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At 5 months out, I can eat most things (except what's on my forbidden list - alcohol, gassy liquids) but choose not to eat certain things such as rice, bread etc. I still find that if I forget to really chew food fully, it can be uncomfortable but that's my fault, not the food's. For me, it's not so much about what I eat, it's about how I eat and mindful eating certainly helps avoid discomfort.

Sassy, you're right about that. Pain meds make me want to smoke more. Alcohol makes me smoke more. Heck! Everything makes me want to smoke more! But you're right.. it's the pain meds which are making me smoke like a train at the moment. Good identify there, lady!

I'm a smoker and yes, I am still smoking. I am only day 3 post op (which yes, I know, is terrible so no berating required), but I have had about 5 so far. I have been smoking since I was 11, so am a card-carrying nicotine addict. For someone like you, that's not addicted? I wouldn't bother sparking up a proper ciggie. Why not get one of those fake ciggies? Like an E-ciggie with no nicotine. There is no point in you picking up a dangerous new habit, just because you 'fancy it'. As for the beer? I hear ya. But, obviously, the gas would no doubt render you in a lot of pain, I would have thought? Maybe you're craving the wheat in the beer? Have you thought about trying a gas-free stout like Mackinsons (if you get it in the states), or letting a normal stout go flat, such as Guinness? Lot of goodness in that - although there are a lot of calories also. Just a thought, but if you fancy it, there's obviously a reason you're craving it. I would probably try to identify exactly what it is you're craving and search for viable alternatives? If it's an alcohol buzz, my partner suggested vodka Jello shots last night. Naturally, I raised an eyebrow! Best of luck

A real easy way is to have some diabetic candy. It is loaded with Sorbitol which provide a 'laxative' effect. You have to figure out how much you need. If your sensitive to sugar alcohols it won't take long. Mag Citrate.... Oh, I gag at the thought...... Also, I you like tea....Smooth Move or 'dieters Tea' has senna in it. Usually works over night. Be sure you're drinking water

I agree with the above poster. He may not be quite ready yet for the lifestyle change that is required after surgery. I think to go through with this surgery, you have to be willing to do 'whatever it takes'. A lot like addiction, you have to reach a point when you're so done with it all, that you become willing to make changes. I'm sure you understand that. Sounds like he is going through the stages of grieving. Denial, anger, bargaining, acceptance.... you are doing all the right things, being supportive. Remember when you gave up drugs/alcohol and you went through mourning a loss like you'd lost your best friend? Give him time, encourage him to get support (OA? Bariatric Support Group?) and maybe he'll get to where he needs to be to be successful.

i am almost done with this one..very long book very detailed.......will miss the characters when its finished From Lesley Lokko, an outstanding new voice in women's fiction, comes a story of family, love, grief, and power. In this sweeping family saga, Amber Sall has the world on a platter---everything a girl could ever want. She has a handsome, powerbroker father, an older brother she adores, scads of money, and two best friends, Becky and Madeline. But none of that satisfies her lifelong desire to win her father's love, and for success in a career on the basis of her own talents, not her family's power and money. Watching her beloved brother fail both tests only makes Amber more determined to succeed. Through the decades, she and Becky and Madeline need each other's support through the best and the worst that women can experience, but can their friendship survive? Max Sall, Amber's father, is a distant, self-made man, whose lust for power comes from his tragic childhood. He drove Amber's society mother to alcoholism by openly keeping a mistress in Rome. His daughter with that mistress, Paola Rossi, is spoiled by her mother. She grows up to be a beautiful, glamorous member of the international jet set, yet she is still envious of everything Amber has, and determined to do what her mother never could: get a man to marry her. But when Paola finally marries, the result is more disastrous than she ever could have dreamed. Moving easily from London to Africa, Bosnia to New York, Saffron Skies is an unforgettable story of wealth, ambition, family, friendship, passion, loyalty, and betrayal."

