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So far so good, I pushed my schedule forward so that I would be in the office till late, it keeps me honest with my food to be in front of people. By days end, IF I can avoid the late night chocolate monster, I will finish the day with 642 calories, which is good. I drank hot tea all morning, sweetened with coconut crystals and a splash of almond coconut milk, then had a humongous salad for lunch that took me the entire afternoon to eat, and for dinner I will have a little yogurt with some guava paste and a sprinkle of coconut. On the professional front, please collectively cross your fingers for me, I have an interview this week (skype) with a potential employer in Seattle! I have already had round one interview. Also, the men in this program make concerted sneaky moves to purposely destroy the professional reputations of women in this program, slander so great it cannot be ignored. Also, the new team leader has a scary scary temper, he is untruthful, does not communicate, and makes appalling mysogynistic comments in the office. He's a civilian. I hit my head pretty hard about a week and a half ago, hard enough to make me nauseated and my eyes feel unmoored. I then had an emotional outburst the following day, I don't know if the two are related but I did have that TBI last summer... Freaking out because there are apparently bills from my stay in Germany in Sept and my worker's comp claim closed, FU**!!!! I just want to get the eff out of here.

It's weird I usually take my weight off a couple of days after my fast days. I don't know why, it just works that way. Also I do not lose every week. If I hit a number and can "stick it" for a week or so, I'm good to go on the next number after that. I've had my Greek yogurt today and an ounce and 1/2 of chicken for a snack. I've got 300 calories left for dinner. I'm very tired and worn out today from yesterday so I'm just a big lazy slug.

Florinda, when i was banded and lacked education on the subject, I often got an acidy burning tummy. I am convinced this caused my frozen yogurt/ice cream addiction. I swear, a soft cone from DQ or McD was the best way to soothe the fire. I luckily (haha) had a decade of experiencing that, so I am very tuned into acid feeling like hunger. It sucks and the best thing you can do is recognize it and control it otherwise I do think it drives you to eat - or not eat sometimes. DGL Licorce, found at health food stores is a more natural soother. I don't take a PPI, but I do take the DGL sometimes. I bite it up, and but it between lip and gums to let it dissolve slowly and coat my esophogus and tummy. It was one of the things that got me eating again last year when i had no appetite. I was thinking about your lack of satisfaction with your job. I think it is a little bit of a harsh reality for most of us that we are not saving the world.... One thing to think about is your own personal life goals. I think I recall you dream of kids and marriage - is that still n the radar? Then there is the caring for your own physical and emotional well being... From a life satisfaction point of view, I think putting those thoughts and timelines on the radar is a very effective way to balance your own needs versus the dreams of making a difference. When I was early 20s, I had big dreams career wise. In some ways I did not meet them, in other ways I exceeded them. I do believe in having big goals, but I wish that all those years ago I had a bit more thought into MY needs and wants and how to live a full and healthy life over some of these goals I had. I wanted it all - and I did have the husband, kids, a nice house, lots of world travel, feeling self important at my job etc but it was sending me to an early grave/obesity. I was looking at pics of myself from the flying high years and I looked like hell. I am younger and healthier looking now. I joke that it is because i am a Gemini, but I have a restless soul. I am often wanting to do, try, experience, see, feel new things. That restless spirit is sometimes a great strength as I have much energy, curiousity and it has contributed to some big career successes - I often don't see things the way some others do which opens doors. Flip side, that restlessness hasn't always helped me feel content in life. i have been going through that big time myself. Like, my day to day life is excellent and outstanding... and yet I often feel like I am not doing enough, I am not accomplishing anything, I am not serving or caring for anyone, I am a bit purposeless. Turns out lots of people's lives are like that and they don't seem to let it bother them... hmmmm. Example, I recently met some people who seem quite content working ho hum jobs, working out (like alot of working out, serious athletes) and maybe a few glasses of wine at a happy hour from time to time. I had a thought the other day to foster some rescue dogs because I am an animal lover and I have friends that do all that and the need is huge. Then it hit me, that is not my path. I am not destined to age into the "cat lady" or "puppy lady"...anymore than I am destined to be the gym rat. I still don't exactly know my path because i am having a hard time accepting that I may very well be single forever... and it is so ingrained in me that my life path is deeply intertwined with a man/partner. I talk with alot of single ladies and I notice that many of them LOVE the freedom and choices this life gives them. I do too.... but i still feel that "missing" and I notice some of my single lady friends feel that way too. I am not sure if it is bad messaging from our childhood rearing its ugly head or if it is really our "truth." I feel at some level, more complete when I am in a true relationship.

