Houston17

I craved the taste too. Had some Pickle Juice. I talked to my NUT and she said a small amount of the juice was ok but to be mindful of the sodium.

I'm about 3 and a half weeks out! I want them all the time. It's weird. They do have pretty much nothing except a LOT of sodium. *sigh*

Well you have to think, are you going to follow the plan or are you going to find ways to "cheat" it...
The surgery does work but you need to work too.
food and hunger, face it most of us didn't eat only out of true hunger. So if you don't gain some kind of control over your head hunger, it is possible to eat around the sleeve with "slider"
(Junk) food.
This gets easier to do as time goes on. So change needs to come in the form of your thinking and coping skills.
We will have to keep up on these changes for the rest of our lives if we want to succeed.

Before was 4 months ago. The after was a few days ago

I haven't even reached my goal weight and here are the things that have already hanged, and in only 4 short months!
1. I don't get out of breath when I walk up the stairs anymore!!
2. I can shop at regular stores and I actually enjoy it now!
3. I no longer feel like the fat girl in the room which is an AMAZING feeling.
4. I can wear boots now! My calfs used to be so big that boots wouldn't fit
5. My over all body image issues have seriously diminished!
6. I look in the mirror and for once I like what I see
7. I don't avoid going out with friends anymore because I have nothing to wear
8. No more unsolicited weight loss advice
9. I can shop at Victoria's Secret!
10. I just feel so much healthier! I wish I would have done this sooner!
How is everyone else feeling!?

I was with my mother and 3 siblings, so everyone knew about my surgery. My mother still makes the comments, "I don't see how you can survive with the amount of food you eat." My retort is always, "I know, isn't it amazing how little we actually NEED to survive?"
I did have lunch with other folks and only once did someone mention something to me. I was eating some Red Snapper with asparagus and au gratin potatoes. I ate about 3 bites of fish, two spears and about 3 bites of potatoes. I was conversing with everyone at the table, so it wasn't like I finished 5 minutes after the food arrived. I still practice putting my utensil down in between bites to ensure I eat slowly. One woman commented as to how incredible her beef goulash was and offered me a piece of meat. I accepted (it was incredible) She offered me another and I said that it was delicious, but I was full. Of course, she looks at my plate and says, "But you've hardly eaten anything." I usually just make some excuse as I usually don't want to have to go into the background of my issues with food, but since I knew I would never see these people again, I told them that I had a VSG with a brief explanation of what that was and that my portions were a lot smaller now. She said, "Hey, whatever works for you. I think that is great," and that was the end of it.
Now, I didn't avoid the buffet as there were times, like when my brother and I were at the hot tub until 1:00 AM, we did a drive by the buffet and I grabbed a couple pieces of cheese and two Peanut Butter Cookies. I also did two lunches up there where I had curried chicken one day and pork chops the other.
I guess, the bottom line was that I had a lot of anxiety before I went on the cruise. I am a food addict. I love food and food loves me. Has this changed with the sleeve? No, not completely. The surgery was on my stomach, not my head. But my sleeve gives me a tool to help me manage my issues with food. Again, the sleeve has fulfilled what my expectations for the surgery were. Not restrict what I can eat, just the quantity. It is still up to me to make the good decisions, but it is nice to have this tool keep me in check.

You definitely need to see what your doctor has to say. From my own experience, I had trouble the first few weeks too. Ice, g2, Apple juice and beef broth were my friends. Oh yea, a sugar free Popsicle ever now and then. I started Isopure after the first week or so and wasn't able to get in the required Protein amount. While you are going through it, I know it feels scary. I had no real desire to eat. Hang in there! I'm sure all will be fine but follow your surgeons guidelines!

My oringinal goal was 125, but my PCP suggested 135 because I'm 5'3" and 56 years old. I gave into 130 give or take a few pounds. I'm comfortable where I am and feel very healthy because of my new eating habits.

