juliarh

Hi Deevah -- I'm a former DC-area person myself (now living in Paraguay with my diplomat hubby) -- I'm so sorry about your mom -- but very happy you're on this journey, which you will NOT regret in the least. I've heard good things also about the dr. you would like to go to Keeping my fingers crossed that you get approved quickly and get the dr. you want

Great job!! A stall is the worst -- but it sounds like just doing the right things is the key Great job!

yeah, I worry about it because I'm almost 47 -- sigh. But, so far, I have not gotten any wrinkles -- but yes, I do worry about it, but only cause I'm halfway old

Never woke up with the tube -- both for my endoscopy before I had the surgery and after my actual surgery.

another update (nice surprise today ) SN.........................Starting Wt........Current........Goal.......Lbs to Goal juliarh......................211.2.................206.2...........186................20

Wow!! You are an inspiration!! 305 lbs lost!! That's truly remarkable Welcome, welcome, welcome!!

This is the plan -- so far, I've eaten Breakfast and lunch . . ..

Wow! I'm excited that the ghrelin levels stayed so low for such a long time!!! I was worried it might come back . . . . whoot! I think the regain is to be expected if you're not vigilant about what you're putting in your mouth -- I'm not saying we all have to be nuns, but we do have to realize that the reason we got the surgery is because of our obesity and our poor food choices -- we can make better choices or fall back on old habits. And as far as the reflux, I don't plan to not use a PPI -- I figure I'm doing good with with now, why tempt fate?? Interesting research!

Congratulations Luna!! You're doing fabulously well!! Love our Aug. and Sept. Sleevers!

Just to add my 2 cents -- I notice a lot of what you ate had carbs, and you might be very sensitive to carbs -- meaning, that if you eat carbs it causes your brain to want more -- just the other night I made a Mexican tasting ground beef mixture that my family used with tortillas -- I put corn in it -- well, after eating 1/2 cup, I wanted MORE and yesterday I ate over a cup of it in 3 hours (doesn't sound like much, but for me it was!!) and ate over 1000 calories -- sigh. Carbs and me just don't mix well -- makes my brain cry out for them -- so, just a thought . . .

I have only had severe reflux when I am not taking my PPI -- really, it seems to do the trick -- I've not heard of anyone who has been taking a PPI that had issues with reflux -- but I may be wrong.

Hey! remember too that around the 3rd week, most people stall -- that could mean the 4th or 5th week for you -- and a stall means that you stop losing weight, might regain, for a least a couple of weeks -- this is your body's way of adjusting to so much weight loss at once! Bodies typically do not lose weight consistently -- if you graphed out your weight loss, you would see a stair step kind of pattern -- lose, then stay the same, lose, stay the same, etc. That is NORMAL. The body, when dealing with weight, relies on ancient mechanisms that keep it from "dying during a famine." Right now, your body thinks it's in a famine, so it's gonna cling onto anything it can!! BUT!! There is no physical way your body cannot continue to lose if you are doing the right things -- eating Protein first (at least 60 grams), drinking all your Water (at least 64 oz.), and getting in some exercise. That's it. Really! Think about it --you're probably not getting in even a 1/3 of what you used to eat -- so it's really just the body fighting the process. And we ALL go through it -- some people have been on stalls for months!! (Not that I wish that on you!) That said, give it a couple of weeks -- I know that sounds like forever, but really, the next couple of months are going to zoom by and pretty soon you'll be thinner than you have been in years! Trust me And if you're concerned about the amount of protein, calories, etc -- you might want to try to journal your food -- I use fatsecret.com -- I really, really like it (and I think it's got an app for cell phones too). But others use other things as well. I recommend it because it gives you a clue as to what you are eating, etc. I hope this helps -- please hang in there and at least know most, if not all, people here have been on a stall -- me included!! (3 of them so far!) Take care and big hugs!

Hey Labrys, I really know how you feel -- I think I had a 3 or a 4 week stall back in November and it was soooo hard. But luckily, with the sleeve, I was able to plug along -- I'm glad you're seeing a change in your weight. I think that the biggest kudos go to those who face a stall for multiple weeks and keep on doing what they need to do -- so good for you!!

Congratulations Leslie!!! I am in awe of your weight loss -- incredible!! I am doing the happy dance with you!

yay!!! you're here!! you'll love it -- everyone is very positive and helpful

Yep, wholeheartedly agree with Tiff. I've gained and lost the same 100 pounds that I have now almost currently lost 3 or 4 times. The thing is, is that I had no control over what my head was thinking about food -- for the first time, I feel in control of what I'm thinking about food -- I don't really care about it for the first time -- it's fuel, nothing more, nothing less. Could I have done this the "old fashioned" way? Sure -- but I would have regained it -- and I wouldn't have lost it as fast -- and I wouldn't be as active as I am now -- Do we blame a person who needs glasses to see? No. Do we blame a person who uses hearing aids to hear? No. Do we blame a person who needs meds to live a normal life? No. Why should we blame ourselves for doing something medically that is going to help us lead normal, active, healthy, productive lives?? Nope, I don't blame myself. Nope, I won't accept that "coulda woulda shoulda" speak -- we all did it because we needed it just like any other medical procedure or device. That's what I think.

Hi all --- today I ate breakfast!! hooray! B- leftovers from last night - mexican groundbeef (3/4 c) 4 whole wheat crackers L - leftovers from last night - mexican groundbeef (3/4 c) D - going out to dinner -- will order Tilapia since the groundbeef was so high in calories Snack - granny smith apple Vitamins -- got 'em all in (thanks to hubby, I never forget!) Water -- currently consuming, hope to get in at least 80 oz. exercise -- boo! it's raining -- I want to golf!!

Have to agree with Irene -- puking does feel the same (nausea wave, then vomit) -- but overeating and then puking is completely different -- the food is still in your esophagus sometimes and it can hurt in a completely different way. I learned probably during my 1st couple of weeks, after a couple of bouts of overeating vomiting, what my "stop point" was (wave of nausea and then a hiccup) -- and then I don't eat anymore -- it's important to know where your stop point is because then you will be vomiting from overeating all the time.

Update . . . . SN.........................Starting Wt........Current........Goal.......Lbs to Goal juliarh......................211.2.................208.2...........186................22

Hi!! First, every doctor (it seems) has a different post-op diet. You should follow the one given to you by your doctor. My doctor only required that I follow a strict diet through the first 6 weeks. By the 2nd month, I could eat anything. I chose to follow a low carb diet based on the recommendations of many people on this board (and my own research). You will find that immediately after surgery you will not really want to eat anything. And then slowly you will be able to incorporate new foods (mushies, etc.) That said, MANY people here on this board and elsewhere have found their tastes for food changes dramatically (there are some that don't experience that, but many do). You will probably not miss the carbs at all. (Caveat though, there are some that still fight head hunger issues . . . and some that fight food addictions . . . ) At 5 1/2 months out, I still don't get hungry. Yes, my stomach growls, but I don't really want to eat. When it growls, I know I've waited too long to eat. I'm not interested in food -- don't like to grocery shop, don't like to cook -- and if you knew me from before my surgery you would be astonished at the complete turnaround. My tastes have changed radically -- things I used to like I don't anymore. The sleeve is truly life changing. As far as my current diet, I try to eat 60 or more grams of protein a day (usually more like 80), less than 30 grams of carbs (but sometimes it's around 40), and I don't watch the fat because I exercise a lot (my body needs some type of fuel). I do eat all fruits and veggies (raw and otherwise) -- I can't eat a lot of raw fruits and veggies because it's not comfortable, but I like the roughage that an apple or two gives me. I definitely do not eat rice, bread, potatoes, flour of any type unless it's high Fiber, and any sugar products. But this diet is after following my doctor's recommendations. As far as exercise, if you are going to become healthy, you will have to embrace not only a new way of eating, but also becoming more active. Again, every doctor's recommendation is different and you should follow your doctor's recommendations. I was able to exercise 2 weeks out (just walking) and then he said I could do whatever 1 month out. I now am an avid exerciser, golfing up to 3 hours a day, and frankly I feel a little twitchy when I can't move (like today because we've had rain all day - ugh.) All of these changes will happen and you actually will like them. Again, the whole point of the surgery is that you will be changing your lifestyle, becoming more active and eating more healthfully. Believe me, IT IS TOTALLY WORTH IT!! I don't think I EVER would have expected to be where I am right now, 5 months ago. Totally worth it. Hope this helps!

First, always call your dr. if you have a medical concern. Second, it sounds like a lot like you had a bunch of acid and if you're not taking a PPI (nexium, prevacid), then you should ask your dr. about it -- I am still taking a PPI 5 1/2 months out -- I had a very similar sounding incident too (but earlier on, maybe 3 weeks out) and my dr. temporarily increased my PPI -- now, I have no problems. But I really do want to emphasize that you should always call your dr. if you have concerns, ok?? (Like you should call him/her about this.) Take care!

I also recommend using Soy Flour instead of regular flour for when you want to bread chicken or even make pancakes -- it's protein (instead of carbs) and honestly, it tastes like the real thing -- no complaints in my household!

Hiya everyone Ok, I have very little left in my frig or in my cupboards -- ever since the sleeve, I hate grocery shopping and I hate cooking (I used to love to cook!) So it's the dregs of the Proteins that I'm eating today: B-- (not very good of me, but . . .) 2 coffees with 1/4 c skim milk (yeah I know I should eat something . . . I'm gonna try tomorrow) L - 1 oz bacon (told you -- the dregs!) 3 oz. cheese 4 high Fiber crackers D - 3 oz of groundbeef 2 oz of cheese salsa Snack - granny smith apple all my Water (currently consuming) got all my vits exercise -- wanted to golf, but it has been raining all day . . . think it may be a wii day - yuck

Wow!!! Irene, that is crazy!!! 6 pounds is incredible!! Congratulations! Cherice, great job with the consistent weight loss -- it's nice that you've been very steady about it -- and only 15 more pounds till goal!! WOW!! that is truly awesome! I lost 2.2 lbs. this week -- so nice and easy -- it's been weird not to stair step for the past couple of weeks, but I'm taking it! Looking forward to another good week

Whoot!!! Congratulations That is soooo awesome