White Sale

I prefer a glass of warm salt water over using any chemicals/medicine. It is rough to choke down, so I just pinch my nose. Invest in a Squatty Potty. Might be some of the best $ you'll ever spend..

I have 5 scars. I was looking for them yesterday and could only find 3. They sorta blend in with all of my leftover, crepe-y, stetchmarked skin.

You've lost over 16kg (~36lbs) in less than 7 weeks. That is success. As far as hunger, I went through that, too. I was so angry that I was hungry post-op. Are you taking an acid reducer (proton pump inhibitor aka PPI)? They may help to reduce the feeling of hunger. The bottom line is that you are still healing and can't completely trust all of the signals your body is sending you right now. The nerves haven't fully healed and may not be sending accurate info to the brain. The only way to know if you're eating correctly is through hard data. Measure your food. Know your calorie intake. Walk. Drink lots of water. You will go through weeks of not losing. It stinks. It is disappointing and frightening. In fact, I just went 2 weeks without losing an ounce, then BAM, 4lbs (1.8kg) off in one week. Just come on to the boards whenever you need to let off steam. Goodness knows I have. Best.

Doesn't it feel amazing?! I'm just now beginning to get into fashion for the first time in my life. Sometimes I have to do a double-take when I look at the size I'm trying on. Very rewarding.

I experienced the same thing. I can't remember exactly why some people experience this, but I wanna say it has to do with the gas they use to inflate the abdomen during surgery. Is it almost like you pulled a muscle in your shoulder area? At any rate, always a good idea to bring it up with the surgeon.

Not sure if I need more calories, but I certainly feel voracious hunger and cravings the day before and through the first day. Usually by day 2 I'm back to normal. I've only noticed it because the other ~26 days of the month aren't this way at all. It can sometimes make me feel "weak-willed," but I realize it is hormones, then choose to eat something filling and nutritious. Then I choose to eat a single serving of very good dark chocolate

Twenty more pounds until goal. I *may* already be shopping for a Christmas dress..

Thank you!

Stop eating solid food, period. By your body's reaction, you're obviously not healed enough to eat it yet. Like Apple1 said, everyone's plan is different - I didn't get solid food until 35 days post-op. No matter what my plan says or your plan says, they all say to roll it back if you vomit after "staging" up. Take it slow. That chicken will still be at the grocery store in a couple of weeks.

I walk about 40 minutes per day for four days in a row, then take one day off. Truly, the hardest part is getting out the door. Whenever I'm feeling lazy, I remind myself that I paid darn good money to lose weight. Not only that, but I let someone cut into me and remove part of my body. No WAY am I going to let some temporary laziness or discomfort stop me from losing more. I listen to podcasts to pass the time. I set the timer on my iPod for 20 minutes and head back home when it goes off.

I would use a pillow to hold onto if it was conveniently close enough when the urge to cough struck. I'd say firm > squishy; I don't think you'll need it in school. I will say that I went back to school 3 weeks after surgery (had it done over winter break) and I was exhausted! Physically and mentally. It was very difficult to concentrate/care about homework for a few weeks. Perhaps be prepared for that, but everyone is unique in how they recover from surgery. Best Wishes!

Getting what you want often comes with sacrifice. Which do you want more: to be comfortable, healthy, and confident in your own skin or that slice of chocolate cake and a white Russian? I look back on my old habits with some degree of embarrassment. Have there been moments of absolute suckage? Yes and yes! But, by and by, this surgery has been one of my more wonderful decisions. With time, you may come to feel the same way. In the meantime, it's OK to mourn the loss of those addictive goodies, but don't go back.

I've started to notice people, particularly males, acting differently toward me. Going out of their way to help me. Being asked out on dates. I find it very bizarre. This is something I hoped would happen, but now that it has begun, I realize I have exactly zero experience at handling it. I have never been thin. I used my fat as a literal barrier to keep from forming relationships. So, I suppose I would appreciate advice from those who are/were in a similar situation. Does it ever get comfortable? How do you reject someone in as nice a way as possible? How do you not accidentally flirt?

That's so exciting! Congrats! (Yes, I'm totally jelly.)

It is normal. It will get better. I went through the same thing for a few weeks post-op. Torture! I kept thinking, "I just had my stomach cut out and I'm still hungry?? WTF?" I did take a PPI, but I don't know if it made any difference; I still felt ravenous. All I can say is that it will pass. In the meantime, the only advice I can give is for you to try and keep busy to keep your mind off of it.

I make a ranch dip for carrot chips and add sifted, unflavored protein powder. Although cold, it does satisfy that craving for something crunchy and salty. I find that it really fills me up.

I was very nervous before surgery. I kept making the bad jokes in some nervous/misguided attempt to make it seem like I was OK. Not sure what they gave me, but I don't remember leaving the pre-op area. Woke up in my hospital room and was walking the halls within 15 minutes. I walked around the hospital floor a lot. The I.V. Dilaudid was amazing, 10/10 would have again. The incisions were definitely painful, but just take it easy. For me, the worst part of the entire process was drinking the barium liquid for the leak test. Good grief. However, the most horrific pain came after going home, when I was getting out of the car. I twisted my waist to exit the car, as one does, and WOAH NELLY! That was smarts. Even so, the pain and troubles of this surgery are such a distant memory now that I wouldn't hesitate to repeat the process.

You should do an honest accounting of what you are eating every day. It can be so easy to graze and eat a bite or two here and there, but it really adds up! Measure and weigh your food. Yes, it is a giant PIA, but don't let your investment in this surgery and in yourself go to waste. Take a few hours and do the math for the foods you eat the most. Make an Excel spreadsheet with the macros. I don't record/track every single day, but I do "put myself in check" every two weeks or so. I eat every 4 hours and weigh/measure my food.

How about ricotta cheese with a bit of salt and pepper?

Today I'm finally in the overweight category as far as my BMI goes. Very cool! I feel as though my appetite has increased recently, so I was worried that I was eating too much. That's despite sticking to my macro goals and weighing my meals. The strangest thing about losing 79 pounds is that I feel as though I look the same as I did 6 months ago. The mind is a dangerous thing!

I hear you. The chair thing is noticeable, also sitting on hard surfaces is much more uncomfortable now. Dang, I wish I had taken before pics, but I avoided cameras like the Plague. People are telling me that I'm wasting away, so I'll have to trust them!

Hey all, Lately I've been feeling my hunger coming back with a vengeance! It comes sooner after eating and it seems "stronger" than it has been for the last fews months. I was just curious if anyone has had the same experience.

I waited until maybe 5-6 weeks post-op. To avoid the possibility of dumping, get an edible with a very high THC content, and only have a teeny bit. My go-to is a chocolate, but because it has so many milligrams of THC, I only need about a pinky-nail sized amount. For the brand I use, this is about 0.8 grams of sugar. Another great option is to use a tincture. They can be either alcohol-based or glycerin-based. Although, tinctures work by absorbing into the bloodstream via the mouth, and therefore work more quickly than edibles.

I've never heard of this, but perhaps it has to do with being intubated? Or all the hormonal changes from losing weight? Interesting, though...

If you can see through it, then it's fine. Just strain out the solids - it's not worth risking complications from eating too soon. Better than plain old broth, IMO.