Lissa

AfroCyster, Your sleeve will start accepting more food the further out you get. It takes some time for it to heal and allow more food in there. Just keep working on getting in your fluids and Protein and it will happen! I second SleevieWonder's suggestion of My Fitness Pal. I keep my food diary public for accountability, but I've been known to look at other people's food diaries when I feel like I'm getting into a rut on meals. The blog (google it) The World According to EggFace is great as well because she shows her daily food intake as well. She calls it "A Day In My Pouch" and she often makes herself bento box lunches, which are very inspiring. She's the person who taught me that cucumbers make great crackers!! She also talks about the importance of moisture to get our protein in and she has tons of recipes for dips and sauces that are WLS friendly. Gee, I should get a commission. For lunch today I had some thin sliced honey ham sandwich meat, 2 pickles, a cheese stick and about 2 oz of cottage cheese. I'm trying to see if I'm still lactose intolerant, hence the cottage cheese. I rolled up the sandwich meat, pickles and some cheese together to make a sandwich roll. For me, 1 of the small packs of Buddig sandwich meat (2 oz), along with the cheese stick and a pickle is a perfect lunch. Others may be able to do something somewhat spicier, but Rex (my sleeve) won't accept that yet. Good luck!! You will find meals that work for you!!

What wonderful news!! Obviously, there was a reason that you had to wait for surgery. I'm sorry it took so long, but I know you're gonna really rock that sleeve when your turn on the loser's bench happens!! Congrats and let us know when you get a date and how you're doing afterwards, please!!

Gman, it sounds like you are doing a great job of keeping everything straight already!! I have several doctors as well and all of them except my PCP were totally on board from square one for my surgery, including my neurologist and pulmonary doc! I keep track of each doctor's current instructions on my iPhone, in the notes section. I also have a separate note for my meds and I go over it with the pharmacist every time I fill a new Rx. That's how I found out I couldn't take omeprazole (generic for Prilosec, I believe) because it interacts with coumadin negatively. If I get orders from one that conflicts with what another doc has told me, then I ask both docs to consult and make up their minds. If it's my PCP giving me conflicting instructions, I pretty much ignore him. He's been my PCP since I was 12, so his ideas are a little out of date. LOL Good luck with your journey! It sounds like you're rocking your sleeve!!

Yay for both of you!!! Isn't it great to know that you are getting healthier, lighter, and even better looking than you were before!! Don't forget to take your progress pics, even if you don't show them. You'll "see" the weight coming off you better in pictures than in the mirror!

Yay! It's meant to be!!

I was told 6-8 weeks OR when the drain port had completely healed over, no scab.

Good luck to you both!! Hope you both have a quick and easy recovery!!

Swimmer, Most doctors do allow the isopure clear drinks during the clear liquid phase. If you can stand them, then drink them unless your doctor says no. As for getting scared, that's normal just before any big decision. Just remind yourself about why you wanted this surgery and put your trust in a higher power. I haven't heard of any sleever who didn't have some fear in the last few days before surgery. Good luck!! We've got a spot saved for you on the loser's bench!

Cosmic, I ate egg drop soup, WITHOUT the eggs, a few days post op. I loved chicken broth during my liquids phase, so it was wonderful, but I didn't eat the eggs until I got to full liquids. If you can tolerate it, it's fine to drink. You should be aware, though, that many chinese restaurants make egg drop soup with a lot of sodium and with MSG. For me, MSG can cause headaches, so be sure to ask the restaurant if they use it in their soup. Mine doesn't use MSG in the soup, for which I am very grateful!! Good luck!

I think that God watches over us, whether we want Him to or not. He created everything in this world and He doesn't make junk. However, He allows us to make choices for ourselves and He already knows what we are going to do before we even know. I truly believed I would die during surgery, so when I woke up I felt that He had something else in mind for me to accomplish. He gave us medicine so that we could live longer. As Benisa said, if you had a heart problem, or cancer, or diabetes, you would treat those things. What is so different about treating obesity? Nothing. You can't do what He has in His plan for you if you're dead. Since having surgery, I've had plenty of opportunities to tell other people about my WLS and to tell them that I feel it's a miracle that I'm still alive. Maybe that's what I'm supposed to do...maybe there is something else coming, but I know that God provided this opportunity and I need to make the most of the gift He's given me.

Thanks, Dorrie! I don't "like" this picture as much as my last one, but I figured it was time to update it, since I'm due to take more pictures in six days! I am taking a pic at least once a month so that I can see and show my progress on my way to goal. Hopefully, they will help motivate me once I reach goal as well!

I had diarrhea because I became lactose intolerant after surgery. Perhaps try avoiding milk and dairy for a day or two and see if it improves?

