pianomom

I literally questioned my decision as they were wheeling me to the operating room but it's the besbe sure to SIP your water and wait in between sips. I found I did better with room temperature water for a few months.t decision I ever made! Just be sure to follow your surgeon's instructions, walk as soon as you can and Sip your water. I am 2 years out and I can eat anything in moderation, even an occasional slice of pizza. I use Carbquik (order from Amazon) to top fruit for a little "crust" and use spread with spices, then bake. Just introduce foods very slowly and small portions, focusing on protein and water with vegetables. I use EAS Myoplex light for my protein shake. It is the carb advantage sorry, that should read spices and Splendaone with low carbs and sugar and lots of protein. You can do this!

I literally questioned my decision as they were wheeling me to the operating room but it's the best decision I ever made! Just be sure to follow your surgeon's instructions, walk as soon as you can and Sip your water. I am 2 years out and I can eat anything in moderation, even an occasional slice of pizza. I use Carbquik (order from Amazon) to top fruit for a little "crust" and use spread with spices, then bake. Just introduce foods very slowly and small portions, focusing on protein and water with vegetables. I use EAS Myoplex light for my protein shake. It is the carb advantage sorry, that should read spices and Splendaone with low carbs and sugar and lots of protein. You can do this!

I sure do hope you are right! I have been stalled for several weeks and just can't seem to budge the scale no matter what I do. I am exercising at the gym 5 days a week and have lost 10 pounds of body fat in 2 months but no weight. At least I'm not gaining! Have worried that my pouch has stretched but I do still feel the restriction. I am able to eat more than I expected before I feel the restriction.

Me, too! I had my surgery on 12/26 and have lost 64 pounds but am stuck on a plateau for a long time. I am exercising at the gym 5 days per week and have lost 10 pounds of body fat in 2 months but the scale is just not moving at all. I am wondering if I have stretched out my stomach because I can eat quite a bit before I feel the restriction, depending on what kind of food I am eating.

I love salad but sometimes I'm in too much of a hurry to make it. Will definitely try this; I think if I had it already assembled in the fridge, I would eat more salad! Thanks!

Slimforme -- I use 1 Biotin and 1 Skin, Hair & Nails plus 2 Centrum vitamin/mineral tablets and 2 calcium chews per day, hopefully to prevent some of the hair loss. I also take 2 Vitamin D each day. So far, I haven't had a lot of loss (surgery 12/26). Hope this helps!

Jalese -- You inspired me to set some realistic goals for myself! I had my surgery 12/26 and have lost 42 pounds since the surgery, 62 pounds since I started the journey. I keep a journal but had not really set goals. I am also putting the scale away so I can weigh myself every 2 weeks and quit stressing over the numbers. Thanks for the encouragement!

Place some parchment paper on a paper plate. Cut 2 low fat sharp cheddar cheese sticks into 1 inch pieces and place on parchment. Microwave 1 minute to 1 min 20 seconds (depending on power of microwave). Use a knife to slide off of parchment and break into pieces. It will taste like cheese crackers! Delicious!

The sleeve was the best decision I have ever made! I am a slow loser and sometimes I wish I could ramp up the weight loss but since when have I ever lost this much in 3 months (42 pounds since surgery, 62 pounds total since I started the journey)? I feel so much better and am actually able to exercise at the gym and I find myself just stepping up a curb, getting rid of my seat belt extender and cleaning out my closet 3 times since January! I think one of the most important things to keep you from regretting the decision is to follow your surgeon's instructions exactly. That prevents so many issues.

Tried microwaved cheese the other day...tastes like cheese crackers! Cut 2% sharp cheese stick into 1 inch pieces and place on microwavable plate. Microwave on high for a minute or minute, 15 seconds (depending on microwave). When you take a knife and scrape it off the plate, it will break up into pieces and taste like cheese crackers. Delicious!!!!

I tried a small amount of spaghetti tonight and it is really sitting heavy. I cut it up and chewed it well but may wait before I try it again. My surgery was 12/26 and I seem to tolerate most foods at this point.

