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Goood morning everyone! Yesterday was an emotional day for me, many "breaks" were needed to regain composure BUT I made it with a lot of love and support from my husband, kiddos, family and friends. You are all such an amazing group of people!!! Yesterday was a good day in regards to staying with my plan, I had some variations to what I posted basically eating 6 small meals throughout the day, the last one being at 9pm because that's when we got home from Disney on Ice and I was STARVING. Other than that I stayed under my target calorie count of 1338 and consumed 1290. Water was on point, no exercise, NO TREATS! This not weighing thing is a double edged sword. I felt so free this morning knowing that I wasn't going to step on that thing and let it determine my day, but I'm also going crazy wondering what's happening and heck it's only day 2 not much could've possible happened:-) Taking it in stride though! Today's plan will go SOMETHING like this. It's going to be another busy day so it may vary but I will stay on plan. Today is Grandparents Day at my daughters pre-school so they're having a little program, I can't tell you how much I love these! Any way back to my plan: Again variations so wanting to stay at 1200 or under for the day. B: Yogurt & Trail Mix 250 cal 17P L: Not sure to be honest will aim to keep it around 300 cal S: If needed Protein Bar 160 cal 20p D: Skinny chicken Casserole: 250 cal approx. 29 p S: Skinny Cow Ice Cream- 160 cal 80 oz of water. I will try to get some form of movement in. Cal 1120 Approx. 81 P Talk about holding someone accountable, my son said hey mommy were not doing a very good job at doing that exercise video every night like you said you wanted to....wawawa. Let's DO THIS!:-)

Not sure what got a hold of me yesterday, food poisoning or a stomach bug but whatever but it was , was horrible. Trying not to push myself too much today. Yesterday I managed to get 56oz of Water in. Food plan, well I didn't eat much at all. Weighed myself this morning and 3lbs gone for the week. Most of that I'm sure was from yesterday so I'm not sure how much of that is "real" but I'll take it and run with it for today. 1 more lb. to go to be back at my pre vacation weight!!!:-) Todays plan I'm honestly playing it by ear. B: Yogurt with trail mix. Water 80oz

Good challenge. It will be tough today for me since we've got snow and I won't be walking at lunch. But I'll try to get the three miles in somehow after work. Had a good weekend but I'm bummed out because I expected a loss and had a gain. I did drink with my meal yesterday when company came (dumb) and I had dessert. So I'm not shocked, just disappointed. I really thought the week of walking would override that but it didn't. It also didn't override the snacking on nuts I did nearly every day last week. Today I'm not going to snack and I will focus on low calorie choices and zero crap. I started with yogurt and have boiled eggs planned for lunch. I sent most of the leftovers home with the company yesterday so I won't be tempted by Pasta and sweets. dinner will be beef and salad. Stressful week ahead with divorce crap. Not gonna eat over it. Nope. Not gonna do it.

Today is going to be a great day because I'm going to make it one! Taking the kiddos tonight to see Disney on Ice, not sure who's more excited them or me:-) Probably will grab a quick dinner on the way there, probably Wendy's so no problem I will just work it into my "plan" for today (which as you can see below is really under-developed). My goal is not to go over 1338 cal. for today. 88 oz of Water and I will try for those darn stairs again. Yesterday I got pulled into a meeting that went a lot longer than expected so the stairs didn't happen. However, today, I think the stairs and moving around as much as possible will help me get through this day with a smile. Today's plan B: Yogurt & trail mix- 250 cal 17p L: Not sure something light and low cal- try not to exceed 250 cal- maybe another jimmy johns unwich for 170 cal 22p (although yesterday the lettuce didn't seem to go down as normal.) D: Wendy's 4pc spicy chicken nuggets 170 cal 10p S: For Disney on Ice- Protein Bar 160 cal 20p I'm going to try and "save" some of my calories in case something unexpected comes along so I don't blow it out of the water and if nothing unexpected comes along well then I'll just add that as a win and hopefully this will assist in my weigh-in next Friday:-) Let's continue moving forward, no looking back, full speed ahead with our heads held high, shoulders back, smile on, working it! We should all remember how awesome we are and that just because we hit a bump now and then, that doesn't change a thing, we all get up and we're back at it today and that's ALL that matters! We don't have to be perfect to be successful! What is perfection any way?? I don't know because I've never seen it! 1-2-3 BREAK!

