sarahcc

Good for you on realizing what works. It's so important to remember the scale does NOT define our entire journey. So many factors go into how well or not we are doing. Everyone is different and weighing often does more harm than good. I weigh in about 3-4x per week' date=' but it doesn't affect my day so it's not a big deal. Only time it did was when I was trying to hit Onederland... lol [/quote']

Omg when I first started I didn't care about the scale at all. I went from 241 to 218 without ever looking at the scale. But now at 204 I am so desperate to see 199 that I am weighing daily. CURSE YOU 4 POUNDS!!! Heh.

Girl I had a 16 hour labor with a baby whos head was well over the 100th percentile, and my epidural ran out at 9cm, HAHA.

No pre-op diet for me besides 24 hour fast the day before.

Pain was not bad for me at all. I had morphine the day of surgery, and vicodin the 2nd and 3rd day. I would say my pain never got above a 7, but at a 7 I did take a dose of medicine so I could focus on getting fluids in and not on the pain.

I took a bottle of liquid vicodin home and have 95% of it left.

I agree I think it has most to do with physical condition, genetics and prior experience. Never had surgery before but I did give birth twice so my pain tolerance has grown lol.

I started eating pickles about 3 weeks post op just because I was afraid of the possible heartburn. As far as the seeds I wouldn't worry. They're not really raw anymore like strawberry seeds or whatever (though those don't worry me either) so enjoy I have the worst salt cravings now too... rarely ever want sweets or chocolate anymore thank God!

I'll play too!

I don't think enchiladas are all that unhealthy, anyway. I mean, sure, you can make them healthier (what can't you make healthier, really?) but by itself in it's full-fat form, there are way worse things!

And as far as sushi goes... it has all but consumed my life. At Fresh Market (a specialty foods store here in WI) there is a sushi area that has a roll that blows. my. mind. I was sleeved on 4/19, so obviously I can't eat much, so... I just eat the top/filling ingredients Leave the rice. At first I thought it would be weird, but after trying it with soy sauce I realized the rice is really just a building foundation, LOL. I don't need it and don't miss it!! Try just the fish/avocado/topping portion and see how you like it!!

I think this is a great question but I can't believe I'm the only one who is FREAKED at the idea of a surgeon doing ANYTHING to me down there!! Lift/tuck/suction/etc... Stay back with your scalpel please!!! *skeeved*

As far as ways to increase calories... it works for me to go from 1% milk to 2%, or low fat mayo (like for tuna) to regular. I have those things in the house for my family but I'm sure there's others. Regular cottage cheese, etc... Those are just examples of course but that's what works for me

Thank you everyone! Trust me if it works for me it can work for everyone!!!

Thank you!!

Hi All,

Wanted to share some progress pictures... I'm somewhere between 35-40lbs down from my highest weight (which was only 3lbs off my surgery weight) depending on the day, time, etc... I am trying really hard not to be a slave to my scale because it gives me rage, heh. Please excuse the complete lack of hair and makeup in any of these pictures... I swear I'm not this much of a bum every day!

Here are a couple that I took about a month ago (1.5 weeks after surgery) and then yesterday:

Standing on my toes in this one, heh. I'm all of 5'1" so I have to do that to see anything below my torso!

And here's one with my family at Disney in February 2012, 2.5 months before surgery, and one from today. Same sweatshirt! That's sort of what inspired this post, hehe.

I had surgery 4/19/12 and I'm happy with my progress. Not watching the scale helps, trust me. Can't wait for the next 40 to be off!!!

Have a great day everyone

During my pureed stage i pureed refried Beans with sour cream and cheese. Sooo good. A little hot sauce maybe if you can take it. I also ate a lot of cottage cheese.

I couldn't do spicy until about 4-5 weeks out but its all good now I love hot sauce and wing sauce on everything! !

It took me about 3 weeks... I too was told that I was very tight in my esophagus and liquid passed through slowly. I miss my gulps though... I used to drink a bottle of Water in about 5 minutes each morning lol.

I received a script for straight liquid hydrocodone (lortab is a hydrocodone/acetaminophen split) and I won't lie it was pretty gross to me, but it washed down pretty well with a few sips of gatorade.

I find anesthesia teams to be HILARIOUS... they are so good-natured usually, at least in my experience. I remember 3 of them on my team for the VSG. One was a new resident (I had surgery at a hospital/medical school) who was going to get me on an IV to prep for surgery but I have reeeeally bad veins so he just kind of observed instead. Then there was another resident who was in his last year and he got an IV in me with one poke (impressive!) and he was SO excited about the medicine he had to make me relax LOL. He patted his breast pocket on his scrubs and said, "Now I've got a really, really good treat for you here" which was of course the syringe filled with the relaxation meds. I just laughed... nice to see someone who really loves their job!

