Sandra Nuelken

You've done great. Remember you didn't gain it all overnight, it won't come off overnight. I do a protein drink for breakfast, Ensure plus, 30 g. protein and 150 calories. A 4 oz cottage cheese for lunch and 4 oz of protein for dinner. I have a couple Outshine no sugar added pop cycles for treats and 100 cal of almonds for roughage. I add cold-pressed virgin olive oil to my food with a shake of Italian seasonings to add taste and moisture. It also keeps the cholesterol down. About 600 cal. per day. I am constantly drinking caffeine-free ice tea with lemon. You will experience several stalls. The 4 month was the hardest as it was the longest and first. Since then I tend to lose 3 weeks, pause a week and I don't lose as much as I did the first 4 months. Your body just has to adjust so be patient. You are doing a great job.

You've done great! Time to get yourself a few things. I guess it will just take time, but it is a wonderful problem to work on!

I did not go "crazy" but listed the last 5 foods I wanted, I had a pastrami sandwich, shrimp and grits, a southern BLT made with fried green tomato and pimento cheese, and sushi. I paced this over 2 weeks and didn't gain a pound. I only wanted the best of food, not junk.

I'm almost 73, so now I have grown to live with my body. I'm married for 48 years, so the only one I have to impress is me. Too bad it took so long to figure this out. BTW I had skin removal after the band and almost died. I threw 3 blood clots. Now I am what I am.

You just hang in the Dulcolax worked for me, I took 2 am and 2 pm and drank lots of water. I have also added 100 cal package of almonds. Up until now, you've had either soft foods or liquids. They just don't make a lot of volume. I have this issue still at 6 months. Once a month I need some help.

The nurse two doors away had the surgery so she would be healthy for her grandkids, my son and DIL both nurses supported me, I had the surgery done 6 months ago and would never go back. It seems like you two may need some counseling to see what the real issues are, support from those around you is important. Good luck on your journey.

I drink Ensure Plus on ice and it will take over 30 minutes.

I had to work to get in 400, high protein foods tend to be lower in calories, to get my 60 g. was an all day struggle. I'm 6 months out and get 500 - 600. My focus is not calories but do I have my protein, have I had all my fluids, eat until I'm no longer hungry, and get my almonds in so I can poop. Sorry for the last comment.

I was eating 400 calories at 4 months, and if you were given a diet to follow as you were with the band you should be losing. 60 g of protein and I usually had 2 protein drinks on ice filled me up. I could barely eat 3 oz of meat. What are you eating and how much? I'm sorry you haven't had success as the first 4 months tend to be the "honeymoon" period where you lose the most. I also had the band and I followed the same "diet" but more emphasis on protein.

With your new changes I can't seem to find the place to go to make changes to my ticker. This is not an improvement.

Almost 5 months out.

You're right the first come off quickly then the holidays happened. I too went down 2 up 3 etc. Now it seems like I'm back on the losing road again. I was walking until it got so cold but will start up this weekend. Congrats! I'm almost 6 months out.

I had the band 2005, and worked for a few years then had nothing but issues. You have to constantly have it filled, unfilled etc. Then it finally just failed. I gained the weight, then had the sleeve done. Since the surgery the end of July I'm down over 70 pounds. I would never have a band.

The doctor that did mine has another doctor present. So if he dozed off there was another. I had mine done at the end of July. The first surgery I had in 2005 to have a band put in scared the piss out of me, I had never had surgery before. Unfortunately, I've had several done now, you can worry, or just trust your judgment. I always say "let go, let God" it's in his hands and not mine. But the life I gained since surgery is just amazing and well worth all the worry in the world.

That gas is in the plumbing the surgical gas is outside. But walking helps.

Great job! I bet if you were asked 7 months ago "would you like to be 50 pounds lighter" you would have answered absolutely.

If you didn't gain over the holiday's great job! My goal for December was to not gain weight. I had 3 big parties with all the great food and drinking that goes with it. Not only did I not gain I lost one pound. I look at it as great as a 4-pound loss. If you enjoyed the holidays and didn't gain consider it a win.

I didn't change much except I added a handful of Almonds. Excercise or not didn't seem to make a difference. Going from losing easily the first 4 months and dropping over 10 pounds a month, I just had to adjust that maybe 5 - 8 pounds a month was going to be the new standard. I'm sure measurements were changing, but I only own a ruler so they are hard to take. I'm sticking to the program and still very happy. Going down is better than up. Taking a month-long view is better than a daily view. You have done a terrific job and the last 20 or so are going to be the hardest. The end is so close. Keep it up.

There is a stall at 3 weeks, 4 months and I imagine 6 months. The body just stops weightloss and readjusts. This site talks about the stalls and how to not lose your mind during them. Also, the greatest weight loss happens in the early months after surgery, then more slowly after that. I'm still at 500 - 600 calories each day. If I walk or don't it doesn't seem to affect my loss. The weight didn't go on in one year and it may take a bit of time to come off.

I have an occasional cup of decaf coffee. With me, it helps with constipation, nothing like a hot cup of coffee to get the system going. I don't know why.

I've had some stalls, some little pound loss, I'm 5 months in, with holidays, birthdays, and all. I just keep to the program with the end goal in mind. I've changed my goals a bit as I'm no longer losing 10 pounds a month, I'm now happy with 5 - 7 pounds. The weight didn't come on in 5 months it won't go off that quickly too. Good news I can stay in my clothes longer.

I never had to have the test. Maybe it is because I'm a non-smoker and have worked with the same doctor for 10 years. I'm sorry for your delay.

This week I've been walking more, drinking more, but more importantly, I eat a small handful of Almonds. Bingo, daily success where there had been a struggle before. The roughage of the nuts seems to work and they are protein.

Removal was easy peasy, I went home the same day. The only tender spot was where the port was attached. Then I waited a bit and it took 4 months for Medicare approval to have the sleeve done. It was done July 30, 2019, and I've lost about 70 pounds and I love it compared to the band. No adjustments, just work the program which is similar to the band. I am so thrilled that it is gone and I'm back to the weight I was when I was successful with it. Don't hesitate, move on with good health and don't look back. My doctor apologized for my issues and said the band was the gold standard at the time, but I'll be happy with this surgery and I am. Good luck on your journey.

July 30, 2019, was my date. I'm down 70 pounds and have noticed it is going pretty slow now.