Sullie06

We eat out usually 2 times per week, either sit down or fast food, because my life is crazy right now with my kids extra curriculars and holiday stuff going on. In terms of fast food, we don't have a lot of options here (McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, Taco Bell, A&W, KFC, Subway and Popeyes). Usually we do Wendy's if we get fast food and I will get a chili or a single burger with no bun. They will put it in a container for you and you can get toppings on the side so I will add cheese and a little ketchup with onion, lettuce and tomato. Also Subway is another popular one for us, I get a chopped salad with double meat. I will also occasionally get a grilled chicken, no bun, from McDs or spicy tenders from Popeyes with Corn as my side. When we eat out at sit down restaurants it's usually diners so I just look for items that are high protein and lower carb (though I'm allowed up to 100 grams a day) and substitute veggies for fries or just get no side and steal a few of my kids fries because I can only eat like 3.

It feels great doesn't it? I've since bought 3 pairs, my legs love it but my wallet is like "woah tiger, slow it down there".

I would love a tummy tuck and to have my breasts fixed because they have all but disappeared but my insurance won't cover plastics at this point (maybe sometime in the future because my local group has had a couple people actually approved for plastics by insurance recently). My skin isn't super saggy but between prior C-Section and having a B shaped belly my stomach needs help. I'm a year out almost, 113 pounds down and 14 pounds from goal so by the time Im ready for plastics I might be able to get approval. If not, I still plan to get my breasts done and just pay out of pocket. Nobody sees my stomach anyway and it doesn't bother my hubby.

My goal weight was 190lbs at 5'10" but I was more interested in hitting a goal size which was a size 12. I'm now 187-190 depending on the day and wearing a 10-12 at almost a year post op. My surgeon did set a goal of 175 for me long term which would put me at "normal" BMI, well technically it would be 173 but he said to round up . I don't know if I'm every going to reach that though because my body seems happy at this weight and I've been bouncing for almost 3 months.

I think the veterans were the biggest help to me during my days leading up to and freshly after surgery and they are a very important part of this site. What would be the point of this forum if it was just a bunch of newbies and pre-op people talking about something they haven't yet experienced or were just newly experiencing. I wanted to know if something had been experienced by other people, I wanted to see their results and hear their stories and I wanted to know in the dark early days that it would get better. I wanted to hear their meal ideas and good products that the found on the market. The thing is some people will be kind, helpful and accommodating but not everyone is going to be. Some won't say what you want to hear, not everyone is going to be nice and rosey but instead straightforward and direct, some people will be down right rude because we all perceive things differently, especially on a message board where you cannot decipher tone or infliction but many have very good advice and are encouraging. Even if they come off a little harder than others sometimes. They are the ones who have the experience, they have lived it. Even my surgeon stressed the importance of support groups because as he said "I can give you the medical side but I've never had the surgery myself."

I cannot get warm and it's super annoying. Its so cold here and it's just going to get colder. I have to wear gloves and a blanket at my desk at work and I wear a sweater, tank top, pants, boots daily.

Your nut sounds very much like my NUT. She wanted me up to 1000 calories as soon as possible and to be getting 1200 calories by 6 months out. She also is very big on getting a balanced diet that includes carbs, starches and lots of veggies. She also stated after about 9 months out she wanted me to move to a more balanced diet and less of a protein first diet.

Almost a year post op!! HW: 301 SW: 271 CW: 189 (currently bouncing between 187-190)

Ah thanks. I didn't even think about that. Usually I see people write it as 2 Dec 2017 if they are abroad or Canadian so I didn't even register in my head that's what she meant. My bad.

Per my plan they didn't want us eating pork, venison or steak for 6 months because they can be harder for the stomach to process and some people have bad reaction to pork products.

Chocolate doesn't bother me. I had chocolate protein shakes from the get go. Actual chocolate I would say, maybe 3-4 months post op I might have had a bite. I'm not a huge chocolate person but when I do have a piece here and there I prefer plain old dark chocolate.

I was right around 600-800 at that 6 week mark but my NUT wanted us up to 1200 calories as soon as possible so I think by 12 weeks I was getting between 1000-1200 calories a day. I now average 1100-1400 calories a day depending on the day and my level of activity.

I'm just about a year out at this point. My NUT said if I needed to take a sip here and there to help wash my food down it's okay but to make it a general rule not to drink with meals. The only time I usually drink while eating is if I'm having a dense protein that's dry, which sometimes happens if I'm eating out or at someone else's home. My husband (who does the cooking in our family) usually is really good at making meat super moist) or if I'm eating something super spicy and I need a little sip to wash it down.

