May Sleevers...where are you?

[nrg33 27]

@TheRealMeIsHere!

Thanks -- you seem like you'd done great! Congrats on reaching your goal (even if it was a few months ago) =)

I'm so nervous about carbs. My family gets take out a lot and my friends go out to eat a lot, and every time I've looked at a menu since surgery, it seems like everything is full of carbs. I love cooking, but I commute for almost 3 hours a day so it's difficult to do every night.

Thanks, actually it's been several years at goal. When eating out, it's fairly easy to ask that food be prepared without flour/cornstarch or fat/oil of any kind. I always specify this, as even if you ask for grilled, they may still cook it in oil or butter, sometimes adding that it's for medical reasons. (it sort of is, as obesity is unhealthy)Most places will accommodate. Chinese food is VERY easy, order something that's veggies & lean Protein and ask that they use no oil or cornstarch and you can even get the sauce on the side so that you control the amount. Moo Shu is one of my favs

Most places have grilled chicken, beef or seafood. I often order a small salad with one of those options. As far as the fish tacos, you can ask for grilled fish, no tortilla and salad. Or just the protein portion of an entree with no potato or bread.

Ruby Tuesday has great options & a wonderful salad bar. In the beginning, I would get a skewer of shrimp and explain that since that was my meal, could I please get salad bar at the add-on price, since I couldn't eat much anyway.

Most places will do omelettes with egg substitute or whites, add some non-starchy veggies and maybe a side of salsa, YUM!! Then, again, I ask that they use no oil/butter and do not give me toast or potatoes. If they are there I will eat some of them!! So, it's easier to not have them staring at me, lol!

When you do have the time to cook, you can reinvent your favs. I have recreated all my unhealthy favs, comfort foods and family favorites, to fit my new way of life. ALL the taste and satisfaction NONE of the fat or carbs. I can share some if anyone is interested

You are doing great, you will be fine. Enjoy this, wonderful new life, embrace it, get creative!

hi! Can you tell me what comfort and unhealthy foods you redid and how?

[TheRealMeIsHere! 863]

Mac & cheese, Fried crispy stuff, eggplant parm, pizza, creamy salads (egg, tuna, chicken, seafood, etc...), burgers, Italian subs, cannoli cream etc....

https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=434889809

https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=369291480

https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=419473069

https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=263140340

https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=399214999

https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=254657650

https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=257412020

https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=404573739

https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=416938589

https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=263910950

https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=266403790

https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=261465010

https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=256508350

https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=259995590

https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=380330970

https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=401101609

I use the italian sausage as a crust and top with low carb sauce, veggies and fat free cheese, maybe some turkey pepperoni.

All bran makes a great faux fried coating, Creamy salads are AWESOME with 50:50 mix of light mayo and ff Greek yogurt. I top a salad with ham & turkey, then mix light mayo and red vinegar with italian seasoning for all the taste of an Italian sub. The cheesy cauli-tot recipe is to DIE for!! I have TONS more recipes, if there is something specific you are looking for, please ask I probably have, lol!

Edited June 26, 2015 by TheRealMeIsHere!

[TheRealMeIsHere! 863]

Grilled zucchini and or eggplant is a great replacement for Pasta in lasagna.

You can also slice zucchini with a peeler, nuke, just till hot but not mushy and top with your favorite sauce.

Delis are perfect, when you are on the run. Get some low fat turkey, ham, chicken or roast beef with some lettuce/tomato/onion and mustard

Frittatas made with egg substitute, fat free cheese and veggies are delicious.

