LilMissDiva Irene

Julia, I really have no great words of wisdom - only that I completely understand where you are coming from. I had a downer moment last night, wondering why I had to do this surgery to beat the food addiction, and even missing my food too. I could have written that myself as you say you would just avoid food all together if you could. Couldn't agree more. However I learned just yesterday that it does get better over time. I think we should rather Celebrate our freedom from food right now while we have it. We will get our tastebuds and appetite back again someday... but hopefully by then I'll be close to goal! :biggrin0: Hugs!!

It just sounds like you are going through the typical 3rd week stall. There is no way you are eating more calories or even equal to what you are expending. It will have no choice but to start picking up again. Are you doing any walking at all? That helps me up my metabolism and as long as I'm doing that, even 30 Minutes a day, I'm losing. Also, how are your clothes fitting? Go try on some clothes in your closet that you haven't tried on in awhile and see how they fit! That is such a huge motivator for me and keeps me on the positive side. If you don't have any, go window shopping and see what size your fitting there. All the best!

I think I'm going to go invest in one. The big bulky puree machine I have seems like a bit much right now, with cleaning especially. I'm even getting tired of cleaning my blender all the time. I'm going to need it a lot and I really don't want to have to clean the blender or puree'r 4-5 times per day! :biggrin0:

Oh you should definitely make a short trip out of it. There's a lot of great things to do there, and it's so beautiful. I say go for it! :biggrin0:

Congrats on your surgery!!!! Glad you are ok and doing good! I didn't make my window, so you're already doing better than me... LOL!! :biggrin0:

Oh wow PA... really? That does seem kind of harsh for a salad. However, trust in your surgeon that s/he knows what he's doing. I'm sure there's good reasons in what they're doing. Hugs! If anything this will keep you on track 100% now, huh? It's only 2 weeks... you can do anything for 2 weeks. After surgery you won't even think about food... LOL

Hey everyone! Time to resurrect this one! I am less than 60 Lbs to getting there.... whooooot!!!!!! Gettin' there!! :biggrin0: :scared0: :laugh0:

Good morning! So I'm down another pound today!!! I'm so happy I can't stand it! I've found something finally that is working for me. I have to admit for a little part of me felt skeptical because of what I went through with my band. But this time it's so different. My body keeps shrinking and I just keep losing. I have no appetite so I have to remind myself when to eat, and when I do, I never finish anything. Maybe by half or less. I made some of Monica's Soup yesterday she shared with me post op. I first had it for the broth, as it does have a very thin broth. It was sooo delicious and it has so many good nutrients. It made me feel so good when I had her broth. Now that I'm on the thicker soups stage I decided to see how I did with the soup and putting it in the puree machine. I juiced it up really good and made sure it was very thin and soupy. I did mix it up with a few tiny cubes of chicken too. I wanted the natural Protein and to see how I did with it. Wow let me tell you, my stomach LOVED IT!!! It said, more, more, more!!! LOL I drank half my mug and it made me feel better than I've felt since surgery! My stomach is becoming more acclimated to eating finally. I was also able to get in about 3/4 of the daily recommended of Water alone yesterday. Yay!!!! I feel great! Last night before bed though I felt a little bout of sadness for some reason. It was kind of weird, because I hadn't felt like that at all since surgery. I was wondering why I needed to do something so drastic to finally have a tool that will help me overcome obesity. I mean, I'm over it now, but it just snuck up on me and took me by surprise. It was a very deep moment for me, and I didn't know how to respond. I even teared up a little bit... :crying: Even though I had to question myself on why I needed such a drastic surgery in order to get my life in check, I have to give myself a pep talk. Sometimes things like that need to be done. I couldn't do it on my own, and I did need something that was truly going to stop me when enough really was enough. The band never did that, it never stopped me from doing what I wanted. Then when it was too tight I found other ways to cheat it, rather than starve. Ah, the hunger... don't miss it!!! However it does seem I've gone from one extreme to the other. I was never going to lose weight with it though. It turned my mind into some kind of mindless eating machine. I could NOT control it. Since surgery I've only felt head hunger a few times. It's so easy to squash it though because my stomach does not feel hunger. It was not easy at all with my band though because my stomach wouldn't let me get those thoughts out of my head. On to a new point, today is the last day of this month of September!! Now I can say, as of tomorrow that I had my surgery last month... haha! :laugh0: Anyway here are my totals for this month. Since surgery I have lost 13.8 Lbs. For this whole month, which is the same total including my Pre-Op Diet I've lost 22.8 Lbs. I was wearing size 22/1-2X in the beginning of this month. I'm now wearing my 18's again!!!!!!!!! I have not fitted them since before the Christmas season of last year! I said earlier that I'm in Heaven! I really can't explain it any better than that. I'm completely ecstatic over this. My tops are in XL-1X. For a long time I was starting to feel like I'd never fit into all my cute clothes again. It was my half-way point from where I'd started. I used to wear a snug 28W/3X at my heaviest. :scared0: I absolutely refused to make it into the 30's, and included in that being told I have high blood pressure I'd decided it was time to do something. That was almost 6 years ago now. I've been fighting my weight ever since, trying so many things I can't even begin to list them all. Including a previous weight loss surgery. Here is the cherry on top... I have not needed my high blood pressure medication at all since surgery. I'm making a PCP appt. to discuss this with her and see what she thinks about it. Anyway, in closing today I'm on the right (and fast) track to getting this thing resolved. My lightest with the band was 227, so you can imagine when I hit 226 how that day will be a GOOD DAY for me!!! :biggrin0: Enjoy your successes and Celebrate life! For it is beautiful and full of promise. Irene