Coops!! A loss at Christmas??? It is a true Christmas miracle!! Sarsar, and the others hang in there. After this winter hump I'm sure we will be right as rain again.. I'm just telling myself it's the season of the blahs and somehow it's helping keep my head above water a bit knowing its just the perfect storm swirling about. Skiing Jane? Yay! I've always been terrified of it. somehow the thought of my body momentum hurling me downhill on two slick thin sticks attached to my legs just never sat well with me I do like cross country skiing though Ok fast yesterday was HARD! I drank tea non stop all day and it just didn't help very much (damn carbs) I "ended" the day at 465 only to cave and have some yogurt and blueberries late last night, so yeah..

The not weighing for 30 days...I couldn't do it! Oh I've done it before when I was hiding from my scale but not when I'm trying to lose, lol. Yesterday was a feed day (Georgia, I eat fairly clean on feed days, but the reduced hunger/reduced snacking makes it hard to eat more...) and after dinner I was just over 1,070 cals. So I had some greek yogurt with PB2 in it and then drizzled a bit of choc. sauce over the top. Ended the day just shy of 1,200. Normally I do not eat anything after dinner, but this was like a nice dessert. I just couldn't stomach the thought of more meat.

Sheryl I hate it when someone cancels on the last minute. Couldn't he have planned on his Doctor's appointment early on. So frustrating..... You will get back to 5:2 when your ready, just not right now....... I thought that you may enjoy this, it looks so good! Glazed Strawberry Banana Dessert Ingredients: 1 banana, sliced 2 cups strawberries, sliced 1 ounce raw almonds or walnuts, chopped 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg 1/8 tsp. ground ginger 1 tbsp. coconut oil 1 cup Greek yogurt 3-6 drops liquid stevia extract Directions: Heat coconut oil in a medium saucepan over low heat until melted. Add cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and liquid stevia, mix to form a brown glaze. Keeping heat low, add sliced bananas and strawberries and mix until they are completely coated. Continue to heat until bananas are just warm. Remove from heat. Add nuts and mix until nuts are completely coated. Spoon mixture onto a plate alternating in layers with the greek yogurt. PO also says: "You can sweeten the yogurt with a little stevia too, but I prefer the contrast."

Glad to see you, sounds like you are heading in the right direction, if not there yet.... make sure to feed your "biome", fermented foods, yogurt, pickles and such.... those antibiotics can really kick your immunities butt!

M2G, have you ever looked up the calories burned running errands? It's more than you think, don't beat yourself up. I made paleo muffins today, pumpkin spice using coconut flour! Pumpkin puree (made mine from scratch) Coconut flour ( wow you really only need the teeniest bit), eggs, honey, salt, baking soda and the spices, that's it! I jazzed them up with a bit of shaved dark chocolate and if you really wanted to go all the way there is a frosting (greek yogurt whipped with maple syrup). All in all, it is a low glycemic, non-inflammatory, high fiber, good protein snack that I can feel good about. Also, they are so packed with real whole foods that they are incredibly filling and satisfying and keep away the "need" to mindlessly gorge. thumbs up! I got the recipe from Comfybelly, in case anyone is curious, it is a site dedicated to eating without grains, particularly wheat.

OMG, Laura did my kids come and invade the bodies of your children? "Chicken again....no I will do anything but chicken" - said from 11 yo who honestly avoided it for a while after dissecting a chicken wing in science class. But me? I do lots o chicken...ain't gonna stop now! "Healthy baking, MOM THERE IS NO SUCH THING...can't you just bake REGULAR" whenever I try to bake with things like applesauce, yogurt, egg beaters, Splenda, etc. "Why can't we just eat pizza" 11 yo requested pizza last night so I just threw one from the freezer to the oven. Then I lovingly prepared a cauliflower crust pizza for myself. I gave hubby the choice of freezer pizza or mine. He had both. Said mine was better. But you know what? Tonight I made a pork loin roast. Rubbed it with all kinds of good spices and roasted it in the oven for 3 hours. Then I sauteed some green beans and made baked potatoes. I did have half a (small) potato..hubby had the other half. There was lots of compliments and everyone was happy tonight. Guess it makes up for the other nights when it's leftovers or my all time favorite night of all... YOYO NIGHT. You're On Your Own for dinner. LOVE THAT NIGHT!!! :lol:

Fasting today just had my first meal of yogurt and blueberries at 2pm I'm down to 147 it would be nice if it stuck through the week.