My dr also is under the school of thought that there's no such thing as dumping with the sleeve. Every single time I eat ice cream my stomach cramps. I would'nt think that was dumping until a few nite ago. I ate ice cream before bed (yes, I know I'm a slow learner!) and 2 hrs after falling asleep I woke up with severe stomach cramping. For 2 hrs I suffered with cramping and explosive diarrhea (sorry tmi). I promised myself I wouldn't eat ice cream again (not unlike begging God for mercy and promising never to drink again upon vomiting with too much alcohol!) if God got me thru it. I will probly eat ice cream again (when I forget about how it feels) but not anytime soon.

Crusoe's Daughter by Jane Gardam -- love her character Polly Flint! Here's a review from a while back: http://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/27/books/polly-came-through.html Also taking a long time finishing a memoir called Mother, Daughter, Me by Katie Hafner -- I prefer fiction but a friend lent me this book and it's very compelling for any one who grew up with an alcoholic mother or some one in the sandwich generation of an aging parent plus a child at home -- here's a review: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/garden/mother-daughter-me-a-feel-good-experiment-that-wasnt.html?_r=0

Hey sleevers. I wanted to share a diet I am starting today! I have 20 pounds to go and am only losing 1 pound a week on 1000 calories and 5 days of exercise for 1 hour at the gym. So to speed things along I have decided to do the Mayo clinic diet. It says you will lose 20 in 2 weeks. how convenient thats how much I have left to lose If anyone would like to join me or try this diet I have included the menu and rules. I think my body has become used to what I have been doing so im gonna try this for the next 2 weeks and hope to God that these last 20 pounds fall off Mayo clinic diet Diet for 2 weeks only Abstain from anything not included in the diet and be sure to eat what is assigned rather than do without. NO EATING BETWEEN MEALS!!! Breakfast is the same everyday 1 or 2 eggs,grapefruit or a cup of grapefruit juice + coffee/tea no sugar or cream. Monday lunch: 2 eggs, grapefruit/juice Dinner:2 eggs ,grapefruit/juice,combination salad,1 piece dry toast,coffee black Tuesday lunch:2 eggs , tomatoes, coffee dinner:steak,tomatoes,cucumber,lettuce,olives,coffee Wednesday lunch:2 eggs , spinach,coffee dinner:2 lamb chops,celery,cucumber,tomatoes,tea Thursday lunch:2 eggs,spinach,coffee dinner:2 eggs, cottage cheese, 1 toast, cabbage Friday lunch:2 eggs , spinach, coffee dinner: fish, combination salad,dry toast, grapefruit/juice Saturday lunch:fruit salad(put in any fruit you want) eat as much as you can dinner: plenty of steak,celery , cucumber,tomatoes , coffee Sunday lunch:chicken,tomatoes,carrots,cabbage,grapefruit/juice, coffee dinner:Cold chicken, tomatoes, grapefruit/juice Warning: do not stay on this diet for more than two weeks Weight loss should be about 20 pounds in 2 weeks, basis of diet is chemical and maintains normal energy while reducing weight. quantities are only important were indicated. whiskey may be taken on days when meat is eaten, otherwise NO Alcohol So, I got this diet from my sister. today's day one. if anyone wants to give it a go and test it out let me know how you do . My weight today is 170 I'll check back and let you all know how I did have a nice day

