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Have you thought about the Luigi's no sugar added Italian ice cups from the ice cream section of your grocery? They are 60 calories per serving, and the no sugar added box comes with three strawberry and three lemon. They don't have any Protein, but they can satisfy that desire for a frozen dessert. I have tried the no sugar added ice cream, and it is pretty good. In Texas we have Blue Bell ice cream, which also comes in no sugar added, but it has that sweetener taste. I've had a few dairy items that were higher in sugar and were not tolerated well. TMI alert, but search on "dumping". Also, like Tai29 said, I don't want to open the door to "small" indulgences that will slow my progress. Or, even worse, lead me back to the habits that got me in this place to begin with. Ice cream is a slider food. It would be easy to eat a lot of it.

Not quite sure what Forum this should go under-so i'll try here. First off, i have never worn shapewear (I have been a 6X for years-so wear loose clothes anyways). So I am looking towards the future. Here's my question/dilema. I have to lose about 250# and will need to wait to have any plastic surgery done. So lets suppose I lose most if not all of my weight. That will mean I will have A LOT of excess skin hanging around. My question is-will shapewear really be able to handle that much excess skin? I mean it hardly seems fair that if I lose all this weight that I have to go around with my stomach hanging to my knees for a year or two until I can get plastic surgery. I guess I should be happy just to be able to enjoy the health benefits of weight loss. But seriously, who doesn't want to also look better, and if I work this hard I want to be able to wear something besides a muumuu or stretch pants!! But how will I fit in anything if I still have so much skin hanging down?? Anybody here actually lost a significant amount of weight and had to deal with this problem?

the bleeding only happened that one time but if it happens again, i def will be calling my dr! i was thinking... i was srinking red gatorade earlier so i was throwing up red but when i throw up, i get alot of snot. TMI i know. i thought maybe some of the throwup comes out of my nose. i dont know :/

Ok, I have to ask this just so I know if it's normal or not. I am 9 days post-op and on a liquid diet for 3 weeks (just started Soups today) and have been experiencing diarrhea since surgery. Is this normal? will it go away? Like I said, sorry for the TMI topic, but I am getting a bit worried and don't want to get dehydrated. Thanks! Lisa

Wow...All of our diets are so different...I was able to start mushies after week 2 but I am not allowed any meet or fish. I can start fish at week 4 and chicken at week 5. I am also allowed whole wheat crackers and 1/2 slice of whole wheat bread with peanut butter or fat free cheese. HOWEVER, I have stalled for a week now since I have been on mushies (and they have made me constipated--TMI)... I am very upset because I do not feel like I should be stalling this early in the game.. I have cut back to two shakes a day and 2-3 snacks since I was unable to get my protein in...This is definitely a full time job. Congrats on your loss... I have lost 35 all together but only 15 of that is since surgery (the same day as you).

Am I still at a risk of complication? I am on week 10 and feeling great except for a few exceptions that might be related. Not sure if I am being hypochondriac or if I should call my surgeon. 1- For the last week or two (not every day) I have had mild pain on my left side, between my breast and waist area. Closer to the waist area. In a scale of 0 to 10, that is level 2. More of an annoyance than anything else. 2-Last night I was sitting drinking a Protein shake (Peanut Butter, Lactaid Milk & unjury unflavored) and I had a stomach pain that started at level 10! I got up and had to put my head on the kitchen counter and then wobbled to the bathroom. TMI alert. I only urinated a bit and passed gas a bit and the pain went away. It lasted a total of about 2 minutes on level 10. 3-In the middle of the night I heard a popping sound coming from my stomach. Was I dreaming? I have no idea. It has me worried because of Lissas friends experience at the gym. I have had chest pain since last night but it feels identical to my occasional costochondritis (harmless chest wall pain). I am very gassy today. Should I call my surgeon? I am usually all for calling them, but I'm wondering if it is just excessive gas.