Where do you stop? Well that's a very personal choice.. And I know a hard one! BMI? A number on a chart.. Yet my "goal" is based on that flipping number.
I go back and forth too. Am I putting to much pressure on myself and my body to meet this number?? Am I aiming to high? For the stars?
Or worse than that...OMG am I getting LAZY or complacent and thinking eh this is good enough?? I'm good here at this number why try and go lower...
I'm healthy now I'm happy (not deliriously but it's life right ) and can move about life with ease...
So this flipping number??
**** as I'm writing this I realize I have nothing to add to help you so let's blog away!!
I'm 5'4 also..

I commented about 3 months ago.
Hw 343
Sw 320
Cw 218
I want to go down 60 its starting yo get harder to lose the weight...

Exactly 9 months ago I weighed 100 lbs more than I do today!!!!
It has not always been easy, but SO WORTH IT!!!
HW 1/28/13 340lbs
SW 6/25/13 295lbs
CW 9/28/13 240lbs
 

5 months out!
HW: 313
SW: 273
CW: 203
Woot woot!!!!!!!!

Sleeved April 29
Highest Weight: 297
Surgery date weight: 279
Current weight: 193
Weight lost post surgery: 86 pounds
Total pounds lost 104 pounds

This morning, I'm going through security at the airport and the TSA agent looks at my license and looks at me, does a double take and says to me, "you lost some weight since this picture was taken, actually, a lot of weight" I was floored! I think that was the highest of the highs I have had since surgery! On top of that, yesterday I purged my closet yet one more time and I now own exactly 3 pairs of pants. 2 recently purchased size 10 jeans and a pair of yoga pants that are big but still stay up!
Is life great or what?????

Awesome!! How long did that take? I am really jealous.. You go girl!!

That is great.. I went from a 20 to a 12 I'm 4 mth out. And I cannt wait to get to the single digits.

My husband and I are going to California next weekend for his 50th Birthday. I went shopping yesterday because I have no jeans that fit me as we don't need them here in Texas in the summertime. I actually bought a size 8!!!! I can't believe it!! From a 22 to an 8!!! I'm SO loving my sleeve!

Pain meds and beef broth.< /p>

Well I don't know of I would consider this falling off the wagon.
What you did can be really dangerous.
In the beginning it's not about being on a diet for the sake of being on a diet to lose weight.
It's about giving your stomach time to heal.
3/4 of it was just cut out and then the remainder of it sewn back together. it is small swollen and fragile. You need to let that staple line heal.
I get the addiction to food thing, I do.
But now is not the time to make justifications as to why you needed to eat turkey.
If you must get nourishment do it with things that won't hurt you.
I wish you luck. And I would also suggest a counselor to help you with road to recovery..

Down exactly 65 pounds since April (47 since July 18 th surgery).
What I love most:
Ability to move my body again!
I am no longer the biggest girl in the room!
The way my shadow looks!
Taking stairs at work and not dying!
Fitting in my bath tub again!
Feeling sexy and getting wonderful compliments from hubby!
Going from size 26 to size 18!
And of course, SEX, SEX, SEX!
Best decision I have ever made...look forward to posting before and after pictures when I reach goal!

I am about to start my pre-op liquid diet on the 16th then surgery on Sept. 30th. I am nervous, excited, scared and feeling kinda stupid to all this Protein, carbs, etc. am I feel in' normal or am I nuts???

Big news today! I am officially at a "normal" BMI....yes, after 114 lbs. I have attained a BMI of 25. Oh happy, happy day!
Sent from my iPad using VST

I'm 50 and I have 50 days Til my surgery! Looking forward to the first 50 lbs coming off and hoping not to get wrinkles! Yeah 50 , woo hoo!!!

Hello all!!!
Well this "50 something" young woman in about 5 days will be "sleeved". (Sept 30th). I am excited, numb, scared, happy ... on and on and on....Tomorrow I start my clear liquid diet for 4 days .... actually its been "freeing" to have been on the full liquids for the passed 10 days however I really haven't lost that much. (5lbs). I thought it would be more since continually seeing others posting their loses of 20lbs in two weeks, disappointing but done the less .... plugging along and will NOT let this discourage me. I have not deviated once since starting my full liquids. Curious what everyone else did for their CLEAR LIQUID pre-op diet? :tongue2: