Carole

Sometimes we stay at a point and don't lose when we feel like we have. I had to stay focused and just keep consistent. I drank the shakes more to get in the 60 grams of Protein and still am not drinking enough Water. Water will flush it out and exercise. I'm not exercising either as I've been stressed and the more stressed I get: I don't do what I should. So pray and see yourself feel that wonderful feeling of removing the weight and know if you've gotten to the point you are muscle: it will take a bit longer but my doc suggested 120 would be my wt. for my height. Logically for me: 160 even that for me feels a bit high. 150 is best but I have not exercised. I have decided to continue to read again on this site and look forward to hearing stories and keep it in my mind I need to stick with the program no matter what and if I have a set back: work on overcoming it. I've eaten bread. I know better...no bread, Pasta, rice, potatoes, noting out of a box, bag or a can. Eat three times a day. I've eaten out of a box, can, bread, so I am the cause and have to get it back together slowly. Adding something I enjoy to take up the slack of what I'd eaten that I know better. Good luck to you and Imagine what you want to become. I have to do that. And we need to keep moving. I have been lax in moving going through a time with loss's... and now after three months. I am looking at my needs and getting back to taking care of myself. Carole ps: Boy that picture of the 20lbs of fat was good for me to view! Looked like french bread at first OMG

Thank you Chris, I am new to writing on here so thank you for the response. You are correct this is why I contacted a behaviorist as they help with wounds of our past; thoughts that are in the back of our minds... and I was never a couch potato; I Had sports injuries that left me aching and in need of surgeries on my feet and then the knee which I am using an orthopedic chiropractor that really has helped me avoid surgery. I followed my plan exactly. I refused to try any foods not on my list or drinks after one year and I looked and felt beautiful. I just keep looking better and better ... had some positive things to look forward to but even they were only for "a time" and I had to start thinking of my life again and how to create it but realizing: my past was still with me chose to seek the Behavoirst and work with EMDR which helps re wire the brain during situations that were not handled in a way I would have at this time. I can eat in moderation but seems my body thinks of Bread it's in my head so I'm learning how to look at an old thought and feel it, then close my eyes and change it to how I would handle it now. But: I'm still not exercising properly, walking, and I am happy to have removed the 130 lbs but it was put on from sitting and being in pain alot waiting for a surgery on my feet to be created. I ate didn't move enough. So now I am working in the house/ dumping things/ organizing/ changing/ and I'm just starting to think of me for a change. I am more focused now on what I am doing and can think: If I want to eat something or think I do, It's lovely to look at on the shelf at the store, I can pick it up and think of how it taste, I also can think "Is this healthy" and put it back if its' noooo. But I do have to STOP purchasing the wine because I am not where I want to be in life. There are things I haven't done and I have to begin to take some risks. When I began to eat: I remember trying small amts of food and if I ate just a little too much the GERD came back and so much phlem like came out of me it was horrible. So that solved GERD. I also found out if I drink too fast or eat too fast: I sneeze or get the hick ups.. crazy but it's true. My stomach feels terrible so I now feel it expanding and know: bag it and enjoy it when I get home. That's the greatest part. I know when I get out and do normal things rather than stay at home. I tire faster, sleep better and I'm feeling more energy. Hoping once this counseling is further down the road: I will feel the strength to Volunteer but with my feet and back: I have to be careful. An orthopedic chiropractor is amazing for us after surgery. They even use a acupuncture gun to help with cravings and keep us healthier in line without bodies. The wt gain I carried left my hips with osteoporosis. I take a shot and would recommend seeing someone for bone density after a year out to determine if that's the case for others. I am vitiman d deficient so taking that now to not feel so tired. I think I will have the burger without the bun next time as it just turns to sugar and seeing myself sit in a chair when I had room for half another person before is hard when I felt so happy wearing size8-10 comfortably and now the roll and flab take up space that was gone last yr. I wanted to be honest and up front with my issue because I never thought I would drink a drink again...but Water just didn't taste good even with the flavoring. This year without my animals: I will look more to myself and my needs so I have no excuse but to take care of ME♥

I've tried to post but not sure where it went when I hit send. Since my surgery three yrs ago: I was able to try foods again in small amts and take them home. I found myself with some deaths that were hard on me, lonely and drinking wine. I Need water! So...got a behavorist and hope to stop using the wine to comfort myself or shut down the brain. It's basically I need to force myself to drink Water and wine goes down better only two kinds don't hurt my stomach. It's not that I have to drink it. I feel down and want to shut down my thoughts. what a miracle is has been losing 130 pounds but I know we do gain 15ish back after we eat. My issues is not having the inner motivation to parent myself and take care of my intake! I am the blame. I do isometrics so will begin to walk soon as the weather is not cold. I will probably go back to physical therapy for my issues. I have a gym I can go to: I just don't. I went down to 137 pounds and now up to like 166ish? not sure. I feel better at 150-155. So: it's all my fault and I have to change it and scared that I can't. Take care, Carole

Do you have a support group from the office you had surgery? We have one in Mooresville if your interested let me know. I can tell you the time frames.

