gamergirl

Okay guys, for those of you wondering how these noodles work, my husband finally made a video demo'ing our Paderno machine. This is our first video so would love feedback! New link

A lot of other people have posted about jealous friends but your friend doesn't sound jealous, she sounds afraid of you dumping her once you change. This reminds me of a lot of spouses we read about on the forum who are afraid their mate will leave them when they get thinner. Especially if this has happened to her in the past, then her fear is understandable. Sounds me to your friend could use a little extra TLC from you right now. I don't know about you but I do tend to talk about the changes in my life, my eating, my body, me, me, me, a lot more these days! Maybe just be aware of that and focus on her a bit more? You're lucky to have a friend that values your friendship so much that the thought of losing it depresses her. Love, hugs, and attention from you should go a long way to reassuring her.

Thank you so much for sharing this.

I ate my first half piece of fruit today. It's weird that I feel guilty about eating half a pear. In the old days that would have been healthy. Now it makes me wonder. Sent from my iPhone using VST

How long after surgery did you guys cycle up and down emotionally? I've gone from being Pollyanna and nauseatingly cheerful for the last few days to feeling like I've just had the soul sucked out of me this morning. NOTHING is wrong, life is good, work is good, home life is fantastic, both my kids will be home today, we're going to the state fair tomorrow, objectively speaking, all is well. But if I could, I'd just stay in bed today. I"m 8-9 weeks out, and it's still a week to my period so that's not it. Made myself get up and exercise hoping the endorphins would kick in, but nothing yet. I expected it at first after the surgery but am a bit surprised at it this late into it. Is this common?

(Since the poster I quoted deleted her comment, I am deleting mine so that the quote she wanted to delete doesn't linger on)

Well I had initially said I would sit at the table marked P for wussy but I don't think anyone else found it as funny as I did Skin of my teeth baby!

no need to sit alone. I already have a kid's table going. So far its me, lilgemini, and zenandnow. You're welcome to join!

Okay now I feel stupid. Just saw the calendar, and the light-bulb went on. It's my mom's birthday. She would have been 75. Died too young at 56 years old. And 19 years later, I still miss her something fierce. So THAT is apparently what's going on with me today. Sigh. You know how in the old days, we'd think everything was about our weight? Now I think we believe everything is about our surgery!

You're two weeks out from surgery? Stop worrying. Many of us put ON weight during our first week or surgery from the IV fluids as well as from general inflammation. Honestly, this is very, very normal. You will soon hit your three-week stall as well, so measure yourself, keep doing what you should do, and try to be as patient as possible. Easier said than done I know! I'm going through a slow period right now too and it's frustrating, but it's normal. If in a couple of months you haven't lost anything, you can get upset then maybe, not in a couple of weeks

Based on your ticker you want to lose about 70 lbs? I needed to lose about 80 lbs so close to your goals. I don't know what 120 lbs puts you at for BMI, but let's assume it puts you in the normal, not underweight range. My starting BMI was 36. I'm only 9 weeks out, but the weight is hardly just falling off in leaps and bounds. It comes down steadily at about 3 lbs a week which is a lot slower than if I had 200 lbs to lose. It's still of course a LOT faster than without the surgery but I will not be one of those that has lost 100 lbs in six months, I'm fairly sure. I have never worried that I will keep losing. I worry that I will never even get to goal! It's not that easy. Your body is programmed to not let you starve to death. It will likely cut your metabolism down before you starve. Those who lost and hit maintenance seem to be able to add extra fat and calories and increase from their typical post-op calories of 700 or so, to 1300 or so in maintenance (women) and do just fine. I think the surgery does help for someone who has 70-80 lbs to lose. I have tried everything on my own and failed before. Not just failed to keep it off, I've also failed to LOSE the weight in the first place. It's been a godsend for me. I hope that my doing it when I did will prevent co-morbidities, and will also reduce my loose skin problems than if I had waited until I had more to lose. But the restriction is the restriction. I doubt any doctor would agree to a much bigger bougie just because you have "less" to lose than some others. 70 lbs of extra weight is still a lot to carry around on our poor knees, hips and ankles. Good luck to you, whatever you decide!

I get hungry at mealtimes which in my case is 3-4 hours after I eat about 2 oz of solid Protein. Been that way from the get go. But after I eat my next two oz, I'm good to go for a while. I too consume about 600-700 calories and try to get at least 70 of protein. We're part of the half whose hunger didn't go away I think.

I hadn't heard of this and don't really know what they do at the reunion? do you? would love to better understand details.

That's exactly what I want to do. My husband and I were sleeved the same day, so he goes through some of it from time to time as well. I tell him as long as we're not both down the same day, we're doing okay. Feels like I'm trudging through wet sand today. Ugh.

Yeah it's easy for me to disregard it because I know it's hormones/chemicals. It caught me off guard this morning. Fortunately for me, when I get stressed I can't eat so that's one good thing! I used to eat out of boredom or the need for something fun and exciting. Stress and depression don't trigger eating in me thankfully.

At 4 weeks post-op you're on soft foods? I haven't travelled internationally since being sleeved, but some of the small towns I've been to, might as well have been TImbuktoo Plus there's no time to go to stores when you're traveling for work. I traveled at 4 weeks and took lots of Protein powder, protein Soup packets, and Protein Bars. It's easy enough to get ground meat everywhere, chicken and fish are plentiful in both China and India, so you should be okay on both fronts at mealtimes I'd assume. The bigger issue for me during my travels has been airport time, and snack times in between meals. Hence the protein powders, bars and Soups such as ProtiDiet packets.

Weirdly, I can still tolerate spicy food, but my husband no longer can eat it QUITE as spicy as before. It's so individual, it's odd.

+5 mea on stationary bike = 10.6 Sent from my iPhone using VST

Wow! Amazing. You look a lot skinnier than 189 now. Looking good

I started at 37 and have averaged 3 lbs a week for the last 8-9 weeks. My husband started at 37 too and has lost closer to 4-5 lbs a week. That's with stalling for 12 days once and 7 days another time already.

Thank you so much for posting before and after. There are a few pics of women who've had surgery here, but I haven't found any mens's pics and it was very helpful for my husband. You look amazing.