TwinsMama

Skip the scale or you'll get extra frustrated. Remember that most people stall some time within the first 4 weeks. Check your inch loss. You are still healing so your body is repairing itself. I am coming up on week 9...7 of those weeks I've been stalled, however I have lost many many inches to the point where I am down 2 sizes. In the long run it is all relative. Relax, keep with your Dr's program and it will eventually all work itself out.

I steam broccoli, cabbage, and green beans. All the others make me sick. Maybe try and steam them really well. They get softer and may stay down better.

At this point, you can probably try to get your Proteins from whole foods and not the shakes. I could not do the shakes post-op...they ALL make me sick. So I do meats during the day. A few things I noticed, you said you are doing green tea...stop that for a while, you do sound dehydrated and tea dehydrates. Try to just stick with Water (flavored with MiO/CL if you have to). Next, even if you are not hungry...eat. It really is that simple. I go from hunger to stuffed. I started buying small snack size baggies and I put small meats (or other heavy proteins if you are a vegetarian) in them and carry them with me. I eat based on time because sometimes I'll look up and realize I skipped a meal because the hunger didn't kick in when I thought it would. Take a few small bites, wait a few minutes, then repeat for about a half hour. I found I can keep my food down this way. If I try to just eat I throw it all up. It sucks but it is the only way to nourish my body. Avoid cheese for a bit, unless it is cottage cheese. It seems like you are using this as your main staple and while it is a healthy choice, your focus right now should be meats/heavier proteins if you are vegetarian. If you can do greek yogurt, try that also. Don't worry about adding extra Protein if it makes you sick. Do this for a week or so and you may find you feel a bit better about things. The key is to time your meals if you have no hunger. It really is the only way to get it all in.

Also, it depends on when you're working out. I cannot work out very much in the evenings or I get an energy burst, whereas a colleague cannot do mornings or she falls out at her desk. Try rearranging your workout and making sure your vitamins are not too late in the day.

It depends on the person. I was able to get about 10 oz down in about 10-15 minutes. The key is to get your total of at least 64 oz over the course of the day and then build from there. Don't worry about how fast or slow you drink, just get it in and you'll be fine.

It's also important to consider your inch loss. Some of us lose wayyy more in inches than pounds at certain points during our lose phase. Not sure of your starting weight, but if you don't have much to lose, that too could be it. Though that may not matter as much. Check your inch loss and you may find you are losing pretty quickly there.

May need to try this, I'm getting MiO'd out.

I wear squeem (waist chincher). I have Spanx but they never seem to stay in place like squeem. Also the leg ones roll up and that's just not cute. I was able to comfortably wear my Spanx tank at 6 weeks out with no problems. Now it is by far one of the least constricting of the Spanx line, so understand it does not bind really well, just kind of "looks" smoother. I was back to my favorite Squeem by the end of week 7. I like that more because it makes my back feel great (I have a large chest).

Don't beat yourself up too much. But also don't do this again. You want your liver small to avoid complications. Pick yourself up, realize you did an unwise action, and then move on. No need in crying over spilled milk.

I timed mine. Every couple of minutes I took a few sips. It takes time. My Dr told me to work on water first, then protein. That helped me avoid ever getting dehydrated.

I'm in Southern MD so I can do DC, VA (trying not to go farther than Alexandria/Arlington), and MD (trying not to go farther north than Bowie/Crofton). I don't mind hosting at my house either. Lots of parking but I'm in the sticks so you'd have to not mind driving to Charles County. Also, we have a lot of places in our county to host that are public. I think if we rotate, that way all the DC, VA, MD folks can attend at least one close to them, that would be great to.

I was thinking sugar/carb detox. Also check the ingredients, maybe you have some sort of issue with one of the ingredients. Are these all the same shakes?

Yes, it's amazing how the body works. I had the fuzzy brain too. Got back to work and couldn't remember anything from minute to minute. It was the pits, but it will go away. Hang in there. Hugs to you!

Oh RJ, so sorry to hear you're having troubles. Please keep us posted and I'm sending thoughts your way for a smooth process and recovery.

