Lanette

Kim- I didn't see yours earlier when I responded to the others. Can you share what your daily meals are looking like? I'm noticing your calories seem a lot lower than mine so that may be part of my problem. And how much Water would you say you're getting?

Hip -I'm so thankful to hear you say yours is lasting that long as well. Don't take that the wrong way....not meaning I wish a stall on anyone, but glad that it might not be that unusual for it to last this long. I'm just disappointed that I go back to the doc next week and haven't lost since my last appointment. Deakay- my doc started me on real food a little earlier so I've been getting around 900 calories. I've been wondering if maybe that is too many?!? Heck if I know. All I know is I want to start losing again. I did my shake for Breakfast this morning and I'm going to try to get back up in the 70-80 range on Protein. I was just getting so burned out on them. I've been doing ham and cheese roll ups, eggs, tuna, pepperoni stix, Greek yogurt (with strawberries mixed in...can't stand plain yet). Been doing the meat that I cook for the fam (salmon, grilled chicken, etc) and not a lot with it. I can't see signatures on the iPad so I'm wondering how much you've lost since our stats are about the same starting out. Just wish so bad I could have a nutritionist move in with me or a week!! . Thanks for listening guys!

Just what I needed.....starting my fourth week of my "three week stall". So ready to be losing again.

Met my hubby for lunch at a place in town that has awesome soups. I ordered a crab bisque that is already pureed and asked them to strain it for me. It was heavenly and nice and thin, but I think without measuring I just took "one bite too many". anyway, still never threw up but BOY have I felt like crap since lunch. Oh well...guess we live and learn. So much for my high hopes of having a nice lunch date with my husband!!

Just yesterday I came across the CUTEST size 8 jeans at a garage sale. I bought them and let my sister "borrow" them until I can wear them. She and my mom both kind of looked at me funny and later started in about reasonable goals, etc. I can tell they don't think I'll get there but who cares! I want out of the double didgets SO bad I can't stand it. i didn't want to spend big bucks on an outfi but wa happy to find my $5 goal jeans.

Husky....I also used Hall's Refresh and absolutely LOVED them.

So far, I have not really set any time/weight goals. I haven't had a clue how to even guess how much I would lose. My original goal in my head was to hit Onederland by July 4. I think based on factoring in a 3 week stall and losing about 5 pounds a week, I'm going to bump that up a little to around June 10th. So....there you have it....my first goal. I want to lose 35 pounds and hit Onederland by June 10th.

So today is 2 weeks post op....lost 7 more pounds this week for a total since surgery of 17 pounds. Finally on Mushies now. Bring on the tuna, eggs and refried beans baby! Weight Tracker: 300 - Highest weight Easter 2010 290 - Starting weight for 6 month PCP visits Size 24 270 - Consultation Date weight (BMI of 43.6) Size 20/22 252 - weight day of surgery 242 - 1 week post op 235 - 2 week post op Timeline: 2/1/10 - Clock ticking on one year employment requirement 6/1/10 - 12/1/10 - 6 monthly visits w/ PCP to document non-surgical weight loss 2/1/11 - One year employment anniversary 2/14/11 - Consult with Surgeon 2/19/11 - Psych Consult 2/22/11 - Dietition Consult 2/23/11 - Pre-Certification Packet submitted to insurance w/ scheduled date of 3/28/11 2/24/11 - Approved! 3/28/11 - Surgery

Congrats!

Lisa - I was sleeved on a Monday and that Thursday was HANDS DOWN one of the worst days of my life. I didn't want ANYTHING! I did gasX strips for the gas pain and just tried to sip Water and forgot about broth, etc. By that Friday, I was 1000 times better. After finally getting to full liquids (that Sunday) I was like my old self because I could finally get some Protein in. I also stopped taking my pain meds b/c they were making my nausea unbearable. I think it's b/c my stomach was so empty. I found that most of my pain was from gas and not as much incision related. One other thing, I started taking my PPI at night right before bed. I was waking up with a TON of acid after sleeping and not eating for 10 hours and the medicine wearing off. If I take it at night, the time that it is wearing off is in the early evening and I'm up and moving and the acid doesn't effect me so much. These are just my experiences. Wish you guys the best of luck with his recovery!!!!

You'll never know how bad this makes me want to whip up some tuna salad or egg salad. I was sleeved before you and I'm still on darn full liquids. I've never craved tuna so bad in my life!! LOL!

I wore foundation and mascara and my nails were painted (both fingers and toes). I had socks on the entire time so I don't think toes would have mattered either way. My nails are natural and it was a pail color, but I didn't remove it and no one said anything. I was on the pulse/ox monitor (snaps on your finger) and it worked fine.

