marfar7

I made a decision in Oct. I'm not gunna focus on losing until after the holidays (Jan 2nd). I've stayed the same weight for the last 8 weeks. I can maintain fairly easily eating whatever I want, so that's good news. I know I'll have to make some changes after the holidays if I want to lose the last 22 lbs (those are the hardest, btw). I bake gingerbread, oat and caramel bars, and white fudge during the holidays. My FIL makes his famous prime rib, potatoes, veggie, and roll for Christmas dinner. I'm making the Desserts this year (cocunut pies and pumpkin cheesecake) for about 20 people. I plan on partaking in everything, just in really small amts (and I mean REALLY small amts - like 2 bites of each thing). Thats my holiday plan. Not to stress about it but to enjoy my holidays! Good luck to u! I'm sure you'll get some good answers...

When my hubby does Atkins Induction, he counts the pepper (.35 gms carbs per 1/4 tsp -which is alot) puts on his eggs (.5 carbs per egg), the Splenda he puts in his coffee (1 gm per pkt), and yellow cheese (.5 gm per oz). I think it's silly to count right down to the .10 gms of carbs but it works for him. The pepper part makes me laugh. He uses a micro amt of 1/4 of a tsp but he counts it anyway...

I had my band for 3 1/2 yrs before my sleeve revision 5 mths ago. While I rarely vomit anymore (vs almost daily), sometimes I could swear its still in there. Sometimes food still feels stuck. I know there's no structure getting in the way but it sure feels like it. And my port area is sore occasionally, like after getting a fill. Anyone else?

Wow. All of u eat so little calories. I'm not an avid counter (I use MPF about once a week just to keep a record) but I KNOW I get more than 1,000 a day. When I saw the dietitian a couple months ago, he flat out told me never to go under 1200 calories. Thats a little ridiculous to tell a 2 mths post op sleever who can't eat more than 3 oz at 1 sitting. I was his very first VSG (the VA hospital). He'd had RNY's before so I was his pet project for about a month. I got daily emails, voicemails, and snail mail on what Vitamins to get in, Protein requirements, calorie requirements, etc. I think thats all he did for a week - research the sleeve! The days I count, I usually get between 1000-1100 a day. I know somedays I go over and some I go under. But not sure I could function on less than 800 a day. Maybe for a short amount of time but not forever, for sure. Right now I'm focussed on maintaining until after the holidays and then I'll work on the last 22 lbs I have left. Until then, I haven't gained (or lost for that matter) a lb in about 6 weeks. So I guess I've equalized and will need to cut somewhere to lose the last bit of weight. I know if I stop my nighttime snacking, that oughta do it! Good luck! I think I might starve on that amount of food...

I had my band out and sleeve done at the same time also. 5 mths post op now. I had a rough recovery also, alot of pain. It took my dr an extra 30 mins to dig my band outa my stomach so he told me it would be more painful. I guess I wasn't ready for it cuz it blew me away. My band was easy peasy. Everyone on here (it seemed at the time) was running 16 miles the day after taking Tylenol for pain and were feeling great. I was on a 4 week full liquid diet and my hunger came back on day 10. I didn't cheat once (firstly cuz my husband is the diet Nazi and I knew he'd tattle on me and 2ndly cuz I was so paranoid about getting a leak). While I cheated after the first week after my lapband 4 yrs ago. Don't eat anything you're not sposed to. I promise the liquid phase will go by quickly and it'll be a thing of the past. I literally could've eaten my own arm that first month. Hubby wouldn't let me cheat. Hang in there. It WILL get better soon. As soon as u can add some substance. Until then, keep drinking ur Protein shakes, cream Soups (or whatever ur instructed to eat) and Water... Good luck!

Since I decided a month ago to maintain till after the holidays, it makes it a little easier. My stepson and his fiance r driving down from Wa to So Ca for Christmas this year so my husband will have both his kids home for the holidays this year. So I plan on cooking alot. I always make my speical gingerbread for gifts, caramel oat bars (stepsons fav), cranberry muffins, and chicken and dumplings. For Christmas Day Im planning on crock pot Christmas Breakfast (put it all in the nite before and wake up and the magic is in the crockpot). My FIL makes his famous prime rib (for about 20 people) and I'm doing the Desserts (coconut creme pie and pumpkin cheesecake). The day after Christmas we're taking hubbys kids to Knotts berry Farm so Im sure there will be a funnel cake thrown I n for good measure. That's my plan for the holidays. Lucky I don't expevt to lose anything till after Jan 2nd!

Wow. Im impressed at ur ability to post. I couldn't even read my keyboard straight cuz of the pain meds. All the letters looked the same. Couldn't text till the next day. Congrats. Hope to see ur success soon...

Wow, never thought about a charm to put on my already present charm bracelelt. I wear it all the time. Im wondering if any medical personnel would even think to look at my charm bracelet for medical info tho. Its an idea???

