feedyoureye

My instructions said 5 minutes before, 30 after.

My Doc said i can use the drinks as needed forever if I need to. At 8 months I still use one a day.

Mine started at 2 1/2 weeks and lasted for 4 weeks. It will end and you will lose fine after....until the next stall! Join the club, its pretty natural for this to happen. It is nothing you are doing wrong.

Sounds like its time for you to start one!

Mine looks MUCH better... I was just checking it out earlier today. I have some bone that sticks out in the back of my neck, and when fatter it is a total dowagers hump. Of course I also lost my butt and boobs!

NO regrets. I love everything about it so far.

Thanks girl!

Coop, I remember when that little sun on your ticker was not even at the half way point yet, and now look where it is! And that 2-3 pounds every 5-6 weeks is faster than I am losing right now. You ARE rocking it. I am having thinking right now that I have lost everything I will lose... and then think maybe I will lose more....one and off, back and forth. I just bought a REAL coat for winter, a Calvin Klein I found on sale that looks sooo cute... I must have been thinking I would stay this size when I bought it.... hope I look good in it after I lose the rest of the weight! I can't wait to see your new cute dress! You remind me that yes...it is still coming off... just slowly. Thanks Coop

I told my family and co workers before surgery. And close friends...Now I tell anyone who asks. In my business I "know" a lot of people, but don't see them for long stretches of time, so I still often have people ask me how I lose the weight. I tell them and so far don't get any negativity from them. I have one friend who went and got the sleeve only one month after me (she didn't know anything about it until I told her), have one co-worker in the system talking to the Docs and such... and two more right on the edge of making the move. Even if I gain half of this weight back (fingers crossed that won't happen!) this has been a successful surgery. I don't feel bad about telling others at all and want them to have a chance to make the same choice I made if they want to.

I think it would be worth it to get to goal! Im around the same place as you...

I love the Chike. I ended getting the banana and the chocolate. (to mix) Even though I love them, I don't drink them so much because with milk they are pretty high calories. They are a meal replacement though, and have everything you need, unlike some of the just plane protein drinks. I also got them to make ice cream out of...YUM. Early on, they would be just fine.

Did you use calipers or the bod pod or Water immersion to figure out your body fat ratio? Perhaps you have a very large frame as well... My husbands is way above the "large" category...and he looks extra thin when 210lbs 6'1". figure your frame size here: http://www.healthchecksystems.com/heightweightchart.htm#frame

I think your mom was just doing her job. She trusts you but is a little worried, as she should be! This is major surgery! I told my mom, and she turned around an told ALL the relatives... I don't mind. A few of them could use the surgery! I have even gotten a few emails asking about and I am happy to answer. I don't volunteer this info, but if people ask, then I tell them. I have to say I have had no real rotten comments from anyone. My two dearest friends were concerned... one is a Dr and said after about 30 seconds of her 2 cents, that she would support any decision I made and keep her bias to her self. The other thought I was just fine the way I was, then after talking a lot about it decided it was a fine decision. So far one person I know got the surgery because I told them about it, and two or three more are looking into it. If I can help them to add a few years onto their lives, then who cares what anyone else thinks. This being said, I think I am surrounded by folks that just don't meddle in others decisions. Perhaps this is cultural, or I don't know what, but some folks here seem to be surrounded by people that are awful busy bodies! Thank heavens my work mates and family and friends are not that way!...(so far)

That DOES sound good! I think I have a can in the pantry....

Wow! Thanks for posting. I wish I had pictures!

Good point, do mesure yourself now and then... when the scales don't move, the inches will.

Brook, I hope you don't mind, I am posting your stomach here! It is SOOOO cool to see! And all you folks, go read Brooks blog too!

I asked my surgeon if I could have my stomach,(to make a coin purse out of!) and a video of the surgery, but he said no to both. I do have a friend in New Zealand whose doctor gave her the stomach in a jar of formaldehyde.

Some never get this stall, but mine was 4 weeks long. How can you NOT lose weight eating only 300 calories a day? Thats the magic of the three week stall! It will start coming off again, I promise.. just keep up the good work. If you follow the docs rules.... you can search the three week stall here too for many stories.

At one month I ate about 3-400 calories. Now at 8 months I eat about 1200 and feel like I'm eating too many...but so many of you are successful eating that much even earlier than I did... I am losing very slowly (1-3 pounds a month) eating 1200 a day.... I guess thats just me! I am full eating that much though, and I am thankful for that.

Welcome Violet! This is a great place for support and ideas. Use the search function, and read read read! Im sure you have a lot to contribute to us all as well... congrats on your 80 pound loss! Thats fantastic! As far as stalls, most of us have had more than one, I have been losing very slowly for the last two months (I am at 8 months). Just keep up the good work, perhaps switch it up a little, add more protein, more water or exercise... depending on your calorie intake, eat less or more a day or two to shake the body up a bit. I find cucumbers and watermelon help me to lose water weight. Cheers!

lsereno has some great advice. If you are not doing it, track everything you eat, use fitday or something like this. It really helps me to keep accountable. Even though some days I go WAY off plan, I can usually keep the calories down and the protein up if I keep track. This helps me from gaining. I can also see if something is working for me or not. Do you exercise? Also do not drink with or 30 minutes after a meal... this can cause the food you eat to leave the stomach sooner, and leave you hungry for more. Good luck!

I wish.

Wow! and Wow! you guys!

So cute!