Kindle

Yep, it's gonna be hard, but it's just part of the process. Keep focused on your end goal and don't get caught up in every little discomfort along the way. In the end, two weeks is a fraction of time compared to the months and years of being a thinner, healthier you. And if you think the preop is hard, wait till you get to maintenance! I've put myself on a voluntary liquid "preop" diet numerous times in the last year in order to drop those few pounds that temd to creep on. It's just another tool to use to obtain and keep that ultimate prize we all had WLS for in the first place.

All I brought was my iphone, iPad, Chargers and toothbrush/toothpaste. Didn't need anything else that the hospital didn't provide. Wore the same clothes home that I came in, including a hat so I didn't have to worry about brushing my hair. All postop meds were dispensed to me before I left. I actually went shopping for drinkable yogurt, pedialyte, Lifewater, decaf herbal tea and GasX strips on my drive home from the hospital. Already had Protein shakes, unflavored Protein powder and broth at home.

A couple hours of hunger never killed anyone. I get hungry every 2-3 hours and I either suck it up until I get a chance to eat, or grab a handful of nuts or some carrot sticks or couple pieces of Jerky. Or drink a bunch of Water till its time to eat again. The other thing it could be is acid. Are you on a PPI or H2 Blocker? If not, try taking some maaloxx or tums or Rolaids when you feel "hungry" to see if it helps.

Oooo...give em my phone number....as long as they have a car to drive themselves home when I'm done with them.

So many different versions, including the ones listed above. Another one is the "5 day pouch test". You can google it.

I actually meant to post this as a reply to a recent thread that was stirring up a lot of controversy. But it kind of died down and I didn't think the thread needed a bump to the front of the line.

Hanging thigh skin, saggy butt skin, droopy boob skin. Guess a bikini is forever out of the question for me.

My sis came with me. She hung out with me surgery day until about 6pm and then went to the Marriott. We Facetimed around 9pm and then she went to bed and I sat up watching TV all night.....I can never sleep after anesthesia. She came back at the clinic around 8am, I was discharged by 9 and we both stayed at the Marriott the next 2 nights.

@@Djmohr oh no! That is not a good red rover story. . I just remember feeling like my fingers were going to break from gripping so tight. And my arms nearly getting ripped out of my shoulder. Can't believe this was fun, but it was. That and dodgeball ????

That's because you only eat one meal a day. The 60+g protein/day is universal, you don't need to talk to your surgeon to verify. So is the MINIMUM 64oz Fluid rule. So is the taking Vitamins and getting regular bloodwork done to check for deficiencies. These are basic guidelines for all WLS patients forever. You WILL NOT stretch your sleeve eating appropriate portions (2-6oz) of healthy food. You WILL NOT stretch your sleeve drinking fluids. This includes Protein shakes if that's what it takes to meet protein goals. You seem to have developed a serious eating disorder. If you can't bring yourself to nourish your body appropriately, you need to seek professional help. Call any therapist, psychologist or counselor you can find. If they don't feel they can help you, perhaps they can refer you to a specialist that can. Please get help before you do some serious, irreversible damage.

My starting BMI was 40, so probably higher than yours. I lost 17 pounds the first 3 months and I was thrilled because I LOST 17 POUNDS! This is not a race or a competitive sport. You're sabotaging your ability to enjoy this wonderful journey by letting numbers and unrealistic expectations get in your way. This is for the rest of your life and the rate at which you lose has zero to do with your long term success.

Stop before it hurts and don't start again once you stop. Time to surrender your "Clean Plate Club" membership card. There's absolutely no reason to finish all the pudding or to eat till you're full. It's a bad habit no one ever tells you about but we all have (or had) it.

4 months out tried my first wine. It hurt. 5 months tried a Bloody Mary. Hurt even worse than the wine. 7 months out had vodka cocktails and bloody Mary's with no problem. I've had occasional drinks ever since ranging from wine, vodka, rum, bourbon, rumchata, baily's, peppermint schnapps, egg nog, and twisted teas. My favorite drink is Apple Crown on ice. No problems with any of them after that 7 month mark. I cannot, however drink anything carbonated. Alcohol does not affect me any differently than preop (bummer!) I can pretty much outdrink a football team. But due to the calories I choose to only have 2-3 drinks/month.

It's totally normal for weight loss to slow. As long as you are sticking with the basics....protein, Water, Vitamins, and activity then you are doing what you are supposed to. If, not, you know what to change....more Protein, more water, less carbs, take your vitamins, eat more non starchy veggies, and excercise more. And remember this is not a race. The rate at which you lose in no way reflects your long term success. The only thing that matters is that you never, ever, stop trying. Giving up is the only failure.