Hey all the December sleevers. I wanted to share a diet I am starting today! I have 20 pounds to go and am only losing 1 pound a week on 1000 calories and 5 days of exercise for 1 hour at the gym. So to speed things along I have decided to do the Mayo clinic diet. It says you will lose 20 in 2 weeks. how convenient thats how much I have left to lose If anyone would like to join me or try this diet I have included the menue and rules. I think my body has become used to what I have been doing so im gonna try this for the next 2 weeks and hope to God that these last 20 pounds fall off Mayo clinic diet Diet for 2 weeks only Abstain from anything not included in the diet and be sure to eat what is assigned rather than do without. NO EATING BETWEEN MEALS!!! Breakfast is the same everyday 1 or 2 eggs,grapefruit or a cup of grapefruit juice + coffee/tea no sugar or cream. Monday lunch: 2 eggs, grapefruit/juice Dinner:2 eggs ,grapefruit/juice,combination salad,1 piece dry toast,coffee black Tuesday lunch:2 eggs , tomatoes, coffee dinner:steak,tomatoes,cucumber,lettuce,olives,coffee Wednesday lunch:2 eggs , spinach,coffee dinner:2 lamb chops,celery,cucumber,tomatoes,tea Thursday lunch:2 eggs,spinach,coffee dinner:2 eggs, cottage cheese, 1 toast, cabbage Friday lunch:2 eggs , spinach, coffee dinner: fish, combination salad,dry toast, grapefruit/juice Saturday lunch:fruit salad(put in any fruit you want) eat as much as you can dinner: plenty of steak,celery , cucumber,tomatoes , coffee Sunday lunch:chicken,tomatoes,carrots,cabbage,grapefruit/juice, coffee dinner:Cold chicken, tomatoes, grapefruit/juice Warning: do not stay on this diet for more than two weeks Weight loss should be about 20 pounds in 2 weeks, basis of diet is chemical and maintains normal energy while reducing weight. quantities are only important were indicated. whiskey may be taken on days when meat is eaten, otherwise NO Alcohol So, I got this diet from my sister. today's day one. if anyone wants to give it a go and test it out let me know how you do . My weight today is 170 I'll check back and let you all know how I did have a nice day

Thanks for sharing this!! I agree that sugar CAN be an addiction. And it's just as powerful as cocaine, drugs, alcohol, etc. Totally 100% agree with that. However, for me personally, I am in the moderation camp. I know that is not always a popular decision. A about a year before deciding that I wanted the sleeve I went on a very strict, NO sugar, NO carb diet, and in 6 weeks I lost -17lbs. How exciting right? Then I spent the next 9 months trying to stay on that strict diet and failing, and ended up gaining +25lbs in those 9 months. So for me, I do practice moderation because I've been there done that before with eradicating it from my diet, and because I do enjoy a piece of cake, or ice cream once in a while. I chose to have the sleeve OVER the bypass because of several reasons, but one of them was because I didn't want to have my surgery tell me when and if I could have a slice of cake at a wedding. I wanted to be in control and while there are some days I wish that someone WOULD take sugar out of the equation for me, I am reminded that sometimes enjoying something sweet is one of the greater joys in life. I think everyone has their own take on this. There are some people who cannot in all honesty enjoy moderation. Because a little ice cream sends them over the edge and they can't stop. I know that, (again for me) when I indulge in extra sugar and carbs, it truly does make me want more (hence agreeing with the addiction aspect of the article) so I have to be very intelligent and reasonable about when and how much sugar I consume. Again, thanks for sharing!!!

I was once at a Burger King with my family....as a treat. We don't frequently allow our children to eat fast food, because it is unhealthy. There was a family there that had two children that were both obese. One of the kids had just finished eating his super sized adult meal, and said to his dad that he was still hungry, so the dad went up to the counter and ordered the kid another adult sized meal! I was floored! It was all I could do not to strange those parents! Because of my genetics I have always been super conscious to male sure that my children always eat healthy food, and to know about portions. I rarely allow junk food in the house, but when I do the kids know that not only do they have to ask before they are allowed to have any, but they also know that they have to get a snack sized baggy to put the junk food into, to make sure they don't eat to much. Some may think I am being to harsh, or overly protective....but I don't want my children to ever be obese. I truly believe it is child abuse to allow your children to constantly eat junk food, and not teaching them about portions and nutrition. In my opinion it is just as bad as providing them with drugs and alcohol. Parents need to wake up about their child's eating habits. This generation is the first one that the life span of adults will be longer then the life span of the kids! That is so sad! It truly is heart breaking!