Anyway, he put the meds in my IV and I couldn't feel it at all. They then started wheeling me to the OR, and he said as we went that I might start to feel dizzy or forgetful, and I did start to feel loopy then... I was OUT.

Here's what I'll say too - I was TERRIFIED of general anesthesia. I've only ever been gassed before, not through an IV. I had to sign waivers at my pre-admissions appointment, and I had to meet with an anethesiologist who looks you over and explains risks. In addition, I suffered a head injury a while back and was unconscious. During that time I could feel a dream-like state of mind as I was coming too. It was absolutely terrifying, and I was panicked waking up. Anesthesia is NOT like that. It's easy, relaxing and you don't have any sort of awareness while you're under. There's a reason these doctor's can charge almost, if not as much as your surgeon does. They are experts and they'll take good care of you

Rotisserie chickens are like Heaven to me now at 6 weeks. My suggestion for chicken and any Proteins are to a.) Soft and moist, and b.) Take it slooooow. I found that literally I could only eat 2 bites of anything without being sick and then I really slowed down and it helps. Take your portion ans MAKE yourself take 30-45 minutes to eat. I literally had to watch the clock. Every 3 minutes, I took a bite. Swallowed, waited 3 more minutes, etc.

I was a speed eater when I was pre-op so this process has been downright painful for me but I can tolerate more types and quantities of food to meet my Protein goals without supplements. Hope that helps! Good luck!!

Girl, you need a new sweatshirt And I'm not just saying that as a Packers fan!!!

Love seeing your success... great job!!!

I like to try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt... is it possible he was just trying to say something like, "In this first month you really don't have to work to get the weight to fall off, you just don't have any choice" and that upcoming months may give you more "choice" in the matter? My doctor can be kind of naggy like that, but I believe he has good intentions, not that he's a jerk. I think he wants me to be successful! He probably could have worded it better, but I'd like to believe he just wanted to warn you that the weight won't always come off as easily as it has in the last month? Hopefully

Congrats, you're doing great!!!

Yes and yes Yummy!

My arms and HIPS! I'm 5'1 and VERY hourglass figured, so it tends to make my limbs look very... stumpy. A co-worker even teased me by setting my desktop background to a T-Rex!! LOL.

Anyway, I've ALWAYS had chubby arms. Even when I was 125 I would look at myself in tank tops and think... My arms look chubby! They're just short. Not much I can do about it. Same with my legs!

As far as my hips... well, yeah. Let's just say I've got child-bearing hips (my mother says this, LOL) so they're already curvy, and the fat is just clinging to them. Right now it feels like I'm wearing an inflatable tube around my hips! I'm soooo hoping as I lose my weight it will redistribute and even out so I don't look like a complete freak of nature!

The stuff I had for my leak test was not blue, I think it was the clear stuff others are talking about, but it was FOUL. I was already pretty nauseous just knowing I'd have to swallow it, and seeing how much... when I could barely sip any Water... oh, it was bad. They had me standing up on that platform and told me to take a big gulp and I was like, "Yeah... I'm going to throw up now." And they gave me the bucket but somehow I didn't. Same thing for the second sip. Oh God, I'm sick just thinking of it.

Luckily once it's done it's done. At least the stuff I took didn't hang in my mouth forever, I was able to rinse the flavor out fairly easily.

I don't smoke, but I will just pass along that my doctor told our pre-admissions class that they test for nicotine in the blood and urine on the morning of surgery. I kind of thought, That seems a bit extreme. I bet they don't really do it, it's just a scare tactic. I tend to be a bit skeptical, heh. Anyway, sure enough, I went to the hospital on the morning of surgery and the admissions staff confirmed I had orders for blood and urine samples, specifically to test for drugs, alcohol and tobacco/nicotine.

I will say this - my surgeon took very, very great pride in his work and didn't look too kindly on increased chance of complication due to smoking when we were given clear expectations to quit. Whether it's because your surgeon cares about you, or cares about his stats,... if they say no, they don't mess around!

I've been eating a bite of strawberry here and there since about 4 weeks... my daughter LOVES them so I'm always cutting them up for her and we have a produce market that gives free samples of everything they sell Needless to say now that a trip there to get fruit/veggies provides me an entire meal! But I digress... I can't imagine 2+ months out wouldn't be a good time for a strawberry or two! Enjoy!

Congrats!! I'm 8 pounds away and I can't wait!! It's gone so fast!