longer-life

I agree that the waitress should have backed off, but I don't think she was pushing to be rude. I worked in the food industry, and when someone wouldn't order something or didn't want a drink you automatically wonder if something was wrong or made incorrectly, or you wonder if that person just didn't feel well. The waitress may have felt bad that you were paying for all that food and it was just going to be thrown out. She's not allowed to ask why you aren't taking it, so offering a box is the only thing she can do. Asking that many times is annoying, but I don't think it requires sensitivity training.
As for the booth thing... that is a tough one. On the one hand I agree that it sucks to have to ask to move to a table because you can't sit comfortably at a booth. But I also know a ton of people who would be offended if they were put at a table. Typically booths are more secluded and nicer for two people who seem like they are on a date, where tables are out in the open and less private. They should have asked your preference before seating your or when taking your name down to avoid this. It would have been so much easier for them and nicer to you if they just said "would you prefer a table or a booth", or if they were busy they could have said "we have a booth available now, but if you would prefer a table it will be about a 10 minute wait" etc, etc.
Overall I think the stress of eating out and not being able to eat the way you are used to and not being able to enjoy your meal made the whole thing seem a lot worse than it was. This happened to me a lot at the beginning as well. My mom helped though... we would order and app and tell the waiter/waitress that we were going to share. They never noticed that I wasn't eating because the food was still eaten. I've also stopped questions in their track by saying "I already ate, I just want a snack" or "I have a big dinner later, I'm just going to munch"... At this point I don't say anything. The majority of waiters or waitresses know to back off and not question it and it generally isn't a problem.
I hope next time you eat out you have a better experience.

My wife had the RNY 4 years ago. She was extremely successful with it. My weight was manageable and I was in decent shape. My wife progressed through her post op diet and her solids was always to much for her to eat. Well she would instinctively put her remaining food on my plate to eat. I would eat it. So I was eating nearly two meals at a time. I was raised not to waste food and a happy plate is a clean plate. So I was eating 1 1/2 steaks and 1 1/2 potatoes at dinner, or an extra 4 - 7 wings, sandwiches, chicken, the list goes on. Well needless to say, 4 years later I need WLS. I was sleeved on 12/27/11. Now of course I do not blame my entire weight gain on my wife. I could have simply said no, or stopped being lazy and been more active. However, this story has made me change the way that I approach food with my son. He is no longer made to eat all of his food. He just has to eat what we thing is enough for him. This is only needed when it is not his favorite (the healthier foods) foods. pizza, and such is never a problem. Seconds was taken away if it is a high starchy meal, or unhealthy meal. NO ONE puts their remainders on the others plate. It goes in the leftover dish or trash. That was a huge lifestyle change for me but I am glad that I did it. I just want all the new sleevers out there to watch that with your spouses, not only do you lifestyle have to change but theirs have to also.

If you are worried you have damaged your sleeve, go to the doctor and have him do a leak test. STOP EATING SOLID FOODS. PERIOD. It is too early for you to do that. You could get things caught in your staple line and possibly cause an infection or leak. Yes, you have a line of staples the length of your stomach. While that line of staples is healing, you need to be on liquids, then full liquids, then mushies. Nothing you mentioned you are taking bites of is OK. You need to be drinking Protein Drinks and clear fluids. Maybe some SF Jello, or maybe yogurt. Ask your doctor. When I would get hungry(which was acid), I would take a GASX strip and drink either warm broth or warm tea. I would drink my Protein drinks and calorie free liquids (Propel, etc). I was prescribed FAMOTIDINE (pepcid) morning and evening and I took a prilosec in the evening. Don't mean to be harsh - I am just worried you are going to hurt yourself. Please take care and let us know how you are doing. Good Luck!

Be careful. I went to the movies on my first week or two and when I told my surgeon "popcorn didn't kill me", he went pale! I meant the SMELL of popcorn didn't kill me. We had a good laugh afterwards, but him going pale tells you everything.

Wow a 3-6 month wait is a long time!
Going to check out the Whirley Pop in Amazon

One big difference Kacee109 is trying to point out is that she has NO recourse in Mexico. Had she had this surgery done in the US there are groups, organizations, lawyers etc she can go to and get help. She is out of luck and being ignored BECAUSE she went to Mexico. I am not saying, don't go overseas, I am saying this is an important point that should be part of the equation when making a decision.
Is this doctors name Dr. Rod or Dr. Rodriguez? What city?

Liliana you must be a great cook! I can't make asopao either! I follow recipes really well but I let the hispanic foods to my mom and sister in law.
I'm Dominican American.

Good job being persistent until you found a team of doctors that would help you. Very inspiring! I am sure you can't wait to go back to DR a changed man! Congratulations!

