Sosewsue61

One month out might be tricky in finding something that agrees with the stage you are in. Take your cute water bottle and bring crystal light singles, have some protein before you go in, then you won't feel so tempted. There are protein chips and similar items like cheese crisps that you might be able to tolerate. Warning - the smell of them made me nauseous. But here is the kicker... this is an old habit that might need to go. The association of food and movies is something to thibk about. I have the same issue here at home - my husband 'junks' it up while we watch movies. I have a serious love of popcorn, and I can quickly be in trouble with it.... I had to stop watching movies with him for awhile until I could handle not eating at all during a movie. Snacking is a meal, not a snack - of course this is further out in your journey. Right now you have to eat many times just because you cannot consume very much. Good luck.

I am not a physician, so this is not medical advice. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550728915002865 Or they can make your pouch smaller. But honestly you have to start by getting an exam, then you will know if you have enlarged the pouch, enlarged your esophagus, have a hernia or whatever.

It seems like food stages take forever and your body is needing nutrition. And it's normal to be annoyed and normal to need more time, you might have inflammation yet. So just take it really slow, it's actually texture stages you progress through and your stomach isn't ready for a new texture yet. Just work on getting your protein and water amounts in every day. One thing that helped me was a warm liquid just a few minutes before eating, it relaxes the esophagus and the muscles. And just one small bite, then something that you know you can tolerate for the second small bite - kinda like introducing new foods to babies. It will get better.

I can sense your frustration on this, and that absolutely suck$. Stop rolling cigs for hubby. Make all smokers go outside to smoke, they should already know better and so should you. The lab results are the lab results. They cannot differentiate between secondhand smoke and a smoker, so man up and stop blaming them. Start seeking a cleaner environment and get retested. Good luck.

Skinnying it up girl!!

Welcome or welcome back! Good job on teaming up with the spouse to tackle the issues you face with food choices. The ONLY way to really know the capacity of your pouch is to do a barium swallow test, an internist can order one or even a GP, tell them you have heartburn, etc. A pouch reset is not that valid, it's more like a head reset than anything else. Yes, the pouch can and will stretch because the fundus part that stretches is still there. Also your esophagus can stretch too. You can get the pouch sleeved. It might be an option. You could also ease into intermittent fasting along with doing South Beach. I am not that familiar with the South Beach diet per se. Why not just dig out your bariatric guidelines and start there with portion control - small plates, measure/weigh food, record what you are eating. Many of is use free apps on our phones to track - Baritastic, My Fitness Pal, or Lose it are all free. See which one you like.

What protein are you consuming at this point - Greek yogurt, shakes, bone broth, etc? I would dilute that one serving - which a juice serving is 4oz - with water and ice. The culprit is the acid in juice - you are healing and acid at this point is not good. Plus nutritionally it doesn't have fiber and raises blood sugar immediately, then can send you crashing really fast. If you think you need 'something' puree a couple strawberries or cantaloupe and add protein powder and ice.

When was your last full panel labwork? Try more food protein rather than a shake and up the protein to 85 grams. And post what you are eating. You might try doing intermittent fasting - only eating in an 8 hour window instead of 12 hour window. How many gr of carbs?

Wow you look amazing!

Start by asking 3 non-relatives what your best qualities are or what kind of person you are, not physical looks.... it is a great self esteem builder. We often have a 'story' we have told ourselves about who we are that may not be the truth or how we are 'seen' by everyone else. I suggest counseling all along the way or at the very least read books, watch youtube wls patients that are successful. There are many changes coming, amazing ones and crazy ones.

Your cravings might be just because you are so limited in food choices right now and need more protein and a little more fat to be satisfied - add some avocado with your egg and/or sprinkle cheese on the egg. You miss chewing - I know I did, it will improve with time. Six months from now it will be a blur and it will all change. Be patient and be prepared, it's a trip. And Fluffy just sees all kinds of eejits on here asking if they can have pizza at one month or alcohol and actually doing really stupid chit all the time, so her squawking sometimes sounds like chicken-little... @FluffyChix

You can have sleeve with acid reflux, just take omeprazole -ask the doc about it. Don't depend on just the physical restrictions or that hormone reduction. While it's true the majority of sleevers don't see appetites roar back, it will return down the road. It's still a head game all the way, but surgery makes it easier to comply and easier to keep off - IF you follow the plan. Most very successful wls patients do not go back to just eating smaller portions, many of us stick to the protein and vegetable rule predominantly, with the occasional simple carb or glass of wine. Don't be lulled in the early stage by trying to eat crap food - because you are so physically restricted you can lose weight consuming all kinds of foods that will lead to trouble down the road. Good luck.