The only things I needed were my toothbrush, toothpaste, phone and charger, hairbrush, and a comfy going home outfit. They will give u a gown, non skid socks to walk in, and everything else ull need. Good luck!

I could do just about everything (cept pick up items dropped on the floor. Thank God my hubby was there and willing to help). I started driving also after stopping the painkillers (day 12). I had a rough recovery but could do everything for myself. I was just in pain. Hope that helps a little

At 6 weeks I was on a soft food diet (after 4 wks of full liquids). I was eating alot of chili with cheese, cheese, eggs, egg salad, tuna salad, refried Beans, mashed pots (I even had a few fries!). No raw veggies (ie: salad) until week 8. I think exactly on that day I was at Red Robin eating an Avo-Cobbo salad (my fav)! Now, at almost 5 mths, I eat everything, just really small amts. I eat salad about 3-5x a week, usually with egg, cheese, or chicken on it. Or all 3. I can eat very little (cept popcorn. I could eat a whole bucket if I let myself)G oo d luck!

Also a straw user. Ok'd by dr at 4 weeks. I use straws about 75% of the time. My water bottle has a straw, my gym bottle has a straw. It would suck to not be able to use them

I've prided myself on losing 100 lbs eating whatever I want, just a few bites. Well, after my band to sleeve revision 4 mths ago, I've only lost 22 lbs (knew I'd lose slower, started at 174). So I guess I'm gunna have to reevaluate my intake. Counting carbs would be miserable. I was on Atkins induction for 4 weeks last Feb. I would've killed my mom for a cookie I think counting calories would be a better choice for me. Occasionally I count on myfitnesspal and I'm usually under 1200. Guess I hafta stay under 1000 to take off the last 20 lbs. Those last 20 r the hardest of all. for sure. My goal is to maintain until after the holidays. Then I will take it seriously and lose the last 20. Hubby gained 40 lbs over the last 8 mths or so and he's doing the same thing (no, he hasn't had wls, just does Atkins).

Went to Mexican for lunch today and hubby suggested we share a meal. He's gained weight over the past year (especially since I give him the rest of many of my meals) and thought it couldn't hurt. I'm 4 1/2 mths sleeve revision (from lapband) and eat maybe 1/4 of any of my meals out, but don't want to share cuz then I wouldn't get a to go box. And I luv having my meal again and again (sometimes so much so that I get sick of it and toss it). I reluctantly agreed. We chose something that looked good to both of us ( a grilled steak burrito with black Beans, rice). They brought us an extra plate. So, so glad we decided to share. It was HUGE. He cut off about 1/4 of it and put it on my plate. I ate maybe 1/3 of my 1/4 burrito. And it was the 1st time I've ever seen him bring home leftovers! In the 3 yrs I've known him, he ALWAYS eats whatever he's served, even if he's stuffed 1/2 way thru. If I eat 1 bite too much I will vomit. So we talked about all the meals we could share and realized that we could also save money! So not only did we save money, hubby ate less - but we both brought home enuf leftovers for dinner! I always feel jipped if I don't get my own. Not anymore. Score....

I used to drive to Tijuana when I lived in So Ca and was taking Phen-Fen (in the early 90's). U walk into a Mexican pharmacy and pay the pharmacist a nominal amount (like $25) and they write u an RX and then they fill it for wayyyy cheap (I got a 90 day supply that usually cost me $150 a mth for like $15). It's also illegal in Mexico (as it is here) to get RX meds without an actual RX. Lucky thing the on hand pharmacist can actually write and fill the RX at the same time! And thats my Mexican Phen Fen story....doesn't everyone have a Mexican Phen-Fen story?

Just out of curiosity, what PB2 made out of? Powdered food makes me leery. I like good old fashioned pb (Trader Joes jus peanuts and salt). Has to be crunchy and can't be refrigerated (can't spread it).

I want to add 1 more symptom of compulsive overeating: Thinking about food constantly. I thought having wls would cure my obsession with food. it's actually made it worse. While I can only take a few bites of any given meal, I'm already thinking about my next meal. Not sure how to lose that obsession (short of psych therapy). I'd like to only think about food when I'm hungry...

Heartburn and gas pains r 2 totally different entities. I never had heartburn pre sleeve, but I had severe nightime reflux (from a slipped lapband). After my sleeve, I lost the reflux and gained horrible daytime heartburn. Didn't even have to eat/drink anything. My dr had taken me off my pre surgery medication (Prilosec) and changed me to Pepcid. Wasn't doing anything so I switched myself back to Prilosec 2x a day to see if it worked. It did. He approved it the following week. If u haven't asked ur dr about a PPI, do so now. I will most likely take it forever. It's small price to pay for no reflux or heartburn and to avoid obesity. U can buy OTC PPI's also. Presurgery I would take RX Prilosec, OTC Zantac (about 4x the normal dose) and lotsa Tums everynight just so I wouldn't vomit stomach acid onto my pillow. Now I just take Prilosec (and an occasional Tums) and I'm fine. Good luck!