So just checking in with all of you. I was sleeved November 7, 2011 and I am down 35 lbs. Very happy with my results so far. I am into the 7th week so I am eating chicken, beef, mashed potatoes, cooked veggies, as well as the usual quick stuff like yogurt, cottage cheese, Protein Shakes cheese etc. Everything goes down good and the only time I have any trouble is of course when I eat too fast and do not chew, chew, chew. I am finding that I can drink Water a lot easier and don't have to sip. My clothes are falling off and I am 4 dress sizes down..Whoo Hoo...This surgery was the best thing I have ever done for myself..

Sorry I don't have an answer for you. I will bump it up so hopefully others can see it.

Welcome! As you can see I am not Latino but I can relate to your story. I live with two guys (my husband and my son) who are what I call String Beans. Both are 6' tall and weigh 135 to 140 lbs. They eat like there will never be another meal! My plate is litterally 4" in diameter and sometimes I can't finish what's on it while they take large dinner plates and usually get seconds.
One thing I would highly recommend for you is a change in how you refer to yourself. I use to always refer to myself as the "Fat Lady" or "Fat Girl". You referred to yourself as a "Fat Spanish Chick". I would recommend "Spanish Chick" because you will be FAT NO MORE! I have said that I "divorced" the Fat Lady when they took out 85% of my stomach and I am no longer allowed to call myself that. My husband pointed this out to me and said that I had to stop thinking of myself as fat and start seeing myself as he does - Hot, Sexy, Beautiful, etc.
Good luck on your journey.

You are doing fine Veda. :-)

Veda, I think if you'll take a closer look at people's tickers on this site you'll find you're doing just fine! Yes there are people who lose pounds really quickly, but they're generally (1) men (da## their fast metabolisms!), (2) much higher BMI, or (3) much younger. Also, I think most of us have a certain number of "easy" pounds to lose - Water retention, or whatever. Those of us who did a pre-op diet got those out off the way already. I started with a BMI of about 37 (before pre-op diet), and I averaged closer to 10 pounds a month loss. 6 months out, I'm in the normal BMI range, and less than 5 pounds from my surgeon's goal, and my losses are slowing a bit.
You should also account for the usual 3rd week stall most people experience.
In short, you're doing great!! I know it's more exciting to see the scale numbers plummet, but honestly, at your weight you've ot plenty of time to make it to goal. This part of your journey is really about developing the new habits with food that will help you STAY at goal in the years to come!! Slightly slower losses help minimize saggy skin too!
Please, don't make yourself crazy trying to speed up your losses. Stick with the plan, get your Protein in to help with healing, get some exercise in as you can to keep your metabolism going, and you'll do great!

I think too many of us focus on the fast losers when we're planning for surgery and then we assume that once we're sleeved the weight is going to just fly off.
Not everyone is so lucky.
My starting weight is close to your preop weight but you must be taller than my 5'1" and some change because my BMI was much higher at your current weight.
I was a slow loser. Slower, I guess. There are a handful of people here that are even slower than I was. It took me 17 months to hit goal, to lose 107 pounds.
You cannot compare yourself to everyone else. If you're doing the right things and still losing, the sleeve is working. You can try to adjust your food or exercise for a better result but I caution you against doing anything drastic that you won't be able to maintain. Part of why the sleeve is great is that it does away with the need for that diet mentality and helps you build positive habits you can maintain forever. Some folks cut the carbs down to 20 a day, something I consider extreme, but if they can live their lives that way and get great results then it works for them.
My biggest piece of advice isn't one you'll like, but it's something you're going to have to get used to at some point or another. RELAX.
That's it. Because this isn't a race. I promise you, 85% of your stomach just got removed from your body so you're going to lose weight. I see this over and over and over again on the boards - people just so frustrated and worked up because they expected to lose the weight faster, or people that get mad because they feel they didn't need the surgery if they were going to be slow losers.
It took me 17 months to reach goal. It took me 17 YEARS to go from where I am now to my high weight. Am I any less pleased with my success because it took me longer to get here? Nope. I'm happy as can be.
Track your food. Eat responsibly. Get your Protein in, drink your Water, start moving more. In six months you're going to be posting that you're nearly to goal. Give your body a chance to recover from the fact that it's lost 27 pounds and undergone a major surgery the last two months. And yes, even if you want to break the scale sometimes, and even if you don't lose for two weeks of the month (like me) you're going to lose this weight.
So, RELAX.
~Cheri

One big difference Kacee109 is trying to point out is that she has NO recourse in Mexico. Had she had this surgery done in the US there are groups, organizations, lawyers etc she can go to and get help. She is out of luck and being ignored BECAUSE she went to Mexico. I am not saying, don't go overseas, I am saying this is an important point that should be part of the equation when making a decision.
Is this doctors name Dr. Rod or Dr. Rodriguez? What city?

