LindaS

My family still doesn't quite get it. I buy foods that I can eat like the 15 calorie popsicles, but by the time I am interested in eating one (sometimes weeks later), they are all gone. I've never said the popsicles were JUST mine, but the other members of my family have lots of other treats that I don't get, so I find it frustrating that they eat the only things I can eat and then don't mention we are out. I've set aside cupboard space and a drawer in the fridge for *my* food. For the most part, it works. It doesn't help though that some of the foods are tasty. They like to steal my Atkins Advantage Protein bars. I have four kids. It usually starts off with one asking. If I say yes to one child, suddenly they are all demanding I let them have one too, which wipes out my box of Protein Bars. I've started saying no. In addition to my new food issues, my middle daughter was just diagnosed as lactose intolerant. So we are also stocking and stashing her foods. I also have a hard time remembering what she can and can't eat. cheese is a big staple in our home, especially with my new diet, and I tend to forget she can't eat it. So while I whine about my family not thinking about my diet needs, I realize I do the same thing to my daughter. It's not that I don't think of her, but it is hard to plan a meal for 4 normal people and two special yet different dietary needs in the course of a busy family day. We are still learning what she can and can't eat (she can have some cheeses), and I'm not always up on the latest developments in how she reacted to a certain food. There is definitely some flux going on, and we are also experimenting with the lactate pills and finding the lactose free stuff that she likes the taste of....

Insurance plans vary, but I have heard that United has waiting periods of 3 and 6 months depending on the employer. But the answer isn't universal. It can even depend on your BMI. I recently found out that BCBS of MI requires a 6 month period of monthly physician supervised weight loss UNLESS your BMI is 50 or more. If it is 50 or more, the supervised weight-loss period isn't required.

One of my close family members has started the process of getting sleeved. I was sleeved 9 months ago, so she has talked to me quite a bit about the process, and I went with her to the initial informational meeting. She has asked me to attend her first meeting with the surgeon as well. I'm happy for her. Her health has been deteriorating, and I know weight loss will help. She is worried about her heart, and it was her cardiologist that first suggested she look into weight loss. Nine months ago, when I had my own weight loss, she had declared herself too old for anything like that, but her health has deteriorated since then and much of it is weight-related. I'm also worried. I've had a pretty smooth process. I have never vomited, and I've only felt overly full a couple of times. I didn't have the health issues she has had. I'm worried that she will be upset if everything doesn't go as smoothly as my own surgery. She doesn't have access to the internet, so she can't check out forums like this one. But she is going to the same surgeon group that I went to, so we can both attend the face-to-face support meetings together. I just want to make sure that I stay in a supportive role and not become irritating for her. I know food plays a different role in her life than food does in mine. She is more connected to food than I am. She can cook and loves to cook. She has signature recipes that people clamor for -- I've never been a cook. I guess I'm worried she'll have buyer's remorse and end up blaming me at least in the short-term when she is on all liquids and can barely get a sip of Water in. I know many of you have had family members that have been sleeved. How has that gone for all of you? How much of a time difference was there in surgeries? What struggles were there? What were the relationships? I'd love some tips!

At 4 weeks out, your eating isn't normal, but it will get better. Your portion size will become less freaky and more normal (normal in a healthy way ie matching the portion sizes our NUTs tell us about rather than the multiple portions that restaurants actually serve). It's weird that a normal portion of meat is the size of a deck of cards (4 ounces), but restaurants always want to sell us 12 and 16 ounce cuts of meat. I'm 9 months out from my surgery, and I do end up eating out quite a bit. I can usually find something on the menu good to eat that is high in Protein and low in carbs. If I can't, I order something that I can modify. Last Saturday, I modified. I ordered a french dip. It came on a sub-like bun and with an order of fries. I ate the roast beef and dipped it in the au jus, but I didn't eat the bun and only had 1 or 2 fries. When I was done, it looked like I hadn't had any food because the bun was still whole, and the fries were still there. The au jus was probably higher in fat and salt than I normally eat, but I didn't dip every bite. I didn't take my leftovers home (it was all carbs). I ended up eating about 4 ounces of the meat. The first time I tried to eat out, I ordered a cup of chili. I couldn't finish even half of it, but I enjoyed what I did eat. Plus, it took me so long to eat that I was eating at the same pace as everyone else. What I found helpful for me is that I will stop eating for a bit after I've had about 8 bites. I just stop and participate in the conversation. I give my body time to react to the food. It keeps me from overeating and getting uncomfortable. Be creative in how you order -- look at appetizers and Soups. Plan to have some leftovers to take home. Share your food. I recently ordered a Soup that turned out to be so good that I encouraged my daughter to try it. She had several bites too. I still didn't finish my soup, but I was still able to enjoy it.

