piercedqt78

wanted to bump this, as it is really good stuff.

I was exactly the same way. And when I went to the follow-up with the NUT at the 3 month mark (I went in at 4ish months). I went in all proud that I had my 90 day chart, with my calories, carbs, fats, and protein all charted out. And then I had a graph of my weight loss, and my measurements weekly for that time. She looked everything over, and asked me how exhausting tracking all of this was for me. I told her it was the new normal. And she shook her head and said it was anything but normal, and that she wanted me to turn off my mfp, and not track anything for 14 days. You know what? I still lost the same 2ish pounds a week, and my sleeve didn't blow up. She explained to me that one of the reasons I got the sleeve was to reduce my portions, and to make good choices, but it was also a tool to help me lose weight, but not lose my mind in the process. I was counting everything that I ate, drank and really stressing about my water consumption, and my protein consumption. Now that I have stepped away from counting everything, and just eating/drinking good choices, I'm happier, still losing, and the world didn't end. I guess what I'm saying is that you are making choices, and tracking them, why not make the same good choices and not track them for a week or two? Don't stress, relax, and enjoy your trip.

Try to find a new go-to comfort activity. I have rediscovered how amazing a warm bubble bath can be after a long day. And there are zero calories in that little pleasure activity.

I had them, and had great success. I was able to stall a total knee replacement for almost 5 years, with several series of synvisc. Last year my other knee started bothering me, and I had the Euflexxa http://euflexxa.com/ version of the same type of shot. That was in Nov and I am still doing pretty good. I'm thinking early Dec I will go for another round. I know that some people have had bad allergic reactions to Synvisc, I believe it's the preservative. But there are like 4 or 5 other brands out there so that shouldn't be too big of an issue. Doctors deal with it everyday. Just remember that NSAIDS are no longer an option with the sleeve. I had to remind my ortho several times, as he doesn't deal with WLS patients too often. And yes losing weight will make a big difference. The injections will last longer, and the joint will be less painful.

I'm 5 months out, and had my first labs drawn today. I had to reschedule my 4 month followup due to my recovering from shoulder surgery, and not being able to drive myself to the appt. They gave me the lab orders at my 1 month appt, and told me to have them drawn at least a week before my next appt. I was told by the lab that my results will be at the office in about 5 days. So when I see him at the end of the month, I will have all my lab results, and the doc will get the chance to see that I'm almost at goal.

After the 12 week mark my surgeon wants his patients eating salad at least a few times a week. He suggests salad with grilled protein for lunch each day. I am 5 months post op and had 1/2 of a side salad with 1/2 of a chicken breast for lunch today from Chili's. It was really good, and filling. So filling that I skipped dinner tonight. I am allowed raw veggies, but the first 8 weeks they recommend only well cooked veggies.

So I was a lap band revision, and had to have emergency surgery. I was never given a "goal weight". I have lost 61 pounds since my revision, and 98 pounds from the time I was banded in 2005. My original goal was 135, and I am currently at 146-148. I'm thinking of moving my goal to 125. I'm 5'5 and currently wear a size 10 or 12 depending on the brand and fit. The first pic was before my revision, taken June 2012, the second (black top) was taken about 6 weeks postop, June 2013. And the last few were taken yesterday at my cousin's wedding. And that is my beautiful 12 year old daughter with me. She caught the bouquet.

Fries, I have puked all 3 times I have tried. I finally gave up. I tried them fried, air baked, and baked in my oven at home. I do ok with hash brown patties as long as they are baked. I buy the frozen ones like McDonalds has, for a rare treat. I also do fine with mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and love potatoes cooked in the crock pot, or just quartered, coated with olive oil and seasonings. I mean I eat like 1/4 of a small potato, or about 2 bites lol. It's something about French fries that just make me sick.

