ranchersdaughter

Excellent idea! No, in the morning it is plain water and sometimes it's just so early I can't stomach it so only get in a few oz (we leave at 4:30 AM to get to work at 5:45). At lunch it's about 8 oz of whatever protein drink I've made up. On the drive home it is the rest of my protein drink (3 scoops of unflavored Protein powder in a 40 oz bottle with water and 2 packets of crystal lite) so after lunch there is about 32 oz left. Then I try to drink another 16 oz between dinner and bedtime and sometimes I'm so full from dinner that it's hard to get all that down. I will definitely look into the electrolyte idea!! And will drink my protein at break and save the eating for lunch! I think if I also invest in some protein shots, maybe I can sneak those in to give me a little boost between break and lunch and lunch and quitting time, which seem to be my worst sluggish times. Ya'll are so awesome! I love this site and everyone who posts here! Ya'll are my inspiration!!!!!! Christal

Hey there Kemo! It's very nice to hear from you! The Clinic is small, but two stories. It is highly compact but extremely efficient! Anything and everything they need for you is within a 5 step reach. The staff is extremely professional and adept. Not a single bruise from IV's! Small bruising from the anesthesia IV, but I think that was my fault cuz I tried to bend my arm before I realized I had an IV in it. LOL! They understand you, even if there is a language barrier and they will not hesitate to get someone to interpret for you if it's more complicated. The recovery house is gorgeous, in a gated community with a wonderful view of Tijuana from atop a hill. It is also rather compact, but you will find that most things in Mexico are. It can also be a little noisy at times with patients and staff. You will have plenty of room to walk outside though and the weather was gorgeous while we were there. They will take you wherever you would like to go. One of my sleeve sisters took a tour of Tijuana the day after her surgery and Dr. Almanzas staff drove her to and picked her up from the tour depot, as well as to several other dental appts she had. So if you find anything you want to do while there, look it up and they'll be glad to help you! I thoroughly enjoyed my stay there. It was quick, mostly painless and if you follow their instructions, it will be very smooth. Keep me posted! I'm so excited for you! It's a ride you'll never regret! Christal

ROFL! What an apt description!

I'm an Orbital Welder at Intel, (yeah, the microchip factory). It's actually just a huge chemical plant, and the no food and Water rules are in place in case of a leak or something. They don't want you to inadvertently ingest a poison via an open water bottle or on your food. I'm not sure if you've ever heard the expression that someone is so smart that they don't have common sense? Well, that defines the majority of the upper echelon at Intel. The rules and regulations are even more diverse and moronic than alot of OSHA laws. It totally sucks because it takes about 5 minutes to stop what you're doing, walk a mile to a water fountain and back. I can only take about 2 swallows at the water fountain at a time.......If I were to try to get all my water that way, I might as well just camp out by the fountain. If you're caught with water or food it's automatic termination, and I can't risk that. I asked if they could bend the rules for me if I had a Drs Letter stating my water needs and it was a no go. I've been racking my brain on how to overcome this.....and so far I'm coming up dry.......(pardon the pun!). All thoughts welcome!!

You're incredible! Your tummy couldn't have done it without you! Congratulations on a fantastic job!!!! Christal

You'll be fine! I lost 12 lbs pre op and the first week post op I lost 10 lbs. I didn't lose any more at all until yesterday and I lost 1 lb. I'm 19 days post op. Please give your body time to heal and adjust! Rome wasn't built in a day.......and neither was the Venice de Milo. Patience is a virtue.

I've eaten scrambled eggs more than 6 times this week...never had this problem. I do notice that sometimes I can take 2 bites of anything and feel like I swallowed a bunch of air and have to burp a lot before I can continue eating.

Thank you so much! I keep a diary of my intake and most days I'm lucky to get in 40 oz. I try for more but time constraints and that upchuck feeling hinder me. I wish I could keep a camelback Water pack with me and just SIP thru the day...but if I'm caught with that....its automatic termination. I was doing very well up until this week and now I just feel foggy and tired.

