Holly5.3

Shart!!!! OMG I'm dying of laughter! The "never trust a fart" credo cracked me up last week, now this! It's weird.. Pre-surgery a gurgling stomach would be a warning that somethin's a-brewin' down there. Now the gurgling happens all the time-hungry gurgle, while-eating gurgle, post-eating gurgle. Maybe its when the gurgling stops post-op that you have to worry!! Just in case, I'm bring some 'emergency items' back to work with me when I go back on Monday! Thanks for the laugh and tips!

I'm starting week 2 post-op and I still have a swollen area where hernia repair was. However, I did measure my waist with a string, cut where it met end-to-end and yesterday I put the string around waist and it was about 5" bigger than me! Yaba daba doo!!!!! Last week after surgery my first non-dr. putting was to Michael's Crafts. I bought turquoise and wood beads and I'm making a necklace the length of my belly string to wear as a remixer if where I was. I bought nice accent pieces for my 10 pound goals (total want to lose-138 lbs.). Then when someone disbelieves that i could have lost so much weight, ill simply remive my very long necklace (that will be doubled around my neck, no doubt!) put it around my waist and show them "this us how big I used to be! This necklace is my measuring string!!" so psyched!!

Is there supposed to be a progression when adding solids (like when introduced to babies), one food added so you can tell what caused a negative reaction, if any? Or does everyone just try a bit if everything all at once-not really knowing which food the stomach wants to reject? Ive always had sensitive digestion so for me, I'm going to have add items slowly, not what I want to do, but looks like I'll have to if I don't want to feel sick or vomit! 

Hi! As usual I over-packed formy VSG on 10/11/12. Chapstick and iPhone charger, hair and toothbrush/paste was all I used. I brought pjs, robe, slippers, makeup, skin care, manicure supplies, books, cards-you would've thought I was going for a month! Supposed to stay 2 nights-released a day early so only one night. The hospital gown works best, so many things attached to you, regular nightgowns get in the way.I could have used my robe over shoulders while walking,but was too bulky, used another hospital gown over shoulders. Too naeaus to read, skimmed through an US weekly magazine. No cards. No books. No manicure. No makeup. Same clothes home that I wore there. My husband was a bit annoyed since he carried everything (too bad!). Pack sparsely - you'll be home before you know it! Ggod luck, sweetie!

I know exactly what you guys are saying about spousal food abuse! (Coined a new term!) While on liquid 2-day Pre-op, hubby calls from Taco Bell, "I forget, can you have a Cantina Bowl sweetie?" "NOOOOO! Why would you even ask me that when I'm on liquids only?!?!"(He knows I love the CB, I only had one once.) then, on way home from post-op visit with surgeon 5 days after surgery, he gets a fast food egg sandwich and coffee! OMG the smell alone was turning my stomach! He was like, "you better get used to food smells, we still have to eat!" (abuse, abuse!) I said,"I understand and appreciate that, but while I'm still on liquids and my somach is still healing from major surgery, it would be nice if you could be mindful of food odors, especially in a small space like in our truck!" Jeeeeeesh!

True, true! I cooked last night for the first time in weeks for my niece and nephew and their babies. I enjoyed feeding others again! I even made brownies for desert, and not one tiny lick of batter made it to my mouth-a miracle!! I had my soup while they all had dinner then a Crystal lite when they had desert. I did it! (they ere all like, "Aunt Holly's back!" (single tear down cheek!) the heavier I became, the less I cooked and baked-weird, but I couldn't find joy in food when I felt like it was my enemy!

Now that's the way to have a real 'food funeral! At least your (delicious, I'm sure!) dishes were home-cooked-not all full of preservatives and bad stuff, like a fast-food funeral would be! It's funny, I'm not craving junk food-I've been dreaming of good old fashioned meatloaf with gravy and mashed potatos! Comfort food for the chilly weather!

I, too am struggling with figuring out my bodies signals. Does a tightness in the center of your torso mean you're full? On full liquids still, so it's hard to gauge. I had an 8 oz. Cup of strained low far broccoli cheddar creamed soup. Small sips, took about a 1/2 hour to drink. Was that too much and/or fast? I feel weird, though. I'm sure my stomach is still healing, but will the old full feeling gome back or will it always be different due to my new stomach shape? I don't want it to burst-from creamed soup!

I'm only on stage 2, but have you tried adding Chocolate protein powder 1scoop-11 grams) to sugar free chocolate pudding? Also, unflavored Unjury protein to crystal lite raspberry lemonade-shaker cup with ice -a couple of times a day 11 grams each serving-should help!

I never had a food funeral because by the time I started the approval process, I learned a was Pre-diabetic. I knew my carb. cravings were out of control-coffee cake every day, fast food for lunch (but no fries! I was trying!) unhealthy quick meals for family dinner and desert every night! I was like, I ate it all-and so fast that I barely remember eating it. If, and when, I eat those foods again, I'll be in control- not the food controlling me! Can't wait to feel the power!

When are we allowed potatoes and healthy carbs. - whole wheat pasta, etc. A baked potato sounds like heaven on earth!

