Holly5.3

32 pounds in one month! In-frieking-credible, girl! You look and sound wonderful! Keep up the good work, sweetie!

God bless you! You look amazing and are an inspiration! Good luck getting to goal!

Good luck Aaron! You are in my prayers! Everything will be great! I'm 3 weeks post op on Thursday and am so happy I got sleeved! A new year and a new you, on it's way for 2013!

I can't wait-puree starts for me tomorrow after 4 days clear, post-op and 2 weeks full. Ya BA dabba doo! So excited to have an egg- one ever-lovin' egg (with laughing cow low fat cheese wedge melted on top-can't wait!) Meanwhile hurricane Cindy rowring away outside - I better have electric in the morning for my egg- oh no!!!!!

I always drink through a straw so after surgery when I didn't, I gulped air and way too much liquid at a time. Once I got back on straws, I noticed less burping and stomach gurgling. I guess everyone is different, even when it comes to straws!

I was sleeved on 10/11 and had a 3 week Pre-op diet: 2-3 shakes and one lean and green. No sugar, fat, caffein, carbonation, carbs. I'm grateful since it prepared me for post-op diet leading up to permanent dietary changes to enable me to rock my sleeve! Here are my numbers: Pre-op 8/15/12: 278 lbs. Day of surgery: 255.5 (-22.5 lbs. Total Pre-op) today 2-1/2 weeks post-op: 238 (-17.5 Pre-op.) Total lost 40 lbs. 8/15-10/29/12.

What does your nutritionist say? Your doctor? How did you do on Pre-op diet and during 2-week honeymoon post-op? I just doesnt sound right to me.

What does your nutritionist say? Your doctor? How did you do on Pre-op diet and during 2-week honeymoon post-op? I just doesnt sound right to me.

Wow! Amazing story, my heart goes out to you and your friends and family that must have been so worried for you! When I was exploring WLS options, I have 2 coworkers who were banded and grilled them about pros and cons. One placed my hand on her stomach so I could feel it. That did it for me, it frieked me out. Neither has met goal, both lost then gained and are now losing again, finally. They both admitted to not following meal plan-it's too much to go through, even without complications, to not have total success-finally! God bless you, your story should be told as a caution for people considering the band. You will help so many people who may be undecided.

The Unjury chicken broth is great! Lots of protein, tasty and light.

Your recipes sound great! How much pudding mix per shake? I would never have thought of adding Jello as a flavoring, either. Very interesting! I'll try anything, I'm not hungry just bored, but I know if I want max. weight loss (at least until Holidays!) I'm going to have at least one shake a day to keep calories low and get max. protein in. Thanks!

I'm so glad I have my mommy here! She's like, didn't you change from liquid to full liquids on a Tuesday? You should be starting phase 3 puree 2 weeks later, also on Tuesday! I love you, ma! Right, I can move to puree tomorrow, not Thursday! It's a hurricane miracle (I live 1/2 mile from Great South Bay on long Island, NY. (1/2 way between NY city and the Montauk lighthouse)! We may need to evacuate, my sister is supposed to but won't, so my niece and her 3 little ones are with me!)

I've had Campbell's cheddar and broccoli w/skim milk, heating then strained (it's my favorite!) - a little gassy so I have a GasX first, but I've enjoyed the flavor of that soup the most. Cream of chicken, celery, mushroom, golden mushroom (more flavorful than reg. mushroom), all taste pale in comparison! My taste buds are still weird since surgery, water still tastes tinny!

Canned no sugar fruit is added to my diet on puree stage (tomorrow-yaaa!) and I don't think bananas are recommended at all on losing phase (first year). My nut. explained they prefer their patients obtain a year after surgery from complex carbs-alcohol, pasta, wheat breads and certain high sugar fruits and veggies (sweet potato, carrots). I was blown away by the success of my surgeon's patients one year after surgery, when I went to WLS seminar in August- 95 lbs, 100, 125!!! They seem to know what they are talking about--and I'm all ears!!

Totally agree! I use 1/2 scoop unflavored (10.5 gs. Protein) with about 3 cups (24 oz. Ice Water and ice cubes) with crystal lite. Sometimes it gets lumpy but I keep ice and a shaker ball in my cup snd shake before each sip. 2 of these between meals and I get had my water and Protein in just fine (and I'm still on full liquids until tomorrow-yaaaaa!) each day. Pre-op, works too, but I preferred my shakes Pre-op made with a lot if ice, skim milk or FF fro yo and some fruit. Post-op shakes are pretty boring-no fruit or milk (until full liquids!) or Fro yo and they can't be too thick, so less ice---boring!

I did it about 10 days post-op with baked ziti. The only thing I can say is I felt really bad about putting it in my mouth in the first place, then I felt gross spitting it out, then I was relieved I didn't swallow. I feel like it was one step away from eating then purging, something I did in the past whenever I lost weight and ate something I shouldn't. It scared me because the guilt afterwards felt the same. Self control is sooooo hard! I can't say I won't do it again, however spitting it out, regardless of any oral sugar absorption is better than eating more than a bite and purging! Yes, I do have an eating disorder! How else did I get to almost 300 pounds? My sleeve is the tool I need to lose the weight once and for all. But it is just a tool and this is part of the journey too.

Now, now! Let's only bring positive energy to this forum! That's why we're here, to help and be helped.

Please clarify... Your total weight loss since having your vertical sleeve surgery September 2011 is 20 pounds? What does your doctor and/or nutritionist say? I'ld be concerned about underlying health issues if you have followed your diet plans, etc.! This doesn't sound right to me! Even if your sleeve was done Sept. 2012, that's only 5 weeks. But gaining it back-again, please call your doctor today, something can't be right! Good luck!

Awe! Cute story - I hope it happens soon! As for college sweatshirt-whooo-hoooo! Awesome! Not only do I have multiple sizes in my closet, I have bins upon bins in my attic! My dream is to fit in my size 10 wardrobe that I bought the year before I got married (1990-wow! A lifetime ago!) but I was quite the fasionista at the law firm I worked at so it should be fun to see which pieces fit and can still be worn!I did have some classic designer outfits/dresses-I may need to remove a shoulder pad here and there! Unless they're back in style by the time I'm a size 10! 

Prayers and positive energy being sent your way and to your surgical team! You'll be great! Happy re-Birthday!

The only thing specifically that my surgeon said about expectations was when I asked him if it was realistic for me to lose 100 pounds in one year and he replied, "Yes!" If I do everything I can, including exercise, then I believe him. If I decide I don't want to make the necessary life style changes, then perhaps I won't lose 100 lbs. I would love to weigh 140 next October-I started at 278, last Friday's weigh/in - 240. believe!

I think I'm in the mourning stage of this journey! I'm 2-1/2 weeks post-op and I miss chewing food (especially salads!). Nothing tastes right to me either and the little bit of pudding or cream soup I do eat is boring me to tears! Puree starts on Thursday, I hope I can tolerate at least 1/4 cup of food. I try to keep thinking how I'll look and feel, but I love to cook and bake and I feel like I'm never going to eat anything I enjoy ever again! I'm cooking Thanksgiving dinner for my family-this should be fun! Oh well, time to stop pity party! My niece was just evacuated with her 3 babies from hurricane Sandy and is on her way over! Food should be the least of my worries for crying out loud!

Congratulations! Keep up the good work!

I was able to take Tylenol rapid release extra strength caps. 5 days post-op, one at a time. Now I can take 2 together in one bigger sip.