Simple chicken and dumplings Add the following to a crock pot and let it cook until the chicken can be shredded : 5-6 med chicken breast celery onion ground black pepper cover with Water or chicken stock (I use stock) When the chicken is done, remove it and strain out the pieces of veggies. Put the broth back in the crock and turn on HIGH. In a small pan melt 3-4 tablespoons of butter, add an equal amount of flour and cook until light brown. Add a few cups of the broth to the flour/butter mixture and stir until no lumps remain. Pour this mixture into the broth, this will give you a nice rich creamy base. Now that the chicken has cooled enough to handle, chop it into small pieces and toss it back into the crock with the broth. Make the dumpling dough, you can use any biscuit recipe, or bisquick, or even canned biscuits. I cut them about half the size of a sugar packet, or about 1.5 inch by 1.5 inch. If you are using canned biscuits, cut them into 4 or 6 pieces. Slowly add them to the crock, I do half, wait a few minutes and add the other half. Remember the dumplings will thicken the Soup a bit more, and they will swell to about double thier size, so don't worry that there aren't enough. Let them cook for about 25 mins, remove a dumpling and cut it in half, it should be done in the center.

white chicken and corn chili 1 large onion chopped 1 lb chicken breast 3 cups chicken broth 1 large green pepper chopped 2-3 jalapeno chopped... 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 can diced tomatos with chilies drained 2 cups frozen corn (thawed) 2 cans white Beans (I used navy beans) drained and rinsed cheese and sour cream for topping In slow cooker, add broth, chicken, green pepper, onion, and jalapeno, cumin. Cook 4 hours on high, or 6 hours on low. Remove the chicken breast, and allow to cool slightly. Add the beans, tomatos, and corn to the slow cooker. Shred the chicken and return to the slow cooker. Allow to cook on low about 30 mins. I serve this with jalapeno cheese corn bread, or grilled cheese. Top with cheese, sour cream, more hot peppers. Yum!

I added a spoonful of dill relish to my chicken salad and egg salad when I was on the mushy stage. I wasn't one to drink the brine, but I did love the flavor that the relish added to my salads.

My daughter was really bad about eating my pudding cups, I bought her regular ones and myself sugar-free cups. I ended up having to mark mine so that I was sure I would have something at meal times. I think on 2 or 3 occasions my husband had to run to the store for yogurt or cottage cheese for me while I was cooking their "real food" since they had eaten my "healing food" (my daughter's words) now that I can eat anything I want the only thing off limits is my chewable vitamins. They both take a multivitamin, but my daughter thinks mine are like candy, if she only knew how bad they taste, or at least the aftertaste.

For my shower I wore black stretch capris and a flowy top, with black flats. Remember you are the mom to be, and your comfort is important. I found some beautiful outfits for my niece that is expecting at JC Penny, also Target carries some really nice maternity stuff. Remember that you will be in front of the group, and if you are not comfortable in your clothes it will show. Just wear something that looks nice, but also makes you feel like yourself. Congrats on the baby 2 be.

Shrimp, Heart of Palm & Quinoa salad Crystal Palace Magic Kingdom Yield: 6 servings Ingredients 1 pound steamed & chilled shrimp 2 ½ cups cooked quinoa 1 can hearts of palm 2 ounces fresh baby arugula roughly chopped ½ cup diced red peppers ¼ cup chopped cilantro 1/3 cup mustard dressing Mustard Dressing 1 ounce lemon juice 2 ounce rice wine vinegar 1 ounce chopped shallots 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger 2 ounces dijon mustard 3 ounces olive oil blend 1 tablespoon celery salt 1 teaspoon Tabasco Salt & pepper to taste Method of Preparation Cook the quinoa in a large quantity of salted boiling Water (4 times the volume of the quinoa) for about 20 minutes. This washes out the slight natural bitterness of the grain. Strain and cool off. Steam and cool off the shrimp. Cut the hearts of palm into ¾ inch coins or half coins depending on size. Blend together all the ingredients for the mustard dressing. Assemble everything together in a mixing bowl.

I have my family do the tasting now.