Why, do you get WLS, any type, and then not listen to your doctor or dietitian? Why? When I was given the pre-op diet, I followed it to the 't' because I was afraid. When it came to the post-op diet, I followed it to the 't', also. When I get a fill, I am on 3 days of liquids, 3 days of mushy and then back to my regular foods. I listen to the doctor and his staff. They have been dealing with WLS for many many years. So WHY, get the surgery and just follow your own rules?????? Think before putting the chip, the french fry, McDonald's, Dunkin Donuts in your hand, let alone your mouth. If you have to have one of these, at least wait until your surgery has healed and you can eat regular foods. People who have had the band for a while, I have had mine for almost 14 months, maybe some of us know what we are talking about. I listen to the masters, they have been here longer than me. I try to help and if I don't have an answer, I will say it. So when you are getting wheeled into the operating room, just remember WHY, you are there. To get healthy and live longer. Have a great night. Arlene ps Saturday night I have a wedding and yes I will eat but not over eat and I do not drink when I eat and never alcohol.

You sound very well prepared!! I also had some decent success over about a 1-1/2 year span where I exercised at least 3 hours a day and ate 1000 cal or less. It was great. BUT it started climbing back up. I couldn't have eaten any less and I certainly could not have exercised any more. So, I gave up. I feel I can easily do the work...I'm not a binge eater, emotional eater, stress eater, etc. I actually like low carb foods, I can give up soda and alcohol. I'm not a big sweet eater. I just don't want to be hungry all the time. So, I feel this surgery would be a good option for me. I will probably get more excited and start stocking up more when it becomes more real...after I finish the various appointments! Let me know when you get your date!

