SunnyCox

You have such a pretty face... (often because they can't mention the rest of me).

You have such a pretty face... (often because they can't mention the rest of me).

You have such a pretty face... (often because they can't mention the rest of me).

You have such a pretty face... (often because they can't mention the rest of me).

You have such a pretty face... (often because they can't mention the rest of me).

Oh and just another tidbit of info I was previously scheduled to get the lap band for a whopping 15000 dollars in Baltimore. I am so glad I went the route i did instead. Whatever will I do with the saved money? (boob lift, tummy tuck)

At least she offered what she could to help. She was trying, but she wasn't educated enough to really help you through your situation. Sometimes diabetics need insulin, and sometimes they only need to make dietary changes. Explain to her that you have already tried the dietary changes, but now you have to go to the next step to find relief for your obesity. And while she still may not understand, let her know that you have made your decision and need her support. You will gladly take her diet tips and recipes once you are able to eat regular food again.

I'm sure you're are not missing that extra chin! You look great!

While I technically still fit in their clothes, I was able to shop at Pennys and find some thing I actually liked today. It is the first time that I found things outside of Lane Bryant in years! LB charges so much for their clothing. I bought two pairs of pants today for the cost of one LB pair (even with LB's $25 off a $75 purchase coupon)!

For a little encouragement to ya, I'd just like to say that, while your relationship with food DOES change, your love of good tasty food, doesn't have to. I am 2 months out now, and I have been able to find soooo many new wls friendly recipes that my family eats better now, than we ever did when I was pushing 400 pounds. Trust me, after you get past all of the sucky stages of the pre and post op diets, (it really does go by faster than you think) you really can still eat food that tastes amazing. Only now, instead of 2-3 plates of it, we get a small amount of yumminess and none of the feeling of 'I'm such a pig' after meals.
Good luck, enjoy your new life!

enigmachik Warning, warning, this does not compute
its not allowed in Sleeveland to say the "O" word - only
you don't say ONLY 10 lbs for example - cuz 10 lbs is 10 lbs. wow - it's not ONLY 10 lbs -
makes it sound like you have higher possibly unrealistic expectations.
oh dear i hope i didn't say that wrong, don't mean to be rude
you'll do great
good luck
kathy

Hi Rachel! This forum helped me make the decision to have surgery. Best decision I ever made. To answer your question about the weight staying off - it is up to you. You'll have to learn to change your eating habits. The sleeve is a tool to help you make the diet changes that you've been unable to do before the sleeve. My hunger is reduced, so it is so much easier to eat healthy food. You'll have to make those choices. Portion Control becomes easier, but eventually you'll be able to eat most if not all the things you ate pre-surgery. You'll need to chose not to graze all day nor have tons of sugar filled drinks. While it takes some work, I find it to be so much easier to do the things I knew I should have been doing pre-surgery.

I struggled with the decision too. Post op, it is easier to know that you made the right decision without any doubts. Here is something I posted a few days ago about still being able to Celebrate food:
You'll still have food. It is never going to go away. Within a week post-op, I was sad about cooking spaghetti for my family. I kept thinking that I would never be able to eat a big plate of spaghetti again. Then, it hit me. I will be able to eat spaghetti again. I'll have a child's size portion one day, and I'll be satisfied like I was never satisfied before. I won't be eating two huge helpings, four pieces of garlic bread and two cokes in one setting.
I feel good about what I eat. I am not gorging myself on huge restaurant portions. It is kind of nice being the person at the table that eats the petite portion. I like to secretly think that the other women are jealous of me because I eat so little (because I used to feel a twinge of jealousy that all my thin cousins would eat half as much as I did at a meal!) I no longer feel as though I am wasting food when I can't eat an entire portion. I don't have the desire to finish off every last little bit. I also don't need dessert.
My tastes are already changing. I'm not stopping for fast food. I'm searching out fresher, tastier foods that I didn't appreciate as much pre-op. I have become a food explorer. I've been trying new fruits and vegetables from the frou frou grocery store with all the fancy food! I'm cooking Thai food at my house - something that I've never done before. I want to play with spices and fresh herbs. Don't be afraid, a whole new food adventure is coming!
How will your friends feel about your restrictions? My friends don't even notice. I have told very few people about my surgery. I've had a few people mention that I wasn't eating very much, but when I said that it was all I needed right now. There really wasn't any one who pushed me on the issue. When I go out to eat with my friends, I can always find something on the menu that fits my new lifestyle. This may be a little harder while you are on the liquid phase, but you can order a good Soup and just eat the broth. Those around you won't notice. I stayed with Soups when I was on soft foods. Once I got to solid food, there were no issues. There is something for you at every meal to eat out.
On the other hand, if you complain about your portion or your meal constantly, I am sure that your friends will notice.
Sounds like you have a lot of signs. You just need to embrace those signs, and realize that being anxious is part of the process. Come here for support from people who have made it through that part of the journey.

I made the taco casserole from the Bariatric Foodie blog in the link below. It was DELICIOUS!. I made myself a small bowl, and I broke up three tortillas chips to spread on the top to give it some crunch. My family enjoyed eating it with chips like nachos. I parceled out the left overs into small tupperware bowls and ate it the next two days. It keeps really well.
meat (whatever you use)



1 small zucchini, diced (I leave the skin on for extra fiber)



1 small yellow squash, diced (same deal)



1 small onion, diced



1 clove of garlic minced



1 envelope of taco seasoning mix



1 can black Beans (I used the spicy kind), drained and rinsed



1 can fat-free refried beans



1 can tomatoes and chiles (or canned diced tomatoes if you don't like the heat)



2 c. shredded Mexican blend cheese (you can do reduced fat or regular but NOT fat free!)




