Mickeydies

Yeah, I am eating between 600-800 a day, and averaging 4 lbs. a week.

Eating slowly was hard for me too. I am learning to savor the flavor in my mouth before I start chewing, and chewing, and chewing.

Yep, into the kiddie meals, and still saving half or more of it. Now, when my husband and I go out, we share a meal. We order an empty plate and I take what I can eat, he has the rest. Works for us, and sometimes at some restaurants the portions are so large we can still doggy bag. Amazing now how much some people eat...oh wait, I was once one of them.

Caspinelli712 you are just tired of everyone being your scorekeeper, I am my own scorekeeper, and I just totally understand where you are coming from. Outsiders have no idea what we go through. Not just the weight struggle, but hey, how bad do you want to get the weight off and feel good again that you cut out 85% of your stomach! A lot of people I know just don't get it. They just don't see how we could "have such a problem losing the weight." Don't worry about the stalling. It will pass--if you don't eat the donuts. You probably will still see some inches come off as your body is adjusting. As for my friend, I offered to loan her my binder the doctor gave me for instruction, and I have given her this website, but she won't come here. I also offered to have her come to my support meetings as "my support" person, so she can learn, but she won't come. It's her ballgame. She said she has friends who say she doesn't need to lose any more weight. If someone tells me that when I get to 185, they aren't my friend...My real friends just say they can tell I am looking better and better. There is a BABE still in here, and she's on her way out!!!

I didn't have ruffled feathers over being heavier, just figured it out, and went with it. It was gone within a couple of days. Better to be a tad bloated than dehydrated. Had that happen once long ago, and it was awful. Would have hated it having that again.

Has anyone learned something about themselves they would have never guessed before surgery? So far here's what I have learned about myself. I really don't like sweets as I did before, they are ok, but I am happy with just a bite. I am beautiful, fat or thin, and NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS BEING THINNER FEELS! I found that after this, I don't like salty, sugary, greasy, or anything I have loved for my whole life.

Yep, I've had it a couple of times, no real vomiting, only the extra mouthful or two backing up. Here's how I see it for me. I had 85% of my stomach cut out, but my brain and my eyes are the same. Looking at two ounces seems too small, and my brain says it's way too small, so I tend to go too fast, or to far, and oops. So, I think we have to retrain ourselves and pay attention to he signs...My full feeling isn't the same as it was when my stomach was intact. Now, it's a nudge at my breastbone, and if I eat after that, it's a backup. But everything gives me gas, so I chew a Cherry Gas-X chewable before the start of the meal. That helps a lot.

I too did 2 weeks liquids, 2 weeks pureed, and now am on my soft foods. That ends the 20th and I go to solids. Some soft foods hurt. I find if I have to chew it ANY, it's going to hurt some. Not bad, but, if it isn't the consistency of cottage cheese, my stomach sends it up as if to say, no way!. So, I am playing it safe. Two backups, and I don't care if I have to substitute a meal or two of shakes. I will probably still do that when I get to solids. Hey, cutting out your stomach, well, it's not a normal thing, and you know, it's probably still in shock. My doctor told me my stomach was only half healed at 2 months, so since I only have 15% of it left, I'll take tender care of it. You might try the liquids again.

Yep, I understand you there I was upset that I came out of the hospital (mind you no food for Surgery day +2 days after), then only clear liquids...but I came out 3 lbs heavier. This was due to the super hydration I assume came from the IV fluids. This came off quickly. I have even had a day where I gained a pound, only to have it come off again a bit faster. I am now 7 weeks out. I hated that folks would ask how much, so now I just announce when it's gone down. I take the wind out of their sails and say, down a total now of XX lbs. All they can say is great. As for failure. I have a friend who says I am too old to be 115 lbs. My doctor says that's because they secretly don't want me to get there. She had the surgery in Mexico as she didn't have the insurance, and there was no pre-ops, she was on a plane 2 days after surgery, and no post op care. She has had no forums for support, and she is happy that she is down 50 pounds after surgery in 6 months, and has gone way off the diet, and back to carbs, and carbonated drinks, McDonalds, etc. She can sink about half what she used to eat, so either she didn't get 85% taken out, or she's stretched her stomach back to the max. I don't think I'll stretch mine anytime soon, as it's just painful to eat one bite too much. Just hang in there, and you'll be great. After I get down to where I want to be, I plan to look for a job somewhere no one has known me fat!

I have read so many posts of people that are unhappy with the results. It really saddens me to hear how so many of us are struggling unhappily. As for me this surgery, in addition to the weight loss benefit has been a tremendous learning experience as well. I am more in touch with the rest of my body, other than my stomach than I have been in years. I miss doing a lot of things the way I used to do them. But I've learned to do them in a new way. I can still leisurely dine. If I am engaged in conversation during a meal, no one is paying attention to how much I eat, I eat far slower, and enjoy it more, and eat enormously less...(I can only hold about 2 ounces of food). And, a bite is as good as the bar, the piece, the slice, the cup, etc. It's the first bite that satisfies most, the rest is just filler. I have a range of movement unlike I've had in years, the back pain, foot pain, arthritis pain is extremely small now. I've lost a bit of hair, and heck if I lose it all, I'll just go get an Eva Gabor wig until it all comes back. As for sex, I was too fat to enjoy it before, and the libido, and enjoyment will all get to where I've no known it in years. I've learned that a lot of people with weight problems have more excuses for doing what they should do to lose this weight than the shore has sand...I used to be one of them. Amazing now what I am accomplishing since I gave the heave ho to the excuses and took charge with the surgery and following through. It's tough, and I'll be the first to admit the exercise part is hard, since it's still painful on the back and feet, but it's getting better. Everyone hang in there, we were sick and unhappy as unhealthy, overweight people. So, we made a change, and we need to remember that the surgery is only a tool to aid in our weight loss success, not the magic wand we all want it to be. Despite the challenges of the surgery, they are far less than trying to lose this weight without it. If I had to do it again, I would in a heartbeat.

Yes, I absolutely would. I am only 4 weeks out, but I'm already feeling so much better, Back and feet pain enormously reduced, and energy level is much higher than it used to be.