SKCUNNINGHAM

It is easy to make cream of potato Soup. Cook potatoes peeled, or by the steam fresh potatoes. Get low fat canned milk or regular milk. Mash the cooked potatoes and add milk. Add seasonings and some butter. Put it in food processor or blender. Control the thickness by how much milk you add. This can be used after surgery once you get to thick liquids and can be the base you add Protein to. I also make an easy chicken and rice soup starting with 1 1/2 box of canned broth, one package of rice that cooks in 90 seconds (I like wild/brown combo), a package of frozen seasoning veggies, and a rotissery chicken from the grocery store. I take the chicken from the carcass chop it and add it to the broth in a soup pot. Cook the rice and add it to the pot. Dump the frozen veggie mix in the pot. I like to season with Soy sauce, garlic, basil, and tobasco - but this is totally up to you. Cook until the veggies are soft and the seasonings are right. Puree by small batches in the food processor or blender. Control thickess with the amount of broth you use.

When the office told me I had to take a new ID picture. Being called tiny (which I'm not, but it made me feel good) One guy at the office called me "the incredible shrinking woman" And when my husband calls me his "skinny wife".

Lynda - congratulations on becoming a member of the century club! It feels wonderful to be here with you. You have worked hard and the results certainly show. Good luck getting those last few pounds off. Sharon

Wow - I am SO IMPRESSED with you and your results. You are such a hard worker and your focus is amazing - you deserve all of the good things that are coming your way. Take care of yourself - can't wait to see the pictures of your legs! Sharon

I agree, shea butter is great. All sorts of commercial creams are now adding some % of shea butter (it will be prominate in the label or advertising). Or you can get high % of shea butter stuff that normally comes from Africa. I bought a container of shea butter cream from an african ebay vendor. Really makes the skin soft and smooth. I asked a masseur once how he kept his hands so soft, and he told me shea butter.

At 4 months, my average weight loss for the entire time period was slightly over 3.5 pounds per week. Here are my monthly losses: 2 week pre op diet - 13 pounds 1st month - 18.5 pounds 2nd month - 12 pounds 3rd month - 11.5 pounds 4th month - 12 pounds 5th month - 10 pounds 6th month - 7 pounds 7th month - 9 pounds 8th month - 6 pounds

WOW! What a wonderful experience! Just think - you will be buying smalls for the REST OF YOUR LIFE! CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, (standing ovation)

I had surgery on a Tuesday, went home Wednesday afternoon. I was off work until my 3 week checkup (which was a Tuesday). Wednesday - Friday after the check-up I worked from home (I, too work on a computer). The next week I went to the office and stayed half days. I have a two hour commute, which was my doc's major concern. He didn't want me in a car for over an hour without taking a 5 minute break to walk around. So I would drive towards my office for an hour, stop at a quick-trip store, walk around, buy a bottle of water, use the facilities and get back in my car for the rest of the drive. I staid at a hotel the first week back at the office rather than make the drive every day. The second week back I worked 6 hour days and stayed at the hotel again. The third week back I stayed full days. I just didn't have the energy for 8-12 hours days for a few weeks.

February 22nd 2011 103 pounds gone FOREVER.

Start doing core exercises and ab exercises. This will strengthen the musculature in your mid-section. Also, look and see if you have bad habits about slumping when you walk or stand. It is amazing how much better your belly looks if you stand up straight, hold your shoulders back, and tuck in your gut and butt! It won't make them go away, but it does minimize them. Look for some exercises that will strengthen the upper back and shoulders, and encourage the better posture. Good luck!

I have lost a total of 117" - but I measure EVERYWHERE there is to measure - and I started out right from the first and took my baseline measurements. Here are some highlights 3" from my neck 1" from each wrist and ankle 5 1/2" from each upper arm (still LOTS to go here) 2 1/2" from each calf 5 1/2" from above each knee 7 1/4" from each thigh 11 1/2" from my hips and also from my belly 13" from my waist 11" from the fullest part of my bust That's about 93" - the other 14" come from other spots that I haven't listed. I agree with you - Diva - sometimes looking at the measuring tape results is more fun that watching the scales. As you build muscle - even though you get heavier - you get smaller. Since muscle has a more dense molecular structure, it takes up less volume. By the way, Diva - you are looking spectacular. I love the look on your face in your latest profile picture - you are glowing with happiness.

I wore one. I went to my local Wal Mart and got a wide abdominal support belt (like warehouse workers might wear) that closed with velcro straps. I wore it once I was home from the hospital. It really made me feel more comfortable - when I was walking around and particularly when I would get up or down from the recliner or the bed. I wore it all the time for the first couple of weeks, during the day for the third week, and if I was going to do anything where I thought a might strain myself for about another month.

