Karen B45

Well, I have lost 21 lbs so far and am at five weeks. I am ok with my progress, I think I could be losing faster if I was exercising more but I am having a hard time getting everything in (I have a super long commute to/from work which doesn't help). People tell me they notice, mostly b/c I am losing weight in my face, which I love, and I am pretty much down a dress pants size. Everyone loses differently...I think it's a positive step and as long as I continue to lose I will be happy.

I am right there with you guys on the vitamins. I literally have to force myself to eat them every night because I know I need them, but I hate them. I am at four weeks tomorrow. I am just now trying to eat solid foods...right now I am sitting here with chicken salad, which is of course chicken meat and the fat free mayo. I haven't been doing that well with milk products but so far so good. I think I am a little discouraged about food in general. I agree that it's just so much work to try to eat! Plus I get horrible gas...I don't know, I almost think it would be easier to stay on the liquids.

Ok March sleevers, I was sleeved on 3/15. I was on a clear broth/Gatorade/yogurt diet until Thursday..I went back to work and needed more energy so started my protein shakes. So now I am on protein shakes and yogurt...the question I have is I tried making my shake with skim milk this morning and it's giving me terrible heartburn....what are you eating? I have seen a lot of people sleeved around the same time I was who seem to have moved on to more foods...anyway, just kind of wanting to check and see what others were eating.

My surgeon told me that I could start back with one cup right away, but I am trying to kick caffiene so haven't gone back to it. I have enough trouble getting all my Water in, coffee would just not help with that whole necessity. I have to tell you though, there are mornings when I REALLY could use some.

I am three weeks post op today. I am not down an entire size (yet), but my work pants are definitely getting big and so are my shoes, which is the oddest thing ever. I have also gotten comments about looking like I am losing weight, which I LOVE! I don't have any pain, I am sorry to hear one of your incisions is still sore, that would suck. I did have some issues the second week after my surgery with my one incision, but that seems to have cleared up. RE: Protein, I drink three shakes a day, and each of them has 20 grams of protein, so I know I am getting enough in. I am also using myfitnesspal.com, where I track everything I eat so that I can ensure I have gotten everything in I need to. You might want to check it out, it's free and pretty easy to use. Anyway congrats to us!

I was going to say...I have worked in HR for twenty years and we usually offer a severance package that includes health insurance for a period of time. It depends on the size of the company, etc. But yes, as long as her company has the minimum number of people required, she will be able to get COBRA if nothing else. Also about the time off...I took two weeks of work, but like the other poster, I feel I could have come back sooner. I did, however, get pretty tired, but I have an understanding boss, and I have a desk job so was able to transition pretty well. I think if you did your surgery on a Thursday, and had Friday/the weekend/Monday to recover, you might be able to go back Tuesday. But again, it depends on the kind of work you do and how your surgery goes, I also had a very positive post op recovery. Good luck! Keep us posted.

WTG on the 8 lbs. Yes, I was disappointed, I had never been to that part of the country and to have the weather be crappy was not great. I actually went to the mall in Tijuana Saturday night to buy a sweatshirt! crazyness! I am glad to hear all is well post op so far....I am doing well too. Someone asked me today if I still had pain, I was like heck no, it didn't even hurt that much when I had it done. Very cool as far as I am concerned!

Wow I am jealous, we were sleeved the same day and I am at sixteen lbs lost....don't get me wrong I am thrilled to be at anything, but am really looking forward to being able to say I have lost 20 lbs! It's coming soon I know...but way to go for you!

So I am making dinner. Stupid right? You would think my daughter could do it since I can't eat anything, but no, mom is still having to make dinner. I am just going to do my best, which will be hard since I love ham and all the stuff that goes with it....one thing I was thinking was taking some and putting it in the food processor and making like a puree kind of thing, but I think the looks of that would be so gross it would prevent me from wanting to eat anything. So I don't have any helpful suggestions since I am trying to figure out how to handle it too.

Who is on my fitness pal? Would love to find some people that are using the site as well for motivation. I am also kbs1010 there if you want to add me as a friend...

