LipstickLady

As @@Babbs said, sleeves don't stretch. Your capacity will increase over time as the swelling in your tummy goes down and the the muscle of the stomach relaxes, but according to my surgeon (and I am NO expert, I can only tell you what he said and what I've experienced at 2.5 years out), your capacity at a year out is pretty much going to be your capacity for life. I am fortunate enough not to experience slider foods. My restriction is very good and nothing goes through me quickly except pure liquids, which makes sense. I can eat a bit more popcorn than other foods, but I still get full after about a cup and a half. (My normal capacity is 1/3-1/2 cup.)

Hello beautiful!!

Talk to your doctor before taking anything. You don't want anything that will change your blood work ups, thin you blood or interact badly with your anesthesia. I had a horrible cold right before my surgery and I was told to take Tylenol cold and flu right up to midnight the night before. I didn't have a fever so surgery was on. I was also on my period. That's usually the other common ailment.

When I make my family spaghetti with meat sauce, I save about 1/3 cup of the browned/seasoned meat to the side for myself, add just a bit of sauce and top with mozzarella. I bake it and eat it without the pahhsta. When I have more time, I make these: http://lecremedelacrumb.com/2014/10/slow-cooker-mozzarella-stuffed-meatballs.html The family gets bread and pahhsta and salad, I just enjoy with salad.

Wow! Your plan moves you along quite quickly. I was on liquids week 1, purees week 2, soft foods for 3 more weeks and released to a full diet at week 6. chicken and tuna fell into week three if it was put through the food processor or mashed to oblivion with a fork. I was told to concentrate on getting in my water/protein drinks for the first three weeks mostly and that Water was more important of the two. Your tummy might not be ready for real foods yet. Slow and easy.

This is my favorite EASY white chicken chili recipe. I do stir in a half container of sour cream at the end to make it creamier. http://www.food.com/recipe/crock-pot-white-chicken-chili-114789

Google is your friend in an instance like this. I just searched "body shapers after weight loss surgery" and came up with a ton of options. I bet you would get the same if you searched for "Compression garments after weight loss surgery" as well. I am certain you will find something that will make you more comfortable. As far as being a "monster"? I am sure I would make young girls run away crying if they saw the state of my boobs, bits and belly after two pregnancies and a massive weight gain/loss. I can't afford surgery **and**college for my kids, so my choice is obviously to stay in the skin I am in. Fortunately, my kids, my husband, my loved ones care about me no matter what I look like naked. (Please note, my husband is the only one who actually SEES me naked.) I am sure your loved ones feel the same about you. I wish you well in your search!

I bake this but I fill a pie pan with spinach , squeeze a lemon over it and then out the fish on top to bake. The lemon juice and flavors from the fish season the spinach and it cooks down to a perfect side dish.

Mexican dip, 85/15 ground beef Cumin Salt Pepper One can green chilis Chili powder One chopped onion 2 cloves garlic minced Brown beef and scoop into 8X9 baking dish. Layer with: Shredded cheddar Half can green enchilada sauce Can of rinsed pinto Beans Shredded cheddar again Chopped black olives Chopped onion Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Serve with with guacamole, shredded cheese, sour cream. Serve with tortillas or chips for family. Scoop, eat, enjoy!

My surgeon said that my weight loss results would exactly reflect my effort to work my plan and move my body. The better I followed my plan and the more I moved, the more I would lose. The same was true in reverse. He also said that everyone he has performed surgery on has had exactly the same results as described above. I'd say he was right. He did not/would not give a goal weight either because the number on the scale defined nothing. He let me choose my goal and knew that I would achieve exactly what I set out for. He was right there, too.

Same.

I eat grilled cheese a couple of times a month. I use a low carb tortilla, lots of butter and various rich cheeses (bacon and avocado, too!). I can only eat 1/2 of an 8inch tortilla but I enjoy every cheesy bit.

I've got cold feet, too. Cold hands, cold nose, cold everything. Side effect from WLS... I had my surgery two and a half years ago and I've lost 112 pounds. I'm healthier than I've been in more than 20 years. I can run, I can climb, I can dance. My clothes are cute, I can reach my toenails, and I don't sweat just doing my hair. My heart is healthy, I no longer have foot or knee pain and am no longer pre-diabetic. No regrets.

I love sf Jello pudding cups in dark chocolate as well as sf fudgesicles. I also buy the mini cones and mini ice cream sandwiches which aren't sf but small enough portions that they don't do much damage. Sugar is not my nemesis, so a fun sized snickers or mini Hershey bar won't "trigger" me. It's better for me to have a bit of what I want than eating around an urge because I'm highly likely to eat the original craving anyways. I enjoy a bite or two instead of dwelling on it.

I told my children and my husband only while I was in the process of being approved. Two weeks before surgery, I told my best friends at our GNO. Three days before my surgery, I told my mother and my father. I didn't tell coworkers, other friends or in-laws. I didn't tell neighbors or acquaintances. I didn't tell my hair dresser or pharmacist. I've only told maybe 10 people that are not related by blood and I have no intention of doing so. It's never been awkward or an issue because I won't let it be.

I drank diluted Gatorade. I've never liked the G2.

My pants falling down DURING a kickboxing class will always be a "my face was red" moment, especially because it happened in front of my Martial Arts Instructor. WHOOOOOPS!!

Meh. My doctor told me to get my Water in and the proteen (sic) would come. He was right. I was about 3 months out before I was coming even close to my Protein goal and I still do not always make it. I lost almost 115 pounds in 9 months, I still have all my hair, I workout like a demon and I've lost no muscle tone. In fact, I found some muscle I thought was lost. I drank Premier Protein 2x a day by sip sip sipping it and I could usually get 1.5 - 2 (about 45-60g) down by 8 weeks out. My doctor was satisfied. You won't die of starvation. If you were at risk, you wouldn't need surgery.

Exactly.

Big problem with that article? Sleevers don't have pouches. But at 2.5 years out, I still can't eat more than 1/4 - 1/2 cup of proteen (sic) at a sitting most days so I agree with the idea that sleeves don't stretch. And yes. I drink carbonation every day. Through a straw!

I suck at moisturizing and my scars aren't at all noticeable unless you are looking for them.

And yes, your period will start right before surgery (if you have the anatomy for it), your doctor HAS seen blood once or twice before and it will be ok.

I don't at all disagree with what you're saying. My point is simply that one should be considerate of their life partner by freeing them of any commitment BEFORE they explore that freedom themselves. To not do so is selfish.

"I liked you better before. Funny that."

Yes, she did receive harsh comments, perhaps unfairly, perhaps not -- it depends on your perspective. A very close friend of mine discovered her husband of 20 years was cheating on her after he underwent a major weight loss (not surgery related). He decided she was "just a roommate"and "no longer attractive" despite the fact that she is still the same slender hot blond she was when they married. (No really! I've seen the pics.) She didn't change, he did. He got selfish and that's OK. He just should have ended things BEFORE he broke the sanctity of their marriage. That would have been the RIGHT thing to do. Honesty goes a long way.