At upscale places, I usually order an "add on" like grilled shrimp, or scallops. Or I get an extra plate and steal a few bites from my hubby, and daughter. If we are at a Mexican place I will get some pintos, or a single steak taco, I leave the shell behind and eat the filling. At the local Chinese place I get a small cashew chicken, and what I don't eat makes for lunch the next day. I tell them very very little rice. I will have a bite or 2 with each meal. My favorite place to eat out is chipotle, I get a soft chicken taco, with a little of each kind of beans, very light rice, chicken, fresh tomatoes, some sour cream, and light cheese. Again I just leave the taco shell behind. I get chili at Wendy's, or a grilled chicken sandwich with no bun. Also burger king does a "low carb" option on every sandwich they offer. It's all the veggies and meat with no bun, in a side salad container. I had a whopper jr made low carb for lunch today, it was the perfect lunch for $1.50. There are options anywhere you go, you just have to look for the right choice. I also always ask if they bread their chicken or fish on site. If so I can ask for things to be super lightly breaded. You would be amazed at the places that can do just that.

I was a band to sleeve revision. (all in one surgery) and my surgeon never mentioned any increased complication rates. He did warn me that it was possible that I would wake up with no band, and not sleeved. If that was the case I could be sleeved in 3-6 months. I was fortunate that my band prolapse wasn't covered in scar tissue. I have had no issues and I am 5 months out today.

I had one, it was inserted after I was knocked out. I had it in for just over 24 hours. It was so I didn't have to rush to the bathroom, and also to monitor urine output. I was glad I had it in that first day, since I was sleepy and really sore. Not having to try to sit or stand quickly that first day was a blessing. And they just deflate it and slip it out. The only discomfort I had the entire time related to that was the first time I had to pee after burned a little. But it wasn't horrible.

no problem. There is another list, I'm looking for it now.

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/90613-list-of-bariatric-nutritional-companies-offering-free-samples/

I was cleaning out my closet, and moving my previous "goal clothes" up to the front so I could start wearing them. They were all 14's and a few 12's. My husband said that the 14's were too baggy, so I tried on some of the 10's that I bought thinking they would be my final goal size. The 10's fit me perfectly. I was stunned. I still have 13 pounds to go, and I haven't even started looking into plastics yet. Sometimes I totally see a size 10 in the mirror and sometimes I still see my 22-24 looking back at me. My daughter says that my old clothes are way too big and she was relieved that I donated them this week. We have a local thrift store that supports a domestic violence shelter, and when I go in I can find nice things for $1 each. I bought a bunch of stuff in every other size when I had surgery. So I had 18's, a few 16's, a bunch of 14's and now a bunch of 10's. Today I picked up some 8's and that still seems like an impossible dream, but I tried them on and one pair fit very nicely, the others are still really snug. Wearable, but in 5 pounds they will be perfect. It's weird, I always felt sexy when I was big, I was a bbw and knew how to dress my curves to look nice. No one every believed I was as heavy as I was, I guess I used clothing to hide it well. And now that I'm getting thin, I have body issues. Go figure.

My fave soft food was imitation crab meat sticks. I chopped it up and made it into crab salad. And I would slice them into thin disks and snack on them.

As for the Chinese food. I eat non-breaded chicken, or sliced beef. I order beef peppers and tomatoes with onions, but pick around the peppers. Or Mongolian beef. I don't care for eggs, so the egg foo young isn't something I would eat either way. I ate egg drop soup that had been strained during my clear liquid phase, just about everyday. It's easy to make, some chicken broth thickened with corn starch, and then just let an egg drip through a strainer into the boiling liquid. I would guess that since eggs are on my post-op diet as a good choice, high in protein, and low in carbs that egg foo young would be a good choice too.

I'm 5 months postop and can eat crackers with no problem. I don't remember when I started eating them, but they weren't ever a problem. I do better with crackers than chips, or bread. They don't seem to swell like the other things do. And I have them with lunch meat and cheese.

I have a sister that is the same way. If I post on facebook that I have lost 10 pounds, she will comment that she has lost a few clothing sizes herself. I just don't see it. She isn't really losing weight, and I had surgery 5 months ago, and have only seen her once since then, and she lives like 5 miles from me.