bikrchk

For me too much food feels like it's stuck in my chest. Hiccups or burping means I at too fast. Foamies, at this point are rare for me, but for the first 9 months I go them when I over ate. If I over eat, there IS pain. Enough that I'd throw up or have to make myself to get relief. Good news is, that it's a learning curve and it appears I've pretty much learned now. I'm 11 months out, have been in maintenance for 6 weeks and don't throw up of get foamies anymore!

Typical day: 1 hour workout Breakfast scoop of chocolate whey in my coffee, (1 cup only) 1 egg with a slice of 2% cheese snack handful of "firecracker mix", (rice crackers, peanuts, wasabi peas and sesame stix) @5 g Protein OR a Protein Bar lunch 3 oz meat or 1/2 grilled cheese using P28 protein bread Snack Protein bar dinner 3 oz meat and a veggie or starch Snack Weight watchers ice cream bar or glass of wine or popcorn

I eat everything I like in very small quantities. I don't look at it as a "diet". At. All. I manage my quantities, keep an accurate food\exercise diary, choose Protein first, getting at least 75g per day, exercise 5x per week and take my Vitamins. I eat carbs, but I make sure to work them into my day around the protein and exercise in such a way that I am successful. I'm 11 months out and have been in maintenance for the last 6 weeks, holding at 3 pounds below goal so I've found a management strategy that works for me. Others eliminate "trigger foods" from their diet entirely. That works for them. For me, coming from a place of, "I can't have that", makes me crave it more. I'm thrilled that I've found a way to stay in control and eat like a thin person who gets to have it all in moderation. This has been the sweetest freedom and the best gift ever!

Just traded my 08 Street Glide for the 2014 Street Glide Special. LOVE IT!

I ride a Harley Street Glide (pretty big touring bike) and after a 90 pound weight loss I DID have some issues with control in parking lots! I dropped a couple of times over the summer and it had been years since that happened for me! But nothing that couldn't be fixed with some re-training on the part of the rider! I found that I needed to get out and practice counterbalancing in tight situations. I did finally end up replacing my 08 Street Glide with a 2014 Street Glide Special which feels a bit tighter due to the re-work on the frame\fairing but in reality is just as big a bike as my 08. I've seen women smaller than me throw around an Ultra like it was a toy! It has little to do with your size as long as you can flat foot and everything to do with your skill!

I sold some of the best stuff to another rider and FB friend who's also had WLS but has landed at a higher end weight than me. Then I purchased a pair of size small chaps from another FB friend and chapter member. Most of the shirts, I let go to Goodwill. There were just too many! If you're a HOG member, maybe organize a "swap-n-shop"? I still have a few pieces I refuse to just "junk". It's hard! That stuff is SOOOOO expensive! You hate to just let it go to Goodwill!

I spend less on food, (I'm a REALLY cheap date now, LOL) but it's probably a wash because Protein supplements and extra Vitamins are expensive and they are required FOR LIFE. I purchased a high end stationary bike in about month three. Without it I would not have the results I have today. As for clothes... I spend way more because I actually care how I look in my clothes now and shopping is FUN! As for prescriptions, that is the one area I've saved. I was on 10 different ones pre-op and today only take a PPI. I have a social life now and that tends to drain $$$ as well. All of that said, I'd not change ANY OF IT! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this life I've created for myself! This is NOT something to do to save money. It is something to do to save your life!

I'm 47 and 5'6". I had 90-100 pounds to lose, was sleeved last October and am now in maintenance. Personally, I wouldn't wait to get on the road to healthy! If I could have done it the day I first made the decision it wouldn't have been soon enough for me, but I was made to wait 6 months as an insurance requirement :-( I was only in the hospital overnight, never took narcotic pain meds and was back at my desk job the next week. I was VERY lucky, had zero complications and recovered very quickly. That said, some take longer than others and have a more difficult time. Plan for the worst and hope for the best with your procedure.

Size 4 skinny jeans! Sleeping all night without coughing Being off ALL pre-op meds and having normal labs

The requirements are soooo different from different docs. Do your best. Mine did not require a specific pre-op diet until 5 days before surgery, (full liquids). I'd have done ANYTHING for only 5 days at that point so it wasn't a problem. I WAS required to lose 10 pounds between my consult and surgery 3 weeks later. I did that (and then some) on Quest bars, (one for Breakfast and one for lunch) and a high Protein low carb dinner.

