lsereno

You're pretty early out still so meat may taste better later. I have to admit, now that I'm farther out, I don't chew, chew, chew like we are supposed to. I haven't noticed any negative effects. I did have to chew at first but tummy was still tender. I think it's completely healed now and I happily chew as much as I feel like and swallow without a problem. Early on I had a problem with chicken. I think it was just too dense for me at first. I could do tuna, greek yogurt, lunch meat at first. Next I added chicken (costco chicken is very moist) and fish ,but I could only eat about an ounce so I had a Protein drink at night to get the rest of my protein in. At six weeks, I was allowed beef, which sat well with me. I ate ground beef always mixed with something to make it moister, such as BBQ sauce, ketchup, or gravy. Lynda

M2G, At my 6 months post-op the Dr. showed me a chart that showed that people in the Overweight BMI range were almost identically health-wise to those in the Normal range if both groups exercised. Compared to Normal BMI people who didn't exercise, the Overweight BMI people who exercised were actually healthier! Really opened my eyes that once we get to Overweight BMI, getting to a lower BMI is pretty much vanity related. And then the BMI scale is known to have issues. If you spent a longer time at a higher weight you will have heavier bones. If your skin doesn't bounce back, you have extra skin. Extra muscle mass is a factor too. For example, Diva weighs more than me, but I'm pretty sure her measurements are smaller and she wears smaller clothing size (except in bra :-) Also, everyone has a different dream of how they look best. As long as you're healthy and happy, goal weight is a very personal choice. I know I'm on the vanity side of the equation now, but I'm hanging in there and struggling with the last few pounds to my goal. I've seen a few people on here who blast past their goal and lose more, but that won't be me. Ugh. Must. Resist. MaiTai. Donuts. And chips. sigh. Must. Work. Out. More. Lynda

Yes they are! I got mine 31 years ago and we are going strong! Lynda

I still weigh every morning. I only track my weight on Friday though. So my official weight for each week is what I weigh when I step on the scale on Friday. I don't get worked up over seeing the bounce up and down through the week. I use it more as a learning tool. So if it bounces up, the next day I may drink more Water or just realize I ate something more salty the day before. I don't have TOM anymore, so I don't have that bounce to contend with. After I get to goal and have maintained for a while, I will probably not weigh on daily basis anymore. Lynda

Easter works for me. I've dinked around and won't be at goal by Valentines Day unless a miracle occurs. I won't have much to lose for the Easter challenge, but it's going to be the toughest few pounds. Lynda

Congrats and welcome to Onderland!! I gotta tell you, I love it in Onderland:-) The seats are wider, it's less far to the ground when I have to tie my shoe or pick something up, and I think the sun is shining brighter these days too :-) Good work on getting to goal a few days early- you are rocking that sleeve! Lynda

Kiki, I waited and I am very happy with my decision. I did have health issues, but nothing that was getting dramatically worse at a quick pace. For me, the comfort of knowing that i would have the surgery locally with all follow up covered, along with a comprehensive pre-surgery program made the wait well worth it to me. I also found the wait time helpful because I learned more about the surgery and what to expect after, followed a pre-op diet, went to in person support groups and joined this community. Also it gave me plenty of time to prepare for surgery, cleaning the house, getting stuff done like car appts, dentist appts, etc so I had less to worry about post-op. Best wishes on your journey! Lynda

I stopped buying clothes as soon as I decided I wanted the surgery. Post-op, I bought clothes on a as-needed basis only, buying just a few things at a time. I'm not very patient and I don't need much since i'm retired so I bought at Walmart and Target mostly. A few tops, couple pairs of jeans, couple work-out pants, and a couple of sweaters and coats. Now that I am a few pounds from goal, I am looking at clothes and buying what I want a bit more, but still being cautious to not spend a lot. I've heard our body continues to change a bit even after we get to goal weight so I don't want to invest much this first year till I see what shape I'm going to settle into. Lynda

N2B8r, Congrats! Half way there is a huge accomplishment and a great place to be at just 5 months out. I wish I could not consciously make my food choices, but if I went down that path, I would be in big trouble! At almost nine months out, the snack/sweet,drink monster has reared his ugly head and I have to beat him into submission! It's a lot easier for me with the sleeve, but it's still a choice I have to make every meal, every day. Lynda

