Charlotte

I have had the same problem since starting real food. I still have to have a shake or a liquid Protein vial (GNC perfect protein supplement) to make up the difference. I like these because I can add them to Water and take it to the gym with me, my favorite flavor so far is Fruit Punch. I also use Health Wise hot chocolate drink (15gs protein) just before bed. You can find this on www.whydiet.com Hope this helps.

I have forwarded it to your e-mail. Your welcome.

I to have been depressed on and off since surgery Dec 12,2011 (8 weeks ago this Tuesday). I hated the shakes but was given a list of some pretty tasty ones. I was given some very good advice on here, which made me stay and little bit by little bit I have opened up to the wonderful people here. I use and used Top Ramen flavor packs for the taste and really loved the hot coco Protein rich they were my stand by's until I got to mushy's Don't try to rush through the processes your body will tell you when to step up. If you try mushy's and get sick step back down and the same with going on to real food. If you have problems step back down for a bit. Each of us are different as to how well we tolerate the changes. I couldn't walk at all before having the surgery it was just to hard. I had to start very slow, walk to door, then to drive way, then to street and so on. Now I am walking for 7 minutes on a tread mill. It may take awhile but you will get there. I have attached a shake file with over 190 shakes to chose from I hope this helps get past this part. Day by Day Step by Step with Jesus is what I pray for each day. Wishing you a better, brighter, new day.

I have not taken any meds since morning of surgery, eight weeks now. Every time I tried I would end up spitting them out, couldn't get them down. Most of mine I can't crush according to the bottle. I have not had any effects of not taking them am doing ok. I have found a few of them in liquid form, now just to get scripts for them. I agree we are not all alike check with your doctor and see if any of them come in liquid form. My pain pill was a melt away that they gave me to come home with. The only one I worry about not taking is the Plavix (no crush, but does come liquid form) if approved for it. I always think of Mary Poppins a spoon full of sugar (steveia) helps the medicine go down lol. But that didn't help me either.

These little girls are so good at selling those horrible cookies. Last year I bought 28 boxes thin mints so now every little girl in the neighborhood has my number. I can not answer the door or I will buy them (even if I can't eat them) so I am making my sister do it for me and telling them NO. How bad is that?

I thought I could never be 135lbs again. But with the sleeve my ideas have changed. I look back 8 weeks ago and am amazed at far I have come. I have even put my wedding picture back up and now think about how wonderful it will be to see that woman again. I was sleeved Dec 12,2011 weighting 337lbs and to date have lost 51lbs, Today I weight 286lbs, and am in size 24 pants down from 28's, 3X's instead of 5x's. I can now say that I love the woman I am returning to and feel healthier than I have in 11 years. I keep a photo gallery (take new pic every week) to see how far I have shrunk since I can't seem to get the ticker on my post or blogs.

It is a type of gastric surgery referred to as a sleeve (like a sleeve in a shirt) small tube extending from one end to the other. A large portion of the stomach is removed leaving this sleeve like tube. "Loving my sleeve" means loving my new stomach and it's shape at least for me. "Rock'n the sleeve" means I am losing weight and it's working great. I hope this helps. I love this type of gastric surgery.

That is so great. You look so good. You will be at your goal before you know it. Keep up the awesome work.

I have no regrets having my sleeve surgery, I would do it all over again, wish I would have had it sooner. I too like the non fat sugar free latte's from Mc Donalds but Star Bucks are even better with the Protein. I get ice from Sonic, it's little and just like the hospital ice. I made Mio ice pops to help with getting enough liquid after having to get iv liquids a week out. Since then no problems with enough liquid. I use a lot of shredder cheese, cheese sticks (string cheese and sharp cheese) and Peanut Butter or almond butter for high protein counts. Egg flower Soup and Ramen noodle season packets are also great in the beginning they both have sodium in them to help keep the fluids up. I am now able to go out for lunch and dinner with friends and these are a few of the things I enjoy Wendy's chili small, Jack in the Box grilled chicken strips, Taco bell bean cups, Mc. Donalds jr cheese burger no bun and KFC mashed potatoes and gravy (I think of these as treats) I LOVE MY SLEEVE and would do it again in a heart beat.

I can't believe it has only been 7 weeks since VSG and still feeling good. I have lost 48 lbs and my inches have been changing every where on my body. I had appointment with prime doctor this morning and not real happy about the results. He wants me to start taking some of my meds again, and I don't think I really want to. I feel great with out them. I have been called a Biatch more lately and my moods do swing quite a bit but all in all I feel much better. He is sending to me to the heart doc because heart rate was high today (107) and he wants me to take the plavix, guess I'll have to wait and see. He also wants me to start back on lexapro (liquid form) (antidepressant) not sure about that, scares me a little. Oh well people will just have to deal with the REAL me (biatchy) and HEALTHY heheheheheh. The gym will soon be open and I can work out with my daughter after she gets off work, I am looking forward to this. It has been along time since we have had mother daughter time it should be a hoot. Walking is good I'm up to a block and a half now and punching bag is still 20 minutes every other day. I have noticed the more I work out the more sleep I get. I was averaging about 4 hours or less a night, now I get any where from 6-8 hours of good sleep so awesome. I don't really have a lot to complain about, but I do have a lot to be Happy about. Thank God for all His love and care that He put into this body, now I just need to get it back into that shape and keep it healthy for the rest of my life. Thank you all for your support and well needed advice I truly do appreciate each and everyone of you. My wish for each and everyone of you is Happy Journeys and Great losses.