It does get easier! You may want to try a "thinner" Protein supplement. I lived on Syntrax nectar Iced Lemon Tea flavor for the first several months as it mixes with Water and didn't make me feel so full. Isopure makes a clear bottled Protein Drink and there are others as well. I also use the flavor drops in my water now to help me get a bit more down.

I swallowed tiny ones right away. Like you I found crushing unpalatable so I started cutting the bigger ones in half or fourths and swallowed the pieces. I also got chewable where possible. Jr Tylenol chewable worked fine to take the edge off the pain and don't taste that bad!

Once for my first consult. He did my EGD so that's 2 #3 was my pre- op consult a couple of days before surgery Most of the stuff ran through the nurse coordinator.

Nordstrom Rack, by far. I can find high quality work clothes in my size that won't break the bank like the "regular" Nordstroms. I'm having trouble finding my size (4) even in "regular" stores nowadays. I used to buy lots at Kohls, but can never find anything flattering in my size there anymore. Chico's, is the same. All too big! I also have a friend who has a little boutique and I can always find stuff there, plus she gives me a great discount! Oh and The Buckle for jeans! Now that WILL break the bank, but the size 4 Rock Revivals... There are no words for the smile on my face when I slide them on! Sooooo WORTH it to have ONE pair of really great jeans!

Anything with low nutritional value that "slides" down easily and does not contribute to long term satiety. chips, Cookies, ice cream, coffee creamer, etc. I haven't "sworn off" these, but find ways to have them in a portion controlled manner working them into my nutritional plan for the day. I never eat chips or crackers out of the bag\box and will do Weight Watchers ice cream bars since they are single packaged, counting them into my daily totals AFTER I've met my Protein requirements.

I feel kind of horrible for saying this as I've so recently come from obesity, but as a single, dating woman, smokers, OR unfit over eaters are pretty much deal breakers for me. I'm only recently in maintenance and doing well, but I'm aware that this "handle" I have on my new behaviors can be bent or broken, and I need to put people in my life who empower me to be a better, healthier person all the way around. For me, that means a commitment to exercise, and a healthy lifestyle as well as a positive outlook on life in general. HaddocksEyes, I was divorced 3 years before my sleeve procedure, and never lived with a smoker, (outside of a college room mate), so I can't speak directly to your situation other than to say, it sounds like there may be more going on here than just your husbands smoking. If you care about the relationship, seek professional help. It will NOT get easier once you have WLS and make major changes in your life. Best of luck.

Early on you may not be hungry at all. Schedule yourself 3 meals and 2 Snacks and find a way to get them down. I found that for the first few months, Centrum chewables went down just fine and tasted like Skittles. You might try a chewy\gummie Vitamin. A typical day for me 6 weeks post op was... 1 egg for Breakfast, (if I could finish it) Suck on Syntrax nectar Iced lemon teal all morning (1 serving of Protein supplement) cheese stick for a snack Chili for lunch Cheese stick in the afternoon. Maybe some more Nectar too Hearty Soup with tiny meat bits for dinner

If you are unable to conceive of people who would put their surgery at risk by drinking alcohol or eating a burger so quickly after surgery, by all means don't let go of that mindset! It will serve you well to be a compliant patient when your time comes! That said, everyone's struggles are different, and we ALL need to be aware of judgment vs well-meant advice when replying to other on this or other similar sites. It's so hard to communicate intent on a web site posting or text or IM sometimes things get misconstrued. Simply prefacing with "my experience has been" or "what works for me" and "your mileage may vary" can help in a response. Try not to be disheartened, this is a great place to get and give advice!

For me, I CAN'T, (physically can't) eat a 1/2 oz too much during a meal. I learned early on that the price was too painful and learned not to do it even if I can't measure. I'll eat 1/2 of my mini portion and wait... and wait. if I get a few more bites, I do, but often, I'm just "done". That said, grazing and slider foods are a WHOLE different challenge. I'm very aware that these can put me back where I came from in a big hurry, so if I can't measure them, I don't eat them. I'll do chips on occasion, but they go on a plate or tiny dish, never out of the bag, and ice cream, only if it's in a Weight Watchers bar. Portion controlled. Whatever I take in, I work it into my day nutritionally and calorie wise. Everything gets recorded in MFP so there's no guilt as long as I'm within daily goals.

