*Lexie*

I ordered this and I can taste it in almost everything I try it in. So far the only thing I can tolerate it in is cooking it in my scrambled eggs. I tried it in cottage cheese and I thought it completely changed the taste. I don't like how it turns clear drinks white. Maybe I'll try it in soup. Any other ideas on how I can use it without tasting it, I'm open for suggestions.

They must have forgot to cut out my 'taste for food' during my surgery. I still enjoy food, maybe even more now that I can't eat very much of it and I chew more, etc. I was going to suggest chili but sounds like you have tried that. I made turkey breast meatballs the other day and they were good. turkey breast, egg, bread crumbs and shredded parmesan and any combination of italian seasonings. I weighed mine out at 1oz each and then baked them at 415 for 10 minutes. Then put some marinara on them and enjoy. The recipe made 2 dozen so I have a ton of them left over. I'm having that for dinner tonight actually.

Here it is, you plug in your information and it estimates how much you'll lose month over month. So far it was dead on the first month for me. It's not wanting to let me post the link. It's at obesityhelp.com and then /morbidobesity/information/post+op+planner.php Maybe it'll let me post it this way. No idea why I couldn't post that link.

One time I found this calculator online where you could put in your starting weight, what surgery you were having, height, etc and it would calculate your estimated monthly weight loss. I've tried to find it again and have been unsuccessful. If anyone knows where this is, could you post the link? I'll look again and if i find it, I'll attach it. I'm only 6 weeks out so I don't really have enough data to share.

I have been weighing every day. Today I decided to put the scales away and not get them out for a few weeks. I have a doctor's appt next week so I'll see my progress there.

I had the sleeve (am 6 weeks out) and never waivered on my decision pre-op. Until I had surgery. I did notice that I can eat almost anything but the few things that make me sick are a a great deterrent. I could probably use some dumping syndrome to keep me away from candy. I also think it would have been nice to have the reduced absorption. I've been a little frustrated with how slow the weight loss has been. With RNY, it would be faster. It's a more complicated surgery but from what I hear, the recovery is about the same. I don't regret my surgery but now I think I could have gotten more bang for my buck with bypass. Give it some good thought and make the decision that is best for you. I would ask people from both sleeve and RNY message boards. You'll get both sides.

I struggled with this the first 2 weeks or so of eating soft foods. Now I'm getting better at stopping before I get that feeling. I think this why they tell us to eat so slow, so we can tell we're full before feeling bad.

I sure have! I tried a half piece of toast and I think it got stuck because I got pain in my stomach, chest and lower back for like 2 hours. Another time when I tried flatbread (because that might work...) I got the same pain. I stopped eating bread, I don't need to be told twice. Well actually I do. I'm so glad you asked because I haven't heard anyone say anything about back pain before.

I am still a work in progress and by no means following this perfectly yet. I do find it's easier to follow if I make sure there is no drink sitting near me when I'm eating. The easiest meal I have adjusted to is Breakfast. I just don't make a drink in the morning and eat before I have anything to drink. Then I typically leave and don't have anything to drink until I get to work. I'm still working on the other meals. Last night I was eating something and drinking and I suddenly filled all the way up. I wanted to burp but couldn't and was uncomfortable for a few minutes. Lesson learned, I should try not to be so hard headed...

I'm about 6 weeks out from surgery. I have gone through what I refer to as the liquid weakness. I moved on to soft and learned that bread is the devil and causes me severe pain. I learned what the slimes are (but thankfully have not vomited). And luckily everyone around me survived my first stall (I was a little crazy). I feel like I'm finding my groove now. I now know when to stop eating so I don't get overly full which is a horrible feeling after surgery. I feel good enough to get some intensity in my workouts. I am making good choices (before surgery I really never believed I would give up Pasta ever) and the foods that used to have a hold on me no longer seem as important. And this way of eating is starting to feel more normal and comfortable. I'm feeling pretty good right now. So for all of you going through anything I mentioned above, keep in mind that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

@@KotikEve The slimes I mentioned above were after eating 1 mozzerella stick. I won't be trying that again for a while.

I made sure to give away all the candy only to have my son bring in like 8 pounds of it from trick or treating. I let him have his fill until Sunday morning. I offered to buy the remaining candy from him for $5. He jumped on that deal. We bagged it up and I took it to work and set it out for everyone to eat. It was gone by the end of the day and I saved myself (and my son) from grazing on it for the next week or two.

I didn't feel any restriction on liquids. When I went to puree, I started feeling restriction depending on what I ate. eggs gave me a lot of restriction but cottage cheese doesn't fill me up at all. Now that I'm eating ground turkey and beef, I really feel it. At 6 weeks, I'm at around 2 oz.

So sorry to hear you are in pain. I have had stomach problems and heartburn for years so I understand how uncomfortable you are. My surgeon told us that it was a possibility. My heartburn and pain went away after surgery. But they found a hiatal hernia and repaired it during surgery so I'm sure that helped. People respond differently to different acid medications and it sounds like yours isn't working. See if they can try a different one. My surgeon prescribes protonix, might be worth trying.

I have had my gall bladder removed. The pain from the attacks was so bad that I was ready to cut that sucker out myself. So if it helps prevent gall stones, I would say take it. Gall bladder attacks is the worst pain I have ever endured.

You look fantastic!

@@Jennifer Rogers I got the Genepro protein last week from Amazon (because I have trouble getting in my protein too). It's okay. I definitely cannot put it in just anything. I didn't like it in any drinks (too much flavor when it's supposed to be flavorless) and I could taste it in cottage cheese. So far, the only thing I've had it in where I couldn't taste it was I cooked it in a scrambled egg (but only 1/2 a serving). If you find other ways to use it where you can't taste, please let me know.

The Protein shakes didn't agree with my stomach after surgery either. If you are having trouble getting Water down too, then call your doctor. Getting dehydrated is a real risk. I would suggest calling your doctor to ask if you can start some puree early. They let me do that and I immediately felt so much better. It's amazing how your energy comes back.

All of us are emotional eaters, how do you think we got to the point of needing surgery?? My doctor's office taught me that and they give you the tool of the surgery along with tools to deal with emotional eating. We won't ever be cured but if we can control it most of the time, then we'll be a success story. As my psych put it, everyone is an emotional eater. It starts in infancy when mom holds the baby while feeding it. And if we could all "lose the weight" we wouldn't need surgery. I completely understand you feeling defeated and giving up. I've done that so many times. I would find another way. Someone mentioned Mexico and that sounds like something to check out. If this is something you want, don't give up.

Ibuprofen irritates the stomach and can cause ulcers. Probably best to switch to Tylenol. Would hate to get an ulcer and have a leak down the road.

After weeks of liquids, the most amazing thing I ate was a pintos and cheese from Taco Bell with a scoop of ground beef. Their ground beef is ground really fine and I figured it would add more Protein. I would add a little light sour cream when I got home and could eat like 1/3 or 1/2 of it. It wasn't low fat but they put very little cheese on there and even with full fat Beans, it was pretty low calorie. I could make one of those last like 3 meals all for around a dollar. I also made chili when I was on puree. I used very lean ground beef and I boil mine in the tomato juice which makes it very tender. Then I chopped up the beans in a food processor. High protein, high Fiber and so good. I ate it for like 2 days straight and then froze the rest.

Your post sounded a lot like what was going through my mind just a few weeks ago. Everyone who has posted is correct. You paid a crapload of money for your surgery so don't be afraid to call your surgeon's office. When I first started eating, I was getting overfull and was afraid I was eating too much. Combine that with a stall that is completely normal and I was a freaking basket case. I was sure I was a big, fat failure, etc, etc. But now I have figured out how to eat without getting overly full and I feel much better. I am also so much more healed and can do more of a workout which also makes me feel better. Personally, I agree that most of this is just adjusting to change and it creates a lot of anxiety. Hang in there and instead of critizing yourself, look in the mirror every day and say at least one good thing about yourself.

P.S. It was near the mouthwash and toothpaste.

I got mine at Walgreen's or CVS. Can't remember which (they both might have it)

I would love a forum centered around running. I had a bit of trouble drinking in the beginning and now I can pretty much gulp Water.