Heatherr

7 hours? If I were not a married woman I would be asking for proof.

Hmm, my visual is foggy. I may need pictures....for scientific research and all.

http://www.graspingforobjectivity.com/2012/07/gap.html After seeing this I am now heading to Express.

I tell you what, I won't be kissing his butt afterwards, or trying to make him feel special. ^^^This is telling.

Cooking for the family was tougher int he earlier days post op. I would be sure to buy foods that were easy for hubby to prepare. Though I tried to do most of the cooking, there were nights I would just say, "Honey, I am havng a difficult day with food today. I got this out for dinner. Could you please make dinner tonight?" And I would make sure it was something really easy. I would maybe pre make a salad and toss some potatoes in the oven, so all he had to do was toss some meat on the grill. That way the family had a decent meal, but hubby didn't have to do much to prepare it, and the fact that I had it all set out and ready to go showed him I cared. Then I'd go hide in the bedroom until dinner was over. He was much more apprciative and accomodating when I put it out like that than if I just said, "I can't do this. Dinner is on you." Having said that, I will say it's a non issue now. I enjoy cooking for the family and sit with them and eat with them at every meal.

Is it superficial? Maybe on a baser level, but am I not equally superficial for loving it and appreciating the level of attention I used to get? It is what it is. <shrug>

Morning wood interests me <shrug> Carry on...

You do realize that 99% of the women reading this are silently cursing you, right?

I'm 5'4'' and I know I can't possibly get to 130lbs (without starving myself).....I cannot imagine that at 5'7'', but we all have different body shapes. 130 would put me in a size 2. I'm 37yo and have had 5 children. There is no need for me to weigh 130lbs. I think I'd slap my doctor for suggesting it.

Why are you still with him? Ask yourself that question and be honest in your answer. The first years should be a honeymoon and all love and gaga. You started out rocky. That's a huge red flag. Sometimes we get comfortable and are just afraid to make a change even if it's clearly for the best. You owe yourself too much to settle.

I woke up catheter and drain free.

We have 5 kids all in multiple sports and dance and hubby coaches. I live by the crock pot. French dips: I put whatever huge hunk of beef I have in the crock pot. I buy what's on sale, but I prefer chuck for this dish. Pour in a jar of sliced pepperoncinis with juice, an onion sliced and 4-10 cloves of garlic. Cook until you can shred the meat. Depnding on how much broth there is, I'll add some beef broth because we like extra juice for dipping. Scoop mixture onto a bun and top with cheese. Serve with a side of the juice for dipping. I usually put my sandwiches in the over for a bit to melt the cheese and make the bread crusty, but you dont have to. Brown some bone in pork chops. You need the bone for flavor. You don't have to brown them, but this step keeps all the coagulated meat juice from making the dish look not as pretty. Toss in some corn, black Beans and salsa (depends on how many you're serving) and salt and pepper generously. Cook until chops are falling off the bone (depends on thickness) The corn, bean, salsa make a delicious side dish to go with the chops. I throw a whole roast in (beef or whole chicken) with whatever veggies I have on hand. Cook all day and serve. Ham works great in the crok pot, but it's better with the cheaper hams and not the spiral cut. Just get a shoulder or butt ham and put it in the crock pot with green beans. The salty juice from the ham makes the green beans taste so good. I've also made turkey tetrazini with leftover thanksgiving turkey. I found the recipe online and it was very good. I make chili in the crock pot all the time. I toss a whole piece of pork with a little bbq sauce and cook until I can pull it apart. Add more bbq sauce for pulled pork sandwiches. I put boneless chicken thighs in with a bag of broccoli, a can of pineapple chunks, onions, peppers and teriyaki sauce. Cook until done (about 4 hours) and serve over rice. I make baked potatoes in the crock pot in the summer. Sure, they're better in the oven, but I don't have a house that I can turn the oven on for an hour+ during the summer, so I do them in the crock pot. ^^^^^These are all regulars, tried and true, that I make often because we are just so busy in the evenings. These are recipes I make for the family. Clearly I modify what I eat, but usually it's just a matter of not having the starch and I make salads to go with meals 5 nights a week typically.

I don't do labor intensive, but my advice will apply. I had to up my calories and carbs or I would get faint or poop out before my day was over. Keep that in mind. Nobody can live on 900 calories and work 10 hours in the heat doing manual labor. I had to up 400 calories and 15g of protein just to get through a regular day. It was a long day and busy, but I was in class for 6 hours of it just sitting. Still, if I didn't eat more and add some carbs, I would not be able to then do housework, do evening sports and still have any ounce of brain power or stamina to then study.