I would LOVE to be in an 8. My sister is a size 8 and we look a lot alike. It's weird ot me to look at her and think OMG....that's what I'm gonna look like! I was in a 16 in high school and a 12/14 in junior high. I honestly can say that I do not even remember being in an 8. That would just be heavenly to me. Tried on a suit for church this past Sunday that I have held onto for years. The top totally fit, but the pants were snug....zipped up all the way, but snug. Anyway, I decided to take them off and try again this week. When I did, I noticed they were a..........SIXTEEN!!! I stood there crying in the closet in disbelief! I can honestly say that sizes matter WAY more to me than the scale and I know I will rejoice with every new size. going to try to go garage sale shopping this weekend for some 14/16's b/c that one suit is the only 16 thing I own! LOL! Fun thread....makes my heart happy just thinking about it.

My kids are 4 & 7 and I'm just not sure what or how much to tell them about my VSG. They know I had surgery but I've been very vague about why. Now they CANNOT understand why I'm eating soup with baby spoons while they have my favorite foods. I'm torn between telling them because I want them to understand and not explaining it because I don't want them telling their friends/teachers, etc. Now....I haven't been keeping it a secret, but haven't been broadcasting it yet either though. Anyway, just wondering how you guys have handled this.

I'm sure you'll do great! I got up and started walking as soon as they would let me and even did laps around our house when we got home. I really think that helped. I also kicked the pain meds to the curb on day 4 post op b/c I realized they were hurting more than helping. I think they were upsetting my stomach b/c I was still on Clear Liquids. Oh...and I also switched to taking my PPI at night before bed instead of the morning. I don't know what others do, but I was waking up with horrible acid issues b/c it had been 24 hours since taking it AND 8-12 hours since putting anything in my tummy. Made sense to me to take it before bed so that when it was wearing off (late evening) I would be up and could eat, etc. I really think that has helped as well. Good luck to both of you and keep us posted!!

Thanks so much you guys. I think I'm going to talk to them separately because I anticipate some serious questions from my 7 year old. This is honestly something I hadn't really thought about pre-op. I really appreciate all of your wisdom!

I think it probably depends on what you do for a living. I work from home so I went back at one week. I have felt great since starting full liquids and getting some protein in. I am still pretty wiped out at night though. I would have loved to have been able to have 2 weeks, but probably would have been a little stir crazy this week b/c I feel so good.

Not sure how much people normally lose but I was totally pumped about these 10lb! Wondering how the upcoming weeks (prior to stall of course) usually compare to week one. Anyone care to share their experiences prior to the 3 or 4 week stall?

Couldn't agree more! Love it.

Thanks guys!!

Congrats!!! So happy for you!

I found your original post and it looked like it was around 8am. I know for me, I work during the day then log on at night. Just the "new content" from today is pages and pages long. Even this post is 3 pages back from where Diva posted to it at 3pm. I can't really speak to the stall b/c I'm newly sleeved. But I think a comment on the original post with a "bump" or "still needing advice" probably would have helped. Based on your original post, it looks like you ARE losing inches (like Tiff mentioned), you're getting in your Protein, and your bloodwork looked awesome. I don't know that much about stalls, but from what I have read on here they are pretty much inevitable and everyone goes through them at some point. I wish you the best of luck in breaking yours!! I also know that I am probably one of the "newbie" stupid question askers but we either a) genuinely don't know or are just so darn excited about every little success. I don't think anyone on here would intentionally not answer you. Original post: "Well I knew it would come sooner or later I was just hoping it would come much later then this.. I have hit a stall and it has lasted 2 almost 3 weeks now.. The scale isn't moving off of 183.. I hit that a few weeks ago and up to that point hadn't really had much of a stall until now. It's driving me crazy. I'm not weighing but once a week and to see it sit the same every week has been a bit disappointing. Atleast it's not going up is what I keep telling myself, and I am still loosing inches just not pounds.. I started taking a zumba class once a week, and once I am comfortable in that class I will move up to 2-3 classes a week.. I am still eating right and getting in my protein. Infact I just had my 3 month blood work done and got a call from the doctors office telling me everything looked perfect and the only thing they seen I needed to add to my diet was Vitamin D.. I didn't even have to go in for a visit which shocked me after all I went through in January and February with the leak/absess. I just wish this stall would pass already. Is there anything I can do to get the scale moving again?"

I was sleeved on 3/28 and am in the same stage as you. I have found the more protein I can get in that liquid makes a big difference in how long I feel full. I've been making protein ice cream and drinking it at milk shake consistency. If you go to www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com she has a ton of recipes for the ice cream. Great thing is that it uses TWO scoops of protein powder for 8 oz of milk so you are getting a lot more bang for your buck. I'm also treating my full liquids like meals and not drinking with them. May or may not help, but my hope is that the thicker liquid (with my protein in it) will stick around in my tummy a little longer. Hope this helps!

Pretty excited about this! Hoping the next few weeks keep the same pace until the first stall.