I'm not worried about keeping the weight off in the years to come because I'm trying to instill new habits in my life with myself and my family. We are more active, and I plan to keep us that way.

You look awesome, Sheila! I love seeing your before and after pictures.

Great job! Bye bye 3s!

Way to go, wishes!

For me, it depends on how much protein is in what I am eating. If there is a lot of protein, I can't eat as much. I can eat a lot more of foods that don't have a lot of protein. So I can eat a cup of pudding or jello, but I can't eat 4 ounces of chicken.

I just had my 9 month appointment with my doctor, and everything is going great. I am down 72 pounds, and I'd like to lose (eventually) about 28 more pounds, but I am happy NOW. I exercise a lot more, and I am eating right. I feel so much better about myself and physically as well. I can DO so much more. I am sharing a photo of me from last July when I was at my highest weight (255 pounds) and a photo from last month weighing in at 183. I am on the left in the second photo. Also in the photo is my daughter who is 6 months pregnant.

I eat a lot of cheese (love the babybel cheeses), greek yogurts and chicken. I try to get my Protein in through regular food, but when I am behind schedule I will eat a protein bar or drink a Protein Drink. I like Atkins Mudslide, which has 15 grams of protein in a single bar. It is also pretty tasty (my kids keep stealing them). There is a Peanut Butter chocolate version with 19 grams. For protein drinks, especially in hot weather, I really like Bariwise's Fruit Drinks. Each flavor has 15 grams of protein. I like all the flavors but really like peach mango (I believe that is the flavor). It's like a flavored tea, but it isn't tea. It tastes good, and it isn't thick as Protein shakes. I try to get in at least 15 grams of protein with each meal. With 4 meals a day that is 60 grams of protein. I tend to eat around 6 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. I try to avoid eating at night. I get about 10 grams of protein from Snacks, usually some type of cheese. I am supposed to have 70 grams a day.

Great NSVs! Thanks for sharing and congratulations on the weight loss. You are doing fab!

When I went out to a social gathering before I could drink, I would have water with a shot of cranberry juice in it. This made it look like a mixed drink, and it wasn't obvious that I wasn't drinking alcohol. I also had a glass of tomato juice but that might be a bit too harsh still if you are only 3 weeks out.

It is definitely expensive trying to keep up with new clothing sizes! I've found my favorite second hand stores searching for the best deals.

My surgery went very well. I didn't have a lot of pain. I actually stopped taking pain meds the first evening that I was still in the hospital because I didn't feel I needed them. The gas pain was present when I first woke up, and it was local to my left shoulder. As I burped and walked, the pain went away. Not everyone's experience is the same, but I didn't have any problems. I didn't even remember being wheeled into the surgery room.

I do drink when I eat. I have every since getting sleeved. I do get enough nutrients in, and I've never slimed or vomited or felt ill. I do not drink a lot during a meal, but I do drink. I haven't found that it washes my food down. I know I'm not the only one who has done this.

You are proving you are truly an August All Star! You look fantastic, and you have done an awesome job with your work outs! Enjoy your success!

I remember explaining this to my teenage daughter and how my eating would be like a baby -- that I was learning to eat again. She wanted to know if I was going to need to wear diapers too. She was being sarcastic, and I laughed so hard it hurt my belly as it was still healing.

I have found that many don't recognize me. I have been mistaken for my husband's new girlfriend. But people tend not to comment if they aren't sure why you are losing. Then there is the other side of the coin: The other day, I was walking out of my local post office and a man was behind me. He said, "Wow, how much weight have you lost?" I answered, and he replied, "Your looking good." I got back in my car and immediately asked my husband who the man was because I didn't know. I recognized his name though. I know his wife knew about my surgery, which is how he must have known. It was funny and unsettling though since I wasn't sure he was when he asked, but I answered anyway.

I can eat half of a 3 egg omelette, but I can't eat a half a sandwich. I can't eat a lot of bread. I tend to eat the insides of the sandwich and not the bread.I am almost 9 months out.

I hated when the drain was in, but getting it out wasn't bad at all. It went fast and didn't hurt, but it felt very weird. It was like I could suddenly feel every place it was as it was pulled out -- like a snake in my belly. It was a very strange sensation -- sort of like the roller coaster, but like a roller coaster with a kick. It was over in less than 5 seconds, and I was also shocked about how long it was although I had been told to expect that too.

I am so looking forward to wearing summer shorts, but Michigan weather isn't cooperating.

http://pinterest.com/linda_sherwood/

You look fantastic! Congratulations on all of your hard work. Your arms look good too!

Fantastic! You look great!