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I am very choosey about who I tell. My immediate family is in the loop, as well as my best friend, and boss (who currently has a Lap Band like me). I lost about 80 lbs. with my Lap Band and told those who did not know about my little assistant, that I ate less and exercised. All true since I trained for a marathon and was of course eating less because of the band. I'm not going to lie, but I also don't have to discuss my personal medical choices with anyone. I look at it this way: I'm an addict. Plain and simple. I am addicted to food and use it as a coping mechanism. It is something I will always have to work on even with WLS. I don't have to share how I treat my addiction with anyone. Just like alcoholics don't have to reveal that they go to AA. It's anonymous for a reason. My decision to have surgery and it's necessity does not have to be disclosed just because someone asks.

I second the resale shop suggestion above. Look online for thrift stores or the salvation army has stores in many areas. I have a store in my area that benefits a womens domestic violence shelter. We joke with the ladies there that I rent my clothes. I buy them, (really cheap) and then re-donate when I have lost out of them. I have gone from a 22 to a 4/6. Now they keep an eye out for me, and when things come in that fit my style and size they hold them for me. Remember that alcohol is empty calories, and the hangover isn't really worth it. Don't go down a dangerous path without a really good plan, and drinking is a dangerous path. Since you already know that many people turn to alcohol then be prepared, and keep any drinking in strict moderation. Also remember that your tiny tummy will absorb the alcohol quicker, so you will become drunk very quickly, and then sober up just as fast. Since my surgery 10 months ago I have only had 4 drinks, 2 glasses of wine at formal dinners, a mixed drink in the Bahamas, and a hard cider. That's the extent of my drinking, and I always made sure I had someone to drive me after, and also that the people around me knew that I had a low tolerance for alcohol. You were very pretty pre surgery, but you are smokin' hot now. Great work!

I love me some wine and partake about every other weekend. I read an article today on WebMD that said alcohol calories are the worst calories for belly fat. It said that your liver is so busy trying to burn off the alcohol that it doesn't have time to use your fat stores. Uggh. Still, a girl's gotta have some fun every now and then. I did go out last weekend and imbibe just a little too much and found myself in a situation where I was worried I was going to throw up. For lapbanders it's a hige no-no. I'm going to be much more careful in the future. I did enjoy the laxative side effect the next day, though.

I am finally down 100 pounds!!!! Only 40 more until I hit my final goal! My weight loss journey began in December of 2012, and I had surgery in December 2013. I still cannot believe how much life has changed. The only thing that bothers me a little is I feel like I lost apart of me? Like my jolliness isn't there anymore LOL! But nothing tastes better than skinny feels. I will be turning 21 in September, and I've heard a lot of horror stories about patients turning into alcoholics after surgery. Anyone have anything they can share about this? Also, I am running through jeans like no tomorrow. Any advice for clothing tips since they will only last for a short time before they are too big?

I drink red wine about 1-3 days a week (depending), without issue. I do however feel the alcohol much quicker, and on smaller amounts. Although, that doesn't necessarily stop me from drinking 2 glasses The biggest issue for me, is my lack of control around food when alcohol is involved. I can't eat what I did pre band, but I will eat too much of the wrong things.

Alcohol & sugary drinks cant stretch your sleeve, but they are empty calories. The stomach after sleeve cannot regrow to th esize it was before, but people who regain find ways to eat the junk that slides through easily and adds up the calories. People who stick to the Protein First rule continue to feel the restriction of the sleeve. It does relax abit after surgery and can hold more, but that is why changing habits of what is eaten is important. It may be cliche, but the sleeve is not a magic cure, it is a tool that when used properly can mean maintaining healthy weight loss. Ultimately each of us is responsible for the outcome.

Hello, I'm just curious to know if anyone ever experienced that their stomach stretched. If so how far out are you and how much weight have you gained? Only asking because someone told me my surgery was a waste because with time you gain the weight back. I know of two people who had the sleeve done lost I've one hundred pounds and is now gaining weight, granted he's drinking alcohol and soda and eating the wrong things. Just curious.

