JackieBrown

I used to be a night eater, but I rarely am anymore. I sleep a whole lot better since there's less pain, and the high Protein helps keep me more full, too. The main thing to do is to not panic about this. Have good foods high in protein on hand for you to snack on, like string cheese or sugar-free yogurt. Toss out all of your junk food. (I used to be the tortilla chip and red wine queen at 3 am.) Know that if you wake up hungry, that's perfectly all right. Have a healthy snack, drink some Water, read a magazine, and then go back to bed. No foul, no loss. You will still be on track.

Overeating can do lots of damage. You might experience dumping, which is very painful. You could have nausea and start to vomit. You might just have a bad bellyache for a couple of hours. You might even stretch your stomach over the long run, which kind of defeats the purpose of the WLS. So this is the kind of thing you need to stop doing, and you are smart enough to ask and to check with your doctor, which shows you're halfway on the way to success. I was an overenthusiastic portioner for quite a few weeks. I think it's a matter of being used to consuming a certain amount. But after finding myself uncomfortable too many times (nights are the worst!), I did the following: I put my meal in the container (glass, bowl, plate, whatever) and then remove half of it. Really. My eyes want a whole lot, but I tell myself that this 1/4 cup or 1/2 cup is the correct amount, and if I'm hungry later I can come back for seconds. A lot of this is self-induced panic on my part, and it's probably one of the reasons I gained so much weight. (Lots of food-centered drama in my house growing up.) The second thing to do is to eat s-l-o-w-l-y. Small sips and bites, really small. Tiny spoons and forks. Let the food sit in your mouth for a bit, chew it up while tasting it, feel it going down your throat and into your stomach. I found that paying attention to the food really helped. Don't watch the tube or talk on the phone while you're eating until you've got this part mastered. You are probably like me in that you truly enjoy the act of eating. I adore having food in my mouth. It's a genuine pleasure on so many levels. But now we have new plumbing that just won't allow us to eat like before. So respect your tiny stomach, listen to her, and think about feeding her, rather than your mouth. Keep us posted on how you're doing. We've all been there and understand.

Awesome comeback, vincereautmori!

Whoa! Way to go! How do you feel? How long did it take to recover?

Great! I found that regular water didn't sit well with me for the longest time. Someone here recommended Whole Foods' electrolyte water, and that was a lifesaver for me. I bought it by the case (10% discount!) and drank around 2 liters (or quarts) a day. It was a long softer on my tongue and seemed to soothe me, for some reason. Anyway, it's worth a try. Keep posting on how you're doing.

I cannot imagine the horros you went through, orionova, but I am so happy that you have climbed out of that unholy pit of hell and are living once again. Your ex should have been arrested and prosecuted for what he did to you. That is nothing short of evil. Seems to me that WLS is all a part of taking ourselves seriously. I fortunately have a wonderful husband, but the rest of our family is very destructive, and so we have cut them off from our lives. Life is too short and too fantastic to include abuse of any kind. So in short, I'm proud of you, orionova, and all the others of you who are taking pride in yourselves, loving yourselves for maybe the first time, and taking life by the horns. Hugs to each and every one of you.

Putting on my wedding dress, zipping it up, and yelling out, "Here comes the bride!" And watching my husband's jaw hit the floor.

I totally agree with BeagleLover. Sounds like an excellent reason to get both surgeries done ASAP.

Totally agree! Half the fun of getting new clothes is trying these increasingly smaller sizes on at the store and seeing what fits/looks good on your new bod. I look at it as buying clothes for my new best friend, but I'm not sure what she'll like, so I let her try on stuff that I wouldn't have ever imagined wearing myself. Schizo, yes. But I'm having fun.

Maintaining a positive attitude is so on point. And everything you are doing is working toward making yourself a healthier person. Health goes a long way toward encouraging happiness, so you are definitely on the right track. I'm cheering you all on from the sidelines, as depression is a big deal in my family, too.

Have you checked with your doctor? The pain and nausea might be expected, but your doc should be able to help you with the nausea. Mine gave me a prescription for a liquid medication that really helped to keep things down. Are you drinking enough liquids?

That's fantastic!

My doc said that caffeine was a diuretic, which was why he warned me against drinking it more than occasionally. That being said, I stretch my single bag of black tea out through the day (strongest brew in the morning!), have small cups of decaf, and once in a while get a regular latte. Like everyone says, listen to your body. As for carbonated drinks and seltzers, be careful. Your tummy's only so big, and all those bubbles can cause chaos. If I want a small glass of something bubbly (had a bit of champagne on Xmas), I take teeny sips and let the bubbles blow up on my tongue for a while before swallowing. I'm burping enough as it is!

I've been taking Colon Cleanse, which I get at Trader Joes, and it's worked wonderfully for me. It comes in gel capsules, so I can take as much or little as needed. The recommended dose is 4 caps 3 times a day, which in my body would be tantamount to a nuclear explosion, so I do around 2 or 3 in the am and pm, and things have been moving nicely.

You are looking fabulous. Congrats!

Same here with the burps and hiccups. Glad to know they will eventually go away, but I do agree that it's better out than in!

37 pounds is fantastic! And if you think, "Wow, I only lost 20 pounds," then go to the grocery store, pick up a 20 pound bag of rice or sugar, and prepare to be impressed with yourself. We all stall, it's part of the process. The problem is that we all have been focused on our weight throughout our lives, and we're still obsessing. We've also been on endless diets that didn't work, so half our brains are expecting failure this time around, too. Relax, take a long walk, and enjoy life... it will only get better.

I'm doing just about the same. My weight has completely stalled, but I'm losing dress sizes. Also, my skin is tightening up on my upper arms and stomach and face, so I can't really complain. There is a definite up side to stalls! A nutritionist friend explained that this stall is often due to Water taking the place of the fat in the fat cells. That makes sense to me because I am pouring so much water into myself, but I don't see an equal amount coming out. And so now as long as I am losing something somewhere somehow, I don't worry.

This is all so true. I think it comes from the feeling of self control we now have over our bodies. I've instituted a strict No Drama policy in my life. I so love that motto, "What you allow is what will continue." (Thanks, lisacaron!) Life is too short, and I'm finally ready to live it in low-cut jeans, so back off, all you psychic vampires!

I am so impressed. I always think of the perfect response two days later as I'm drifting off to sleep. Brava!

Lots of people just give things that they would like to get. So, I just remember that the next year and send them something similar to what they sent me, which tends to go over big. Another idea for those good food gifts is to drop it by the nurse's station where you had your operation, if it's not too far away, and tell them thanks. As a nurse friend told me, "Nurses love to eat!" and they're usually to busy to go get something.

You're on your way! Wishing you all the best. Looking forward to your "after" pictures!

You are all so beautiful. You look happy, healthy, and so much younger! Congratulations!!

Second that advice. Soaking will soften those incisions, so give yourself time to heal properly.

When your husband slips his arm around your waist in the store and then starts feeling you up there before saying with a grin, "Man, you have really lost weight!" (This happened yesterday!)