Holly5.3

I thought I'ld start a thread asking for recipes for the puree stage that you couldn't have survived without. I started this stage yesterday and spent a good hour scrolling thru posts offering ideas before I went grocery shopping. I thank God for someone suggesting Hormel Chilis. They had turkey, beef and one can left of chicken and white bean. Had the chicken just now-heated about 2/3 cup in microwave. Put in Magic Bullet to puree. It looked weird but boy was it tasty! First thing I've eaten in about 5 weeks that satisfied my taste buds! I could only eat about 1/4 cup, so next time I know to heat up only 1/4 cup at a time until I can get more down. For dinner, I'm making a ricotta cheese casserole, also an old recipe I found, so I can have Italian as everyone eats pizza after trick-or-treating!

Thanks Dallas! Was told I was being mean in another post, because I was truthful! I try to be encouraging yet I'm honest. Honesty with ourselves is part of the key to success and positive thinking! Good luck to you too!

How's my fellow Octo-sleever's doing at the 9 month mark? Weight loss, for me, is still almost painfully slow...but any loss is a positive at this point in the game since my usual MO was to lose about 60-70 pounds, feel great (start looking better), then fall off the wagon-go back to my old eating (gorging, I should say!) habbits to slowly but surely gain it all back, and then some!! I have some "bad" days, but most days are terrific! Walking, swiming, just plain ole moving -- it's the best! Almost at my presurgery anniversay (8/10/12) and hope to have lost a total of 100 by then (from 278 to 178) but if I don't, it's cool. The weight IS coming off and at some point I will make it to 178! (A year ago, I would never have dreamed I'ld weigh under 200 pounds in a year-love it!)

I apologize! I truly never would intentionally hurt anyone's feelings. I was trying to emphasize that our thoughts affect our weight as much as what we eat. I am 54 and I am a lifetime dieter and now a sleever. Only wanted to be helpful in a 'snap out if it!" Cher in Moonstruck aortic-way!

Everyone is different! My md recon. no alcohol for 6 months! I didn't listen, had a little sip of alcohol at week 4 - was so sick! Left the party-sweating, chills, feeling like I could vomit, but couldn't! Was disoriented...I felt like someone drugged me! Not fun or attractive! Hold out as long as possible! Now at 9 months, I can drink vodka and tonic or crystal light and lime. One drink is great, a second...I'm ok, any more than that is too much and I'll get the same suck feeling as in the beginning. So now, like my food , I can drink in moderation.

You need to stop obsessing over the weight and losing it- a positive attitude is more than a state if mind, it's part if self-fulfilling profacy! If you truly believe that having 75% of your stomach removed will not help you become a healthier being, then you are probably going to prove yourself right. Change your thoughts -- change your words -- change your life, I feel sorry for you.

Don't fret, the excessive restriction is typical for a lot of us. Only now at 9 months postoperative can I finish a whole yogurt, eat an egg, etc. its not fun, but it beats obesity any day. My advice is to listen to your body. If you can't eat something now, try in a couple of weeks. Know that every bite of food we consume after WLS must count. Eat too fast, too much, things your tummy isn't ready for, and you will not feel well. push your plate aside, eat more later if you have to. Take it slow! One day or even one meal at a time. Some days I can only live I've bite at a time, seriously, but in the long run doing fantastic now. Be kind to yourself it is a journey not a quick fix

Yaaaaa! Doing a happy dance for you! Keep up the great work, sweetie! You are doing it!

Sexy! Wow, you're a good looking dude! how come men become 'cut' and women need tummy tucks and/or shape wear? No fair! Keep up the great work!

Alright girlfriend! My hero! I'm working on hitting the 100 pound mark too, 6 pounds to go. What a fantastic accomplishment, sweetie! Keep up the great work!

I track protein and watch calories. When my loss stopped for 2 months I realized I was allowing zero protein empty calories to fill me a lot if the time. It doesn't take much food of any type to fill me so I need to pay attention and be more mindful. Old habits die hard and eating whatever and whenever is what got me to almost 300 pounds! Also, dehydration will slow weight loss too so keep sipping sipping sipping!

Also an Ocober 2012 sleever, my loss plateaued and is finally picking up again but I'm only losing 3 pounds a month. Look at content of food. Empty calories are the killer! If I don't eat enough (no appetite plus it's too hot out) I actually gain weight! I went back on 2 protein meals a day (a bar and a shake) light dinner and started the loss again. you must have enough protein, water and calcium supplements each day. Change your thoughts to positive affirmations, "I may have stalled but its temporary as my body adjusts but success in permanent weight loss is mine. I claim it. I'm living it and doing it!" You had the surgery- you can't give up, girlfriend! You CAN and WILL do it!!!

At 7 months post op I'm finally exercising. My weight loss is now verrrrry slow, but I'm still losing but now I'm toning. I've gotten more compliments with my last 3 pound loss (a month) due to the firming and toning. Plus emotionally, it's the bomb! Feel so much happier and excited about life when I'm active!

Dont worry! Once your natural fiber intake increases with whole foods, you'll be less likely to get backed up. I suffered horribly during the Holidays (surgery in Oct. / constipation started at 2-1/2 months). If I feel like I need to go but can't, I'll take Colace stool softeners for 1-2 days then I'm fine. Salad def. helps, but I still can only eat 4-5 nice bites.

You're doing it....going, going, gone....where are you? (LOL!) Keep up the fabulastic great work! Every day I question, "should I have, or shouldn't I have", until I put on my regular Ladies size Large bathing suite (from a 22-24 last summer!) and I'm like, "Thank you God, for my surgery!" A new you and me, and countless others! It is NOT easy (in fact I have to chuckle when I read newbies at 2 months saying, "I know how you feel about eating that extra bite".....really, at 2 months, you still have no idea...I hate to say it, but it's true. It's when you are smaller, livin' life, then you just plain forget...not chew enough, eat too fast...then dun, dun, dunnnnn......the pain! Oh yeah, I forgot I had surgery! That's when it's tough, you look "normal" but still aren't. Good luck!

