Izuri

I find it helps when I vent on my blog about how I feel, even if no one reads it, it feels great to just get it out. Or when I'm feeling cranky if I take a walk and get those endorphins going it makes a big difference. I added just one minute of jogging to my walk today because I wanted to see how it felt/if I felt like in a few weeks I'd be ok to start couch to 5k, and it took me from feeling kinda low to feeling really good - and completely pumped up. I wanted to do more! I still am not cleared for exercise though, so I am just gonna put that on the top of my list of things to do in 2 weeks =)

That's an incredible difference in just under 2 months! You look great =D Keep it up!

I like the zero carb 8oz isopures. They make a really good little protein boost during the day. They are not that amazing taste wise, but they are manageable for the 15g of protein. They are definitely dry though, so keep some water around. I like the alpine punch the best, hated the grape.

Good luck! Keep us updated!

Woohoo! You are looking awesome, keep up the great work =)

I haven't heard of both procedures being done, and it sounded like to me that they're two separate procedures because having a sleeve gastrectomy means the fundus is removed - leaving nothing to be plicated. Is this a new procedure? I know that sometimes they call it gastric sleeve plication - which sounds like what you're describing. In that surgery you have a sleeve, but it's made from folding the stomach and suturing, nothing is actually removed from your body. I wish I could offer you more help because it sounds like you're really feeling bad =( I do know that there is a plication forum though - http://www.sleeveplicationtalk.com/ As far as the plication portion goes, they may be able to explain more of their experiences. Have you talked to your doctor about what you're going through? I really hope you feel better, I'm sorry that you're going through this. (((((Hug!))))

You can do it! You have not gained it all back, you are still far from your starting weight and you can turn it around today. We are all here for you. Get back to the basics - Are you journaling your food? If you want to, feel free to add me on MyFitnessPal (Same name as here). You are brave to come back and admit you're having trouble, that in itself is a testament to your strength. Hang in there and keep us updated! I know I am always looking for new friends, as well as many other people I have found across this board, so maybe some new friends will help add some support.

I spent a bunch of time online looking for reviews of my doctor and clinic. I also looked for anything I could find on malpractice suits and his other experience in surgery. I was able to learn a lot about my doctor and his past experience not only as a bariatric surgeon. It made me feel better to know I couldn't find a single bad review or issue and that he also had some experience in trauma surgeries (Made me feel less worried about worst case scenario of any emergency). I asked him straight up in our consultation how many complications he has had with the sleeve as well as how many sleeves he has done. He was pretty straight forward with me and explained his approach to avoiding complications. My mom also knew someone who worked as a nurse part time in the clinic and he gave some really good reviews, said he has seen very few complications and that they really push good post surgical care. I don't know if there would be any way to check the accuracy of the information they give you, but I would research online as much as you can.

I was gonna ask if you could mix it, but ended up googling it because I had no idea. I found this website: http://www.livestrong.com/article/299431-how-to-make-liquid-iron-supplements-taste-better/ I hope you find something that helps you!