You know, one thing I'm seriously looking forward to on August 12 (my first day of pureed food) is being able to put other things in my Protein shake. Like blueberries. Or strawberries. Or mix it with yogurt or cottage cheese. Or any number of other things that make me start salivating just to think about, merely because it's DIFFERENT. I am so tired of SWEET-SWEET-SWEET!!! I don't think I'll ever be able to eat Jello again, and even broths have utterly lost any appeal. The one good thing about getting so sick of drinking anything sweet is that it's dead-easy to drink Water now. I put in about a teaspoon of lemon or lime juice in every glass, with ice, and it is soooo refreshing.

I'm so grateful to have found this site and have read a number of stories that made me feel less alone in my own struggle. Here is my story: March of 2008 I saw a weight loss surgeon who said all the right things to convince me I was too fat to lose weight on my own and the only way to have lifelong success was to sign up for WLS which required a thousand dollar deposit. I weighed 265 lbs at the time and in my late 30s was far too tired to try another diet and exercise program that would inevitably result in another 10lb weight gain. January of 2008 my employer switched to a new insurance carrier, I submitted paperwork in March for coverage for WLS and eventually got the definitive "no" in November 2008. Fast forward to October 2009, same doctor, same spiel, weight now 295lbs and co-morbidities presented to insurance carrier requesting coverage- denied. Februaury 2011, made a "lets just see" call to insurance carrier to find out if requirements were met........found out that one more year of a documented weight and BMI over 40 and the coverage would be extended! I put my ducks in a row and within 2 weeks of my initial doctors visit in February 2012 I was able to schedule my surgery for mid March. I was shocked to find my weight ballooned to 347lbs but thrilled when I lost 16 lbs pre-surgery in a short 12 days. I took 5 days off work, gave away all the food in my pantry and bought the cutest pajamas I could find for my 3 day hospital stay. I packed my bag on Sunday and even though I was nervous and exited I slept until 5am when I took a luxurious bubble bath and set out for the hospital @ 7am. In pre-op my precious daughter sat and prayed with me, my anesthesiologist joked about just turning the big 40 too, my surgeon came in and smiled, answered my questions, quelled my fears and prayed with my daughter and I. Nothing but blackness. I barely woke to find myself in PACU alone and asked for my daughter to be allowed in.."sure honey, which one is she?"..."hmm, oh, she's the one with pink hair!". My sweet daughter came in and praised God with me that I was breathing and everything seemed fine. Fade to black again. I'm in a private room now and my daughter is sleeping on the sofa. The nurse comes in, the IV is checked, "here's your button for the morphine pump. Any time you feel pain coming on you press it." I'm not in pain, I feel my stomach and it feels flat already, stupid, it must be the drugs. My surgeon comes in with his PA and he looks flushed, sweaty and triumphant, "eveything went wonderful! no problems, a textbook case if there ever was one." we smile and I joke about calling What Not To Wear to get a new wardrobe. I get up to the bathjroom as soon as I can. I'm anxious to see how I look and change out of the hospital gown. It's been 3hrs since surgery and i'm in my pajamas, robe and snuggly slippers and my daughter takes my arm and we begin our walk around the unit. I walk and walk, smiling and thinking what a good patient I am, no DVTs for me. My stay is uneventful, day 3 my surgeon smiles and says "time to go home!" I fill my prescriptions but I haven't touched the pain medicine and feel so powerful that I drive myself home. Then the horror begins. The first noght i'm home I wind up in the bathroom with forceful diarhea that comes in waves of gut wrenching spasms. Over and over again, just foul smelling liquid, I sit there too long and now i'm sick, I pull the trash can over