MandoGetsSleeved

Egg salad was my "go-to" for easy during soft food stage. Lots of super easy recipes and a couple of add in spices can change the flavors quickly (like buffalo hot sauce).

1st question: Does your family know you had surgery? If so, travelling really isn't as bad as you think it's going ot be because you always have the "i'm still healing" excuse. (YAY!). Breakfast - scrambled egg or protein shake. Lunch and dinner if you're going out, a creamy soup is usually available. Maybe egg salad too? If it's a secret, you can always use the "I'm just not feeling well" excuse. I started travelling for work during the puree stage and I took canned soups that I could put in the microwave (scrambled egg will work in micro also). Always keep a drink in your hand - That helped me a lot when I was working and there was snack food available.

I haven't done a cross country road trip, but I travel weekly for work. One of my "go-to's" has been Chipotle bowls. I'll often buy one the first day of travel and then eat on it for another day or two (honestly, depending on my mood). I just order whatever's on plan (skip the rice for example), eat a small portion, seal it back up and move on... You could buy a couple of small tupperware type bowls as well (i bought a bunch of cheap ones @ Walmart that I often just toss when I'm done). Now... I don't mind eating those leftovers cold... so... If you're going with anyone else - my husband and I just share a meal since I can usually only eat a few bites. Grilled chicken, salmon are always popular for us. Also, if you're eating out, appetizers can be a great tool (especially if you don't mind eating cold leftovers). Another fave early on was canned soups (the kind you just pop off the lid and into the microwave).

Excellent!!

Surgery August 2019 - I just stopped losing my hair and seeing lots of new growth (downside, weightloss also slowing down) - I think I'd rather be skinny and bald!

Congrats! You look fantastic.

Hi - Post op pain is really different for all of us and I'm not really sure if there's any way to predict how YOU will react. Personally, I didn't require any pain meds after the first night (not even Tylenol). Post op, the best advice I was given was to WALK WALK WALK to help get the gas out. Feels VERY strange at first when you walk and start burping! There was definitely some discomfort swallowing for the first week or so, then one day it just went away. Again, I can't stress enough that everyone is different and I've heard stories of much more pain, but in general most people seem to feel like it's worth it in the long run! Good luck and congrats on starting your journey!

Congrats!!

Crossing my legs!

Congrats!!

Sleever here, but sounds about normal. Once the swelling a such goes down, it’s a TON easier to drink and far less uncomfortable.

Being able to walk into a store and buy “normal” sized clothes!! Still a long way to go, but I’ll take these size 14s from a 24!!

No real advice here other than to just hang in there. I jokingly said right after surgery (in the hospital) that “it failed, I’m still FAT and I want my $$ back”. I lost fast at first, but now I’m lucky if I lose 4 a month. It really messes with your head, but if you work the program it DOES work, just at different paces for each of us.

Whew - That's a loaded question really. The first couple of weeks can be pretty rough to get in everything you're "supposed" to get in. Everyone is so different in what they tolerate with regards to eating and/or drinking. Personally, I've never been sick from drinking too fast (just felt really full). Mostly just listen to your body. Get your fluids in, even if it's an ounce or two an hour. It DOES get easier. In about two weeks I was able to drink normally (I couldn't down a 16oz bottle of water in 10 minutes, but I could fairly easily do it in 30). DON'T compare yourself to others. If you need to do an oz at a time, just do that. BUT, if you're only doing very small amounts at a time, make sure you always have something in your hand to keep hydrated. Protein water is a good option at this stage - Also, changing the temp of your fluids make make it easier or harder - Try something room temp, warm, and cold to see what your body tolerates better. I was sleeved in August 2020 - I can more or less now eat at a normal pace (just small amounts) - DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT try to eat fast - You WILL regret it - trust me on that one... It's a mistake you'll only make once or twice (and again, trust me... you WILL make it...). Bottom line, listen to your body, especially at first until you know what does and doesn't work for you. We're all different and tolerate things differently.

Great reminder to keep up with everything and it's possible to get back on track!