Keep up the good work Sand Sandles! You will see the results, even if it takes longer. If you want to speed up loss, I really recommend exercise. It has really helped me. I work out 5 days a week. I'm struggling with the last few pounds to goal, but I have been snacking, drinking calories, and eating higher-calorie Protein. Lynda

Agree with others that process of elimination is what you need to find the answer. I see you're just a few weeks out. A lot of stuff bothered me in the first weeks and months that I now eat without a problem. If it's something I want, I try it again a few weeks or months later. I keep trying milk, but at my last attempt in December it still got me. I'm thinking it's time to try it again though because my understanding is that often lactose intolerance that appears post-surgery goes away again. I'd love to get back on non-fat milk instead of soy milk and add cottage cheese back to my diet. I don't really need the ice cream or whipped cream, so in a way, the lactose intolerance has worked for me :-) Lynda

Kathy, You've gotten some good advice already. I just want to let you know my thoughts are with you. For myself, I wouldn't share my posts here with my husband. I know he would view that as a betrayal. He is very private. You will know what is best for you. I agree with others that he sounds depressed. In men, depression often exhibits as anger. I found this out the hard way because I have a son with mental health issues. I think going to the Dr. with him is a great idea! Some medications and medical conditions can cause depression, not to mention all the changes you guys have been through the last few years. And working on reconnecting is important. My husband I didn't have these issues, but he does occasionally seem a little anxious about my weight loss. When he does, I try to make sure he feels my love and devotion and he gets over it quick. We have been together 31 years. It's easier to know how to make him happy after all that time! He likes to do things for me, so sometimes I just ask for help even if it's something I could do myself. And I make a point to cuddle up a little more than I used to. He likes that too! Best wishes on your journey, Lynda

I can't chug like a used to, but I can gulp a lot of Water quickly when I want. I can gulp about a cup in a few seconds. I was uncomfortable, tired, and busy sipping water and eating teeny bites for weeks after surgery but boy, was it worth it!! Lynda

You made the right move. For family and those I really care about, I make the effort to help them understand if they don't get it. But for others, I just cut contact with them if possible and if I can't avoid them, I keep personal contact to a minimum. I've been lucky that my family, friends, and acquaintances have been supportive for the most part. Lynda

Crosswind: The low B12 could be affecting your mood. I hope that's the case and that you feel better when it gets up to a normal level. According to my program (Kaiser Fremont), I will be supplementing Vitamins for the rest of my life too (Daily: 2 multis, Vitamin D, vitamin B, and 6 calcium; 2x per week: B12 sublingual; plus iron). No need to supplement Protein because I get enough in through food. I don't mind popping a few vitamins. Please stop beating yourself up over what I consider an illness. Would you be mean to yourself if you had a heart defect? I think the body and mind are very complex and it's not my fault that I needed help to get to a normal weight. Yes, sure, lots of people never need that help, but lots of people have blue eyes too. I don't have blue eyes and I don't have the body/mind combo that would allow me to stay at a healthy weight. My wish for you is that you would treat yourself as you would treat the daughter you don't have. If you can't do it for yourself, do it for the daughter you might have one day. Children see how we treat ourselves, not just what we tell them, and they internalize that. Lastly, Welcome to Onderland!!! I'm glad the sleeve is working for you. Lynda

I tell most people. I don't use exact numbers. Now I say about 100 lbs., even though it is more. I have generally rounded it to the nearest big number. 25, 50, 60, 75. I agree there are some people who ask in a rude way or just get on my nerves. For those, it's play it by ear. I generally still say how much I've lost anyway because I'm very proud of the hard work I've done. Also, I'm not one to reply to rudeness by being rude back. It just makes me feel worse if I do. We tend to forget there are some people who have this operation and chose to not join a support group (online or in person) and who go back to bad eating habits ASAP and never get anywhere close to goal, but they are out there. Often people tell me, I know someone who had the operation, but they didn't lose like you did. And I have an acquaintance once removed who had the VSG and actually is the person who inspired me to find out more and get the operation myself who is in that boat. She never changed her eating habits. She may be able to eat less but she is drinking sweet drinks, eating crap food and not exercising. She is gaining weight back fast and will probaby be at her start weight in the next few months, just a couple of years after the surgery. So sad! But the point is, you have to work it to lose weight and that is something to be proud of!! Lynda