Who is on my fitness pal? Would love to find some people that are using the site as well for motivation. I am also kbs1010 there if you want to add me as a friend...

I know, I look forward to getting to know everyone better on this journey! So many life changing events....I feel like a different person, I am so happy and the scale is becoming addicting, which is something I haven't experienced in...well....FOREVER! Great things for all of us.....

Gotta tell you....I had my sleeve done in Tiajuana 3/15 and it was rainy and cold the whole time I was there! I was not expecting that kind of weather, I thought I was going to FREEZE!

That's a great suggestion thank you so much. I couldn't believe how much that the milk upset my stomach. Cha Cha is right though, a lot of people on here have discussed having issues with milk, and I guess I didn't make the connection to myself until it happened! I will definitely get some when I am at the store tomorrow....my strawberry unjury is pretty tasty with Water, but I think the chocolate would be better with some type of milk type liquid. Can't say enough good things about the Unjury though...I am loving the shakes and chicken Soup. Definitely an easy way to get the Protein requirement in!

I live outside of Seattle, and the weather here is less than spectacular. So I won't be dong anything outside for sure, lol. I don't actually have any plans....boy sounds exciting eh?

Congrats! I am glad to hear it went well.

Hey everyone, sounds like we are all doing great! I had my first cup of Unjury chicken soup for lunch today -- and it was pretty good! I really wanted something with some protein in it, although I was supposed to stay on full liquids for two weeks (which would have taken me to this Saturday). Guess what...my scale broke, gah! So I know I am losing but I don't know where I am at as of today. I need to stop weighing myself but it's so exciting to see the scale finally moving! I go back to work tomorrow...boo hiss...but I am more than ready. It's not like I need more recovery time, so minus well get back to the real world! Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday!

I just had a cup of Unjury chicken soup for lunch and I ate the whole thing, no problem, and I am 13 days out from my surgery. I am going to avoid carbs, because that is a very slippery slope that I just dont' want to get on, but I, like you, have no problem getting a lot of liquid in. I think we need to feel fortunate that it's going so well for us.

I am so sorry to hear you are having so many difficulties. I am sending lots of prayers and positive vibes that it gets easier.

I am sorry you had such a rough 24 hours....my first 24 hours were ok besides my sister harassing me to get up and walk around! I haven't thrown up at all, fortunately. I am glad to hear you are feeling so much better!

I am also a proud Dr. Kelly patient.

I had to laugh when I read what you wrote about TJ. I NEVER want to go back there. I spent no time wandering around, I stayed at the hospital and hotel, and I guess I actually did go to the mall, which was in a nice part of town and fine, I felt safe but geez it's ugly there. I told someone -- you can really see why they consider Mexico a third world country when you go there. But I didn't go there for tourism, so it's all good. I just found it funny that someone else had the same reaction to it I did!

I try not to think about calories b/c I don't think I am getting more than about 800 in a day myself. I figure when we advance to the next stage, soft foods, it will go up some. I don't seem to have a lot of problems keeping stuff down but I have no desire to eat more than I am doing right now, if that makes sense. I don't like the protein shakes either. I am thinking I will be doing a lot of that unflavored protein in stuff. (like oatmeal). I am sorry your in-laws were naysayers. I didn't have too many of those, fortunately, and you know what .... I am SO GLAD I did this, it's not even something that would bother me anymore. I would pretty much laugh.

Isn't that funny? I get jealous too when I read those posts...I am never going to want to eat chicken broth again when this is over!

I am sorry you guys, I have been trying to adjust to everything! Things are going great so far....I am anxious to hear how you all are. I go back to work this Wednesday, but I am pretty much back to all my normal activities but lifting. I am on the clear diet, but bought some sugar free Jello pudding at the grocery store today and it went down really well...and tasted like heaven, I have been missing chocolate so much! I am down ten pounds, I am so happy! This is just such a motivating thing, I can't even tell you. Hope everyone else is doing well, I love reading your posts, and sorry I am not here to post more. Good luck, we will be thinking about you! You are going to do great!