Holly5.3

You are adorable! Gorgeous face! Keep up the great work, Hun!

It is scary - change is scary! I was calm until about a week before then it felt like time was flying too fast as my date grew nearer and I started to become anxious. Everything went beautifully and now I'm almost 2 months out (sleeved 10/11/12) and am very happy. Don't get me wrong -it wasn't easy, even without complications it is still surgery and your body goes through a lot! I take "one meal at a time" as my motto and from there, one bite at a time! Im still working on other eating issues like eating too fast and too much of a bite. But my weight loss is pretty steady at an average of 4 lbs. a week. I'm waiting for the dreaded stall or plateau but so far so good. A positive mind-set also helps. Good luck soon to be sleeved!

Hi again! I'm an Oct. 11th sleever. I'm doing great weight loss wise, but each meal is a struggle still-what to eat so I don't feel too full, etc. Meat doesn't agree with me. Bla-bla-bla! My start weight in Aug. was 278- day of surgery-255.5 and my last wright-in 11/30-224. 54 total and 31-1/2 lbs. Post-op! I'm psyched! I had hernia surgery also so I'm not cleared for working out until next week so I'm hoping to join a gym to really step up the weight loss and inches. Then I can increase calories too-I'm at 600-650 since I'm not working out. I need more food! Not sure my tummy will permit it but I'm hoping it opens up a little more to accommodate more food. I can eat less than 1/4 cup of solid food like chili. Plus side-everyone's noticing lately and telling me I look great! I feel pretty terrific, too!

I wouldnt advise trying until your dr or nut. clears you. Your stomach is still very swollen inside-thats why you are on clear then full Liquids only. Giving the stomach time to heal. You'll be surprised how little you will be able to eat at first. I prefer chilis and soups over meat cuz I can eat so little of turkey, chicken, fish that I feel cheated! With ground beef like in chili, I still chew, chew, chew -again because I can't get enough in if I don't. Get full too fast.

I would say that to "shrink" the stomach (if in fact it did stretch, or is even capable of stretching!) go back to a Pre-op diet: 2 protein shakes a day and one lean and green meal. No fats. No carbs. No sugar. I am 7 weeks post-op and am cleared for everything except bread. I had some crackers with my tuna for the first time (I've had no bread, crackers, pasta, rice since August) and I can honestly say those stinking 12 Special K crackers were delish but they stirred up my carb cravings big time! No more fir me if I want to keep losing like I have. Moral to this story...listen to your body!! We've put it so much-we need to be better listeners to learn how to keep on track and stay healthy...no vomiting, no over-eating. It's soooo hard, I know! But we can do this the right way-doing no more harm! Peace!

Me too! I always slept in barely anything and now I'm wearing a nightgown or big t shirt and my robe-sexy! I need full on old school flannel jammies for the first time in years for winter! I love being cold for a change! I had to buy some sweaters/knits because I didn't have anything heavier than a knit vest worn over long sleeve-T! (And I swore I wasn't going to buy any new clothes until I lost more weight, but I'm freezing and sweater dresses are so cute!) To me, this is a perk -I hated being the sweaty beast at every summer festivity and even indoors when the heat is over 68!! Now I can dress appropriately for the weather here in the northeast!

Fantastic! Your post made my lunch break!

I confess that I miss Vodka a heck of a lot more than I should! The holidays are approaching and although I'm not a "drinker", I do get very "festive" at Christmas parades (spiked coffee!) and gatherings. This year no food no drink, I confess that I hope it doesn't suck too much! Ho-ho-hum!

Here's a relatable example 7 weeks post-op: a Wendy's chili (w/ cheese)= 1/4 of the small cup serving for lunch, 1/2 serving for dinner, 1/4 serving (about 1/2" of chili left) in trash! I can always eat more at dinner than lunch because I take my time at dinner and lunchtime I'm used to gulping down something then run errands, etc. Pre-sleeve days I would have a chili AND a 99 cent burger and fries! Then go home a make a nice dinner. I love my sleeve -I'm no longer a slave to food!

The funny thing about sleep apnea is that many people don't know they have it! I knew I snored horribly (my husband really couldn't take it so I moved to the guest room downstairs-I was mad at him for always waking me to tell me to stop snoring! I was up all night already-if I'm snoring, I would say, at least I'm sleeping!). I'm back in our room-banishment lifted! Also, before surgery and losing weight, I needed an IV of caffein to get through the day. Coffee, Red Bull, 5-Hour energy drink-one after another all day, every day, and I was still tired. I'm tired now but that's because my calories are so low (600), so my 1/2 cup of coffee each afternoon is a welcome pick me up to get me through the afternoon!

That's the one! Very good Pre solid foods!

There are a few Greek yogurts for children that have pureed fruits. I found them just before II went on solids and I was really struggled with t getting a Greek yogurt down before trying these. They come in 4 or 6 packs-check Dannon.

