Minckle

My NUT told me last week that it was better to get protein from food, but that I would need to ease into it. I can't see how there would have been any other way to do it! I'm still doing a protein shake when I first wake up just to make sure I'm set for the day. You're right - you just get too full at first.

Three weeks seems crazy to me! I was driving as soon as I was off my meds - about Day 6, I believe. Just short distances, though, like to my daughter's school. It was a few more days before I felt totally okay for longer drives.

Day 23 was complete magic for me. I woke up and felt completely normal - no pain, regular energy levels. I thought about turning a cartwheel.

Alcohol use is exactly why Carnie Wilson re-gained her weight after her bypass. She was supposedly up to 10 mimosas a day! You've taken a brave step by admitting it on here. I know you don't want to waste all your pain and hard work. We are here for you whenever you feel the temptation!

How far out are you? Week 3, I had nerve pain where it felt like it was ripping and on fire. Especially when I sneezed or coughed. Unfortunately, that's pretty normal. Wearing an abdominal brace for a few days and massaging around the area really, really, really helped me.

My doctor's scale is always off a bit, according to the PA. She told me to go by the one at home.

Beans are great! Bread is great as long as it's toasted. Rice, my NUT said should wait until Week 8.

That's pretty normal. That's the incision they usually pull the stomach out of, so everything gets extra-stretched. Make sure you're not lifting heavy things, etc. I thought the pain would never go away and then one day realized it was completely gone!

I did that for a while, then ran out of steam. I nearly OD'd on soda and beer! But the foods you love... you aren't saying goodbye to them forever, just temporarily. Keep that in mind. And that you'll have to lose every pound you gain now!

It's certainly possible that you will be the one person to eat less than 800 calories a day and NOT lose weight... but I really doubt it!!! Stalls are normal - keep the faith!

Could be surgery related, too, I suppose. Some gals have said that it was just a few weeks, some say it comes and goes. Most people agree that *we* can smell it much more than anyone else around us. Which is a HUGE relief!

My PA told me it's just hormones. The 100 degree weather doesn't help either.

I remember being so excited when I could have my favorite broccoli cheese soup. But when I brought it home and pureed it, all I could taste was worchestershire sauce! My favorite soup was disgusting! Now, it's yummy again. It will pass.

Delicious! It's available on Amazon for $5 and free shipping if you add it on to another order. Great stuff.

Hormones! Totally normal - don't be embarassed. Some gals have recommended using anti-bacterial soap, hand gel or antiperspirant to help.

Are you keeping measurements? If you're working out, I bet that your body is changing even if the scale isn't. I'm amazed by how much I can lose in my thighs, for example, while my waist and scale stay the same.

Yes! And hungry two hours later? Very normal.

25 pounds. Woot!

Holy goodness! I am impressed with your cooking skills!!

What stage are you on? It's certainly not low cal or low carb, though.....

You guys are so awesome. Believe me, I'd give this a 1 in 10 chance of working out -- I'm not a doormat. He's apologized for what he said and what he did, but the lack of respect and the lies are just not okay with me. I've never considered myself someone with self-esteem issues, so I wish I could say I should have read the signs and realized what a selfish ass he was capable of being... But I'm shocked and our friends and family are absolutely floored by his behavior. Even his guy friends are on my side. I've kicked him out already and have told him that the burden to resolve my trust issues are on him. He's playing nice for now, but if I had to write down my reasons for staying versus my reasons for leaving, one side would be MUCH longer than the other. Can you guess which side? I don't believe in staying married just for our daughter's sake, but I do want to know that I can tell her years from now that I gave him a chance, even if he didn't deserve one. PDXMan, that article was fantastic and totally verified some things I'd been hypothesizing. Thanks for sharing it!

Onederland is amazing! I cried when I saw that 1. What year was it that you last weighed in the ones? For me, it was 1999 and my weight was 195. I remember how fat I felt back then and how over the past 13 years I've longed to be that "fat" again. Congratulations!!

Ask your hairdresser - there are so many different types of color out there. My hairdresser changed the type of dye she uses when I told her I was worried about hair loss. Now she uses more of a gloss that leaves my hair very healthy. My hair loss is minimal.

Almost everyone goes through a period of "buyers remorse". Believe me, this will pass! A week out is rough, but you will feel a little better every day. I promise.

Me, too. I had almost no gas pain.