So I apologize in advance, I need to rant about this because it's driving me up a wall, and the more I get it off my chest the more I'll be able to let it go and keep moving. I'm gonna start with saying I know my body is not my enemy, I know that it's retaining water and holding me at my weight because it's scared that I'm starving or something and it's trying to rearrange so it can function well in a low calorie environment. I get that stalls cannot last forever if you are doing the right thing. I know that someday eventually the scale will move in the right direction. That day is just not today. That being said, it feels like I'm fighting against my body today. I feel hormonal (which I'm sure is normal burning fat and so low cal) and I just wanna get how I feel off my chest, because no one at my house really gets it, sweet as they may be to try to be understanding. I hate that I am stalled for so long so early out. In the scheme of my life 12 days is not a lot, and I will live through this, but right now 12 days seems like a long time. Especially when I am not even quite 4 weeks out from surgery. I was doing everything right, getting in walks twice a day, getting in almost all my protein, keeping my carbs low, getting my water in, and I just don't know what else I can do. Yesterday and the day before I tried eating a few extra calories - keep in mind we're talking maybe 750 calories or something, nothing mind blowing. I thought maybe if I give my body a chance to think that we're not in starvation maybe it would be more likely to let a few pounds go. Instead I gained. And now I am back up to 301. I am sitting here trying not to cry because I know it's so stupid to be upset about something I have no control over, and that is just a number on a stupid scale. I know that I have to find ways to work through the stress of this, because the only thing stress is going to do is make me retain even more weight. At this point I can't wait to go back to work, if only to be able to get my mind off my weight and my food. Once I get back I will probably be cursing myself for saying that, but it's true, right now I need to have something to do. I feel frustrated because I cannot even eat anything good. No wonder my past diets failed. I have not been sleeping well since the surgery either, and I think this is also affecting my weight/mood. I feel like I'm PMSing 24/7 right now. I know it's stupid to think this, because every post where I've read someone say this they've eventually succeeded, but what if I'm stuck here for months? How will I handle that? I guess I didn't realize this would be such of a mind game - I never expected a stall to last so long 2 weeks out the gate. Ok - now that I have given myself a chance to let my emotions come out and be a little irrational, it's time to keep on trudging. Since increased calories did not work, I will be working diligently today to keep my protein up and get in extra water. I am not going to let this stall beat me, even if it means I'm stuck here for the next six weeks. So far, I have been letting the scale beat me, but I'm gonna try and keep my focus on tomorrow. I may not have lost today or yesterday, but that never means I won't lose tomorrow. I think I will try and stay away from the forums a bit while I'm going through this process. It's hard to not compare my loss to others and wonder why my body is being so frustrating. Dear body, I'm not giving up, so please just give in already.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the kind words and encouragement. Though I'm not glad to hear that you guys have stalls too (I wouldn't wish them on anyone!), it's nice to have it reaffirmed that I'm not alone =p I have been getting in my water and using the bathroom fine, but I do think I'm retaining water. I am just gonna continue to stick to my plan as diligently as I can - it can't last forever. I am trying to limit my scale time, I put the scale away, but we have another in the house and it's just been very tempting. I will have to be stricter with myself about getting on it! I don't mind the variance over the day - I am sure throughout the day I fluctuate because of water and everything, but it's the day to day same weight that drives me nuts. I'm looking forward to when it finally drops again =) I guess it will just make it all that much sweeter when it does. Thank you again for all the kind words - it really helps!

I'd love to have some friends on there - Izuri there too =)

You look amazing!! It looks like you are happier/more confident too - which is well deserved =)

I had some lean ground turkey chili and it was one of the few pureed things I really enjoyed =)

Hey, I'm going through something similar and posted on this same thing this morning =) I think we're both stuck in the dreaded stall. From some threads I've seen a week, some I've seen a few weeks, but there's a light at the end of the tunnel. After I posted I realized I had to do something because I was driving myself nuts. I had to put the scale away somewhere I can't get to it easily. I have a new scale coming in the mail in 2.5 weeks and I'm just gonna try my best to stay off the scale until then. The stall we're going through is definitely normal. I am having the same problem retaining liquids. It's probably at least in part due to our hormones going crazy. I am getting in protein by loading up all protein all the time it seems like. I have at least one 4-6oz protein shake a day, a protein supplement drink (15g protein isopure zero carb) once, snacks of something like cottage cheese or yogurt, dinner is usually some kind of soft or ground meat/fish with some soft veggies, lunch is usually a leftover of dinner from the day before. I am trying adding a fruit or two over the day, maybe to bump up my calories just a little. I'm averaging around 500 so I'm thinking if I step it up to 600-700 maybe my body will get itself out of panic mode. We can do this! Hang in there. One day we'll wake up and it will finally come off.

I had a friend staying with me maybe 5 or so days after surgery to help out or whatever and he was talking about ordering sushi or pizza delivered, which was no big deal. I took a short nap and woke up and he'd ordered chinese, my favorite. I was a little peeved about it in the moment, even though I knew he never intended to make me feel bad. I did make up a reason and left the room while he was eating. Sometimes it's still hard for me to eat around people, but I'm hoping it will get easier for us as the process continues =) I don't know about the fairness or unfairness of having them leave their desks, but I do wanna let you know that you should at least be proud that you were strong and didn't give in to getting a hamburger too or something like that. At least post-op I can tell myself that there's no way a burger could fit in my sleeve, or that I could be seriously hurting myself if I gave in, but pre-op I couldn't use this reasoning with myself, so I know it's sheer willpower. Hang in there - You are two days from surgery and they are gonna fly by!