Precious; I will keep you in prayers and thoughts, so sorry you are having to go through all this. Here is my smile if you need it sweetie. I really hated the cooking shows and food commercials when I first got out of hospital, but now they just don't hold interest for me. I would like more info on the antidepressants as well I was told today to start them (in liquid form) again. Not sure I want to.

Congrats on your up coming VSG surgery. New habits are great I did the same thing before my VSG surgery, I started eating slowly and chewing everything 100 times it made a difference for me at least. Keep posting and again Congrats on up coming VSG.

Congrats the dress is really cute and you are Rock'in It Girl.

Day by Day Step by Step with Jesus is what I pray. Thank God for this site and the people who venture here, May God Bless and Keep us all on our journey.

Just gotta love this. I had a love hate relationship with food forever and now I can take it or leave it. My favorite foods don't taste good and the things I hated taste great. Love the fact that all I need is just a taste (1 bite) of something and then walk away. I hated green veggies wouldn't eat them at all and now I find I crave them go figure. I am 6.5 weeks out and eating (tasting) food again but with out the worries. If I even have 1 bite more than my stomach thinks it can handle it lets me know in a hurry. Love'n my sleeve. I average about 4-5oz any more than that I get sick. Food has lost it's appeal for me and am very thankful.

I still have problems with the Protein drinks but have found a large list here on the site that has helped so much. will try to attach it for everyone. 172. chocolate Almond Oasis 1 scoop Chocolate Protein powder 8 oz. Water 1/2 banana 4 drops Almond Extract 4 - 8 ice cubes 173. Ice Blended Mocha 1 scoop Chocolate Protein powder 8 oz. water 1 1/2 TBL instant coffee 4 - 8 ice cubes

I have not been able to do milk for years now, but found that the Almond milk and Coconut milk work great in shakes and for drinking. I really like the unsweetened Almond milk on my Cereal and in coffee and coco. I slept a lot the first 2 days, but reading on here it is part of the process your body needs to heal. You have been though the mill and your body is responding the only way it knows how (SLEEP). I also found that if I ate yogurt it helped with the gas, I still get it from time to time depending on what I eat. Congrats on your new stomach (surgery) Hope this helps some.

What was your starting weight? I am 6 weeks out and had a gain last week of 2 lbs I freaked out. (see gained and freaking) I started this journey at 341 in September, by surgery December 12 I weighted 337, and am now today down to 291. I have realized it is not about the weight but the inches also, yes I gained but still had lost inches(3.5 inches lost) for the week. Our bodies change so much in a matter of a week it is just amazing. Keep your chin up and try not to be bummed out it will get better. Look at old pics of your self and see how far you have come in just a short time hopefully that will help get rid of the bummed feeling.

This has been great I love all the helpful advice and have decided to weight only once a week NOT EVERYDAY. I should have taken the time to think it through (gaining) I have been exercising a lot and measurements are changing even with NO WEIGHT LOSS. Thank you all so much.

Thank you, I hope that is all it is. I just am so afraid of failing. I was feeling pretty good until today and have had a good out look since surgery. It is amazing how those 2 little pounds can freak a person out and send them over the edge. Just need to remember my motto (step by step day by day with Jesus is all I pray). Thank you again for the words of encouragement

I can't believe that when I weighted today I had gained 2.4lbs. OMG!! what have I done? I went back over everything I have eaten the past 3 days (thank goodness for www.myfitnesspal.com) being able to track every ounce I put in my mouth. Exercise could be more (walk a block a day and use punching bag every other day for 20 minutes) but don't want to over due and end up in hospital, I just can't figure this out. Where did I fail my sleeve? Has it stretched out, am I eating to much, not exercising enough, what on earth did I do or not do to gain weight? I am so depressed over this and ready to go back to just liquids again. I can't fail at this too I have failed at so many things before and I just can't fail at this to many people waiting for me to fail to say I told you so. Has anyone out there gained in the first 5 weeks after surgery? Starting 337 Today 294.4 Yesterday 292.0 always weight in pj's nothing different at weight in.

I was able to handle the mushy stage only because I ate runny mash potatoes, mushed banana's and mostly puree food. Tuna, chicken, pork didn't like the new stomach but corn beef hash mushed with a fork did and I ate alot of it.. Beans of any kind mushed were easy to handle also. I just started a week and a half ago on real food and I had to slow my eating down because of that lump in the throat feeling (still eating slow).

That is so awesome for you, Congrat's way to keep losing. Enjoy your success make a Holiday on your calendar you did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing this exciting moment in your life, I look forward to that day for me.

If anyone needs more recipes let me know I have a list of 195 that I received on here. Will be more than happy to send them on. I don't know how to add attachments on the site but can send them list via e-mail.

Cali; The pics are amazing, way to go. You look awesome.