cidnich

Here's a little advice that may help - read a book called Sugar Busters. I have followed this basic lifestyle/diet for years now; off and on since 1996. When I am "on" I cannot begin to tell you how much better I feel. I have more energy - no need for an afternoon nap and I swear I even look younger! When I am "off" I feel awful...even my bowel movements are not as regular - gross I know but it just amazes me how bad sugar is for us. I lost almost 100 pounds following SB back in 1997. I went through a divorce and several other life changes that I used as an excuse to eat. I slowly gained 80 pounds of it back. I find that now that I am sleeved it is so easy to follow SB again. I feel healthy and the weight is coming off slow and steady. Let's be honest - sugar is a poison. We are addicted to it and the only way to get over this addition is to turn our backs on it. If you can't just take a small bite here and there and be satisfied then just avoid it completely. We have been through too much to start gaining. Be strong people - we can win this war!!!

I knew stalls were going to happen but they are not good for our spirits. My love affair with food has ended and to add insult to this I have stopped losing weight, too. I have heard over and over again to hang in there and be patient so that's what I am doing. You are right - we have no choice now so that is a very good thing!

My favorite so far is the New Whey brand - they are available at WalMart for a dollar less per drink than at the Vitamin Shoppe. I mix the vile with a big glass of ice water and drink on it for several hours. I believe they are 42 g of protein for around 180 calories - not too bad. There are several flavors but the fruit punch and the grape are my favorites - they taste mild in the ice water and are really refreshing.

I had my sleeve done on March 30, 2013. This is my story so far… even though I feel like I am eating like a bird, my weight loss has come to a halt! I am upping the exercise a bit to see if that helps. The lack of weight loss is frustrating, however, I am fitting into smaller clothes! It is the best decision I have ever made regarding my health. At first I felt very sad - I missed chewing - doesn't that sound weird? But then after a few weeks I was allowed to have soft foods and the desire to chew up some meat was fulfilled! Now I find that I don't even really enjoy food - it is a chore to figure out what I want to eat. I make sure I get my protein drink in each day and a V8 along with the vitamins and calcium citrate; the rest is just filler. Nothing tastes as good as it used to before the surgery. If this keeps up, it will be a breeze to lose more and keep it off for life! Food was my best friend that I turned to whenever I needed to calm myself, soothe my mind, celebrate an occasion, and so on. The surgery has severed this relationship - it's been like losing a friend that I depended on for moral support. But now I realize that food was not my friend – it was a crutch that was bringing me down – not holding me up. I am learning new ways to cope with life – it is wonderful. I think anyone who has struggled with weight should consider this surgery. The recovery is painless and the scars are minimal. I can’t wait to uncover the thin person that is inside this chubby body – what a treat that will be! Good luck to all!!

Oh Dear!!! You concentrate on yourself and your son - that's all that matters! Men can be more trouble than they are worth. You are young and about to start a new life - forget men for a few years and get yourself together. When you are at peace with yourself this time in your life will seem trivial. Hang in there!!!

. I’m sticking to the elliptical and rowing machine for now and trying to keep my stomach tight. I'm only a month and 3 days post op, though. I have a visit with the nutritionist tomorrow and I'll ask her

I wonder what's wrong with me, too! I had my sleeve on the 20th of March and lost 24 pounds and then not a single ounce in the last week!!! WTH? Maybe this is more common than I realized so it is good to hear that others have stalled. I did up the excercise a bit today so let's see if that does the trick. Good luck to all!

I think they provide quite a bit of relief - I didn't use one this time but I did with c-sections and they make sleeping so much better - like you said - keeps stuff from jiggling!

I too am almost one month out and had to go back to yogurt, cottage cheese, jello, etc for several days. Food felt like it was stuck in my chest and I was so uncomfortable. Even though I feel like I am only eating enough to survive I cut back even more and the pain in my chest has subsided. I am eating scrambled eggs alot and drinking New Whey to get enough protein (they are available at WalMart). A couple of days ago I tried some tuna salad and ate 2 tablespoons every couple of hours and it went down great. I will not try beef for a long time - I never want that pain in my chest again. I also drink some V8 every day to get some veggies into my diet. I hope you can get better!

My husband's former girlfriend had all her work done in Mexico. The dr. was also licesnsed in California but it was cheaper in Mexico. His name is Dr. Quiroz and here is the web address. http://www.cosmedclinic.com/ She was his spokes person for several years and her before and after pics are still up. I do not any details about the recovery just that my husband said it was painful but worth it. Good luck!

Yay for you - I had my surgery on the 20th of March. By far the worst part of the whole procedure was not being able to ingest anything for 24 hours or so after the surgery. My throat hurt so much and I have never been so thirsty in my life! But you know what? It is behind me now and it was a very brief period of discomfort. The recovery is a breeze and the pain is minimal. Just take it slow and enjoy being lazy for a couple of weeks. I went back to work on April 8th – a little soon but I am doing fine. One thing you said has me a little worried though…you better get used to soup! I miss salads, too, but again, think of it as a small thing to give up for a short while. The liquid diet goes on for several weeks post op and so I want you to be prepared. The best thing about soup is it is savory compared to the sweet protein shakes, jello, and so on. I heat up my V8 juice for a quick snack in the afternoon and it really hits the spot. I have progressed to soft foods now but I still like the V8! Good luck and I hope all goes well…Cid