I could not tolerate chicken breast until recently, so I ate thighs instead ...Nor steak, it has to be well marbled and like 4 bites. I still can only consume a tiny tiny amount of chocolate anything. After surgery any chocolate protein shake or sf chocolate pudding made me throw up, I developed an aversion to that form - I can have a bite of plain dark chocolate but not much. It doesn't call my name any more - which is good. I don't eat pasta ever, I have had maybe 2T of rice like 4 times - it feels horrid, swells up makes me want to throw it up. So now I just don't bother. Any bread consumption must be toasted. But popcorn goes down okay. LOL I mainly eat eggs, cheese, pork steak, bacon, chicken, fish, shrimp, crab, vegetables, a few berries, yogurt sometimes. I could not tolerate salad for nearly a year - that was tough - lettuce chewed 40 times just slimed and came up. So it was cucumbers, and pepper strips until my body adjusted. I now eat lots of raw greens.

You can't get rid of the emotional pain with food, you aren't supposed to get rid of the pain and this isn't embracing 'inner child' crap or the past. It's learning to stay in today, none of us have anything but today. You don't trust yourself, it's too scary. More change will come, let it happen. It's okay to be on the other side of it. You are brave and it shows even if you don't quite believe it yet - I know you can act 'as-if' - so start there. Maybe get a new sponsor that can do some physical workouts with you or hot yoga, anything different. Please keep posting.

Hello. Don't give up on yourself, the issue isn't food - I know it seems like it's food. It's using food to numb your consciousness to avoid the pain. When you no longer believe that eating will save your life from anxiety, shame, exhaustion, being overwhelmed, being unlovable or lonely you will stop compulsive eating or other compulsive behaviors. You will stop punishing yourself, you will be kind to yourself. Stay connected to your feelings - sit with them without reaching for food. Breathe, cry, yell.... you are NOT the stories you tell yourself, you are not the stories your third grade teacher told you about yourself.... You are worthy, you are not a failure. Today is what you have. You only have to do today. There is a very good book called 'mindful eating' by Jan Chosen Bays. It teaches you to trust yourself. Start slowly with one thing. You have time, don't get distracted, let go of the guilt - yesterday is over, completely over. When you fell off your bicycle as a child - did you let it shame you? No. You just practiced more the next time, it did not define who you are. Hang in there. Keep posting.

All three - hair loss - it is coming back on nicely but was a rat tail for months and months, saggy boobs - you bet, loose skin - yep. But we are all going to end up old someday with all of that and more - and YAY for us because NOT getting old would be horrid. Childbirth is another badge of honor that will give you all those things as well.... and no one would think twice about not having children based on those results. So go for it and forge ahead with grace.

Welcome, newbies! Good luck. Use the search field to find information, there is an abundance. Take our opinions as such, there are variations. But one predominant theme is that you need to use the honeymoon period and your tool to its fullest extent early on.... don't try to find ways 'around' the tool. Go on youtube and look up Dr Weiner, Dr. Duc Vuong and other successful wls patients. Read and read more. Get therapy for disordered eating if you can - we all have a degree of it - the surgery is a physical tool and it will get you far - but your brain and your reptilian brain are far more powerful than surgery.

https://psychcentral.com/lib/get-rid-of-your-excuses-three-minute-refutations/ I found this helpful exercise for getting past excuses.

Sip constantly, carry whatever you need to drink with you everywhere, it gets better. Dizziness is a sign of dehydration, drink salty bone broth - it helps. It is very difficult to get rehydrated once you are in true dehydration, watch out for that. Some people end up needing an IV to combat it, if your urine is dark, scanty, and your hand skin stays pinched when you tug it up and you pass out a lot - have someone take you to ER/Urgent care. Stay rested, sip, sip, sip - those are your only jobs right now.

I need an emergency kit, good concept. Thanks. Putting on thinking hat.

So funny y'all !!! Along this line, (sometimes gloating is so much fun though right?) - show your stuff. Have any of you planned those jaw dropping entrances just to get your due attention? Spill it.... You know the ones - that bridezilla's wedding where you could not wait to trump that b***h by wearing the gorgeous body-con dress. Your bi○tch sister's 4th of July picnic where you wore size 6 white capris and a designer top. The bar where you know damn well the 'thing' frequents that your man cheated on you with....etc. Or just the fantasy in uour head where you have thought of this stuff. Do tell....

https://www.sleeveacademy.com/heartburn

Beautiful. Enjoy your success!

I hopeyou get relief from the pain soon, take the meds so you can at least sleep. Keep us posted.

@BlueAngelEyes sorry - but you cannot get so preachy especially since you are no different from anyone else pre-op. You have zero cred to give advice to anyone post surgery. The OP was looking for advice not a lecture since he has no medical support. @Brotherman Bill the stages of food change as you heal, because inflammation causes some restriction as well, but if you are tall, anatomy-wise you could have a longer stomach and therefore slightly more capacity. Also as a man you may need more than 60-80gr of protein. It will be a balancing act based on how you feel and progress of weight loss. Also take your vitamins as soon as you can swallow something like that. Good luck. Also do a search on youtube for Jersey Jules and on here, plus @BigViffer, @JerseyJules