Lissa

Coops, You do look fantastic!!! I agree that the scale lies like a dog! I've dropped three sizes in the last three months, but less than 10 pounds in the same time period.

It might be your "full" signal for now.

Shilo, You're gonna do great!! It's almost here! YAY!!!

Don't buy protein shots! The protein in them is NOT readily available to our bodies. It is often made from hydrolized collagen, which is not good for us. Wheetsin made a great post about it a few days ago, citing the science behind why whey protein is so much better and more available for humans.

You do look beautiful! And, it does look like hubby has lost some weight! BTW, I have those same shoes!! You have really rocked that sleeve!!

If your kid is used to being fed regularly, s/he will let you know when it's time to feed them! LOL It's definitely an adventure!

Butterbean, You WILL have the stamina! Believe me, I was a poster child for not doing anything, or being able to do anything, pre-op. I've said it before, but I couldn't walk from my front door to my car pre-op. I started really slow and I've been adding in a little here and there to get to this point. I'm not a super-exerciser, just working hard to get to goal.

The exercise bike has done WONDERS for my legs! I'm actually willing to show mine off fairly regularly now.

Thanks for that article. Interesting conclusion, but drawn from a very small sample of women. I think they'd get a better sample group HERE.

fluffy libra, Just start adding some self-tanner to your routine now. At least then the stretch marks will be darker and perhaps blend in better. That's my plan, anyway!

Freddie is my favorite!!! I've always loved that song and I doubt I'll ever NOT be a fat-bottomed girl, but I'll take a booty curve instead of a Ghetto Onion, as one of the inmates at my former job called my posterior!!!

Great job! You're rocking that sleeve!!

You're a brat! Here I thought someone had stolen your picture! I like the new name!! But, I may still refer to you as Little Miss Diva forever, or until I can wrap my head around the name change!

Good luck, Michelle!! I'll keep you in my thoughts today for an easy surgery and uneventful recovery! Looking forward to seeing you on the loser's bench!!

It will get easier as you progress through the stages and as the swelling in your sleeve goes down. I was going to suggest that you start slow with some walking, but you probably walk more as a nurse than I do on a daily basis NOW. Don't push yourself super hard. Gradually add in the workouts as your stabilize. Once you're back on solid food and have clearance from your surgeon (about 6-8 weeks), then you can increase your workouts.

I adored fresh, hot bread before surgery and I probably haven't eaten 3 pieces of bread since surgery. The last piece of bread I had contributed to my one time getting sick. I also loved Pasta, but can't/won't eat it now, except for toasted ravioli. A few of them at a time makes a meal; I just try to make sure the filling is Protein. I didn't like green Beans before surgery and now I'll eat them. I still don't find them yummy, but they are tolerable for me.

(((Mary))) I'm so sorry you're having problems, but I'm glad you're going to the doctor. IIRC, you had a band to sleeve revision? I hope that everything is okay for you. I know it's tough when you can't even hold water down. Please let us know what the doctor says.

Amy, You can do quite a bit with the protein shakes. Freeze them to make them ice cream consistency or use them as a pudding like edible. Pour them into other foods (decaf coffee) instead of creamer, or use them as part of a protein shake made with fruits if/when that is allowed for you. It's one way I get my carbs in before I work out, blend a protein shake with a banana and it's double-yummy.

Oscar, This site is a wealth of info, so welcome to VST! There is a search button in the upper right corner where you can look for answers to specific questions. Of course, if you can't find an answer that way, you can post a topic and usually get several replies pretty quickly. Good luck with your journey!!

I've been taking Biotin every day since 2 months out and my hair loss, IMO, hasn't been too bad. Kat1, there are different theories from lack of Protein to natural side effect of anesthesia. Everyone's hair loss is different and you don't lose it in the places you'd LIKE to lose it from. It all seems to come from our heads!

LOL, Tibbie! Alien butt probe indeed! Yeah, that stuff is nasty! I worked in a prison while in college and the high carb diet fed to the inmates caused them to have problems. Mag Citrate is what I ordered for them (Pharmacy Tech) and they had to drink it standing in front of me because it came in glass bottles that I had to confiscate. More than one solved their constipation issue after the first sip, or decided they would rather be constipated than drink that crap.

Congrats!! Isn't it a great feeling to be halfway there this fast?!

If you haven't already gotten sick from eating the potato chips, then you probably won't. That is NOT license to eat all the chips you want. Are you back on soft solids yet according to your dietary plan? If not, NIX the chips until you're back on solids. Once you're on solids, it's okay to have a chip here and there, just don't let it become an every day or every week thing. The goal (for me) is to eventually eat like a normal person. I'll always have to do my Protein and Water, but I want to be able to incorporate things like a few bites of birthday cake or a small serving of potato chips into my diet. I am NOT on a diet; I'm working on lifestyle changes. The only thing I've found so far that I flat cannot have in my house is cheetos. Baked cheetos are from the devil, IMO and they cannot come into my house because they sit in my pantry and call my name "Lissa, Lissa"! LOL

Protein shots aren't good for you. Most of them are made with collagen as the protein source, and collagen is not available to our bodies. So, you're forcing the nasty protein shot down and not getting any benefit from it. Wheetsin made an excellent post a few days ago about protein shots that I recommend for anyone who is considering taking them.

Good, Corinna! It's tough to know if they doctor gave specific instructions or not. It seems that a lot of docs aren't as thorough as my surgeon was with me. Of course, mine may have been a special case because I asked about three quadrillion questions, even if I thought they were stupid.