Congratulations! You should be the poster girl for what a good attitude and hard work can accomplish.

I got to buy myself a new saddle because my old one became way too huge for my teeny tiny butt. Oh, and let's not forget about an entirely new wardrobe right down to the undies. I'm headed to Florida in two weeks, too. My first real vacation in 7 years. But it's not really about my surgery. It's more about my sanity!

Does it have to be a main dish? I'm a big fan of bacon wrapped/cheese stuffed jalapeños. You can prep them ahead of time and throw them on the grill when you get there.

I'm just over two years out. I'll be sure to let you know when I start excercising.... Actually I was walking 1-2 miles/day starting the day after surgery, but I have a very active lifestyle (ranch chores, horseback riding, hiking, skiing, etc) and a physical job so I never really incorporated any new excercise routine.

Thanks everyone. I knew you would get it! It was just weird to feel myself crossing that fine line between pride and vanity. But thanks to your encouragement I'm gonna rock the shit out of it! Unfortunately I've got one friend back there that has not been very successful with her lapband. She actually lost a lot of weight (way more than me) but has gained a lot back. So I'm definitely gonna downplay the whole weight thing with her because I don't want her to feel worse than she already does. And I'm OK with that. That's what friends are for. (I guess go ahead and mark your calendars, folks. Yes, Kindle is actually showing compassion for someone else!) I really am excited about this trip, though. I realized today that other than visiting family, going to conferences or having surgery, I haven't taken time off for an actual vacation in at least 7 years. It will be so nice to take a break from real life, if only for a week.

I live in Idaho and it's frickin cold, especially now that I have no insulation. Besides coffee and tea, I love hot cocoa to help keep warm. But unfortunately all "bariatric" hot cocoa products I've found 1) have artificial sweeteners (which I hate) and 2) contain Calcium caseinate which is a lower quality, not readily absorbed form of Protein. I much prefer whey isolate. So I came up with my own recipe.... 1/2 cup Hershey's cocoa 1/4 cup Stevia in the Raw 2 scoops Syntrax nectar Natural vanilla 1 cup nonfat dry milk I keep it in a tupperware in my cupboard and Just stir into hot Water to taste. This recipe makes for a slightly under sweetened hot cocoa. I do this on purpose because I usually add Torani syrup for another flavor twist (almond, peppermint, caramel, Irish cream, hazelnut, etc. ) and this adds a bit more sweetness. If I want a cup of plain hot chocolate I just add a little Extra stevia or monk fruit sweetener. Cozy!

I have had it, and yes, it is good. I just wasn't a fan of the artificial sweeteners and casein, that's all.

Well I didn't wear a coat today because at 34 degrees, it felt so balmy I didn't need one. So if it hits at least 60 degrees when I'm there it will be plenty warm for shorts and bikini top for me. Actually, I just want sunshine and we are camping 3 of the days I'm there so no rain dances, please!

My point with the horse story is that I was raised to not expect anything for nothing. I have to work hard for not only everything I want, but also for everything I need, and I shouldn't expect anyone else to pay my way. That has translated into self sufficiency, financial responsibility, prioritization, and patience. I am grateful for that invaluable life lesson. And no, WLS is not a medical necessity in the sense it has to happen today. Unlike an emergency procedure like a cardiac bypass or removing a ruptured appendix or stopping internal bleeding after trauma, it can wait. Like the OP, My insurance didn't cover WLS. I was obese, in constant pain, had high blood pressure and was pre diabetic. But that still didn't mean I had a "right" to have this surgery. Instead, I saved for over two years to make it happen. And turns out the OP has found a way to make it happen, too. And I'm very happy for her and wish her all the success in the future.

SCARLETWITCH, which protein powder do you use in coffee? Like OP, I hate the drinks, and I have to really work to get my protein. All the powders I've tried clump up or taste weird in coffee. I'd love to find one I could use daily. I found RTD Protein Shakes tend to make better creamers since they don't clump. I use Premier vanilla or chocolate, depending on what flavor mood I'm in. I also use hazelnut, caramel, and Irish cream torani syrups to make more of a cappuccino/latte drink. I use PB2, vanilla, banana, piña colada and lime protein powders to flavor plain Greek yogurt to boost the protein level even more. I also add unflavored protein powder to every Soup, casserole, and baked goods I make. Drink dairy milk instead of almond milk because it has a lot more protein. Have you tried the Syntrax nectar powders? They are more like koolaid rather than a milkshake so you may like them better. Quest bars have 20g protein.