Enjoy being able to finish anything! I can eat solids but can eat so little still that I prefer soup so I can at least finish about 1/2 a serving (take out soup, small) for lunch, about 8-10 oz. I can also eat a whole yogurt or pudding but 3-4 small, well-chewed bites of solids like turkey or chicken and I feel like I ate an entire turkey! If I mix mashed potatoes with protein I can eat more, but I don't want to have carbs every time I want turkey or chicken. I still haven't got my taste back for fish and I used to love tuna salad!

Rudolph's surprise! 

Be very proud, girl! Remember our lives are for living-Disneyland, loved-ones. Food is not life! A 5 hour meal is an event, not a meal! I'm not sure toomany people, WLS or not could tolerate that too often! I'm glad you excused yourself but sorry you got sick. I'm 7 weeks post op and still trying to gage my "full" level before that last bite too many. 99% of the time I'll feel a little burp come up. That's my red light to stop. Last night I decided to ignore it and are just one more mini mozzarella ball (nice dinner, huh?)and went to bed feeling sick, oy vey! One meal at a time is my motto!

Love it! I too went the "tell the truth the whole truth" route and believe it ir not, town gossips still got it wrong! People think I had "back" surgery not Bariatric! LOL! I'm tired of correcting people! I feel like saying, "i'm on crack, running around cheating on my husband with young dudes, not eating-simple!"

One moe thin' about protein-I've noticed, for me, 10 grams of protein satiates my hunger for an hour (1 egg=1 hour). My morning Premier shake (30 grams) lasts me from 6 - 9 am. Then I'll have a Greek Yogurt which takes me through to lunch. I have Crystal Lite with unflavored protein (1/2 scoop/10 grams) added to 32 oz water bottle and sip this when I can between meals (watching the 1/2 hr. before and 1-hr. after rules). I can't seem to get more than the one bottle down a day-Pre-op, I easily drank 2. My problem is what to eat for lunch and dinner when I'm not really that hungry and a lot of things don't agree with me.

I buy Unjury brand unflavored protein whey powder-it's saved the day for me! Post-op while on liquids, Unjury chicken broth was also something I had daily to get my 60-80 grams of protein in. For my Crystal lite drink, I put 1/2 scoop (10 grams if protein in my 32 oz water bottle with lots of ice. I also put a shaker ball in the bottle to mix well before drinking. I drink this in between meals all day as my water. Search "Unjury" on line. Even when I called the 800 number, they were so helpful.

I'm on week 7 and I've noticed I belch a little at my last bite of food. Ic I eat after the little burp, I've eaten too much-believe me, I tried! I still go to foods that I can eat more volume like soups and mashed poatis, chili etc. Meat snd poultry are not fun-3-4 bites and I'm done! so I eat soup I'd chili sheer I can eat 1/3-1/4 cup. I have a protein shake in am and protein in my Crystsl lite drink all day.

Ive lost 52 pounds since apnea diagnosed in August 2012. No more snoring = bye-bye CPAP! I hated it!! (DOS Oct 11, 2012- lost 31 since surgery!)

I was sleeved 10/11/12. It's been rough, Iknew that when I signed up for it. For me, my deteriorating health (Pre diabetes, sleep anea: both reversed already!!, back/feet problems, etc....) made me realize I had but one choice after regaining lost weight at least a dozen times in my lifetime only to find myself getting bigger and bigger again and it was really affecting my life! I've lost a total of 52 pounds since August when I started Pre-op diet. Since surgery, I've lost 29.5 pounds! I am thrilled! I am taking it slow adding new foods and am veering toward soft foods still. I'm working on slowing down too. I eat way too fast further limiting my intake. It's ok! Ive got my goals and I'm meeting them! Food is taking less of a top priority in my life. Protein-yes, food-not so much! Where are you on the journey?

Hi Aunt May! I live on Long Island NY but lived in beautiful Escondido when I was in my 20's (1980's). I worked for the Times Advocate newspaper. Missed my family so I returned back East. My two teenage daughters tease me-whenever I chat to strangers they call it Escondido-ing (telling my life story!) anyway, when I saw your tag line it made my morning!

I am 6 weeks post op and I have a protein shake every morning to give me 30 grams of protein. Mid-morning, a Greek yogurt with fruit (Chobani). Ill drink a 32 oz water bottle with Crystal lite and 10 grams if unflavored protein powder between meals. Lunch is about 2 tbls. mashed potato w/shredded turkey or chicken, soft cooked veggie-total about 1/4 cup food. I can eat one large egg with laughing cow lite cheese added-without the soft cheese, I can only eat 3/4 of the egg. Although I no longer have restrictions (except to avoid bread!), I am taking it slow trying foods out slowly and staying with soft textures. For dinner tonight my family had pizza and my husband brought me back meatballs. I ate about 1/2 of one- I used to eat a slice or two of pizza plus 1/2 a meatball hero. What a difference a sleeve makes!

I'm having a hard time getting 60-80 in every day. When I have solid food, I eat so little and I'm full that my protein intake is so low (ie-one slice of deli roasted turkey, sliced thin; less than a whole extra large egg, etc). So every other day I'll have 2 Premier shakes. I have one first thing in morning, too ever day. That's 30 grams right there, 60 on days when I have 2. Protein is important to keep up to avoid side affects during rapid weight loss -which WLS causes.