4 yrs ago, at 248 lbs, I chose the lapand because it was reversable. Lost most of my weight within 2 yrs and then it slipped. My fault. Vomited almost everyday. Loved my band until it started causing me pain and nightime reflux (every single nite). After it was unfilled, I ended up gaining 30 lbs in a year. I chose to revise to the sleeve, rather than get a new band (not even sure my dr would do a 2nd band. He's not too keen on the band anymore).Soooo..... 4 1/2 mths ago, in 1 surgery, I revised to the sleeve. Wish I had done it in the first place instead of the lapband. No maintenance involved (had to drive 3 hrs each way and pay $180 for each fill/unfill frequently), no vomiting. I have the same restriction as I did when my band was working perfectly. I really didn't even consider the RNY because my bmi was 28 at the time of revision and I thought it was too drastic to lose 40 lbs. I want to be able to eat whatever I want and not have dumping. While I'm losing very slowly, I'm on my way down. I WILL get to my goal eventually. I have BOTH the lapband and the sleeve to thank for that. Good luck on ur decision.

Yes, u "heard" that right. Actually, 2nd time seeing him. Saw him 2 yrs ago also. The tapings (they do 1 episode, take u outside for a break then reseat u for a 2nd episode taping. He and his wife change clothes so it looks like a different day) weren't as good this time as 2 yrs ago. The 1st episode had 2 guests. The 1st guest was a 16 yr old out of control teen who'd been arrested and in jail 7 times, slept with 20 men (all over 35) and had chlamydia. 2nd guest was a brother and sister who were both shot execution style in the head and lived. Their friend did not, however. Jose Baez (of Casey Anthony fame) was on that part. 2nd episode was all about SEX, or lack of. 2 guests also. Both couples fighting and having affairs. Not real exciting stuff. A couple yrs ago we watched a 2 parter on a woman who was kidnapped at 14 and kept in the school janitors house for 10 yrs before escaping. The 2nd episode was a man who had served 25 yrs in prison for a murder who wanted to apologize to the adult kids of the women he murdered. They forgave him. Very moving episode. 2 yrs ago, we dvr'd it and saw ourselves on both episodes. Didn't hurt that hubby wore a dark purple shirt (have to wear dark non patterned business attire or u won't be admitted) so we'd recognize ourselves easily. He did that again. We just got approved for Ellen tickets on Jan 27th. I'm excited to see her. Looks like fun. While I miss Oregon (it's not normal to wear shorts all year round!), So Ca is turning out to be quite fun. The next time we go to Dr Phil (now that we've been before, we get VIP status), I'll say hi for u (like I can get close enuf to do that, silly!)!!! Thank u for the compliments. Yes, I'm almost 100 lbs. I broke 100 (104) 2 yrs ago with my lapband but then it slipped and I gained 30 back, so I'm working on those. I figure I'll maintain till after the holidays and then get serious about getting to 130!

Since moving to So Ca 6 weeks ago, we thought we'd take advantage of all the fun stuff to do (watched the Dr Phil show tape a couple weeks ago and will see The Tonite Show on Dec 10th) and since Knotts berry Farm has FREE (reg $68) tickets to veterans and 1 friend till Jan 4th, we decided to go. I'm not a roller coaster fan at all. It might have something to do with the fact that I didn't want to know if I wouldn't fit in it. Too embarrassing to be told by staff that u won't fit. Rode on 5 of them (1 was barely big enuf for my 6'1" hubby. If he'd have been 1" taller, he wouldn't have fit) without any problem. And I didn't worry about it. Worried about going 0-82mph in 2.3 seconds, going straight up then straight down, but didn;t worry about fitting in the seat! Yeah me!

We live 3 hrs from my dr, so we checked into a hotel the night before surgery and booked it for 3 nites (since I was staying for 2 nites). Had I know that the hospital room I had (wonderful hospital and staff, btw) a guest bed built into the window seat, we could've saved some money! LOL. Hubby did take a nap 1 day there (the window seat even held pillows and linen underneath) Not sure hubby would've liked to have stayed with me however. Then he'd had to have hidden his tacos and burgers that he, no doubt, enjoyed when he left me several times a day.

Luv this!!

Thank God I never heard a word yesterday. Most people there (was at my sister in laws in laws - if that makes sense) and about 1/2 of them don't know. Not because I'm hiding it but because it just never came up. My hubby is usually my food police. By my 2nd bite of anything, he starts "have u had enuf yet? Don't overdo it". 2 bites? really? He was so busy stuffing his face yesterday I don't think he even noticed me eating!

Hey, I attached a pic. Didn't show up. What am I doing wrong?