I'm 4 lbs. from goal and I have lost weight everywhere. Shoes, bracelets, and rings are all too big. I'm down to a 6 or 8 in women's and a 7 or 9 in juniors from a tight size 20. My bra size has gone from 40D to 34 D. I can wear necklaces that were too tight around my neck before. My gloves are bigger on my hands. I went from a size 10 panties to a size 7. Lynda

I track my Water throughout the day and try to get in the following: Before breakfast: 1 1/2 cup - I drink soymilk so that's one cup down. And 1/2 cup water to take my pills. By lunch time: 2-3 more cups: One 16 oz. water bottle if I'm on the go and one hot drink (tea, hot water, decaf coffee) Afternoon, between lunch and dinner: 3 cups: Pretty much the same as a.m,. plus 1/2 cup water for my pills After dinner: 1 cups I try to get no more than 1 cup behind. Then I just have 2 cups after dinner instead of one.

The Century Club is when you have lost over 100 lbs. I'm in baby! Lynda

Forensikchick: I drink a cup of coffee every morning and I don't find it an appetite increaser. I also like the Diet Lipton Green Tea with Citrus, Good Earth Sleepy Time Tea, and the Good Earth Gingerbread Tea. Sometimes I have just plain hot Water with a little sugar free caramel syrup. I'm gonna be increasing my exercise to lose the last four pounds I have to go to goal. I plan to add Zumba and a spinning class. Lynda

Hi all, I have a gain this week too. I snacked and had drinks, but I did get in all my workouts. This time around snacking and drinks have been more important to me that hitting my goal. I guess I know how many calories I will need in maintenance too: a little less than I am having now. I'm going to switch it up the following week and try a new exercise class. Zumba or spinning. Lynda My Valentine's Goal also includes reaching the following goals: 144: This was my Christmas goal and I've lost 110 lbs. (32 pre-op and 78 post op). 9 lbs. to my final goal!!! 142: I've lost 80 lbs. post-op 140: Five lbs. to my final goal!!! 139: My number starts with 13. I haven't weighed this since the early-90s. 135: GOOOAAAL! Lynda Valentine's Day Goal: SW-144.2.............CW-139.3.............Goal-135 Dec. 25: 144.2 Dec. 30: 142.8 Jan. 6: 142.6 Jan. 13: 141.7 Jan. 20: 138.4 Jan. 27: 138.3 Feb. 3: 138.8 Feb. 10: 139.3 Valentine's Day:

Forensikchic: I'm pulling for you and the big numbers! dorrie and jcollins: Congrats on making your Valentines Goal! Lynda

I had a hernia repair too. I progressed through the stages at the right rate for my program (Kaiser Fremont), but I wasn't cleared for red meat till after week 6. I checked my food diary and at three weeks out I was eating greek yogurt, soymilk, Protein drinks, lunch meat, light cheese sticks, moist fish and moist chicken, and Anderson Split Pea Soup, and saltine crackers. I also ate a little tiny bit of fruit, but only melon on its own. Mixed with yogurt, I could eat a couple of strawberries. Early out, the acid in fruit bothered me. Lynda

Fern, Thanks for sharing your struggle and your positive solution. As I get closer to goal, it's important for me to read how others in maintenance are dealing with every day issues and keeping the weight off. I can see exercise is a huge win-win for burning a few calories, giving me a little alone time to think things through, and burning off bad feelings by wearing myself out a little bit. Life at goal: here I come!! Lynda

Having WLS is kinda like being pregnant. Everyone has an opinion and many, many people think it is important to share that opinion with you. I have heard it all I think. Diva is right. You have to develop a thick skin and a way to deal with comments that is best for you. For me, that doesn't include being snarky back. That just makes me feel worse. Instead, I try to reason with those I care about and I simply ignore those I don't care about by cutting the conversation short. I too am afraid of weight regain. My opinion: By the time you get thin you will have heard so much that you won't really care about other's opinions as much. You will care more about weight regain for yourself, not what others think. Lynda