I think it is weird how we lose weight anyway. And the weight I was stuck at was a weight I had not been below in five or six years. So I feel like when I get twenty more pounds down, it will stick again, because I have not been below that weight in 12 years. Here's to hoping the next twenty fall off like my size 22s.

Haha...probably is..

When I was eating mushies, I collected the little plastic bowls from KFC, cause I hate those mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans...1 serving of each of those would be four meals:) I think they are 4 oz.

At six weeks out, my taco meat with a little tiny bit of shredded lettuce and a teeny bit of finely chopped tomato, with a little cheese and a little avocado, just about killed me...I have still not recovered. I had eaten the taco meat with refried beans and cheese, but not with any veges...I don't know if I ate too much or what happened, but my stomach was actually sore...I had to revert back to liquids for a day...has anyone else experienced a sore stomach at 6 weeks out?

it gets better day by day...I have a lot of energy 6 weeks out, but at two weeks out, I thought I was better than I was and overdid it a couple of times...take it slow and easy.

It could be your gallbladder. Add a little olive oil to something you are eating...I saw where some sleevers actually took medication to keep it from messing up their gallbladders. I have eaten a little too much before and it hurt my left side for a day or two, had to go back to soft foods until it calmed down.

Right upper quadrant or midback?

It's a process...sometimes you feel hungry; sometimes not. Sometimes, I don't even know what it feels to be hungry...I know it sounds crazy...I have a lot of head hunger, you know, I want to eat it, but then after two bites, you can't eat another bite...Some food tastes really good; some not. Some days are good; some are not. It's the best thing I have ever done for myself...It is a tool...You have to use it to make it work for you!!!! I am amazed that I haven't lost 100 pounds because of the difference in what I ate before and what I eat now...I realize why I was never successful...and with this, you have to ride the wave. You have to enjoy the good, the bad, and the ugly. There is a lot of self-analysis that goes with it...I can only say I am glad that I did it. I wish I could have done it sooner...Anyway, only you know what is right for you...good luck and best wishes...

My insurance actually paid 5,739.82 for the hospital, surgeon, and anesthesiologist. My portion was around 800.00.

OMG...surely, they don't expect you to pay full price...I would ask for the insurance rate. I had to pay for a hysterectomy several years ago, $14,000.00. Once I paid a couple of thousand, they wrote off 1/2 my bill...it was like a one-time offer. They would have to be insane to think that someone could pay that bill off, and I don't know why the insurance company only has to pay around 14,000.00 for hospital and surgery, probably less than that, and they expect a self-paying person to pay the full price. I will have to look at my bill and let you know what insurance actually paid.

I have been stalled about 10 days...everytime I get on the scale, it is exactly the same...no matter how much water I drank, how little food, how much food...it is really starting to get on my nerves...I feel like I should be down another ten pounds...I keep thinking, I hope this is not it...what am I doing wrong? I start a good exercise program tomorrow...Tuesday is my 6-week post-op day...I would like to show a loss...that means it will be almost two weeks at the same weight.

I just finished a nutrition course at our local college...made an A...but a healthy, well-balanced diet is the way to go for a lifetime...high protein diets are hard on your kidneys. I do understand, though, when you can only eat small portions of food, protein ought to be your go-to food. So I am a firm believer in fish or some other protein choice, followed by vegetables, followed by fruit. Your brain has to have glucose, and the breakdown of fat just doesn't do the job like a little carb...just make sure you choose healthy carbs, sweet potatoes, instead of white, whole grain wild rice instead of brown or white. I found a good book called the Hilton Head over-35 metabolism diet. It has really good recipes and menus that are really good and it fits in perfect for our sleeve. I bought my copy on Amazon. I diet analyzed it, and it is like a perfect diet...the portions are just tiny...just right for us sleevers.

Way to go...congratulations...

I made taco meat, browned the hamburger really well and broke it up into teeny little pieces, put refried beans on top, a little cheese, a dollop of avocado, and a splash of taco sauce...it was really good. Also, I eat a lot of zucchini...the texture is perfect...I add a touch of ranch and mix it up. I am 5 1/2 weeks out. This morning, I did deli meat with a little cheese in the middle, and it still doesn't sit quite right. I made chicken salad from grilled chicken. It is delicious, but you can only eat about a tablespoon. The meat is just way heavy and sits for a long time. I somehow have been eating crackers -- with chicken salad -- and I need to break that habit because of the sodium and the carbs...i have been leaving eggs alone for a while. I just felt like I was having too many or too much or something. I did make spaghetti for the family with the Mids sauce, and I added hamburger. I ate just the sauce with the meat with a little mozzarella on top, browned under the broiler (I use a four-ounce ramekin). I have also eaten a spring roll. It was actually pretty good. And I have had the filling out of a taco from Taco Bell. I have gone to egg face's blog...love it...but I haven't really started eating everything yet, so I am not experimenting too much.

If somebody says you took the easy way out, just smile...and say, Thank you...because we all know what it takes to get here...and they are totally clueless.

Afterwards is no cake walk, but it surely is easier to keep on track than I ever imagined...I still steal a chip or two every now and then, but heck, I can only eat a couple...so no big deal. I try to eat right every day, but if I eat a chip or two at a party or mother's day, I don't beat myself up for it...one thing that I haven't had a problem with is sugar...I have no sugar or sweet cravings...wow!!!! Your mind will adjust to all of the new changes, almost automatically...I just keep reminding myself that this is a tool for me to use to control my eating...so I use it. Anyway, don't fret...things will work out.

Prayers to you!!!! Just remember, the first few days are the worst...each day gets better and better!!! Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

I think we are all on schedule for weight loss.