Protein Powder can be used to make pancakes, muffins & Cookies

Pancakes: 1/3 c. Egg substitute, 1/4 c. fat free or low fat ricotta, 1/2 scoop vanilla Protein powder and 1/2 tsp baking powder

cookies: https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=407562039

muffins:https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=407518229

Overnight protein oatmeal: (variations Chocoalte with canned cherries in Water, banana walnut and nutmeg & cinnamon using vanilla protein powder) https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=440982029

Egg Foo young:https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=264922950

https://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=264875230

Keep in mind, I am further out. Up until 1 1/2 years post-op, I did not eat ANY veggies, ONLY protein because I wasn't hitting my goals. Also these recipes are a fusion between what I eat and my (non-sleeved) sister. I eat very little of any flour/pasta/sugar/potato/rice/bread, maybe a bite here and there as they cause cravings for me

[Sara51692 162]

Grilled zucchini and or eggplant is a great replacement for Pasta in lasagna.

You can also slice zucchini with a peeler, nuke, just till hot but not mushy and top with your favorite sauce.

Delis are perfect, when you are on the run. Get some low fat turkey, ham, chicken or roast beef with some lettuce/tomato/onion and mustard

Agreed with all of this! I haven't started cooking any of the recipes I cooked pre-op yet, but I constantly cooked low-carb, healthy versions of my favorite recipes:

• Use zucchini instead of pasta in your lasagna (you can slice it however you want and don't have to cook the zucchini before putting it in the oven)
• Use cauliflower for a mac & cheese fix! A nice low fat cheese sauce over cauliflower is soooo delicious!
• Make cauliflower "rice" (with a food processor) and make faux fried rice
• Cauliflower steaks (season like steaks and grill)
• Make a cauliflower crust (it's a mix of cauliflower, cheese, and egg) and make a pizza!

Okay, basically I use cauliflower for tons of things. Cauliflower is amazing and versatile.

• Make zucchini noodles to replace pasta in any of your favorite pasta dishes

[Sara51692 162]

Also, eat things in lettuce wraps. Lettuce wraps are a life-saver!

If you like tacos or Mexican food - make a little bean, salsa, guac/whatever mix and serve it in lettuce wraps.

I love honey-chipotle chicken so I make a sauce and a stirfry of veggies and chicken and serve it in lettuce wraps.

Chinese food? Buy takeout and serve it in lettuce wraps to get the same crunch factor as the fried foods they have. Or do a stirfry and serve it in lettuce.

[NoMoBand 278]

Greeting May Sleevers. Thought I'd do a roll call. So, we're out at least 5 months. How's everyone?

How much weight have you lost?

Likes, dislikes of being sleeved?

Complications?

Regrets?

Anything you would like to share?

My weight loss has been very slow, but, it's because I'm a band to sleeve patient. I've lost 35 pounds thus far and I'm ok with that. I really like being sleeved, I do suffer from heartburn, but is controlled. No regrets at all! Let's hear from you. jake

[rosieuk 58]

What a great idea:-)

I've lost 61lb. Sleeved 19th May. I have 28lb to go to my goal. This has taken me from a UK size 22 (US 26) to a UK 16 (US 12)

I am so happy with my results. I aim to get to goal early 2016.

No complications but fairly chronic reflux. Managed with medication but may need to look at surgical options moving forward.

What I love:

Freedom to move and play with my kids easily

Buying new clothes!

Not feeling like the fat friend

My husband's respect for doing this

What is hard:

Getting Protein in has been a hard battle, especially being vegetarian

The reflux

hair loss

I haven't overcome my eating demons and will need help once the sleeve loses its magic ways

All in all I have absolutely no regrets! I did in the first few weeks but I'm a new woman now

[sdgomezRN 4]

My sleeve was done may 19th, the day I came home I was 290 lbs.....this morning 235....so 55 lbs since my sugery, still have 50 more to get where I want to be.

I have absolutely no regrets

I like my results, I loved being able to ride all the rides at the fair with my kids last week!

I don't like the hair loss but I'm lucky my hair was super thick before.