and vomit clear liquid until I think i'm going to pass out. My daughter gets me to bed, time to take the meds and not try to do it on my own, I slump back and its daytime now. My head is spinning and the spasms come again, diarhea, vomit.... I step on the scale, smile in a drug haze and think wow i've lost 2 more lbs! Nothing is clear anymore, what day is it? what time is it? did I take my pills? was it a dream or did I really eat a piece of chicken from the refrigerator? why won't the nausea stop? why do the Protein shakes suddenly taste like dog butt? I can't get anything in, i'm trying to force 2oz popsicles down but when I finish one its back to the bathroom with waves of diarhea and vomiting. Day 6 post-op, I manage to take a shower with my daughter holding me up, pack 2 Protein Shakes and my giant Water bottle and trot off to work. I make it 2hrs into a ten hour shift and spend most of it in the bathroom vomiting blood...time to call the doctor. I talk to the nurse who tellls me to drink as much water as I can. I can't. I call and talk to another nurse who says to try a different Protein shake. I'm weak and sick and starting to lose it...I scream at my daughter "why won't you help me?". I call the nurse again, the PA calls me back "have you been able to take your meds and get some water in?" no, NO! It's been 11 days since surgery and now we're worried for some reason and my daughter has my bag packed and we're back at the hospital where they have my room ready and they put me back in a hospital gown. I don't see my doctor until Monday but Fri, Sat and Sun a variety of PAs mand other surgeons from the office come in and tell me things and they'll support me and some people have a harder time and just give it time, time time. Monday the first of many PICC lines come and the tests start. In 3 days I blew 11 IV lines. The PICC line sounds wonderful but they hit my ulnar nerve and the vein occluded and I went back to my room with an open hole in my arm, a second PICC and a gown covered in blood..how did that happen with a sterile drape? So I can't eat but they think I won't and they tell me all the reasons I need to and they threaten if I don't its time for TPN. I try, I puke. I try everything, Unjury- ick, water-gross, eggs-vomit, pudding, ice cream, sherbet, yogurt, Jello... the nausea wells up from my toes and never ends. The TPN starts on Tuesday, I leave the hospital 13 days later, Maundy Thursday, I beg because tomorrow its Good Friday and I can't bear to be away from daughter on Easter. Monday after Easter I have lost 8 lbs in the 4 days i've been home, somethings wrong. The doctor says to get a liter of Fluid and some Vitamins, it'll be ok, it's not. Friday the nurses come and set up the home TPN and show me how to do IV push meds, the saline, phenergen, saline, heparin, again, the zofran, again, 8 times a day. My house becomes and infirmary, boxes and boxes of supplies, dressings, medicine, saline, alcohol swabs, heparin. The dog can't be out when the dressing is changed, the TPN bag is changed once a day, add the vitamins, push the medicine. It takes a few weeks and the meds are doubled, the nausea just won't fricking stop. The TPN is my savior. another month, double the meds again, brief periods of relief, my weight stabilizes @ 317....I had WLS for this? I can't work, i'm constantly sick and besides I have a doctors appointment every week and another test, EGD, swallowing, emptying studies, another EGD, but nothing is wrong "everything is fine, it may just take time for you. You might be on liquids for 6 months" my doctor says... liquids? it's been 3 months and I can drink about 12 oz a day... liquids? i'm still on TPN?! It's been 4 months, I can't stand the TPN, we decrease the time and I try to eat what I can when I can. My weight is 318, d?