It's so easy to shift the blame of a surgical complication on something else, so the stats will never be accurate. For example, if you have a hip replacement, and then develop an infection, the infection could spread, and you could become septic, resulting in organ damage or shut down. Your COD would be kidney failure, heart failure, septicemia, etc. not "hip replacement surgery". Or for us, say you become dehydrated because of severe diarrhea and you can't drink enough because your sleeve is so small. You decide not to go to the ER for fluids and you die from kidney failure. Your COD would not be "WLS". Or you do actually have a direct complication like a leak and you chose to go to another doctor for treatment. Your original surgeon would not include your complication in his stats because he never treated you for a leak. And again, what do they consider a complication when collecting their stats? Only leaks and strictures? How about depression, GERD, constipation, diarrhea, alcoholism, gall stones, etc?

My pre surgery Friday routine is a trip to Wegman's for lunch. Now, if you don't know about the Wegman's food bar you missed out.... My surgery was scheduled for March 4th but was postponed until March 25th. I was bummed and spiraled out of control for a minute. The food bar consist of just about anything you could want to eat- from pizza, to Soup, to chinese, to suishi, to salads, fried chicken, meatloaf, mac n cheese, been burritos, veggies etc. You get the drift. Every Friday I go here with co-worker for lunch. I try to make good choices but the chinese food calls my name. Now that My surgery is a about a week away I am worried about my lunch time ritual. What do I do now? This issue hit me today as I prepare for lunch. I'm not scared of the surgery itself. I know it will be uncomfortable (already had ban and had it removed in November) I'm scared that I won't/haven't dealt with my food issues. How exactly do you deal with them anyway? I'm scared that my bad habits will outweight the tool. I'm scared to fail... again.... I'm scared that I won't have the will power to make good choices especially since I don't think I will have good support at home (when I had my first surgery my husband stopped for fries and cheese steak with me in the car) I'm scared that every social event in my life is usually built around food/alchohol(not scare not to drink as I could care less about alcohol). So, How do I deal with this fear? How do I get passed it? How do I deal with the urges that I can have just "1 fry" just "1 potatoe chip" just "1 piece of fried chicken/fish" I really need to know how to deal with that. I want to be sucessful. I know my Friday lunch trip to Wegman's will be a casualty to my new life to be and that saddens me.

Just a lot of determination. Also I stick to a high protein diet and no alcohol. I have to be honest I don't exercise but I do ensure I only eat 900 cal a day. You will get there remember everyone is different and will loose at differing rates. Keep strong xxx

Hi! Im new here. Ive been considering the gastric sleeve for the past few years and the reason I havent gone through with it is because I am afraid that it will worsen my Fructose Intolerance. I have it mostly under control right now and havent had any issues for a few weeks. I cannot have any naturally occuring sugars (as in Fruits, honey etc), no sugar alcohols (xylitol, mannitol, Sucralose etc. Mostly found in sugar free products) and foods with long fructal chains cause issues as well. (veggies, and some foods like breads) I also have a hard time if there is something that is HIGH in sugar. (like frosting. It kills me every.single.time) I am also somewhat lactose intolerant. (meaning I can have hard cheeses but nothing else with dairy. A glass of milk would have me writhing in pain for hours) Other than Fructose and lactose intolerance, my only other health problems is my asthma. Not diabetic, no heart issues etc. Is there anyone else out there who has gone through the sleeving process with Fructose Intolerance? Ive talked to some dietitians and because it is not very common (or, not commonly diagnosed. Most people think they have IBS when its really Fructose Intolerance) nobody knows what I can and cant have and therefore, they are not able to tell me if this would be an option for me. What Im concerned about is not being able to eat some of the foods Im actually able to tolerate. These are the foods I can tolerate banana (up to 1/4) Corn (up to 1/2 cob) Butter (in moderation) Bacon Rice Cuties Lettuce (in moderation) Hard Cheeses Beef Tortilla (up to 2 per day) Grapes (3-5) Spinach (in moderation) Sour Cream (up to 2tbsp) chicken Orange (unknown) White Potato eggs Pineapple Green Beans Turkey (low sodium only) strawberry (up to 5) Celery Almond Milk Canteloupe Anyone have any thoughts on if I would be able to make a post-op diet work with these foods? (or some of these foods) Any help or insight would be GREATLY appreciated!!

I would not at all drink wine so soon after surgery. (I'm assuming you are banded.) If you venture into the "graves" e.g., Bordeaux, St Emilion, Medoc.Nuits St Georges...anything rich in tannic acid (Bordeauxs especially)...that is acidic. I think the other replies are dealing with the effect of alcohol on your brain, but I personally would not want to be putting tannic acid in a newly-operated upon stomach. You are still healing, you want to baby that area. Again, I would not do this so early out of WLS, because I'm very fearful of doing anything to put my band at risk.

