McButterpants

We had a busy weekend with a basketball tournament for my son. We had to eat out twice on Saturday. I got sick of ordering a full meal to only eat a few bites. I ended up sharing my husband's meal. It doesnt bither him any more because I eat so little. I had scrambled eggs with cheese and a sausage patty for breakfast. For dinner i had the insides of a French Dip sandwich (i admit to having a couple of bites of the bread as well). We have not been to a restraunt that has charged for the plate yet. Some will and we do not go back to those places. I just llan on leftovers if i order my own entree.

yeah, the taste sucks - but I have gotten used to them. I've been on them for 6 weeks now - they aren't as bad as when I originally started taking them. I was like you - I thought I was going to have to get something different, but I stuck with it and it got better. I take 2 per day and have one at breakfast and one at dinner, I can't stomach 2 at the same time. Hang in there, you'll get used to them.

I like Wendy's chili and have eaten it since about week 4 (after approved by doc). I can make 4 meals out of a large! That makes me laugh.

What kind of Vitamins are you taking? My vitamins really upset my stomach - I have to take with food. They are chewable vitamins, Bariatric Advantage. They taste horrible, but I think of them as my medicine that I have to take.

Love this!!!!!

You are an inspiration! Thanks for sharing your story! Congrats on your success!

That's encouraging for me...I'm shedding big time!!!!!! Congrats on the new growth AND look at that weight loss. Great job!

Here are a couple of my staples: I always have ground turkey meat seasoned w/ taco seasoning and fat free refried Beans in my refrigerator. An ounce of each topped w/ some cheddar cheese and microwave, serve with 1/2 a Carb Balance tortilla. You can put in the freezer in zip locks for meal sized servings. I always have some turkey or chicken deli meat - I have a couple of ounces with some cheddar cheese. I make plenty of chicken salad in advance and have at the ready (canned chicken w/ low fat may and mustard). eggs and frozen turkey sausage patties are usually my breakfast. I purchased some Health Wise Peanut Butter bars that I keep with me on a busy weekend day, just in case I'm not able to get a shake or a meal. I always have Carb Balance Tortillas on hand - you can make a pizza (BBQ sauce w/ some shredded chicken topped with some mozzarella and you have a BBQ Chicken pizza). I always have Health Wise hot chocolate - it's a nice break from the cold shakes. 15 grams of Protein.

A couple of suggestions that may help weening yourself into the a pre-op diet... Start looking for a shake you like for your pre-op diet (your taste may change post-op, so don't over buy). Incorporate 1 shake a day and start playing with different flavors and textures - this will help you post-op. (Adding sugar free puddings, low-glycemic fruits, sugar free syrups, etc.) Practice mindful eating techniques now - taking smaller bites (I used appetizer forks and spoons); eat slower (I downloaded an app called Eat Slower and set it to one minute intervals); eat 1-2 meals without any distractions (no TV, magazines, books, etc. - allow yourself to be calm). Start walking if you're not working out - being in better physical shape prior to surgery will help with the recovery process. Doing all these things helped me feel like I was working towards something rather than dreading the inevitable two week pre-op diet. The next three weeks are going to fly by!!!! Best of luck to you!

Awesome! Look at you rockin' that sleeve! Congrats.

The sun will rise tomorrow and the earth will still spin on it's axis. You're fine! You got this.

The first 3-4 days are really hard, but it will get better. Just hang in there. Decaf green tea helped get me thru. And keep your eye on the prize...10 more days till you're on the losers' bench. You got this.

I knew you would be a person with soft eyes..and a warm face...i just knew it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ahhh, you made me smile!!!!! Thank you!

I FEEL younger! Almost immediately after surgery someone said I looked younger - that made me feel good. Once I started working out (not just walking, but working out), I feel so much better, not as fatigued. I've noticed a difference in my skin since surgery - especially my face. It looks so much healthier. I'm far from a beauty queen, but I see improvement - most of all, I smile more.

I start getting bored and antsy around the 20 minute mark.

Here's me...a couple of days before surgery (I don't look happy in that picture) and the other one was from last week...about 28 pounds difference between the two pics.

Interesting you posted this...I'm starting to shed as well. Doctor suggested taking Folate and Biotin along w/ making sure I get my Protein in. I didn't connect my face breaking out to the Biotin until you mentioned it. I have been experiencing some acne recently and now that I think of it, it's coincides with me starting the Biotin. Interesting. I started using a product called Toppik for the thinning in on top - another member here suggested it. I'm glad she did. It covers the thin spots well. My doc did say that anything you lose post-op will grow back in 6 months. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

As of yesterday I am down 45 pounds total (28 since surgery) and have not gotten one comment about my weight - not even my brothers or sisters-in-law at Christmas time!!!! One acquaintance made a comment about me doing my hair different - I've had the same cut for a couple of years now - she may have noticed something different, but can't pinpoint it.

What an awesome transformation! Congrats to you and your success.

I started with fat free refried Beans with some cheese, that set well on my stomach. Here are some other foods I started introducing when allowed: scrambled egg topped w/ cheese canned chicken whizzed w/ low fat mayo and mustard turkey sausage patty ground turkey w/ taco seasoning deli turkey and cheese

Here's a great article on stalls from Butterthebean's signature line - it's worth a read: http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.html#.UtAIchaTNdg I stalled for 13 days between Weeks 3 and 4. It sucked, but I got thru it. Stalls are going to happen, you need to keep working to your plan - follow your doctor's instructions with regard to diet and exercise (again, according to doc's approved exercises). Those are the things you can control. I weigh once per week - my husband hides the scale the rest of the week - this helped my sanity. Best of luck.

I ran the gamut of emotions before surgery - you are perfectly normal. I had second thoughts the day before surgery. I had to go to a mandatory pre-op meeting (I was self pay so this was the first time I met everyone). I felt better after the meeting, but was still a little nervous. In admitting the day of surgery I handed over my paperwork and thought to myself, "I could walk out of here right now and only be out $500." I had some intense internal debate within myself. I then looked at my husband. I thought about all the reasons why I wanted to do this in the first place. I thought about my mom who has been morbidly obese her entire adult life - I don't want to be like her when I'm 75 years old. I decided to go thru with it. That was 2 months ago today. It hasn't been all sunshine and lollipops, but I can tell you, I don't regret it. I've struggled, but it's OK - I have more good days than bad days. I no longer have pain in my feet or knees. I don't need a nap every day. I'm happy - really happy and content. I don't call myself disgusting any more. I don't look at myself with disdain. I have much more weight to lose, but what I've gained in happiness and self-confidence is so worth it. Know that you'll go thru the range of emotions the next couple of weeks. It's OK to be scared and nervous - we've all been there. YOU GOT THIS!!!!!!

Great job! Keep up the good work.