@$ WLS! We double the meds, the phenergen is 4 times the dose it was when I had surgery, does anyone know this causes heart problems? We decrease the TPN, I can only eat right after I push the meds and I do it again right afterwards, then I pass out... weight loss is tough work, I manage to get down to 314. Somethings wrong, I feel sick, sicker than usual haha...my daughter is talking to the nurse at the ER, "no she feels really sick, her heart is skipping beats maybe? her blood pressure is up. look at her arm, do you think it's swollen? what's that black mark?" They tell me I have a UTI and send me home, its Monday. I can't breathe, i'm having a heart attack, I know it, its Wednesday and we're back at the ER, the doctor smiles and says its anxiety, take some Ativan and keep taking your antibiotic...are you kidding? I throw up the antibiotic, it stinks, I crush the Ativan and sleep for days. Its Friday and the nurse calls, "how are you" my arm hurts and its swollen, "GO BACK TO THE ER" I can't, I fall back asleep. Its Saturday and I can't find my wrist, my arm is a thick puffy balloon like they use to make balloon animals. My fingers won't bend, doesn't matter cause I can't feel them anyway, i'm sick, I vomit and try to push my meds, I get in 2ccs of saline and it feels like my arm is a water balloon...I push a cc and I think I see it literally filling up, theres a black gnarled line around my upper arm, looks like a barbed wire tattoo, thank God for WLS. I'm at the ER again, its Saturday night and i'm sure they'll admit me, they HAVE to pull the PICC and give me a new one, surely they'll see that, I can't breathe, please give me some Ativan and phenergan, i'm gonna puke again. A nurse comes in and says he's from Interventional radiology, doesn't even touch my arm but smiles and leaves, we hear him outside the door "you've gotta pull that PICC, it's really bad!" a tech comes in with an ultrasound machine and pushes on the outer part of my arm, over and over, slimy gel, pushing harder, my arm isn't quite so numb now, its killing me on the underside, my armpit aches and the inner portion of my upper arm feels like someone is firing a gun into it every time they touch me. "Good news!" the ER doc smiles and tells me its just a little superficlal blood clot...yay! all we need to do is apply warm compresses and it will go away, have some noroc for the pain...great, more crap I can't swallow. "What should I do if it gets worse? what if it swells up more?" don't worry "It's fine, no need to come back even if it gets bigger, warm compresses and you'll feel alot better" It's Monday and the weekend went by in a drug induced haze. I can't use my PICC, I crush the norco and ativan and try to stay asleep, no not asleep, blacked out, like anesthesia until the doctors office opens Monday. I tell the nurse, she sets up an appointment at Interventional Radiology for them to pull and replace the PICC on Tuesday, good, hopefully i'll die by then. Its 6pm Monday and I can't take it, I might be hallucinating, I know i'm dying, I moan and rock, i'm in the car, off to the ER again. I wait for hours while people scream and cry, everybody is taken before me, I pull my sweatshirt and cover my head, I moan and lick the blood from cracked lips, I can't even stand up to go to the bathroom and vomit, 4 hours later and they wheel me back. Nurse after nurse comes in to try to start an IV, "she's dehydrated and a tough poke" "I KNOW! she's so ill tho, what are we supposed to do???" check her feet, no veins, we're gonna have to go in thru the femoral.....God no, I can't remember if I have underwear on and they're gonna cut into my groan to find a vein. "Great news!" we found a cluster of blood clots under your arm, no not one, there are several vericose veins bulging out of your arm, the PICC went bad and they strangulated and now they have clots in them. You're gonna die if you throw one to your heart or lungs, we're starting the lovanox, you're gonna be fine. 3 days of terror, I'm admitted to the hospital and the doc upstairs decides she knows what I need, they pull the PICC from my grossly swollen arm and I beg for some dilauded "this isn't a painful procedure, you don't need anything for pain." and she teaches the student nurse how to yak=nk 4 feet of tubing and wire from my arm while I sob, my daughter cries and starts to yell. The doctor leaves, she won't come back or write orders, i'm