avanti

I planned to wake up early to drop my car off for service to avoid the Saturday rush..(read avoid people).. but well.. i was late.. reached the service station at 9:30.. I've been going there for almost 2 years now.. and i usually am invisible.. but today... man.. everyone in the waiting room were looking at me and smiling.. i had to turn and look back a couple of times just to make sure there was no one behind me.. i mean.. there were no dirty looks.. people did not cringe when i took an empty seat next to them.. man that sure felt good.. now.. my weight has been increasing everyday this week.. but my body fat percentage has been going down.. but the devil on my shoulder keeps me nagging about the number on the scale.. but today.. with all that positive energy from the service station the angel woke up.. and said.. lets buy you some clothes.. and I followed her orders.. so.. i was in Kohls.. as usual in the plus size section.. and checked out the racks that were 80% marked down.. and i found a beautiful pair of jeans in size 18.. and a few tops in 1x..well.. (i had to force myself to not pick 2x) and off to the dressing room I go.. i look at the jeans.. and what i see.. it was actually 16.. on a 18 hanger.. i was disappointed.. the devil was making his presence known.. but then i tried it on.. and it FIT.. button, zipper and all!!!! i was so excited i skyped my mom from the dressing room.. then the tops.. but the 1x's were loose! to say i was happy is an understatement!!! i get to wander out of the plus size section for the first time in a long time.. so there i went.. in search of XL.. into uncharted territory... i thought that everyone was looking at me thinking I am crazy.. :ph34r: or lost my way.. i did not know where to look.. there were so many sections.. i never paid any attention.. and now i am lost.. every brain cell was telling me to go back to the plus size section.. my safe haven.. but i dared it out.. and picked up a cute skirt in XL.. back to the dressing room it is.. with my new finds.. all in XL.. and they all fit.. and then it was the skirts's turn.. and guess what.. it was a L skirt on an XL hanger.. the angle nudged me to try it on.. and IT FIT! IT FIT!!! i just wanted to sit there and cry.. i've never.. never worn anything in my life that was a size L. I've come from a very tight 3x to XL/L.. if it was not for the sleeve.. that would have never happened.. (well might have happened..but yo-yo'ed.. if you know what i mean.. )

7 years ago.. when I graduated from college.. i thought.. i'd be lucky to live to be 40.. I was a 22 year old with these sad thoughts!! now.. 5 months after the sleeve.. all i can think about is living to see 2084AD.. my 100th birthday!!!

i thought i'd try the stevia fro yo from my neighbourhood during my soft food stage.. but then looked at the fat content.. and figured.. better not..

here I am sitting at work.. tryin to meet deadlines.. and forcing the not so tempting Protein drink down.. and I can totally smell someones lunch.. ahh.. Pasta.. carbonara.. and bacon... oh boy.. and I tought temptation would kick in really hard only when i can see food.. I'm gonna go.. walk it off... and thankfully.. there are no itallian restaurants at walking distance from work..

my sense of smell was on high alert the first two or three weeks after the surgery... I imagine my brain was kicking all my senses into survival mode after being deprived of solid food for so long.. and sniffing out anything that is bound to be high in calories..

I pray.. your strength and self control is a lot stronger than mine... :ph34r:

Thank you all.. I spoke with my surgeon and nut yesterday.. and well.. after the first five or so minutes of what was I thinking speech from both of them.. They want me to increase my daily calories to 1000/1100.. (I'm currently at 600/700 per day) I also have a RMR test as part of my 6 month post op visit.. so we'll know for sure how much of my metabolism i've screwd up. And as Laura mentioned.. entering into the sixth month... I am bound to feel hungerier than previous months..and they have suggested me some fiber supplements.. and gradually reduce the dependancy on MoM.

Hi.. I was wondering if there is such a thing as too much milk of magnesia..? my story.. (*trying to make it not gross..*) I am a little over 5 months post op.. last month I had to go through an Impaction.. and it was horrible! I went one whole week without "going".. and then there was blood.. that freaked me out.. googled a lot.. and ended up giving myself an enema.. and suppositories and ......... In the process I hurt myself.. and everytime i tried to go.. it was painful.. and always accomapnied with blood.. I should have seen a doctor.. I know.. but I was out of state.. and did not have much of a choice but deal with the pain.. during this incident.. i was taking 3 dulcolax stool softners everyday.. and after.. i was taking 4tbsp of MoM.. every night.. for one week.. untill the blood stopped... and then reduced the dose to 2tbsp.. Now.. I notice that I am hungry a lot.. when compared to before this incident.. i eat an hard boiled egg at 8am.. drink 16oz of fluids at 9.. and i am hungry again at 10.. before.. i would not feel hungry atleast until 12:30... now i have to eat every 2 hours.. and it scares me.. I tried not taking MoM for two days.. and well.. i did not go.. and that mortifies me.. i dont want to have to deal with another Impaction.. ever! I have increased my Fiber intake after this too.. but still wondering.. should i stop MoM for a week.. and see what happens?

Ok.. so one of the motivating factor as part of this journey.. is when folks look at their old pictures where they were not fat.. and get their spirits up on a low day.. But.. what do people like me.. who has *never* been thin.. Do? I found this.. http://www.modelmydiet.com .. well it obviously is not 100% accurate..(it shows the same image for any weight above 250#s) but I have my current and goal weight set in there.. and play around.. On those stall days.. this is my best friend.. updating hairstyles and clothing.. and imagining what could be.. 6, 7, 18 months down the line.. When I hit my goal.. this is what I *might* look like..

my dad will not eat anything if there is no butter in it.. and will always have a bar of chocolate with him.. and he lost 6#s in 2 weeks last time he came to visit coz there were no chocolates in my fridge.. my mom.. she just has to look at food.. and up the scale goes.. i keep saying.. i got my mom's body.. and my dad's taste buds.. thank god they don't have another daughter.. she would have been perfect.. and i would have to deal with a lot of nagging..

