Oregondaisy

Wow Susan, you've really been through a lot lately. I hope you're on the mend soon. Maybe the medication Elizabeth suggested can help you until you are ready for another surgery.

it still amazes me that this can be a pleasant experience. It's mind boggling to me!

My friend who is getting the sleeve soon sent me some info she got from Dr. Aceves office. I was surprised to read you can move to protein shakes on day 5 as long as they are made with water and not milk. I always make mine with water. Now I am not as worried about the clear stage. I am glad I am used to eating like a bandster so it won't be that big of a shock to me. I am glad to read you got your talapia. I love that fish too. Yay for the soft stage! Do you like cottage cheese? I used to hate it until my daughter told me to mix it with yogurt. It's good that way, and would be considered soft.

I would imagine that people do mourn and have some grief at times. Maybe when they are alone at home making and eating their small portions, it's not difficult. When they are out at social occasions like parties, or Thanksgiving, etc. it's more noticeable and they feel different from everyone else. I do remember Mac saying at the beginning it was hard. I know this lady was post op 2 years, but I am sure no matter how many years it will be for me, there will be times I will wish I could eat more. There is a difference in knowing what you need, and at times wishing things could be different.

I've heard that costco sells EAS brand but for some reason the one they sell is EAS but it takes 2 scoops for the same amount of Protein as one scoop that you can buy at Walmart. So it may seem cheaper, but you have to use twice as much. I love costco Premier Protein Bars but they are 300 calories. I don't seem to mind that very much because it would seem if I cooked a meal, it would probably be that many calories, and I am not into cooking or making messes. I like that they don't have fake sugar in them.

I will be having surgery the day after.

You should try getting into the chat room . there are always people in there at various stages. Some will have just had Lap Band surgery, and there are some that have had it awhile and just love it.

I started the poll. I think I took my profile off the hidden feature on Match.com when I was a size 16. I was most comfortable though when I was a size 12. I was willing to at least start putting myself out there, at a 16 .

No, I know this is what I need to do. It might be difficult at first, but I have been living with the band for a couple of years now. I think it's more of a shock to people who first have WLS. I liked it when I had restriction and could eat what I wanted in small portions. I remember telling my daughter that eating was more trouble than it was worth. I liked being able to go for a long time and not feeling hungry.

That was a great article. It just goes to show how much some of us just need WLS. I was going to the gym and exercising my brains out for 3 years 6 days a week before I got WLS. All it did was depress me because I never could lose it and keep it off. Even eating healthy foods can cause weight gain if you eat the wrong size portions.

No, I don't even know the lady. She was at my grandson's birthday party. She was related to somebody else there. I was surprised to find somebody who had sleeve surgery 2 years ago, so I was asking her some questions.

Right but she said she was not morbidly obese. Her bmi was a 39-40 when she started out. She knows she is at a healthier weigh, but she said it's taken all the fun out of anything where there is going to be food around, watching everyone else enjoying their food.

I was just talking to a lady at my grandson's 1st birthday party. She had the sleeve 2 years ago and is very depressed. She likes being thin, but she gets depressed because it was so much fun to go to dinner or lunch with friends and even though she is enjoying wearing smaller clothes, she says she wants to cry when she goes out with anyone knowing she can't eat more than a half a cup of anything. She had a couple of bites of pizza and a couple of bites of birthday cake and looked like she was about to cry.

That's very encouraging! It should be covered the same as any other WLS. People should have a choice not be forced into a surgery they don't want because of insurance companies.

It's too bad we can't choose where it comes off!

That really is a great idea!

I think that the way they decide who will be up for elimination is stupid. People have great weight loss one week and not the next. I don't know a better way to determine who is on the chopping block, but they should have something better IMO. Tara has just been a star, but she can have one week of of not losing well, which has absolutely nothing to do with how hard she tried that week.

Yes, and I didn't have big ones to begin with. You do lose weight everywhere, including your boobs.

I have heard that stretching over one of those exercise balls helps the pain. It's kind of like doing a back bend. I don't know why it would help, other than stretching out the area where the band is.

Do you feel hungry. I have read some people on here feel hunger, which I thought was supposed to go away with the sleeve. I am a little worried about the clear stage. 10 days is a long time to feel hungry.

That sounds yummy Susan. I really like the peanut butter shake mix.

I moved my surgery revision from band to sleeve to April 29th. I will know more soon. I just want to get it over with and start on the healing process.

Ron will probably gain a bunch of weight the minute he leaves the ranch. He's only losing now because they are forcing him to eat right and exercise. He said he's been really heavy his entire life, so I don't believe the amount of time on the ranch will be enough to change life long eating and exercise habits.

Do you have any idea what you want to eat first on your soft diet?

You're doing great Susan. I would be unhappy if someone ate pizza in front of me. I will probably be just like I was when I did the post op diet after banding. I stayed away from people who were eating. I live alone so luckily, there will be nobody eating pizza in front of me. I probably would have wanted to drink some pizza sauce!