I started work last week. I work in a controlled environment and no food or drink is allowed in the building. There are Water fountains but they are few and far between. (Like a city block away....just to give some perspective). I am finding it extremely hard to get all my fluids in!! I can get about 16 oz in on the drive to work. Then we have a 15 min break at 9 when I eat my Protein and there's no time to drink. Sometimes I can get a drink of water in between break and lunch but more than 2 swallows makes me feel sick so I can't get in much. I can manage about 8 oz after lunch. Then I try to drink about 32 oz on the way home (an hour drive). I try to get in another 16 oz after supper and before bed. I still feel very dry and sluggish at work and I don't know what to do.

I had my first experience today. I'm 19 days post op and on mushies. I'm not sure what happened.....its almost like I ingested air instead of food!! I had one tiny bite of grits....basically licked the spoon after stirring, 2 tiny bites of soft scrambled eggs.........and I'm running for the bathroom!!!! After the 3 small bites came out the rest was just nasty burping and a ton of slimy air bubbles!!!! Has this happened to anyone else? I know it wasn't an "overeat" situation......but maybe similar?

No bacteria is AWESOME!!! You are in my prayers and thoughts and all my well wishes to you gal!!!!!!! Christal

I hit my first day of MFP (Mushie food Phase) on, you guessed it, Easter Sunday. I thought I was awesome! I only ate one deviled egg, 2 oz's of greek yogurt with a scoop of chocolate Protein powder (major YUM, btw! Like chocolate pudding only not as sweet!) A single 1 inch by 1 inch piece of lowfat cheese, and 3 stalks of baked asparagus, chewed till nothing was left, and of course, one Protein shake and almost all of my Water quota for the day. Go Christal! You rock!.......... Meanwhile, back at the ranch.......Blast you, you Peanut Butter eggs!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I ate 2, and 1 bite size milky way bar. I can't believe my tummy didn't revolt, but it's just a warning to me that I must be one of those few that can eat whatever and however much with no pain or nausea. (GREAT......NOT!!!!!!!) I don't feel like I failed. I DO feel like I learned a little more about my body, and today I'm flushing by sticking with mostly liquids. If we continually berate ourselves for a slip of the tongue (hehe!) we will never have to confidence to overcome our mistakes! So stop being so hard on yourself and congratulate yourself for the POSITIVE things! Hey, you didn't eat the whole bag now did you? THAT'S the positive! Hey, it didn't reverse your sleeve or anything that you have obtained so far, now did it? THAT'S the positive! Today is a new day. Ok, so we hit a stumbling block. Get up, brush off your knees, put a smile back on your face, have someone kiss your boo boo and lets go play tag!!!!!!! TAG!!! You're it! Christal