I'm down 45 pounds since 12/26 surgery and 62 pounds total since I started this journey. I have had several stalls and am just now coming off a 2 week stall.

I have had problems with a dull ache on my left side, which is where the drain was. I'm assuming that is where they did the most work and it is just more sore and tender there even at 11 weeks out from the surgery. It does seem to be getting better in the last week or so and not to happen as often as before.

I think sometimes it is hard to remember that we have this tool for life and we are not in a race! The "diet" mentality from before the surgery is that this, too, will never work; just like all of the other times I tried and couldn't lose enough or maintain it. I have been stalled for two weeks and am having a hard time not getting discouraged and believing that the weight will eventually come off. Reminding myself to just continue the proper foods, amounts, water and exercise!

I tried this and LOVED it! I added lean ground round and turkey sausage crumbles. Soooooo good!

My liquid diet consisted of 3 Myoplex Lite protein shakes (buy in pharmacy or grocery store) per day in the beginning, later it went to 2, then 1, now none at 10 weeks unless I have a day that I need extra protein. I could also have sugar-free jello, sugar-free popsicles, broth, sugar-free hot chocolate, broth from chicken noodle soup with noodles strained out, decaf coffee, decaf tea.

I wish I had known to start taking 3 stool softener gel tablets per day from the time I got home from the hospital. They seem to really help with the constipation but it took me a while to find that out.

I still have times when I have to get a certain food out of my sight (like cookies, donuts). I buy things for my husband that I can't eat because he doesn't have a weight problem and I don't want him to feel penalized for the surgery I had. Most times it doesn't bother me, but the other night I wanted a cookie so badly that I had to put them out of my sight so I didn't eat one! I agree that it helps to focus on the foods that you CAN have and also to be creative with your cooking...herbs, spices, etc.

The numbers on the scale are going DOWN, not UP!!! That is success! Be gentle with yourself and enjoy the journey. I know it is not easy because I am a slow loser also but I am also seeing progress in other areas: I can exercise now, I can step up a curb without assistance, I can fit under the steering wheel when my husband forgets to raise it for me, I have cleaned out my closet twice so far, I am eating WAY less than i used to and feeling satisfied..... Make a list of some of the things you are doing now that you couldn't do before! You are doing great!

I am 10 weeks out and have lost 56 pounds total; 39 pounds since 12/26 surgery. It sounds like we are losing at about the same rate. I am trying to just follow the plan, drink my water, eat my protein & exercise. Sooner or later, the weight will come off, just maybe not as quickly as I want it to. Be gentle with yourself; you are doing fine! You have lost the weight of a young child!!! Celebrate the joy of the scale dropping rather than going up!

I mix a pouch of salmon, a pouch of tuna with egg beaters, a little bit of Panko bread crumbs, dried onion, liquid butter extract, pepper, fat-free cheese and a small amount of apple pie spice (yes, you read that right and no, you really can't taste it that much, just adds a little flavor). Place the mixture in a pan sprayed with Pam and bake at 375 until cooked through and browned on top. Lots of protein and freezes well, too!

One thing that is helped me with getting all of the water in is buying bottles of water by the case. Every morning I put my 5 bottles of water on the kitchen counter. By night, if I have any left, I don't allow myself any coffee, protein hot chocolate, etc. until all of the water is gone!

August 2012 294.5 lb Dec 26 277 lb (day of surgery) Mar 7 238 lb

Covington is definitely small-town Indiana. I loved growing up there and the Beef House was one of our family's favorite places to eat. I am still in contact with a lot of the friends I made during those growing-up years and I'm so thankful for all of the wonderful memories of school, teachers, classmates and the character and morals that were taught to us. Oh, and did I mention BASKETBALL???????? Ha! I'm a Hoosier at heart forever!

Wanting to say, "Forget it" is a normal feeling, especially as the time for the surgery draws near. I must have asked my husband fifty times if he really thought I should do this! Once you have the surgery, you will know you made the right decision. It will take a while but once you are 8-9 weeks out, you will be exercising at the gym and eating "normal" foods, just smaller quantities. You will actually feel normal again! Just follow everything exactly that your surgeon tells you to do and you will be fine! Best wishes!