Madam Reverie

Its true.. The major food lust goes away. It does rear its ugly head from time to time, however. Particularly if you see something/smell something you used to really love Try to keep yourself busy - it really works.

You're working outside of the home, too? Yeowch. You're amazing. Don't forget that x

Being 'short changed'? W.T.F? (yeah, I'm a die-hard feminist, so lets not do that debate!) 'Denied surgery'? This sounds like sour grapes from your husband, to me. Your role is that of mother, home-maker and care-giver. That deserves respect (not whinging) and hasn't and won't change. So, you bought a couple of ready-meals? So what?!! Are they hungry? No. Are they neglected? No. I think your husband needs to re-evaluate his stand-point. This might sound a bit militant, but, I would go forward with your plans. He should be grateful you care enough to want to please them all! When you're able, cook meals that satiate all your needs (saving the odd bad treat for the kids) and just continue to push things forward. If he starts grumbling, I would walk to the kitchen, open the door, and offer him the right to do the foraging, cooking and presentation himself. That might stop his grumbling! x

In the interests of brevity, I shall try to be concise and perhaps a bit blunt... I think you're suffering from a case of 'grass is greener' syndrome. Although he may be dazzling you with how different he is from your husband, if you embarked on a relationship with him, would there be any guarantee that his 'striving to keep his brain and financial status active and buoyant' would not start to get on your nerves? Or the things you find so engaging now become just that little bit tiring or annoying? Enquiring of him as to why his own marriage broke down might give you the information you need to look at him and the possibility of the two of you being together , objectively. You have managed to hold down a marriage for 21 years. That, is an amazing feat and one you should be very proud. By the sounds of it, too, it has not been a bad marriage, either. Might lack a bit of luster - but don't all relationships after a while? I think a key point, based on your statement, is the fact that this other man is going through a divorce. As brutal as this might sound, your paths have crossed at 'just the right time', to make him feel better about himself during his marital trials. He has also provided you with a welcome distraction during this period of emotional upheaval. I would be very interested if the 'agreement between the two of you' was instigated, in truth, by him, or by yourself... There is always a primary initiator of these things. If it was him? It could allude to him needing a distraction - and not something long term. I have never been through a divorce, I have, however, been through a long term relationship break-up. Did I need another relationship straight afterwards? Hell no. I kept my own counsel and effectively licked my wounds for a few years. I'm not advocating that anyone should lock themselves away in a monastery, but even if a person leaves a long term relationship, I would have thought not many people would be willing to jump straight into another one. After finding freedom, people do need a bit of time to find themselves and re-evaluate their lives again. Those who relationship 'hop' often find themselves leaving the frying pan and ending up in the fire. I would hate for that to happen to you. I think you have found this liaison titillating and different. It has provided a welcome and exciting distraction to what you might perceive could be the mundanity of normal life. Try to look at it objectively. Your husband appears to be a good man - if not a bit predictable. But he is a good man that has loved you, supported you and loved you enough to raise two wonderful children with you. He deserves your time, effort and respect. Consequently and if you want to spin this around; sit him down and tell him how you feel about your life together (and I might just omit mentioning the other person!). You never know - he might have more to say about things than you initially gave him credit. Wouldn't that be a shocker? This other man? Leave him be. Going through a divorce, he has 'trouble' written all over him and there's no guarantee that 'attraction' could turn into anything more than just merely that - and then where would you be? You sound like a nice lady who has merely had her head turned. Take your intelligence and your ability to articulate yourself so eloquently and invest some time into your husband. The more investiture, the less you'll be thinking about this other person, who and at this point, is really just a mere figment of your imagination. I wish you the best of luck x

lol have you not fully observed my profile pic? I think that's even worse!

It tastes like a caramel latte and has 20grms of Protein in it. It has a fair amount of carbs, too.. But the way I see it, if it's a Meal Replacement - I'll take those carbs. Can't remember what its called. I'll get back to you on that one! <wanders off to rummage in her bin>

<gelato envy>

Care to share the breakup website page? x

Erm, I'm only 8 weeks out and I have to give it 'consideration'. I can't sit down to eat something and chomp my way through it at break-neck speed. I have to consider, I have to chew and I'm usually good. It's when I'm spoken to mid-eating or distracted that I often make mistakes and my sternum reminds me to slow the heck down... But it's my sternum that reminds me. Not, my stomach as such. As for the funnel/gurgling. Funneling, I get sometimes first thing in the morning with my cup of tea. Gurgling, when I've eaten lots of brassica vegetables. Then it's gurgling and wind-o-rama! Poop-Poop! As for the concerns for food going down, you'll have to ask the lifers as to whether this changes after a year or so?

Well, mines ogling results in my being late! Not that I'm complaining, you understand :wub:

Hehe, they're knickers! And thank you. I wouldn't say I look 'great', but it did result in my man chasing me around the room pinching my ever-decreasing-backside

Achildress, if you search the forums for 'before and after', you'll get lots of hits and you can peruse to your hearts content

T'wit - t'wooo! Must be incredibly annoying for some people <Shh, over there >>>...> to have it finally evidenced that brains and beauty are not mutually exclusive! Gorgeous, daarlink x

As long as you're taking it very carefully and are eating foods that can be pulverized orally, I wouldn't worry too much. I was chowing down on normal food at week 4 and it made me feel like a different human being. As for your fantasies - I understand that, too. I went through a proper mourning period for eating 'quantities' (ridiculous, considering it was that very thing that got me into this mess!)... As for the 'funnel' feeling? Yep, had that, too. A veritable vortex was created after having the surgery! I found it amusing. Hubble, bubble toil and trouble!

