FocusOnMeNow

And Ms. Borgia, topomax does not cause weight gain. In fact, the generic name for topomax is topiramate and it is one of the components of Qsymia, a weight loss drug. So whoever told you that is wrong. Or perhaps its another med you are on? And no, you cannot and should not have sugar. Deal with stevia or move on. The whole point is to cut out sugar altogether. Also, please try to determine if the weight lost will only come back on if you are staying on the meds?

I do use Fairlife milk though if it is called for in a recipe. Can't really make most pudding with Almond milk. Made some right after surgery.

I am sleever. I quit drinking milk when I was a kid except for in coffee. Started using Almond milk in coffee around 2010. Switched over to a vanilla premier Protein in my morning coffee since I could start drinking coffee again. I take the USRDA of calcium citrate and eat a ton of dairy (full fat cheese, grass fed butter, greek yogurt) every day. You could not pay me to drink cows milk, much less 6 glasses of it. I would call that cruel and unusual punishment and besides how could you EVER absorb any Iron, if you were drinking milk 6 x per day? I occasionally will put cream in my coffee if out of town at conference but usually pack premier Protein shakes to bring with me.

Um, I slept a LOT for the first two weeks, and then not so much for the next 8 or so weeks. Now I am nearly back to normal at almost 6 months. But hello, there is a simple reason we are not sleeping as well as before....we are no longer inducing the carbohydrate comas. Like a junkie who doesn't get their fix, we are no longer numbing out with carbs. This is generally a good thing because we have more energy, but for others a pretty dramatic shift. I could not have caffeine for 8 weeks per my doctor and honestly in week 9, I could barely tolerate tea much less coffee. I've been doing coffee since about 4 months, and once I start having coffee in the mornings and getting revved up then, it does "enhance" how tired I am at night and I sleep way better at night now. I always have always will be somewhat of a night owl, but once I lay my head down....well I could actually oversleep now without an alarm. The first 8 weeks or so no alarm was necessary and I usually woke up an hour or more early without it.

I've heard that its the diet/surgery that gets the weight off but the exercise that keeps it off. There is something to that as well in that maintaining more muscle mass keeps your metabolism revved. I haven't quite made it to my personal goal of 5 x per week, but I'm getting there.

I met my ex-husband in "old fashioned" personals (pre-'Match.com). Yes he is an ex, but I'd say it was a serious relationship with a lot of potential. My brother met his current wife on Match and 8 years later they now have 2 kids.

I get at least 5 matches a day from eH. I live in a metro area though.

Happy New Year Bariatric Pals! I now know why they call them "slider" foods. I can eat a whole lot of Ritz crackers. An amazing amount...will NOT make it a habit. Also had several glasses of wine tonight. Intended to have only 1, but NYE comes once a year. Nonetheless I think I will go back to protein shakes for the rest of the weekend to make up for it. Lots of resolutions here. Will write them out to share after a good nights sleep. Happy New Year again. Type to you all tomorrow????

Yes you look absolutely amazing! Keep up the good work:-)

Congratulations on a job well done. Your pain should be controllable with liquid Tylenol. Great way to start the New Year New You????

And BTW for all you potato haters...FYI- they are "paleo". Not carb free but not basically devoid of nutritional value like pasta, bread, rice, etc. They are packed with vitamins????

All things in moderation. Sweet potatoes have tons of vitamins and they are really good for you. Mash and or blend with carrots like we mash up potatoes with some cauliflower for some extra veg. I am about 4.5 months out and have some potatoes in moderation and mashed with the skin on to ensure I'm getting all the vitamins. Enjoy!

I am planning to do a Fraxel " Repair" laser on my face neck décolletage and my tummy when I get my bonus next year to help firm things up. Fraxel repair goes deeper (1.6mm) than traditional Graceland lasers. It will NOT be as good as plastic surgery but I figure that if I do it once a year at bonus time within like 5-10 years I should be looking good. My mom is 68 and she had the surgery about 8 years ago and I see that she has saggy skin in the same places that I'm worried about. Hats off to those that do plastics and maybe almost a year from now I will change my mind, but at this point I wish to avoid anymore surgery if I can. Thrilled as hell with this one but I just don't like that weak feeling for weeks afterward when on limited activity. I want to kick butt all the time;-)

Congratulations! Great way to start off the New Year!!!