I am such a sugar addict that I found this to be of help in some ways. Hope you enjoy it... Addicted to Sugar? 7 Steps You Need to Take Before You Can Break Free Last month, I devoted my blog to reviewing some of the more surprising adverse health outcomes associated with excess sugar consumption. While most of us know that sugar is not the best substance to load our body with, many individuals struggle with tactics in actually breaking free of their addiction to sugar -- and yes, it can truly be an addiction. In fact, the results of one study showed that a greater neurological reward was provided by intense sweetness than by the drug cocaine. Similar findings occur when we look at withdrawal from sweet as well, indicating that getting off sugar may cause the same neurological symptoms as withdrawing from nicotine, morphine and alcohol. Now more than ever, we are seeing more and more associations linking addictions of sugar and drugs in the same bucket. Additionally, we all face the unfortunate reality that sugar is readily available in our food supply as a cheap fix for our cravings, 24 hours a day, in thousands of different venues and forms. Finally, we often use sugar as a reward (kid stops throwing a tantrum at the store, kid gets cookie at home) and the main food substance during celebrations (when is the last time you saw birthday candles sticking out of broccoli florets or a 1-year-old baby smashing lentils in his or her face for the quintessential first birthday picture)? So given these studies and the vast availability of this stuff, is there any hope? Can you really break free from the chains of sugar addiction? The answer may be yes, and it doesn't necessarily include admitting yourself to a rehab facility for six weeks. The start of your sugarless healing could perhaps come in the form of seven easy steps. Step 1: Don't replace real sugar with artificial sugar. In an effort to provide us with the sweetness we crave without the excess calories we dread, manufacturers created artificial sweeteners. The first, saccharin, was discovered in the 1870s by a scientist at John Hopkins University. He wasn't trying to come up with a fake way to sweeten our foods, in fact, back then food actually was actually that -- food. He was actually working on coal tar derivatives and as the story goes, some of the white substance spilled onto his hand. Later that evening, the substance on his hand transferred to the roll he was eating at dinner making it exceptionally sweet. After that fateful spill on the hands, the world of food has never been the same. Artificial sweeteners have been blamed for a lot of things that ail us -- but most recently, artificial sweeteners and their effect on our ability to lose weight have come into focus. As it turns out, a lack of calories doesn't always equate to a lack of consequences. A 2013 study in the journal Diabetes Care found that artificial sweeteners can actually alter the way the body metabolizes sugar. A 2008 animal study found that rats given artificial sweeteners ate more calories throughout the day and as a result, gained weight. The researchers found that the ingestion of artificial sweeteners essentially caused confusion between the gut and the brain. The authors of the study stated that, "sweet foods provide a 'salient orosensory stimulus' that strongly predicts someone is about to take in a lot of calories. Ingestive and digestive reflexes gear up for that intake but when false sweetness isn't followed by lots of calories, the system gets confused. Thus, people may eat more or expend less energy than they otherwise would." While these studies provide incentive from a weight approach to kick the fake sugar habit, it's what artificial sweeteners are doing to your sugar-laden diet that is most concerning for the true sugar addict. Why? Studies show that replacing regular sugar with artificial sweeteners is akin to kicking your cigarette habit by switching to cigars. You're still getting the sweetness you crave, so you're never really taking away the sweet taste that keeps calling your name. Chances are, you'll go back to the real stuff. I often tell my sugar addict patients on day one that in 60 days, I want them to crave salmon over licorice. They look at me like I have two heads of course, but after three months of truly sticking to a no-sugar plan, their cravings do actually turn. Step 2: Start an exercise regimen and add milk to your diet. Eating lots of sugar has been shown to enhance reward mechanisms in the brain, thus making it difficult to break the habit. Rats that were given sucrose for example, wanted more of it and self-fed with it if it was available in their cage. While the comparison may seem extreme, I see this as no different than the individual who keeps candy bars, Cookies and hard candies in their home or office desk. If it's there, and you've got a preference for it, chances are high you'll eat lots of it and chances are even higher that you'll feel pretty good after eating it -- at least for a little while, until you crash and need more. But what if you could boost one of your most efficient acting "feel good" effects through foods other than sugar? One study for example, showed that consumption of whey Protein (a major protein found in milk) increased serotonin (a feel-good hormone first isolated at the Cleveland Clinic that is associated with mood elevation). Other studies have found an association between exercise and serotonin increase as well. Step 3: Say "no" to fat-free products. Here's the low down on fat-free foods. Fat (something we like that tastes really good) goes out and sugar (another thing we like that tastes really good) goes in. Why? Because manufacturers are selling you on the fact that the product is fat-free -- not sugar-free. Huge culprits include fat-free salad dressing (honey or high fructose corn syrup often coming in as the second or third ingredients), fat-free cookies or cakes (angel-food cake for example has a devilish 20 grams or more of sugar per slice), fat-free puddings, muffins and reduced-fat Peanut Butter are also offenders. The solution? Keep your salad dressings and peanut butter the full-fat variety. The monounsaturated fats in them will actually help to increase your overall sense of satisfaction and slowly move away from the cookies, cakes, muffins and puddings by trying out some of the other tactics in this article. Step 4: Improve your sleep habits. A 2013 study found that our circadian sleep cycles have a whole lot to do with whether we reach for a cookie late at night. We also are less equipped to resist a high-calorie treat (sugar-laden doughnuts come to mind) if we are sleepy throughout the day, according to another study. An additional study found that when individuals were sleep-deprived, their reward activation centers in the brain were actually greater, thereby making it more difficult to say no to the candy bar. Bottom line, while diet and exercise have a lot to do with staying away from the sweets, neither of them will be as effective if you're not getting enough ZZZ's. Step 5: Keep Snacks close by. One tactic that's worked with many of my patients is keeping healthy snacks on hand. I had one patient who told me that she'd be driving her car and would see an ice cream shop and without even realizing it, would be entering the parking lot to get a fix. Her impulses were reduced though, when she started to keep trail mix in her glove compartment. She could easily grab it and have a few satisfying bites of peanuts, raisins and whole-grain pretzels. Just this simple action distracted her from the ice cream shop. Figure out what your trigger is and have something on hand to distract yourself. It could be an apple in your purse, a bag of healthy popcorn in your pantry or a string-cheese stick in your office refrigerator. Step 6: Chew gum. A 2009 study found that individuals who chewed gum hourly and for at least three hours in the afternoon reduced their cravings for sweet snacks. While the study used a sugar-free gum variety, which does in fact contain artificial sweeteners, it nonetheless provides an interesting tactic to perhaps lower your sweet cravings. Step 7: Never forget the benefit to your body. One of my patients has a serious sugar addiction. The challenges with these patients are helping them gain a greater ability to lose their sugar cravings without gaining weight. One thing this patient told me was the secret to her success was remaining constantly aware of what sugar was doing to her body. She told me she's been able to stick to her no-sugar plan partly because her desire to be around for her grandkids had become more powerful than her desire to eat a bunch of gummy bears. Remain focused and never forget that reducing your sugar addiction has benefits well beyond the perfect body. For more by Kristin Kirkpatrick, M.S., R.D., L.D., click here.