My husband isn't overweight. He was worried at first because he'd rather have me fat than not at all, but now that the surgery part is over and I"m my old self, the self he married again, he is thrilled. I think he's mostly thrilled because he sees how happy I am and that it really didn't affect our lives all that much aside for a few months. Sex is better, so he's happy about that. Also, he wondered if I were doing it for another man. He's a jealous bastid that way, but he now sees I really did do it for me. I also think he is enjoying the newer sexier me because he now likes to go shopping with me and "suggests" things for me to try on. He came home with a dozen new thongs for me, so yeah, he's happy.

My hair loss was bad from about months 2-6 post op, then it tapered off. It's normal at 10 months post op and while thinner, doesn't look too bad.

OH, yeah, I don't do well with hot dogs either, but no loss there. They're so bad for you and not all that good anyway. I forget about these things because I don't eat them, but I do remember having half a hot dog as a test or to taste and it was not pleasant. Healthy sausages are fine though. I can happily eat 3/4 of a grilled chicken sausage. When I say I've eaten fried foods it's more like 8 sweet potato fries or one piece of general Tso's chicken and all have been fine. I would be scared to eat a full blown fried meal. Partially becuase I'd have an axiety attack over the calories and fat and partially because I think it would make me ill, but I haven't tried. For me, I just love seafood and chicken so much that I don't feel deprived. I'd rather eat jerk grill shrimp than a hot dog any day.

Just reading and not close to maintenance yet. Soup is a slider food for me as well, but my tummy just loves it so much. The worst slider food that I visit is wine. If they could just make a wine that stayed in the stomach, I'd be all set. I kid! I kid! Sorta

^^^This is totally me, and maybe why it has been so effortless. I do stay away from simple carbs, but I have tasted things. Many sweets are too sweet for me now, but I never had a love affair with them before. If the kids have dessert, I may have a taste. I have had some fried foods, but again, not a meals worth. The only thing that has bothered my stomach was lobster bisque. I had that early post op and I'm thinking it was probably the fat content. It's likely made with cream and it was just too rich so early post after being on such a strict diet for the prior month. Also, dense raw veggies like radishes and carrots sit like a lead weight.

Another example: Texas Roadhouse. If you go before 6pm, you can get petite portions for $7.99. I mean, really, how can I complain when I can get a steak dinner with salad and a side for $7.99? Who cares that I can only eat half of it. I just had a delicious steak dinner for $7.99. My dh doesn't mind helping me with it at all.

I have worked in the restaurant industry for years as well. Sometimes the servers are told not to allow it or they can get disciplined. It's because some restaurants don't make any profit on the kid's meals (the better meals, clearly mac n cheese and hot dogs are all profit, but I'm talking about the real meals that are just portioned smaller) Still, the manager would have to take notice, so I just ask politely and if I see a hesitation, I let the server know that I am a good tipper. It works every time. Seriously. The card seems useless. If restaurant policy is to not allow kids meals to adults, the card doesn't change that. For me, it's my business as to why I want to order what I do. Use the add on and side menu items and ask your server with motivational factors like a nice tip.

Order the sides and ask. I've never been out to Breakfast where you couldn't get a side of sausage or 1 or 2 eggs extra. That's how I order because I don't do potatoes. Last time I went to Perkins I got 3 egg whites. It was under $4. Doesn't Friendly's have a 2 egg breakfast for under $3? It's just that we eat out often, and I have never had an issue, I just had to be creative with the menu. Many restaurants also offer "add ons" They are there to increase your check amount. I just get an add on to hubby's meal. Outback, for example, you can add on a skewer of grilled shrimp for...?? can't remember, but $6ish. Boom, that's my meal.

Go slow in the beginning and don't be afraid to try foods that disagree with you at a later date. The two times I got sick were because I ate too fast. Both times it wasn't something I hadn't eaten many times before, I just got distracted while multitasking and trying to rush out the door. Learn your cues. Mine is gurgling. I've read about others doing the runny nose sneeze thing. GL. You'll learn your body as you go along, just go slow.

Sure, but it was ultimately his poor diet that caused the weight gain, not being hungry. He admitted to a poor diet. I don't often drink with meals because there just isn't room, but if I'm extremely thirsty, I will. I also have fountain diet coke sometimes now. It doesn't cause me to be hungry. IT just satisfies my desire.

MMMMmmmm. I suddenly want some combos.

I don't understand why drinking with meals and drinking diet soda caused your weight gain. It was more likely your poor diet, but gl with your journey.