Congratulations!

Congrats on the weight loss! Nice to see your smiling face. This picture of the bike was nice - but it's good to have your face to match all of the great comments you make. Good luck with continued success. Sharon

My suggestions are in two separate areas - 1) work on finding out why you are sabatoging yourself, and 2) external controls you can use until you get your "internal" controls back in order. On finding out why you are sabatoging yourself - have you considered talking to a counselor experienced with weight loss patients? If you can't find one with that experience, one who is used to working with other addictions (other than food)? If you are against talking to a counselor - You are going to have to be a dective and find out what are your triggers that are causing you to go out of control. Keep a food diary that talks about what you were feeling each time you ate something - what at that time was motivating you to put food in your mouth. Also, note the times. If you do this diligently for two weeks, you will have enough data to discern the patterns. Once you know what the triggers are, then you can figure out ways to address them. For the external controls - where are you getting all of these foods you shouldn't be eating? Beer, ice cream, chips, etc? In your house? If so - get rid of them. Don't buy them. If you don't have the strength to get rid of them-have a friend come over and get rid of them for you. Newly "dry" alcoholics do not live in a house with alcohol. And you should have a plan each day of what you are going to eat and when that you try to stick to. If you want to PM me, feel free to. I wish you the best of luck getting in control.

Hello Seraphina - I am 8 1/2 months out and live and work in the greater Dallas area. I was sleeved by Dr. Nicholson in Plano. I told quite a few people before my surgery. I would be happy to communicate with you. Feel free to PM me.Sharon

I experience the same thing - the "Danger, danger - don't eat another bite" feeling when I get full. I have to be very careful if I get distracted when I am eating - and don't stay conscious of every bite I am putting in my mouth. And my nose runs when I get full, in addition to a full sensation from my stomach. Back to your feeling of being hungry all the time - could it be the amount of acid in your stomach is different now the band is gone (I'm not a band person - I don't know). I do know that many sleevers feel hungry right after they have been sleeved due to too much stomach acid in their sleeve. When that happened to me, I would take a GASX dissolving strip and drink a cup of warm broth - made the feeling go away every time.

Have a friend come over and help you de-junk food the house. Stock some Snacks that you can eat with no problem (Jello, pudding, yogurt, baby bell cheese). Develop a schedule for what you are going to eat when and try to stick to it as closely as possible. Develop a schedule of activities to fill your day. If you have the time and inclination - do some volunteer work for an organization you support - it distracts you from your own problems to help someone else. I wish you the best of luck.

I hosted a family reunion at 4 months and had 3 days on non stop food of all kinds available to me. My energy level was good and I could eat protein, some veggies, and I had a couple of bites of a couple of other things. I stayed away from sweets and alcohol.

Tiffykins - congratualtions on Tatum. You have a beautiful daughter. Best wishes for an easy transition into a stable routine with her and your family at home. Good luck with the balancing act being a new mom requires. Shron

I inadvertently bought a sugar free fruit flavored water that was lightly carbonated, and that hurt going down - so I didn't drink but a few swallows. About 10 days ago, I tried rootbeer. I let it sit for 30 minutes before trying it, so most of the bubbles were gone. It didn't taste nearly as good as I remember (Boo Hoo / Yea too) I have had a little bit of fried food a couple of times - didn't bother me much, but I definately took the prilosec in the evening afterwards.

You look wonderful! Congratulations. All of us should be blessed with a friend like yours. Sharon

I would say for those of you on a stall - do something to shock the old body out of its complacency. Obviously, it thinks it is at a weight it is comfortable being, and you are going to have to do something different to catch its attention. This may be do only fluids and Protein for a two days (up your protein grams to get in the right number of calories) and on the third day, eat a few carbs along with protein. Whatever exercise you have been doing, do something different. Anyone at home can do squats, lunges, jumping jacks, jump rope, etc and get in a good aerobic workout not going anywhere or using minimal equipment. If you can't fit in 30 minutes, do 3 10 minutes sessions. Stalls are the pits - I agree with the previous posters, focus on what you have achieved, and resist the temptations. Also, sometimes when the pounds are falling off slowly, the inches are coming off rapidly. I lost 2" off my waist in about 3 weeks last month. Surprised the heck out of me! Good luck to all of us in a stall!

It would help if you listed an example of what you eat in a given day or couple of days. If you count anything (ounces of water, grams of protein etc) include that.

I did the insurance two step for a year, and my approval came last December 29th - on my birthday. Maybe you will have the same year end surprise. This time next year you could be a 100 pounds lighter - like I am. Good luck!