AutumnLily

I do not expect to be eating food types like I was previously to the sleeve for awhile. I am still on mushies (week 5 for me) and will move onto more solid foods soon but I will slowly introduce them.

I have heard of people using their tax money, 401K, borrowing, student line of credit (need to be a student for this one). Check out different loans. Or make drastic life changes (getting rid of cell, tv, unnecessary shopping..etc) to save as much money as possible. Take on a part time job where all the money can be put into your surgery account. Have the surgery where it is more affordable. These are only suggestions and I hope you figure out which will be the best for you.

I agree 400 calories is too low. Your body is probably in starvation mode and hanging onto everything.

I make my own yoghurt and boy does that have a tart twang to it. I usually use torani sf french vanilla with a little splenda to make it more palateable for me. But I have been known to use it as sour cream on perogies (plain of course). it is an aquired taste as the first time I tried it I was disgusted but as time went on I started to like it. Now I have trouble eating store bought yoghurt.

Congratulations!!! You have done great. The pics are awesome.

I lost 16 lbs pre- op. I was on a low carb high protein preop for 1 week. I am sure several of those lbs was water weight.

I just look at the amount of carbs and calories the "soup" is going to provide. As I do not want to go over my daily carbs. That being said I was eating half a can of cream soup to know that I was getting enough but not too much. I have started making my own soups (curry califlower is my favourite) and I have been eating about 4 - 8 oz of it. If I eat chili which is a bit more dense I can eat between 2-4 oz (I do not want to feel over stuffed so I take it easy). Hope this helps my best answer is go with a serving size that you feel comfortable eating (carb wise).

I told my family I was going on vacation. When I got back I filled them in that I had actually went and had WLS. I felt it was better in my situation to with hold telling them until I got back. Now they are all very supportive and life is good. If I was to re-do this past year I would still do it the same way. I did not want to give anyone a chance to convince me I was doing the wrong thing. I knew I was doing what was right for me.

I think because it is a liquid you will not feel the restriction unless you take it too much at one time. I am on mushies and have the same problem. I will find out what kind of restriction I have when I move onto solids.

Instead of water maybe an electrolyte drink might be better. Just a thought.

I have found that the taste for different protein drinks varies from person to person. Some might say it tastes like a monkeys ass while others rave about how wonderful it is. I think its all in our own personal tastes. Glad you found a variety that you like right away. Some people have spent months finding the right kind. I purchased sample packs from several different companies and so far there is only one that I didn't like. (it was to taste like vanilla but tasted like playdoh instead). So I will avoid that kind from now on. I like Unjury and Syntrax nectar as well. Now I am on mushies I am trying to get more of my protein from my food and less from drinks. I only have one protein shake a day.

I would ignore their opinions as the only opinion about you that matters is "Yours". Non-WLS people do not understand what we are going through and they feel they need to interject their opinions on your body. I would just say Thank you and then point out something about their body that needs to be fixed/worked on. Put them in the exact same situation. Some people are ignorant and need to be told they have crossed the line. You are progressing fine and in the end yes you may have flabby skin. But there is a chance it will snap back some over the next couple of years. But if it doesn't there is always plastics .

Glad I could help by sharing some of my knowledge. I tried out several of eggfaces receipies before my surgery and loved them. I am still in the mushy stage so I am limited right now as to what I can eat. But when I am back into solids I will be back perusing her blog finding more of her delicious receipies.

You will eventually be able to eat all foods and your relationship will change to a healthier one. Eating to live not living to eat. You like to cook well you should check out eggfaces blog she is a cook and has found interesting and delicious ways to cook healthier. The world according to eggface I can not wait to try more of her recipies..

CONGRATULATIONSSSS!!!!!! I can tell you are on cloud 9. Keep us posted on your progress.

Congratulations it is great to be almost halfway to goal in a short 11 weeks! Keep up the great work.

Another quick clue to see if you are not getting enough water is look at the colour of your pee. If its dark you need more water if it is clear to really really pale yellow you are doing fine with the water.

Sometimes just shaking things up will help! I had the dreaded 3rd week stall. I am sure my body went into starvation mode and was hanging on to everything. So I upped my calories for a couple of days and on day 3 I had a drop of 4 lbs. I will go back to the lower calorie but next stall I am going to try out the upping my calories and see if it works again. Hope you figure it out. Eventually you will start losing again.

The doc gave me a pill to relax and help sleep. I slept really well.

I was on the dreaded 3rd week stall. I kicked my calories up a bit for a couple of days and increased my exercise and bam my weight started to come off again.

Congratulations! This is a wonderful achievement.

Congratulations! I love reading everyones NSV's!

I originally wanted to get the band. I did a lot of research and the complications that kept on showing up scared the bejeezes outta me. Plus the slimming and being hungry just did not appeal to me. Then I came across topics on OH about vertical sleeve gastrectomy. I started researching and found this site. I was hooked. I lurked for a really long time on this site (well over a year). I tried one more diet and exercise attempt which failed miserably. I decided with all the success stories and the lower complication rate I was going to do the sleeve. Now I am 4 weeks post op and have no regrets. You should definitly do your research and see the pro's and con's of both surgeries and make your informed decision that way.

I feel healthier already and I am almost 4 weeks post surgery! Heres sending my best wishes on a painfree and speedy recovery!

I just kept on reading all the success stories and following the video logs. I came to the conclusion that all have had success.Then I worked on telling myself that I am worth it to go through with it. Once I paid my deposit and booked my flights (I was self pay) I was committed to going through with the surgery.