DeniseNCC1701

Thanks everyone! @@jenn1 The positive comments in real life are just starting now. Probably because my clothes are starting fall off.

Also, take a moment to reflect on what 30lbs is: • 6 5lb bags of sugar • 30 packages of butter • A decent sized bag of dog food • 4,000 paint balls • 2 bowling balls • 2 19" flat-screen televisions and lastly: • Two of those fish I'm holding in my right hand in my profile pic. I got over 2 weeks worth of dinners from just one of those fish. WARNING: ADULT STUFF FOLLOWS: And, I'm sorry, but I have to go here, I can't resist. I've lost 74 lbs. That equals: • One elephant's penis (!) plus a medium sized bag of dog food. Imagine walking around with an elephant's penis all day. (Men, I'll thank you not to elaborate on that thought, please.) Be well…

@@Pretty_In_Purple : I'm going to cut and paste a post I made just a few days ago to another thread. Rest assured you are not alone, and we all feel your frustration. Ok. Ready? Eliminate the word only from you vocabulary. I only lost 30lbs becomes I lost 30lbs. Add an exclamation mark and a pinch of enthusiasm. Mix well, and serve warm: Hey everybody, look at me go! I lost 30lbs! Be well…

I'm 3 months post-op, and have just started to tolerate cold-ish Water. My sleeve prefers room temperature water, and water that has flavor enhancers. Be well…

Yes, like mentalistfan said, the pain in your shoulder is the gas. It will subside in time. Try applying some heating pads. I too experienced coughing for the first week or so. That too, subsided. It's not a bad idea to have your calf checked out. Keep us posted, and be well…

Talk to us, Pam… what's going on?

Wow, look at you go, sexy lady! Your enthusiasm and positive energy are as inspiring as your beautiful smile. Congratulations on your transformation. You should be very proud! Be well…

I went into this surgery with the vision of adhering to my team's instructions perfectly, with no plan on sabotaging the process. But there I was, about 4 weeks out or so, dealing with fluctuating hormones and a weight loss stall, eating a piece of fried chicken and a Cadbury creme egg. I missed my friend (food). I missed being able to stuff down emotions with my friend. Now I had to actually (shudder) deal with these feelings. I still do. I will do so for the rest of my life. I think I speak for many of us that the hardest part of the journey is not the approval process, the pre-op preparations or the post-op pain and weakness. It is the hard work and dedication it takes to stay in a state of equilibrium. Having said that, grazing and certain foods (Peanut Butter for me) allow us to out-think the sleeve when we're feeling less than optimal. Like LipstickLady said, I too could probably eat 4,000+ calories a day if I take a little bit all day long. It's a slippery slope we are climbing, indeed. Be well…

@@LipstickLady I think I'm developing a lady-crush on you. You represent everything I aspire to become. Be well…

Congratulations! That's very exciting. We want to see a picture, sexy lady! Be well…

Oh dear, I'm sorry you're having more trauma. I hope it passes quickly for you. I read many of your posts, and your positive energy is contagious and inspiring. Please be well…

Congratulations! That's outstanding progress! Not so long to go. You'll be there before you know it. Be well…

Hey, sexy lady, look at you go! Congratulations! Be well…

Eliminate the word only from you vocabulary. I only lost 30lbs becomes I lost 30lbs. Add an exclamation mark and a pinch of enthusiasm. Mix well, and serve warm: Hey everybody, look at me go! I lost 30lbs! Be well…

It's scary when we have all these new (and old) emotions raise their ugly heads and we can no longer bury them in food. It makes me sad sometimes. But I push through it through music, exercise, that silly Candy Crush game and when I'm feeling really sad, I just sleep it off. I've invested in twice monthly deep tissue massages, and they've been helping immensely. Music is my #1 go-to, though. One of the wonderful byproducts of this process is discovering new things about yourself. Or re-discovering things that have been latent for far too long. Perhaps there are hobbies and passions that you can engage in like gardening, crafts, DIY, painting or drawing, dancing, sewing, knitting, yoga, tai chi, fishing (my passion), even cleaning! Explore. Discover. Heal. Be well…

