Miss Mac

When I was allowed to start regular foods at four weeks, I had some steamed cauliflower with cheese. Miss Tummy punished me for hours. I tried it again at six months and was fine.

A surprising advantage of being old and creaky is that I already had a lift recliner at home. It did all the work in getting me up, and I slept in it for a few nights, too. Don't be lifting anything for a while. My limit was five pounds for the first six weeks. I do not know how parents with little kidlets cope. My respect to you all.

I got a really rough patch of lizard skin on my shins and upper arms. It finally went away.

If I am eating where Chinese food is the only option, I go for the Steak and Pepper Lo-Mein and don't eat the noodles. I will let a fortune cookie be my dessert, but just one. Miss Tummy can't handle more than one. And no more crab rangoons. (Darn!)

My Mediterranean chef boyfriend does the cooking here, and he shops in the European style of picking up fresh foods about every other day. We get more from Pete's Fresh instead of Aldi's, but we still get dairy, eggs, and tuna at Aldi's. So, I was eating an excellent Mediterranen diet before surgery, but my portions were horribly distorted. With that big ol' stomach and 53" belly, you would think I was a linebacker. As much as I loved homemade pastas and raviolis, I do not eat them at all now. Where we save big money is that I am not going through drivethroughs on the way to work and back, and nothing from snack and soda machines. Retiring helped in that respect, but when I am out and about, I am not stopping at McDonalds. No more drinking two 2-litres of Pepsi every day, either. Tap Water is a lot cheaper than soda pop. We also have the luxury of a big back yard (rare in the Chicago area). He has a Mediterranean garden back there and grows zuchinni, tomatoes, sunchokes, basil, squash, and green Beans. That helps keep costs down during the summer.

Mine was full liquids a soon as I got home. (Day 3) Purees at one week. Soft foods at two weeks. Regular foods at one month.

If I go over 1,000 calories or 40 carbs, the weight starts packing back on. I could easily gain back five pounds in a week, if I enjoy some carbs or salt. Maintenance is a mind-freak of its own. Adding calories may work for someone whose activity level can increase as they lose weight, but I have orthopedic limitations that keep me fairly sedentary. So, I would agee that if you increase your calories, make them Protein calories and not carbs, and be prepared to be more active.

In August of 2013, I had my first consultation at the bariatric clinic. I got my appontments lined up and had a three month supervised diet, during which I lost 22 pounds, which was an encouraging head start. I had my surgery on 12/23/2013. The time actually passed fairly quickly and gave me the opportunity to develop the eating habits that would carry me through recovery and future success. My vote is for waiting until you return from Paris. You will have more energy for your trip and have the help you need for your recovery. Just put your own self on a low carb diet similar to what most of the rest of us have to do anyway. I suppose your trip to Paris could be yor official "food funeral" that many of us had. Or.....you can start researching how to maintain a low carb diet while travelling. On the website "The World According to Eggface", the blogger traveled around the world freshly post-op and had a wonderful time. So, low carb can be done in Europe the same as it can be done anywhere. I know that I did not have any noticeable energy for a couple of months post-op after I was well into eating regular foods and had built up my nutrient levels. So, I would delay the surgery and use that time to prepare for my new re-invented life. Whatever you decide, I insist that yo enjoy your trip. Bon Voyage from Chicago!

Even "old people" sex is better. I am more flexible and enthusiastic. Even the Wellbutrin helps.

I had the twilight sedation. It is like you are sort of awake, but don't really care. I remember hearing the doctor and staff talking, but don't remember feeling anything.

At 20 months out, I eat anything I want, but......what I want has changed. My body thrives now on nutritious food with vital nutrients and gets disagreeable with the greasy, salty, sweet edibles that come from a factory. I have had Wendy's chili several times, but it takes me two or three days to get through a small one. I find that I miss certain flavors more than the food it came with. I try really hard to not let my tastebuds run the show.

Pasta, bread, anything made with flour sits in my new stomach like Playdoh and then I bloat. I just can't tolerate some foods I used to love.

Retired Environmental Services Manager in nursing home and hospital settings.

Would you feel guilty if you had a medical condition that caused significant weight loss? I would just disappear for a few days and get it done. Then there would be nothing they can do or say to undo your surgery. You are a grown person who should be in charge of your own health decisions, no matter what anyone thinks, family or not. Now, go out there and be in charge of yourself. I am rooting for you!

