circa

Yes, those pictures are from before I was sick. I was a size 8.

I haven't done much shopping lately - I kept my clothes on the way up - it wasn't all that long ago (5 years since i got sick, 4 since I put on the weight) so most things that are basics are still relevant. I did go buy a couple of shirts and a jacket at Kohls which was no big deal - I knew what size i needed and grabbed them and left.

I'm in my 4th week post-op. Following my doctor's diet to a T.

I've always been a healthy eater for the most part. After I got sick, I was too tired to cook - too tired to do anything really so I became a fast food eater - and it definitely wasn't always a healthy choice. What I've been able to do is revert back to being the healthy eater I always was. Being that I'm only about a month out, there's not all that much that has changed with outer areas of my life. I do feel more energy - my thyroid is showing signs of functioning again. The ghrelin was fuelling the steroid secreting tumors on my adrenal glands and those are pretty much inactive now. I'm not fighting the uphill battle against steroids now, which is probably the biggest victory of all for me.

What I do know is, that as the weight comes off, I become more and more of myself. I feel a little more "ME" each day. I get more active, I have more energy. I get less frustrated with things that still aren't possible to do yet, because I know there's that light at the end of the tunnel. I will be running marathons. I will be hiking up Pike's Peak. I will be doing 10 mile backpacking/camping trips again. I will be hunting and fishing and all that good stuff. The biggest change in my life has been the knowledge that I know i'm not going to be ill for the rest of my life.

You're doing great! You recognize the head hunger and you're dealing with it! The great thing is, you can have this stuff - you just have to make wise choices with it. A meaty pizza and toss the crust. mongolian style chinese food or make it yourself. Everything is accessable, you just have to make it work for you. Stir fry with chicken with the sauce on the side. Congrats on your progress so far!

yeah no kidding - and not even sleeve related really - I mean it was just bizarre. I hate those sneak-attack sneezes!

Everyone recovers differently, either due to pain tolerance, complications, desire, or a combination of them. I was full of energy on day 4. Haven't stopped since.

Haha yeah I'm sure! Just happened to keep the part of my tummy that likes me

are you feeling physically hungry or are you just craving everything?

and it might be a bit early to be eating chips, especially if you're supposed to still be liquid would hate for you to have a complication!

You are absolutely amazing!

I grew up on wild game - pretty much exclusively, until we started raising cattle.

I can't wait to get back to it

Yeah - my family grows its own beef - I'm used to the good stuff

I can't wait to actually have some venison tenderloin. That's what I'm truly craving

awesome! Glad you enjoyed your little indulgence! Its so awesome to not feel like ya need to eat the mess out of a whole ton of crap food to feel satisfied

...and you ate half a cupcake!

Was it yummy?

There ain't nothin wrong with eating half a cupcake! - well unless it was gross. If it was gross then that's not good.

Here's the thing - this surgery was for you - it was for your health - the cosmetic benefits are just extra. If he likes you now, he should like you later. Its on the inside that counts - and now's your chance to find out if that's true for this guy

I think at this point, it was just love. They can't possibly understand your train of thought and focus - they're not there.

I think if they continue to do it after you have asked them not to and given them a valid reason, then it might be sabotage.

There can be a happy medium with "sweets" - its just a matter of making them differently - using agave or stevia for sweetner, using black beans in brownies instead of so much flour. However, YOU have to be ready for that. You're not depriving them of these items - they can go anywhere and have them at any time

You may have stalled, its normal while your body figures things out. I'm at that point. I pulled my yoga pants out of the dryer and put them on and they were TIGHT. Then I noticed that my hubby dried them on high heat - they shrunk a little haha.

went down easy, but couldn't eat much - VERY filling!

I cleaned everything and butterflied it - Its not as bad as it sounds Wouldn't have even known if i hadn't looked

I did use a protein drink - one a day and that's it.

First week I didn't, but the first week out is really not something to worry too much about.

I have liquid vitamins, just haven't started taking them yet. I bought them at costco.

yup. I was. I've had such a pain free, easy recovery. I'm just so blessed!

Can't wait till incisions are fully healed. I miss my hot tub!

protein shakes help and I found the progresso soups -especially in full liquid stage are great - they actually have quite a bit of protein - I just pureed them and was good to go I was honestly surprised that I was meeting my protein for the day. I get about 80 grams a day. Kinda shocked me.

Yogurt

Higher Protein Soups add a little shredded cheese too and let it melt then puree

Protein Drinks

It starts to add up

I know right?! This drove me CRAZY! It was all I could do to not stand up and say "gee, I wonder how in the hell you got here! Maybe it was that dozen cookies you ate day after day!"

good luck! There's plenty of room on the losers bench! Things are so much different on the other side - while the diet is pretty much the same for the first week post op, its actually quite satisfying because you're not really hungry. What hunger you do have, the broth completely takes care of. Good luck and let us know how it all goes!

I'm still in full liquids and everything goes through a straw

@dorrie - do you have an allergy to medical tape glue? Sounds like you might!

I had a couple areas that the tape pinched the skin and I got a couple of superficial blisters and those are healing and that's what REALLY itched. Everything's good now. If that's my biggest "complication" throughout all this....I'll take it!

awesome! keep us up to date! Each day you'll notice the fatigue lessen!

I had my surgery the same day and as long as I get my liquids in and consume some calories, I feel GREAT! I didn't have ANY fatigue today at all