Maybe I am not understanding you. Why do you want to skip a step when you are not feeling well? You should go slower, not faster. Also consider asking your doctor for suppositories to control your nausea. Follow your doctors orders. Be patient. I hope this answers your questions.

How awesome!!!!!!!

I would say something like "my stomach is a little unsettled, so I will have some soup" and move on with the conversation. Through the night, as he order dish after dish, reassure him (if needed) you are doing fine and enjoying yourself (if you are). Act as if it no big deal. :-)

These stories should make you follow your doctors orders. No need to be afraid, if you do that and listen to your body.

I don't feel the same way. I think you are referring to a thread where you stated something about the plication surgery and a lady that had the plication done disagreed with you. You felt attacked and in all honesty, I think she was very respectful. Unfortunately we can't see peoples faces and it is hard sometimes to interpret how the words are intended.
I hope you don't stop coming. Everyone here brings something different and that makes it better. If we all have the same personality and all we do is "ra ra ra" ourselves, it would be dishonest and boring. I agree it should be VERY friendly and supportive, but we don't all have to sound the same.
Having said all that, I am sorry you are feeling this way. They are your feelings and I respect them. I just don't see this forum the same way you are. Please don't stop coming. We need you here.

I don't feel the same way. I think you are referring to a thread where you stated something about the plication surgery and a lady that had the plication done disagreed with you. You felt attacked and in all honesty, I think she was very respectful. Unfortunately we can't see peoples faces and it is hard sometimes to interpret how the words are intended.
I hope you don't stop coming. Everyone here brings something different and that makes it better. If we all have the same personality and all we do is "ra ra ra" ourselves, it would be dishonest and boring. I agree it should be VERY friendly and supportive, but we don't all have to sound the same.
Having said all that, I am sorry you are feeling this way. They are your feelings and I respect them. I just don't see this forum the same way you are. Please don't stop coming. We need you here.

Liliana.....a little tough love going your way here. What you are doing "wrong" is letting the scale have control over you and not managing your expectations. You have lost a TON of weight, not losing for one week is hard, but expected!
I am actually shocked I haven't stalled yet. Probably because I didn't have a pre-op diet or just pure luck. I am waiting for it though. I know it will come and most likely more than once in this journey. Be kind to yourself! Breathe in.......breathe out....slowly.

Gulp! Love the idea. Not ready to commit yet. Maybe next Saturday? lol

my favorite food before and after surgery has been chicken. But since being sleeved, my favorite way of having it has been simply smoked chicken from our local BBQ places. As cheap as buying a chicken at the store and cooking myself almost, and its so delicious to me with white sauce. A half a chicken is $4 and it lasts me for numerous meals.. Coming in a close second is simply string cheese!! I take it everywhere I go and have it everyday. I get the Frigo cheese head kind and I don't do the Light version. I get the regular. My other fav is cottage cheese with stuff mixed in. Applesauce or Spiced apple butter. These things may not have even sounded all that great to me pre-op but they are delicious to me now. And I do have a handful of stuff that I eat over and over again. I don't get tired of the same stuff either. Food just doesn't have the same appeal and I don't really crave stuff like I used to. I love my sleeve!!

This is definately a tough one. Written word like this can take the emotion out of true context the author intends. Often, it is interpretted by the emotional state of the reader at the time. There are several studies on this. In this day and age of the quick instant message, the phone text and the pocket forums, people don't take the time and don't have the skill to relate enough information to convey the emotion behind their meaning. If the reader is feeling vulnerable, they can interpret it as being attacked. If they are in a good mood, it could be interpreted as humorous or the author pathetic, while if in a sympathetic mood, interpreted as helpful.
I know I am guilty of this ... giving my 2 cents in as quickly as possible. But, I am also a grown up and know not to take things people write in a forum to heart. These are all suggestions and it is up to me to take the snippets of what I find may work for me. I want honesty and grant others the same respect by returning that honesty. Like I told my wife on our first date, "Don't ask me any question to which you don't want the answer, because I will tell you the truth."
Sometimes, I probably just need to step away from the forum for awhile. After reading the same post from 5 different people complaining about being in a stall, but admit they are not eating the right foods and not exercising ... Or another one of my favorites from those who have tried 3 different Protein shakes and have given up ... They don't want honesty. They know what they have to do. We all do. Sure, there is going to be the 1% who never had a consult with a dietician or their surgeon never mentioned xxx. But the other 99% have been told. It is here on the forum to be searched. There is Google. These folks may need some tough love.
I guess my advice to all is:
Don't post a question to which you don't want to know the truth.
If a response does offend, know that it is based in love, though it may be laced with frustration.
Try to take your emotion out when reading and be objective.
Post in the correct forum. If you are looking for some reassurance, perhaps the Post-Op forum is not the right place. Place your post in the right context by choosing the right place.

I want to help all those who are also willing to help themselves. Let's all do this together.