I justified staying with my last ex ten years too long for two reasons: 1. I was raised in a religious home where the wife is long-suffering and silent in spite of how she is treated. Pray and stay. This caused me to ignore blatant red flags that would have warned me to not get involved with that beast. Once I kindy suggested in my very librarian-like voice that maybe he could see a doctor about getting some medication to help him level out his emotions. "I DON'T NEED NO F***ING MEDICATION! I could time his tirades to 45 minutes. I knew that if I could hang in there for 45 minutes he would be calm and nice again. He's sorry, he loves me, he won't let it happen again - several times a day. In spite of the mixed messages of he loves me and I am always a nuisance, I stayed because I was told he was just having a bad day. Besides.... 2. He never hit me. Until he hit me. The injury that sent me to the doctor was a bruise on my arm the size of a 7 ounce steak. His private abuse had gone public. I love you. I am sick and tired of your ugly face. (He yelledthat at me in a Subway shop). But he never hit me. Until he hit me. With volatile people like that, you don't leave when they are home. That is how you end up dead in tomorrow's news. When I finally got out of there ( at 2 am - I left early from work (third shift) I went to a women's shelter. The diary I had kept was very handy in preparing my case for the restraint hearing. I had his guns taken away from him, too. The diary reminded me that I was not the crazy one. Reading things I wrote while crying remineded me that he was always throwing things at me that accidently slipped out of his hands and flew across the room. It was the camping lantern that fractured my ankle. I would have told you, "But he nevers hits me." Until he hit me. I cannot stress enough what my doctor said.......Why would you love someone who treats you that way?????? If any of you EVER need someone to talk to, send me a private message. The number for the Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233 I wish you the best. Don't suffer in silence. Help is available. Oh, I forgot to tell you - I moved 250 miles away.

I put my away for a month and promptly regained nine pounds! So.......the scale is back again and I am down the nine pounds, but it took three months to lose what I gained in one month of not monitoring. My Dad was a scientist and frequently would say "You cannot control that which you do not measure." I would not go out and buy an expensive one right now, but Walmart has decent digital scales that can do everything except jumping jacks and whistling "Dixie". Later on, post op after you have made some good progress, go buy one. Your bariatric brothers and sisters are on both sides of the fence on this topic. Good luck with your weight loss.

I think that the major circumstance that had made all of this food and Water juggling do-able for me is that I am retired. My deepest respect goes out to those of you who have to accommodate a work routine or the care of litle kidlets. I do the five mini-meals, too, but have to be careful to keep the timing short, or it easily turns into grazing. I do have an assortment of Protein bars on hand, but I save them for when I am out and about. They are kinda like candy bars with protein, adds to my carb limit very quickly. Colder beverages work for me, too. sugar-free popsicles and Jello count as Fluid. Sometimes I just don't want full strength Crystal Lite, so I will make up a gallon and put in a packet meant for one glass. I don't miss the straw as much as I miss the Pepsi I used to drink with the straw. Well, there is no turning back on that one. Lack of a straw will not stop the world from turning. You sound like a good candidate for batch cooking. Having the right foods on hand makes this process easier. My boyfriend is the cook in this house (I do the clean-up) because he just simply is better at it. But he works 12 hour days, three on and then three off. On one of his off days, he cooks everything for the week, and we are fine with heating up the lefoivers. He makes ups a batch of sandwiches for his work days, which means I always have meats and cheeses in the fridge for myself. He might make up a batch of Breakfast burritos to take to work, which means I have the scrambled egg and veggie filling for my breakfasts. I wish you much success with your weight loss. Hugs from Chicago.

My big giant old stomach was pre-ulcer because of chronic use of ANSAIDS. The best relief for my knees was to just give in and get knee replacements, one in 2007 and the other in 2011. I can't imagine getting them both at the same time, but some people do. What I found out with the first one was that I also had a torn miniscus and a cyst behind my knee as a result of trying to tough it out for too long. Steroid shots and pain meds are not going to repair the problem, they just mask the pain. I feel for you - I have been there.

I knew I did not want to be re-routed with a gastric bypass, so I asked my primary doctor if I was a good candidate for a lap band. I had not even heard of a sleeve until I made that first visit to the bariatric clinic. No port? I decided then and there that the sleeve was for me.

