apricot1119

Thanks everyone! I have never done anything like that in my life! This sleeve opens doors!

Mean really? Stupid scale. I need to stop weighing every day. It's just making me crazy.

My husband and I are on the same page thank goodness. We enjoy being dinks ( dual income no kids). I teach high school special Ed. I enjoy it but need my grown up time. We have done the pros and cons, and I am good with my choice. It is just so polarizing. I am so interested in how other people came to make the choice and then how they feel about their outcomes...

So Rebecca did you have a child? Does he do the lions share of the work?

I was looking through some old pictures of mine, and then some others on here. The "befores". I noticed the strained smiles and pain in the eyes. We were all hurting so much. That is one of the big gifts of the sleeve. Freedom from that pain when a camera is pointed your way, or your spouse sees you naked with the lights on, or your last pair of pants don't fit. Why did that pain send me running to food? It did. Than the guilt and self incriminations! I am still in the loosing phase, but somewhere during my loss that voice got nixed. I don't even mind my husband seeing me with the lights on! I want a ticker for that! Or maybe a parade.

You have made a major change that has caused her to examine her own shortcomings and insecurities. It isn't you she is upset with, it is just painful for her to see her own fears. She feels left behind. She has lost her eating buddy. Be compassionate with her and give her time. Try not to " rub it in her face". She is afraid of loosing you so she is pushing you away.

Sounds about right for where you are. Really. Don't stress. Enjoy not being hungry with your tiny meals.

This is a common concern. The best answer is planning your meals for the day. If you find you are too low on protein, plan in a protein shake. Schedule yourself. You will find you can get more in the further out from surgery you are. Right now it is about teaching yourself how to eat.

Standing ovation! You lost a person! No wonder you feel different!

Same here. In fact my before picture is actually after the surgery. I was very skilled at hiding from cameras. And pretending I didn't have a problem with food.

First. Deep breath. It is said a million times here about jury etc. it takes time. I don't know about you but I couldn't loose the weight before with minimal cals and lots of water. Give your body a min. It WILL happen. In the meantime, enjoy that feeling of eating so little without HUNGER!

That last bit says a lot. You asserted your needs, than devalued them by saying they are silly. This surgery is about losing weight, but the journey includes finding your power and your voice. Speaking for myself, I used food to push down feelings. No way to do that now. Find your power girl! You have to take care of your children's mother and your husband's wife. If you don't who will?

Yes. Self pay $20,000 here. Guess I am at the high end but I would do it again tomorrow

Fast weight loss itself can cause aches and pains. I had aches in my collar bones of all places.

I decided early on to just answer honestly when asked. I am not passing out pamphlets on the street, but I do consider myself an advocate. Because I was self pay I also realize not everyone can afford the expense. I was one of the lucky ones who carried weight well, so I don't think people are expecting the " I had surgery" answer when they ask. I think they are expecting to hear WW or that horrible hormone fad diet. I am a teacher so there is always someone on some diet. I do wonder about the whispers behind my back, but what ever. Head held high, it eliminates any extra chins.

Any smell with the urine? It is usually a sign of dehydration ( need more fluid). An infection is an outside possibility, but needing more Fluid is the likely culprit. Sip, sip, sip

The protein bars and shakes I use keep my carbs below 40 for the day. I don't have much choice as a vegitarian if I want to get my protein high... and if seeing 185 every other day for 2 months isn't a stall I don't know what is...

Seriously, 2 plus months of gaining and losing the same 3 pounds. I went on Lil Diva's bootcamp and FINALLY am out of the 180s into the 170s. Yay!

Wow. Thank you so much for your testimony! It really rang true with me, I admire your corrage in laying it out there. Food addiction is a powerful thing. What kind of recovery did you have? When you were first healing did you feel any restriction with soft food?

It is similar, but because we don't have a pouch we don't have to do the liquid bit. It is basicly protien (chicken, fish, dairy) and only green veggies. No sugar. No carbs. A gallon of water a day. 5 days. I am a vegitarian so I am having to rely heavily on protien shakes/bars. I am in day three and already feel better.

How long from surgery? I dry heaved the day after surgery for a while. They were concerned (and it HURT), but no lasting problems.

Lost everything on my back first. Really weird. Everyone could see it but me

Apparently you swallow a lot of air with straws and gum. I know there are different schools of thought with it. It is related to avoiding carbonated beverages.

Just want to put out a recomendation for a product I eat almost every day. I am a vegitarian. Veggie Patch Meatless meatball. 6 balls 150 cals and 15g protien. Very tasty and easy and simple to portion. http://www.veggiepatch.com/

I feel like I am at the early end of belonging to this group. Still looking to lose but starting to feel like an "after". Just a question about how many months you veterans found your losing months or " honeymoons" were? Cheers!