Me too on the 11th. I guess I should be happy to be on phase 2 liquids already-yogurt, creamed soup, pudding, milk, compared to the clear stage! That was hard-getting in the protein and drinking fluids! The problem I'm having now has got to be head hunger! I just food shopped for my jello and soups and bought stuff to make a tomato sauce today and baked ziti tomorrow. Even though I can't eat it, I want to smell it! (sound weird?) Another problem is forgetting about the surgery (that's how great I feel!) and taking too big a sip or spoonful of something! I just ate 3 tiny tsps. of yogurt but it was too much, too fast and it feels like I have 3 slices of pizza in my gut! I need to switch to baby spoons. That should help. I hope I'm not torturing myself with the Italian dinner, but my mom has been here helping me and cooking every night so I figured she can relax tomorrow while I cook big -I return to work Monday, yaa!!

Hey Queenie! I am feeling wonderful! A little sore, nothing that Tylenol can't handle. Getting in plenty of liquids and Protein. I'm down a total of 13 pounds since surgery - say what?!? If I didn't have a witness when I weighed my self, I wouldnt believe it! Going back to work on Monday. I miss being up and out, but I do tire easily so I'm sure my first week will be a challenge. How are you doing?

I figure the honeymoon will last about 2 weeks (don't they all!) then the weight loss will be more normal 1-2 lbs. My goal is 12-16 lbs. a month until I reach 200. - hopefully by mid-January. So I can be lower than my latest lowest (on Jenny Craig 2 yrs. ago)-207.

I think fear of the unknown is what propels some people to automatically react negatively to any Bariatric surgery. If they love you, they will become informed and enlightened that this is the best choice for you. My mom has been staying with me ( meanwhile I feel fine and have a husband and 2 teenage daughters to help out!) but I think she was still worried and wanted to be here (I live in NY, her and my dad live in FL) after my VSG last Thursday. Good luck!

Leather. Leather boots. Leather jacket. (matching bag-why not). Nice fitting jeans. Feeling sexy again. Vacation anywhere. Victorias Secret. 

I love 'tots amaze!' I'm so excited for you! I have a feeling that by the time you read this, you'll be under 3! I know that I'm still in my 2-week post-op honeymoon phase, but to actually see the numbers go down every single time I step on the scale is a friggen glorious thing! I'm still in shock how I skipped over 250 (from 255.5 to 248) seemingly over-night! For years passing that notch on the old-fashioned doctor's scale alluded me week after week. Now I'm looking forward to going below 225. My lowest recent weight was 207 (Jenny Craig 2 years ago. Plateaued. Gained it back overnight. Started Pre-op at 278!), I will Celebrate getting below 200! Party like it's 1999! when I weigh 199!!

I see there are chewable calcium supplements-how are they? Does anyone use 'Bariatric Advantage' brand? My dr. sells that brand via his web site. I thought it was 'sketchy' so I never ordered from it. Now I see BA carries chewables which I assume may be hard to find. Anyone?

Great idea (Bariatric cookbook)! I collect cookbooks, never occurred to me. For the first time as a home cook while on my pre-op diet I started focusing on veggies, low fat, sodium, etc. I started making up my own recipes and my family loved them too. I have no doubt I can still cook for others (hubby's favorite is pirogues and kilbassi), I know I'll enjoy trying to get the best bang for my buck in each bite when it comes to my meals. I consider myself a food addict because what I was going to eat next was always on my mind, like a drug addict. Thankfully, my body was reacting to foods I loved- so severely (lactose intolerance, no spicy foods, etc) by virtue of that alone, the amount of food I could eat and what, was affected. I wasn't enjoying food as much as I enjoyed the thought if it (make sence?) 

I love to cook-Italian, Greek, Mexican, Polish-you name it! Last year as I started regaining a 70 pound loss, for some reason I stopped enjoying baking, cooking and I think food in general. I was getting depressed, cooking and holiday baking, especially were things I enjoyed doing but just couldn't do. I didn't realize it until my daughters were remembering last Christmas and the fact I had only baked 2 kinds of cookies, and not the family favorite (a lot if work!) and didn't make trays of cookies for the office, as gifts for neighbors, etc. I was like, "I just couldn't do it! I don't know why!" Yesterday I made my famous chicken salad with cranberries and walnuts and was so proud when I remembered NOT to taste it! (I'm only on stage 2 liquids) I can't wait to be a tiny woman cooking big meals, but only enjoying a taste here and there. A cute outfit and retro kitchen apron feel better than anything I cook or bake tastes!

1st weigh-in with nut. - 8/15/13 - 278 Day of surgery - 10/11/12 - 255.5 Today, 8 days post-op - 10/18/12 - 242.5 Total loss- 35.5 lbs. 

I know, I know! Every day I feel better and better-I kind of forgot about my sleeve and took a normal size sip of strained cream soup-it felt very strange! I could feel that it was too much (I'm 8 days post-op today so I guess my stomach is still swollen)-a heaviness in my chest. Could feel like I would vomit if I took a second sip of that quantity! I realized what I did and was amazed that too much soup at once could feel so much like a 10 course meal!