Hello fellow forummers!So here is some of my story........ I am one of 4 siblings.......whom are all 1/2 brothers and sisters, I might add. I'm not only the oldest but was forever the "Heavy" one in the family of beanstalks. My sister is 5'6" and has always been a svelte130 lbs. My mom is 5'8" and never saw above 130, even having 4 kids. My Stepdad is 6' and 175 lbs My two brothers are both well over 6' tall and about 180 lbs each. Me? Well, I'm 5'3" and struggled to stay at 130 through high school, with my parents always making nice little comments about anything I put in my mouth. My moms favorite thing to do was pinch my thigh and say, "You're gettin a little chunky these days!". My stepdad used to tell me that one day I'd grow into my arms.....(I have wide shoulders and I guess my arms stuck out a little from my body......he meant I would fill up that gap). All my life I have felt FAT and UGLY. All my life I have hated my body. All my life I have hated food. I even hated myself after my first child was born and I was back at 130 lbs. I still felt FAT. I see pictures of me THEN, and I'm like, OMG! I was a stick!!! Why did my parents always think I was so overweight??????? Well, after an unfortunate reaction to Norplant birth control in 1994......I began my journey as the true fat one in my family. I guess I finally lived up to my families expectations.....without even WANTING to! I gained 90 lbs in less than 3 months. So long post birth 130 lbs! Hello 208. Then, I got pregnant with my daughter........hello 298. 1995 - 208 lbs 1996 - 298 lbs. 1998 - 145 lbs (Advocare products) 2000 - 208 lbs 2001 - 150 lbs (Divorce diet...lol) 2003 - 185 lbs 2005 - 140 lbs (2 jobs, depression, 3 hrs of sleep, living on Peanut Butter, unhealthy) 2006 - 190 lbs 2007 - 140 lbs (moved, broke, stopped eating, unhealthy) 2008 - 180 lbs 2009 - 145 lbs (straight alcohol diet) lovely and extremely stupid. 2011 - 211 lbs So when I tell my mom about my surgery, she says, "You look fine and I'm sure you can lose it by yourself." OMG I wanted to stick a fork in my own eye!!!!!! Hello, Earth to Mom! I've 'done it by myself' SIX times! She didn't approve of my surgery and didn't speak to me for 3 weeks prior to my surgery, and that was just fine with me....I didn't need the stress. So now I have the sleeve. I'm down 25+ lbs in the weeks since surgery and my self confidence is already coming back! My husband loves my smile, the fact that I'm not hiding from him behind the covers, bathrobes and etc. has improved our sex life. I just can't say anything negative right now.......except I'm bored to death with liquids! LOL! So, here's to the gal who used to be "chunky"....... and here's to the WOMAN who will not be held back by weight issues ANY MORE!!!!!!! Cheers ya'll! and thanks for listening!!!!! Christal

......and you were worried about the responses here! hehe! I made my nonsleeved hubby read this......just sort of as a little encouragement for him to maybe take a little initiative in watching his weight. Hey, I want him to be around as long as I am and still "in the mood"!!!! Thanks for posting!!!!! Christal

Sleeveme, Congratulations on your decision and welcome to the family! I was sleeved on April 11th and I can honestly say that even just 12 days out, it is the best decision I've made in years (besides divorce, but that's an entirely different story!) LOL! Like you, I almost convinced myself that I didn't need the surgery, that I could do it on my own........AGAIN. Then it hit me. I'm 40 years old! I've done it on my own SIX other times!!!!!!!!! I'm tired of losing it gradually, feeling great for a few months and then finding myself fat again in a couple of years and miserable. There's no doubt I have the DETERMINATION, I KNOW I can do it, but dangitall, I'm tired of fighting it. So I got sleeved, I'm changing the whole way I think about myself, my life, my food choices, everything! And it is soooooo liberating! I imagine this is what a butterfly feels like when it escapes the confines of a coccoon! So stick with it girl! You've found an awesome forum, the folks here are FANTASTIC and we will support you through thick and thin! Once again, WELCOME!!!!!! and keep us posted! Christal

Congratulations!!!!!! It's sooo good to see positiveness after our years of negative actions! Keep it up girl! and THANK YOU! Christal

No, they shaved my back.....oh heck....this was for the mens! My bad! Rofl! Just kidding!

I take my coffee like I take my men.........Hot, Strong and.......now in small doses. ROFL! Thanks for your post! Christal

Misty, Thank you so much for your post! It's uplifting, encouraging and I love that you included the bad with the good! (Sugarcoating things is what got most of us in this mess in the first place, right? ROFL!!!). I'm 11 days post op, (my sutures come out today,,,,,,,,yahooooo!!!), and last night we were at an expo with our twin boys at school. 1/2 way through, my husband stopped me right in the middle of the gym and said, "I LOOOVE this!!!" I said, "Yeah, it is a pretty great event." He said, "No, I love seeing you SMILE again! Ever since you're surgery you have smiled non stop and I LOOOOVE it!" Amazing!!!!!!!! Keep up the good work Misty and thank you again for sharing!!! Christal

