lark60

Yes Please! You can message me here or my email is lark60@gmail.com

I am impressed with the results you have had with the procedures and would like to get an idea how much to save for plastic surgery. Would you be willing to reveal the cost of the mommy make over and the arm lift?

I keep these around so when I am going out I have something ready to take for a meal or snack. I find the pack fills me up so I don't add anything to the meal.

It depends on how recent your surgery was in relation to how your tummy reacts to food. The Clear liquids don't need to be digested by the stomach so they move through without problem. Full liquids (the creamy soups) need some digestion and if your stomach is still swollen from surgery, your capacity will be a few spoonfuls. Listen to your body and stop when you feel full. As your stomach heals, you will be able to eat more before getting full.

First off the hair loss is an unfortunate part of WLS. Everyone has some hair loss during the first year post surgery (usually between 4-8 months) IT DOES GROW BACK. As for getting Protein in on a daily basis, yes, egg whites are the best protein to take in when you cannot tolerate the shakes. If your cholesterol is up, skip the yolks (or at least every other egg you ingest since they are all fat and cholesterol). I use the protein powder to make crepes and Cookies. The cookies and cream powder works in place of flour for oatmeal cookies (adds lots of protein to each cookie and I don't need the vanilla for flavoring either) You can experiment with the powder to modify your favorite recipes so there is food you can tolerate. If you are still early post op, take the powders and add less Water to make a pudding. You can also make up any shake and freeze it to make popsicles for a treat.

Well I finally saw a new "lower"number on the scale today! I have been bouncing from 156 to 159 for the past 2 months. Today I saw 155! I actually weighed myself twice to make sure I was seeing the right number.

Maybe you have a hiatal hernia and the stomach is "moving up" into the chest cavity through the hernia. Just a guess.

I have tried to garden but the heat and low humidity here makes this near impossible. I tried last year and even though I started in Feb. all the plants stopped growing and never flowered when the temp went over 100. I did buy a gardenia plant today (I love the flowers and fragrance) I plan on keeping this plant in a pot so I can move it if I find it isn't thriving. My mom has a gardenia bush at her house that is as tall as me so I know these can survive. As for books, I am a prolific reader. I used to have a library room but donated my books when I down sized into a smaller house. Now I prefer to listen to audio books while I knit, crochet, weave or tat. I have over 100 titles on audible. I switched to audio books when I realized I tended to snack while I sat and read a book. I keep my hands busy by crafting and still enjoy "reading" by listening. Multitasking has helped prevent snacking.

Thanks for the input. Getting out of the house in the afternoon is tough for several reasons. I live in Tucson so the heat is too much for my 95 y/o grandfather who is living with me at the present (also going for a walk is out for the same reason) I have had to change my exercise program to in home since he moved in with me. As for pampering myself, I am on a VERY limited income (unemployment) at the present and every penny counts. The plus is that I won't buy junk food, the minus is I stress more when I realize I am munching through what is in the house. I do have several craft projects in progress around the house and try to use these to stop eating and I try not to have the TV on so I don't sit around to eat. I also have a scheduled snack at 3 (usually 1/4 cup of cottage cheese or yogurt) and try to stick to Water until dinner. Honestly the challenge is after dinner. I will take the tips given here and work on keeping to my goal to have a healthy life. Thanks to you all.

I too have been struggling lately. Lots of stress in my life and I am starting therapy to work things out (nothing weight loss related, just crap from my previous work situation and PTSD) I find that I loose control of my eating at about 3 in the afternoon and will eat constantly. Today I actually ate a bowl of apple jacks (for the first time in over a year) and dumped. You would think that would give me a wake up call. No... instead I threw up (nausea from dumping) and then laid around my house, munching on pistachios, cottage cheese and beef Jerky. I counted up all the food calories and have eaten over 1500 cal. I know what to do but cannot seem to control myself. I have tried the "pep talk" and drinking Water first but feel depressed. Sorry to go on about my woes but needed to put my frustration online (hoping this will help me get back on track)

You are considered a vet at the 1 year anniversary of your surgery.

Well I have hit my 1 year anniversary and feel today is bittersweet. I have 30 lbs to go before I am to my weight goal (so not a happy day) but I can fit the wardrobe I bought a year ago when I started this journey (so I am happy about this achievement!) I have been stalled at 156 for the past month (not surprised) and will continue to work at getting the last 30 lbs off. I looked at pictures from a year ago and then look in the mirror. I see the difference in my figure but my mind still says I am overweight. I want to get upper arm surgery but know I need to wait until I am to my goal before I start the process of getting the extra skin removed. So this next year's goal is to work on body image, loose the last 30 and then get plastic surgery.