I'm 11 months out and I eat 5-6 times per day, 3 meals and at least 2, sometimes 3 Snacks. It does feel like I'm eating all the time. I exercise 5x per week, get 75+g of Protein and take a ppi 2x day. I do get hungry, but I can't say I'm starving every time it's "time" to eat these days. Now that I'm in maintenance, I usually need the 3rd snack to get my calories up to the point I'm not in deficit for the day. Who knew this could EVER be a thing? I'm with Hawk... try some good fats. Are you allowed nuts yet? If not avocado can help. Limited carbs can help as well as long as you're active enough to take in the calories.

Clothes from the Jr department fit better than the "regular" women's section You can't shop even at the non-plus-size stores you used to because the clothes there are too big. #IKindaMissChicos You can do your own pedicures You're no longer camera shy When someone calls you tiny lil' thing and you realize they mean YOU! When you can spend 8 hours painting, doing house work yard work or whatever and actually be able to get up and work out the next day! When you sit down on something hard and realize you're a little uncomfortable as you don't have the passing you once did back there!

Put a couple of rolls of quarters in your pockets and wear the heaviest jeans you own!

Yes! I lost a shoe size after about 50 pounds. Flats and some of the sandals had to go if I was walking out of them. Boots and shoes that can be worn with thicker socks got the Dr. Scholls double pillow insole treatment! Gotta say, they ARE cushy now!

I did! Starting at 235, (I'm 5'6"), I dropped 90 pounds in 9 months on 1000-1200 calories during my loss phase and have been at goal for over a month. I get 75+g of Protein daily and have been exercising 5x per week since about month 3. I never "tried" to count calories, but I was counting protein religiously and logging everything in MFP so I know where I was landing calorie wise. I CAN tell you I probably wouldn't have lost like that, (and my loss was intentionally slow compared to many folks here), without the exercise boost. When I started exercising, I was burning 600+ calories per stationary bike ride per my chest strap HR monitor. I burn significantly less now that I am fit, (about 350-400, if that), but it helps with my metabolism and gives me the padding I need to eat what I like in small quantities now. Now that I'm in maintenance I do keep one eye on calories as I'm trying to figure out what range I need to maintain. MFP calculates my resting BMR at 1300 per day. Add 350 in exercise calories to that, (I try to eat them back now that I'm done losing), and I feel like I've reset my metabolism at a VERY manageable place for maintenance. So it depends on your activity level, but for me, 1000 calories per day worked perfectly!

Pre-op, one of my co-morbidities had been chronic "asthma" which presented mainly at night as chronic cough. They were concerned enough about it to send me to a pulmonologist before they'd perform the sleeve on me. Turned out that's not what was at all. The pulmonologist said my lungs were "fine" and when they did my EGD found a hiatal hernia and evidence of GERD which they called "silent" reflux as it was rare that I ever had heartburn. So I can sympathize with your dilemma. I have banded friends who have the same issues as you even with an empty band. All I can say is I don't have issues anymore. They put me on twice daily omeprazole and fixed the hernia with my sleeve. Symptoms were worse for the first month the the point I had to put lifts under the head of my bed, then subsided completely. Probably a combination of the PPI, hernia repair and weight loss. That said, sleeve surgery CAN make reflux worse as it creates a high pressure system in the gut. My doc originally told me if it was REALLY bad, I was a better candidate for R\Y, but the PPI began to work immediately and he thought he could correct with hernia repair. In my case, he was right! I can and do eat whatever I like, (bread, rice, fruit skins, corn, whatever) in small quantities focusing on Protein first. If I want salad, I have salad, but I tend to eat a lot less fruits and veggies than I did pre-op as they don't contain the protein prescribed by my team. I just have a hard time fitting them in now. But tolerate them? Yes! I do with no issues! I'm at goal with no other meds besides the PPI which I'll probably take 2x day for life. This has been the best gift ever!