I am so sorry for your loss, I am new to this forum so I will make this comment brief. I have a rule that I have applied to my eating that I hope will help you. it goes like this....Feelings are not right and not wrong they just are, let them be and choose how you will react. Grief, loneliness, and anger are all powerful feelings that will take our control away from us if we let it. Ice cream for you, pizza for me or a drink for the alcoholic will destroy all of us and I really can't believe that this is what your lovely little dog would want for you. Sugar free popsicles would be a better choice for me but if I were you and I kept grieving I would go into a deep depression and just keep eating without knowing what I was doing to myself. I hope this advice helps. God Bless ttfn

I drink as well. I make sure I drink PLENTY of water in between drinks and I take my Pepcid. My concern is getting a stomach ulcer, so just be safe about it and you should be fine. my doctor told me to just keep drinking to a minimum so I save alcohol for when my fiancé and I want to have a night out once or twice a month. I actually keep track of the calories I'm drinking so I don't exceed my calorie intake for the day and that's a great way of keeping me from over doing it. Haha

So tired laying on my back, it hurts. Laying on my side really makes my knee's throb. What am I to do???? I call for drugs and alcohol. I guess I won't make the news like Anna Nicole, guess I'll behave.

How we lose inches when we are not losing weight - muscle vs. fat. Rapid weight loss is the result of your body metabolizing fat - body measurements are shrinking. High Protein diet promotes the addition of lean muscle - one pound of muscle is considerably smaller (less volume) than one pound of fat. So you can reach a point where the "weight" of the fat being metabolized by the body is equal to the "weight" of the muscle being added by the body = no weight loss. But one pound of muscle has less "volume" than one pound of fat = inches are being lost even though weight is stable. Sugar alcohol - I know that stalls are sometimes attributed to consumption of sugar alcohol. There are some that believe a more likely cause is the higher amount of carbohydrates commonly found in foods that contain sugar alcohol. Here is a link to one of the better articles that I've read on sugar alcohol. It does a good job of explaining what sugar alcohols are and their pros and cons. http://www.ynhh.org/about-us/sugar_alcohol.aspx I'm off to jury duty. You guys have a great day!

I had the band because I really struggle with moderation and longevity. I'm a great dieter...do really well but simply can't stick to it long enough. I gave up medication, drugs (long story), alcohol all addictions to some extent but couldn't give up food. I thought like you that I'd eat the same only smaller. For me thats not so. I can't eat bread/doughy food at all. Fried anything makes me nauseous. I don't eat crisps chocolate, biscuits which were sticking points for me. Not because I can't because I know I shouldnt. The scales going down every week is enough to keep up my motivation. I don't see food as a treat anymore. I choose makeup, clothes perfume. I don't regret my band one bit but its a tool. You/we still do the hard work make the right choices. No one should influence your choices/decisions follow your own heart.. Sent from my GT-S5830 using LapBandTalk