I agree with 2 much. don't get drunk. you do not want to vomit with the band. still call your doctor. if something should go wrong at least he is aware what you were up to. just sip. enjoy the taste of the wine and spend your time enjoying your social aspect of your outing. 3 weeks is really quick to be testing your band, your doctor maybe on board. I had to agree to give up alcohol for a year but at Christmas time my doctor gave me the ok to enjoy my Christmas morning bailey's I have every year. so you never know what your doctor will say.

Well... I can't pass judgement as I had a drink or two around that time as well (maybe just at two weeks? can't remember). Anyways, be careful - you're eating much less, your alcohol tolerance will probably be lower. You really should have a DD. (yeah yeah yeah, you need to have a DD whenever you drive, but it's crazy how much different it is now). I like to do little wine tastings on the weekend at Total Wine. It's also interesting to keep track of how many oz's you drink and how many calories you consume from just a little tasting. While wine is good for you to a certain extent, it's a lot of empty calories. One event like this won't kill your journey but try to minimize what you drink if that makes any sense. Hope this makes sense. My surgeons notebook didn't really have anything in there about alcohol this close to surgery. If your doctor says this is wrong, follow your doctors orders above mine . Have fun.

Ever since this story aired on the evening news I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind. For years the National Weight Control Registry has been keeping records and documentation of those who have lost weight and kept it off for years. The term “Super Dieters” tends to turn me off a bit because we all know diets don’t work and no one should be called “Super” as if figuring out how to manage your weight somehow gives you magic powers. I’ve been a member for several years. The questions are extensive… they ask everything you eat, your activity, how much you weigh, did you gain, did you lose, etc. Ok…. so they gave us six tips these people seem to have in common and I’m thinking most people won’t get past the first one. Just like knowing the sky is blue, this first tip will be just like being told it isn’t….but what if this nugget is really spot-on? Truth is it won’t apply to everyone but I’m going to attempt to explain why it might apply to way more than you think. Let’s get the next part over with (the posting of the list) so we can go ahead and get done with the screaming after reading the first rule. Rule No. 1. Don’t ever cheat. They never give themselves a break, not even on holidays or weekends. Rule No. 2. Eat breakfast. The National Weight Control Registry shows that’s one of the most common traits of those who succeed in keeping those pounds off once and for all. Rule No. 3. Get on a scale every day. Rule No. 4. Put in the equivalent of a four-mile walk seven days a week. Rule No. 5. Watch less than half as much TV as the overall population. Rule No. 6. Eat 50 to 300 calories less than most people. So rule 4,5, and 6 deal with the “stuff” we’ve heard forever….calories in/calories out. For years I never ate breakfast because every day for over three decades I woke up with the idea that I would go as long as possible without eating. Too bad no one was around to tell me in the 4th grade that I was destroying my metabolism. So check…Rule 2 is a given. Since finding out there are about approximately 2,000 steps in a mile, most days…Rule 4, check! Rule 5 done. Sometimes I watch TV while I’m walking so I’m not sure exactly how that fits in. Rule 3 is an absolute for me. “Hello scale” every morning…it just gives me feedback and it has no special monster powers. I’ll do a “part two” in order to cover this in another post because this one is for everyone still laying on the floor from a cold faint after reading Rule 1. My surgery was nearly 13 years ago and I’ve learned many, many things. Some beliefs that were absolutes changed and Rule 1 was one of them. I’ve told this before and I’m telling it again. Early on I would allow myself my one guilty pleasure ONLY IF I was able to get 5 pounds below goal. (It was a Quarter Pounder with cheese – insert my self induced shame). I was somehow able to stick to that but what I noticed was on the days I couldn’t have it, I wanted it! Eventually it became harder and nearly impossible to get 5 pounds below goal and after some period of time I also realized that I was beginning to forget how my “crack” meal tasted. Then I totally forgot and I didn’t even crave it anymore. Because I stopped eating it I had successfully rewired my brain to lose the cravings. I was also acutely aware the cravings would come right back if I ate another one…even one bite. Um….duh. That’s sort of like quitting cigarettes and having one just for fun after 3 years. I’ll say this again too. For me, the idea of taking a bite of something to get past the craving equates to giving an alcoholic a sip of beer to stop the craving. SOME of us can take these bites but so many cannot. If I had a quarter for every post-op that told me the M&M story, I could take a trip to Mexico. The M&M story you might ask? Maybe it’s because they are tiny…but the story always starts the same. “I was doing great for 2 years, 4 years, (sometimes even longer) and I ate one M&M. Really what could that hurt? Next it was two then three…then a small bag, a bigger bag.” Some call it testing the waters. They went such a long time without one single M&M and nobody died, they certainly didn’t miss out on anything of nutritional value and they were doing great until they decided they could try just one. In other words they never cheated during that time and most were at the weight they wanted to be or at least smaller than after they started the M&M’s. You CAN be abstinent from sugar and junk food and it is far easier if you have none instead of a little for those that struggle with not being able to stop. Again let me repeat….IF you can “eat just one”, go for it. I’m beyond thrilled for you!!! If you find you are not losing or you are in the process of regain, you could always try stopping any food you don’t wish to crave. Try it for a month but approach it one day at a time. When I’m somewhere and there’s a bowl of M&M’s, I look at it as if it’s a bowl of cyanide. Sugar put me in the prison of an obese body and at the end I would have rather died than spend another day at my heaviest weight. And really….if you were a drug addict would you allow yourself a cheat snort once a week? This is a great quote that applies. 100% is easy, 99% is a b***h. Not eating processed sugar and junk food 100% is so easy but 99% leaves a ton of wiggle room. It has became totally effortless for me to avoid these foods but please don’t misunderstand…..my journey is still something I work on every….single…day. If you still think this is utterly ridiculous, file it away for later. My favorite quote: There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance — that principle is contempt prior to investigation. It means don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. And just in case you might have missed this before… I’ll leave you with an oldie but goodie.. .

