Lissa

Measuring out your food is the best way. My full sensation early post-op was a bit of shoulder pain. Now it's a burp usually. Once I burp, it's time to push the plate away, no matter how much or little I've eaten.

I do a combination of things now. Either I order the absolute smallest portion I can, usually ala carte, or I ask for a to go box up front. This leaves me open to say "I had a big breakfast/lunch" or "I'm not really hungry". Once the plate arrives, I portion out what I want now and for later. If I order something that I don't want to take home (taco salad anyone?), then I eat the meat and move the rest around. I'll break up the taco shell on a taco salad, or spread out the veggie, etc. This makes it look like I ate more than I did. Now, I have absolutely NO problem telling people I had surgery. I feel like I talk about it constantly. However, my dining companions don't want to hear it every time we go out to eat, so I've become creative about making it look like I ate more than I did. I also order Water to drink rather than have someone constantly offering me a drink.

So far, I'm pleased with my neck. My quadruple chins are gone and the skin is looking pretty good. Crossing my fingers that it stays that way! I'm also doing some facial contortions and neck stretches that I found somewhere to see if that helps.

That's awesome! Did you have a chance to talk to the sleever about your journeys? Or is that frowned upon at work? I found it very cool that several of the nursing staff at my hospital had been sleeved by my doctor. During my pre-op workups and my actual hospital stay, I had several unsolicited recommendations of my doctor by people who were at, or close to, goal. It was fantastic!

You'll be able to drink water much faster than you can now in a couple of months. I'm a little over six months out and I can drink a 20 oz bottle of water in about 30 minutes if I'm pushing it. You must keep sipping now, though, to avoid dehydration. Being actively thirsty means you definitely need to push yourself to sip, sip, sip. Good luck!

SJW, Walking is fantastic for early post-op! Good job on that! You'll want to add some weights for arm toning, and probably some calisthenics (sit-ups, push-ups, planks, jumping jacks, etc) to help with toning other muscles. The intensity and amount of weight will depend on your gender and your goals. I suggest that you check out posts by several of our veteran sleevers to see what their routines have been. You Tube has tons of exercise videos to check out and possibly incorporate into your routine and, yes, Leslie Santone's videos are great for helping you incorporate weights into your routine. Good luck!

Click, sold by amazon, has a espresso/cappucino flavored protein drink.

Up your Water intake as well. Often, especially pre-surgery, we eat because we are thirsty, not hungry. Drink water, decaf tea, decaf coffee, sf non-carbonated drinks. Those will get you used to what you're supposed to do post-surgery. Also, when I did do Atkins and lost weight, I found that the fewer carbs I ate, the faster the weight came off. Of course, even that was nothing like the rate I've dropped weight since surgery, but it was still pretty fast. On Atkins, a typical day was an egg mcmuffin from mcdonald's without the muffin, lunch would be a hamburger patty, and dinner was usually a grilled chicken breast with some cottage cheese and a small salad with very little dressing. I dropped weight quickly...of course, I gained it back even faster once I slipped, but that would get your weight down before surgery. Lots of water/liquids and, between eating like this and the water, I wasn't hungry. Start taking Vitamins now, as well. Especially B12. For me, the B12 is like a daily energy boost! Good luck!

That's a great NSV!!!

Yeah, I know what you mean about being frisky today! Yesterday was an "eat" day...meaning I was "hungry" for food all day, so I ate over 100g of protein. Today, my energy level and libido are through the roof! Before I do something dumb, like hitting on the cute guy down the road, I need to work out. I've already washed and vacuumed the car, vacuumed the house, mopped and swept floors, and now I'm heading to the gym to ride the exercise bike. I think 3 or 4 hours on the bike MIGHT take care of the problem! OMG

Congrats! You have really rocked your sleeve!! Amazing transformation!!!

LOL, Rootman!! I'm waiting on someone else to make a trip to FL, though!

Oh, blackanese, you're giving off pheremones now, SOMEONE will crawl out of the woodwork! I decided it was time to start dating again, since dumb DH has become even dumber DH, and the most unexpected thing happened. I didn't even announce it publicly, but suddenly I have several gentlemen trying to get my attention. Ima need a bodyguard soon! LOL

Oh, and I forgot to mention planks!! I try to do three or four of them a day. Done right, they will make your arms sore in a hurry. Every time I go in and out of my house, I do one using my steps as a workout aid. They work like push ups for the arms, but I think it's easier to do them on the steps because I wasn't fit at all to start with.

Rex, because he's been down-sized from a T-Rex!

I do high reps of low weights every day. Biceps curls, triceps extensions, straight arm lifts. Hit You Tube and look for arm workouts, then steal whatever seems to work for you from the videos! It won't completely eliminate the batwings, but it will help. I have biceps again after lots of wiggly skin and I'm 45. It will help tremendously!

AMAZING NSV's!!! Those are worth the price of admission right there!!!

Congrats!! You look amazing!!

My leak test "stuff" didn't taste that bad. I was given a straw and a cup with blue liquid. Once I drank it, we waited half an hour for it to process through then my drain was removed. Not bad and no pain.

stalls last as long as they last. Start really looking for the NSVs. Are your clothes looser, do you have more stamina? It will break and you will continue to lose as long as you stay on plan. Good luck!

There are other options, like mexico, or care credit/medical loans. The interest rates are high from what I understand but it's an option to look at.

To prevent the air, try taking smaller drinks and letting it trickle down your throat instead of normal size drinks. Someone suggested using a spoon to drink with and said it really helped them with getting liquids in without air. Also, that uncomfortable feeling is probably your "full signal" right now. Mine was shoulder pain at your stage and I had a good bit of needless pain because I didn't recognize it for a few days. Good luck!!

Jason, Great job of looking out for yourself! So many would have ignored that as random pain. You saved your own life!! There are two things about DVT's to remember. To prevent them, you must be active, and they can kill you in seconds. I assume you're self-injecting either Lovenox or Heparin. Be alert to any changes in your perception or ability to walk, talk, stand and do not hesitate to call for an ambulance if you or your roommates/partner notice any changes. I had a DVT 3 months before sleeve surgery and my doctor actually put me in the hospital for the critical first three days because I live alone. Once you are cleared for activity again, be sure you get at least 30 minutes of activity in per day (which works great with needing to increase exercise levels after surgery anyway) and be prepared to take warfarin or another blood thinner for at least 3 months, but probably more. I'm on month 9 of mine. Good luck!!

Congrats on your surgery and welcome to the loser's bench!

I've only actually been sick once since surgery at six months out. I ate at Carrabas with friends. I grazed on seafood, a bite of Pasta, a tiny bite of the bread with olive oil and was doing okay. But, as we got up to leave, I drank a sip of my drink. By the time I got to the car, I had to leave my delicious dinner in the parking lot. It was just like burping it up instead of the more intense puking sensation I had before surgery, which I thought was weird too. I'm definitely glad to see that I'm not alone. It gives me hope that I'm not totally weird!