chicagochic

I'm two weeks out tomorrow and tolerate tobacco sauce well. It is my favorite. I have made the skinny girl buffalo wings and went well. I was only able to eat two of them but I tasted great!

Very cool. Thanks for sharing this!

I had no sharp pain at all. I did have some localized pain in my abdomen for about 24 hours after surgery. I did have some nausea and had the dry heaves for about half an hour. That caused me to have a pulling sensation inside for a bit but it went away the next day. I am just under two weeks out and my belly button looks just as if I never had surgery. Kinda looks like a boob but it's my fat belly! All healed up.

Was anyone offered the "less" procedure? I had my sleeve done entirely thru my belly button. Absolute no scars, staples or drainage bags. My surgeon is a genius. He said not that many doctors are offering it but if you get the chance, please do it. It sped up my healing process dramatically and I was off pain meds by end of day two. Google Dr. Rami Lutfi on YouTube and check around to see the procedure. I thought it was a bit more common but I keep reading about all the concerns of scarring. Anyone else have it this way?

Was anyone offered the "less" procedure? I had my sleeve done entirely thru my belly button. Absolute no scars, staples or drainage bags. My surgeon is a genius. He said not that many doctors are offering it but if you get the chance, please do it. It sped up my healing process dramatically and I was off pain meds by end of day two. Google Dr. Lutfi on YouTube and check around to see the procedure. I thought it was a bit more common but I keep reading about all the concerns of scarring. Anyone else have it this way?

I love spanx. The brand that Target sells is of much less quality, IMO. They are far too thick and don't hold in half as well. I just found a brand called "fat free dressing" at sears. I bought a tank top on close out and Loves it! It was so snug and flattering. I found another one on amazon and wear them under everything to help smooth out my muffin top when I wear jean and other pants. They also sell other pieces but I haven tried anything else yet but would certainly reccomend far free dressing. I also love he name!

I'm only 1.5 weeks out and down 20 lbs total (Lost half during pre-op) but noticed that my lovely, soft, Egyptian cotton bath towel wraps around me! I am completely covered! So cool!

My NUT specifically said to stay away from the ensure and glucerna shakes. Too many carbs and sugars and things we don't need.

The biggest hurdle I've found in my new cooking regime is having so much food. One can of retried beans is like 8 meals. So I figured I would use ice trays to freeze foods like chili, soup, veggies, quiche, beans, etc. It works great because I can thaw out one or two "cubes" depending on how much I am going to eat. Plus it's cheaper and easier to store than a ton of bowls that hold too much food.

That damn commercial is taunting me too! And those Walmart steaks!

I mean only 5 carbs.

Atkins Advantage has a couple of protien coffee drinks with very low carbs and made with real coffee. Check those out. One is mocha latte shake and the other is cafe caramel shake. They are sooooo good without all the carbs. And 15 grams of protein with only 5 grams of protein.

I was sleeved a week ago today and am 15 lbs total loss. Still getting my head wrapped around when to eat and how much; struggling with protien and getting in 64oz water but doing better each day.

Yes. A lot of it rings true for me and works. I try to distract myself first. Then I imagine having my surgery fail over a freakin' cookie!! Mostly, I just drink some protien or lemon water and magically the cravings go away. It helps that I know I am not hungry. I can tell the difference between a craving and being hungry. I have food that I can eat when I am hungry. Only about 2-3 teaspoons at a time and I'm good. I need the mimits of this surgery so I am determined to let it do what it is supposed to do and not actively fight against it and sabotage.