Sprinkle on your yogurt and blueberries. Measure and post in MFP. Your little gut microbes will thank you for it! Thats not a fart, its a million microbes all shouting "I love you!!!"

yesterday I ate a baguette and some yogurt. Today I ate a protein shake (milk), coffee, an almond snickers, a bag of pretzel M&Ms. I had to actively stop myself from sticking a finger down my throat and bringing up that candy.

I can't type with my wrist brace on. I did really well today. I've had 2 Protein Shakes and Greek Yogurt. It's not a fast day. I'll have something else later. I wish my weight would not bounce all over. I want to see 140 not going up not down. I was 145 a few days ago and 147 this morning, and I haven't been eating wrong. I did my fast right yesterday. Ha Ha. People want in our group and all I am doing is gaining weight!

Welcome Susan And yes the host thing, sorry daisy after catching up last night I knew I'd forget a few things in responding. My fast went ok yesterday I went over by a tad because I ate some plain Greek yogurt last night.. It's become a comfort food for me. Not sure if thats good or bad.. Today! Ugh I wanted today to be so different. But after life whacked me upside the head this weekend, I am disappointed but at the same time don't much care.. Today I have a weigh in and meeting with my surgeon, I've known about it forever and in the last month I just wanted to walk in there and step on that scale and be solidly in the 140's (with clothes on) I'm 149 so that means getting to at least 146 unclothed.. It didn't happen. It's my thing not the doctors thing (I hope) and I think he will be pleased but I'm not.. I wrote a thread yesterday about balance. I need to find more of it, including balancing my expectations and responses to them should they not be met perfectly.

My guide has me at full liquids for the first 2 days then soft foods for the next 4 weeks. They call this stage no lumps or numbs. So applesauce, yogurt, broth or cream soup etc. then stage 3 will be at 5-6 weeks out till 8 weeks and that is adding in soft meats potatoes etc. hopefully the NUT can send you something to help you out as well. Good luck, I'm getting excited can the 18 the get here.

I was sleeved on June 3rd. Still on what they call pre-select foods (fruitless yogurt, refried beans, soft eggs, etc.) and protein drinks. The only one I found that I can stand is the Atkins Low Carb w/ 15g per shake. I tried Isopure before surgery and it was ok, but for some reason, now I can't stand it...and we loaded up on it. Great! I keep trying one every few days to see if it goes down any better. Getting better at the water/clears, but still not close to 64oz - maybe 48 on a good day. Did anyone hit a stall at around 2 weeks? I haven't had any movement for 4 or 5 days. I know my body could be catching up; but I guess I just didn't expect a stall this soon. I'm down 25 pounds since the start, and 14 pounds since day of surgery. Am I having to great of expectations? Trying to get more walking in, but I'm just now starting to feel half way normal again. Still having some pain around the big incision; how long before that goes away? Still hurts to bend over completely and I have 2 small kids I have to take care of - so there have been instances where I've had to move them. My whole rib cage feels like I got beat up! Thanks all!

I need some idea for no meat proteins.. I was a total meat lover before sleeve but not my sleeve has decided that it hates ALL meat., I feel like I'm living on cheese and yogurt and protein coffee lately!! Ugh

Andrew0929, Good for you for nipping the regain in the bud! I doubt if the cereal per se is actually causing the weight gain if you’re truly staying within your calorie goals, but I agree with some of the others that maybe it is an unhealthy habit if you’re depending on it and it’s driving you to make other unhealthy decisions. I love some of these ideas! As you think of some more, I’d also try to think about why the cereal is so attractive. Part of it may be the sweetness and crunch, but part of it may just be its convenience. It’s there, and it’s ready to eat. Maybe if you make sure that it’s not there, and that other, healthier, Snacks are ready to eat, you’ll go for the healthier snacks without another thought. Maybe the trick is to have ready to eat foods on hand, so some ideas are carrot sticks and other cut veggies, peeled oranges, washed grapes and other fruit, hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, and other prepared foods. I also like seaweed snacks for a low-calorie crunch.

