M2G

Again, excellent suggestions from Tiff. About food and moms, I know what you mean...to my mom food = love. The more food she cooked and the more people ate, it was her way of 'showing her love' for someone to cook a good meal and have them enjoy it. That being said, I think going with "mom, I'm doing a new healthy lifestyle and it includes cutting my regular portions in half or less "... you could even say you are doing a new way of eating the involves listening to when your body is FULL instead of mindlessly stuffing in whatever is on the plate. Tell her you've dropped out of the clean your plate club and she should not be offended in the slightest. I obviously don't know your circumstances, but I think I would find it easier to come clean about the surgery and deal with whatever sorts of problems/feelings/emtions that it brings up. I told my mom about 1 month in advance of my surgery and at first she wasn't very supportive. Made some comments about the "scary risks" of having surgery, and why would I choose to do this to myself, etc. But I replied with comments and statistics of being morbidly obese, and I found that as time when on, she started coming around and actually ended up being VERY supportive of my surgery and even came and stayed a week with my family while I recovered and my husband worked. I still don't think she is 100% sold on my decision to have the surgery, but in the end it was my decision and frankly my life. Good luck, I'm going to keep checking back here for good advice like Tiff gave for when you don't want to draw attention to the fact you are eating less!

My NUT actually said don't worry about calorie counting at this point (I'm 3 weeks out) but they really just stress getting in the right amount of Protein 65-80 grams is perfect. I did notice when I started logging my food, that my calorie intake was usually about 500-600. I have had a couple of days where I ventured into the 700 calorie range, but usually is still between 500-600. And yes, I have had those lethargic days where I just have zero energy. Are you hitting your protein goals? That has been stressed over and over to me by my NUT. You are also very newly sleeved...I didn't even track what I was eating until I was on mushie foods and the reason for tracking was to keep track of my protein intake. I'm sure it will be bumping up soon as you add in new foods.

Oh that does sound awful. Thanks for sharing your experience, I'm glad you can look back and *laugh* at it now. Ugh. I know my NUT said if something does NOT agree with you, just wait a while and try it again, maybe you could try almond milk or something similar since you didn't enjoy the silk. It sounds so horrible, I'm sure if it was me I would be waiting a really good long time! I have to admit that cereal is one of my BIGGEST weaknesses. Sugared or not I used to eat handfuls straight from the box (really bad habit, since it is hard to tell how much you are eating when you do that), so I *know* it is going to be my kryptonite, that and ice cream. Those 2 things are something that I can easily overeat the amount of! :cake:

I think it is very normal (but still extremely frustrating!) I had a 10 day stall when I was only one week out from surgery, talk about frustrating! Maybe some of the vets will chime in here, but I have heard about shaking things up a bit with your diet and exercise routine, just to bump your body out of the stay-same mode that it gets into. I think I have even heard of adding a few more calories for a couple of days then reducing again. Just a thought. I feel for you, stalls play games with our heads!

Glad you are headed to the hospital, I hope they can figure out what is going on. Please update us when you can...sending you good thoughts. I, too, thought of gall bladder pain...it is excruciating!

Ooops, looks like I got skipped. I think someone else and I were posting at the same time. Let's try this again. SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal Chilo1.............216...................169..............154................15 Dansha...........220..................220...............195..............25;) DJackson........246...................246...............220..............26 Filosophia Scandinavia...205....205................187..............17 (Will be sleeved on the 30th November) Fit ..................290.................250.8..............235.8............15 Juliarh............303.6.................247..............225...............22 Kgremmy........225...................221..............199...............22 (being sleeved 12/14/10) Laylasmojo......242.................200.6..............185..............15.6 LilMissDiva........247..................247..............226................21 Lisalu..............210..................137..............130................7 Maddie............257.................167................147...............20 merieri............240..................206...............190...............16 Mini-Me...........203...................133..............125................8 Mommy2Girls....275..................256...............240...............16 Sleeve 4 me ...204...................177..............164...............13 lbs.-Goal for start of New Year Stacy160.........258..................174...............148..............16 pattimomof3NJ.....203.4...............183.4.............170.............13.4 (start NY on an even number!) Labrys............238..................208.................193...............15

Welcome! This site and the wonderful members here, have been my biggest support group!!! Look forward to reading more about you.

I am thankful that I have a chance at a "do-over" (hubby's words). Being larger for most of my life and being obese for most of my adult life hasn't not always been easy. Even though I am only about 3 weeks out, I am continually thankful that my body has acted wonderfully before, during, and after surgery. In fact, I'm amazed at how 'normal' I feel, almost as if surgery was months ago instead of mere weeks ago. For the first time in my whole entire dieting history, I finally feel like I'm losing without the fear of regain. (I know ask me again when I'm at goal, I do not think it will be a walk in the park but rather a continuous monitoring of my habits and lifestyle.) As I say goodbye to each pound it is staring to sink in that this could be forever. Each and every day I'm thankful for this forum and the supportive people who have gone before me, and those who will go after me, that encourage me, lift me up, and understand exactly what I'm going through, even though they are perfect strangers. I've gotten more support here than I have from any real-life friends, or family, simply because you guys get it. Great post Julie!

My husband is hopefully having his VSG right before Christmas, but for us it is insurance-related. If he doesn't get approved and scheduled and we roll into 2011, then it will be an additional $5K out of our pocket. We would still do it, it would just cost us more money. (We are on a high-deductible plan.) If it was me I would do it sooner, rather than wait, but if you are worried about missing all your holiday favorites, or being at parties and eating nothing while everyone else is eating, then maybe you should wait. I would focus on the fact that NEXT Christmas, you will be wearing much smaller clothes and have a dainty little plate of food to nosh on while everyone else is out gaining 10lbs.

SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal LilMissDiva........247..................247..............226................21 Mini-Me...........203...................133..............125................8 Chilo1.............216...................169..............154................15 Kgremmy........225...................221..............199...............22 (being sleeved 12/14/10) Juliarh............303.6.................247..............225...............22 . Sleeve 4 me ...204...................177..............164...............13 lbs.-Goal for start of New Year merieri............240..................206...............190...............16 DJackson........246...................246...............220..............26 Dansha...........220..................220...............195..............25;) Stacy160.........258..................174...............148..............16 Lisalu..............210..................137..............130................7 Laylasmojo......242.................200.6..............185..............15.6 Maddie............257.................167................147...............20 Brendasgonnalose...335.............244................229..................15 mp8btpc.........199...................160...............145...............15 Mommy2Girls........275...............256...............240.................16

Have you guys ever heard of Puffcorn? I think that it is a "cheetos" product. Anyway, it looks and tastes like popcorn, but the pieces are really "manufactured" so it's not real popcorn, therefore no hulls, etc. The pieces sort of disolve in your mouth, they are light and airy. 1 serving is like 48 pieces and is 160 calories. (I have one daughter who LOVES puffcorn...lol) I imagine you could eat about 10 pieces and count it as part of your carb intake. Not that I'm recommending you eat it. I am quite sure there are no redeeming qualities and that this would surely qualify as junk-food. But maybe ask your NUT about it, if it could help with your craving for popcorn. I agree popcorn is a slippery slope. JUST think about how big those tubs are at the movie theater...how everyone can just easily chow down on that much popcorn!!!

I do that too! But truth be told, I've always been more of a water drinker the later in the day it gets, and I don't know why. You would think that after sleeping all night with having NO liquid that your body would be ready for water first thing in the am. But I find as the day wears on I drink more, more, more. Starting probably about 2pm....and right up until bed. The funny thing is my girls are the same way, downing water before bed...just like me!

WOW! I agree that you were cute before, but now you are stunning! And the your girls are pretty darn cute too! I can't believe that is ONLY 3 months...WOW!!!! ---love your taste in jewlery too!---

1. Day 5 (I could have driven sooner but there was no need, my mom was here chauffering my girls to school and back ) 2. Side sleeping on day 2 (as soon as I was outta that miserable hospital bed) Tummy sleeping (day 10) 3. Not supposed to swim or have a bath until 3 weeks out (I'm a few days away from that) 4. Day 12 5. Day 2 (easily!)

I agree that what you are experiencing is most likely normal. I also thought about the alternatives. The yo-yo dieting is just as unhealthy as staying morbidly obese (in my case that is I qualified as) and while I also had no co-morbidities, I definitely felt like it was a matter of time before I developed some. I'm great at losing weight, it was the keeping it off that never seemed to work for me. I guess the way I looked at it was the benefits of HAVING surgery, outweighed the risks and possible "what ifs" in the future. I'm so thankful everyday that I was given a tool to help me get to a healthy weight and stay there. Having said all that, it truly comes down to your own soul-searching and the only one who can answer the question as to whether or not you are ready to make this change in your life, is you.

Thank you!!!

Thank you!!!

Thank you!!!

Sorry that sounds miserable. I had glue on everything except my drain tube hole. That is so far my last incision to heal. But I did have nasty adhesive on my wrist from the IV and really stubborn adhesive on the clip that held my drain in place. I tried nail polish (since they weren't incisions) and it did not work. I just rubbed the heck out of them until they wore off. Baby oil sounds better than what I did. I hate to say it, but it does sort of sound as if you are having an allergic reaction to the tape. I think I would call the nurse...and maybe take some benadryl?

WOW! Great job! Even though the pics are so tiny, you look incredible! Thanks for sharing!

Thank you Diva! You are right, I totally forgot that my NUT mentioned with the low carb stuff that I could add some diluted apple juice to my Protein shakes (which I do if I'm making them but yesterday I had a RTD shake out of the box). I will try the gatorade, that is a great idea. Yes, I'm taking all my Vitamins, except for Calcium, I was told to wait until 6 weeks to start taking that. I ended up taking a 1.5 hour nap and felt better. I did manage to shower and get myself to the grocery store, even though it was at 4pm.

Julie, you are doing awesome! And you're such an inspiration to me...Thank you!

You guys are looking great, and those pants are not going to fit either one of you for long! My hubby is doing this too, he is 2 months behind me in the hoop jumping through our insurance, and my dr. was so funny, as I was being wheeled into the the OR he was like the women should ALWAYS go first, because the men lose so much faster, it's good for the women to get a jump start. I love seeing husband/wife teams do this together, it really makes for a radical family change!

What an amazing difference! Congratulations, you look wonderful!

Totally agree that even if someone has the "same" insurance carrier as you, their plan could be totally different. I had UHC and they cover the sleeve. However, my plan was a high-deductible plan. The basic plan says for our family we pay $5,000 out of pocket (from an HSA) and then UHC will cover 90% and we pay 10% of every bill after we hit our deductible. So yeah, covered didn't equal free. But it was a LOT less expensive than self-pay. Plus my husband is having the same surgery in Dec. so it made sense to do it after we hit our deductible. Definitely, call your insurance and get everything spelled out for you...that way no surprises!