Good luck on your surgery. I ate pizza the nigh before as I think I ate so many my stomach was the size of a pizzzzza:( It was my first love. Sick to say but I followed the pre op diet exactly; for three weeks no food only the shakes and bars. I only lost 18+ pounds and was to lose 30! But so many people that knew me from where I came from and here who had surgeries like this kept saying: Just follow the instructions the doc gives you and the book. You will be fine. So, in the beginning getting down the shakes and water were so funny because the amounts were so small but it allowed the stomach to heal and for me to forget about the old ways of eating.. I ate all of it. Tv as a problem when they show people drinking and eating food on every show. So, I felt like I wanted to join in like a subminimal sp? message. So: my eating was from over eating and living with animals. One dog and two cats. Not many humans to talk to. So: I learned alot about myself and remember the days when I was 8-10 and used to run and do the sit ups 200 a day. After the six weeks were up; I went to PT as the wt was too much for me the past two yrs I didn't lose wt. So, I got stronger/ hurt my back/ and flew off the side of the mower putting me back a month on real exercise at the Y. I may go today as my first day but do isometrics on the bed and they work. I'd try to get pt afterwards if your not an exerciser and are weak in your strength and it's good to strengthen our backs. I am doing great and went from 272 at fasting/ to 265 operation date April 11th, after that each month went to the doc office to get weighed on the 11th or around there and I am now 185 lbs or less. I go to him tomorrow and can't wait. I have 50more pounds to remoe but I feel better already; walk faster, and can do more or even feel like doing more. There are times I feel like eating pasta but only a little works/ and chew it thoroughly. I don't feel great aferwards if it's in soup so it's a waste of room something else could be in the stomach that's a protien not a carb. So, I am very careful to not eat sugar, I do have to get my water intake up as I am low still 24 to 48 oz sporatically and need to be at 64 fl oz. but I am still using the shake am's to give me 32protiens and try to eat protien lunch and dinner to make up for the rest. I got the vitimans ordered prior to surgery so I'd have all I needed at home to prepare the shakes ahead of time in a baggie and just add the amt of almond or coconut milk, frozen fruit as ice cubes and use walnuts with no salt for snacks which is more protien. At first it's good to just have the jellows, puddings, which I hate anyways, but it takes our mind set and puts it else where so we can know: it's what we need to heal our new stomach. And as we move on to the broths and peanut butter in the shakes etc. we drink a little slower. I use a yogurt senstations? from Food lion which has plain/5grams of fat. Half in one shake also helps us to get in what we need. It takes a while to get used to it but I loved not having all those dishes in the sink... I found making food to give away once in a while is satisfying to me as I can make what I want and it looks too heavy or reminds me of the past and I dont' have a desire for it. I can try a little and there is this feeling you get and you know; best to not try it at this time, down the road; more is accepted and tollerated but until a yr. I am doing the best I can to do what I am supposed to do staying away from salts and sugars. Fake sweetners etc. except for crystal lite... water used to go down so easy now I have to sweeten it up. I went into this as I'm brought to it; remove the part that has not worked well for me... and Healing will take place. Hope this gives you Hope and know: IF you eat when your supposed to and follow directions, things will fall into place as each phase of the program moves forward quickly and you can try new things. Carole

This reflux I had prior but after as I began the week of foods to try; I noticed it after eating too fast and not a erraser size piece slowly. My doctor gave me some reglan spelled wrong probably:( but it's for children with reflux. After the week, I backed up and began to eat more slowly and it went away. I only notice the feeling of it if I eat tooo fast or the portion size is too much. I don't take anything for it now/ but if I feel full get up and walk around some and it works. Good luck...

You can look up the doc online and see success reports.

The Clear Liquids consist of jellow, puddings, Water, broths, shakes... I am out farther but I didn't want to mess with the surgery in any way so it would heal. It's in our minds if we think we have to go back to eat like before. My suggestion would be to speak to the nutritionist at your doctor's office by phone or email/ apt. Let her know what you are eating journal and how much. She can help you with suggestions to help you get through. Also the group meetings twice a month: Would be great to attend your not the only one who's bored with the liquids and people themselves post op can be a great help to give suggestions on what they did when they experienced it. I was told to follow exactly if I wanted success so just remember we had habits before and a habit can be broken. When it's just you and the menu: You cannot fail you can ask your nutritionist or doc if you can add Peanut Butter to your shakes and some spice to give you a different taste. Best wishes to your success... no one likes the first few stages but we just do them and when your clothes dont' fit and your looking in the mirror feeling that success: it's worth it.

Good Luck... Sorry for your loss's... I think you will be approved with this history in your family. It takes a long time for the process but it's worth it. I feel you are prepared as well as the doctors and staff to assist you in a way that only you will require. They want to know everything about our bodies and issues to address them for a successful outcome.

I told everyone I was having the sleeve. It was medically necessary for me so I was happy about it. When I first went out to dinner: I was on my fast; I chewed my bar in a restaurant while family ate delicious looking food but stuck to it. Since mine was in April... I have tried a sliver of cake and nuts at parties. Realized the cake didn't make any sense as I didn't crave it as much as I wanted to see how I tollerated it. But No sodas, had a little wine for my birthday but not many sips shared it. So, depending on how far out you are; you could say: We just came from eating a late lunch and I am not that hungry but thank you; may I take a plate home? Then, give it to someone else to eat:) If people ask questions: I have decided to give up sugars and carbs for a while and boost my metabolism?

I don't take them. I went to Puritian.com and got the vitimans they suggested post op on the site for my sleeve surgery. I chew a couple but they are like the ones we had post op.