Some very powerful stuff is being said here. Thank you to everyone who responded to the OP. Two phrases caught my attention, and I've put them in a text file that I put on my desktop for frequent reference: @@McButterpants : Your sleeve doesn't stop you from eating the bad foods, it stops you from eating large quantities of bad food. @@MetroDetroitChic : I'm pretty sure I'll be good tomorrow. And tomorrow is something I can control. Wow. WOW. I'm three months out, and working hard to keep the clarity that I'm feeling these days. At the same time, I try to keep a realistic awareness that this road is not a straight line from A to B, but is a road full of diversions and distractions, highs and lows, and everything in between. If I can venture forward making focused and positive course corrections along the way, I'm going to be just fine. The key is not straying too far. @@Bigmommatojacob : We are all afraid of failing at this. And no matter how far along you are, that fear is always there. Or it should be. Think of it as a way of keeping us in check, a way of keeping our eyes on that road, lest we stray to far. I think real change cannot exist without the presence of fear. And in that respect, it can be one of the most powerful tools of all. Be well…

Well, look at you handsome! Nice going, you should be very proud of yourself! Congratulations! Be well…

I've been seeing a psychotherapist since about 2 weeks post op. I really like her, and I know our weekly meetings have been invaluable. At this early stage in the game (or any stage for that matter), I believe it's important to build the strongest bariatric support team that you can. They will be your rock(s) when things get rough, and they will rally around you and build you up. Be well…

I have to go to Vegas in July for business. On my birthday no less. I will be packing my own meals and plan on using the pool while I'm there. And the blackjack tables. I wish you a healthy surgery, and speedy recovery! Be well…

I'm glad to see this post. I'm down almost 70lbs and still wearing the same clothes I was the a week pre-op, and that made me…not sad… but non plussed. I refuse to get anything new right now. But there's definitely a change in how things fit me. Like PdxMan said, I was just squishing myself into clothes that were too small. Then they fit "normal". Now they are getting a little loose. And @@healthymommy, I too find that my tummy is being stubborn. I have pants in the closet that should fit me at this weight, but are still too tight. In my case, it was because I had put on so much weight that everything stretched out, and it hasn't quite caught up yet. I know that I'll get there, and I look forward to posting pics of me in these pants. So just stay focused and keep doing what you're doing. You'll get there. Be well…

Great post, @@LindafromFlorida! Just the other day I was browsing the messages here, and it seems like every other topic was No Weight Loss/Freaking out/ HELP!, etc... I was even going to find a post I made offering encouragement and support and put it into a text file so I could cut and paste repeatedly. I'm in a stall right now, and all is good. One of the NSVs I've been experiencing lately is a level of joy that I've not felt for years. I have a ways to go to get to my goal, and that's fine. I trust the process. And for the first time in, like, ever, I'm seeking out help, and really listening to what everyone on my bariatric team is telling me. I mean really listening. Be well…

I feel your pain, CrazyJaney! I have a printout of a document I found on this site called "10 Mistakes WLS Patients Make", and have the one for grazing highlighted. That, and not getting enough Water, have been my biggest struggles. Like the others said, plan your times to eat, and stick with it! And I know it's difficult, but keep as busy/distracted as possible between meals. I've found that 9 times out of 10, I'm not really hungry, and I'm justing eating out of habit. An old habit. I'll be three months post op on Monday, and I'm going through a stall right now. Much of it is because of grazing. And it doesn't matter that it's healthy stuff, my calories creep up to the 1200 range. Respectible, but not taking maximum advantage of the honeymoon period of the sleeve. Stay focused. Log on here. Keep your hands busy. You got this, your head's in the right place. And I applaud you for holding yourself accountable. That's a critical part of this process! Be well…

Try putting some heating pads on the area, I know they helped me a lot! Be well…

Those breakfast bites sound great! My go-to foods are: Store-bought: Cans of tuna or sardines The mini-cans of baked Beans eggs, cheese Cottage cheese (used to hate the stuff pre-op, now I love it) Beef jerky occasionally I like to cook, so I make a bunch of stuff on the weekends, and either freeze individual portions or just try to make less. I live alone as well, so I invested in smaller cookware such as a 2-quart slow cooker, 6" frying pans, and assorted ramekins. I also purchased a vacuum sealer, which allows me to buy things "family size" chicken breast and freeze portions. Homemade staples: Baked beans Greek yogurt Baked fish (I'm a fisherman, love the sport, and if I'm lucky, will always have a supply of freshly caught fish in the freezer) Fish chowders Popsicles made with the above yogurt, pineapple and/or another fruit and a little coconut stevia. Delish. I'll be getting a mini smoker and look forward to making my own beef jerky (less salt and no nitrates) and smoked fish which I will mix with cream cheese for a nice dip. Be well…