For me it's about health. Is that guy with the big belly working to get in shape? Does the guy with the great abs do extremem dieting to keep them? I think it is more about lifestyle than looks. I think that's why I advocate for Cowgirl to go with the one into his health. Edit: extreme

Which would you liken your situation to: A former alcoholic that starts dating a heavy drinker or the former casual drinker that then starts dating a heavy drinker? Both used to drink but only one at a level so toxic it took a complete lifestyle overhaul to stop. Here's the thing; I think although I would love to say no, don't judge a book by its cover; I have to be honest...food for me became an addiction. It was my go-to. Now having been sleeved, I could not risk picking my addiction back up for anyone not already committed/in a relationship with me. Sure you know the grips of that addiciton and don't want to judge others...but you cannot put your own health and safety at risk. For me, having the sleeve makes the situation more akin to the former alcoholic than the former casual drinker. Changing yourself sometimes requires being around those like yourself. No, you don't ditch those who've been in the throws with you, but you also don't go looking for the next getway drug either. To me, if I were to be dating (as a post-op), someone not into their health would be my gateway drug back to overeating. It's a lot easier to pull someone down than lift them up. Only you know if he would be pulling you back down?

You look great, keep up the great work!!

2x4 you've got some really great advice/encouragement here. I did want to comment on those "I lost 30lbs. my first month" posts. BTB was absolutely right about the water! Just to give you some perspective (I've probably written this 10 times today to people who are frustrated with weight loss)...In the 8 weeks since I've been sleeved, I have been in a stall 7 of those. I stalled at week 2 for 4 weeks then lost 9 lbs, gained 4 back, and have stalled since then. That's right with over 200 lbs to lose I have barely lost anything. I defy the whole more to lose, lose faster! I literally did a better more consistent loss prior to surgery...in pounds that is. Funny thing is, I have lost inches galore. I judge by my clothes not through true tape measuring. I look so much smaller than what I should at this weight. I like that I'm losing slowly because I can help my skin along the way...so some damage control. I say all this to say, hang in there. The scale will derail even your best efforts. If you can come up with a few NSVs you'll probably feel a lot better about this process. Hugs to you!

There is also ebay. I see really great clothes on sale there and people pay good money.

Keep in mind that a stall around 3-4 weeks is also normal. You just tramatized your body so it is trying to heal and adjust to what you did to it. 2 weeks seems really early to be hitting the gym so hard if you can't get everything in. I agree that you should concentrate on water/protein first...gym shortly thereafter. Also just to put things into perspective, I'm 8 weeks out. I've been stalled for literally 7 of those weeks. As in the scale did not move. However, I'm down 2 dress/pant sizes and look so much smaller than I weigh. Losing the inches is great, you may find your body starts dropping inches in the meantime.

Yup, I had gas pains for a long time. It started as right on the lower back (on one side), spread to the other side, then the shoulders, then a sharp pain right under the rib cage in the front. Hurt so bad I was doubled over. It was horrible. I'd say if you don't have a fever or any other problems, do as much walking as possible. That really is the best way to get rid of it.

Hi, this is a fairly common side effect. This post has lots of replies and is a good read... http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/78272-how-many-of-you-have-lost-hair/page__st__40__hl__+hair%20+loss#entry941211

That's funny about salsa. I tried some last night on my ground turkey. I almost spit it out. I don't like the taste of salsa any longer. It tasted like it had gone bad but no one else in my family experienced that taste. So that is added to my list of things I no longer like.

I'm in my second stall now. I was stalled for 4 weeks. Then had a loss. Now stalled again and have been now this second time for 3 weeks. I'm only 8 weeks out so out of my 8 weeks, 7 have been spent stalled. Not exciting in terms of the scale moving but the inch loss is awesome.

Sorry about your insurance. I didn't self pay but even with insurance it still took a year from the time I got my PCP on board. During that year I worked on my head. Met with a Nut, and then did a lot of reading (esp on this site). I was already pretty active. I watched YouTube (I got hooked so I had to scale back) and visited support groups (which are usually free). This helped me get in the right frame of mind because that is what this is really about. Best wishes to you and also can you possibly add another insurance plan that does cover the surgery? Self paying for extra insurance may be cheaper than paying for the entire surgery out of pocket. Not sure how that works but maybe someone here knows.