gamergirl

To address the core of your thread, while I think it's normal and healthy to visualize the success, it is essential, if a lot less fun, to also visualize and accept the process. It's a huge adjustment and you don't want to be one of those that has the surgery--and then regrets things you should have considered before. I'd recommend you find someone to talk to about all the changes you will be asked to make, and spend some time thinking them through. Good luck with the journey

Elderly woman? Bahahahahaha! Darlin' you could not be more off the mark.

Honestly the only things we needed were Chapstick for your dry lips and mouth after surgery, and gas-x strips. And protein shakes of course. Everything else was overkill and unused. Our baby spoons didn't even get taken out of the packaging. You won't need a lot

I'm absolutely unsure about getting rid of clothes too. I've decided I will get rid of anything that is 2 sizes too big during the journey, and once I hit goal, I will keep clothes up to 2 sizes too big. Which is a total copout and I'm hoping that the year or so it may take me to lose my 60 lbs knocks some sense into me. But yes I can totally relate. I will say I enjoy the thought of giving my work clothes to Dress for Success in the future. It seems like a worthy cause to me, and a good use of my expensive suits.

We do the Chike coffee every morning and it tastes positively decadent. It's my only shake most days now at 5 weeks pre-op and I love it. I think these days we doctor it up with an additional half shot of espresso because you know, you can never have enough caffeine

I lied. I ended up eating chopped brisket.

Wayne, there's so much to absorb but if I can simplify generally accepted guidelines, it's eat your Protein, drink you Water, exercise as much as you comfortably can, don't eat to the point of discomfort, don't exceed the calories you were told to stick to, and don't eat simple carbs. Easier said than done I know, but them's the rules

Leftover homemade chicken kababs with coriander chutney: http://sleevers.wordpress.com/2013/09/08/spicy-chicken-kebabs-paleo-wls-friendly-high-protein/ and a bite or two of Peas & Paneer leftover from last night too: http://sleevers.wordpress.com/2013/09/09/impromptu-peas-paneer-vegetarian/

I have a bunch of Protein Soup recipes that kept us sane during our post-op full liquids phase. You can find them here: sleevers.wordpress.com I had a chicken and mushroom soup, a shrimp "bique", a lobster "bisque" and a fabulous tortilla soup with chicken. Hope you enjoy them!

I would not have wanted to rely on me when I was 2 weeks out to be an effective birth coach. I was light headed, dizzy, tired, cranky and sometimes nauseated, sometimes head-aches etc, my physical state at any given hour was unpredictable--and I had an easy recovery. Birthing is hard work, could go on for a long time, and you will need to put aside what you need and put your friend first. I'd worry if my birth coach was me at 2-weeks, if that makes sense.

The problem with a stall is not just the lack of weight loss at a time you expect the weight to be peeling off–although that would be bad enough. The problem with a stall is that it comes with baggage. All those times when you thought you’d found the “perfect” diet. All those times when there were hundreds of others boasting of their success with something that you were now trying. All those times that you were filled with hope that THIS was the thing that was going to work. All those times that you failed. We’ve been stuck at the same weight for 11 days, and it’s very difficult to focus on the now, instead of trying to think of what this means for the future. If I focus on the now, it tells me that my body is changing, my clothes fit differently, and even at 25 lbs, people see and comment on the difference all the time. If I try to project for the future and imagine that this is the way it will always be, then I focus on the fact that this could be another thing at which others have succeeded, but at which I seem doomed to fail. Which of us has not believed, both before and after the surgery, that we would be the ones who would be the exception to the rule? That we would be that medical marvel that simply could not lose the weight despite doing everything we were told? That we would be that singular failure while others around us kept posting their amazing before and after pictures? And that’s the problem with a stall. Even knowing what we do, that every day is a different adventure when sleeved, that recovery, weight loss, and changes happen seemingly overnight, we still believe that this is the time, and we are the one that will fail. A very egocentric world-view if truth be told, but justifiable given our histories. So if you thought this journey was just about eating your protein and drinking your water and not challenging your sleeve, I’ve got news for you my friend. It’s about battling your inner demons, about having faith in the unknown, and about believing that we are not that special after all. And in that normalcy and mediocrity is perhaps where salvation lies. (Follow my journey and my recipes at www.sleevers.wordpress.com)

My husband made these wonderfully spiced sausages. If you're sick of bland food, this adds some nice flavor without being too hot. Ingredients 1 lb ground chicken 1/4 c cilantro 1 tsp chopped mint 1 tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice 1 tbsp Thai Red curry paste 1 tbsp Asian fish sauce 2 garlic cloves finely diced 2 tsp minced ginger 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes 1/8 tsp black pepper Method 1. Mix all ingredients together. It will be a bit sticky. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes for all flavors to meld. 2. Heat a saucepan until hot, pour in a tablespoon of oil and spread it around. 3. Using a cookie scoop or a tablespoon, put 1 oz sized dollops of the mixture about 2-3 inches apart. Smash them down into circles 4. In 2-3 minutes when the bottoms are brown, carefully turn over and cook for another 2-3 minutes. 5. You can either cook them all and freeze them in a ziplock baggie, or cook just what you need for meals. 6. These are very soft and they were easy for us to eat. 2 patties contain 16 gms of protein.

I have more recipes on sleevers.wordpress.com that you might like if you want to follow the blog

I just got blood tests so will wait to see what the thyroid says. I'm already on testosterone and progesterone, and my estrogen levels seem fine. I suspect it's because of the really low fat intake in our diets, but intend to ask about the t3/t4 levels.

saving this for later for myself Source: For my fellow vets - has anyone tried to revert back to post-op style eating (600cals,>30g carbs, <60gprotein) with any success?

I bought some Coromega's packets from amazon but they are going back because they have a very fishy after taste, although the reviews swore they didnt. Even though I'm confused about how to translate doses of fish oil to krill oil, I'm going to take krill oil instead because the pills are so much smaller. I can't imagine swallowing the fish oil which used to make me nauseated even pre-op. ugh.

I love your new pic Wags