emily_0192010

I was/am very similar to you!! I was fine with the Protein shakes before surgery, but now I can barely tolerate them. I would suggest trying some pre-made ones, they tend to not "smell" as strongly. The only ones I can tolerate right now are the pre-made GNC "lean shakes" (the chocolate one). The powder is very high carb but the pre-made ones are only 6 carbs and 25 protein. As for food, chicken is one of the hardest to digest because it is so lean!! Try a dark meat pork, like ribs or a roast. Cook them in crock pot or in the oven over a few hours with lots of liquids so the meat is very moist. This was my savior once I tried it. I could get it down and it sit fine (as long as I ate pretty slowly). Also, try eating with a little bit of sauce, it adds to the moisture and food goes down easier. You said that you were eating a lot of soup. That is great for liquids, but if you are sipping broth and then chewing meat/veggies... that might be irritating your sleeve. Try separating them by half an hour. I hated this because I love soup, but it made quite a difference. Having food right after broth or mixed up made the food hurt when it hit my sleeve. Another idea for the shakes, which I haven't done very often, is to add some fruit to them. Once in a blue moon i'll get a smoothie and have them add in the protein supplement. I don't do it often because of the carbs, but it helped while I was transitioning and trying to find something that I could tolerate. You said you are lactose intolerant, and that sucks. I get in about 5 g of protein per day from cheese. The only other sources I know of that would be fine at your stage would be eggs. I could not handle scrambled, but a fried egg was great (i say fried... but I didn't use butter, just the nonstick spray and some seasoning). I couldn't eat a whole egg until very recently (I am 8 weeks out), but I could get most of it down. Good luck and I hope some other more veteran sleevers will post as well.

I have actually only bought one new shirt and a new bra. BUT, I had a few things from when I was smaller before (or more like as I got bigger). I am just about out of clothes though, since I have shrunk-out of what I saved. I can't see myself being a big shopper though. Even though I am significantly smaller, went from a 24 to a 14/16... I don't enjoy trying on new clothes. I think I will be more excited when I am not shopping in the plus sizes anymore. Since I am pretty short I still have to do the 14/16 W... I can't wait to lose the W. I think at that point I might be more excited, but at this point I can't stand when I try something on, and it still doesn't fit or it doesn't fit right. I know that will happen even if I get down to single-number sizes, but right now I try to avoid it.

I knew before having surgery that I would need new clothes. What I did not realize was that I would need new shoes as well!!! NONE of my shoes fit me now!! I have never had "large" feet (i'm a size 6.5/7... or was...) and I had not anticipated this! Anyone else go through this? In some ways I'm glad, simply because it is like losing sizes in clothes, it feels good to see physical proof that I'm losing weight. BUT, I will wear used clothes and I will buy cheap "unmentionables" while i'm losing... but shoes?? I cannot do used shoes and there is no such thing as a cheap shoe you can wear all day. I'm staying positive by thinking that there is no way my shoe size can change THAT drastically, since my bones can't shrink. I just thought I'd share this... it definitely was not something I had anticipated.

I agree with Kami... I think you'll be fine as long as you break it up and take lots of breaks. Also, make sure you aren't on any narcotics, so check with your surgeon to see what over the counter meds you can take. Good luck and congrats! You will be on the losers bench soon

I have no idea whether it is actually true or not... however I have heard that it can take up to two years after losing the weight for the skin to start to snap back, which is why people are told to wait before having plastic surgery. I am only two months out and I sure hope that this lose skin that I already have will tighten up over time! I wouldn't over-think it Just be happy it's happening!

Most definitely I haven't hit any large official stalls yet (I know it will happen eventually) but I have never lost big numbers at a time. There are weeks were my mom swears that I look completely different, and I'll go to put on a pair of pants and they are way too big! It is very exciting

Hello Congrats on being on the loser's bench first off! At three days out I was not doing Protein shakes, mainly because I couldn't get them down yet. I did the same with the medicine cups but I found it was more difficult for me. So I switched to using bottles and taking tiny tiny sips (I used a straw, my surgeon said it was fine). I literally had the straw at my mouth at every moment I could because my sips were that small. At three days I would focus on the Water. It is good that you are trying the protein, but don't let that keep you from getting in your liquids. I didn't worry about protein until I was a few days out.

Congrats!!!!! For me waiting for the approval was the most difficult part of the journey... I was a ball of nerves the entire time. I bet you can't wait to get your date I agree that this site is amazing! I spent hours and hours reading through old posts and I hardly ever had questions for my surgeon.

I agree completely!!!!! There are amazing people on this site and I was so thankful (and still am!) when I found this site months ago! It is the best support group you could possibly ask for

I told my 6 year old sister that my doctor was going to make my stomach smaller so that I could be healthier. She thought it was fun that we would eat about the same amount. I didn't mention anything about weight loss etc, just that I was going to be healthier.

I am down to 197! 3 pounds lost so far

I don't think that is funny... I think that is awesome! Pat yourself on the back lady! Congrats

Well, it seems like you have already received the best advice possible, and since there really isn't anything else to add here is my contribution: ((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))) Feel better You will get over this! You are a strong, beautiful woman and you have already done the right thing by reaching out for help. I can't wait to read your posts in the weeks/months to come.

Congratulations! This is going to be the best Christmas gift you've ever given yourself For success stories, tips, Q's and A's this is the best place you could have possibly gone! When I was first starting back in May I spent hours on here just browsing site and reading reading reading. The people are amazing as well, and since you are a guy you may find "The Man Room" very informative (under support groups). As for myself I have lost 62 pounds so far and I am two months out. That does include the weight I lost pre-op. I generally lose 2-3 pounds a week which my surgeon is very happy about. He said anymore and he would be worried that I was losing muscle and not fat. Congrats again and good luck!

A lot of restaurants have the "add ons", like add 5 shrimp to any entree for 4 bucks... that is what I order. They just add it on to my mom's and I ask them to put it on a separate plate. Or I order off the kids menu. I don't do that often though, because if I go out I want something that has "adult" tastes and seasonings and most kids choices aren't that appealing. If I go to Outback I either do the shrimp add-on or the kids ribs (you get 5...I can eat maybe 2). They have never given me any problems.

That is an amazing difference!!!! You look wonderful

I was able to take small pills after I was discharged. In fact my PPI is a pill and I took it from day 3 (the day I went home). I asked my surgeon about it and if I was able to take any others if I needed them and he said that with advil I just needed to take it with food or a tsp of pepto and that after the 6ish week mark I should be fine for any other. He said that the PPI was small so it was highly unlikely to get stuck. From my experience my PPI is about the same size as Zyrtec. I do not have allergies, but my sister does. I also wanted to say that I am in awe of you for being able to take benadryl every day. Bendaryl knocks me off my feet for a solid 12 hours if I take it and I am drowsy and slow the next day... and that is with half a dose! I would be a zombie if I had to take it everyday lol! I really hope you can get all this sorted out before you surgery. I know how miserable my sister is without her meds (she is 6 and her doc bumped her up to the stronger allergy med, hence why she can take the zyrtec or claritin or allegra) and I can't imagine dealing with that as well as post-surgery. Good luck!

Your post made me smile I loved the rainbow and it was awesome to hear that you had such a great day. Plus, you look amazing! Congrats

I can't do the protein shakes at all. I just bought a bunch of stuff to try to add to them to mask the smell (pumpkin and some frozen strawberries). The last time I made one, when I smelled it my gag reflex kicked in... I waited for it to go away and afterwards I tried a tiny sip anyways... bad idea. I ended up spitting it out. I'm not sure why I had such a strong reaction to it (any all Protein drinks I've tried since). But I have become wary of them. I can't get all my protein in just by eating though, so I'm going to have to try again. I am glad to know that I am not the only one who can't get much in.

Wow, I definitely am not even close to this! I can do one egg, but if I was to add anything to it I wouldn't be able to finish it. My surgeon told me to stop "when you're full".. I told him the truth, that I am never hungry to begin with and that I have to remind myself to eat. He told me to just do Protein Shakes if I wanted. I am almost considering doing it, but I don't want to rely on pills to get my Vitamins and such. Thanks for sharing!

This made me laugh... when I was about 2 (before I was potty trained) I decided to eat some crayons... my mom was very shocked the next morning lol! What you said about certain colors just triggered the memory of my mom telling me this story.

I'm still wearing the same ones... but I have noticed that they are definitely sitting higher around my hips (too high!) and are starting to slip down.... guess it is time for new ones for me as well!

For me I was going onto two weeks when I finally gave in and took some Milk of Magnesia. It was really difficult to get down but I felt soooo much better after I did. I was hesitant to take it because in the past I had a bad experience with something different, but for the same reason. I finally gave in and tried it and I am very glad that I did. At this point (I am two months out) I don't need to take anything but I definitely do not go as frequently as I used to... maybe two to three times a week (TMI sorry...). If you are that uncomfortable and have already tried something like Milk of Mangesia then I would definitely contact your surgeon.

Hello everyone I am two months out and I was wondering how much other people could eat (at one sitting) at this point? I can barely eat anything! I am not complaining, but there are times where I wish I could just a tiny bit more that I could eat something other than Protein. I love veggies and would like to incorporate those in at some point. But when I do I don't get enough protein in. I have trouble with the shakes so I try to eat all of my protein. At this point I can eat about 1.5 oz of chicken, 2 of pork, 1 of tuna and about 1/4 of a sausage. This is within 30 minutes of sitting down. I know most people stop after 15-20, but I have found that that is too short of a time to get my food down, even with the minimal amounts.

Thank you for sharing You look amazing, and to lose all that in only one year??? That is "fantabulous" (as my 6 year old sister would say).