Optional toppings:
Unflavored Greek yogurt



Salsa




Directions:

In a sprayed pan, sautee veggies with garlic until they are softened. Drain any excess liquid and transfer to a bowl.



Brown ground meat, drain and then transfer to the same bowl and mix with canned beans and tomatoes and chiles.



Mix in taco seasoning thoroughly and then transfer mixture to a 13x9 casserole dish.



Evenly spread out fat free refried beans on top (this may be easier if you heat them in a microwave safe bowl for a minute or so.



Top with cheese and then bake in a 350 oven for about 30 minutes or until the cheese is oozy, melty and slightly browned.

You'll still have food. It is never going to go away. Within a week post-op, I was sad about cooking spaghetti for my family. I kept thinking that I would never be able to eat a big plate of spaghetti again. Then, it hit me. I will be able to eat spaghetti again. I'll have a child's size portion one day, and I'll be satisfied like I was never satisfied before. I won't be eating two huge helpings, four pieces of garlic bread and two cokes in one setting.
I feel good about what I eat. I am not gorging myself on huge restaurant portions. It is kind of nice being the person at the table that eats the petite portion. I like to secretly think that the other women are jealous of me because I eat so little (because I used to feel a twinge of jealousy that all my thin cousins would eat half as much as I did at a meal!) I no longer feel as though I am wasting food when I can't eat an entire portion. I don't have the desire to finish off every last little bit. I also don't need dessert.
My tastes are already changing. I'm not stopping for fast food. I'm searching out fresher, tastier foods that I didn't appreciate as much pre-op. I have become a food explorer. I've been trying new fruits and vegetables from the frou frou grocery store with all the fancy food! I'm cooking Thai food at my house - something that I've never done before. I want to play with spices and fresh herbs. Don't be afraid, a whole new food adventure is coming!

Are you still on Clear Liquids? I got a real bump in energy when I started drinking shakes.< /p>

Who does that? Pretty much all of us. It happens, and it is much better to learn to put yourself back on track now than have this issues after surgery. You've beat yourself up. Think of how you will better prepare yourself the next time the cravings start, but most importantly learn from your mistake and forgive yourself.
Four days before surgery, I was at PF Changs eating another 'last supper,' because my doc told me that the most important part of my pre-op diet was the three days before surgery where I was restricted to Clear Liquids.

Who does that? Pretty much all of us. It happens, and it is much better to learn to put yourself back on track now than have this issues after surgery. You've beat yourself up. Think of how you will better prepare yourself the next time the cravings start, but most importantly learn from your mistake and forgive yourself.
Four days before surgery, I was at PF Changs eating another 'last supper,' because my doc told me that the most important part of my pre-op diet was the three days before surgery where I was restricted to Clear Liquids.

My worst time was immediately after surgery. I believe my pain was from gas. It felt unbearable, but the floor doctor would not give me pain meds even though the surgeon told me he wrote them PRN (as needed). I think I got one shot of morphine the entire night. I talked to my surgeon about this afterwards, and his assistant told me that the floor doctor was notorious for with holding pain meds. I wish I had known that in advance.
My stomach was tender or painful to the touch. The pain was deeper, and there was nothing I could do to get comfortable. When I walked, I was nauseous, and I heaved a few times (which wasn't uncomfortable in my stomach area). This lead me to believe my pain was gas related.
At the end of the first day, I rolled over to sleep on my side and stomach and then would start over on my back. The movement seemed to help relieve the pain. When I woke up the next morning, it had pretty much subsided. Haven't had any real pain since.
I can honestly say it was the easiest surgery I have been through. I did take pain meds at night for the next few days, but not so much for pain. It was mostly to help me be incredibly comfortable and drowsy so that I slept like a rock.

Who does that? Pretty much all of us. It happens, and it is much better to learn to put yourself back on track now than have this issues after surgery. You've beat yourself up. Think of how you will better prepare yourself the next time the cravings start, but most importantly learn from your mistake and forgive yourself.
Four days before surgery, I was at PF Changs eating another 'last supper,' because my doc told me that the most important part of my pre-op diet was the three days before surgery where I was restricted to Clear Liquids.

You'll still have food. It is never going to go away. Within a week post-op, I was sad about cooking spaghetti for my family. I kept thinking that I would never be able to eat a big plate of spaghetti again. Then, it hit me. I will be able to eat spaghetti again. I'll have a child's size portion one day, and I'll be satisfied like I was never satisfied before. I won't be eating two huge helpings, four pieces of garlic bread and two cokes in one setting.
I feel good about what I eat. I am not gorging myself on huge restaurant portions. It is kind of nice being the person at the table that eats the petite portion. I like to secretly think that the other women are jealous of me because I eat so little (because I used to feel a twinge of jealousy that all my thin cousins would eat half as much as I did at a meal!) I no longer feel as though I am wasting food when I can't eat an entire portion. I don't have the desire to finish off every last little bit. I also don't need dessert.
My tastes are already changing. I'm not stopping for fast food. I'm searching out fresher, tastier foods that I didn't appreciate as much pre-op. I have become a food explorer. I've been trying new fruits and vegetables from the frou frou grocery store with all the fancy food! I'm cooking Thai food at my house - something that I've never done before. I want to play with spices and fresh herbs. Don't be afraid, a whole new food adventure is coming!

What I found to be really good was mixing my Muscle Milk ready made shakes into coffee. I mix them half and half instead of using Creamer. I usually add a pack or two of sweetener.

What I found to be really good was mixing my Muscle Milk ready made shakes into coffee. I mix them half and half instead of using Creamer. I usually add a pack or two of sweetener.

awesome! Great job girl!

I was at 247.6 this morning. So I broke a stall of just over two weeks and am down 4.4lbs in two days. I'm going to stick with liquids for a few more days. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.