gramaof4

I am so happy you plan to check your bag coming home...It will make your return trip more enjoyable...truely...Also know you can ask for wheel chair assist as running from gate to gate can take a toll on your new tummy and the muscles that have been torchered...I did with my sisters insistance and oh my goodness was I glad. Also on the way home if you have a water or vita water of something you can let the security know it is for medical purpose they will test it but will allow you to board thru security with it. Good Luck To You, Welcome to the losers bench

I'm with SgBrown...I had my surgery in Mexicalli, MX with the great Dr. Aceves....and Dr. Campoz. I am 42 and too have been overweight my entire life (so my mother always told me)...I have 4 children biologically and 1 who I have raised for a cousin since she was 7 (now 15)...I have 4 grandchildren ages 4 G, 6 B, 10 B, and 1 G....I too wish to see them grow up and I want to play with them not just watch from the side lines....I am not a very good watcher I am a doer... I was 354 lbs and since Feb 27 have lost 45 lbs and am down to 309 lbs....Amazing, I had ZERO pain with surgery, no complications with anestisia, and was up walking in 20 minutes after recovery back to my room. I would do this all over again 10 fold. The first 3 weeks are the hardest part....but after that it is all just figuring out what and how to eat right....Shop the outside isles at the grocery not the inside isles....the Protein and fruits and good for you stuff is on the outside isle...the carbs and calories are in the inside isles...the one thing I kinda miss is a Dr. Prepper, but it is full of sugar and not worth blowing up my new $9000 tummy...I take no chances... I took a month before surgery and changed my diet to a cottage cheese and pineapple, peaches, pears kinda diet to bulk up on protein...My Dr. did not require a liquid diet before hand I had all my last meals with my friends and families prior to surgery as I was having withdrawls of food before surgery "I was never gonna get to eat again." but this is way not the way it is...I eat just fine, just in micro portions and I am full and satisfied after my micro portion.

Good for you...walk...walk...walk... is the game to healing quickly..... Welcome to the losers bench, Jan

You must create a ticker at tickerfactory.com then you need to highlight and cut n paste the ticker link into your signature within your profile.... I too had trouble with appling my ticker, and I am computer savy....always can use the help link too. Good Luck

No drinking before or after meals...20-30 min on each side. If you drink before meals you won't be able to eat as much as you need to because you'll be filled with liquid...and picture your new tummy as a sink....you fill it up and it drains slowly giving you a longer sence of satisfaction of being full. Not sure about the Protein thing as my doctor and nutricianist hasn't said before noon, just before end of day and try not to eat so late at night before bed. Hope this helps...

Oh how true...I do Water arobics 3X a week for 1.5 hrs....I love it great excercise and great support by the others in the class on the weight loss and inches loss...

My surgery was 5 hours long...so maybe if there are 4 of you the doctor is just taking extra care of all of his patients....you will get a good night sleep tonight and be all newly sleeved in the morning. Welcome to the losers Bench,

are you getting enough protein and what is your caloric intake? Is your body in starvation mode? I was no loss in 5 days and someone suggested a few more calories...and the next day I was down 2.5 lbs

I know exactly how that feels I was 354 at surgery and am now 309 waiting to see 299...lolnot a huge difference but you can say "I don't weigh 200 lbs"...lol Welcome to the losers bench, Gma of 4

I was self pay and all was inclusive...I wrote one check and it covered from 1st call to walk out the hospital door....

Well today marks 4 wks to the day after my WLS, I have lost 45 lbs total since booking surgery date (14 lbs before surgery 31 since having the surgery). I have been back to water arobics now for 2 weeks, and am loving every day....3 X a week with a group of 5 - 7 ladies...all are so supportive and tell me how wonderful I look. I don't see the loss really myself, but everyone comments on my face being thinner....now what I do notice is my pants falling down....never been much for the gangster look and I think on an old lady it is probably a fashion felony to show your granny panties...SO...I dug out my skinnier fat clothes to wear. I have a number of my heavier friends and family tibbing my big lady clothes already....cuz I won't be in need of them any more. Yeeha. I am feeling really good, my knees hardly even remind me they are hurting....and for the first time in many moons, hello your all gonna laugh...I am putting my own socks on my feet...The one thing I am now feeling is a little strain on the left side (I assume where my new stomach is) when I reach across my body to grab something...or when I bend down to pick something up or when I sneeze...this is a little unconfortable but not horrid pain. I am now in the phase of starting to introduce real foods...I am very careful, last night we had shrimp and chicken fettecini with wheat penne pasta noodles...I know what's the use but my family will learn to eat healthier or they will lose some of the pounds they are holding as well...the new rule is eat what is served or don't eat at my house. I am tired of having to make 2 dinners after long day at work...eat what is planned. I still am having a real hard time getting 500 calories a day and even harder time getting over 38 g of protein and 64 oz of liquid down....no way on earth! Well Have a wonderful day all my loser friends and good luck to losing more!

I brought some fresh home made tortilla's home from Mexico my family has been really enjoying them...but I am 4 weeks out and I have yet to be brave enough to try one....

the 64 oz is still 4 wks out post op...a big barrier for me...I'm lucky if I get 24-32 oz.... I am so glad to hear you are doing so well...glad for you you have a man to cherish you and take care of you so well. Welcome to our losers bench...

Alaskan Cod can be your friend...I'm not a super fish eater but Cod has a huge amount of Protein for a little amount and it really tastes fine with a bit of spices and a fresh squeezed lemon... I have a problem choking down the whey Protein shakes I still am in the 340-480 cal intake a day and 38-45 g protein...the only days I meet my 65-70 is on fish days....Go Figure. Good luck with finding your niche....Shrimp is also a killer way to get your protein in...I pick at dinner now...kinda like a skinny person would...but only because I know and am getting more familiar at what makes my sleeve tick... Grape juice...it tasted soooo good and I indulged way beyond where I should have and well my sleeve told me...STOP THAT...listen to your body...call the dr. get some new ideas from them...they are there to help through the process and this forum is the best as it is ppl who are going through the same things now or in the past....Networking...it is fabulous!

