hrhlaurie

We had a party last night and I made chicken and pork kabobs and had just a little of them. I also made a large pitcher of watermelon coolers with rum. I tried a couple of tablespoons of my drink and a piece of watermelon and worried about getting sick but didn't. I love watermelon but I'll still limit my fruit to one or two bites since it has so much sugar. My daughter made a cake and asked me to try some so I had a bite that fit on a baby spoon. All in all, a success. I worried about being at a party and how to keep track of food and liquids but it worked out fine. Down another pound this morning but I bet that is from burning calories getting ready for the party!

I take a chewable kid Vitamin morning and night and take two Calcium citrate chocolate chewables mid-day, along with 1 sub-lingual B12 and a all-natural pro-biotic supplement that I just drink in my Water and it tastes like berries. Favorite meal is the fajita chicken mix from Whole Foods and im trying to avoid all carbs so other than my morning Protein shake, my meals are all meat and low-fat cheese, no breads, fruits, veggies, rice, etc. I can start adding in veggies and fruits but I tried some fruit and got sick and after protein, im too full for anything else. Sometimes I have some deli lunch meat or Peanut Butter for a snack but usually only once per day. Exercise is walking, riding bike, swimming when I can and yard work. I need to start stepping up my cardio since today is my 5 week surgiversary so I should be able to do more. I've been using hand weights and an exercise band to tone but need to burn some calories now. I need to ride my bike more... Just saw my surgeon and asked him about the hormones impacted by surgery because I just had a TOM like I was a teenager again. What's up with that? Mine had been small and not at all troublesome but wowser, I had PMS and cramps and the whole fun show. Guess my body does believe it's Armageddon and is trying to preserve the species. Lovely. We go out to eat a lot and I can find a little protein side order anywhere. Easier than I thought it would be. Down to 228 but a long way to go yet.

My goal for this challenge was 225 by the 4th and I'm at 229 today. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to quite achieve it but considering I was at 250 when I set my goal, I'll take anything lower than 229! Wow, weight loss can be fun! When is the next challenge?

I'm enjoying a variety of Proteins, different meats with low fat cheese and a dipping sauce or dressing that is also low-fat. I've gotten good at not eating too much at once and really paying attention to the gurgles, and need to be done eating before gurgles progress to hiccups and belching. Such an adventure! I'm seeing my doctor tomorrow and am down 21 pounds in 33 days so he should be pleased. I still start my day with a Protein shake and really load it up with Atkins shake, almond milk, a scoop of unjury Protein powder and a dash of a sugar free Torani syrup. Current favorite is chocolate with hazelnut syrup blended with ice - like a yummy milkshake and about 46 grams of protein! I'm avoiding all carbs and not really hard since I don't eat much so after protein I don't have any room in frankenbelly for anything else. It's nice to share the journey with you all - look how much we've all lost so far! Amazing!

Excited today because I hit the 20 pounds lost since surgery mark! I don't know why 20 is so much better than 19, but it's a nice round number and made me happy. 20 pounds in 32 days is .625 pounds per day, which seems reasonable, and it includes a 6 day stall! I've lost 40 pounds total, including pre-surgery diet, and I'm definitely down a couple of sizes. Here are my stats: HW: 270 SW: 250 CW: 230

I stalled for almost a week and was down another pound today. I'm trying to increase my exercise to burn calories and tone. I have some hand weights and an exercise band so I can exercise in my home or on the road with just the band. I love riding my bike and swimming but I can't do them as often as I'd like so I need to have an exercise option in the house. Im trying to avoid another stall if I can!

I'm off of my bp med, out of plus size clothing and can get out of bed in the morning and walk to toilet without hobbling. My rings are getting loose and I feel good. My husband told me how good I looked yesterday but worries that I'll lose too much. Isn't it great that we can come here and share with others who get it?

I had same symptoms and didn't recognize low blood pressure and symptoms gone when I got off of my bp med. Pretty cool to start seeing my health being restored.

May 29 surgery date. SW 250, HW 270, CW 232 so down 18 pounds in the month since surgery. NSV: off of my bp med, down from size 20 to 16 - 18 (goodbye plus sizes forever!), and yesterday my husband told me how good I looked and he warned me not to lose so much that I "disappear". Bless his heart.

Today's weight is 232 After 6 days at 233!

I had some grilled chicken from inside a wrap at Wendys. Grilled chicken is great where it is real chicken breast and not a nugget kind of chicken conglomeration.

Today is my 1 month surgery date and my weight lost is 17 pounds so far. Maybe a pound will fall off over night. Getting ready to do some exercises with hand weights and an exercise band. Might as well start toning. I can't believe I got sick from one tiny bite of cantaloupe today. Lesson learned.

Today is my 1 month surgery date and stalled at 233 for 6 days. I've just accepted it now, the scale wore me down. They say eventually the stall goes away, so I'm learning patience and sticking to the program. That's all we can do.

That's so awesome! I had a key learning today. I tried a small bite of cantelope and, yes, it's soft food but, no, I shouldn't have taken even a little bite because my stomach gurgled, then I got serious cramps, and had to visit the ladies for a bit. No more fruit for a while for me!

I get a meal and it lasts me for a couple of days too. I tried measuring out 5 Oz of some leftover pulled pork but could only eat 3 oz. I know my sleeve capacity now and will just measure 3 oz for my meals. Going to a training conference today that includes lunch so I brought my little measuring cup with me to keep my portion reasonable. Don't want to get sick while out!

Tomorrow is my 1 month surgery date and I've been stalled for 5 days. I've lost 17 pounds since surgery and I have no idea what's wrong. I start my day with a Protein shake, take all of my Vitamins, drinks lots of Water, and I'm only eating meat and some lo-cal cheese for meals and Snacks. I'm taking in no carbs, walk every day and not losing weight. I'm ready to go back to liquids and call my Nut for help. Anyone else having problems? My doctor wants me to lose 40 pounds in 3 months and I'm not feeling like I'm on track.

You make me feel so much better. I am sitting at same weight for about 4 days and was trying to figure out what I was doing wrong. I almost thought I should go back to a day or two of just liquids just to get back to losing. Going to ride my bike and swim again today and stick to my protein diet and hope the scale is kinder by weigh-in on Thursday, my one month surgiversary.

My rash and itching started a week after surgery and was caused by an allergic reaction to the glue used to hold the steri strips in place. It was like poison ivy all over my abdomen and drove me crazy. I used an anti-itch gel and a prescription creme but just had to get through a week or so of the craziness.

It is good to cut the pre-made shakes with something since they are so thick. I still love the Atkins shakes but have started to experiment with flavors using sugar-free torani syrups and sf pudding mix. Just a tsp of sf hazelnut syrup with chocolate shake and a little almond milk and ice in a blender and I have a healthy, delicious Breakfast. Some strawberry Protein drink and a tsp of cheesecake pudding mix and another great combo. I got these from the world according to eggface blog and there are lots of Protein Drink recipes on the site. I like the unjury powder but a whey powder I tried made me gag, they aren't all alike!

I agree worth not stockpiling too much but maybe a variety of the liquids or foods you'll be allowed to have. I didn't like a lot of the flavored waters and have to drink them half and half with Water. Crystal light Pure is a brand of drink mix with truvia and I just add a little to my water. Popsicles were also too sweet so I use the popsicle molds and make my own from the drink mixes. I have some tuna in the pantry but haven't felt like eating it yet but I loved tuna before surgery. I've had grilled white fish but just not feeling the tuna yet. Yesterday I had a craving for turkey, not a big favorite pre surgery, so I got some sliced Cajun turkey meat and had a slice for a snack. Accept the quirkiness that is your new tummy. The weight won't always fall off so accept that now. Focus on the healthy and stick to your eating plan, exercise and sip, sip, sip water all day.

My weight loss is so slow but im getting in protein, drinking a protein shake for breakfast with 36 grams protein and im literally not eating anything non protein. Im taking vitamins, getting in plenty of fluids so...? Not gaining but weight loss is so slow. I walk daily but I need to add more exercise. Doctors goal is for me to lose 40 pounds in 3 months and mine is 50 pounds in 3 months. I had surgery 3 weeks ago and have lost 17 pounds. Ive been at 17 pounds for 3 days and not sure if 40 - 50 pounds in 3 months is realistic. Im hoping that ketosis kicks in and chases fat cells away.

I wondered if anyone carries Protein with them in the car or their purse just to ensure you don't get stuck out somewhere between meals. I started carrying these little packets of almond butter from Whole Foods with about 2 Tbsp and $1 each. Yesterday, I was in the phone store and it took forever. I waited 30 mins after last Water and opened a packet and slowly squeezed out the almond butter. It just hit the spot and kept me functional until I got home. What else is a good portable protein snack?

So, as a two-time veteran of the Atkins diet wars, I know that my current diet of mostly protein should have me in ketosis so losing should be pretty steady but with my smaller stomach it seems like losing is slower. I'm thrilled to not have any hunger so all worth it, but seems like weight came off faster before. Could be age or my body is still in freak out mode. Not sure.

Good point, my Atkins shakes don't need to be refrigerated so I can carry some with me. I also have some pork jerky but I'm still on soft foods and moist meats so may need to wait on nuts and jerky. My little packets of peanut butter and shakes are just about right for me right now.

I know what you mean about multiple failed diets, right there with you. I too made the decision to have surgery thinking, "well, I'll eat less pasta, one enchilada instead of 4, and so on. It seemed like a solution all on its own. So, of course, my Nut and those on this site have provided me with the type of guidance I really needed to be successful. My frankenbelly, "Sally", is my vehicle for success but she can't drive herself. We are partners in this. She stays small and alerts me to fullness and I follow the eating plan of protein first to keep my body fueled. If I eat something with no protein, I need to already have eaten protein that meal or include it with a bit of something that may not be as healthy, but I need to keep it a minimal part of my diet. I won't say never to anything since I don't believe a life of deprivation is really what this is about. I will make good choices and if I want a bite of cake some day, there's no guilt. Sally might reject it, but that's her choice!