You can search online for lactose free liquid protein. I believe that the Bariatric Sleeve dietary guidelines for the Brigham (aka Harvard Medical School) is online and lists various sources of protein. For me I had to start with Vanilla Premier Protein and could not do chocolate for several weeks post surgery. But of course Premier Protein does contain lactose, so if that's your issue it might be problematic. That being said I could not tolerate the lactose free Bariatric Advantage until several weeks post surgery either. Just keep trying different things to see what works for you. I know it's hard though especially if like me you stocked up on certain items. Good luck!

I agree with walking especially since you are likely not yet cleared for full activity. Stairs were not my friend 4 weeks out. But four months out I just signed up for Gentle Yoga, a Barre class and Zumba. I wish that I had started exercising more at about 3 months. In all honesty, even though I was cleared for full activity after 9 weeks, I really wasn't ready to do anything other than walking until at least 3 months.

I love eggs and eat eggs but they are a somewhat dense food, and provide amazing nutrition. Of course meats are most dense and most difficult but what we are mostly supposed to be eating. If you just had your surgery on 12-8...well I only went to mushies after three weeks. So try making a savory egg custard. That means egg plus milk mixed and cooked in a ramekin in a water bath. It will be cooked but not "hard". Most Lean Cuisines have little protein or nutrients but tons of preservatives and lots of liquids sauce in them. That is why they are easier to eat. I believe that we can all eat more chicken soup than chicken.

@@rosemary79 - please see a Dr. who can also get you a topical NSAID that you can apply as a gel that soaks into your knees. Also check out www.meltmethod.com for pain relief self-care as well. My knees are bad too. They are much better at 65 lbs lighter, but tried to kneel at church today and won't be trying that again anytime soon. Good luck to you!

@@retzlpa - I'm so sorry that you have to deal with those kinds of comments, but I'm thrilled that you gave someone a piece of your mind. I have wanted to say that exact same phrase for years but never have. "I can lose weight but you can't fix ugly." Well actually you can now with plastic surgery but still. I'm living vicariously through you. Living well is the best revenge. You are going to feel better and better every day and look better and better as well. I honestly do not believe in putting people down for something they cannot fix, especially those who have not been blessed in the attractiveness department. But honestly you were just defending yourself/standing up for yourself.

@@OKCPirate - how long were you seeing each other before you decided to take each other off the market? Just curious?

@@OutsideMatchInside - in respect to being "really real". Both people have to be. Honesty = Intimacy. I'm not saying you have to tell someone you just met your deepest darkest secrets but in order for the relationship to be real both of the people in it also have to be.

Pre-op I had tons of chocolate protein drinks. Post op the thought was repulsive. All I could handle was vanilla. Since then I have gotten some really good organic cocoa from whole foods. It is most likely thatthey don't want people to confuse "hot chocolate" with tons of sugar with unsweetened cocoa. Or maybe the nut herself has trouble distinguishing.

I have to say that I am a bit jealous. I had my surgery on August 17th and am only 64 lbs down. My doctor says I'm doing great but I'm hoping to lose 64 more. Right now just hopeful for onderland by the 6 month mark. And I agree with poster who said my business is protein, fluids, vitamins, and exercise. I believe that the lbs will come off eventually. Also you are doing GREAT and should not worry about 2 lbs. They will come off. Keep up the good work.

I have not been to a single support group meeting. I keep telling myself I am going to start going to OA. I had been to a few meetings in years past, but not a single one since my surgery. I do see a therapist once a week most weeks. And I really appreciate all the support here on Bariatric pals. I need to go to OA as well, and that is going to be one of my resolutions in the New Year. Maybe I will get a head start the week of the 28th that I actually have off work:-)

I would add to spend 6 months to a year getting your financial and legal ducks in a row and have the divorce all planned out (and do NOT tip him off of course that you are doing this). I would spend EVERY dime in that joint account paying off credit cards, paying down the mortgage, paying ahead on any other bills that you can. Consult with your lawyer it may be in your best interest to get HIM to move out if you want to stay in the house. Even if you do get divorced and have to sell the house, there are ways to 'drag your feet" on that like not agreeing to listing it for a price you think it would actaully sell for (but rather listing it much higher etc).