sick, no pain meds or nausea meds, try some tylenol, f**** you. I cry and demand to see another doctor, I call my doctor and the oncall doctor screams at the charge nurse...they give me ativan and phenergan, my daughter yells and threatens, the nurses hate to come in my room. Wednesday morning is the first and last time I see my surgeon, he pops his head in and smiles "so your PICC is gone now, thats what happens" when you screw up and get a blood clot is what he doesn't say. I'll see you in my office next week and we'll talk about a feeding tube. What? I had WLS 4 and a half months ago... I cry and turn and face the window, I keep the shades down. I'm sick of this, I finally get to leave @ noon on Wednesday. I have a script for Warfarin and an order to have my blood drawn every day, I have no PICC line, no IV push meds, no TPN and my arm looks like I was going for a Popeye look. I sob on the ride home. When I go to the lab the next morning they stick me 6 times and still don't get enough to run the PT/INR to check my clotting times. I fall out of the car as I try to go inside, I just sit on the grass and contemplate throwing up on the lawn, I see the neighbor and when she waves I think I should strip off my clothes and just run shrieking down the street... I need a laugh, otherwise I just cry. I'm so depressed, I see my primary doc, he orders me oral nausea meds, a compression sleeve for my arm and listens to me cry. I tell him my heart is skipping a beat, he says "phenergan can cause permanent heart damage" f*** phenergan. It's 12 days since I left the hospital without a PICC. The last thing my surgeon said was that they couldn't find a reason for my symptoms, he even asked the doctors at a seminar in California and they were all puzzled, oh well, too bad for me. My weight is down to 300 lbs now, it was 312 when I left the hospital. I made the mistake of going back to the ER last week Tuesday because my chest hurt and I was coughing and that same shortness of breath and heart thing came back. they said I was fine and were sending me home when I looked the ER doc right in the eye and said "with all due respect, the last time you said I was fine I had a blood clot that almosgt killed me, please, can you just check everything to make sure i'm ok?" tears in my eyes, he smiles, lets run another test. Theres a shadow in my lung, likely pneumonia but we can't be sure the clots haven't moved. We'll keep you for observation but we won't admit you, you're probably fine buit we'll do some IV fluids and antibiotics to be sure. They take me upstairs, I know whats coming next, nurse after nurse tries to start the IV, IM pain meds, I ask for nausea meds at 6:30 am and by 2pm I still haven't gotten any. I can't stand it so I leave, they chase me and try to make me sign something saying if I die its my own fault. I get home and chew a phenergan, drink some lortab and pass out. My primary doc said he would figure out how to get me seen by a specialist, I won't return the calls from my surgeons office, if I could put a stop payment on his check I would but insurance has already paid his fee. Maybe he's right, there's nothing to explain my symptoms, I doubt that, my skin is grey and I look like a chemo patient because my long thick brown hair has fallen out in Patches and I have a kind of crazy eyed look to me. I'm hungry and thirsty, I think I look like I could be a victim of starvation but then I laugh because i'm still so fat. I knew the risks of the surgery, pulmonary embolism, DVT, sleeve leak, infection. I was a nurse for 10 years and took care of hospice patients who looked better than me. I signed on for a magic pill, a fantastic surgery that would finally help me get to a healthy weight so I could see my daughter graduate from medical school, get married and hold my grandchildren. I wanted to avoid diabetes and stop heart disease, funny how it all worked out. If you have experienced any of the pain, nausea, depression, sadness, fear, frustration, anger or disgust like I have, tell me your story and let me know i'm not alone, i'm not crazy and it does get better. :-)

