JuliannaJ

Just like a bandaid coming off, you could always put a little baby oil on a cotton ball and use it on the corner of the strip to loosen it up if you are taking them off yourself. Some people just have skin that the adhesive sticks to better than others. I have had some stick on for 10 days on myself. It should not be painful at all.

Try taking your acid reducer and see if it makes a difference...if not, call your Doc.

Ditch the white potatoes, white rice and bread. Instead do sweet potato, brown rice...and just skip the bread and pasta. What you do now will help you immensely once you are sleeved so if you start now you will see the scale move....low carb is the way to go!

On weeks 2 and 3, I only lost 3 lbs total....but it was a loss...and I personally feel the slower you lose, the more chance for your skin to bounce back and not be all saggy. This may not have any science behind it but that is just what I think....weighed myself today and was down 4 lbs so it is what it is...some people just lose faster than others.

Chocolate is yummy...mixed with skim milk.

Depends on genetics, how fast you lose, your collagen supply in your skin, how much weight you are going to lose, sun exposure on skin...there are a ton of things that affect skin and elasticity....no one can predict, it is different for everyone.

Glad makes 4 ounce containers...Walmart carries them for about 2.57 for 8 of them or buy in bulk here: http://www.amazon.com/GladWare-Round-4-Ounce-Containers-8-Count/dp/B000EGBLBM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360565910&sr=8-1&keywords=Glad+4+ounce I like them because they are microwaveable, freezer safe etc and are portion controlled. Biggest complaint though is they don't stack well because of the lid when in use...like you cannot stack one on top of the other.

A lot of it is head hunger, the psychological feeling of hunger versus the real physiological/physical hunger that comes from hormones and the brain/nervous system when your brain gets the signals of hunger.

But Downton Abbey is on...lol

Many people have that reaction as well as some initial doubts right after surgery but before you know it you will be asking why didn't I do this sooner?

You have to reteach yourself how to burp because most of your stomach muscle is gone now....I am still working on it. But moving around will help too.

I was told i could have the low acid low pulp one after clear liquids but diluted. Instead though, I am squeezing some orange into my water now to give it a nice taste.

Drink the fluids for the first week....you have protein stores in your body to cover you short term. Once you are advanced to full liquids, that is when you start your protein. My tummy is SUPER loud as well, the dog has barked at it! As far as the urine, just keep drinking your clear liquids.

OMG I went a few days after surgery and then almost 2 more weeks and had not gone again...had to do enemas and miralax...it was torture. Doc told me to take pericolace if needed now. I think that was why my weight loss was slow after the first week...cause I was so full of $h@!

Early on I felt hungry but now the feeling has lessened and maybe it was more of a head hunger at first. I definitely feel and hear more gurgling than pre-op and it could be mistaken for hunger. The protein shakes fill me up though...I use the GNC amplified wheybolic extreme 60 with skim milk...and be sure to avoid fluids about 30 minutes before and after a meal or else you will get hungry faster. I had the headache during the pre-op diet phase which is normal when you are consuming less carbs and your body is using fat as its energy source. I don't know when you had your surgery but I think it is getting easier in many ways.

Clean out the fridge....you would be surprised if you get rid of or replace the food that is in there, it may help. I LOVE chocolate...now I have the SF fudge Popsicles and they are delish! Also start cooking now as if you had the surgery....go online and do some of the weight watcher recipes (like Emily's bites) since the surgery is just one tool and you will need to make some dietary changes. Try to replace a meal with a whey protein shake (I like the chocolate powder from GNC mixed with skim milk....these are just a few things that may help you. Also even though you are self pay, do the seminars and support groups if offered...everyone is going through the same struggles for the most part.

Same way you dealt with it before. For me if married and in a relationship it is hands off. Besides I am and continue to be the same person so if you are now just going to pay attention to me because I lost some weight, then forget you...you should have gotten to know me before.

Happened to me...I had the hardest time following the pre-op diet...really struggled but post op is easier especially after the first week.

Mine slowed down cause I had some poo problems...in fact up until last weds I was up 2lbs and then my digestive system kicked in again and that helped.

What program is that? I like it!

I squeeze some orange into my water...gives it a little pizazz. I don't know about you but when I am sick, it takes me awhile to get back to eating especially after having the stomach bug. There are some great sites online for food like Emily bites that may appeal to you but even just some good old fashion Campbell's soup may taste good. As far as the calcium...is it a chewable? I am able to swallow pills so I do that, I did not like the chewables.

Be very careful and make sure you really think this all through. This is a major surgery with major changes and just one tool in an arsenal of tools you will need to have. Please make sure you truly exhaust all other options and make an informed decision of what is best for you. I wish you luck!

Mashed / puréed sweet potatoes are better than white potatoes

Nah it takes more than that for them to come out...like repeated vomiting or so I have been told

I had a food funeral before I got sleeved because I thought I would miss some foods as well but really most people CAN eat all foods just in much smaller portions after you are healed. For now use this time to practice what you will need to do...like finding a Protein shake you can drink (some taste yucky), chewing your food, eating slower, not drinking during a meal etc. Before you know it, it will be your time!