Sounds like you're doing serious head work right now!! Good for you! Enjoy the attention, although I get why it bugs you somewhat. You've really done great things with your sleeve and it was all so EASY, right? The workouts you talk about are what no one seems to get...if you want to succeed at this, you HAVE to WORK at this. Congrats on feeling and looking better!!!

Ophelia, I'm over 4 months out and have a hard time hitting 1,000 calories a day unless I'm really hungry from working out that day. Of course, "really hungry" can usually be handled by eating a cheese stick or a couple ounces of chicken.

Yeah, I'd make an alcoholic stop drinking before rehab. I'm actually dealing with an alcoholic hubby right now and MY requirement for us to have a relationship is that he stop drinking, period. And, yes, I think it's fair for our doctors to require us to show some kind of motivation by losing weight before surgery. The surgeon has only so much time available to do surgeries and he wants to see results from his hard work, just like anyone else. If we, the patients, can't control and motivate ourselves somewhat before surgery, then how does the surgeon know we're going to do so after surgery? I know my doc has a waiting list of patients who want to be sleeved by him. Now, the other side of that coin is that I think it's ridiculous to expect a long-term obese person to lose 10% of their body weight before surgery. Why do I think that? Because I lost 50 pounds the year before my surgery, then got hit with health problems that packed that 50 pounds, plus more, back onto me. I'd have never been able to lose 35 pounds (10% of 352) before surgery. I did drop 13 pounds on my pre-op liquid diet, which I think shows that I was motivated to lose weight. I see both sides of it. I just think that some surgeons require more than others, which is fine. But, that requirement has to be adjusted to the patient and the patient's health status.

yecats, I think a positive attitude is the best thing you can do for yourself, too!! You've got half the battle won already if you can stay positive. Good luck!!

First of all, muscle weighs more than fat, so you may actually be building muscle. Secondly, your body is still pushing out fluids from surgery. Third, you may still be in the 3 week stall. Mine lasted about 2 weeks. It's not something you can change. Your body needs time to adjust to having a smaller stomach and to the reduced amount you're eating. Fourth, if you're anywhere near TOM, you may be holding Water. No matter which one of the above is the cause, you'll probably see a whoosh in a few days where you lose a few pounds really quickly. But, right now, your body is shrinking, so you may notice the difference in your clothes before you see it on the scale. Good luck!!

I haven't noticed that. I just keep having slow connections to threads tonight.

Starr, go very slowly on that elliptical, please! I'd even suggest just walking until you're about six weeks out. I wasn't allowed to lift weights until six weeks. Maybe your doctor is pushing because you're a much lower BMI than I was to start. I might ask for some clarification from him about what he thinks you can do and can't do. His nurse should be able to answer that question!

Cattracks, You're rocking that sleeve!! Your doctor is overly cautious, IMO. Once you're diagnosed, you have a pre-disposition for diabetes for life, but many people control their blood sugar through diet and exercise. My MIL stayed off the pills/shots for 25 years with diet and exercise. Because she also has RA, she's now back on pills to control her diabetes, but it's not because of her weight. I'd say 25 med-free years is awesome, and I'd take that over being overweight any day!

I actually tried dairy a few days out from surgery. I haven't been brave enough for milk since then. I drink almond or soy milk now, if I drink milk at all. Welcome to the loser's bench! It sounds like you are doing well. Good luck!!

New_Hope, Everyone knows a "friend of a friend" who had some kind of WLS and failed at it. I actually met the "friend of a friend" last week that I was told about. She looks really good, but, when we chatted, I found out that she had GB, so she didn't fail at the sleeve. There is a ton of info right here for you to see the real life stories and experiences of other sleevers. I think having my sleeve was the best decision I've ever made for myself. I feel like a whole new person, and I've lost nearly one whole person already, at 4.5 months out! Don't let the horror stories freak you out. There IS a risk of complications with any surgery, including VSG. Do your research and be sure that you know what to expect afterwards. Good luck!!

I actually keep skinny cow ice cream in the freezer and allow myself 1 or 2 a week, no more. Fresh fruit is a good sweet craving eliminator too and it gives you fiber, BONUS!

I'm shocked your surgeon doesn't refer you to one specifically! Good luck getting it done. The price is really high at $300. I think mine was $150.

Starr, I started walking the day I got home from the hospital. Walking is the best exercise you can do right now. My first time on a treadmill I felt like a dummy because I walked MAYBE 5 minutes and it was like 1.0 mph. I haven't made great strides, but I can now do 30 minutes at 2.5 mph, which is still slow, but it's a huge improvement over where I was. Congrats on your new sleeve and good luck on your journey!!!