Sandra Nuelken

I can understand if you can't eat you don't cook. I didn't either for about 3 months. Now I only cook when I feel like it, I told my husband he needed to step up and feed himself. He's retired too. I figure I'll have lots of 4 oz. turkey packets in the freezer. I hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving.

Fellow former bander here. I had mine done the end of July and I'm holding on for a wild ride. Word to the wise I entered this journey with a "been there done that", and I was surprised that shortly after surgery I went through all of the "what did I do and why did I do it" moments. I had those moments of missing food and anger. I guess having done the journey doesn't make it a breeze, it just helps you understand that this will pass. I have reached a point that I was at a good fill, I can eat regular food, not much and I'm finally in a good spot in my head except for stalls. They make me unhappy. I guess what I'm saying is to be careful as all the uncertainties will pop up even if you've been down this road.

Looking great!

I spent a week camping and walking at least 2 miles a day. I got home excited to see how much I lost and actually gained. Really I gained weight. I am in my 4th month and know about the stall, but that doesn't make it any easier. How long will this last? Thanks for letting me vent.

After the first month stalls are common. Mine happen every 5 pounds. Yes they are aggravating and depressing, keep in mind that your body needs a period of adjustment between weight drops. Someone said that 8pounds a month is an average, some more some less. So relax and work the program. You're doing fine.

Good luck with your upcoming surgery. I too was a former Bander I had it put in 2009 and taken out 2 years ago. I had my sleeve done at the end of July and I'm very happy with it. I thought it would be a breeze as I had band experience, but I must have forgotten a few things. The "was I crazy" about 2 weeks after surgery and the realization that I was going to really have a different life. I'm pretty settled now and try to keep my foods in control. If you have questions this group is here to help you. Good Luck!

I had the exact same thing happen Friday after having my protein drink about an hour prior. It was in the morning and I stood up to get dressed but along with all of the symptoms you mentioned I had nausea. I thought it was a rapid onset of the flu. Then being a computer person I checked and it could also be gallbladder symptoms. Any input here?

Great work! A lot of how much you lose is dependent on what weight you started at and your presurgical diet. The constipation is going to be a fact of life. With so little going in you'll have very little coming out. I find that eventually it all comes out.

I am 2.5 months out and have had many stalls, now I average one after every 5 pounds, which lasts for about 5 days. What I find helpful is posting my weight on My FitnessPal and it gives me a 30-day weight loss, and I can assure myself during the stall that I'm still in my 8-pound weight loss goal. Today I dropped almost 2 pounds after a stall that lasted 4 days. I just attribute this to the body shifting and adjusting, then when it is ready I will start losing again.

Unfortunately, we can't point to where we want to lose. Nature has a sense of humor, a wicked one. My weight loss went boobs, butt, and batwings first. I'm still waiting on the thighs. It is somewhat funny I think and I'll take it anywhere it happens. Progress is progress.

I wore a caftan, nothing around my waist.

I am from the south so sweet tea is a way of life, until now. Now I brew caffeine-free ice tea and drink it over ice. My nurse laughed and asked how my brown water tastes. I like it. I don't do sugar substitutes, or carbonated drinks so it is my tea for me.

Best wishes, while in the hospital blow in that blow thing to get lungs cleared. The first 2 weeks just sip on protein drinks. They will all taste horrible as you will immediately go into Ketosis and that makes everything taste bad. I just put a lot of ice in my Ensure plus and managed 3 a day. That will take all day. I also loved my Outshine pop cycles, no sugar added. I didn't add "full liquids" until the second week, that was cream of chicken soup, but not much as I was still drinking 2 Ensure Max a day. Wasn't until week 3 on soft foods. I did a lot of tuna in pouches, some flavored. Add foods slowly. I also bought a set of stainless children utensils to eat with. They are small enough to make you eat slowly. I'm now 3 months out and I'm still eating with them and will probably continue to do so forever. Just be patient, recovery takes time and so does the weight loss. You will have a high periods and some lows, some great weight loss and some stalls. But you will be successful!

