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I'm already able to take one or two "gulps". I can take more then that but my doctor asked me not to so I don't stretch anything. Eventually we will be able to drink normally again. I believe my nutritionist said after about 6 months.

This time of year I really like to pause for a moment and think about all of the blessings in my life. This year the biggest blessing has been all the support I've had during this exciting adventure. Support has come from virtual friends, as well as real life friends and family. I am so thankful for both!! The last 4 months of my life have been an amazing journey and thank you to all of you who have followed my progress. Also, thank you to those who have shared your journey and successes with me. May you all have an amazing Christmas with your families- and a happy, wonderful, healthy New Year! Love,

So every Christmas Eve my sisters and I (four in all) get together around 9:00 and we play Monopoly until midnight and then we go out to eat at Denny's. Well, this year is obviously going to be a bit different for us as I can't eat the way they can. I'm a little nervous. I feel like I've spent the last hour going over every meal option on their website. I think I'm going for the prime rib skillet.. It has a lot of Protein. It's high on the carbs- but I won't really be eating the stuff with carbs in it. Just mainly the meat and eggs. Or there is a shrimp skewer- but to be honest I'm really tired of shrimp! I really wanted the oatmeal with fresh fruit mixed in but it just didn't seem like a smart choice.... How did you guys handle going out for the first time? What do you guys recommend for eating out?

Thanks guys. I went with the prime rib skillet. Two bites of meat (super moist and tender), and three bites of an egg and I was done. I'm not a very big egg eater as prior to surgery they weren't something that agreed well with me. It was weird at first watching my sisters plow through an appetizer but over all I just had fun having all of us together- it is so rare for that to happen now that we are all older. Merry Christmas all!

Yay!! So exciting! Merry Christmas!

I gag at the thought of chicken broth, thankfully I can manage ok with the protein powders. I've made jello with the protein powder before surgery to try it. It worked out well, I used a vanilla flavored powder with a cherry flavor jello. I wouldn't have known their was protein powder in it if I hadn't made it!

unjury makes a chicken flavor Protein powder. It tastes a lot like the broth from Ramen noodles. It is clear when made up and it will help you get some of the protein. I feel for you right now! I totally went through what you are going through now. Just rest while you can. Soon enough real life kicks in again and it's time to go back to work or whatever you do normally... And THAT is the harder part! I really wish someone had shared more with us how it would feel. The physical, mental and emotional.

So I think I may have just experienced what I have heard referred to as "the slimes." I got sort of hot flashy and felt like I might throw up. My mouth started watering excessively- I couldn't swallow so I just kept spitting it out. It was very watery saliva.... Not thick like I expected... Does this sound like the slimes or was I really just fighting off a wave of nausea?

I wouldn't feel guilty over smoking a few drags. Quitting smoking was the hardest part for me in this journey. Yesterday was the Christmas party at work and I couldn't enjoy all the food everyone was having (didn't really want to either), but when I saw all of my friends from work going out to smoke I had a melancholy lonely moment and I went out and joined them.. And ya know what? For me it was the best thing I probably ever could have done. It was gross! I hated how it made my hair smell, my hands smell, I hated the taste it left in my mouth! I don't really know the mechanics of how smoking can effect our new tummies. However, I do know how much it can slow down our healing process. It's an individual decision to make... But a few drags off of a cigarette- I wouldn't beat yourself up over it.

Mentally I think it is a bit harder than physically. I had surgery 12/5/11 and find that my sleeve takes care of the physical side of things for me. I haven't found it too hard to give up anything besides Mountain Dew and popcorn... And honestly the soda needed to go anyway. Eventually I will be able to have popcorn again and be in control of how much I eat! Nothing that I have experienced has been enough to make me regret my decision. To date I am down 27 pounds since surgery and 37 since the start of this journey. That's almost 40 pounds gone in 3.5 months! Who wouldn't be happy with that?

Well, I'm glad it happened while I was at home! PEVette- I had just had a little bit of bread... First time since surgery.. I wonder if that is what did it. I had a tickle in my throat from it and I took a sip of something to get rid of it because I didn't want it to turn into full blown choking... Well.. slimes it was! Thanks guys for confirming for me, I know it is sort of a gross topic.

Are you allowed liquids or just clear liquids? I went home on full liquids... I found tomato Soup helped and yogurt... Fage greek yogurt sprinkled with a little splenda... Would have died without it! I really hope you feel better soon! Once you see the weight loss you'll forget the pain!

Thank you and same to you!

Jasleeve- I feel your pain girl! The memory is still so fresh to me! I woke up on the 5th or 6th morning and was sleeping on my stomach! At first I panicked about it but then I realized how comfortable I was, how I wasn't in any pain and I sort of passed out again. The 5th or 6th day was totally a turning point for me. I could sit up in bed without wanting to die. Take it easy and relax and rest while you can. I feel like no one really talks about the pain or the exhaustion.

I'm 18 days post op. I'm allowed chicken, fish, eggs... I find that chicken doesn't work well for me... At all. Even a bites worth hurts. Deli meat has been good. I've also done whiting, flounder, scallops, crab legs and shrimp. Seafood is very high in protein in low in all the bad stuff and I've not had any issues with it. Good luck.

I'm in the same boat. The last two nights I have felt like an over tired baby. I understand now why they cry from being so tired, because the last two nights that is exactly what I've done... Had myself a good cry over it. Crying doesn't help one bit with exhaustion either!

I looked at tons of sleeve friendly recipes online! It was very helpful to be thinking about food in a positive way. I took advantage of that time to get more familiar with the things I would be eating after liquids and learning how to prepare them.

Awesome!

I had crab legs. Cracking them open and getting the meat out made sure I was eating slow. They are also high in protein and low in fat and carbs. It went very well but I could not eat very much. It was good to feel normal again though.

I thought that was me prior to surgery. Now, looking back- it really wasn't a new thing. It was sort of how I was doing things all along and just wasn't paying attention to it. Did I go out to eat more? Yes, because I knew it would be a long time before I was able to eat at my favorite places again. Take it from someone who has very recently (12/5) been there, done that- use this time wisely. It will allow you to have an easier time adjusting post op. Good luck!

RNY does not guarantee dumping syndrome. My cousin had RNY the same day I had my sleeve done and she hasn't dumped on anything yet. And she has not really followed her diet very well. (She started soft foods much much sooner then our surgeon said to start.) She hasn't eaten a candy bar or anything but she's been fine with regular yogurts and coffee creamers. I'm not sure if there is enough sugar in those things to cause dumping but we sort of thought it was a sure thing so soon after our surgeries (12/5/11)