Anyone who has not struggled with their weight long term can never really understand, and you can't expect them to. It's like someone who doesn't drink telling an alcoholic to just stop drinking... Only you can answer the question have you tried hard enough or if surgery is right for you. I would not wish another 20 years trying on anyone (I'm 44). This particular surgery was not an option when I was your age (damn, now I feel old writing that) I didn't opt for the lap bad or bypass years ago, so I don't think "surgery" was my answer. I think THIS surgery was the answer for me. If you want to try on your own again, do it. You can even do it while you are moving forward with plans for surgery. Only you know what is best for you, but you are asking questions and you can't go wrong there! Best of luck to you in whatever you decide!!

Great job staying on track on a cruise!! I just got back from Florida on a week long vacation. I was on a 2 week stall when I went (at 4 months out I had avoided a stall up to that point). It was really hard not having a scale while I was out of town, but I survived! I didn't deprive myself at all, but I was eating small portions of mainly fresh seafood. I did drink too much alcohol but didn't really have any issues with it. I was walking on the beach and swimming a lot. I was able to move so much better and play with my kids! When I got back, my stall had broken and I was down 1 pound. Over the las few days, I've lost a couple more pounds. I'm happy with that!! I can't wait till Florida next year when I will be at goal

As many of you know, I'm a travel agent. I really hated to ask for a seat belt extension and not being able to do much but sit on the beach. I was sleeved at the end of May and today am down 60 pounds. Well, at 55 pounds lost I went on a cruise. Any of you ever done this? You know all of the food that is served on board...and in ports of call. I was with my hubby and parents...all eaters. I think I did pretty well...seeing there were a million desserts etc on board. The first night was bad.....I had a small soft serve icecream cone, then later that evening had a virgin mudslide. Ugh!! My first time having "dumping"!!! needless to say I watched the rest of my trip. My cocktails consisted of watered down cranberry juice in a cute glass with a piece of fruit and straw. The bartenders were pretty cool when I told them I couldn't drink alcohol or soda. They didn't even charge for the juice. I got so tired of iced tea. Every morning I had a fresh omelet made..well every other...I have to have bran cereal about every other day to try to stay regular. Breakfast was fine. I always tried to eat a mid morning snack like I do at home, but no cheese sticks or fudgesicles on a ship. I tried to get a fresh fruit cup but man the soft serve icecream machine kept getting in my way. I only had a few, very very small ones. Hubby kept giving me the evil eye. Lunch was usually a yogurt cup and fruit..There was a little cafe onboard that you didn't feel like you had to load your plate at the buffet. Dinner was usually a piece of baked chicken or fish. Not really eating any veggies yet, just mostly protein as I get full really fast. Mid night snack was eating the pepperoni and cheese off a slice of pizza.....or these cute little mini croissant ham and cheese sandwiches. When ever I wanted dessert my hubby split it with me...the pieces are only about a 1 inch square anyway. The point is, I didn't want to feel deprived. I took a portion of everything I felt I wanted to eat, but by the time I ate my protein there was not much room left for the other things. It was a bummer at the lobster house and getting a whole lobster and only being able to eat the claws....but I survived. My parents looked at me like wth....cuz I'd get full on a few bites. But that's ok, I had lost 55 pounds so far and I was walking the steps. We took the steps and walked every chance we could. Now, before the sleeve I would've come home with an extra 5 pounds. I wouldn't have walked and taken the elevator.This time I maintained....so proud of myself. But back home for almost a week now and 5 more pounds gone...yippee!!! Our next trip will be in April. I hope to be down another 30-40 pounds and parasail...that's my gift to myself...something I've always wanted to do. Anyone else have anything to say about vacations????

The reality is that in the beginning, we all lose weight due to the physical restriction of the sleeve. However, there comes a point where the sleeve will no longer be as effective at weight loss or maintenance as diet and exercise is. I have put significant effort into changing my relationship with food and embracing exercise. I still have work to do- my old habits still creep up every now and then and I find myself repeating old behaviors that I am trying so hard to replace with better choices. I understand and accept that the sleeve is basically temporary but my lifestyle is what is going to make the permanent and life-long change that I am looking for in my life. I understand and accept that I might struggle with my food addiction for the rest of my life, as any alcoholic does. But I also knew that I only had a 5% chance of loosing more than 100 pounds on my own, so for me, the surgery was necessary. Now, as I continue to struggle, I only have to deal with the food issues and temptations, and not the constant shame and guilt I felt at being 340 pounds. So even though I might always struggle, I won't struggle with as many things, if that makes sense.

Hello, My name is Jennifer, and my husband and I went to one of the bariatric surgery seminars a few weeks ago. We have had a follow up with the surgeon, appt with the dietitian, and my husband has attended I think 3 weekly support/information meetings that his surgeon runs. I'm posting here, because I truly want honesty and I'm not sure where else to put this. I am having some major concerns at this point. A little about me-I am not overweight, and I have no idea what that is like. I am a recovering addict, so the "addiction" issues that my husband has I do understand somewhat, I realize however that having food as an "addiction" is very different than drug and alcohol addiction. My husband (and I ) are 40. He is about 5'10" and currently weighs about 280. He has struggled with weight his entire life, but there have been times he was able to lose and keep weight off. This is the most he has ever weighed. I know he is miserable, depressed, uncomfortable, in pain and has no energy. We have gone through every diet, Meal Replacement, weight loss pills, etc-if they work, he stops doing them and then the weight comes back. He hates diets, hates being told, "you can't eat that" All the diets we have tried, low-carb, high Protein, he quickly abandons because of the restrictions. After our first one on one discussion with his surgeon we were talking about some of the lifestyle changes. His surgeon is a vegan, and my husband very clearly stated, well, I'm not going to do that kind of diet. He came home after group last night and appeared agitated and angry. We are dealing with some budget issues as well right now, and one of our huge expenditures is eating out, so that's something we are trying to drastically reduce. I went grocery shopping yesterday and on the way home I was thirsty so I got one of those frozen coffee things from burger king. This apparently was what triggered my husbands anger. After he had been home for a while, (he went and laid down almost immediately after he got home) he came into the kitchen and we were eating dinner. We started talking about how his meeting went, and it became very clear that he was really upset. My husband is normally pretty laid back, so this was a bit odd. Basically what it came down to is that he feels that we ALL eat lousy food and he doesn't want this lifestyle change to be "all his fault" and we really need to learn how bad all the food we eat is. OK, so over the past few years, I have changed a lot about our diet. I have traded out regular pastas for either whole wheat, rice, or veggie options, we don't eat potatoes hardly ever, low sodium everything, more salads and fresh veggies and fruits. If hamburger is in this house at all its 96% lean, more often its been replaced by ground turkey. I read and try to stay informed about healthy food choices. I do have 3 kids at home, all of whom pack a lunch every day. They have available to them quick microwave heat up things like pizza or chicken nuggets, there are chips and granola bars and applesauce, and puddings for Snacks to go with lunch. There is also fresh fruit that they take as well. Jason (my husband) seems to think this all needs to change. There shouldn't be any "junk" type foods ever, we are teaching our kids horrible eating habits, they are going to hit their 30s and 40s and become overweight. Bread is a useless food, unless it's homemade due to preservatives and even then it's minimally nutritious at best, (he became aware just last night I believe that he prob can't eat bread, or pastries or pancakes etc once he does this surgery) Bread and carbs are a bigger attraction for him than say candy and Cookies. Eliminating those items in the past for diets has caused him to hate diets. I'm concerned that if he goes thru with surgery he will just end up more depressed and angry at the limitations he is going to be under. Any thoughts?