Ok…. so they gave us six tips these people seem to have in common and I’m thinking most people won’t get past the first one. Just like knowing the sky is blue, this first tip will be just like being told it isn’t….but what if this nugget is really spot-on? Truth is it won’t apply to everyone but I’m going to attempt to explain why it might apply to way more than you think. Let’s get the next part over with (the posting of the list) so we can go ahead and get done with the screaming after reading the first rule. Rule No. 1. Don’t ever cheat. They never give themselves a break, not even on holidays or weekends. Rule No. 2. Eat breakfast. The National Weight Control Registry shows that’s one of the most common traits of those who succeed in keeping those pounds off once and for all. Rule No. 3. Get on a scale every day. Rule No. 4. Put in the equivalent of a four-mile walk seven days a week. Rule No. 5. Watch less than half as much TV as the overall population. Rule No. 6. Eat 50 to 300 calories less than most people. So rule 4,5, and 6 deal with the “stuff” we’ve heard forever….calories in/calories out. For years I never ate breakfast because every day for over three decades I woke up with the idea that I would go as long as possible without eating. Too bad no one was around to tell me in the 4th grade that I was destroying my metabolism. So check…Rule 2 is a given. Since finding out there are about approximately 2,000 steps in a mile, most days…Rule 4, check! Rule 5 done. Sometimes I watch TV while I’m walking so I’m not sure exactly how that fits in. Rule 3 is an absolute for me. “Hello scale” every morning…it just gives me feedback and it has no special monster powers. I’ll do a “part two” in order to cover this in another post because this one is for everyone still laying on the floor from a cold faint after reading Rule 1. My surgery was nearly 13 years ago and I’ve learned many, many things. Some beliefs that were absolutes changed and Rule 1 was one of them. I’ve told this before and I’m telling it again. Early on I would allow myself my one guilty pleasure ONLY IF I was able to get 5 pounds below goal. (It was a Quarter Pounder with cheese – insert my self induced shame). I was somehow able to stick to that but what I noticed was on the days I couldn’t have it, I wanted it! Eventually it became harder and nearly impossible to get 5 pounds below goal and after some period of time I also realized that I was beginning to forget how my “crack” meal tasted. Then I totally forgot and I didn’t even crave it anymore. Because I stopped eating it I had successfully rewired my brain to lose the cravings. I was also acutely aware the cravings would come right back if I ate another one…even one bite. Um….duh. That’s sort of like quitting cigarettes and having one just for fun after 3 years. I’ll say this again too. For me, the idea of taking a bite of something to get past the craving equates to giving an alcoholic a sip of beer to stop the craving. SOME of us can take these bites but so many cannot. If I had a quarter for every post-op that told me the M&M story, I could take a trip to Mexico. The M&M story you might ask? Maybe it’s because they are tiny…but the story always starts the same. “I was doing great for 2 years, 4 years, (sometimes even longer) and I ate one M&M. Really what could that hurt? Next it was two then three…then a small bag, a bigger bag.” Some call it testing the waters. They went such a long time without one single M&M and nobody died, they certainly didn’t miss out on anything of nutritional value and they were doing great until they decided they could try just one. In other words they never cheated during that time and most were at the weight they wanted to be or at least smaller than after they started the M&M’s. You CAN be abstinent from sugar and junk food and it is far easier if you have none instead of a little for those that struggle with not being able to stop. Again let me repeat….IF you can “eat just one”, go for it. I’m beyond thrilled for you!!! If you find you are not losing or you are in the process of regain, you could always try stopping any food you don’t wish to crave. Try it for a month but approach it one day at a time. When I’m somewhere and there’s a bowl of M&M’s, I look at it as if it’s a bowl of cyanide. Sugar put me in the prison of an obese body and at the end I would have rather died than spend another day at my heaviest weight. And really….if you were a drug addict would you allow yourself a cheat snort once a week? This is a great quote that applies. 100% is easy, 99% is a b***h. Not eating processed sugar and junk food 100% is so easy but 99% leaves a ton of wiggle room. It has became totally effortless for me to avoid these foods but please don’t misunderstand…..my journey is still something I work on every….single…day. If you still think this is utterly ridiculous, file it away for later. My favorite quote: There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance — that principle is contempt prior to investigation. It means don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. And just in case you might have missed this before… I’ll leave you with an oldie but goodie.. .