I've have basically no complications other than slight heart burn and I still haven't been able to tolerate green leafy veggies so I dearly miss my spinach and romaine salads but I LOVE my premiere Protein shakes

I have slowed down a bit as far as my weight loss goes but I don't want a bunch of loose flabby skin so I'm trying to take it slow but steady

[roberts30 1]

I was sleved

[roberts30 1]

I was sleeved may 26th I had terrible co allocations I went back to the hospital on June 88th because I was in severe pain in my back come to find out I had a hole in my stomach and everything I was eating was going into my abdominal area and had started touching my spleen. I bleed out from my spleen and then they went in and cautorized it to stop the bleeding. Then I had 4 scopes done to try to repair my stomach none of which worked then I started bleeding out again from my spleen I had to have an emergency splenectomy to remove my spleen whrrn they did that they put a part of my intestine over my stomach to repair it. I was in the hostiptal for 5 weeks after came home I was extremely weak and had to rebuild my strength I feel good now but it was a hard recovery!I have lost 64 lbs went from a size 22 to a 14.

[ValerieDee1975 55]

Hi, Valerie here!
I had my sleeve on May 13th...I have lost about 55lbs....slowing down quite a bit and it fluxes a lot too. Haven't really come across anything I would say I really dislike...except maybe it has really effed up my menstrual cycle...ugh! I had no complications really...my doc just barely nicked my liver, but it had pretty much healed the day after. The initial Constipation was AWFUL...but that was a week out and it has pretty much resolved...I take softeners everyday anyway (on morphine and it backs you up), now I have doubled it and have and otc when needed.

Other than that, I am pretty much able to eat anything (just got my apples back!) and it's been over 2 weeks since I vomited! YAY! lol

Guess that's it! Take care all!!

Greeting May Sleevers. Thought I'd do a roll call. So, we're out at least 5 months. How's everyone?

How much weight have you lost?

Likes, dislikes of being sleeved?

Complications?

Regrets?

Anything you would like to share?

My weight loss has been very slow, but, it's because I'm a band to sleeve patient. I've lost 35 pounds thus far and I'm ok with that. I really like being sleeved, I do suffer from heartburn, but is controlled. No regrets at all! Let's hear from you. jake

[twittymilk 51]

Sleeved 5/18 (5 months today) and down 71lbs.

[Dysruption 70]

Greeting May Sleevers. Thought I'd do a roll call. So, we're out at least 5 months. How's everyone?

How much weight have you lost?

Likes, dislikes of being sleeved?

Complications?

Regrets?

Anything you would like to share?

My weight loss has been very slow, but, it's because I'm a band to sleeve patient. I've lost 35 pounds thus far and I'm ok with that. I really like being sleeved, I do suffer from heartburn, but is controlled. No regrets at all! Let's hear from you. jake

Doing fantastic and haven't looked back a day since the surgery!

I've lost a total of 96lbs since May 19th, the day of surgery.

Likes: Fitting into clothes I haven't wore in years! Dropping from 44 size jeans to 36.

Dislikes: Some muscle loss has occurred, but not so much that I'd worry about it.

Zero complications! I've been very lucky with everything!

Regret: I wish I would have done this sooner!

If your weight loss isn't moving as fast as you'd like it to, start moving around more! Push yourself to your limits and you'll see that scale move down further each week! I have 34lbs to go to hit my goal and I can't wait to get there!

[PennStater920 22]

Hey all!
I'm doing well!! I've lost 98 pounds so far (SO CLOSE TO 100!!!) so I'm super happy with that. Clothes sizes aren't changing as much as I would have liked, my body is still very much a pear shape which makes clothes a little difficult, but I'm hoping if I just keep trucking along and keep active I can work on that some more. I'm a college student and I'm quickly finding out that most social engagements revolve around food or alcohol! But I'm making it work and figuring it all out a day at a time!
I've also had zero complications, I have been SUPER lucky on that front.
I don't really have any regrets. If there's anything that was regrettable, I just looked at it as a learning experience.
Hope you all are doing well!!

[padremama 101]

Doing good also. Have lost 42 pounds which is slow but I'm happy with it. No problems at all. Did have my first gas pains the other day that felt like labor. but that is all.