Izuri

I feel like you're doing yourself and your sleeve a disservice by not measuring a correct portion. I get that you may want to feel restriction to understand that it's there, but I don't understand continuing to eat when you know that it is likely too much. The goal is not to eat until you're full, it's to eat a correct portion. Do you have a food scale? I have a cup that's about 6 oz, and I weigh everything before eating it. Anyway, I'm not trying to chastise you, but I don't want you to keep overeating and accidentally hurt yourself or go a few bites too far and actually get sick. Neither of those situations is any fun. Plus, I think you'll end up feeling more restriction on solid foods. From what I've read, people feel best restriction on dense Protein.

What an inspiration! Only 6 pounds away from 100 - it's coming up soon!! I love your blue shirt - where is it from?

Are you on a PPI for acid? If not, maybe consider talking to your doctor about it. Sometimes I can eat quite a bit, sometimes I get full with a couple bites, just how it goes.

31 pounds - you are doing awesome! Are you noticing differences in your clothes? And you are in onederland! Has it been a while since you've seen those numbers? Man, I can't wait to. I know you're having a really hard time, and it sounds simply like it's awful right now. Have you tried many different types of shakes? Drinking faster/slower? Are you getting in Water? When I start getting low blood sugar I start feeling nauseous about eating. Are you getting enough in? I'm sure it's tough with the nausea. Are you prescribed anything for nausea? Maybe your doctor can send you in a script for something. I agree with others that maybe you should get your blood work checked. Also, are you on a PPI? I'm not sure if acid can cause nausea, but it seems like it's possible. I admit, even 5 weeks out I'm freaking exhausted often. I am getting all my Protein, water, etc, and I feel simply beat at the end of the day. But I try and remind myself that I will have energy once I am further out, eating more, and healthier. There was a time when I was stuck on my 3 week stall that I started to regret it, but now that I'm losing again, it was totally worth it. Most of all, you rock. You are strong for getting this surgery and for going through these hard times and when you come out on the other side you will be so proud saying to yourself "I MADE IT" So keep up the great work, see if you can get something for nausea, and hang in there.

I'm so sorry for what you're going through. I can't imagine how painful some of her words were. I think you've gotten some really great advice in this thread, and that one way or another, you need to move to action to get her some help before she decides to hurt herself or others. I really do believe that if your husband cannot get her to the hospital that she needs some kind of mental health intervention, possibly by the police. Or does she have any extended family member that lives close that she trusts? Maybe they or one of her close friends could help? (((((HUGS))))) I hope that she gets the help she needs and you guys can resume being a happy family.

You aren't alone. I have been having a rocky time too. Lately it's been more good than bad, but I had a couple really depressing weeks there for a bit. I am certain a fair amount of it (if not the majority of it) is hormones. You are probably having the same issue. When I saw my psychiatrist last month she said she had no problem going up on my mood stabilizer for a while until I was ready to come back down. I know if I go through another rocky period like that I'll be taking her up on her offer. If you need someone to chat with or even just to vent to, you are more than welcome to message me. I'm always looking to make new friends. Most of all - don't give up! It will get better. Belinda - sometimes our bodies are just downright mean, aren't they? =p All those IV fluids have got your retaining tons of water it sounds like. I just wanted to second what everyone else said - it will come off. Your body is just being goofy. As hard as it is, it's best to try your best not to compare yourself to others. I know, I'm totally guilty of it too - but it just gets us down and there's nothing we can do about how our body loses aside from following the plan. It sounds like you are doing great, and I can't wait to hear about the pounds starting to fall off soon for you =)

I had this issue for the first week or two post-op. Hang in there, it gets better!!

Make a list of why you're doing this. Put it anywhere you have access to food so that you are forced to see it before you make a bad choice. You can do this! When you get through it you will be looking back and be so proud of yourself.

Depends on your doctor/your health. My doctor never mentioned any issue with laproscopic and my BMI was over 50. Starting weight: 325 Starting BMI: 53.3 Laproscopic went great.

Great job!!! I bet the difference is night and day.

Yay!! It will be here so soon! =) You will do great getting off those 15lbs. Looking forward to welcoming you to the loser's bench soon.

Mine still happens too. I'm 5 weeks out. It doesn't really bother me too much and if someone does hear it I just laugh and play it off like oh geez there it goes again!

I am sorry you're feeling so awful. I would be pissed if my sister did that to me. I don't have a sister, but I imagine I'd give myself a little break from her negative energy for a bit while I am getting myself back on my feet mentally. I know what you mean about people treating you differently. I swear I have the superpower of invisibility most of the time. People look through me usually unless on the random occasion that they're saying something rude. I look forward to this eventually changing, but at the same time I wonder if I will feel any resentment. I hope by that point I will have mentally worked through that a little better. But you are worth the time for people to talk to and get to know! You have to try and remember, that it's their loss, not yours. Have you talked to your husband about how you're feeling? Is he supportive of the surgery? It's a totally personal decision, but I would pull the friend aside and have a heart to heart about how she treats you and how it makes you feel. If she doesn't change then she's not really a true friend. What's the point in having a friend that just pushes you even more down in the dumps? That's just my opinion though - and maybe part of why I don't have all that many close friends =p I'd rather be alone than in bad company. Maybe make a calendar of when the surgery is and start crossing off days. 10 months will come sooner than you know it - I know, I know, everyone says that, but think of the past year....It flew by for me. And every day you get closer to the surgery is a victory for you. You are one day closer to making the change you need in your life. In the mean time, make some changes that make you feel good. Make a point to get your nails done once a month or style your hair a new way. Try and start doing a pre-op diet and working out. Losing some pre-op will probably help your confidence and at the same time will decrease your surgical risks. Maybe get involved in the community if you have free time. Take up a hobby. Try new recipes - become the master of post-op recipes so you're totally prepared once you hit post-op. Anyway, I'm really sorry that you're feeling awful. We all know how heavy obesity ends up weighing on our hearts and our minds. It's a dreadful thing, but even if those people at the store don't see you, we see you. You are worth our time, and we know that you are worth the time to feel better about yourself. It may not be the same person posting to your thread each time, but collectively, we're here for you =) I hope that you feel better and that you take the time to see yourself how we see you - as a great person stuck in a body that just doesn't want to cooperate.

