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I started eating popcorn occasionally and measured out (1 cup) at 4 months out. Make sure to measure, it is definitely a slider food.

Dr. LaMasters performed my surgery last December. I can not say enough good things about her. I feel so fortunate to have had her as my surgeon. The entire team and Unity Point has been incredible. Good luck! You are in great hands!

Wonton wrappers!

Crossing my legs, seeing the pile of "too big" clothes growing, seeing my reflection and doing a double take- in a good way:) Having a calm feeling come over me when I think of the future.

Just checking in to see how the support group went yesterday?

As soon as I mentioned feeling hunger, my doctor said it was actually acid and that I needed a stronger acid medication. Once I started that, no more "hunger."

No problem! I wish you all the best!

You can always find reasons why you shouldn't do this. Just like you find reasons that it is ok to have one more piece of pizza. How many diets have you tried? I guess that is more rhetorical:) I don't know about you, but no longer being out of breath, a borderline diabetic, having to sleep with a machine, manic/depressed thoughts is worth some loose skin and some thinning hair that will grow back. I guess I was just in the place where I knew I had no other choice. I am just so thankful that there seems to have been an answer. I guess starving myself or bingeing/purging seems much more radical and dangerous to me than having the surgery FYI...I really disliked the support groups. This is the one area where Unity Point needs to get a little more organized. There is usually 100+ people there and most of the time was spent answering questions that really should have been asked in an individual session (specific insurance, etc...) It might be better this month, I think it is small group.

What is it that is holding you back? It is definitely a life change, but once you are through the the liquid and puree stage and can start on normal foods, it all becomes normal. My main issue with food was portions. It is still unbelievable to me how much 4oz of food is vs. what I was eating before. It truly is a tool. It keeps you from overeating. The other pluses for me: I WANT to exercise! It feels so good starting a summer wearing short sleeved shirts. I look 10 years younger. I no longer have to sleep with a machine. I feel such peace. My mind is finally quiet. I used to spend so much time obsessing about food, what I was going to eat, how much I could eat, eating in secret, feeling guilt and shame because I did eat. That took up most of my day and colored everything I did. This surgery affects you metabolically, so you do not have the hunger anymore. You can have head hunger in the beginning, but everything about food is just so much easier. Now, a person can choose to only eat Fritos all day and not get in their Protein or Water and not exercise (I do water aerobics and walk) and they will not be successful. It is still about choices, this tool just makes it easier to make good ones. I have been extremely fortunate in that I have had no ill effects from the surgery. Food has never made me sick. I still don't like how I feel after I eat white carbs (potatoes mainly- they feel really heavy.) Almost 6 months out and I can eat pretty much anything...just a whole lot less of it! I feel Dr. Lamasters program- IF you FOLLOW IT!- sets you up for success. Keep up protein, water and exercise and it will happen. I am averaging 10 lbs a month. So for me, no regrets whatsoever. I can't imagine how I would be feeling at 290 vs. 228 (my weight this morning.) This choice is about you deciding to find some peace.

I am! I went to Unity Point Weight Loss in West Des Moines. Dr. Theresa Lamasters is amazing and the whole experience was great. They have a team- Surgeon, psychologist, nutritionist, exercise physiologist. You meet with all of them. You need to sign up for an initial appt- there are other patients there as well- to get the ball rolling. So worth it. It was exactly a year ago that I went to my first meeting. Due to my own schedule, I didn't have the surgery until Dec. I am down 60 lbs! Best decision I ever made!! I was convinced I would be the one person it didn't work for- It works!! Good luck!

If it is in passing I say say, "Thanks, decided to get healthy." If someone takes me aside and asks me specifically what I have been doing, then I say "I decided to get healthy and had WLS."

I was only restricted to 1200 calories a day for the 2 week preop (last 2 days liquids) so I lost only a couple of pounds.

I am actually experiencing this right now. I am 5 months out and, pretty religiously, weigh everything because I still cannot "eyeball" 4 oz. Tonight I had my usual size piece of salmon and made some guacamole as well. I, of course, forgot about the whole taste testing actually counts as food:) Halfway through my salmon, I started to get that over stuffed Thanksgiving day feeling that then generates pain in my upper back. Very uncomfortable.

You may want to try adding a tablespoon of sugar free pudding to your shake (if you are using powder.) Really jazzes up the taste!

Be careful about looking at people's stats. Starting weight does not mean Surgery weight. 40 lbs in one month is pretty rare. Some people will have lost 20 lbs PRE surgery, but don't specify that when they post they lost 40 lbs in first month!

This is so normal, there should be and entire website on the "three week stall." Mine hit at 8 days. So frustrating, but completely normal.

I started back slowly after a week. I am a professor, so I was able to be fairly flexible. My main problem was fatigue in the afternoons. If your job entails manual labor, you will need longer.

I was using coconut flour 2 months out without any problem. I used it for thickening, mainly. Great substitute!

I am 4.5 months out and have just started to eat slower. I still have to weigh my total amt. of food to 4 oz. It is almost comical how much my eyes alone think is 4 oz. I weighed what I portioned out once- it was almost 8 oz!

I had this as well about a week out. It eventually went away a few days later. I actually held onto an ice pack and that helped with the itching. Mine felt like it was under the skin.

I had issues right away and talked to my surgeons office. I was taking Prilosec 3 times a day. They put me on a prescription called Protonix. I only have to take one a day and I have had no issues.

Does anybody else take their measurements every month? I have found that, even when the scale doesn't move for 3 weeks, I still am losing inches.

Why are you doing a pouch test? Is this something your doctor told you to do? My understanding of pouch tests is to be able to tell how much solid food your new stomach can hold. 5 days out I can't imagine you are anywhere near solid foods.

You may also find that the acid in OJ can cause some reflux problems.

I have noticed an definite increase. I am 8 weeks out and I have been taking omeprazole 3 times a day and can't seem to get on top of the acid. I called my Dr. and they prescribed Protonix, I started that today. My profession has me using my voice quite a bit and acid can really do a number on your larynx. I hope you can find some relief!