Katherine, We're all different in what we can/cannot eat and what our metabolism is. The best advice you can get will definitely be from your doctor. Losing 28lbs in 4 weeks is AMAZING! One thing you will see on this board sometimes is "contests" on who can and does eat the least. One of the hardest things is to keep from comparing yourself to someone else (trust me... we all do it!). Personally, I've lost about 80lbs since August (somewhat of a slow loser) - BUT, I am a LOSER. I'm eating at a pace that I can live with for the rest of my life (or at least it feels that way now). If you're comfortable and you're losing (stalls happen - Just part of the process) and your doctor is happy and your bloodwork is good - Just roll with it and enjoy the journey. A

About a week here also - I travelled for work about 2 weeks post-op and that was a little tough with being fatiqued towards the middle of the day. It was about a month before I felt like I was totally back to normal, but definitely very functional within a couple of days.

Yup - ALL THE TIME... Doesn't matter if I've eaten, what I've eaten, when I've eaten... etc.... I tell myself it's the beast churning and burning!

FINALLY! Onederland! I can't remember the last time I didn't see a "2" as the first number on the scale. Seeing the "1" this weekend was just surreal. I think I must have stepped on and off the scale at least 10 times. What a motivator! I feel like I've accomplished the impossible and now ANYTHING is possible!! ~40 to go (I'd like to hit 50 just to have some wiggle room). For those who might be struggling after the first couple of months - Months 1-3 were EASY - weight just fell off. Month 4+, slowed A LOT (as in less than 8 a month) - Being able to eat pretty much anything I wanted without having an upset stomach didn't help. I was hoping to be under 200 by the end of December. Stalled (much of it my fault for choices I made, and simply my body catching up), got frustrated, felt sorry for myself, etc...and at times even wondered if it was possible or if I was just going to stop there with my weight loss. Booked a vacation and decided that I WOULD be under 200 before I left (next Sunday - nothing like cutting it close!). Got back on plan, made better choices, and quit feeling sorry for myself and WOO HOO - Major goal #1 accomplished. If you're struggling, hang in there, refocus, know you aren't alone in this journey and make up your mind that you CAN do this. NSV's this week - I didn't see the "OMG, PLEASE let this fat lady be seated ANYWHERE but beside ME on a plane" look. People actually look me in the eye rather than past me. Servers @ restaurants are concerned that the food they served me wasn't good because I didn't eat much. I got more work accomplished onsite because I didn't need a lunch break (quick protein bar and I was good to go). I could go to ANY store and buy some cheap clothes for vacation - Can't wait to rock that bathing suit coverup in Hawaii next week!

HAHA! Hard to do more than one island these days - SO MANY quarantine rules. This trip will be to Oahu since the hubs has never been there, plus they have the most things open. And not quite ready to rock the suit solo yet, but... I definitely intend on rocking the shorts and t-shirts and get the heck out of this cold weather!! thank you all for the kind comments.

I can't use the words I'd like to to describe this "friend"! Like others have said, I suspect it's jealousy that YOU are being successful with your weight loss and they are struggling. I'm sure there will be some folks that disagree - YES, this surgery IS like starting a race well ahead of anyone else trying to "run the race" with you. However, it sure has hell doesn't meal prep or force you to eat the right foods and follow the plan. YOU make the choices of what goes into your body. YOU make the choice to follow the plan (especially with the sleeve since we generally can tolerate just about any foods). YOU are making the effort to be successful. That my friend is a win! Hang in there! You've got support on this board and look at the positive - These folks may have been fun to hang out with, but now they've shown you who they really are and it's up to YOU to choose whether or not they remain on your friends list - If not.... well...we all know that the world is far friendlier to people who aren't overweight and you have a new opportunity to find them!

Grande quad (4 shots) non fat cappuccino- foam only. YUM!

Summary. The weighted moving average(WMA) is a technical indicator that assigns a greater weighting to the most recent data points, and less weighting to data points in the distant past. The WMA is obtained by multiplying each number in the data set by a predetermined weight and summing up the resulting values.

Reading through this whole thread...Honestly NY, you seem to have convinced yourself the sleeve won’t work. With that initial mindset, it probably won’t. Sorry, it sounds brutal, but attitude is half the battle. This is only a tool (whichever surgery). The real work is in the lifestyle change. That much is up to you. Your success or failure is YOUR choice. NOT the surgery.