@@BeautifulSharifah, It’s tough to lose that weight. That’s why you’re looking into weight loss surgery! But there’s hope! Have you asked your surgeon for a meal plan that can help you? Working at Chick-Fil-A is not the best, but it could be worse. Instead of thinking about what you can’t have, what about focusing on what you can? Chick-Fil-A has a bunch of junk – fried chicken sandwiches, chicken nuggets, waffle fries, Breakfast sandwiches on biscuits, and milkshakes, but they have plenty of good things, too. You can have grilled nuggets for 140 calories and 23g Protein, a side salad with light dressing for 105 calories, a Greek yogurt parfait for 230 calories, a fruit cup for 50 calories, and more. It should be possible to grab a healthy breakfast and lunch. Aside from Chick-Fil-A, you can focus on cutting back on unhealthy foods like sugary drinks, Desserts, and fried foods. You can also think about what you can have rather than what you shouldn’t. Think vegetables and lean protein, with some fruit and healthy fats, and you should be able to lose some weight. Finally, stay positive! You have a lot of reason to stick to your healthy eating plan, since the reward is weight loss surgery! Also, remember that you have plenty of time. It will probably feel like the weight is coming off so slowly, but that’s okay. You have tons of time, and can hit your goal by losing a pound a week. Good luck!

I started my pre-op diet on August 1st. Before October 6th, I need to lose 10-15 lbs, but no more of I will be below 35 BMI. So... I've already lost 14 lbs! My NUT put me on the following diet and I've stuck to it. Breakfast: High Protein low car shake - Premier Snack: cheese stick, piece of fruit or low sugar greek yogurt. I could also choose 1/2 cup 2% cottage cheese with fruit, 1 oz. nuts or an egg. Lunch: 3-4 lean protein, 1-2 cups veggies Snack: Same options above Dinner: Same as lunch. Only eat whole grain carbs 2-3X a week. Drink a lot of Water. Once I gave up Diet Coke, the weight started falling off. For protein, I eat chicken, turkey burgers, fish, shrimp, tuna, eggs/egg beaters. I buy the pre-cooked chicken and steak fajita meet and put it on a green salad. Occasionally I do have nuts. There have been times when I've been hungry but it's really worked for me, so I keep doing it. I can't lose anymore weight so now that will be a challenge. I'll talk to my NUT but probably put a few carbs back into my diet. Good Luck!!

Usually with dinner there's a salad or green veg. What I'm showing there is purely my protein. I have to force myself to get to 100g carbs, but if I don't my athletic performance starts to suffer - so there may be rice or quinoa or a potato at dinner. Or a few tablespoons of granola in with the yogurt. But last night, I had 6 ounces of rib eye steak - left over from a night or two before and that was it. I didn't feel like anything green and was full after the steak. I always eat my protein first then if there's room I eat the rest.

I enjoyed reading your post. I think I tend to believe the same. I'm 3 weeks post op Tomorrow. I've been having major cravings and after my lunch- I went to get some frozen yogurt. No regrets- didn't sit the best in my yummy but not terrible. I,too, do not believing in depriving myself but also believe eat Protein first and then see how you're feeling. I did that an still wanted it so I got it. Thank you again and congrats on your loss!

I'm only 5 days post op but some things are on my full liquids that are probably more like soft foods. This morning i had oatmeal for the first time. I used 1 T of oatmeal and made it watery. I feel like I ate a whole pie, very full. I think I'm going to try a yogurt for lunch. Was never a fan of it but I'm hoping my taste has changed.

I ain't gonna lie, pre-op dieting is screwing with my mind. It's showing me what a horrible relationship I have with food. This empty feeling makes me think I'm hungry and I know it's in my head but it's hard. Today has been my roughest day and I'm on day 8. I think maybe I've had too many carbs n it's triggering me. I ate an Oikos vanilla Greek yogurt and thought it was sugar free but it wasn't. It had sugar. Big wake up call for me. What do you do now when you're bored instead of eat?

I have an issue with sweet stuff too- and of course most of the Protein drinks taste sickly sweet to me! I bought a 2lb tub of Jarrow's Unflavored whey Protein (at Amazon) in order to blend it with Soups like tomato, creamy chicken, plain yogurt, etc. So far I've used it in creamy chicken Cup 'O Soup and it only made the soup creamier- it didn't have any taste that I could detect whatsoever! Today I'll be having a scoop of it (18g protein) in a can of tomato soup. I hope that works as well. I chose Jarrow's because the reviews said it blended really well with hot and cold foods, and it does. I will say though, you have to mix it like you were making gravy or a roux- start with a small amount of the hot liquid, then whisk in (I'm at work so I used a plastic fork and it worked fine) the powder until smooth, then add in the rest of the hot liquid slowly as you stir. If you don't do it this way you will end up with chunky bits floating on top- so gross!