Walk Walk Walk and sip sip sip are the golden rules at this point of surgery. I too had to walk in my house as my surgery was late December and we had a snowy winter last year. I would walk back and forth from my living room to kitchen and every 15 minutes stop to sip water. If its not getting any better though I would call your doctor. The gas and swelling should be reduced with time.

Just a quick question for the OP, why does your signature say you were sleeved 2/12/17?

Just give it time, you will be able to enjoy going out with your friends in time. At first I was very emotional because I felt very cut off socially and I started avoiding going out with friends. When I finally did I realized there company was the most important part of our "date nights" I was craving human interaction. I can now eat whatever I want in moderation and going out to eat feels completely normal. None of my friends even realize how little I eat and some of them eat about the same amount as me so I actually feel more normal now than I did when I was 300 pounds and eating huge portion and dessert.

With Premier the only flavor I like is Chocolate. I love the Atkins Protein shakes but they only have 15 grams so if you are in the liquid stage where you rely on shakes to get your protein goals I would chose one with higher protein.

Surgery Date: 12/30/16 Age: 34 Height: 5'10" HW: 301 SW: 271 CW: 187 I've been stalled at 187-190 since 10/2 but hoping I can get to my goal of 175 before the 2 year mark.

I had my surgery 12/30/16. I entered my program on 7/19/16 after topping the scale at 301 pounds. I had always swore if I went above 300 I would take drastic action, which I think was always an excuse because in my head I would never get "that big". I was also having issues with my blood sugar running high, my thyroid wasn't being controlled by medicine properly and my knees and back hurt so bad I couldn't keep up with my kids. I lost 30 pounds presurgery through my program and went into surgery, after a ton of research at 271 pounds. Recovery was not bad for me, some minimal nausea and pain for about 2-4 weeks but I was back to work after 2. Moving through the early stages was the hardest part and I had a lot of emotional issues to work through but once I was back on regular food I was much better. I lost slow but steady until 10 months out and I've now been stalled since October 2 bouncing between 190 and 187 pounds. I've lost 113 pounds approximately and hoping to get to my goal of 175 but I feel like I might be in maintenance at this point. I'm currently eating between 1100-1300 calories, 80-100 grams of protein and 50-100 grams of carbs and I feel completely normal when I eat now. No more huge portions or going back for multiple plates.

I have the same issue when people comment on my weighloss especially when they ask how much weight I've lost. While my family and close friends know I had surgery I don't tell every random person in my life for I always feel like a fraud when they ask what I'm doing and I say diet and exercise.

*Thighs that should say, not thoughts.

Eggs are a no go for me since surgery so I don't know how they effect my restriction personally but it's possible that the reason you still feel slightly hungry is because eggs are simply a slider for you. Have you tried adding a meat to the eggs, like a mini omelet, either a ground sausage or beef. It will increase your protein and add some density to your meal that might help fill you up more. Same with your other meals, try for a denser protein (in the confounds of your plan) and that might help your hunger. I try and hit 90-100 grams of protein a day and I'm female. If I don't, I find myself snacking. I am another one that does not count fat, my NUT told me absolutely avoid fat free products as they are overly processed junk and limit low fat items so I eat full fat foods most of the time, especially dairy because dairy fat is so good for your brain. As for the questions about starting foods the best advice I can give is go slow and listen to your body. Introduce foods 1 at a time so you know exactly when bothers you and what sits well. Chew Chew Chew and take your time eating meals. Don't shove it in. If something bothers you, stop eating it and come back to it at a later date (a couple weeks or a month) it may be something you can tolerate later or you might not be able to tolerate at all.

My skin is not to bad. My arms are the worst but a I carried a lot of weight in my arms. I still have a spare tire look to my belly but not super loose. My thoughts to my shock have bounced back great. Also I've noticed as my weight has slown down my skin has gotten better!

My doctor only gave me an over all goal that he wants me to be at by 5 years post surgery. So 18-24 months of loss and then maintenance. His goal for me is 170 with 5 pounds of bounce back incorporated. That's the only goal he set for me, the rest of the goals I set myself at his urging. That being said I'm also Hypothyriod and a slower loser. I lost a lot right out of the gate but by 6 months I started slowing down. Months 9,10 and 11 I literally lost 1 pound each month. I'm currently sitting at 187, so 12 pounds from my over all goal at almost a year out. The way it's going now it will take me another 12 months to reach my goal if my weightloss stays at a pound a month but I'm hoping it will pick back up after this plateau.

You look amazing. Good work