Lissa

SF popsicles are my go to for sweet cravings. There's also a recipe for Protein ice cream that's pretty yummy! You do need to de-sugar yourself for the best weight loss... and getting rid of the simple sugars will help remove the cravings. I think that's part of the point of the pre-op and post-op liquid diet, to give us a chance to change our eating habits. Good luck! (Says she who ate 3 spoonfuls of real ice cream at a friend's house tonight and is now craving junk!)

Potassium helps. It's an old wives tale, but put an unwrapped bar of soap under the foot of your mattress. It really helps. Lissa

B12 makes a huge difference for me in my energy and mental alertness levels. I take 500mcg daily.

I remember those noises! LOL They do get better with time.

Keep going back to your surgeon until they find and fix your problem. There has to be something they can do for you!!!

70 pounds in 7 months is fantastic! And, you are beautiful, both before and after!! Don't let the skin worry you. Since you're young, most of it will reabsorb! I wish I looked as good as you do after two kids!

I had your complications pre-op! Except for passing out, I never did that one! I took Coumadin for almost a year and it's a nasty little drug. I feel for you! Get well soon... and you'll soon be on the way to much better health!

Great job! Keep rocking your sleeve!!

Great idea! How nice!!

I drank egg drop soup during my clear liquids phase, leaving the solids in the cup. It's pretty high in sodium, but it was a welcome change from the protein shakes.

I totally understand the knee problems! I could barely walk myself pre-op and used a cane regularly to help cope with the knee pain from RA and old injuries. I just gave my cane away to someone who needs it more than me! Even if you just start with the other changes I suggested, it will help. As you take some of the weight off that knee, you'll be able to do more. I'm now up to riding the recumbent bike or doing the elliptical for a minimum of half an hour daily... and I can walk, climb, and run awkwardly (lol) without pain. I know I'll never be a runner, but it's nice to be able to walk without my knee hurting constantly!

Congrats! That's a wonderful health victory!!

Well, one small change you can make now is to start adding exercise into your routine. I'm not talking about going out, joining a gym and becoming a competitive bodybuilder. Add 5 minutes of walking to your daily routine, even if it's just a little extra walking inside the house. Next week, make it 10 minutes, add 5 minutes a week until you're up to 30 minutes a day. Start using 2 pound weights to get in a little arm exercise. Do 10 repetitions each of biceps curls, triceps kick backs, etc. Add reps as those become easier. Work on chewing your food 30 times before you swallow each bite and learn not to drink with meals. Wait 30 minutes after drinking to eat, then wait 30 minutes after eating to drink. Make sure you're drinking 64 oz of Water daily. Eliminate sugar, white bread and junk food from your diet. Little changes will add up to significant losses and get you in better shape towards having your surgery.

That's awesome!!

Awesome!!!

Elyse, 128 pounds? I'm bowing to you! that's fantastic!!! I know it's frustrating when the scale isn't moving, but maybe you were at this weight for a while on the way up. It only makes sense you'd hang there for a bit on the way down! Good luck, and don't be a stranger!

Actually, your signature ticker IS showing on the online forum! Congrats on your success so far and welcome to the loser's bench!

Hoping by now you've got your positive answer. Good luck!!

I'd give it a 20 on a scale of 1-10. I gambled with my life and rolled a winner (so far)! I was given less than a year to live because of co-morbidities just about a year ago. I think I may just outlive that prediction if the Lord is willing and the creek don't rise.

Glad to hear from you!!

I'm LOL here Cleo. You must be new here. I've become a gym rat since surgery! I take everything out on the elliptical, weights or recumbent bike these days! My other addiction is this forum!

MK, It took me a LONG time to get up my nerve to try the elliptical. Then I could only do about 3 minutes before I thought I'd pass out. I tried the one at my community center and did 15 minutes with no problems. The second one is about worn out, so no resistance and easier to make it move, but it helped me figure out the motion that I'm looking for on the one at the gym.

Personal observation: I think that most people who are obese (that's all of us pre-op, btw) have used food to cover up some problem rather than deal with the problem. It's just like they tell drunks that the problems will still be there once the drunk gets sober. Our problems are still there whether we're fat or skinny. Some people think that getting thin(ner) will solve their issues, but it doesn't. It just makes it so that we have to deal with those issues without the crutch of food to self-medicate. That's why crossover addictions (to drugs and/or alcohol) are so common. IMO, one or two psyche visits probably aren't enough for most of us.

Star, I'm in the low weights, high reps camp myself. Fluffy, I know that the trainers say you should be maxed out, and I am by the time I finish my reps. That high weights thing doesn't work for me. I'm toning up well, everywhere except my tummy, but that's a whole different issue. Ourborous did some research on low weights, high reps versus high weights, reps to capacity in another thread. That helped me decide on the way I'm going the weights.

I like the hand slap idea! You're in the most critical stage, healing that sleeve. Even though you may feel fine today, you can't do that to yourself. Your stomach is still numb, so it can't tell you Ow, that hurts! Give it time to heal so that you will be ready when it's time for solids. Right now the sleeve is working on healing itself and making it work extra hard while healing is not nice to your new sleeve. Good luck, and get back on your doctor's recommended plan asap.