I'm in a stall too. It's been a little over a week. I know I need to kick up the exercise, but starting back to work this week has kicked my butt. The hour commute home doesn't help either. Just FYI and probably TMI, but Citrucel is my new friend. Can't take it all the time, but it seems to work for me. I'm going to insert more Fiber into my diet while keeping the Protein up. Broccoli with my Greek yogurt gorgonzola dip anyone?

I'm not sleeved yet, but from everything I've read on here (which is a LOT), there are little bumps and bobbles. Believe it or not, 4 lbs is just a bump in the road. It does sound like getting off of a diuretic would cause a little bounce. Keep hammering on the water intake and I bet that will level out on it's own. If you've been overweight for any decent amount of time, you know what water weight does. I know this is TMI when talking to a guy, but I used to gain 6 to 10 lbs during an "aunt flo" visit, easily. Don't stress over this. Just keep doing what you're doing. It'll happen. You're doing great!

This might be tmi? I've tried everything but for the life of me, I can't get eating right. I've tried eating slow, tiny bites spaced out,,drinking and not drinking with my meal. I've even tried standing up and walking when eating. I can't digest food right. As soon as I'm done eating I get waves of nausea and then it feels like a bunch of belches will come up but it's liquid..if I let it out,,I'm gonna toss my cookies. This goes on for over an hour after I eat. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I'm doing wrong or what I could do differently?

Just a question and sorry if it's been covered before or TMI. I had my surgery Friday. I've been on clear liquids since and I can go to full liquids tomorrow. I've been farting but no bowel movement. I'm pretty sure the farting is just getting the extra gas out and I'm good with farting as opposed to burping. Burping seems to hurt a bit. Since I haven't been eating a whole lot I can't imagine having a bowel movement in the near future, but how long did it take you?

Hi, It was a year ago when I started my dr supervised weight watchers program for 6 months, then my surgery was July 21, 11. I started at 440lbs and today I weigh 330lbs. I just wanted to share my NSV's 1) I'm wearing jeans for the first time in 25 years! 2) I can walk everywhere with my kids! 3) I enjoyed shopping for the first time in a LONG time! 4) I wore my honey moon nightie for the first time in 7yrs! 5) I've decided to go back to school to change my career..big decision! 6) My hubby had surgery in Aug and wow the whoopie is sooo much better! TMI! I am so happy I did this, I have so much further to go and I hope to loose another 100 this year and with the sleeve and faith and persistence I will get there. Thanks for listening and this past years support! Tracy

You don't say when you had surgery, but I alternated between diahrea and constipation for a few weeks after surgery. Sorry for the TMI but a few of those episodes (diahrea) was after I ate eggs for the first few times. As the weeks went by, the episodes got more and more spaced out. It is not completely gone (week 8), but it is not troublesome at all anymore.

I was banded on 1/26. I'm doin great, had not much pain, no pain meds yesterday or today. All liquids, getting tired of chicken broth for sure. I am going back to work tomorrow, sedentary desk job and I do feel up to it. Just trying to get some calories in. One thing, and maybe tmi, but I have an iud, and this surgery seems to have triggered my ttotm. It's usually nonexistent, but its rather annoying. More to mess with. I'm looking foreward to cream of chicken soup! I'm glad to have people to travel this journey with. Start weight 284 Surgery day 275.5 First goal 250

