LipstickLady

Twenty-two pounds in a little over a month is an "only"? Ok...

You look skinny now, but in a healthy way. You need to do what you feel is best for you, but it's MY opinion that you do not need to lose more. That said, if you lose 5 more and you don't like the way you look, you can healthfully put that back on. It's not a bad idea to have a 5 pound "bounce" range to fall within, so if you think you need to lose more, make your current weight the top of your range, aim for 5 more and go from there.

I generally cut up pieces of beef Jerky when I think I might need a snack at an event but really, to put it in perspective, why can't one spend two hours without eating? I look back at my fat days and shake my head at my "need" for a large bucket of popcorn, a gigantic soda and candy for such a short period of time.

Bread. A little, toasted or it gets stuck for me. Diet Coke. Gross. I like Coke Zero. Cookies. Yum. I eat them occasionally but I don't make a habit of it.

The reason my doctor frowns on caffeine is because it is a dehydrator. I am told I must drink an ounce of Water for every ounce of caffeinated beverage. Caffeine is definitely an appetite suppressant. Caffeine was the main ingredient in the diet pills of the 90s.

I drink Coke Zero with my surgeon's approval. It's not his top choice, but I have met all his other requirements so he allows me this one "vice'. I also drink coffee and that seems to be allowed on most plans so the whole caffeine thing baffles me. I always laugh when people say that carbonation will stretch a sleeve. I am almost 2.5 years out, have been drinking carbonation for well over a year and I can't eat any more now than I could at 12 months out. I maxed out at 1/2 to 3/4 cup and my surgeon is fairly certain I've reached my max capacity.

That's exactly WHY I did it. I was supposed to have surgery mid April and the doctor's office "forgot" to submit my paperwork. I pushed it and had it scheduled mid May but I started my pre-op on the date my original surgery dictated. I was determined to get to where I am now and I don't regret it.

So here is the cool thing about my sleeve. I LOVED LOVED LOVED appetizers and often had what we called "bar food" night at my house. I STILL love appetizers and now I have an excuse to order them at restaurants and make them at home more frequently because bite sized portions are perfect for me. I can't eat nearly as much but I ALWAYS have apps. Saves me a ton of $$ when dining out, too.

Boneless chicken, 2-3 breasts or 4-5 thighs. 1 large can of pinto Beans can of corn can of Rotel (your choice of heat) jar of your favorite salsa Dump it all in and cook for 8-10 hours on low. Serve with sour cream, salsa and tortilla chips (for the family) If you are in a hurry, use canned chicken (rinsed) and it will cook in 4-6 hours.

And it only gets better from here!!

Snort!

I did NOT drink soda (always diet pre and post op) until my surgeon cleared me. To this date, I stir a bit of the carbonation out and I prefer it over ice to Water it down a bit. I don't drink nearly as much as I used to, maybe a can a day or so and a 2liter lasts well over a week. It bothers me if I drink it too fast, so I sip it through a straw. If it hurts, I stop. It's just a burp but I prefer not to feel that bloated feeling. I am almost 2.5 years out.

I love it when people tell others how they should and should not post, when the topic should change or not change and attempt to speak for "everyone" or "we all" when stating their own opinion. HA!

(I just finished a Coke Zero and am having sushi for lunch. Shhhh... Don't tell anyone. I used a straw, too.) I buy riceless sushi -- it's wrapped in thin cucumber instead of seaweed and it's all fish/crab, no rice or rice noodles. YUM!

I had a Protein shake. I started my pre-op diet a month early because I was anxious to get started on weight loss. I also know how hungry and miserable I used to be after a huge binge day and I didn't want to do that to myself as I was prepping for surgery. I followed my NUT's plan for 6 months, started my pre-op and had no problems transitioning down to low carb, high protein and then all liquids.

Stop putting yourself down. You look amazing!! Revel in it.

@@Alex Brecher !!! We cannot find the Vet Forum! What happened to it?

It's MY opinion that there is no such thing as a "cheat". It's a CHOICE.

How so?

Real food = good. Fat fee/sugar free/low carb/etc. If it's too good to be true, it's not real food.

Why are you done? Really?

All I read was BLAH BLAH BLAH.... "My mom can't eat, she throws everything up, she gained all her weight back." Wait! Which is it? You do what is best for YOU and your real friends will support you along the way. Losing weight is the "easy" part from my experience, keeping it off is where the work comes in.

Don't. I am almost 2 1/2 years post op and I still have some of my "stock up". The Protein drinks I thought I'd still like, I didn't. The Soup, I couldn't tolerate. The Protein powder is disgusting.and the Protein Bars were horrible. Buy some sugar free popsicles, some sugar free pudding and a Gatorade to Water down. Make sure it's stuff your family will also eat or it will go to waste. I was out driving two days post op, so...

I didn't do the food funeral thing and I don't regret it at all. I figured I had eaten my share of food in my life (and the share of several other people) and I didn't want to have to re-lose any weight I gained by doing so. For me, a yummy meal brings thirty minutes or so of "joy" and weight gain brings days/weeks/months of misery trying to re-lose it.

I am more than two years post op. I PROMISE you, giving up foods was not quite as hard as you think it will be and eventually you get those foods back. Looking back this far out, I don't even remember the "suffering". I am down from a size 20 to a size 6/8 and I am thrilled. Totally worth the couple of months of bland food. I can eat anything I want, anytime I want, the amount is simply severely limited. Most "bad" things, I don't even want any more. It's AMAZING.