feedyoureye

5'9" 1200-1600 cals a day. I eat anything, not low carb, I do keep track of everything I eat though... just to stay conscious...I just got back from New Orleans where I ate french fries and beignets everyday (because I am a vegetarian, and they put meat in EVERYTHING) gained 3 pounds in 11 days. Lost it again in two after I got back. I wanted to get back to eating my regular way... I was tired of all the carbs without fresh veggies and protein. Now theres a switch!

Boohoo! you must have taken them down already! Missed em!

Ha Ha! Just before I got to this comment I was thinking about writing this: I think it is a great mind exercise to consider some of the many ways you could use the same amount of money. Send an Afghani girl to school, travel around the world, sponsor surgery for someone who cant afford it, Go back to school for something you have always wanted to do, have a giant fundraiser party and after, pay yourself back for the expenses...get the surgery, and use the rest to fund a scholarship or something. Your age should not stand in your way... I am 58, and all though my skin is kind of floppy, I am lucky to not have it TOOO bad (as long as I don't look down into a mirror....oh my!) I really don't have the money for plastics, but don't know what the future may bring. I would consider doing a little nip and tuck on my face some time. Or if I had the money to do that, I might just give it away, or do something for someone else. Create something beautiful. It's a good question. You could be that "something beautiful". Just by asking, you already are.

Nectar was way too sweet for me early on too... sweet anything tasted horrible then....now NO problem. I tried 4-ever-fit fruit flavors and they were good natural tasting fruit drinks, nice to not have milk sometimes. I ended up using them all the time. Mango is my fav. Not too sweet, pretty natural flavors, no ultra bright colors ...You can get them at vitamin shoppe or vitamin world. While on vacation I used muscle milk light chocolate.. only 100 cals and 15 grams of pro in the small 4 pack size. Not tooo sweet.

Only gained 3, the sleeve is a miracle worker! Back to lower carb and lots of veggies. Brought back lots of spice mixes, a red beans and rice kit, and bottles of great products from the Tabasco plant to make Louisiana style veggie dishes. I'm cooking as I type!

HI Meg, I am in NO today (fri) We are just going out to dinner at Pie then on to DBA for the 10 pm show. I take off around noon. Im afraid I will miss meeting up this trip, but than you so much for the invitation. Your countrymen and women were awesome! and the music sublime. I did eat almost ALL carbs while here, but did find odds and ends of great healthy stuff. Really enjoyed myself. I am guessing I gained 5, but maybe not...just won't know till I get home.

Things slow down around 6 months, but if you keep on plan, you will keep losing bit by bit. You have done great!

Hi Meg, im in Lafayette right now for a few days... going to make a bunch of day trips around the 90. Not finding much Protein I can eat out, but brought Protein Bars and am buying muscle milk lites to supplement with. Walking TONS. Was in NO a few days, beautiful weather so walking around the Garden district, French Quarter, Frenchmans, Warehouse district... went to the Heritage fest a couple of days and walked and walked and danced a bunch. We will be back on friday for another day at the fest. I will post with details. I am having a blast, and would love to visit... I will see how it goes, traveling with the hubby, mom in law and sister in law. Very nice folks and easy going as a rule. I fly out Saturday.

Good for you girl! My weight has been pretty much staying the same... within a 4 pound range.... I feel like I have meet up with a cement floor... This may be it. I really don't want to eat less than 1200 calories... so as long as I hold this line, and stay at the same exercise level.. I guess this is it. I still try and keep upgrading my eating... with a few slip ups here and there. Nothing TOO bad. I got a new scale a month ago, and my weight went up two pounds... I am blaming it on the scale... my range just went up 2 pounds and my cloths fit the same. I guess I willl find out for sure next time I go to the Docs. I sure would love to get out of the 170's.... I know its just a number but..... so close and yet so far! Going on a 10 day vacation with lots of food, and walking too.... and NO SCALE. Fitday will be horendous to use with the way I will be eating a bit of this and a bite of that.... I plan on enjoying and trying not to obsess... will bring protein bars and veggie jerky to boost my protein amidst the carb heaven I will be in. Wish me luck!