Its probably best not to go off your surgeon's post op diet schedule. I'm 14 days out now and not even close to feeling like I can try puree's. I'd say don't push the envelope that much. You may just set yourself back even longer by doing that. Hang in there, you are not alone with how you're feeling. I'm still having trouble just eating thicker soups! But every day really does get easier and easier.

Most vitamins, minerals, and Iron supplements can be hard on the stomach and really should not be taken on an empty stomach. It's best to take a few drinks of your Protein shake then take your vitamins/supplements and then drink more.

Dave, keep fighting for your sleeve. Lots have to appeal and end up getting what they want down the road. DO NOT GIVE UP!!!! I wish I could take back these useless scars I received when I got banded. True, everyone needs to make up their own minds on which surgery to get - however, I PERSONALLY will NEVER suggest the lap-band to anyone. Never. It never once worked for me personally. It was nothing like it was "advertised". In fact when something like that needs to be advertised, I say, "Buyer beware". It's no small thing! It shouldn't be treated as though it is either. Though it didn't cause any major damage to me, I know so many that have had some very serious problems caused by the band. It's reversible in the fact it can be removed, but what it leaves behind WILL be permanent. Please keep that in mind. In fact, I would look up "complications with lap-band" before considering it. It's pretty scary. I have no direct or indirect exposure to the Gastric Bypass so I'm not help with that. If someone could get help from it, I say do it. Especially if the person has diabetes, as it cures this ailment immediately. There is a procedure for everyone, depending on your personal needs. I hope it works out for you! Please keep us posted!!!

I do feel a little like I have no appetite and I did feel a tiny bit of nausea after eating some potato Soup a few days ago. Yours sounds a little extreme though, have you contacted your surgeon just for follow up? They might have some advice to help you with it. I've been upping my water and it has helped a lot, but you mention you've already been trying that. I hope you get to feeling better soon~!!

Cherise, you certainly are not alone. I was starting to feel out of place myself because I was sleeved 2 weeks ago now, and I'm still having a hard time with even thicker soups. I see some are already on their puree's that were sleeved within a few days of me. That is so far beyond me I cannot even imagine it. I'm supposed to be able to begin my puree's on the 5th, and I'm wondering how I will even hold up. The thought right now is kind of scary. Sometimes I'm even afraid I'll live on protein shakes for the rest of my life!! :biggrin0: However I have to remember that every day is a new day, and maybe that day when I wake up I'll be ready for it. I don't know... but it also seems like the day they cut out my stomach they took not only my hunger but my appetite too... it's so weird for me... I hope I can get used to it. :001_smile:

Rock on with ya bad self!! :001_smile: You look great!

:biggrin2: :001_smile: I'll be sure and keep that in mind... but you're not pleading your case too well when you tell us you lost 3 Lbs. in 40 Minutes. :biggrin0:

HOORAY US!!! We are all doing so super, Congratulations on our weight losses so far! It'd be interesting to see exactly how much us September Sleevers are down collectively. :biggrin0: Jordien, oh my word - you still have your drain in??? :001_smile: I got mine out on day 3 and it couldn't have been soon enough! It hurt so bad... ack! When are you supposed to have it removed?

