Indymom

I just hit one of my mini-goals this weekend - finally decided to wear jeans with a shirt tucked in and a belt. I still am a little pudgy in front but I was still pretty happy about it!!

Are you eating very slowly and chewing thoroughly? I have pains still (even at 7 months out) if I take too big a bite, don't chew it up completely, or take a drink too quickly after eating.

To the OP, if you aren't too far out and only eating purees or mushies, you might not actually feel "full" quite yet - that's why it's important to measure your food based upon the nutritionist's recommendation. I don't think I felt full at all until I started eating regular, dense protein (like cheese, chicken, etc.).

I waited until I was about 4 months out (my doc said 3-6 months). I drink pretty much whatever I want, obviously in moderation. I've had beer, wine, mixed drinks, etc. The carbonation in beer can cause a little discomfort, I usually drink a wheat beer like blue moon that isn't highly carbonated and I always drink out of a glass. Alcohol (especially mixed with high-calorie mixers like fruit juices) is TOTAL empty calories, so most surgeons warn against drinking during the weight loss phase. It can also lead to crossover addictions, so be cautious. I'm a social drinker and haven't noticed that it has impacted my weight loss at all (I don't even bother tracking/logging my drinking on MFP) so each person may have different experiences with it.

The doctor will be able to tell you when you can submit - they are likely very familiar with the insurance processes. My doctor's office had sheets for each insurance carrier with the specific requirements for each one; they would give each patient the appropriate sheet and check off what was still needed.

I've always been proportionate from head to toe - "fluffy" all over. I've lost a lot everywhere, but my calves are still thicker than I like. I've lost a lot more in my butt & thighs than I expected to, though.

I would write a very pointed letter to him, outlining all the concerns you've had with his bedside manner. I would also encourage you to write a review of him if you have access to any of the sites that allow for medical provider reviews (for example, many BC/BS plans have the Zagat rating tool available for their providers). Angie's List also allows you to review medical providers. No bariatric surgeon should EVER use the word fat. Period.

I have never gotten full-blown slimes or vomiting from eating, but I do get some discomfort with too many carbs or just too much to eat. I've discovered that soft breads (untoasted loaf bread, soft tortillas, rolls, etc.) really cause me some discomfort and seem to swell up my sleeve. I can eat a a piece of toasted bread with a thin spread of peanut butter, but don't do it too often as I get too full and it's not enough protein for me (and too much fat/carbs).

Actually, RNY does not require a sleeve procedure - the stomach is "bypassed" but remains intact. The sleeve is typically the first step of the DS. I'm not sure how they would revise from RNY to sleeve (if they even could), but I'm sure anything's possible?

If you like spicy food you could also dip in a little frank's red hot sauce and butter mixed together (not too much butter), I do this a lot with grilled chicken. A little ranch cools it down too.

I believe I started them at either 6 or 8 weeks out, but your nutritionist's plan may vary.

I'm losing quite a bit of hair as well (just passed the 7-month mark) - it's really irritating, but I just keep reminding myself of how much healthier my body is. The hair will grow back . . . so I'm just sucking it up for now.

Yep, that's the first place I lost weight too.

I did some of the nectar Protein - the roadside lemonade was pretty decent mixed half with Water and half with lemonade crystal light. Some of the other flavors were too strong. My surgeon and nutritionist OK'd me to take a softgel Multivitamin (Nature Made multi complete) because I couldn't stand the liquids or chewables.

Check out this forum for the buffalo chicken dip recipe too from Hungrygirl. It's awesome!!

For the first couple months I rarely got above 600 cals. At 7 months out, I now get between 800-1000 cals/day.

I had Taco Bell at lunch - one crunchy taco and the inside of a meximelt. Dinner at father-in-law's house was chicken & noodles (I ate mostly chicken), a small salad and a half a biscuit.

There are lots of great recipe sites for different ways to cook chicken and beef. You can cut the recipes in half so they don't make so much, and you'll probably still end up with leftovers for other meals (or lunches). I've found that being creative with various recipes keeps me from getting bored.

Chicken is always my go-to. I like beef too, and can tolerate it pretty well, but my sleeve LOVES chicken! I have experimented with lots of different ways to cook it so it doesn't get boring. I got burned out on cottage cheese and greek yogurt after my first couple months post-op so I pretty much don't eat much of either of those anymore.

There are a lot of threads around here on this topic. Someone recommended body brushing (google it for info); strength training can potentially help too if you do lots of tricep extensions, etc. There's not really any miracle cure unfortunately.

When I was that far out I could only eat about 2 oz at a time, so 3 oz might be a little too much. I agree that you need to eat a little more slowly and try to listen to your body - it will tell you when you're full!

Awesome progress and you look great! Way to go!

Watch out for greasy, fried foods. Your head will want them . . . you'll remember how good they taste . . . but chances are they will make you feel really icky when you eat them. I let my daughter get a small bag of Lay's potato chips as a treat at the gas station the other day. WIthout really thinking I grabbed a handful of them and munched on them . . . of course they were tasty, but about 5 minutes after eating them I really regretted it. I figured out some workarounds, though - when someone orders mozzarella sticks at a restaurant, for example, I just peel off the greasy, nasty breading and dip the melty cheese in the marinara sauce. YUM. Instead of chips I do multi-grain baked crackers with laughing cow light cheese. Not exactly the same thing but it helps when I'm craving the "crunch" of something.

Your posts are really negative; have you considered talking to a counselor/therapist about your feelings? I find it concerning when you post about "hating yourself" and "cutting the fat out of you." I think you should talk to your surgeon's office right away and perhaps get a referral to a therapist.

If you're not counting carbs religiously I would also agree that the sugar is likely not too much of an issue. That said, eating even a small amount of deep-fried, sauced foods may be the start of a path you don't want to go down . . . as your capacity increases you may still have the desire to eat those same foods - and it may have impact on your weight loss. I try to stick to Soups (I LOVE hot & sour!) and non-fried dishes like chicken & snow peas, or moo goo gai pan, or garlic chicken. I don't do the eggrolls; sometimes I'll get dumplings (potstickers) and just eat the filling.