Just-A-Gem

Prayers for a quick recovery. It was definitely a blessing in disguise and that sounds incredibly painful. I hope your surgeon is able to work you in soon. *hugs*

I think this is probably because most passing people don't know what a bougie is. While in research mode if they see that their stomach is going to be 80% away, that makes more impact and sense to the uneducated person than to say "your stomach will be cut to the size of a 32 bougie".

Like! That's one awesome pre-op you're on!

You go girl! Glad to hear you're doing well. 60 lbs is huge!! That's my daughter and son put together, so you are ROCKING IT!! Is that including pre-op?

Maybe drink a REALLY potent protein shake (like extreme60) after the work day to help with the soreness? Think of that as you would after a really strenuous workout.

Are you weighing everyday? Was this a one day flux or did it creep? From the paperwork that I got from Dr. Almanza it doesn't really look like you are following his recommendations. You need to cut out the chili and mac-n-cheese for sure! Those will make you retain Water sleeve or not. Mac-n-cheese is a bad choice for anyone, sleeved or not. Dr. Almanza says that beef and pork can be introduced 4 months post-op but poultry and fish are recommended. 3rdto 4th Week Post-Op (Home Soft Diet): · Blended meat and poultry (the texture of babyfood), soft poached eggs · Canned and/or jarred baby foods that are low insugar and higher in Protein (meat and chicken) are acceptable. · Low fat cottage cheese, sugar free puddings · Unsweetened applesauce, pureed canned peaches(not in syrup), mashed ripe bananas · Blended soft cooked vegetables, or overcookedand mashed with a fork · oatmeal, grits, farina

I know you are! I can't wait to taste the chalk. Good luck!

That's awesome! I will totally be using that. My post-op paperwork says "You will want to break the antibiotic in half before you take it. DO NOT CRUSH IT, it will make you vomit!! " Verbatim, including the sad face. LOL

Always the sensible one, but I can do better. Free Shipping with Re-order* *If you need to return an item or items AND want to re-order the same item or items in a different size or color, we will offer you FREE SHIPPING on your replacement order. Please call 1-800-963-4816 to place your re-order with one of our Customer Service Representatives and have the shipping fee waived. After placing your re-order, you can then make your return as outlined below. Use any of the following options to return Lands' End products purchased online or from one of our catalogs. 1. Return Internet or catalog orders at a Sears store. Just follow these guidelines Bring the Lands' End items you wish to return to any Sears® store. Make sure to bring the original packing slip for the items you wish to return. You will receive a return confirmation from Sears. Lands' End will then either credit your card, issue a refund check, or send you a Lands' End gift card, as you choose. Please Note: Sears cannot accept exchanges or returns from Lands' End stores, Amazon.com®, or Lands' End Business Outfitters. 2. Use our Easy Return label for a flat fee of $6.95. Securely package the items you wish to return, fill out and include the Return Form, and affix the Easy Return shipping label found on your packing slip. Give the package to your mail carrier or drop it off at any U.S. Post Office or collection box. A flat fee of $6.95 will be deducted from the amount of your refund. Please note: Not all orders are eligible for the Easy Return label service. If your packing slip does not have one, use return methods 1 or 3.

I misread the original post as 5' 3". At 5' 6" we really are almost identical in starting stats. Awesome!

Amazing stats!! Love seeing results like this! Except for our height, our starting measurements are almost identical.

How long will you be doing it total? I know that in previous 2 week liquid diets that I've done, I've lost anywhere from 5-10%, closer to 5 on average though. How tall are you? With your weight being similar to mine, you might have a new stalker. Got my answer, dang you're tall. LOL. I bet you get that a lot.. I am 5' 7" and three quarters. I round down though. I think as I lose weight I'll stand taller. Or so I hope.

I could be totally off base, but you said that she's not complaining about the weight loss. Could be that she just doesn't want the competition on top of all she's been facing. She could be scared that you will surpass her and feel better doing it. Just my opinion, because I have a friend (that hasn't had WLS) that I could totally imagine as her. She'll probably freak when I start losing weight.. Different situation because even being sick, I'm sure your friend feels special being the one that's lost 100 lbs.

Girl!! Return that stuff! You won't get nearly as much on eBay and you said yourself that you found what you wanted on Land's End, call and see about their exchange policy. Congrats on the new sizes!!

IDK.. I don't plan on using it. I have a vertical C-section scar that has faded after 2 years to virtually invisible, so I'm not worried. I plan on a tummy tuck anyhow... That will cut most of the scars away, I think.

I know the dilemma. When I lost 70 lbs year before last, it was the love/hate relationship with the scale that motivated me and then was the nail in my coffin so to speak. I hit a HUGE stall and my daily weigh-ins started telling me it was pointless... then I finally believed them. Y'all are making me think about my scale plans. I do know that I will be taking measurements also. I think I will do something like this. I will take measurements by tape and scale on the day I start my 2 week liquid pre-op diet. This will be it for pre-op. Next encounter won't be until morning of Surgery. Morning of surgery I will take tape/scale measurements. From there out, I will weigh weekly and tape every fourth Friday. I want to only ever see happy numbers from there on out and I know how much the scale fluctuates.

I am also a newbie in Houston! Lot's of fluffy Houstonians here, I've seen. Good luck with the insurance. Like an idiot I switched to an HSA this year, so no dice.

I think this has more to do with the differences in your size initially.. The size is based on the bougie, but if you use the same bougie on a person with a larger stomach then you are cutting more percentage away. KWIM?

*Quick Question* What exactly is the "Red Velvet Gang"? ** Nevermind, further research answered the question..

Cheddar Cauliflower soup 24 oz. frozen Cauliflower Florets 1 large sweet onion 2.5 c skim milk 2 c Water 1 c shredded 2% sharp cheddar cheese 3 tbsp AP flour 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 bay leaf 1 tsp salt .5 tsp pepper Sauté onions in oil. Add cauliflower, 2 c milk, water, bay leaf, salt & pepper. Bring to low boil over med heat; stir often. Reduce to simmer, cover & cook 8 min or until cauliflower is tender. Remove bay leaf. Whisk .5 c milk & flour; slowly stir into soup. Cook 2 min longer or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in cheese and lemon juice. You can puree this for the puree stage, or full liquids, I suppose. I think you could probably change cheese amounts to taste, but it's DELICIOUS as is... and SO filling. When split into 12 half cup portions, the stats are as follows: 122 calories 6.5 g fat 7.5 g carbs (1.8 dietary fiber) 7.7 g Protein.... I could see myself adding a scoop of unflavored protein to this and it would be just as delicious with more than 3x the protein.

Well, let's see. I will be sleeved on August 5th (my sister's birthday). In one year from today (9 months out from sleeve), I'd like to see myself in the mirror. I'd like to be shopping at regular stores and see a weight with a 1 in front. Any will do, but I'd kind of like to be close to goal if it's not too much to ask. I'll be 25 and I can't wait. I'd like to be training for the 2013 Houston Aramco Half Marathon.

Need to get the word out about the Sleeve!! http://www.webmd.com/diet/weight-loss-surgery/news/20110321/study-poor-results-from-lap-band-surgery

Looks like you are on a roll. I wish I lived in a house where I could garden. Sounds like it'd be cathartic. You are probably right about the increased activity helping the loss. I predict you'll exceed your goal for the month. I won't be sleeved until August, but if I'm even a third to goal (145 lbs) by Christmas it will all be worth it. Maybe I can lose 20-30 pre-op and make it half way. Keep on keeping on!