PhatGurl80

I've used calorie counter by fatsecret.com. I love it.

Now, I am no shake expert, but i'm sure you could create your own shake with some lowfat or fatfree vanilla icecream or frozen yogurt, put in a little bit of that Hershey's sugar free Strawberry syrup and blend with some ice and/or skim milk. I use the strawberry syrup in my protein shakes and I think it's delicious.

I agree with longerlife, if its been rough for u thus far, I'd follow your plan layed out by your Dr. as best you can and don't rush anything. Like I said I had no trouble testing the waters since I never got nausea and my pain even dwindled away quicker than what I thought it would

I didn't do a puree phase. After about two weeks of liquids and soup I went to soft foods like mashed potatoes, chilli, beans w/ cheese... I went to solids about a week after that. I hadn't been nauseous or anything tho so that's probably helped my progression.

I resolve to make those steps towards mental health that I've been contemplating prior to my weight loss.

Wow. Thanks for all of the replies! I'll do some more reading up on that topic!

I would really like to know the chances of having gall bladder issues after WLS. Ive seen some posts wiyh people having to get them removed. What causes these issues? What are some red flags ?

Sleevie you are so right. My healthcare spending account renews in January, I will start counseling then. Thanks everyone!

I feel like I'm in the same boat. I was hoping I'd be one of those people who never felt hunger and has to remind themselves to eat. Not the case with me. I get hungry and it hits fast and hard. If I don't have something to soothe it right away, it throws my whole mood. I've done a lot of testing too and paid the price at that (tummy aches, vomiting). You are right in seeking counseling. That will be my next step first of the year (when my healthcare spending account renews)

Lol! I'm only laughing because it did happen to me. Only once though the 2nd day after my surgery. I was still in the hospital so my fiance gave me a one time use only pass. But after that I didn't have any more problems. I think it was just a mixture of all that gas plus all the fluids being pumped in me. Good luck to you tho!

Awesome post. You are so right, everthing happens for a reason!

Thanks I'm hoping this will pass soon!

Hey everyone! I figured I haven't blogged in a little while, so what better time to tell everyone how i'm doing than the 3 month mark. It'll actually be a full 3 weeks on Wednesday, but hey...I got some time right now. So, a lot of things have been going on with me emotionally these past few weeks. I started feeling the stress from wedding planning and budget, I lost some lbs. Most notably, I've been up and down with just feeling overall sad. I'm not really sure why, but I know I have a history of periods of sadness for no apparent reason. I've always just handled it best I could and wait for the sadness to pass. This time though, my sadness was accompanied by just plain old evil. Been snapping at my honey for this and that. I know he's trying to be patient with me. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and researched a little bit of "natural" supplements I can use to calm me down. And I found St. John's Wort. It says that i'll know whether or not it works in about 6 weeks, so I'll just play the waiting game. Overall, I am still ecstatic over the weight loss. I can fit into things I haven't fit into in years. Co-workers are commenting on how I look. I just wish I could shake this cloud that's been over me. So that's where I am at 3 months. I know i"ll get over this hurdle! Many blessings to all!

Gotcha. I'll check around my area Thank you!

Hello all Self-pay/Mexico Sleevers! I am approaching my 3 month check up with my PCP and just curious if anyone has a list of things I should be asking her to check? I don't want to miss a thing!

Just out of curiosity, what is "Lifetime"? And can this sort of test be requested at a regular PCP?

ha ha! I love it! But, unfortunately for me, my 45lb loss hasn't yet given me a new found thrist for sexy time. I wish it were so though because my husband to be has been increasingly vocal about the lack of...attention lol. To be honest, i just feel so tired lately! And i'm for real....not an excuse!

Wow. Sounds fishy to me. I can't imagine surgeon "requiring" any body to buy anything other than the surgery they are getting. And to be honest, I haven't taken any Bariatric specific vitamins, shakes, or meals and I'm doing just fine. I think Bariatric Surgery is definitely a new market in which producers of vitamins, foods, and supplments are trying to get into and make that money. Good luck with the rest of your dealings with your surgeon's office and I hope it gets better from here on out.

Had a good week despite it was Thanksgiving Lost two more pounds! I"m on my way to the teens for the first time since I was about 23 yrs old! SW: 231 GW: 215 CW: 223.8 lbs to go....8.8!!

Hi Sunny72, don't worry. You'll get back into the groove of things. Just think of how much weight you've lost and try not to be so hard on yourself. We have the tools now that we need to be successful, and I'm sure you will do fine.

I have to agree. I was sleeved on Sept 14 and I have to say that Dr. Garcia and his staff were top notch. Except for a little mishap with not finding my veins for an IV (guess my arms were too fat?), I think everything went off without a hitch. I traveled there with my fiance and he's no fan of hospitals, but he actually felt comfortable sleeping there for the two nights I was there. Everything at Mi Doctor seemed new and clean and sterile. Dr. Fernando and Dr. Paola (can't remember her last name at this time) have been following up periodically via email to see how I'm doing. I did blog about it if anyone wants to read it. So far, 11 weeks out and no issues whatsoever. I have my first post-op appointment with my PCP in a couple weeks and I have no reason to think anything negative will be uncovered. I had her check my incisions when I got home from TJ and she said they were perfect. Hope this helps! And good luck to everyone!

I think I fared pretty well during my first Post-Sleeve Thanksgiving. I did put a little bit of everything on the plate, but I surely didn't eat everything that was there. I did feel a twinge of gult for not cleaning my plate like mom taught me to do, but I was also very careful so I wouldn't have to chuck it all up. I even had a fe bites of dessert. Not to mention, I got up the morning of and did apre- Thanksgiving run at the park. Then, I got up at 5am the next morning for a fitness bootcamp. Overall, I LOST two pounds last week .

Awesome. You are a gorgeous bride!

I get frustrated too and I'm almost 11 weeks out. Eating in general is just uncomfortable because I just can't seem to slow it down slow enough. I think I may have to go back to soft foods and relearn.

Yes I feel the same way after eating. Sometimes immediately after eating my heart rate speeds up. And then I get sleepy.