MrsKarenC2008

@@Mike Dumas WELCOME!!!! Oh wait ... I think someone else already said that I'm in GA too ... Just outside of Atlanta ... had the sleeve last July ... been on the boards ever since ... These people are my adopted family ... they are ALWAYS here when I need them ... To give me a hug or give me strength or a kick in the pants ... You too will find them inspirational and motivational and probably the only ones in your life that actually "get it" .... I wish you THE BEST and stick around ... You'll enjoy it !!! You got this! Be Blessed!

Im a 7/8/15 girl !

I'm 9 1/2 months out and have lost 151 lbs ... I FEEL AMAZING ! People say I'm wasting away ... lose any more and I'll blow away in a wind .... But, I don't see it that way ... I think we all criticize ourselves ... and always will ... I think we're brain washed into thinking we'll never be thin enough ... or this is out of place ...or this sags ... or that is wrinkled ... But you know what?! No matter what sags or wrinkles or is out of place .... We're HEALTHIER ... We did a GOOD thing by having WLS ... and working the program ... and making the best out of what God gave us... I for one would much rather have the sags and wrinkles than the 151 lbs that I've lost ... Congrats to us ALL !!!!!

AMEN ! I second everything already posted ... You can buy a container of Protein at the grocery store for ALOT cheaper than that ... and you can buy premade too ... I like Premier Protein chocolate powder ... I mix that with an Atkins premade ... like a double shot ! Good luck !! You got this!

@JamieLogical I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!! Definitely an inspiration to all of us ... that it can be done ... You look amazing ... you were made to run girl !!!!!!! HIGH 5 !!

Keep up the fluids ... that helps move things around ... and lots of walking ... that helps too!

I was in the pureed foods stage .... and thought I'd try a SF pudding ... not even 20 mins later ... I was wanting someone to shoot me ... the "plop plops" were so bad I was aching inside ... Needless to say ... I haven't had SF pudding since!!! and I'm now 9 1/2 months out!!!!!

@@Ryan TN This was such a fun post! Sorry it was at your expense ... I have a hard time with pics on here too .... seems I upload the same one 5 times to get it in that tiny bubble! But alas ... know that you're not alone ... and I wish I could be of more help ... I think the picture you have there is a great one!

Nooooooooooo carbonation! Don't do it to yourself ... you'll be miserable !

When I was a size 30 pants and 4x/5x shirts .... I HATED shopping ... now that 151 lbs is GONE ... and I'm a 16 pant and L top ... I LOVE IT ! I do utilize thrift stores/consignment shops ALL the time ... I find the cutest things! I don't even mind trying stuff on now ... mainly because I can ... and because I'm not sweating like mad ! I have purged the closet 9 times in the last 9 1/2months ... I don't mind doing it at all .. Gives me MORE room for the NEW stuff I'm buying tomorrow !!!

Hey there ... How do you know when you're done with the "weight loss" phase and moving into the "maintenance" phase? I'm 9 1/2 months out ... 151lbs lost ... and 8 to goal ...

I remember the first 2 weeks after my surgery ... I quit watching TV Because there were SO many food commercials on ... I never noticed it before ... probably because during the commercials I was so busy stuffing my face ... I didn't look up till the show was back on ! But now .... eh .. take it or leave it ... Food really does nothing for me now ... and coming from someone who LIVED to eat ... That is a huge thing ... Never ever thought I'd be "here" ... Told my NUT the other day at my 9 month check up that I completely have changed my way of thinking and acting about/around food ... she was pleased ... but said I still needed to eat to LIVE .... and was proud I wasn't doing it the other way around anymore

I've shopped several times ... always getting the BP Brand variety pack Protein bars ... YUMMMM!!! they are moist and VERY flavorful ... not dry and hard like some others I've tried ... Shipping was fast and the updates from them letting you know status are very helpful too! The BP store gets a A++ from me!

Walk , walk , walk!!! As the other poster says, that is the one thing that will help with the gas pain. As far as hurting when you drink, that is common ... you had major surgery and you are, and will be healing for some time ... so anything that touches your very sensitive tummy right now will hurt. Take drinking slow ... but get all of your required liquids in! Very important!! The pain does subside ... we all promise!! You got this! Be Blessed!!

sounds to me like you're expending more calories by the physical activity than you're taking in ( at least at that time of day ) that happened to me too ... so I had to be sure to try my best to balance things out ... it's tricky that early out ... especially having to get up and function ... but it's a balance that it well worth the struggle ! You got this!

I proudly tell people why I don't each much or don't eat certain things ... They have been very supportive and even offer other suggestions of things to try or other places to go that will be more accommodating to my restrictions ... I find it comforting that people know .... Don't get me wrong ... there are the "chosen few" that have their opinions and their reasons for them ... But as Momma always said ... "Opinions are like a$$holes ... everyone's got one!"

The way you're feeling is normal ... what I've read on here and gone through myself ... basically mirrors yourself. There are hormones going crazy inside your body because of the surgery and being released from the stored fat ... So you'll feel a little out of whack for a few weeks ... but I PROMISE ... it does get better ... and it's 1000% worth it!!! You said a lot of positive things in your post ... so I'm pretty confident you're on the right path ... both mentally and physically ... You got this!! Be Blessed

@cuchas I know you've gotten a lot of responses already ... but I had to add ... First ... You are a BEAUTIFUL girl ... You are just as pretty with less hair ... I KNOW that doesn't help or make it easier ... But I promise ... this is a side effect and it will grow back ... 98% of us go through this and freak out ... But ... it will get better ... Blessings to you!

Of course we've all seen the commercial's ... supposedly this products claim is that it helps your digestion system and ( from what I gather - I'm not the sharpest crayon in the box ) ... helps you "go" more regular and easier, etc. Soooooo my fellow sleevers ... anyone out there using this ? Does it work ? Info greatly appreciated!

@@James Marusek I know this post was about "poo" ... But dang that recipe for the muffins sounds sooooooooooo good! thank you for sharing !! and @leag78 I hope you're feeling better!