Seitan (gluten- I make it from scratch myself or sometimes buy ready made products like whitewave), tofu and other soy products (soy dogs, morningstar products, TVP, soy milk, soy nuts, soy protein drinks, other processed fake meat products), beans, nuts (mostly walnuts,or almond/flax seed butter and peanut butter), dairy(cheese,milk, half and half in moderation, greek yogurt, 1-2% cottage cheese, 1%milk) eggs, whey powders and veggie protein bars and snack products, seeds....and lots of veggies and fruit-mostly berries...whole grains in moderation...chocolate every day (usually one or two T's of dark chocolate chips!) The key for me is I log everything in fitday. I can definitely over eat , so I just write it down and make sure I get enough protein, and watch the calories...between around 1100-1500, I try to stay around 1200 most days to stay at my current weight.

Its common to stall around the three week mark. Just follow the guidelines and you will lose. Patients is the BEST tool to develop with this surgery. The body does what it want and when it wants. Eating less and finding your taste buds off wack is part of this thing, especially at the beginning after surgery... your body is still under the influence of the anesthesia and such. At 8 months you may even miss the restriction you have now. Hang in there!

Im pretty sure that the Vitamin K in green veggies (like Kale and spinach) support clotting, not blood thinning.... ...In the body, vitamin K plays a major role in blood clotting. So it is used to reverse the effects of “blood thinning” medications when too much is given; to prevent clotting problems in newborns who don’t have enough vitamin K; and to treat bleeding caused by medications including salicylates, sulfonamides, quinine, quinidine, or antibiotics. .... http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/983.html I eat it because it it high in Omega 3s... but worry a little about the clotting thing. When you take Coumadin, greens are counter indicated, unless you eat exactly the same amount every day and that is figured into your medicine dose.

My job made me take 6 weeks bacause my Doc would no sign off on normal activity until then. (lifting over 10 pounds) I was REALLY ready to go back around 4 weeks. Its really nice to have the time to get into a groove with your new life and heal up, start eating almost real food...

My doc said 6 weeks. You can and should walk right away though. Just don't strain your tummy... like lifting anyting heavy (over 10 pounds)

Lots of options on netrition.com. Shipping for any size order is 4.99. http://www6.netrition.com/chef_jays_trioplex_pancake_waffle_mix.html .....12.99 on sale http://www6.netrition.com/bobs_lc_bake_mix_page.html ...bobs one pound 4.79 compare nutrution here: http://www6.netrition.com/chef_jays_trioplex_pancake_waffle_mix.html#NUTFACTS and http://www6.netrition.com/bobs_lc_bake_mix_page.html#NUTFACTS

Look up the "three week stall" You sound like you are in it. Most have this stall at around 3 weeks.

1/4 cup of Bobs Red Mill has 100 cals 14 gms of Protein and 11 gms of carbs. When you add egg and milk, it ups the protein even more. Not bad really for the sleeve. I use 1/2 cup mix, with egg and milk and bakeing powder and perhaps some blueberries, it make two large round waffles. I eat one (or half of one early on) and eat the rest on another day.

I used one a day for the first 12 months, now once in a while when I need more protein and less carbs. I also mix them into greek yogurt for a protein boost.

I made home made veggie soup early on. It really hit the spot!

I use bobs Red Mill low carb mix for waffles and they are very good. Some peoples stomachs do not tolerate breadstuff very well. I don't have that problem. Keep in mind honey is very high in calories and may give you a sugar rush early on. I use sugar free syrup or fruit only jam.

Great pep talk Dorrie! I need to get more water in too... my skin looks a little haggard, and could use a drink!

Have a great time, and post pics if you have them! Congrats!

They have lost weight before in a very public way, and then gained it back to loads of rotten 'I Told You Sos' and covers of before and after fat photos on the tabloids.. My guess is they haven't done it because they are afraid. When they are more afraid of dying early and loaded with diseases from obesity... they WILL get it done.

Get out a tape measurer and a pad and pencil... measure yourself in about 8 places NOW. I made a little picture to remind myself where I measured... You will find it handy when the scale is stuck in one place. Measure once a month. Save your biggest fat pants. You will need to take a picture and post it for us of you standing in one leg later on!

So sorry for your loss. Very sad.