swizzly

You should consider this whole forum as being full of buddies and mentors! There are a ton of great people here who will always provide support and advice.

What is a filter in the neck?? Here's to a good surgery!! All will go well...

There's a view new content link here, just to the left of the RSS icon. Sometimes on my screen, it's in white text on a white background, with only some orange shadowing, so it's hard to see. ETA: On the home page, it's in white text on the last horizontal lilac-coloured bar, just left of the RSS icon. On other pages, for some reason it's on a white background.

I don't know what phase 3 is, but I was scared to try beef, but felt I needed some. So I did the following: I took the already-ground beef and ran it raw through the food processor a LOT until it was nearly like a paste, then instead of browning it like normal, I cooked it in a bit of liquid (Water with a very small bit of bouillion in it) to ensure it all stayed tender (even slow browning toughens it up a bit) and not clump up into bigger pieces again. Then I used it in chili -- worked like a dream. It stayed in very, very small pieces throughout the chili and I was easily able to chew and swallow it. The Beans I don't have a problem with anyhow. I also eat a lot of refried beans with cottage cheese melted in them, to increase the Protein, also it tastes very nice. And tuna fish (I eat the olive-oil packed kind, so I just drain it well and don't add mayo). And of course, loads of yogurt.

Me too, had it in hospital and continued when I went home.

Anyone who would make fat slurs right out loud to someone, in front of colleagues, just to feel superior at someone else's expense, clearly has some major insecurities and self-image issues of her own. Now that you're getting thinner, that's very threatening to her as well. I would just put her on permanent ignore, casually smiling and saying hi, but keeping it very surface-level, especially as it's a workplace relationship. It's good to also always remember that there are fat-phobic people, who are truly irrational about their own fat hatred.

B: Hard-cooked egg + probiotic jogurt S: BabyBell L: Chili (homemade by me) S: Wholemeal spelt crackers + cheese D: Cream spinach (current addiction) + tuna fish S: ?? Water: Check Vitamins: Done Exercise: Two long walks around town

You might just need a Java and/or Flash update -- I get those same images, but they automatically resize once the page loads.

I'm just 2.5 week post-op and I already use hot sauce as I did before (the fact that I'm on food right away post-op is already different to most programs, though, so my situation is not meant to be normative ). Not nuclear sauce like yours, but hot nonetheless. I made chili yesterday and made it just as spicy as I always do, with extra cayenne. I love spicy and my sleeve seems fine with it. I'm on Protonix still as well.

I've been hungry a lot as well, though that is improving a bit now. I am not around all those good smells all the time like you are, though -- that must be so hard! Hang in there, it will get better, really.

In terms of energy, I was thinking of the Iron content in red meat -- I've also been eating (craving) loads of spinach, so I think I may be a little low on iron. Thus the need to find a red meat solution. Yeah, I'm on my third week off work already and still have a couple more to go. Sometimes I'm very energetic and some days I just walk the dogs and then lounge around the rest of the day (and feel guilty for doing so...).

I don't know if this will help anyone else, but I've been needing some red meat to try and boost my energy levels. I was scared to eat beef or even ground beef, it didn't look like it would sit well at all. So I ran it through the food processor a LOT until it was nearly like a paste, then instead of browning it like normal, I cooked it in a bit of liquid to ensure it all stayed tender (even slow browning toughens it up a bit) and not clump up into bigger pieces again. Then I used it in chili -- worked like a dream.

May sound gross, but I put chopped-up hard-cooked egg into lots of things, for the extra protein and calories. (Chopped up very small or even grated.)

You look great, what a fab job you've done.

They say not to have any alcohol in the first few months, but it's not permanently banned or anything.

HUGE difference!! You look so great!!

Except for the first 72 hours post-op, my recovery has been a dream. No pain, no problems to drink or eat. Easy peasy and awesome! Good luck to all of you going in this week!!

If your tummy isn't liking pasta/bread/rice, then don't eat them. Then you can keep the meat and other protein down. Yes?

I'm surprised how vehemently opposed he is. Has he had bad experiences with patients who've had complications or regain? What a negative start to your process. :-( (My PCP and GYN were both embarassingly eager for me to have the surgery. D'oh.)

That is my worst nightmare. I think you handled it very well.

My nutritionist said it makes no difference -- I have to add in flavour as well or it won't go down.

I think it's a great idea -- I wish I had done anything like that!! I'm already post-op and mostly staying at home still, aside from walks, so I've been in trackies and PJs for the most part. But I'm a little freaked out by the fact that I have a huge wardrobe full of clothes in all one size (I've been the same exact weight for like 12 years ) and I have no idea what I will wear. I guess desperation will force me to the shops one of these days, but I don't have any plan in place and no smaller clothes tucked away to try and fit into. If you're over-preparing, I'm definitely under-prepared!

You look so great! Love the new sparkle in your eye especially. Also, your hair looks fab -- did it not thin at all??

I started at 240 and am almost two weeks out, have lost about 11 lbs since then.

B: 1/4 c steel-cut oats with milk + 1 small hard-cooked egg L: 1/4 c refried Beans and cottage cheese (adds Protein and when heated together tastes VERY yummy) S: Fresh mozarella stick D: 2 T creamed spinach and five wee shrimp + 5 wholegrain spelt very small pretzel sticks -- totally tasty and slightly too much, oopsie. Evening snack will be probiotic yogurt and a square of dark chocolate. Did good today.