I think it is very healthy for alll of us to write our dear food a memo...I am with most of you...things just don't taste like they used to... Food used to be my comforter in times of hurt feelings and bordom... I am sooo glad I am not foods best friend anymore!

I am so proud of you all, making the big decision...I to had taken 3 yrs to finally make the choice for my own health...I decided I wanted to be an active grama...not a watcher grama....I have lost 45 to date and I am just 3 weeks 5 days post opt... Go Get Em' and Good Luck!

Yesterday I read about adding a few more calories so I ate the topping off of a cheese and canadian bacon w/ black olive pizza....and whether coincidence or not, the scale was down 2.75 lbs this morning... wow...I love this forum and all the help it gives!

"Beauty is painful"...my mom used to say...when she was wacking my hair putting it in braids or curling or pinning it up...when I was laying on the bed stuffing myself into those pants that fit last month.... A little pain is well worth the gain of what you will lose....Now I experienced ZERO PAIN I do not even remember waking up in recovery...I remember being wheeled back down the hallway but don't remember getting into the hallway.... You will do just fine, I had myself syked out for a ton of pain...when I was pleasently surprized by the ZERO PAIN factor. Good Luck, God will keep you safe and with little pain trust in him...

I hear ya there... I had 3 shrimp and 3 dime size pieces of chicken when we went out to eat the other night and my husband says "you really made a pig outta yourself tonight" How thoughtful....I really wish he would do some research on his own! Hello people who do not have weight issues do not have a clue...He always tells my 12 yr old that he is growing his (my son's) belly.... I hate that...Who wants to have a big belly....grrrr

This is all so interesting....I have been vigilant at keeping my calorie intake to less than 600 a day...I have not lost any oz in 4 days...I will try upping the caloric intake a knotch. Thanks

Mexico is where I had my surgery done, I flew into El Centro and walked across the border hailing a cab to take me to the hospital....where I gave Dr. Aceves $8750 and they did the surgery on Monday. He is amazing and his staff and Dr. Campoz (nutricianist) was awesome!!! Just a thought... It took me 3 yrs of research $3000 of pre-opt in the states to figure out it was all just a money game to the dr.'s here in the states...They made me go to a physch apt..., a sleep test, a blood draw..., a nutricianist to talk about eating habits now and how much they could sell me stuff for after surgery...and then they wanted $27,000 more for the surgery.... NOPE....wasted money on that and then I found Dr. Aceves...my miracle man... I have lost 41 lbs and I now can put my own socks on....I am digging out my skinnier fat clothes...and doing water arobics 3 X a week and keeping calorie intake 600 and protein is hard to do but at least 65-70 g a day. Good luck with the process, but for your own health....consider self pay...the process is simple and quick recover...I got out of hospital on Thursday 7 a.m., friday went to movies, saturday to co. fair, sunday flew home, and back to work Monday.... Wish you the best of luck

"WLS cookbook for Dummies"...I ordered this book...and OMG it is the bomb....I love it...the first half of the book reinforces everything the docs tell us, but it is all in black and white and it gives you helpful hints on cooking as well as the protein/calorie/carbs/fiber counts for servings per recipie. A definate Must Have! I got mine on Amazon for I think $5 plus shipping, mine is used...but looks brand new. I would also reccomend tasting before you go the Protein drinks you purchase...purchase sample packs...I did not and I have 2 complete cases of Isopure that is yucky.... Buy a case of bottled watter to have on hand you will go through it.... Good Luck! Welcome to our losers bench!

You will do great! Choose a friend who you know will be supportive. I have a gal who had the LBS a few yrs back and she is going to be my rock, I also have my 2 besties that are super supportive, and I own my own business and my customers are my support even though they don't have a clue they are. One man came in and told me the other day (in front of my husband) "wow, did you do something different with your hair?" I of course said nope been the same for year...just needs a dye job He said "I almost didn't come in cuz it didn't look like you...something is different maybe your face is thinner....'ARE YOU LOSING WEIGHT?' he says....you look great! so the public even though they may not know you had WLS will be complimentive....I'm pretty straight up with most people about WLS but there is that line of personal/business.... I had my surgery in Mexico...My husband had many opportunities to say his peace but chose the morning I was to fly out...he said "Do you have your last will and testiment made out? Going to a 3rd world country for surgery' not sure how much stupider you could be" He left and went to work. I stopped by his work to tell him goodbye I also wrote him a love letter before I left and left it for him to have when I was gone. "For better or for worse, in sickness and in health"....Remember your vows. I have known for yrs...he is just like his father who after 50 yrs of marriage to his mother decided he did not want her to live with him anymore....HA not here he better straighten up and fly right.....And I think there is alot of insecurity going on in my man...as he tends to spend xtra time in my office but still manages to say and do things that are rude and unsupportive. I hope once I start losing more, he will continue to take notice that my activities are increasing and my energy is increasing, and my whole livleyhood is increasing...I am also reading a book how a woman should pray for her husband...It guides you thru how we should pray for our husbands and different things we can do to make them feel special and well loved. My book should be here tomorrow I think. I'm ready to put into action any idea that will show him my love and help reform his behavior and feelings toward me, fat or thin.

"40 Day Love Dare" is what it's called in the movie...and I have started doing it on my husband...and if you've seen the movie...it will help you not get discouraged . My sister is also sending my a book how to pray for your husband. I love him and I want our marriage to work, but there are things that definately have to change.

Cottage Cheese with peaches!