I guess I'm a freak of nature. I woke up sleeping on my stomach on day 4 post surgery. No pain. The Hubby and I got down to business on day 7. I realize I'm not "normal"....but then I don't know what normal is!!! Lol! I wish you the very best and a speedy recovery!! Christal

San Diego is a hot spot for mini vacations and cosmetic surgery! There's no reason why you can't be taking a vacation and having a little "cosmetic surgery" from a well renowned surgeon while you're there, now is there? Neither is an outright lie, simply an omission of specific 'details'. I wish you the best of luck with this. My heart goes out to you. Christal

ROFL! That's awesome! I'm also an April 11th sleever! On the way to the airport before my surgery I was singing..... "Leaving,,,,,,on a jet plane! Won't bring my tummy back again! Lord, I love to see it go!" What kind of whackos ARE we?! Lol! Hope all is going well with you post surgery!!! I know I feel FANTASTIC! Christal

You sound so normal it's scary! Lol! Like you, I had the same fears and trepidations. One day after I lost a whole nights sleep worrying about all the negatives that "might" happen, I just dropped to my knees and gave it all to God. I told Him point blank that this was in His hands and if He saw fit to see me through or not, that I would respect His decision. My mind has been at peace ever since. I know not everyone has these convictions, but it worked for me. Something else that someone told me before surgery has also helped...... "You're 98% more likely to get in a car wreck any day of the week, than you are to have complications or die from this surgery!" Breathe deep, write down everything you can about the surgery that you can think of or that you have read or learned in your research. Write down the good, the bad and the ugly and keep your mind open!!! Do not let fear sway you to thinking negatively, and I think you will find that the good FAR outweighs the bad! I'm 10 days post-op and feel FANTASTIC!!! I would do it again in a heartbeat and I'm more than happy to answer any questions you might have, or simply lend a quiet ear if you need to vent or get things off your chest! Welcome to the family!! Christal

Welcome to the Family! I'm 10 days post-op and down 25 lbs since starting my liquid diet on April 8th. This is an incredible forum and one you will learn a lot from and will get a variety of responses that are awesome, even if it's not always what you want to hear, the support is here!!! Hope to hear more from you as the days go by! Christal

Good Morning Kemo! Welcome to the forum! I am 9 days Post-op. I used Dr. Almanza. My surgery was April 11th, and I have kept in contact with 5 of the other 6 patients who had their surgery the same day I did, and we all seem to have had a very positive experience with Jerusalem Clinic thus far. I am in no way here to sway anyone one way or the other as far as whom they choose to do their surgery. This is a very personal decision and one that you must make only after doing all of your research and finding what you feel comfortable with, and weighing the pros and cons. As for the Water and bathing, I did not drink the water, and everything besides the ice chips that they give you, was bottled. I waited until the 3rd day out of surgery when my husband and I were in San Diego, to shower. It wasn't a big deal to me because I showered the night before my surgery. I'd also keep in mind that this is a clinic. I highly doubt that in order to preserve their reputation and keep their clientele, that they would serve you water or ice chips or anything that could potentially have a bad outcome. Just my thoughts. I can tell you that I felt more at ease and comfortable in this clinic than I have EVER felt in an American Hospital or Dr.s Office!!! They smile, they treat you like family, they do everything they can to make you feel at home. There is none of the stiff backed, "I'm so busy and you're cutting into my golf time" attitude. They were EXTREMELY open and honest about answering any and ALL of our questions, without hesitation, even showing computer records and documentation for my questions. Ultimately this is your decision to make and you have to figure out what you are comfortable with. I can only speak for myself and my experience there, but I would go there again in a heartbeat. I wish you the best of luck and hope that you will keep us posted on your journey! Once again, welcome to the family!!! Christal