Alcohol is a big concern for me too, more long-term than short-term. Before surgery and before the pre-op stuff, I was a guy that could (and would) put away a 1.75 of Bacardi in a weekend. Just loved to get my drink on. It never interfered with my work or my social or home lives, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't make my wife more than a bit concerned that I may have been sentencing my poor liver to a slow death. Fast forward to now-- I am three weeks post-surgery and feel fantastic. At the moment, I don't have any desire for an adult beverage, but the fact that I CAN'T for obvious reasons makes it a no-brainer that I couldn't possibly entertain. Six months from now, though, when it might be acceptable to try a beverage every now and again, is what I worry about. My hope is between now and then I will have worked things out both physically and mentally to the point where I won't even need to worry about it... I don't worry about it so much as a transfer addiction so much as just the "search for the eternal buzz". I really hope just being high on life and high on weight loss success will replace that buzz.

That is not the first time I heard of that. I hope your brother is doing well. Everyone's journey is their own. So before anyone is offended by my Irish comment I want to explain what it ment. my Mother straight off the boat (God rest her beautiful soul). Raised me right not to judge others. My family is Irish all my family that come here to visit all of us we like to drink I'm not saying any of us are alcoholics I pray for people that are. I'm not saying that I have a drinking problem I'm saying it is part of my culture being raised by woman from Ireland I guess her part of Ireland that's just what they did because that's how we were. Every gathering is a celebration there's food and drink that's just what we do. None of them were obese however so I guess that's my problem to deal with. I did and I'm fixing it have a blessed day.

It might be the erythritol or sugar alcohol in them that has that effect on some. I don't have any of those issues with Quest Bars.. I like them and use them for extra Protein on days I am in a hurry.

Hi Joy, transfer addiction is real. My very well adjusted and successful brother had an issue with alcohol after his by-pass surgery. Congratulations on being conscientious about it. If you have to drink Water and for the sake of others say it is vodka, then that's what you do to ease the pressure (do Irish even drink vodka? LOL). Anyway, this your journey, no one else's. Stay the course and good luck!!

