MeMeMEEE

I think you answered your own question there - what you describe as being able to eat (CAPACITY to eat one piece of chicken, half a baked potato and a few broccoli spears) and feel "normal" - that sounds very normal to me - at goal, maintenance. So for now you have to follow a "diet" to lose, but when you get to goal you will be able to eat "normal" and maintain!

So close to goal too! I know the working out will slow my loss down more than it already is - usually lose 4-6 lbs a month at this point.

Me! Me!! I would like to be at 129 (lose 5 lbs) and be consistently working out 4x a week.

If I were you, I would cut the carbs back - banana and english muffin are both pretty carby, get in some dense proteins like chicken breast. Get you water up. You know what you need to do - eat better and get your protein in. I highly suggest using a tracking site like myfitnesspal - there are lots of sleevers there and it really helps!

My program says 15 before, 30 mins after. When I was in with my nutritionist at about 3 weeks, she told me if I needed a sip, take it, that I was following the rules too close. I waited to have a drink until about 7 months out. It can affect your healing.

Do you track your food anywhere like myfitnesspal? That has really helped me see when there is no way a gain can be real - when you see the calories you are eating. There are lots of sleevers on there also - great support!

Glad to hear all went well!

**waves** Sometime we'll have to plan a sleeve get together!!

How much do you have to lose? If you have a smaller amount, your loss will be slower. When you see someone losing 10 lbs a week they are usually a heavier person with much more to lose. Also, the first week you are still carrying around alot of fluids for surgery. I didn't show any loss until 6 days post op.

Keep it in the fridge and sip throughout the day - there is no written rule that you have to drink it all at once! Just remember to keep drinking your other fluids as well throughout the day!

haha! My sister in law was like "I have never seen this many people at the show!" I live in Taylorville where sadly we have no theater (at the moment!) so we had to go to Springfield and honestly that place always seems busy! I bet working around the popcorn makes you never want to eat it, huh??

I think if you have any doubts it is good to not have it at the moment. It would be good if you could speak with your Dr. I don't regret it myself. I never felt scared. But you need to be sure. It is life changing, in many ways, not just how you eat, how you live day to day, It will give you many parts of your life back, but it will take some away also - you need to be prepared for that.

I didn't show any loss for at least 6 days, it is all the fluid they pump in to you. If you are having problems with the shakes, leave them in the fridge and just drink a few sips an hour. Make sure you are drinking you other fluids during that time also.

Get to the ER! My main symptom of my leak was left shoulder pain! I am not sure an xray can even see a leak, usually it needs to involve contrast - like an upper GI. Fever and pain are big indicators!!

*waves* I see we are "neighbors" - I am in Central IL! Ha! And I was at the movies last night seeing Magic Mike and mmmm that popcorn smelled goooood! LOL

This past week I went on vacation with a very skinny friend. She had lots of questions about my surgery which I tried to answer. She wanted to know who else we knew that had had weight loss surgery. She had no idea it was so common. And she was shocked that you had to work at losing the weight and keeping it off. UGH. She is skin and bones and still thinks she needs to lose weight (I am very serious, no curves, bony arms, etc). I honestly felt like she was jealous?? She said before we left she wasn't bringing any sweets and wanted to avoid them. She did bring a bunch of crackers, some cookies, rice crispy treats but said they were for her sons who also went with us. I think she was waiting for me to scaf them down. She seemed surprised when I couldn't finish my meals when we went out or when I didn't order greasy fried foods. Even though I have been very open about how I eat now. She brought wine and bloody mary fixings along and I think she was disappointed I didn't want to drink every evening. I had a couple glasses of wine and one bloody mary, felt guilty the whole time LOL I suppose this is all paranoia but geesh. It is hard to spend a week with someone who just doesn't get it.

My doctor didn't test for it either.

Nuts are what I do - almonds, mixed, edamamae. I measure and account for them but they don't set me on a carb bender like crackers or cereal does

You are pretty far out right? Do you have your appendix? When my daughter had problems the dr said many people complain of pain around the belly button.

Great read- a few i didn't know about. Wonder how many sleevers will come out in the next few years?

Drinking around "eating" liquids like soup isn't anything to worry about. If you have a leak, you may be very sick with a high fever, have left shoulder pain, sharp pains.

Congratulations! On your weight loss AND your pregnancy!

My nutritionist said the rule doesn't apply to liquids so I don't and have never waited. My protein levels are great in my blood work.

I tend to throw a cheese stick or cubes in my purse. Later when you can eat more, I also take nuts, beef snack bites.

I drink decaf. Sometimes I mix half folgers and starbucks together for stronger coffee. I also mix instant folgers decaf crystals in to my vanilla or chocolate protein shake. My program says no more caffeine, ever.