My olldest daughter has been on my case for years to quit buying all my clothes at Walmart by default. WEll, now that my weight is down, I shop at Kohls, Pennys, Macy's, etc. and can actually find stylish things I like. That same daughter just married her gal pal this past Saturday, and I wore a dress! I have not worn a dress in over thirty years (I am 63). That dress ahd big bright lowers on it and was above my knee. I wore the prettiest laciest push-up ra I have ever had and felt good about it. No more $8 bras for me. I wore lipstick. Mama always said that lipstick and heels were for bad girls. Oh, well. I had not seen the Homewrecker who broke up my 23 year marriage to my girls' father, but the were both their at the wedding. I sooooo got my weight loss revenge. Which reminds me of a joke: Why does Mrs. Claus worry so much about Santa? Because he knows where all the bad girls live.

Joan Rivers, rest in peace. Her doctor worked on celebrities all the time, and was still unprofessional and dangerous. I would see if the insurance company can recommend another Center of Excellence in your area.

You said, "It's usually ok but when we argue it can get full on and he can be quite nasty & say some hurtful things. We've got 2 children together. 2 year old & 3 month old, so you'd think he would be a lot nicer but that isn't the case. It's not the first time his put me down about my weight. He always apologies and says he only said it in anger but I just don't know when enough is enough.." Look up the Cycle of Abuse. I am a survivor of domestic violence, including death threats from an unstable ex who kept five loaded guns in the house. When I finally had to go to the doctor to have my injuries looked at, he said. "Why are you still there?" I said because I love him. The doctor asked, "Why would you love someone who treats you that way?" That doctor was very supportive in helping me escape from that mess. It is no secret here that bariatric surgery exposes the raw dynamics of a relationship. My first ex was "just kidding" when he told me I was too ugly to live. My second ex "didn't really mean it" he when he said he wished he could beat the godda** shi*out of me. Actually, as much as his cycle of tirades and apologies hurt, you are now seeing what he really thinks of you, and the lack of appreciation he has for your love. Examine your realtionship and how you two contribute to each other's day. What's in it for him, and what's in it for you? What was in it for my exes was cooking, laundry, housekkeeping, errand running, a second income to pay for their hobbies, and free degrading sex when they weren't out with someone else. What was in it for me was tears and humiliation. I ate what they ate, watched what they wanted on TV, wore what they told me to wear. Bariatric surgery is going to help you re-invent yourself. I am guessing that he is not being all that lovely to the children either. I know that the politically correct thing to say is that you should do this for yourself, but the domestic violence survivor in me says to turn that fat money into revenge money. Do what you gotta do to keep your dignity and peace of mind and go get HOT!

Grilled chicken with steamed zuchinni from the garden, maybe with a little asiago or parmesan, fresh cherry tomatoes from the garden. Fresh sliced pear for late dessert.

I live in a tri-level house and was all over the place my first day home.

Hi. I will answer what I can. 1. I don't drink coffee, but I do drink tea. I had to change to decaf because of reflux, but that has not been a problem. I could have it pre and post op. 2. My sleeve was my 12th surgery, and was the least painful of all. I was on pain meds for two days, and that was it. There was some discomfort to be sure, but tolerable. By the end of the first week I was bored. Think of the surgery this way: They give you a nice nap, and when you wake up you have a new lease on life and are free to re-invent yourself. The spot that hurt the most was the largest incision (which by any standard was still a small incision which they closed with surgical glue and a steri-strip). That is the one they took the remnant of my big ol' stomach through. I slept in my lift recliner for a couple of nights so that I would not pull on it getting in and out of bed. I did not have the shoulder gas pain that some people get. 3. I was allowed to do all the walking I could tolerate, but was told not to lift anything more than five pounds for six weeks. I am retired but I know that if I were still working, the fatigue and recovery from serious surgery would have flattened me. Coming off of ten days of liquids pre-op and 2 1/2 weeks of full lliquids post-op left me pretty much wiped out. When I started soft foods, I started to feel much more alert and mobile. 4. I took waaaaay too much stuff to the hospital for a two day stay. You can bring pretty much what you want to entertain yourself, but I mostly slept off the anesthetic. Don't take anything you will miss if it is stolen. 5. food... I am blessed to have a Mediterranean chef in the house, but if my food prep was entirely up to me on a lazy day, I would be batch cooking in the crock pot. The more you prepare your own food, the more control you have over it's content. Unless you are totally unteachable, this is a good time to learn how to cook from scratch. You can go a long way with a Foreman grill. Grilled meats are easy. Canned veggies are better than no veggies. There is not much work to boiling eggs or cutting off a piece of cheese. Since fruit is the peach and not peach pie, there is zero prep there. 6. Reading material.....if you mean concerning learning about bariatric surgery and recovery, look under the Resources tab at the top of this page. Congratulations on the decision you have made, and I wish you the best.