NMJG

Chia seeds are good. But only use them after your doc has cleared you for seeds. They can get stuck in the seam of your staple line and cause problems. Most docs have you avoid seeds for the first 4 months, some longer.

One year out. And I would do it again. At a year out you can eat a lot more than you can before that. It is very different than your first six months, or even 8 or 9 months out from surgery. I can eat half of a small entree at a restaurant, which is a reasonable amount of food and enough to satisfy my foodie urges. However, you must be vigilant because it is easy to gain back. I have my normal days, my bad days, and my ultra good days to make up for my bad days. With the sleeve and my low carb/high fat eating plan, I am not hungry, feel great, and for the first time in my life feel like I can actually keep the weight off for good, thanks to my sleeve. If I get out of control, I just go back to basics with dense Protein first and plenty of Water, and I am back on track in no time.

In this country we put doctors on a pedestal. Very few of them deserve it and some, as we know, are total jerks. Hugs to you. Find a new doctor who treats you with respect.

Read "Grain Brain." It will really open your eyes on what all this cr@p does to us.

It isn't fat. Relax and just follow your program. You'll see losses on the scale soon enough.

Sending hugs your way. So sorry you had to go through that.

My new one is Veg Lasagna. Instead of Pasta, I use thinly sliced eggplant. For filling in between the layers I use Italian sausage, sliced zucchini, sliced mushrooms, and ricotta. I liberally sprinkle with mozzarella. I layer with low carb pasta sauce or Trader Joe's Arrabiata Sauce (naturally low carb). I saute the vegs first and cook the sausage beforehand, so it is done faster. It only takes about 30-45 minutes at 400 degrees to finish up if you precook your sausage and vegs. Note this is low carb and not low fat. Good for those of us following low carb/high fat plans. Very satisfying and stores/freezes well. The whole family likes it. No one misses the pasta.

Good for you, girl! Keep at it! You are doing an amazing job.

I just updated my gallery. I loaded a really nasty looking picture of me at 235 lbs. from a couple of years ago. My belly rolls are bigger than my boobs. Start weight 235, end weight 137. Surgery 8/12/13.

Congratulations on a job well done. Your hard work is so apparent. I am thinking this will be inspiration for many people early in their journey.

Nothing wrong with you. Those are very soft foods that slip through. When you move to firm protein (don't rush it), you will see restriction.

I use a free phone app called Accupedo for a pedometer, and then log it in MyFitnessPal. Free and works great.

If you are going to make cream soup, I suggest you use cauliflower, rutabaga, brocolli, or other lower carb veg. Even pumpkin. Potatoes do nothing for you except slow your weight loss. I realize at this point you won't be eating much, but still, it's best to get into good habits early rather than later.

Marcona almonds, dry roasted peanuts, new mexico style carne seca beef jerky, starbucks tall skinny mocha when I need a sweet treat (110 calories and 10 grams protein).

Personally, for best loss I would keep away from noodles, pasta, potatoes, cereals, etc. but vegetable carbs like 1/4 cup of refried beans or lentils I found to be helpful. Just because you are allowed a food doesn't necessarily mean it is the best choice for you to lose weight.

For many months I started my day with a large cup of herbal tea with a tablespoon of benefiber. That helped a lot. I usually got in 9-12 grams of fiber a day plus always got in my fluids. At almost a year out I don't need the supplement any longer.

Thanks, Jane. So glad you keep up with posting. I am getting closer to PS time, myself. Dr said I had to wait 18 months after VSG. Seeing you is very inspiring. i wouldn't dare be seen in a bikini. Hope I don't sound like a perv, but your new breasts are really nice looking. Mine look like your old ones. Exciting stuff

Actually, while exercise is good for you on many levels regardless of weight, you don't have to exercise to lose the weight or keep it off, as long as you stick with a very low carb diet. Bring the carbs up and you will have to exercise to combat them. Over 50, many of us find that our tolerance of carbs (in terms of weight gain) becomes worse as time goes on. 53 years old. 10 1/2 months out. Lost 95+ lbs total and 66 lbs post surgery with the sleeve. Been at goal 3 months. Had to take synthroid for thyroid before surgery, but now I am off of it. Normal thyroid after getting the weight off and changing how I eat for good.

I really need some Breakfast ideas. I am low carb so i don't do Cereal. I can't eat eggs every day and I do Protein shakes 3-4 times a week since it is easy. Yogurt is a common breakfast, too. Ideas, people?

I lost ok, but not great, keeping below 60 grams of carbs. I think people have different tolerances to carbs. Some people may need to stay below 50 or 40 to lose weight at their preferred rate. Some may do best below 20 for maximum loss.

You don't. What you should worry about is getting enough protein and fluids. Calorie count is irrelevant

I wouldn't bother stocking up on anything before surgery because you will most likely have completely different tastes for 6 months post surgery. Wait and see what you feel like. Just buy enough to get through the first week. Lots of people cannot abide sweet protein shakes after surgery, so you don't want 6 tubs of it laying around.