Any other October sleevers experiencing a slower weight loss this past month? From Oct to Jan my average loss was 10-13 lbs. From Jan to Feb only 5 pounds, but my clothes have suddenly gotten bigger, and people are really noticing the loss, so I'm still feeling good. But I've decided to weigh myself only once a month (surgery date-the 11th) so if lose 5 pounds I can accept it in one painful weigh-in, instead of torturing myself when the scale is finicky -see-sawing up and down 2-3 pounds.

8 months post-op on 6/11/13 - down 90 pounds. While this sounds like a lot, the loss has slowed down considerably the past 4 months, or so(down 2 up 1.5, down 3, up 1, etc., etc.) Since I've made it to onderland, its been hard to get below 190. Finally at 90 pounds lost total (since pre-op last August), weighin in at 188 on 6/11/13, I am nearing my 100 pound goal. Hope everyone is doing well. I feel and look younger than I have in years! It's been hard, but so worth it! Happy summer and last day of school (I work in an Elementary School office) - yipee!

Happy anniversary! You look gorgeous! Nothing worth having in life is easy! I too have my struggles withy sleeve (9 months post op), but I cod never have made it this far without the surgery! I too struggle with weight loss expectations, but I'm learning to not be so hard on myself. Self-hatred allowed me to rationalize eating myself to death. Now I too am busy living life. I haven't found much support in recent months for my posts, so I try not to post too often. I feel chatty today! Keep up the good work! You'll make your goal. Be patient! It's not a matter of 'if' you do -- but 'when'! So be kind to yourself!

Hey fabulous Fifties!! I will be 54 on July 23rd. Sleeved 9 months ago on Oct.11, 2013. Last August at my 1st Bariatric surgeon's visit, I weighed 278, and wore a Lane Bryant size 22-24, 2XL. Today, I weigh 188 and wear a women's Large, size 13-14 (Macy's size "0"X). I am a bit flabby, but I am so much smaller-I look a million times better! Pre-sleeve, I was always hot and sweaty, flushed, not feeling or looking well at all. What a difference a year makes! I feel 20 years younger!

This may not have been in my health's best interest (or my life's-for that matter), but I answered 'no' when asked if I "smoked" during the pre-op process. I don't smoke cigarettes so I answered 'No'. Period. I had to take a pulmonary function test, cardiologist, bloodwork, etc. Nothing came up in my tests. I did have sleep apnea and was pre-diabetic-both conditions-gone since I've lost weight. I also had hiatal hernia repaired during the sleeve. I'm going to fess up-I've continued to enjoy my mj pretty regularly. If anything, it helps my asopgagus relax so I can eat. My sleeve is tight-I.e.; I ate one cheeseburger slider (out of the 3-burger serving). And 2 small pieces of calamari and 2 Stoli vodka and tonic with extra limes at my daughters graduation party yesterday. No desert-too full. A year ago at 278 pounds, I would have ate (and drank) until I was sick! Now I eat in moderation drink at least once on weekends, and smoke some weed. I've lost almost 90 pounds. Get hit on by men again (although I am happily married!) and feel 20 years old! (or at least 35! . Everyone is different. Marijuana works for me on a number of health issues (both physical and emotional). Thank God I had no complications post-op other than the small- ish sleeve! The food addiction is what was killing me slowly. I feel so much healthier now and vibrant with energy again! Every dr. is different. I wouldn't say anything and cut back before any tests. Good luck

Hi October 2012 Sleevers! I was wondering how everyone is doing - we made it through the Holiday Season (it was a long one, Halloween through New Years' - we had it pretty rough!). Post your stats with an average monthly loss so we can give newbies an idea of what's possible! Happy New Year, guys and gals! Good luck making it to your next mini or final goal! DOS (10/11/12) - 255 Today (1/2/13) - 209 Total Loss: 46 lbs. / Monthly average: - 15.3 lbs./month

I couldn't find my original post about my sleeve's finicky restrictive behavior - causing me to endure another endoscopy to see what's up...so, here goes. The endoscopy showed my stomach does narrow a bit at the lower end. My surgeon didn't see any sign of food being "stuck" or excessive stomach acids which would also evidence food getting lodged in the sleeve. He said that the endoscope may have opened it up a little more, but that it went down fine and is about the circum. of a quarter. He was a little off-putting saying, that the surgery wasn't "magjic" (no duh!) and then he asked, "What do you want to eat?" (In kind of a sarcastic tone, mind you!) and I replied, "Oh, a small salad and some chicken." I don't think he believes that I really cannot eat more than a small amount of raw foods and meats. I'm going to get another food chopper (Slap n Chop) from Pampered Chef and start chopping my food before eating! (Meanwhile, I have lost almost 90 pounds since surgery in October. My doctor likes to hear all the praise and "foo-foo" stuff, but as soon as I expressed concern and had questions about my healing, he kind of changed personalities on me. (Sad...he was my hero!) He said he could "stretch" my sleeve in another 6 weeks if I wanted him to but that "I would gain weight". So....not much left to do but drink my shakes, enjoy my size 12-14 little ole self and stop crying over the burger I'm dying to sink my teeth into! (Just joking-about the crying, not about the wanting a burger!)

Apparently, the stomach can be stretched open a little more if it is too tight, but he said it takes a year at least to see what full capacity is. Thanks for the sympathy, though! I miss chewing, but not as much as I love shrinking!