Sexy!

What. In. The. World. Goldy, I am so very sorry you're feeling alone and victimised at this very moment. Here's hoping your husbands exasperation got the best of him and he re-evaluates his standpoint. After all, you probably did this to improve EVERYONES lives in the long-term and he's solely thinking about things in the short-term. You're not alone. We're all here and will be here waiting for you on the other side. Just a little bump and it'll be over and you'll be flying again. x

Now, who says i have no affinity with being 'banded' Muahahahaha

Whomp, there it is....

I have a not-so-dirty, but little secret to announce. Emphasis on the 'little'. That as of today, I'm officially in smaller under-crackers! Yippppppppppppeeeee! In preparation for having a smaller butt, I bought a selection of day-to-day ladies undergarments in sizes 16 and 14. I went for a size 16 and put on a size 14 by accident AND they fit. Cue running around the room, shaking her smaller butt in the said smaller under-crackers. T'wit, t'woooooo! <I see you baby... shakin' that (considerably smaller) ass>

Aww, don't be too disheartened. I think you look great. Whether you see it or not, your body shape is really changing... Look at your arms/ shoulders/chest That's a significant change. To add to that, you're actually closer to the mirror in the third picture, so the perspective is a bit skewed. I'm in the same boat. Kept bouncing around +/- 1.5lbs and I'm 7.5 weeks out. Like you, I'm hoping things will move soon and I'm sure they will. In the meantime, I'm elated because I found a tasty latte flavoured Protein shake. Yipppppeeee! Hang in there, Chica x

Maybe swap breakfast for dinner. That way, if you're craving bacon and the like, you can have it in the evening

I'm exactly the same, Bright Eyes. In the morning I eat like a squirrel, by late afternoon, I could graze like a proverbial cow! I have no idea why. Guess it's just one of those things?

In my defence and in reference to the 'other thread'. After seeing the inaccuracies and sensationalist rhetoric being promulgated (not just about the sleeve), I thought a bit of balance in the form of objective academic research would be useful. Primarily to those who, as this site is advertised as being targeted to, may be researching the pro's and cons of the various procedures. As I have oft been chastised; if there is no 'other side to the coin, information is mis-interpreted and people could get an inaccurate view of the 'journey' to which they're embarking; ultimately using it to 'exonerate' their negative food-related behaviours'. Sadly, because of that lack of objectivity and ability to accurately extrapolate all relevant data; all that might be taken from these issues on a freely combined forum, is the 'club' mentality. If cross pollination and healthy debate (without the accusations and assertions) cannot be generated - is there a point? If it is the case we should support in 'silo's', we are not helping the uninitiated much with their ability to analyse the daunting variables of choice which are in front of them. Not everyone is gifted in being able to do that type of analysis on their own and I refer to my previous post about those with 'stronger voices'. With regards to the surgery choices? Each to their own. I personally couldn't give a rats as* whether you choose the band, the bypass, gastric balloon, or want to hang your backside out of a third floor window painted with the face of Kim Jong Il - if you think it'll help you lose weight and get you healthy. Just make sure that whatever you're stating, it is balanced and it is accurate. If it isn't... and you know it isn't... you have to prepare yourself for someone to throw in some corroborated facts - whether or not it is inaccurately perceived as a targeted proverbial hand-grenade. As it stands; I have my kevlar and it's all good in my hood.

Okay, so, we're rapidly approaching week 7 post op and I am having issues. Not ever being full for long enough. Now, I know that if you eat carbs, it makes you want more and yes, I have been in social/life situations over the last two weeks or so which have necessitated a few white lies to cover why I was avoiding the mash potato in its mountainous glory or the pile of fluffy white bread like the plague. Which, if you're of Irish lineage and in Ireland, is verging on the impossible to do... However, I was told by my nutritionist that by week 7, I should be eating three square meals and snacking on only yoghurt, nuts and fruit in between. I was also informed that I should be eating my meals within 20 minutes and not drinking before or after the food. Lovely in its idealism, but frankly, it's just not working. I am hungry. It is true. Exactly 2-2.5 hours after consuming my meal - I AM hungry. And for the record, it's not indigestion. Can someone please tell me of any wondrous ideas as to how I am supposed to eat and not be hungry so quickly afterwards? I have no idea the volume I'm consuming in ounces or anything. I eat until I'm full and stop happily - because I don't want the discomfort. So, we're talking between 4-8 tablespoons of food. Approaching a third of a side plate full. However, irrespective of cramming in the Protein and veg, exactly 2.5 hours later, my energy levels collapse and I'm a dozy, glassy-eyed incompetent (some might say this is a permanent disposition). But seriously, 6 small meals a day work better for me than three main meals - because I simply can't take enough food in to sustain me. Which, and I am ashamed to say it, is why whilst out and about, I have eaten some convenience foods like wraps and sandwiches..... All of this appears to be placing me in the 'grazing' category (note: I don't graze on junk) and as my scale has moved by but 1.5lbs since week 4 (bouncing up and down by 1lb in the meantime), I am starting to get concerned... Any suggestions for this predicament would be greatly appreciated. Kinda feeling a bit miffed with it all - particularly as my nutritionist during our recent discourse offered no solution other than 'dried nuts and fruit' and kept uttering 'hmm... most unusual'.....