Stacie

Hugs! I had a rough start too. It does get better. I thought, hey, I have a super high pain tolerance, etc, I will breeze through this. I was quite wrong. It really does get better and easier everyday. Hang in there =) and safe travels home!!

I am actually much hungrier now than I was pre op. On the pre op diet (for me: only Protein shakes and clear liquids for 1 week) I seemed to be satisfied for the most part (after the first two days). Now I am not getting my protein in (I would gulp down the shakes preop) I just can't handle them. So I have a starving feeling, but the thought of food has little appeal. It is so very strange. I am so anxious to start eating something even slightly appetizing. Yesterday I cheated and licked a slice of cucumber I wanted it SO bad. I am really struggling (2 weeks post op tomorrow), but I keep looking to other ladies on the board who have gotten through this part and are making great choices and having great success. I know I can make good choices, I just need a little more variety. I am busy keeping tabs on how I will eat the rest of my life. Everytime I look at a recipe or a grocery flyer, I think about how I need to eat more seafood, I need to focus on protein, limit carbs, etc. One reason I was okay on the pre op diet is because I was super busy, as it was the week before Christmas and also, I was so excited to get started. To be honest, that has worn off now and I am just crabby alot and really tired the rest of the time. =( Hang in there!!

Wow! Congratulations on your achievement!

I wonder how big an average 'thin woman's' stomach is?

I hope the meds help you out. =) I had some dry heaves the first couple days too. Day 3 was my worst day. I did not get in much of any liquids the first 5 days. Take care!

5-6 months!! What will you be eating until then?? I am only 2 weeks out and think I may loose my mind on SF pudding, soup, and Greek yogurt. I would love to hear your post op diet. I meet with my dietitian on Friday, and I like to have lots of information.

Mmm, bananas.... I am in a hungry mood tonight I am mixing it with milk to get more Protein in, but I will try Water another day. It is great frozen too!

That is awesome that you are doing a half marathon in March!! Wow! Have done one before? That is so great. I have a neighborhood full of triathletes (sprint) and they are really trying to get me to do one in July. I am dragging my feet though... Scared of the swimming part. What is the blue rasp crap? lol Yeah, I work in health care and I don't think you are being suspicious at all, especially if they just hired a plastic surgeon specifically for WLS! lol I mean the chance for plastic surgery is high, but I figure why not give it a try! Weight lifting is good for me anyway! The main area I want to tone is my arms, because I don't like think I would ever have surgery there. And I am not hungry anymore like I was! Thank goodness. Though I am completely sick of the three choices I have. I meet with my dietitian on Friday and am so incredibly ready to start trying anything new! How are things going for you this week? :001_wub:

Remember that HBP can be genetic. My father has never been more than 20 lbs overweight, but he has HBP. And I see many patients that are thin, even active, with HBP. I am surprised that they told you it would go back to normal. Though I would think it would go down some at least. Obesity is just one risk factor of HBP.

Yay, my husband says when we go out, I will just get to pick and eat mine and he will eat the rest. Or I will get an appetizer. Not really a fan of kids meals in the first place!!

I am curious to know this as well, my mom keeps asking me and I have no idea! To be honest, I think I would want my tummy to stretch a wee bit so I could learn to live on small, but not minuscule portions someday (I hope I didn't just jinx myself by saying that!)

thanks! I am thinking of kid meals, and here they seem to frown upon that....not sure why. I can't really imagine going to a buffet for a long while.

I just back from meeting with my surgeon. I am down to 219! Wow, this is so surreal. To think of all the time I spent on WW and boot camps - taking months on end to loose 10 pounds. And here I am down 23 pounds in just a short time. My pants are already loose and it feels so incredible to not have to squeeze the button closed and not have the muffin belly. I am still concerned about my protein. They gave me some samples at the doctors office. I will keep trying things. I am going to meet with my dietitian next week. Hopefully when I can start some food I will not have so much trouble.... I am getting so excited to exercise and get moving. These chilly temps are holding me back, because I would love to walk outside - maybe I just need to bundle up!!

Oh these threads on your meal plan are making me so hungry!! I can't wait! And look at you go with your Protein intake!!!! And only one shake!!!! Oh that sounds so heavenly! eggplant bake - do you have a recipe for that, it sounds so good! Is this your first day of mushies? Day 21 is also my birthday. I am so craving some crab legs, I wonder if that would work right away.... I need a drooling smiley!! Congrats on your choices - excellent!

Thanks for putting this all down. Wow, it makes be so excited to eat food! Unfortunately I am on full liquids for 21 days But I am counting down the hours til I can EAT something!! It is so hard, but it is great to look at a example of what someone is eating. A boneless wing!!! I can't even imagine the satisfaction of eating that vs sf pudding and Greek yogurt (my current staples). I think you are doing great! Especially for travelling. And I know for me, it will be a bit crazy the day I can try real food to want something * special* since I have not eaten anything whatsoever since Dec. 16. I keep looking at recipes imagining what I will make! Thanks again for sharing!!

Thank you!! That helps, I will try it out!! (fingers crossed =)

Tiffykins, do you know if these are available in any stores? I have spent hundreds on Protein stuff and haven't found a single one, including so many that people loved. (Including the Naked juice one the OP mentioned! =) I just hate to pay all the shipping to have another full canister sitting here =(

Today I thought I would try to post some before pictures on the website. Looking through all my pictures, it was near impossible to find any of myself. And certainly very few posed pictures. Only ones that I hadn't wanted taken... It makes me so sad. To see all my friends take family photos. (We haven't taken one in five years) To see them post pictures on FB of kids and moms together on the first day of school, knowing I would *never* do that. But, Who am I kidding?? I walk around all the time, people can clearly *see* how big I am. It is no secret. But still how I hate to see myself in pictures. And the reason is -- It is my reality, I can't pretend I "am not so big" when I look at these pictures. It hurts so much to see the pictures, to know that is what I look like when I *feel* so different. So normal. So regular. But I am not. I am so very big. But I have never felt that big, I have always felt fairly comfortable in my skin. Well, for most of my life, until I gained enormous amounts of weight after having my first son. And I tried so hard to lose it. But then I was pregnant again...And again... and even though I worked hard to only gain 15 pounds with my second and third pregnancies, I was never able to break 200 pounds again. I haven't weighed under 200 pounds since 2003. That is my first goal. To weigh 200 pounds on Valentines Day. I am not sure if this is realistic or not. about 20 pounds or so in 6 weeks. But I am hopeful for it. I am so hopeful for this change and this chance at a new life for me and for my family.

Mine was only in for 1 day. It was taken out before I left the hospital.

I was sleeved on Thursday the 24th, and then had my first one on the following Wed. Natural (no meds) The nurses said I needed to have one in a week or else take some milk of magnesia. I was happy not to have to take anything.

Wow, this is a bit creepy! We have a lot in common! I am also dry heaving over the whey protein. UGH! Can you buy the Odwalla in stores? I need to try that. I also cannot tolerate artificial sweeteners, though I have been able to have the sf pudding, otherwise, I just prefer natural (for my health too). And I had a reaction to the tape they covered my incisions with. My neck actually started to burn around the central line! It looks like I have a hickey!! Well, I am glad to read your blog, thanks for sharing.