Sometimes my brain just can't seem to agree with itself, and definitely not with my body. I know that the week three stall exists, and I know that my hormones are out of wack, but I am having a hard time not being frustrated at my body. I think it's a combination of the two, plus the fact that the week before last I put out a tiny also. I haven't had a decent loss since the middle of week 2. I have been stuck at 298 for the past week now. I should really learn to follow my own advice better. Put the scale away, Izuri! It's much easier said than done. It would be helpful if my rational brain could emerge a little more this week. I am on my period for the third time since surgery, which was almost exactly 3 weeks ago. I am not sleeping nearly as well as I used to, and I have had no energy for the past 3-4 days. I thought that maybe I'd switch things up on my diet. I've tried diligently to get in my protein, have cut my carbs down to under 40 like my doctor recommended, and have been loading up on water like it's going to disappear tomorrow. Nothing had helped me budge from 298. My rational brain knows that this surgery works. It knows that I'm already down like 27 pounds and that's a lot for 3 weeks, that I should just be happy and put the dang scale away. I know I'm retaining water because with all that like 80oz of water I got in yesterday I think I went to the restroom maybe 3 times (TMI? Sorry.) there's just no way I couldn't be retaining. Plus, my 28s fit, whereas they were loose before. I guess there's this little part of my brain that keeps worrying that maybe that was it. Maybe those under 30 pounds are what I get from this surgery. I know that's almost certainly not true, but I just wish that part of my brain would hush up. I just hate doing everything right and having it not work. I have read through a lot of week 3 stall posts to try and keep myself from being discouraged. I am not going to give up, but I would love if anyone had recommendations of things they do when they start feeling frustrated about a stall. I am gonna make it through this and come out on the other side finally freaking losing again. Anyway, I know it's been ranted about 100 times over, but I just needed to get it out somewhere.

My gas pains have been mostly under my sternum. They especially get bad if I take anything too fast. Have you been sipping slowly? I read on another post that you can take a sip into the back of your mouth, tilt your head back a little, and then swallow so the air stays in the front of your mouth and it's just water at the back to help decrease air while swallowing. When you get the gas pains does your stomach gurgle a lot? Mine will do this if I swallow more air and it's a clue that I need to pay more attention to what I'm eating/drinking.

It's a big decision to make. I had never had surgery before either and I was scared outta my mind there for a while, but everything worked out well. I made a list of pros and cons and realized that many of the cons were things that I could help reduce the risk of after surgery. For example, you can help decrease your risk of leaks by following your doctor's plan strictly, you can decrease your risk of blood clots by walking often, and you can decrease your risk of pneumonia by using your incentive spirometer often. I didn't want to end up with diabetes in a few years and I know that's the road I was headed down because it runs rampant in my extended family. The risks of having diabetes are incredibly high too - sores that don't heal, losing your eyesight, hurting your kidneys. For me, the risks of surgery were not as high as the risks of letting myself continue at my weight. I'm only a few weeks out still, but even through the hard days I am thankful for my sleeve. I feel like I'm starting to be able to really get back and active in my life without the low energy and weight holding me back as much. It's a hard road, but well worth it. I hope that you find the answers you are looking for and are able to figure out what works for you.

I'm so happy for you! What a great feeling to have everyone noticing =)

You guys are doing awesome! =) I was able to fit into a 26 pants this week without having to lay on the bed and suck my stomach in. I can walk almost 2 miles at a decent pace and not feel like I'm going to die after.

This sounds sooooo good! I will have to try it sometime soon =) Thanks for idea.

I used to fall asleep in minutes, now it takes much longer. I had never had any sleep problems prior to surgery. Benadryl helps but makes me foggy the next morning. I am kinda bummed about it, but I'm hoping after I get back to work and everything that I'll start sleeping better again.

I always have heard Twoterville on any weight loss site I've been on.

I am wondering if this is in response to the fat on fat hate thread. I actually thought it brought up a really interesting discussion, because it's true, some people do judge others who are overweight. I think it was a good topic to bring up and talk about so that we can be aware of the things that may be going on in our heads that we don't realize until we hear another person admit it. I honestly think she was brave for admitting that she does, no matter how awful it might be, because getting it out maybe she can realize what is at the core of it so she can work through it. I will say as I did there that sometimes I feel embarrassed for other people who are very obese, mostly because of embarrassment I've felt myself before in similar situations. It seems like to me the majority of the time when people do this that it's they dislike their former self or something of the like. More like anger at yourself directed outward to others that remind you of it. Projecting, I guess? I agree with you though, it's important to remember no matter what weight we end up, we all started in the same place and a little kindness can go a long way. I don't know about other people, but I do think that personally I will continue counseling throughout this process, because I have a lot of unresolved issues with food, weight, and self-image. The sooner we can identify the things we feel and our faults, the sooner we can go about being better, more accepting people. =)