Those are great ideas! Though I probably will stay away from citrus juice for awhile. I had some lemon about 5 days out and it gave me a weird feeling in my stomach. I think I'll wait until about a month out, they can be pretty acidic and it might be too much for me right now.... unless they are just flavoring? :thumbup: You're quite welcome Denise, I'm glad to help! :001_smile: Good morning everyone! I am exactly 2 weeks post op today!!!! Also, today is official weigh-in day and I am down 12.8 Lbs from surgery day AND 21.8 Lbs including my Pre-Op Diet!!! I weigh 259.2 Lbs today!!! Yeah!!! Back in the 250's and only a hop skip and jump away from my mini goal I set up for myself barely a week ago! :biggrin2: Not only that I am down over 70 Lbs from my highest weight of record!!! Yay!!! I've been able to keep that off for 5 years now! :svengo: Not been easy AT ALL but I'm doing it!! As of today I will be back to work in one week. :crying: That's the only thing I can say I'm not all that jazzed about. LOL But gotta go back sometime and help pay the bills. I will also just be starting my puree stage. I'm feeling a little leary about it to be honest. I'm still trying to work on my thicker Soups. Not only that, I'm even still trying to make sure I'm getting my 64 oz. of water in. I don't count soups or anything thick like that. I want it to be thin liquids that I either make with water or is water. I thought back and noticed I'd not been getting enough of this in the last few days. I'd not been feeling all too great and I'm pretty sure that is why. So around 4 PM last night I made a big push to get in as much as I could before bedtime. I got in about 50 oz!! Whoot!! I feel great this morning to boot so I'm positive that was the reason for my feeling fatigue. Things are going so great for me right now! I'm able to fit in a lot of clothes I haven't worn since last summer, I'm losing like crazy, I'm never hungry (in fact need to remind myself to eat... never would have imagined!!!) I don't have to workout 3 hours a day to get results... I'm just in seventh heaven right now. NO ONES TAKING MY JOY!!! Have a great day everybody! :biggrin0: Make it success, whatever you do!

Though I'm only 2 weeks out, I felt the need to chime in. I've been very successful so far and I know I'll get to goal. The main reasons for me is that I FINALLY got relief from hunger! That is what I wanted out of my band which I never got, but was assured I would get. Also, I am really following my plan to a T. I struggled so much with my band that I am working even extra hard now to ensure this one will work. However interesting as it is, it's still not even half the effort of the band...!!! go figure... lol

I've never tried it with just Water, but added it to some Soup and it was OK. It's got a lot of calories in my opinion so I try not to use too much unjury. HTH!

Believe it, I was shocked when I seen that on his surgery report! Glad it went fast though.

That is great news Tracy! Please let us know how your appointment goes! :confused:

Thanks Sleeve! One day at a time! :wink0: Yay Congrats Denise! You will be absolutely thrilled with Dr. Aceves and his staff. They are A+++ in my opinion! Things you will need... Get some samples of Protein powders and drinks. You will need that for sure after surgery. Get some loose fitting pajamas and underwear (including sports bra or front opening bra) and clothing. Slippers. The floors are all tile. A heating pad will help with comfort and gas pain. A good book to read or something to keep you occupied while in the hospital. Make sure your cellphone is hooked up for international calls. I did this easily with Verizon and turned it on the night before I got into Mexico and turned it off the day I came back to the US. Get some liquid or chewable supplements, like Vitamins, Iron, Calcium etc to last you the first few months. If you have a companion coming with you, make sure you let the Coordinators know so they can get you a room with the big couch. Get your passport ready, you will need it when you return to the US. You can just get the card, its cheaper and used for land travel to Canada and Mexico. Have a nice comfy pillow from home. The hospital ones aren't that great. If anyone has anything to add please chime in! I can't really think of anything else right now. So today I really don't have anything much to add except I had some problems getting potato Soup down yesterday. I had it all blended up, thin... all that but it still made me feel nauseous. I guess that's a no-no for now. Besides it's potato so I can live without it.. lmao! I had some cheese soup today and I feel fine. It's so weird how one thing, even though it's the same consistency I'd already been eating can give me a tummy ache than something else. :confused: Oh well I guess this is just a learning curve. I'll get it down!!! Have a great day everyone!!!

Glad to hear you are feeling better! It can and will get better and better, but keeping up with our fluids and protein is the biggest factors in play.

It's better to be overly cautious than to throw it to the wind. I had blended and thinned out some potato Soup yesterday and my stomach did not agree with it. The funny thing with this surgery is we never know what our tummies will like or not like while it's healing and getting introduced to new foods. I felt nauseous for a few hours and I knew I wouldn't be trying that again for a long time, or maybe ever. I may not even try mashed potatoes for a long time either. To the OP, don't be in such a rush to try things. We may feel "OK" but as we introduce ourselves to new things we never know what will stick and what won't. Also, getting back to sugar isn't the best idea. There are so many alternatives out there rather than push pops. First heal, then go into full on weight loss mode until goal. If you start going down the wrong path now you will find it more difficult to steer back into the right one. Likely you are free from the sugar addiction now. Stick with it, don't sabotage yourself. Me personally I'm staying on course and doing what my surgeon suggested. He also said everything I try for the first time will be a learning curve. Start slow and if it works great, if not - move on to something else or go back and BE PATIENT WITH MYSELF! He made sure I heard that one... lol