Fitbit and My Fitness Pal. I can update on phone if I'm traveling. I log my food for over 5 years and the Fitbit gives me feedback on exercise and sleep. It also gives a weekly weight loss along with the long term.

I had the sleeve done 3 months ago the scars are almost gone, and totally gone from my band removal a year ago. Laparoscopic is the way to go as there is no pain. So far I've had the band in, a band out, a hysterectomy and a sleeve. No marks, and no I wouldn't wear a bikini but husband would notice.

Yes, when I'm at my heaviest, and I go swimming I float. My husband often says if the boat goes down grab me as a "flotation devise". The scary part was once I started to lose weight all of a sudden I had to swim, and I sank. Yep fat floats.

Congrats, I know you feel great. We have all gone through the feelings of despair, even later when you hit those pesky stalls. It is a journey and you will arrive we all do it at different speeds. Again congrats on the hard work.

Your starting weight is much lower, so 8 - 10 pounds a month is normal, especially at that weight. You may have better months, but patience is the rule here. You are losing so be happy. I started at 292, so my drop was quick at first but once I reached 240 it was 10 pounds a month with stalls every 3 weeks. Some weeks I say "this is easy peasy" then a stall happens and I'm sure I'll never lose another pound. But the body is still shifting some people love to measure, I use my clothes to judge. Now, unfortunately, we can't point to the spot I want to lose. My boobs went first, then bum, but it is my legs I want to go and they seem to be last. Just enjoy the journey. I lost 50 pounds before anyone noticed, I mean really. You are losing and work on becoming the better version of you.

90 days out and 54 pounds down. I'm thrilled and tossing clothes like a crazy woman. Took tons to the resale shop. I know it is a journey and not a sprint Getting protein in and that's about it. I had one cake pop a few weeks ago and savored each bite. I'm about halfway there and hopefully be at goal by my anniversary.

Vitamins are important. I have some I got from Amazon and they are mix fruit chewable. I take them 3 times a day and look forward to them as a "treat". Make sure you get your protein in as that is important too!

You didn't put on the weight in one month, why do you think it will come off in one month? You need to make sure you are doing 60g of protein, first, nothing other than water. Usually by the time I got the protein in I wasn't hungry. It took all day the first weeks to drink 2 protein drinks. Then the water, lots of it sipping only. If you're walking 8 miles a day, and building muscle remember muscle weighs more than fat. I also gained weight the first week because of all of the fluids they gave me in the hospital. I was told no heavy exercising for 6 weeks. Just follow the plan. Mine was liquids only the first week, full liquids weeks 2-3 then soft foods weeks 3-6. If you're unhappy with were your results, focus on protein. I didn't start eating real foods until week 7. Then chicken shredded. This is a journey and not a race. If you start at a lower weight then the loss will be slower.

You will have stalls during your voyage, during the stalls don't weigh yourself or it will drive you nuts. I find about every 3 weeks I will have a week where I lose .2 pounds. Your body is shifting and adjusting. Drink lots of fluids, get 60g. protein. You will want to sleep and be tired for the first month. I'm 3 months in and all I do is walk, not a lot, just some. I'm not an exercise type of person. Expect to lose about 8 pounds a month and be happy with it. It takes time to reach a goal. This is a journey not a sprint

I had my surgery on July 30 and was told no wine until my husband's b'day December. I did take a sip a week ago and it was nasty. Maybe I lost my taste for it. Alcohol is my gateway drug for mindless eating. So I'm in no hurry.

Buy a scale. I found out 4 oz of chicken is a lot more meat than 4 oz of steak as the meats and foods can be denser. If I would have guessed I would have been wrong so the scale is really working for me. It also teaches me what 4 oz looks like. Good luck! I'm 3 months out and halfway to my goal. During the "honeymoon" period I have been very strict and cautious as this is the time to lose.

Buy a scale. I found out 4 oz of chicken is a lot more meat than 4 oz of steak as the meats and foods can be denser. If I would have guessed I would have been wrong so the scale is really working for me. It also teaches me what 4 oz looks like. Good luck! I'm 3 months out and halfway to my goal. During the "honeymoon" period I have been very strict and cautious as this is the