Two comments: 1- I order the Water to kept the servers from pestering me about a drink. I have sipped the water until the the meal has arrived and even take a sip with the meal (especially when a bite seems stuck). Water has never "filled" me or made it possible for me to eat to excess. 2- I was out with a friend and his mother for dinner and trying to explain my routine of sharing a meal instead of ordering a meal. The mom was worried I wouldn't get to have free pie (that was the promo for the day to get a piece of pie free with each meal) I tried again to explain that I didn't need pie (and wouldn't have room for dessert). She happened to decide she wanted the special but "only the eggs and hash browns". I suggested she order ham and the strawberry crepe with the meal (since they were included) and I could eat these for my meal. She again said I wouldn't get pie if I didn't order a meal. I told her I didn't need a piece of pie. The server said he could add the extra piece of pie since the other 2 (Jody and his mom) ordered large milks with their meals. So I shared the meal and they were able to take an extra piece of pie home. (I did take a bite of the coconut cream pie which was heavenly!)

Wow, we have a lot in common. I too had my surgery a year ago (May 29th though) and have been stalled. This past month I have lost and gained the same 3 lbs (I know that may not seem a lot but I am trying to loose the last 30 lbs to hit my goal) I do not exercise like I should and have may excuses as to why. The biggest is that when I do get into a routine, I gain weight (yes I realize muscle weight is a factor) and hate the frustration of "doing whats right without the reward of weight loss. I find if I eat carbs early in the day, I am grazing all day and can't seem to stop eating till I get in bed. So..... I try to stay away from carbs and choose Protein Snacks. This is very hard to do at the present time. I am struggling with depression and PTSD related to a bad situation at my employment. I quit my job in January and don't know if I will ever be able to work again. Being home all day makes it hard to stay on track with weight loss and sticking with a diet. I decided last week to seek counseling for PTSD and depression. I hope this will help me sort things out. As for suggestions: I am constantly telling myself that the food I choose is up to me and the choices I make are what will help me loose weight or gain weight. As for exercise.... I am still working on this one.

Well I had my "annual" mammogram today. I say "annual" because my last one was over 18 months ago. When I checked in at the radiology center I had to update my profile. The weight they had on file was from the last mammo (265 lbs) so I felt good to enter 156! Then when I was getting my boobs squished I realized my sistas are VERY FLAT. I also realized I need to buy smaller bras again (was 44 DDD and now 34B) So......I am undecided if today was a NSV or not.

I have found that if I take the bulk foods out of the original packaging (such as the nuts you refer to in the article) and repackage them into real single servings (snack bags work great) then I am less apt to over eat when I desire these foods. In the past I would start on the bag, box or jar and "forget" to stop eating. Even with the new sleeved stomach, I have found times when I am bored and fall back on old habits. Then I am miserable when that "thanksgiving dinner" feeling takes over. With the foods in single serving packaging handy, I do not over eat. I have never "gone back" for a second portion of what I chose for a snack.

I bought several flavors of pop tarts recently (I had a coupon) and when I was unpacking the groceries, I realized I haven't eaten one in over a year. Instead of trying one (I looked at the carbs and decided not to have one) I packed them up and mailed them to my daughter in Korea (she has 5 kids) I do treat myself once in a while with a goodie but find that I pay for it with dumping. Just yesterday I had a sample size (2 oz) of ice cream (double chocolate fudge) and dumped the rest of the evening. I hate the racing heart, hot flashes and nausea. I am obviously still learning what I can treat myself with and what I should skip all together.

I started eating fruit at about 4 months. Started with apple sauce. I would add fresh fruit to my shakes (melon, raspberries, strawberries, banana, mango, blue berries, black berries) and the blender allowed me to "eat" the fruit without having problems with texture. I was not able to eat an apple or an orange till 6 months. I am now 2 weeks shy of my 1 year anniversary and I still get most fruit with my Protein shakes. I made SF Jello with extra protein (I add the profect protein shot and ice as the cold Water needed to make the jello) and added canned fruit (rinsed to remove the juice) and cottage cheese. This will be my snack tomorrow afternoon. I calculate there is 9 gm protein in a serving.

Your new tummy will not handle solids yet. The incision along the stomach is still raw and you will risk bleeding if you eat solids that can scrape across this edge. As for pork rinds as a Protein source, the type of protein is not absorbed well by sleeve patients. It is a good snack (once you are on solid food) once in a while to get the crunch you crave, but don't count on getting the protein needed with this snack.

I drink a shake every morning so I start the day with 20 gm of Protein, usually add fruit to the vanilla shakes 3 times a week. lunch is an average of 15-20 gms from meat with veggies. I have an afternoon snack of cheese or cottage cheese/yogurt mix (about 10 gm of protein) dinner I try to get another shake in unless I am with friends, then I try to get 15-20 gm from meat then veggies. So I average 60-70 gm of protein daily

So far I have lost 109 lbs. I still have 30 more to hit my pre-op goal but I am not struggling to loose it since I can wear size 8-10 clothes. I am happy where I am for now!

This was a happy mothers day for me! My daughter had taken me shopping a year ago for a "goal dress" to wear when I loose the weight. This month is my 1 year anniversary month and I am able to wear the size 8 dress!!!

For the first time in my life I am able to wear a size 8 dress!!! I have not met my goal (still have 30+ lbs to go but I am able to wear the "dream" clothes I bought a year ago. I will watch what I eat but I am not as focused on loosing these last few lbs since I can wear the clothes!