kiki19

Very amazing...you can see your shape returning to normal...I've lost pretty evenly all over too. I am losing now, but I don't feel like it...maybe it is in my feet. Some days I feel bigger than ever...but I am wearing some regular 18s today...all of my 18s are fitting, some are just a little snug...but I feel like I can probably wear 18s until I hit 200.

Try buying a workout DVD...like Demante Dance or something...they are fun. You can do it in your home right when you get in from work while your dinner is cooking...I have a gym membership that I rarely use, but when I did DVDs, I pretty much did them every day...I let someone borrow my favorite, and now I am not doing it as much...but I looked at one of the Leslie Sansome walking DVDs, because that is for five days a week and you average about 2.5 miles a day. I thought that might be something I could use cause it is so darn hot down here. Anyway, you don't need anything to walk in front of the TV...just the DVD...

Somebody had mentioned the trail mix to me, and surprisingly, it sits very well, but yesterday was the first time I had tried it.

Liquids...I eat every couple of hours. Once you start real food, you can only eat a few bites, so I usually eat something every two to three hours...sometimes I only eat twice a day; sometimes 6 times a day. When you are just out of surgery, I mean, up to 3 weeks post op, the communication to your brain that you are full or hungry just isn't quite there. Once you start eating real food, it is heavy. I ate five grapes the other day and thought I was going to burst. I am one of those tasting cooks...so by the time I get food ready for everybody, I am full...I have to quit that. Just take it slow. The first few weeks are a little frustrating because of the limited selection. Remember, the inside of your stomach is having to heal over the staples, so be very careful about eating anything. Just stick to your liquids and mushies...or whatever your doctor told you...I was on mushies until 6 weeks out. I still occasionally do mushy days...Yesterday, I had one Jimmy Dean sausage biscuit(which was not at all good), and then I had one bite of tomato, about 2 ounces of turkey, one 3 oz bag of planters trail mix, 2 oz chicken poppyseed casserole (without the poppyseed and no rice in it...I also did my chicken in my food processor on the slice, so it is small pieces) 2 oz collards, and I was so full, but I felt like a pig...so it will get easier with time...and the weight will come off consistently. I will be eight weeks out Tuesday.

Way to go...congratulations...

If somebody says you took the easy way out, just smile...and say, Thank you...because we all know what it takes to get here...and they are totally clueless.

Afterwards is no cake walk, but it surely is easier to keep on track than I ever imagined...I still steal a chip or two every now and then, but heck, I can only eat a couple...so no big deal. I try to eat right every day, but if I eat a chip or two at a party or mother's day, I don't beat myself up for it...one thing that I haven't had a problem with is sugar...I have no sugar or sweet cravings...wow!!!! Your mind will adjust to all of the new changes, almost automatically...I just keep reminding myself that this is a tool for me to use to control my eating...so I use it. Anyway, don't fret...things will work out.

I get the whey protein from Publix...11.95. I mix it with a little coffee, a little milk, ice, splenda and cinnamon!!!!! I mix it in the blender...just better that way.

Egg whites, slightly whisked, and you can microwave in 10 sec increments or cook on stovetop really slow, and then add splenda and cinammon or vanilla... they are really good and loaded with protein. They kind of taste like oatmeal. Also, I made a squash casserole with canned squash, cottage cheese, two eggs, salt and pepper...mixed it all together and baked in oven for about 30 minutes, cut in squares, and eat for lunch or dinner....oh, yeah, I added shredded cheese on top while it was baking. Those are just two recipes I have tried during my mush phase...I still have 10 days of mush before I can add meat of any type.

Oh, that's beautiful. I needed that, because I am still a rock...

I woke up yesterday, two weeks out of surgery, had no complications, and it feels like I have a hernia in one of my incisions, the biggest one, of course. So I need to head back to the doctor and check to see...

I hope you don't have a stricture. Did you have hiatal hernia repair? The last time I got put to sleep, which was for a hysterectomy, whoever intubated me during surgery, my esophagus got injured and it took a while to recuperate from that. It felt like everything I ate got stuck right between my breasts, and at one point, it felt like I had swallowed a golf ball. So possibly something like that happened, and then your stomach being cut out probably exacerbates it. I mean, there can be major complications with this surgery...I am glad everything has worked out so far. Did you have leak symptoms? I read somewhere a person who had no leak symptoms, so that was pretty scary to me.

I am praying for you and hope everything works out and that you have no stricture.

Well, congratulations!!!! It's almost here. It's a little rough the first couple of days, but rest, water, and walking will help you through it... I only have three more days of post-op liquid diet. I am so looking forward to a scrambled egg. Who knew the pleasure you would get out of such a small thing, but I am so tired of soup...plus, it has just way too much sodium, even the low sodium, to be beneficial to my BP. I am 11 post-op, and I can tell you, I feel way better. I worked with a friend of mine yesterday, and I was worn out by 2 in the afternoon, but not too bad. I am just trying to build my stamina. So good luck and best wishes for your upcoming surgery.

I arranged about five large pillows in my bed to raise my head and back a little, and then put one long pillow under my legs. That helped me to sleep in my bed, like a little cacoon. I also put a pillow on my right side in case I need to roll over to one side...And then to get up, I would put my knee down, from my side and get on all fours and scoot to the edge of the bed...it works better than trying to get straight out of the bed.

I was sleeved on the 10th also...Have you eaten tomato soup yet? I just tried some today, and it did not feel good going down...however, my protein shake was pretty darn good...today was my first day of regular liquids...I have been on clear liquids.

My ankles have been the first place to lose weight...it looks like it is moving up my leg...I can see my kneecaps...So tell your ankles to hang on...they won't be all swollen once you have your surgery...they will get fast relief. (I am not sure if it is from doing the liquids or my bp is leveled out, but really, my ankles have not swollen one time since I had surgery and they used to stay swollen all the time and I am day 6 post-op.

I picked up a pizza for my husband and child last night, 5 days post op, and I could have licked the whole thing...I didn't but I wanted to. Today is my first day of regular liquids, which includes protein powder...yea. I have been on clear liquids. Now, I made my smoothie this morning with scoop of protein powder, coffee, and 1/2 cup skim milk and ice. I poured half of it in a cup. That was an hour ago. I still have more than half left. It is way heavier than just the clear liquids and it is way more filling. I saw a post above about watching the food network...I have been doing that too. Also, someone sent me a link to a blog which had some great recipes if anyone is interested, but I don't even start soft foods until next Tuesday or Wednesday.

I wish I had done this surgery in my 30s...I was always of the mindset that I could do it on my own...well, fifteen years have passed and I am still fat, fatter than before...I have lost 50, 60 pounds, and put it right back on even though I would tell myself I wouldn't. I decided last year that it was time I took some action, no matter how drastic, to change my life. My surgery is tomorrow. Yes, I am nervous, but I am looking at it as a new beginning. I have been hiding in my fat for so long, I have forgotten what it was like to be normal. Anyway, this is not the miracle -- this is a tool to help you achieve weight loss and be able to keep it off.

P.S. They used to do this surgery a long time ago, but they called it something else...my husband's aunt had half of her stomach taken out 50 years ago. I assume she probably had h. pylori or something, before they knew it was bacteria. She has always been slim since.

Love reading the positive comments...it makes me more excited than nervous...I am 5 days away...can't wait. I am almost 50 too...I went through the whole decade of my 40s fat...I just feel like I am letting life pass me by...that's what really kick started my butt.

Thank you for this post....it was what I really needed to read today. I am getting so excited...I can't wait until I am 11 months out...yippeee....thank you.