I was a drinker. Irish so it's in my blood. My doc gave me permission to have a cocktail this past weekend I am 6 weeks out. He warned me of people trading one addiction (food) for another (alcohol). He mentioned empty calories and the fact that I will be a cheep date because WLS patients process alcohol differently now. So I had 1 cocktail because that is something my husband and I do on Saturday date night. Or did I should say. It was fine. I was fine but the one thing I realized is I'm not a drinker in my new life. It's going to be an adjustment for everyone in my social life especially my wonderful supportive husband. I'm not saying I'm never going to drink again. (I told you I'm Irish). But it is one of the major changes in this new life that I wanted to share. I really thought this was going to be a problem for me. I just hope it's not for others around me. Everyone has been more than supportive and understanding. Time will tell. Thank you all for always being here. Joy

Most docs limit drinking the first few weeks or months out of concern for healing the stomach, which you are past. My doc is one of the stricter ones like yours, forbidding alcohol during the loss period, the reason being that our livers are typically diseased to varying degrees simply by our being significantly overweight, and it is further taxed by its' role in metabolizing all the fat that we are losing - it doesn't need the added stress of metabolizing the alcohol (which is a toxin that the liver normally handles in moderation, but not so well when it is overtaxed as it is when we are losing massive amounts of weight.) As my doc is also a liver transplant specialist (I guess bariatrics just doesn't keep him busy enough...) he is a bit anal on the liver health front, but I tend to take his opinions on such things seriously! On that basis, since you have stopped losing, an occasional drink would be OK at this point, though one might want to give the liver a bit more time to recover before indulging much. The other main issue, where some docs will advise "never again" is concern over transfer addiction where whatever degree of food addiction that we had gets tranferred to something else - drinking, gambling, shopping, etc., and a casual or occasional drinking habit can lead to total alcoholism. The thing to watch there is for the every week or two drink becoming a daily thing. Good luck, and congrats on the loss!

I have seen people way less than a year drink alcohol and I've heard doctor recommendations anywhere from 8 weeks out to never. Just remember about transfer addictions and that you may become intoxicated much more quickly now.

When I go out I order an appetizer for my meal. Not many people know I'm banded so in the beginning it was hard for me . I was afraid to socialize for fear of being found out Or to get stuck. But you know what no one cares what I eat or drink for the most part. My dr said I can have alcohol I just choose not to. Got banded in July 2013 have had 3 drinks In total to date . I drink Water when I go out my answer is in eating clean and no one questions it. They can see the results and once you start to see them in you th food won't matter. Never understood the term no food taste as good as being thin until gasp dare I say it in getting thin. The success will be motivating you won't care if u go out and eat a Soup or 15 course meal.

Hi y'all! So I made my favorite meal tonight and a few interesting things happened so I thought I'd share. First of all, cooking, for me, is a labor of love - I love food, I like to experience it and I find cooking gives me a sense of comfort, especially now that I am very limited in what I eat and how much I eat. Some might think that it's torture - kind of like an alcoholic around a pitcher of margaritas, but for me I'm coming to terms with the fact that I can still cook and make fantastic food - I just will only eat and taste a little bit - as much as my band will tolerate and lately it's not much - thank goodness, since that's the reason I got the band to begin with... so here is a picture of the plate of food that I would have eaten 4+ months ago before my surgery: . I would have followed this an hour or so later with Cookies and milk or ice cream or cake. And here is what I ate tonight and I won't eat anything else until tomorrow after 10:00 and be satisfied (well almost) Still very tasty and satisfying only so much less for my body to process and break down - see this is what it feels like to be happy with the band. I'm a good cook and my family is lucky to have me - LOL. Oh - so what is it, it's homemade chicken cordon blue with chicken au jus, rice and roasted brussel sprouts & asparagus with pancetta and a balsamic glaze - it was fantastic - I used Tyler Florence's Ultimate CCB recipe - it's been my fav for 7+ years - definitely company worthy but I felt like cooking today so made it for our Tuesday dinner LOL. so the other interesting tidbit... On a different note but same dinner - curious if you ever feel like this - I got a little pissy at the dinner table because I just cannot eat it like a used to (I would say normal, like take normal bites and eat fork after fork over a 10-15 minute period vs cutting each bite up really small and chewing and chewing until it's mushy) and it's an adjustment and I just got short and snappy and kind of took it out on my husband - I'm self aware but disappointed that eating gets me edgy b/c it's hard to eat and I have to accept that I just cannot eat anymore than a little bit - that's what I signed up for but when the food is that good it kind of sucks - just being honest - I'll get over it - already am - but just wanted to voice that I think it sucks tonight - such is life for chubby me it's worth it but just part of the work that it takes. I hope some of you can relate... curious??? peace