Day Dreamer

Hi all! I was Sleeved on 6/6/11. SW was 264 and CW is 180. I should be happy but I am still having body issues. I still see that 264# girl looking back from the mirror. I wear a sz 9/11 in juniors but still an XL shirt - UGH. My arms are flabby at the top - no amount of lifting has taken them back to a toned, nice look - although they are MUCH smaller than before. My bottom is flat - no shape at all - and hangs lower. I have started doing more hind leg lifts and stairmaster moves to help put the buns back in the oven. Hehehe! B00bs are another story.. my once glorious D's are now full C's.. full? Oh no.. not full as in a hand full, but as in a sack of skin full. Gross, I know. But totally true. I was so against a b00b job, but now I really have no choice unless I can go the rest of my life throwing them over my shoulders like a backpack. Sigh. On the flip side, I can fit tons of crap in my bra now - so no need for a purse. Hmm. What do I eat? Oh girl.. I eat it all and then some. There is nothing that I cannot eat. However, I try not to eat Pasta (maybe a bite), no bread (ok a bite at best), and a few other things. Yes I drink soda, but only when I am having a mixed drink (rum and diet coke). No beer - I haven't even tried it and I don't want to. meats go down ok, but too much and I feel aweful. I can eat (bad) carbs like crazy ... crackers - OMG, I can literally eat a half box of flatbread crackers. Cookies are the same. I have to smack my own hand to stop. Prime example of why you need to change your eating habits early on. Stall? My middle name. Probably the cracker habit. My normal day looks like: B- Protein shake S1- nuts (pistachios or almonds) L- Soup, Jerky, Protein Shake or other S2- more nuts or jerky (whatever I can find at my desk) Some times, insert sad face, the vending machine junk finds its way to my mouth. Sigh D- lean meat (chicken usually) and veg I usually drive into some crackers before bed. Exercise - I have an under the desk cycle (yes, I use it at work all the time). I have hand weights at my work desk as well as beside my couch. I have done Zumba, cardio and walking. I have no routine in place. I try to lift every single day. And I need to work on my cardio again. I am slacking. I know. Insert stall nod here. Overall - I am happy with the results. I eat pretty normally. I don't order when we go out, so I am a cheap date. I can eat a few bites off someone else and be happy. Or if I must order, I order a side only (like green beans). I am tired a lot and always cold.. but I also have thyroid disease (could be the weight loss or the thyroid). I love that I can shop in the teen section of ANY store! I love that knee high boots zip up easily and are usually too big on me. I do wish I could break these month long stalls easier, but I think adjusting my eating and exercise would cure that - of course, that takes motivation and action. LOL

Good information!!! I will make it tonight!! Thanks!

Just wondering if anyone has tried Chia seeds post op? I searched and dont see any mention of them, which is odd since they are the hot thing right now. Here is the back story: Chia seeds are tiny little seeds that expand like 8 times their size when introduced to a liquid / ingested. I am wondering if we can use them post op (in small amounts of course) ?!?! I see people putting them in greek yogurt, in smoothies etc and so I bought some. They sit on my shelf as I am too afraid to test drive them yet. On a side note, there is nothing that I cannot eat / drink. Nothing really hurts anymore. Soda is fine. Bread etc. So I am not too worried about the expanding part... mostly because I know I wont use enough seeds to fill me, but more so I worry about breaking my seam wide open. (I know, I know, dont stress that so far out.. but sigh... I do). Anyway, if you have used Chia seeds, please let me know the amounts you use and how you used them. Thanks!

My polyps were removed during my surgery. I am 6 months out and fine.

Umm... It is different for everyone but I had my surgery on 6/6/11 and my tummy still does it. Now it is much louder!! It really freaks people out. My DH constantly ask if I am hungry. Sigh. it is what it is.

Lets just act like adults for a moment... LMAO ok ok.. my bad. You know, the disagreements dont bother me either - it is the Sleeve Know-it-alls that bug the crap out of me. They comment on your post about YOU CANT DO THAT... or YOU SHOULD NEVER... The thing is, you are not a DR and even most of the Drs are still learning about VSG and life there after. We have to learn and grow together. Maybe sharing your experience would be better than bashing them for drinking coffee etc. We can all learn from each other. Disagreements are ok... but sometimes you have to agree to disagree ... back to the fighting HAHAH

Definitely try eBay!! And post the link here so some of us can grab up those sizes :smile1:

We eat out A LOT! (Yes, even post op) But now, I generally do not order anything! I pick off my hubby's plate or one of my kids plates. If the waitress really starts bugging me, I might order a hot tea or coffee - they usually think you are sick. But when other people stare, I never attribute it to my small plate or stealing bites off everyone else. In my own twisted world, I attribute their staring to my sexy new look Ok maybe that isn't what they are looking at but who cares?!?! Enjoy your meal - even if you only eat a few tiny bites. Just smile and keep it moving. Worse comes to worse, say something. "Can I help you?" That tends to keep haters at bay - or - can open up a convo with someone secretly considering WLS.