I remember showing the before pic sometime last year to my dad.. asking if the representation was somewhat accurate.. well the nicest thing he could say to me was.. "maybe its not about losing weight.. maybe you should try to get more proportionate like that picture.."

as Hathery said.. she carries her weight too well.. So.. there is hope that I will look better in a few months.. I was worried the after pic would also need more imagination like the before pic.. I am sure you are a hot mama.. all that oogling is well deserved for the hard work you've put in..

I'm sorry.. it is a pain as in it is really irritating and one more thing to worry about.. But no worries.. I had mine.. on the day of the surgery! and it was really awkward.. I did not know whom to tell at the hospital..and was nervous if they were going to postpone my surgery.. so well.. I ended up telling everyone I met.. including the guy that transported me from the changing room to the waiting room before surgery.. I am sure he was laughing hard inside.. or did not have a clue what I was blabbering about. The news spread like wildfire!!! after surgery.. in the recovery room.. I had to use the bathroom.. and the nurse said that I was not allowed to get up and will have to use a bed pan.. I protested.. and said.. I am having my periods.. I don't want you to see that! and she said with a grin.. "Oh honey... we know..!" made me wonder if i was spreading the news even under anesthesia.. My first ever surgery experience.. and was sure making waves..

It is 4 months today since.. I woke up before the sun, drove to the hospital full of apprehension, ready to flee the scene before someone sedates me, but putting up a brave front to keep my mom's nerves at ease.. got greated by some friendly nurses and a funny anesthesiologist, everyone wishing me an advanced happy birthday (it was 9 days from the surgery..) and got sleeved into a new life. I cant believe it is 4 months already..! I remember everything from my surgery day (up until I was transfered to the operating table o'course) like it was yesterday... Deciding to not run away from the hospital was probably the second best decision of my life.. Having said that.. It was not a easy ride.. the chewing, 30 minute no drinking rule, slimies, trying to get in enough fluids, Protein, countin calories, carbs, dirty looks from the waiters when I ask for a to-go box, hair loss, and oh yes.. the dreaded stalls! I seem to be in more stall weeks than in loss weeks in any given month.. but hey if thats how my body wants to roll.. Will I do this all over again..? I don't know.. will a surgeon be ok with removing 85% of my already 15% stomach? Here are a few pictures of the journey.. please don't mind me not smiling.. I can't.. really... put a camera in front of me.. and I have no clue what to do! In the last picture..it is my.. "I'm in a stall.. again! what do I do this time" face.. :ph34r: I don't see any difference in the 2.5 and 3.5 months pic.. but the clothes surely fit more loosely..

I'm hoping to have the same NSV.. this friday.. can't wait to see if my butt fits... fingers crossed!!!!

Hi misty.. eating out during the first few weeks after surgery is not really a good idea.. but if there is no other choice.. I would suggest trying the palak paneer.. you can try the kesari bath if it is made in a soft consistency.. in bangalore you could try sambar idly (basically idly soaked in sambar (a dal preparation)), khara pongal... per my nutritionist (from texas).. rice/roti.. was not recommened until atleast 4 months post op.. and I was to avoid potatoes.. All the choices above do have good Protein content but are high in carbs.. and fat depending on where they are made.. you could also try eating fish.. without the skin.. be sure to chew well though.. you can also find shark meat(flake).. I'm not sure how common it is to find in Bangalore or Pune.. week 4 and beyond you can try the tandoori chicken, well cooked channa dal.. having said that.. you could always have boiled eggs.. I'm sure your hotel staff would be more than happy to help you out.. and almost all places serve the omelet.. you could try the sunny side up..

i was prescribed Enoxaparin 40mg.. and i think i paid about $37 for a 20% co-pay..

@Puja.. thank you for that tip.. i'll try it out..

cottage/ricotta cheese.. scrambled eggs..oatmeal.. you could try eating fish after falking it..

Hi Puja.. thank you.. it is four months since surgery this may 10th.. and so far.. it is going good.. I've lost 47#s post op and 15 before that.. long way to go.. but I'll get there.. eventually.. the Protein intake and keeping my eyes off the rice and parathas are my biggest struggles so far..

my mom was scared when I first bought the subject up... she went online to do some research and landed on some of the scary videos on youtube.. she stopped talking to me for wanting this surgery... I later showed her an informational DVD from the surgeon's office (this was mailed home free when I scheduled my first appointment) and then she decided to come with me to the appointment.. she has been on board since.. honestly, now.. she knows more about this surgery than I do..

Hi.. i'm from chennai.. but live and was sleeved in texas this jan..

here is something I like that my mom makes... * Marinate chicken cubes in some yogurt, curry powder (I actually use garam masala.. but curry powder is a good substitute), salt (and some lime juice if you like) for about 20 minutes.. (my mom marinates a batch and freezes it..) * the marinade will have to cover the chicken fully.. * saute some chopped onions (1 part onions for 2 parts chicken) with a little oil (or a pam greased pan).. (you can also add some green peppers if you like them) * once the onions are translucent.. add the chicken, and cover the pan over a medium/low flame.. with an ocational stir.. and chicken should be ccooked in about 15 minutes.. * I add some green peas once the chicken is almost cooked.. let me know if you like it.. i can note down more from my mom.. edit... the marinade also needs some ginger and garlic paste..

I notice pretty much the same with my weight too.. not sure if it is scientific though..