LouiseC

Lol, I found myself pondering over that choice too!

I became lactose intolerant after surgery. It is apparently quite common and will most likely not be permanent, but within a year I should be able to reintroduce lactose. Switch to a lactose free Protein Powder and lactose free milk, or the almond/soy milks already recommended.

I used the shirataki noodles, well rinsed and left to stand for 1 minute in boiling water, as spaghetti for a spaghetti bolognaise craving I was having. Then again as noodles for a thai green chicken curry. Awesome.

It's all about choices. All of it. Once this resonates in your brain and works its wee mantra like goodness into your psyche then you will realise that failure, like success, is a choice. So don't choose failure. Choose to do what you know to be the right thing to do. Every bite of food and drink that goes in yourmouth is within your control. You can choose wisely. You have done it before and you can do it again. Tomorrow is a whole new day, wake up and take control. You can do this.

Golden roasted chick peas. Yum. Biltong. pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Miso Soup. Soy latte. Small tin of tuna. I also have cheese, nuts and nut butters. What is your NUTs reason for not having these?

When I do my laundry I use a washing machine and a dryer. I don't cart my family's dirty laundry down to the river, beat it against rocks and then spread it over bushes to dry. Yep, I am guilty of doing things the easy way. I microwave. I use a freezer. I pay my bills online. I drive to work. I buy soap instead of making my own out of ash and lard. The easy way is the way of mankind. So what if we have had surgery? Does it make my weight loss easier? Yes it does. Does it diminish me in any way? No it does not. I take advantage of opportunities to improve my life, and that is what living is all about. This surgery was a massive opportunity to improve my life and I remain very grateful that I had the resources and support to take full advantage of this opportunity.

I had a great and trouble free recovery. Sure I have had to make changes, but that was the point of doing this. To make changes. I don't regret having the surgery, not for a minute. I also think anyone who says they wouldn't have done it if they knew it would be hard clearly didn't research the surgery prior.

Hi and welcome. We were sleeved within a week of each other and I have also lost over 70 pounds. Isn't it wonderful? I have a Protein shake blended with berries every morning, then cheese for a morning snack, I make and freeze the Emily bites lasagna 'cupcakes' and taco ones etc and take these for lunch. Or i have a small can of tuna.I usually have a small selection of nuts and seeds for an afternoon snack and sometimes some biltong. For dinner I will have 60 to 80 grams of meat (chicken thigh, steak, lamb, minced beef, venison, fish) and try to have some vegetables. I finish the day with my indugence, an oval tine light break. If I am out and about during the day I will often stop somewhere and have a small soy latte. I do vary it a little bit but this is the basic formula. I meet my protein targets. I hope this helps.

Congratulations! You look amazing and I always enjoy your sunny disposition on here.

I do not consider my life shameful. I also don't consider I was an over eater or a food addict. I know now that I tortured my body through years of yoyo dieting and had developed maladaptive ghrelin levels as a consequence. Shame is such a wasted emotion. I love my life, loved it fat and love it getting thinner. I see no shame in having the sleeve.

I was on puréed before leaving the hospital too. I have noticed with those who left on puréed do not have the same issues with hair loss further down the track. I think that this is because the body is less in shock. So if the surgeon thinks you can have puréed, then I recommend it for sure. I am 15 weeks post op today, lost over 70 pounds, and feeling fantastic. Follow your surgeon, your NUT, and most importantly listen to your body.

Puréed mars bars are a definite no-no.

I was tested for leaks before they finished the surgery. Just seems to make so much more sense.

When I was last visiting the USA someone gave me chocolate covered bacon and I have to say I was disturbed by it! It got worse though when we were then offered bacon flavoured jelly Beans. Not for me.

I recall someone on here referring to their sleeve as Chewbacca because of the noises it makes and that certainly resonated! I have been known to talk back to my sleeve in Chewbacca style! But I can't say I have named it as such. While I know it is still my stomach, there are still times when it feels foreign and as though we are still getting acquainted.

I add brown lentils to many dishes that require slow cooking; beef chilli, bolognaise, curries, casseroles etc. They fill out a meal, are economical, and are full of fibre. I learnt this from my mother who used to add lentils all the time to make meals go farther.

What was your pre op diet? There is not a lot of science required in the pre operative liver shrinking. So just what diet did you follow?

This is normal. Ghrelin is somehow connected to body temp regulation. I was advised after about 18 months I will likely be back to a more normal temp.

How wonderful! Congratulations.

I am an atheist. I consider higher power to be a something I can achieve within myself through making the right choices. I can choose, actively choose, to behave differently, to be a better person, and so on.

This is where I go off from my previous good habits! I used to always leave my desk for lunch and insist the family sit at the table for dinner. No longer. The post sleeve me eats at my desk. This way, I van take45 minutes to eat half a cup of chilli for my lunch (for example). I work or surf the net in between and the breaks give me time to digest. At dinner I have moved to in front of the tv. I take breaks and eat at my own pace. I find myself mortified at how quickly my husband eats and he frequently finishes his big plate before I have finished my tiny plate. I use a rice bowl and a teaspoon for soft food and a side plate with regular cutlery for other meals. I don't worry about counting chews, I go for consistency.

Congratulations! Woo hoo!

I use the weight from when I started the pre op diet, 2.5 weeks prior to surgery.