BKMama

Great job!! And I must commend you on going on vacation, indulging a little and enjoying yourself but hopping right back in the swing of things without beating yourself up!

I carry a pretty large purse, so I air pop my own popcorn and take it in with me. I also take my water bottle too. Other things you could do is veggies and ranch greek yogurt dip, turkey roll ups (turkey slices and cheese rolled), string cheese, pretzels (these are a slippery slope for me...but others do well with them).

EDIT: Oh crap, I totally missed that you were on soft foods. Sorry!! Most of my list doesn't apply.

I would honestly probably take a Protein Shake with me and call it a day.

The Crockpot is your friend. I can only eat chicken breast out of a crockpot because it's super moist. Otherwise, it has to be pretty much drenched in a sauce of some kind. My favorite crock pot recipe is breasts, some EVOO, and a packet of Italian dressing mix (or just use regular italian dressing). You can also make salsa chicken with salsa and chicken. Lots of things you can do in the crockpot with chicken and it comes out super moist!

That said, I still can only eat 2-3 oz. But I expect that to be my serving and am fine with that.

I did the same thing. My nutrionist really got on my case but "forgot" to send that I gained to my surgeon because he would have cancelled my surgery. Funny enough, I wasn't weighed for 2 weeks (the time between seeing the nutrionist and surgery day) and they didn't weigh me on surgery day either. So, I'm not sure he would have known otherwise.

Anyway, just do what you can to take it off. Good luck!!!

Nice job!

Yep, how is your Protein? You can take Vitamins, Biotin, etc but if your protein isn't where it needs to be you will have the Hair loss.

Thanks for the message, Frank. We did two different hospitals so we are all good. :-) Yours isn't technically downtown

Keep up the fabulous work!!

BTW, I totally get keeping specifics private. Doesn't bother me at all...

Hi there, you are having great success, that's awesome.

I'm curious, you keep mentioning your hospital, but not by name, and I'm almost positive we had our procedure at the same hospital. (To my knowledge there is only one world class university hospital located in downtown Chicago.).

Anyway, the follow up care by the surgical team (nurse practitioners, dieticians) has been awesome for me. After surgery, I got 2 visits from not only the surgeon and his residents but also the anesthesiologist came by as well. Since surgery, I've done the recommended visits with the NP and the NUT...but I never expected to see the surgeon unless a problem came up. But I asked about the visits after surgery and they were clearly outlined. The program before surgery was pretty extensive as well, so I'm surprised to see you say you didn't do any pre-work.

I just wanted to put that out there in case anyone else comes across your story and may have doubts about the hospital, surgeons, the learning process beforehand, or the after care. I have been extremely happy with the program from start to now (almost 5 months post op).

Wow, look at you! You are rocking your sleeve!

The type of fish isn't going to affect the portion size. You're not going to be able to eat more of one kind of fish than another.

This hasn't been my experience at all. I can eat maybe 3 bites of a thick cut salmon because it tends to be drier. Tilapia and Swai, I can eat an entire small fillet because it is such a light and flaky fish.

It's about the art of looking like your eating it sometimes.

LOL, I try not to waste food but at a wedding recently I just moved the food around so it looked like I had eaten a bit more of it. I was with a group of friends and some know about the surgery so they definitely do watch what and how I eat. It's a little annoying to feel like a science experiment while you're eating.

Make sure it's skipping through a field of daisies!

Girl BYE! You still have plenty of curves for your hubby to love on. You look great. Would he rather you have a donk and the issues that come with being overweight or a baby donk (LOL) and be healthy?

I have participated on a bunch of message boards (not WLS ones but others) and pretty much everyone is the same in that regards; i.e., there are always a few participants that see the negative side of everything, are insulting in the name of being honest, and demeaning and critical of others and their opinions...I think it is a part of human nature we just have to deal with...if it means anything, I think there is a lot less of that on this message board than most others I know

Yep. I helped moderate a board (of all women at that *shudder*) and it just goes with the territory. With this group having no type of no vetting or screening to gain access, that just adds to the wide range of people/opinions/drama. Some people really are just miserable and love the e-courage that talking to people on message boards bring them. Some people aren't trying to be mean but just tend to tell it how it is (it's hard to infer tone in words written on a screen). Some people's lives are all sunshine, ponies, and rainbows.

Wow!! That is so awesome. We had similar starting statistics so I am hoping to be as successful as you have been.

Your article made me cry! You are such an inspiration!! My goal this year is to walk/jog 2 5K's plus the Dirty Girl Run which is an untimed obstacle course (baby steps LOL). I totally get the moving from one addiction to the other. I would have NEVER in a million years thought I'd be a gym rat. It feels so awesome though!

LMAO!!!!! I don't even want to know!

My hubby is losing weight with me and he has expressed this concern. He's not tall, but he's built like a linebacker and fast. Anyway, he is focusing on building muscle while keeping his speed because that makes him feel a lot less weak. He liked being intimidating to our teenage daughter's suitors. LOL I think the martial arts classes will be great for you.

Yeah, I was told specifically NOT to trim them at home. I left it alone and one fell out/off on its own and the nurse ended up having to trim one at my next appt.

Yeah, there's definitely something up with mine. I've been totally fine for 3 years but it has definitely at least shifted because it is randomly painful. I'm going to get in with my doc to possibly have it removed.

People rave about Bolthouse Farms smoothies but I don't like them at all! I.tried the mango and also the vanilla chai Protein One and YUCK. What I have done is take the green one and mix it with my vanilla Protein Powder and that was tasty.

I have become a gym rat and go 4-5 times a week ( I can't even believe I just typed that). I was JUST like you. Hated going to the gym. HATED IT. For me, it was finding a gym where I was comfortable and I was lucky to find that.

BUT, there are lot of effective home workouts if you're motivated to do them. I had good success with Leslie Sansone walking DVD's. I know, sounds really silly...a walking DVD but she's just this side of annoying and it's a good workout (especially if you shoot for 3 miles or more). I did the Wii workouts and they were ok, but I just found myself futzing with the stupid remote holder on my leg because my moves weren't registering. I sometimes had to use poor form for them to register.

The Biggest Loser workouts are great. I loved seeing people who looked like me doing the workouts.

We do warm leftovers from dinner like Soup, stew, or noodles with cheese and veggies. Same as above, overheat it and it's perfect by lunch time.

For cold lunches, I do Pb&j, pb & apple butter, apple butter and cream cheese, nutella and pb, or nutella and cream cheese (my daughter doesn't like meat sandwiches). Then I add mini cheese rice cakes, crackers, or carrots for her "chips", a piece of fruit, and Water or juice.

LOL I just asked a similar question in MFP. I'm at 900 calories, the NUT suggests 1000+. I moved up to 1000 for a few days but it freaked me out! LOL. I am losing nicely and don't find myself too hungry (i have random days where I feel ravenous) so in sticking at 900 for now. I also exercise 4-5 times a week and burn between 400-500 calories with each of those workouts. There's no way I'd be able to do them eating 500-700 calories a day. I always "bank" my calories from exercise even though MFP tries to give them to you to use.

I see my NUT and NP in a week so I'll ask then.

You look great!! Congrats!!!

I see why you needed a new ID! Great job!!