Chrissy, I get what you mean about not wanting to throw up. I absolutely hate to vomit, even when I know it will make me feel better. One of my good friends had GB back in the 90's and she had horrible reflux problems. She's be eating and fine for a couple of bites, then one tiny bite too many and she'd be running for the bathroom. I thought that was disgusting and my exact thought was "I'd rather be fat then getting sick all the time". It was one of my real worries about having the sleeve cause I sure didn't want to be sliming or getting sick all the time. I was sleeved Aug 30, 2011 and have never slimed. I really work hard to under eat my sleeve, take small bites and chew very well. I also have been sure that I take a tiny bite of a new (after sleeve) food and let it sit for a few minutes before I try any more. That's how I found out I can't do very spicy food yet. I have vomitted once and that happened recently. I went to Carraba's with friends and we all shared a couple of appetizers. I even ate a small piece of their bread with olive oil and spices, yum! Right before we left, I took a quick sip of my drink because my mouth was dry. By the time we got to the car, I had to find a bush and be sick. Luckily, only the drink and bread came up (sorry, TMI?), but I learned that I REALLY cannot drink immediately after eating, especially if it's carbs. Don't be afraid of food. Once you're back on solids, make sure you try something new at least every few days, even if it's only 1 or 2 bites. Be adventurous so that you don't end up in a rut of only drinking Protein shakes or eating Protein Bars. You had this surgery to improve your life, so take advantage of the opportunities it will open for you! I know that right now you feel bad and you're probably frustrated by not being able to eat much and have very little variety. It will get better. May I say that I think you are very brave to seek therapy for food issues! I think it's even braver to admit that you know you need help and are asking for it! I believe that most obese people could use some therapy to deal with our food issues, but I think it's especially important for WLS surgery patients to deal with those issues to prevent regain. I'm sure you'll talk to your therapist about your fears about being sick as well. I hope that the therapist is well-versed in bariatric issues and can give you some real help there! Good luck and please stick around so we can watch your journey to a new you!!

I know this is TMI but I'm now dealing with the morning after of all that sugar and seriously, worst I've felt since surgery! Sugar is EVIL!

YES, I hadn't had a normal period in 3 years before surgery. Then BOOM right away I get a flow from hell, and then another one 3 weeks later. I visited the tampon asle at the store for the first time in years and discovered they made "ultra" absorbancy tampons now (one step above "super plus"). Let me tell you, they may seem like a good idea at first, but they swell up to the size of a baseball which makes getting them back out kind of tough. Ahem... sorry, TMI. :biggrin2: ETA: I think the period that came right after surgery was heavy because of the blood thinners I was on... I had the same thing happen after I had hip surgery before... but that doesn't explain Auntie Flo #2....

This is totally TMI- but who needs a liquid preop diet when you can just come down with a horrible case of the stomach flu??? I weigh 9lbs less today than I did at this exact same time yesterday. Just trying to get Water to stay in is hard work! It's making not cheating exceptionally easy!! Who knew I'd actually appreciate being sick??

I wear all sorts of shapewear but my very favorite item is my Rago firm shapewear girdle. It's a waist cincher. It's probably way TMI but as I close those hook and eye closures my nasty tummy skin just folds up and hides away. It accentuates my natural hourglass shape and literally pulls in inches of skin. I have it in nude and it's virtually undetectable under clothing (I can't wear something knit that is skin tight without a cami over the top, though). It goes from just under my bra all the way to the top of my hips. Best of all? It was less than forty dollars. I love their vintage inspired lingerie and shapewear and this is now my favorite brand to shop. I also wear the camisoles, waist cinchers and corsettes by Flexees. I do not like Spanx for anything but pantyhose. My personal experience is that they cost more but don't work as effectively and they just aren't as comfortable. I can't wear any of the thigh shapers because my thigh skin is so soft that no matter how long the shorts are I have an obvious bump. I do LOVE the maidenform footless tights I just got - they suck in my thighs a lot and feel great under dress pants. I'm always looking for a bra with a nice band that won't make lumpy back fat - and I've found that the Incredible bra by Victoria's secret works quite well. It's not a control top bra but the wider band moves with you and doesn't make lumpy spots under your clothes. ~Cheri

Ever since I started working Protein shakes into my diet (official pre-op diet starts next Wednesday..!) I've had some serious stomach upset issues. I'm wondering if this is normal/ happens a lot, or no? I'm really worried considering I'm only having it as 1 Meal Replacement right now, I can't even imagine what next week will bring when I'm having them 3+ times a day! Please tell me this is normal and my tummy will adjust =/ (Sorry for the TMI!)

Thank you PreciousCargo & Afro_Cyster! I started taking the nausea meds. I started feeling really bad after I had what I would consider my first real BM (sorry TMI). It was absolutely awful. But I swear I have been struggling since. I have been trying to push fluids today and went back to a full liquid diet today. Hopefully, that will work. I don't think I am dehydrated because I have been drinking the recommended Fluid intake. I just feel like I am taking 2 steps back. My energy level is zilch!

I had my surgery last Wednesday. My surgeon said I can start full liquids now. It just seems like every single thing that goes in comes out within about 10 minutes. Is this normal?? Sorry that this is TMI for some people!!! I have also been getting lightheaded. I was thinking that is just because the lack of protein the first few days??

I want to start off with thoughts of what lead me here, to this point!! I have been considering weight loss surgery for some time now. I have family members and friends that have done various procedures over the years, and never thought it was just right for me, so I kept at it the "traditional way". I have four kids, from 14-24 and have always bounced back and forth with my weight. I was a size 8 when I had my first child, and at my highest a size 20. I am currently a size 16, and miserable. I go on the normal diest such as wiehgt watchers and jenny craig and slim fast, and so on and go back and forth between 10-30 pounds here and there. Being over 200 pounds is very depressing and it causes me to just give up most days. I get motivated sometimes and head to the gym and walk the dog and eat better and try harder, but am easily distracted by my daily life needs. We travel a lot (mostly camping and work related), and it throws me out of whack. I get tired easily, so it's easy to want to rest and then the snacking starts. I do not sleep well at night and there comes in the night snacks. I am just always hungry.... so there comes in the over eating during dinner or lunch. I am finally tired of it.... i need a drastic change... the final straw for me was when my long time boyfriend was going to propose (yes I had figured it out) and we were away on a romantic weekend in yosemite and he was trying to motivate me to make it to the top of the mountain, under the water fall.... ummmm obvious... yes.... however I was so winded, and my heart was pounding and i just gave up and said "i can see it from here (half way), and I had to sit and rest and it ruined the mood. (he still proposed, but not until later that night when it was far less romantic and meaningful). So we got married a few weeks later... but we got married in a civil ceremony, without telling any friends or family, with just us and the 4 kids, because I could not bare the thought of a wedding looking the way I do and feel. I talked my own self out of a wedding because of my weight!!!!!!!!!!! So the deal is this.... I told myself I will lose this weight by any means neccesary and we will have a wedding fit for showing off how happy we really are in every other way of our lives. My husband always says he loves me for me, all of me... which i know he does as he has NEVER given me a reason to feel fat, or ugly and we have sex at least once a day. (tmi I know... haha)... but with that said... of course he would feel better if I looked and feel better. that has to be natural. He is a fit, very good looking succesful man that has women throwing themselves at him all the time... so I want to look the way he makes me feel. I am not doing this for anyone but me as the main motivation, but of course I am doing it for my children as well so that they can have me for a very long time and I can enjoy my future grand children and grow old in a healthy way with my amazing husband. So that is where i am now... ready to take a major step to imrove the quality of my life! I saw doctors, and picked one I felt amazingly comfortable with. My husband has gone to the appointments, evaluations, and the seminar with me. I know this is the right docrot for me. (that has to be more imporant then anything to start right)! the downside is my insruance company does NOT pay for this type of surgery. I will be financing the $20k, yes, twenty thousand dollars,,,, it will take for me to do this! Is that a small fortune? YES! is it worth it?? YES!!!!!!!!!!! Tomorrow marks the first day of my pre-op requirements. I have an appointment with a nutritionist. Next a pysch eval, and an upper GI and endoscopy will follow. I am readyyyyyyyy...............

Hey guys, just wanted to let you all know that I had my surgery today and doing awesome.. Well, besides falling alseep at the tablet,, lol.. I have already been up sitting so the next action is to pee..lol.. Sorry tmi... I just hope tomorrow is this great.. My surgery was about an hour long and only in recovery few a short time.. Sorry this is not much but right now I cant stay awake.. Just having a shout out to say I am fine and thanks for all the prayers...

Hi Everyone, I am so glad the surgery is over. I was home within 24 hours. I am still in pain but trying not to get addicted to the pain meds. Everything i eat is staying down, no gas pains and no trouble with my bowels (TMI)...lol I get up and walk around the house its really cold here. To everyone who sent me a message , I appreciate it alot. Take Care, I know it will get better.