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Thist could have been insulting, but I took it as a compliment. I was paying at a checkout with a credit card and the girl asked for iD. When I gave it to her, she kept looking at me and the pic and finally said, "this isn't you, this lady in the pic is FAT!!"- So much for being subtle!!! : )

Daisy- are you cutting out refined sugar? Or natural too ( like fruit). You're right. I haven't taken out any foods because I figured because I have troubles even before I've eaten..... I didn't really think about the fact that it can stay in your system for a while. I don't drink alot of milk, so I think i start with sugar intake. Thanks for the advice everyone!!

Okay,, this sucks to talk about but it's embarrassing and I want it to go away!!! I am really gassy now. It doesn't seem to make a difference what I've eaten or not eaten. It even happens long, long, long after I've eaten. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it, but I hate it!!! Sometimes it's really loud, sometimes really stinky ( OMG!! I'm so embarrassed by this!!!) I'm hoping someone has gone through this and has found something that has helped?!?? Please????

I sure did!! It sucks , but try and walk as much as you can. It'll help move it out. Oh, and welcome to the losers bench : )

I get them ALL the time too. I get them if I eat too fast or I'm full ( or both). Slow down and they'll settle out

Ditto on the too much food at once or too big of bites. Even though they didn't operate on you esophagus, it's still above the tummy they DID do surgery on. If you are eating too much or too fast, it'll back up into the esophagus. Be careful to not overload you new tummy. Chopped chicken may be a no no. I'd ask you're dr. before you try that one again.....

I just got an email from unjury ( weekly thing) that talks about a new cheese sauce product. Has anyone tried it? Does it taste like cheese?? I could use this alot in my cooking but I don't want it if it's protein-y.

@ thinoneday- I DID wait!!! Lol : ) I am past goal now and figured, " I'm shouldn't lose much more ( I'm at 132lbs now- Yay!!!) and my hands can't get much smaller cause they'll disappear soon!! Lol Oh well, I really can't complain because rings can always be resized but my health is worth everything : )

Hey there sleeve buddy Ali, I think we were only a day apart with dr. Rod, so I've always followed your journey. Congrats on 100 lbs!!! I'm so close behind you : ) I think that as long as you can get your head in the right place, our lovely little stomaches will just follow along. So what? You've taken a little time off your plan.... Just jump back on the band wagon. I had some time there of slowed loss. But I also found that as soon as I started tracking my food again it got way better. Keep your head held high and believe in yourself!!! Cheers ; )

Unfortunately I can't wear any jewelery in the bakery except my wedding ring. I also can't add anything to the ring to make it feel snugger for fear it could come out while making someones bread. I may just have to take it off again soon I guess...

My wedding ring stopped fitting very early out ( less than a month out of surgery if I remember). Now to clarify, I've always had small hands- they never seemed chubby to me. My ring was a 6 1/2 size. Now that I'm at goal, and figured I was done, I bit the bullet and had my ring resized to a 4!!! "Holy moly little fingers!!" said the jeweler. I was so happy. I had it sized a bit snug so that if I lost a bit more I'd be okay. Its bloody loose again!!!!! I'm a baker and I don't take my ring off for work ( I used to and lost my ring on the floor of the bakery- never to be found again- it had to be replaced) so a loose ring is a very bad idea. Now I need to decide whether to resize it a again? Or feel naked without my ring again until I'm SURE I'm done loosing ( again). Any ideas??

Great job!!! You look wonderful!!!

I'm training for a 1/2 marathon in February and I had to stop training for a couple months due to an ankle issue. Now I'm slowly getting back at it ( I hope I'm not starting from the beginning again). My issue is that I must have lost a bunch of inches in my legs because now when I run, they painfully flop around with extra skin!!! I'm kinda scared because I really need to get moving again!!! I got to thinking about the compression shorts. Anybody used them for running purposes? Or anybody have any ideas that may help me out?

Sweet!! Congrats!!!

Just because you CAN drink that much, doesn't mean you should. You may not be able to feel your full mark yet because of nerves cut in surgery. You also may not have as much swelling which is good. Just take things slowly and measure your food out. All will be good once you are able to eat dense protein. You'll feel restriction then

For me it's too slippery a slope. I never liked the diet pops and I can see myself switching to real coke because "I'd just have a little bit" ( and then away I'd go). Lots of people do drink pop and have no troubles, but I'm planning on staying away

Wow!! Congrats!!! 5 lbs till I join you on that milestone!!! I can't wait!!! Enjoy the life you have now created ; )

Thanks guys! This is the first time in 7 months that I've had that big of a serving of sugar. I'll have a bit of ice-cream or a small cookie at the end of day if I've met all my protein, veggies, etc. But certainly not 2. Diva- that would be so scary to have palpitations and vertigo!! I certainly felt crappy, but not to that extent. It's funny because I never would have thought twice about eating that after a carb laden dinner before surgery!! I'm so glad I had this surgery. This "side effect" will definately keep me in check!!!!

Woohoo!!! That's fantastic!!! I have 1 size to go til I hit the 8's and I can't wait!!!! Congrats!!

For the first time in a long time, I was really low emotionally. Not for any reason in particular, just a low feeling. Everyone was in bed and I was watching mindless tv. My husband and i had come home with a few cookies for the kids ( which I can usually stay away from). I ate 2 cookies!!! And not little ones either!! Now, normally I would just fight it off and get an extra good workout in and be fine with that. But no, I'm paying hard for those cookies today!! Since surgery, I generally have a BM every couple days and it's very solid ( almost to the point of painfully solid). In the last 6 hours, I gone about 6 times and I'm in painful gassy mode. I really didn't sleep too much because of this.... That'll teach me!!!!

I would recommend going to the gym BEFORE school and getting it out of the way if possible. It'll rev you up for the day and will not allow you to give exudes why you can't go after school. Start tracking your food if you haven't already. Don't pack ANYTHING high carb in your lunch bag. If it's there, you'll eat it. You'll be fine you just need to get into a good mind set.

My favorite thing to make on full liquids was: Base soup= chicken broth Milk Chicken breast Fully soft roasted veggies Whipped up in the blender and strained Then a 1/2 scoop

If the weightloss is not exciting you, find something that will! I started walking.... Then running!! I was so overjoyed when I hit 5 min straight on the treadmill.... Then 7.... Then 10.... Now I do a 5k each day for my short runs. I'm working on 10!!! I bought a bike and ride with my dog. Find something you enjoy and beat your time every chance you get. Not only will you feel great, you lose more too : )

I generally GAIN around 5 lbs durin that lovely week then drop those 5 lbs the next week. Sucks, but I'm used to it now......

Great pics!! Love the smiles!!! ( and the kitty too)