Lissa

I bet you are!! Your lady friend will certainly appreciate going out with a stylin' dude!!

What a great and inspiring story!!! I'm so happy that you've had great success with the sleeve and I bet you'll lose that last little bit in just a few months!

I have days where I feel like I've eaten a ton of food, but when I log it in my fitness pal, it's actually not that much. Today I'm having to work on the water because I missed a good bit due to work appointments. I bought some wendy's chili on the way home, but really wasn't in the mood for it, so it's in the fridge. I'm seriously considering making some beans and pork for tomorrow night. I need to set up the crock pot in a few.

Awww, That is so sweet! It's nice to get the positive reinforcement, even when you aren't looking for it!

I was SO worried about the hair loss issue that I actually bought a wig that looks just like my normal hair/cut. I do see some extra hair in the shower, but I can't really tell it on my head. What's bugging me is that all of my hair (under the color) is now coming in gray! However, I remember that my grandmother was almost completely gray in her late 40's or early 50's and it looked great on her. Maybe I should just let mine grow in that way. NOT!!

I've been making sure there's a quilt or throw near me whenever I sit still. I live in Florida and have 4 blankets on my bed...and I'm wearing socks to sleep in every night, along with a sexy pair of sweat pants and a 3/4 sleeve shirt. Thank goodness for Goodwill! Today I had to make up the guest room for company later this week. It made me sad to have to wash one of my quilts to put on that bed. I certainly hope my company isn't cold-natured or they'll have to sleep in with me for the heat!!

Since my capacity has increased a lot recently, it is good to read that the restriction lasts much longer! I think I'm probably at max capacity for my sleeve. I'm able to eat between 6 and 8 oz now that I am fully healed. I hope that's going to be my limit.

I'm amazed that you got that much in you. Be careful about that bloated feeling. This early, your tummy is still numb and may not give you signals if you actually overfill it...or at least not signals you'll recognize. You're probably right about the thicker Soup not going through as easily. It's great that you can get your Water in and that you're working so hard on teh Protein, though. You'll get more restriction as soon as you get to mushies, though. So, don't worry too hard about being able to get "so much" in right now.

I've found that I really like my chicken either grilled or boiled with a little Water and some spices. I also am a fan of salad dressings now in a way that I never was before! I keep some ranch, vidalia onion, and italian dressing in the fridge at all times. The italian dressing is great to use instead of oil to cook chicken. Egg Face says that the key to eating meat after WLS is moisture, and she's right. She makes tons of different sauces/dips for her meat and that inspired me to keep the dressings on hand. I also like yogurt (unflavored greek right now) because I can mix in seasonings if I want something "italian" or "mexican" flavoried. There are tons of pre-seasoned meats for sale in the freezer section, but I usually will read the ingredients to see how something is prepared and then try to re-create that item at home. I also buy frozen wings, legs and thighs and will cook one or two at a time because I find the serving sizes on most prepared frozen dinners are too big for me now. THAT's a huge change from pre-op when I felt like they were way too small! Oh, and I really love Beans now. They weren't my favorite before surgery, but now I'll throw some beans in the crockpot and eat them alone or with a small piece of meat for lunch or dinner. Yummy!! Each of us learns what works for us by trial and error, so don't be afraid to experiment.

Humph! Bragging Irene? I think you deserve to brag a bit! You'll get there!!!

broth saved me during the Clear liquids stage! Even my beloved hot tea tasted icky, so I tried the broth. It's kind of salty and when it's warm it goes down really easy on an uneasy tummy. You definitely need an acid reducer. Your doc should be more than happy to give you a new one if the one you're on isn't working. Good luck!! It does get better!!

I'm trying to figure out if I CAN do 100 sit ups a day. I know I'll be doing wall push-ups and my arms are already going WHOA!! Time to step up the game. BTW, I'm starting boot camp on Wednesday, too. Nothing but protein and water for 5 days, then strict to sleever rules after that. I'll be following Lil Miss Diva's plan!! I have a wedding to perform March 3 and I wanna look spicy for it!! I may not be hot, yet, but I'm getting there!!

Julie, You're doing great!! Keep rocking that sleeve!!!

The first three days of the liquid diet are the toughest, IMO. Once you're through that, usually your head and body are in sync and things get somewhat easier. Not that it's easy, by any means. Good luck to all of you!! It IS worth it.

I have the same symptoms if I don't take my B12 regularly. Not sure what you have available, but Walgreens and CVS usually have B1G1 sales on Vitamins. That's when/where I purchase mine. I have no idea on the tingling. Might be worth a quick call to your doctor, although it's probably nothing. Anytime you're worried about something, it's better to call and be sure rather than endure and have it be a problem later.

Susan, I just looked it up on google and amazon. The reviews on amazon are pretty bad, including a couple who said it broke very quickly. It's WAY cheaper on amazon, though, only about $8.

My doc actually recommends waiting 2-3 weeks.

Good luck to both of you!! Congrats on getting sleeved!!

Do your protein drinks include milk? If so, you may be lactose intolerant. A milk-based protein drink is how I discovered my lactose intolerance. Eggs are sometimes rough on our tummies, so that could be the culprit there. I'm assuming you are still on mushies. Have you tried refried beans or something else to see if you get the same reaction?

My tastebuds changed drastically after surgery. I couldn't stand sweet anything for months. I'm sad to say that I like sweets again now, since about 4.5 months out. I also can't eat spicy food still. It's not my tastebuds; it's my sleeve that says no to that.

I'm 5 months out and I just had 2 eggs scrambled and two slices of a 6 oz sirloin, with leftovers for later. I didn't order a veggie because I had (gasp) a yogurt parfait instead! So, 2 oz of yogurt with a few crumbles, 2 eggs scrambled with cheese and about an ounce and a half of steak (it was kind of tough, so wasn't able to chew up the whole 2 oz portion).

I'd love to hear the information from/on these classes!

Congrats on being sleeved!! You are doing an awesome job and rocking your sleeve!! I think it's amazing that you realize that there is a head component to the surgery and you are doing something about it!!! Your daughter will realize that you did this for her and for you!! Keep doing what you're doing! Good luck on your journey!!

No, you are NOT a coward!! It takes bravery to have the surgery. It takes bravery to make the decision to improve your life, especially when you know that family members will be negative. Keep it to yourself until the results start showing and then announce it from the mountaintops if you like! Good luck on your journey!!

Thank you all for the compliments!!