Let me stress, I not hungry. I know my body is healing and can sustain on what little I can get down. I do notice that I miss a few foods. I would kill for a nice juicy steak and warm chocolate chips Cookies. And a gigantic salad! Swimming in Italian dressing. So, instead of running to the store and possibly destroying my new sleeve, I decided to do some research and this is what I found: Cravings -- those intense desires to eat a particular food, strong enough that you may go out of your way to get it -- are complex urges that most people frequently experience. Researchers know we have cravings, but they still don't know exactly why. A craving can mean you're being too restrictive, it can be emotional, it can mean you're eating unhealthy foods too frequently, or could even be due to the time of year. Everyone has cravings, but it is how we handle our cravings that will affect our health and/or our weight loss success. It is possible to manage your cravings in a healthy way. Read on to find out what your must-have-now urges mean and how you can control them. In order to decipher why you are craving that salty or sweet snack, we first need to decide if there were in external triggers present that would have lead you to want that certain food. Some possible external triggers are: Have you seen an ad for or read an article about that certain food? The power of suggestion and seeing the food presented in a positive light can lead to a craving for that food. Did you see or smell the food you're craving lately? Even sounds -- like the beeping of the microwave, a co-work crunching on chips, or the sound of popping open a drink -- can lead to a craving if you associate those sounds with foods you enjoy. Cold weather can trigger those cravings for warm, rich foods that are often high in calories. If you determine that the craving does not stem from an external trigger, decide if it stems from an emotional trigger. Some examples of emotional triggers are: Stress -- if you tend to reach for a certain type of food whenever you feel stressed, you are actually training yourself to crave this food when under stress. Studies suggest that these cravings can occur up to 24 hours after the stress-response system is activated. When you were a child, did your parents feed you a certain type of food when you were sick, hurt, or upset? If so, you may experience cravings for these comfort foods even as an adult. We often don't think of positive emotions when it comes to emotional eating, but celebratory eating and craving certain "reward" foods can also be the result of an emotional trigger. Last, but not least, are you feeling guilt or shame? Do you feel like you failed following another diet? If so, this may trigger cravings for certain "forbidden foods" that you were trying to restrict. And if your craving does not seem to be brought on by an external or emotional trigger, it is possible that it was brought on by a biological trigger. Some examples of biological triggers are below. Has it been more than four hours since your last meal? If so, you may be experiencing a craving for something sugary or starchy due to a drop in blood sugar. Being physically tired -- if you didn't get enough sleep last night, that can increase your cravings for something sweet. Do you have an intense craving for ice? If so, this could be a sign of pica, a phenomenon that happens when people have iron-deficiency anemia. If you are craving chocolate, that could be a sign that you need magnesium. So nosh on some nuts and seeds, which are a good source of magnesium, instead. Have you been drinking plenty of Water? If not, your body maybe mistaking your thirst signal for a hunger signal. With any craving that you experience, start by drinking some water and waiting 10 minutes and you may find that your craving subsides on its own. Eating lots of simple carbohydrates -- without the backup of Proteins or fats -- can quickly satisfy hunger and give your body a short-term energy boost, but they almost as quickly leave you famished again and craving more. After deciphering why you are craving a certain food, you will be much better equipped to handle the craving and prevent cravings in the future. It can be as simple as getting more sleep, taking a different route to work so as not to pass the bakery, or drinking more water! See below for some tips to help control the specific types of cravings mentioned above. How to control cravings due to... External triggers: Distract yourself -- When you notice a craving setting in, find something else to think about. Take a walk, listen to your favorite playlist, call a friend. Just set your mind to something else. Trick your brain -- Try eating the lowest-fat, lowest-calorie variety of the item you're craving. If you find yourself wanting sweets like chocolate, opt for nonfat chocolate frozen yogurt instead of chocolate cake. If you're prone to overdoing it, however, don't bring the coveted food into the house, no matter how low-fat or fat-free it is. Instead, go out for your frozen yogurt and order a single-serving cone or cup. Grab some gum -- If you want to avoid giving in to a sugar craving completely, try chewing a stick of gum which has been shown to reduce food cravings. Reach for fruit -- Keep fruit handy for when sugar cravings hit. You'll get Fiber and nutrients along with some sweetness. Give in a little -- Eat a bit of what you're craving, maybe a small cookie or a fun-size candy bar. Enjoying a little of what you love can help you steer clear of feeling denied. Try to stick to a 150-calorie threshold. Lighten up -- Light deprivation leads to depression in some people, and depression could fuel food cravings. So if you tend to feel blue in winter (the severest form of wintertime blues is called seasonal affective disorder, or SAD), try getting outside for a walk during the sunniest part of the day. Emotional triggers: Dig deeper -- If cravings linger, get at the root of them. Have you been too restrictive? If you suspect so, plan your meals differently, including more variety and more foods you enjoy in your diet. Is there something going on in your life that's making you anxious, angry or stressed? If that's the case, face the issue head on. By being proactive and making yourself aware of why you may be craving a certain food, you may just make that craving disappear. Biological triggers: Get at least eight hours of sleep each night to prevent cravings. If you have iron-deficiency anemia, be sure to eat foods high in Iron and check with your doctor to determine if you should take an iron supplement. If you are low in magnesium, nosh on some nuts and seeds, which are a good source of magnesium. Eat full meals. If you skip meals -- out of fear that you'll gain weight or out of the hope that you'll lose faster -- you're more likely to overeat at meals you do eat, and even more likely to fall prey to mindless snacking in between. Be sure to drink water throughout the day -- eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day is the average amount needed, unless you are extremely active. Combine foods -- If the idea of stopping at a cookie or a baby candy bar seems impossible, you can still fill yourself up and satisfy a sugar craving, too. Combine the craving food with a healthful one. For example, spread a little Nutella on a banana or mix some almonds with chocolate chips.

I'm in Chicago as well. Was just sleeved in the 30th and still very much recuperating but would love to have a Chicago group. I live in the south loop very close to downtown (16th and Michigan).

I had to do it as well for a few days post surgery. They said it was something about expanding the lungs and removing fluids. It gets easier as you get stronger.

Had surgery on Wednesday. Stayed in the hospital for 3 days because I wasn't up to coming home alone. I had migraines and extreme nausea. I was off pain mess on day two. I had a single incision surgery (went thru my belly button) . Like I read here, it is a struggle to get liquid and protien in. Sugar free popsicles, Italian ice and tea are about all I can tolerate right now. I also have tons of gas trapped just above my stomach that I am struggling with. All in all, I was tougher than I thought but hope to make it worth it.

I'm just waiting on the happy drugs! Will post again once I am on the other side of this procedure! Peace and blessings to all.

That's awesome! A pound a day is incredible weight loss. Congrats!

I am scheduled for 6:30am tomorrow morning! So anxious. I can't wait to get on the other side of this surgery. I will keep you all posted!

I weaned off caffeine and had a migraine for 5 days straight. Nothin but water and Tylenol can help. After that first week, I was fine. Just had to get out of the system.

Best wishes to you for a speedy recovery!

I'm scheduled for May 30th as well! I didn't do so well on the liquid diet and only lost about 7 lbs in he two weeks. It was a real struggle as I get migraines and found it too restrictive. I did keep to the 800 calorie a day but got 300 calories from a lean cuisine meal. If I had done all liquid I'm sure I would have lost more. So excited and nervous.