It's possible that on the forums there are less complications for men because there are just a smaller number of male posters. We have a decent number, but I am pretty sure we have a far larger female population (at least from what I've seen). I know when I was looking up side effects I googled free medical journals and looked through what I could find as far as complications/side effects and found quite a few articles on it, so you might have some luck there too. I'm not sure about actual complication rates. My doctor told me leak is about 1% I know he told me some of the other rates, but I can't remember off the top of my head.

I think you're completely right, but I also think that your family is probably scared/caring about you in a way that comes out annoying. I know when I was younger and on diets whenever I would eat something bad my mom would ask me if I should be eating it. She would also comment on portion size, types of food, sitting around too much, etc. It drove me nuts, and we would fight about it sometimes. Now that I'm older, I know that although she didn't go about it a way that would get through to me well, that she really did care and was concerned. Since I've gotten the sleeve she has been incredibly supportive and rather than critique my food (Which she couldn't really do anyway since I'm eating really healthy) she will try and prepare foods that I can eat that have a lot of taste. I much prefer this to the old style =) But I digress from the point, and that's that your family is being harsh, and probably not realizing how harsh it really is. I would try and brush it off - it was your 21st birthday and it sounds like you didn't go overboard or anything. If it keeps bothering you maybe sit them down and really tell them how you feel. That you wanna be successful and you're not planning on downing a kegger by yourself, but you also were allowed and able to enjoy a glass or two of alcohol while still being a responsible sleever.

Yes, but I guess I've always had strange dreams. They just now are more likely to center around food topics =p I had a dream the other night about going to the grocery store and rationalizing how I could have this crazy awesome ice cream sandwich w/grasshopper pie (mint+oreo) and caramel. I was like "Sure! This could fit into my plan!" Woke up craving ice cream =p

Inspiration for sure!! Wow! What a difference =) Congratulations!!

After reading the damn u ambien thread I googled 'crazy ambien stories' and it is ridiculous how many people have had these types of problems with ambien. After reading through some of the scary things people have done I will never, ever take this medication. I'm glad your husband was there to stop you.

If you need a last meal - just go ahead and have it. My timing was kinda crazy, so I couldn't really get in a last meal and the first couple week post-op I felt like I'd cheated myself outta one. I don't feel like it anymore, but it just would have made the first couple weeks easier. Just make sure it doesn't turn into multiple last meals - which it doesn't sound like it will since you're doing awesome.

I'm so sorry to hear about your husband, I know that you posted the other day that you guys were having troubles and it really seems like he's solidified himself as a jerk. But you are eventually gonna move on and when you do you're gonna be healthier and happier. At least you are learning his true colors now while your'e young, rather than even more years down the road. From what I've read it does sound like stress can be related to weight gain, just hormone wise: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=53304 Your body is probably also in freaking out starvation mode. Not eating makes your body wanna retain everything. Even though you don't wanna you really need to make sure you're keeping up on your intake. I have had such a crazy hormone ride since this surgery. I had my period twice the first month and spotting at least a day both of weeks I didn't have my period. So what you're having is normal, and should stop eventually. I'm sure it's not helping much with the mood either. Do you have close family members/friends that can help support you in his absence? ((((HUGS)))))

Cute picture - you look great! You can really tell the difference, and I bet you're feeling it in your clothes. Keep up the awesome work.

You have been doing awesome! You can see a lot of difference. It's neat that your wife has been working out and eating well along side you, definitely makes her your best support - plus she is probably feeling great having lost weight too!

I FINALLY broke my stall. Over the past week or so I have gotten down to 291.6 (new scale weighed me lower, and now even the weight it had me at has gone down!). Puts me at -33.4!

I think it is so neat that your boss challenged you guys to quit. What an awesome boss. You should be proud of yourself for quitting - it's hard! Without having any idea what your diet is at it's hard to offer any thoughts, but I did post on another thread earlier tonight about what I've read on stalls and maybe some of the ideas would help? http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/50739-just-make-me-feel-better/ It helps me to log my food on MyFitnessPal and look at other diaries to get an idea of where I am in comparison to people who are out from surgery around the same time as me. I am not as far out as you, but I have read posts from people further out and some said that they stalled and then looked closely at their diet and realized they had let some things creep back in. Is it possible that's part of it? It's easy to let the little things slide when we're having a tough time - I have done that too many times when trying to lose weight. Is it possible that you might be supplementing not smoking with food? I did that when I quit and gained quite a bit. But whatever you do - don't give up! Even if it means going back to basics, you can do this. Have you talked to your NUT and/or your surgeon? Maybe they can offer some more specific advice after seeing how you're doing.

Ooooo - please let me know if you try this! =) I don't have the ingredients on hand because I don't enjoy chocolate Protein drinks that much, but I would definitely pick some up if I could have a relatively healthy protein filled treat.