Gen, it went well! 2 small shrimp and a bite of the yogurt I was full and happy lol

I tried 2 oz of tomato Soup with a teaspoon of Greek yogurt (Fage), and I thought I died and went to heaven! It was so nice consuming something other than broth and those detestable Protein shakes. I'm only 8 days out and I wasn't sure if "full liquids" included soup. Either way, the soup didn't give me any trouble. I'm really wanting hot and sour soup now.

I second the kudos for sticking with it! But if the point is to shrink the liver, am I correct in assuming that you can only have sugar free/low fat yogurt and low fat cottage cheese? The sugar and the fat content is what makes the liver "fatty."

I was sleeved 12/19, left the hospital on full liquids and was told I could add mashed taters, yogurt, soups, and cream of wheat on 12/26. But I'm having a spoonful of potato soup on xmas day. I weighed on 12/23 and was down 10 lbs.

As for the fruit I would get fresh fruit, and then if you need to cook it...cook peaches in some water with a bit of splenda. Then when it's soft, coll in the fridge then put in the blender and make a peach puree. Strawberries I think can be just pureed fresh. I would get pineapple in it's own juice, strain the juice and even rinse the pineapple in water to get off the sweet juice and then puree it. I am on my own pre-op since I was told to just lose 12 lbs. before surgery. Eating one small meal a day and having protein shakes for lunch and breakfast. A small Fit and Trim Low carb and no sugar yogurt for a snack in the afternoon.

Good mornijng ladies. Had a wonderful, albeit busy, weekend. Michelle, your post made me cry. When my grandmother was hooked up to a million machines for YEARS I always cried and wished for her release and always felt guilty for feeling like that. Now that I'm older I realize that that was a very mature unselfish feeling for a little girl, which I was at the time. My continued prayers with you and your family. Janey! You are doing awesome!! Keep up the great work! You deserve it plus much more... Pammy, how did you like alice in wonderland? I was gonna go see it but haven't had time. Are u all unpacked? If you are then you are superwoman! We had unpacked boxes in our garage for yaers after we moved in... Judy, I used to love fashion bug but then they closed all of them here...I'm surre your clothes will fit you before you know it... Heather, so cute about ayla! She is getting so big so fast. Both our lapband babies are! Please post more pics, I miss her sweet face! I started bootcamp this morning and I'm so sore. Its gonna kick my butt. I'm noshing on some greek yogurt with granola now. I had a scrambled egg for breakfast. I'm gonna try to do six small meals a day and see how that works for me... my hand is killing me typing on this phone... love y'all lots always... be back later

Lisa, you're not alone and you're not the only one struggling. Take a breath. You've been through a lot with your son lately. It's devastating to watch someone you love suffer. Your posts always make me think and always point me to something in my life I need to see too. When I don't see you posting as often it means you must be off trying to handle it all on your own. For me that doesn't work. I find success when I reach out. So let's grab this thing by the horns and beat it back. I've had several weeks of losing and gaining the same five pounds. Why? I want to eat what I want and drink wine whenever I want. That got me really far didn't it? Today I had yogurt for Breakfast because I forgot that all my Protein shakes were At work. Then deli meat and cheese for lunch. Now Soup and a salad for dinner. I commit to no more food after this dinner and no wine tonight. I'm off to an OA meeting as well. I got my stairs in at work and guess what. For today that is my imperfect day and that's just fine.

Good morning!! I hope we're all planning a STRONG Friday that will lead us right into the weekend. Today's plan: B-8 oz shake w/fiber L-Greek yogurt w/fiber & granola S-8 oz shake w/fiber D-Tornados (flank steak pinwheel with parsley & bacon), green Beans 72 oz Water, 5 miles of walking/cardio 791c, 95p, 30nc Okay, there it is. Coming down off sugar today from my birthday treats, but I get what I deserve. No whining and no excuses! If I do have any issues (usually headache), I'll pour on some extra water to flush it out. Let's make it happen!!

Sitting here eating my yogurt and thinking about you guys. I miss you! I'd love to say I'm at goal weight and stuck to my plan. However, that's not the case. I've been on a six month roller coaster, emotionally and physically. Today, and I'm only doing a day at a time, I'm on plan. How are you guys? Anybody need some accountability? I could sure use some! @@JustWatchMe - how did the summer internship go for your daughter? @@bacon - how's your father? @@punkinvine - have thing settled down in your world? @@2babutterfly - is school back in full swing?

Haaaaaapy Friday everyone!!! So happy the weekend is upon us! Although the weekend seems to be the most challenging time for me, I'm really going to try and be more mindful of what I put in my mouth (and what comes out of it) hahah nah, that's no fun:-) The hubby and I have date night tomorrow which if I know him means eating at our favorite steakhouse which is great because they have a ton of different options on the menu that fit within my plan so that shouldn't create any pitfalls. Yesterday, let's just say I veered to the left a smidge, no stressing, it's all about balance right. I went over my planned calorie target by 230 so I consumed 1410 (silly things in the freezer). Finished the last day of my Water flush with 85oz, no exercise @@2babutterfly, I'm with you this is the hardest thing for me!!! Today the plan is pretty simple and I will be disciplined to stay with it!!! B: Yogurt & trail mix 250 cal 17p L: Protein bar and 1 cheese stick 270cal 27p D: 2 eggs with 2 slices of low sodium bacon and 1oz of cheese- 320 cal 21p S: Skinny Cow Ice Cream- 160 cal 80 oz water 1,000 cal 65p Being honest exercise probably won't happen today I have meetings at work and things going on this evening. I know excuses, excuses @@JustWatchMe your weekend sounds like so much fun! Italian is my favorite and that menu sounds to die for, send me some:-) I'm sure your friend is extremely thankful!!! Also what a wonderful NSV!! Life is great! @@s_suther I think splitting your shake in half is a great idea especially if it takes 1-2 hours to finish the entire thing, this will not only help your body consume all of the Protein and process it like you want it to but it will also help you fit it within that 30min window. My only question is if you do that will it satisfy you the same way? Since this is a first try maybe you should have a thought out snack on standby just in case so that you're not starving?? Just a thought. @@2babutterfly @@bacon sounds you have great food plans in place! I do believe we're rocking and rolling! We should all be very proud of our accomplishments!! Have a wonderful day everyone!

Fair life milk has 13 grams per cup. They also have chocolate. I lived off plain milk and YQ high protein yogurt.

Lana: That site is http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/HoustonAreaBandsters/ Had a great time. Lana and I went to Spivak's first weekly support group meeting downtown. He wants us to be healthy and party animals, I think. There's going to be a Christmas party and he's sponsoring us in the Komen breast cancer walk/run. I asked about similar changes to the Speigel changes, and there's nothing... OK to continue to go to the Surgicenter for fills, no change in procedures for anything, no required meetings. He seems more into door prizes, fun challenges, belly dancing...jeez! Anyway, the first meeting was terribly interesting. There were probably 50 people, I'd guess, and a bunch of successful bandsters. It was eye opening....it looked like the ones who had the aggressive weight loss with the band were also being serious dieters. Doing things like eating half a yogurt for breakfast and saving the other half for a snack, having a lettuce and tomato salad for lunch, and a protein and veges for dinner...total 600 calories AND working out 5 days a week. Just depends what your goals are.... They handed out some articles and I found that the one of how to deal with plateaus/no weight loss was especially good. Anyway, I have lots of thoughts going on in my head, and tomorrow will be a new day for me.... Most of all, I enjoyed your company, Lana. See you all soon.

Mags!!! I missed you and Prudence! Glad you're in a sweet spot. Your back will feel better with weight loss, just persevere and it will come. Wow, NJ2NC- that is great! I have yet to hit that- I'm still hungry every couple hours, though I don't eat or snack until it's "time." I can't wait to get where I just don't think about eating. That unwich sounds good! I like Jimmy Johns anyways. I want your opinions- yesterday for lunch I had 2 small soft tacos- one pulled chicken, and 1 crispy shrimp. I was able to eat the whole thing, no issues (no side items like rice or beans, just the tacos). My question is- does this still seem like too much "volume" of food? It was within my calories, and it held me til 8 pm, after zumba, where usually I'd have a greek yogurt in the later afternoon. I just can't wait for another fill!!!! I did eke out a 1/2 lb loss for last week, so 61.5 lbs lost. I miss my elliptical, but our upstairs airconditioner is on the fritz and the elliptical is on the third floor, so it would be waaay to hot anyways. I like the Firm videos I"ve been doing, I just worry that they don't give me as much as a calorie burn. Everyone have a great day!!!!

B-Protein Shake (protein, 1 TBSP peanut butter, tbsp carmel Torani) Delicious!! s-Greek Yogurt L-1/3 chicken breast and 1/4 cup broccoli s-tbsp peanut butter supper- green peas/chicken salad snack-yogurt

For Breakfast I am liking plain cream of wheat with milk and a little sugar free vanilla caramel coffee creamer in it, lunch I usually eat 2oz lunchmeat and either a yogurt or cottage cheese, and dinner I like chicken salad and mashed sweet potatoes. Today I had for lunch I had a Gorton's grilled tilapia piece and it was only 80 cal, 3 gr fat and 14 gr of protein!!! I was surprised it had that much. Anyways, a few of the things I have been eating lately. Oh yeah, I snack on the mini babybel light cheese's. What are some of your favorites?

Hello again! Since going back to work Monday, I have been too busy the too tired to post! Since the start of my liquid diet on the 1st, I've lost 18.2 lbs. 11 since surgery on the 8th. I feel like this is very slow. I have moved on to puréed foods like mashed potatoes, yogurt, sherbet, and most things I can get into the Cuisinart. I have had no food intolerances but have over-eaten (by 2 bites) twice. I ate too fast and by the time I realized, it was too late. It is soooooo uncomfortable. I'm much more careful now. I eat about 3-4 tablespoons before I'm full. Struggling to get in the protein and fluids even though I sip water all day. My belly is still pretty sore. I feel like I got hit with a baseball bat, particularly under my largest incision. Going back to the surgeon next week for a follow up. How's everyone's weight loss going?

I was cleared last week. 2% reduce fat sargento cheese sticks Gordon's Grilled Tiilapia. (These are 3 oz portions. One portion was too much for me.) My nutritionist said I could have deli meat but it has to be Boar's Head. I've tried the Jerk turkey breast and oven roasted beef. Dannon Light & Fit Greek yogurt John Soul's fajita chicken strips Hebrew National 97% fat free hot dogs These are the only things I've tried so far. I can have shrimp and crab next week. I'm looking forward to next week lol. Good luck! Just take your time eating and enjoy this new stage.

I am 4 days post op today. I am mostly having trouble with the gas. But I am only taking liquid extra strength tylenol because I do have 3 year old twins to help keep contained. My husband has been so supportive. He even stayed by my side overnight the first day while my mother watched my girls. I haven't stepped on a scale yet. I figure I might weigh more right now because of post-surgical internal swelling and gas/bloating. Once I left was put on a stage 2 diet but I am slowly steping into it with protein shakes, broth, and greek yogurt to reach the minimum 60 grams of protein daily. I do have some soreness around my ribcage and diaphragm. Luckily, my husband is taking care of the household along with my eldest daughter help until after my first post-surgical appointment on the 22nd. I am hoping ot be able to sleep in bed soon. I am a tummy sleeper so this is reeking havoc on my nocternal sleep patterns. Has anyone else had have issues staying awake throughout the day while only taking tylenol for pain? I feel like I am having nacroleptic episodes. One minute I am awake and alert and the next I am passed out for 20-30 minutes.

Tuesday jan 14 5'2" / 29 months PO / CW 173.4 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Breakfast: coffee with almond milk / strawberry Greek yogurt oatmeal smoothie Snack: protien bar/ sugar free iced cappuccino (grocery store) Lunch: 4 oz salmon / salad with spicy mayo Snack: broccoli puree Dinner: 4 fried falafel balls / cut up veggies Snack: 3 Tbsp peanut butter / coffee with almond milk --------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals 1555 cals / 91g protien / 112g net carbs / 75g fat --------------------------------------------------------------------- Disappointed with some of my choices yesterday. I'm doing a fast to make up for it. Sent from my SM-G950U1 using BariatricPal mobile app