Ali!!! It is never too late to start over again (that goes for the Sleeve, life, love, work etc). You can do this. In fact, your post inspired me Keep us updated and good luck - you got this!

Some of the replies really irk me. This person is HUMAN. Get over it. She even replied that she felt bad, so seriously, give her a break. If you think this surgery will make you NEVER eat junk food again, think again! You have to work with your new Sleeve. You CAN cheat it. You CAN gain back. But you dont have to stop being human. Like a couple people said, everything in moderation. 1/2 cheeseburger is NOT the end of the world. Worst case, use that as a learning experience to make better choices. Big deal.

Carbs are still my nemisis!! Even though I eat much less volume, I can really pack in the carbs (crackers, Snacks etc). I havent been following a low carb diet but I think it is time to go back to one.

I was the one that was saying I will never get a boob job... 60 lbs later... yeah - at min I will need a lift. BUT definitely want implants bc they have disappeared... Went from a full 42D to a 38C - almost B... and still losing (only 4 months out). CRIES!!!

Now I need to find a pumpkin protein muffin recipe YUM!

Funny to see this thread alive and well... sadly, it is still happening in my daily life. I am now 3 1/2 months out and can really pack in some slider foods. At frist I was so happy to be able to eat more than 2 bites... that was, till I realized was eating multiple serving sizes at a time. Things like crackers and dip - oh lord - I can eat a whole box of flatbread crackers with some french onion dip like no ones business. It is sad... crazy.. mostly sad, but even disappointing. I know the rule, eat Protein first but come on... I was never a stickler for the rules before, you think one surgery is going to change my mindset overnight? (Over 3 months worth of nights? LOL) Well I try... I do. During the day I do pretty good. In fact, I don't eat much at all; a few bites here and there. But come 8pm or so and I am starving. Right for the salty comfort foods... and they slide. Darn... who knew the Sleeve had sliders... Oh wait- I knew hahah I read it before I even had the surgery. BOOO ON ME! I have fallen into this comforting pit of eating junky slider food but enjoying it because it makes me feel like I am eating a normal amount of food again. I know what I have to do... I just need to do it. MAN UP.. err WOMAN UP! LOL Yeah, easier said than done. I will keep you posted

I am 3 months out and to be honest, shakes get boring. I love fall time because it means Thanksgiving foods! Or pumpkin pie... ohhh purrr! If you crave that comforting taste / smell of pumpkin pie during fall, why not try a pumpkin Protein shake. Yumm-O! 1/3 cup canned pumpkin puree <br sb_id="ms__id586">1/3 cup milk <br sb_id="ms__id588">1 dash of vanilla 2 packets Splenda <br sb_id="ms__id592">Cinnamon (to taste)<br sb_id="ms__id594">Nutmeg (to taste)<br sb_id="ms__id596">1 scoop vanilla Protein powder ice My friend used coffee creamer to make her shake extra thick - not good for those of us watching our carbs. Super tasty shake and makes me LOVE fall time Enjoy!

Looking back maybe I didn't push myself hard enough... at 213 now. I should have aimed at 205. LOL Even better if I were sticking to my low carb diet - who knows what I could be at!!! Hope you all are doing well. Xoxo

Someone posted a Philly Cheesesteak version of this a long time ago. Same egg base, but use roast beef (chopped), onions, peppers and velveta. It sounded so good but I forgot all about it till you posted this! I will have to print this out Good looking out!

I have had SF and real chocolate. The thing is, once you kick those taste buds into sugar mode, they will want more. So it can be a viscious cycle that leads to over doing it. Note: When I have the real stuff, I limit it to a small amount so I don't go crazy with it. Plus, one Hershey kiss last a long time if you let it melt in your mouth. It can take the edge off the craving during TOM. To each their own.

Can you just ASK them?!?! My Dr office ask how is my band, but that is because they do so many more bands than VSG's. I remind the nurse every time that I do not have the band LMAO!

I am slacking on my PPI. Maybe that is why I am hungry all the time and find myself grazing like mad. I cant literally eat 3 x's what the Dr said I should be able to eat in one sitting. Just have to get back on the wagon hun. You can do it !!!! (And so can I LOL).

I agree with Weho - we risk our lives everyday. Waking up is a feat for some people. You will do fine. The fact that you are a smaller WLS patient is really going to help during surgery. Stay positive!

I love my MB! I have the small HB as well and rarely use it. The MB works for me - I let my Protein shakes sit for 5 mins or so in the fridge to let some of the foam go away. Even my shakers make the foam so it is not just the MB. I used my MB to chop onions and meat the other day - worked great. I have never had any leaking into the base as someone mentioned. The only con I has is that I have to shake it a bit to get the big chunks of food to the bottom so that it chops evenly. I <3 my MB

I love this idea! I am obsessed with finding low carb trade offs Thanks!

I try to do mostly SF but not everything is SF in my life. I had regular foods with full sugar and no dumping. Granted, taking in sugar might slow your loss. Staying SF and low carb just raises your weight loss success. It really is a very personal decision post op to go SF or not.