carolyn24seven

I cannot drink isopuke. horrible after taste. If that was what it took to loose weight I would still be fat. I tried adding grape juice to it just to use up the 4 little bottles I bought. ICK. Sorry if you had to buy alot. Try Myoplex by EAS I get it at the supermarket (vons) Chocolate . I am going to try the vanilla soon. I tried the Myoplex lite and did not like it. Just my experiences so far.

Good idea about the protein before bed. I am going to do that. Thanks!

Oh DeeDee you are so wonderful! I just love your smile. You would think everyone would notice the body first~~~~but, to me the smile says it all. You are a happy healthy young woman. Congratulations to you and continued sucess through out your life. I too hope you keep posting.

How come no one has posted this first monday after Christmas???? Hummmmm? Could it be no one wants to admit and up in the scale??? Well ya all, I get to post waaaay differently. But, I will be brutally honest. THe day after Christmas I got the flu. the WORST flu ever. I had my two little grands with me and my poor husband had to get them breakfast and CHANGE A DIAPER. The man has not changed a diaper in 40 years. Luck was with him it was not poopy. I meanwhile was piling the bathroom rugs any towels I touched and numerous underwear into the tub to be washed when and if I recovered. (I did) Honestly that was just the worst bout of flu in the entire space of time. I did however loose. Yes I did. 5.5Lbs, from Friday to Monday. I am back on clear liquids and got a bit of myoplex (protein) to stay down and in! so far so good. God my stomach is sore! Hubby had the flu shot so he will probably be ok. I did not as it was right at the time I was being sleeved. I will NOT miss my flu shot in the future. UGH! so, that is where I am, how are the rest of ya doing? Come on we talk about the good and the bad so fess up.

gingin: good catch. I did not even think of that. I was just so shocked at the picture! Funny lady. I gotta get a picture posted, mine would be Kathy Bates.hahahahaha anyway thanks for the heads up. so gullible here. sigh

I bought a pair of size 16 from Costco yesterday. only 15 bucks. Brown strech jeans. I have only 3 pair of pants that fit now. Black Grey and now Brown. I had to get more than one pair. Every thing I had was size 20 and up. I have to say, It was REALLY hard for me to buy a 16 off the shelve. No trying on. I still cannot believe I am down to a 16. Oct 1 I was a 22. All my tops are hanging off me too. I have bought a few tops 14/16 and XL . THey fit! God, I am having such a hard time getting this in my mind. I wanted to wait until I was a size 10 to buy clothes, but, I now know that is impossible. So, I have opted for the cheap clothes route until I hit the size 10. Oh man I love having this problem.

Hi, I make myself drink some chocolate fudge Myoplex (3 oz) BEFORE I indulge in a snacky treat. It usually kills the head hunger. I have had a few mixed nuts, but, I thought thoes were good for me. hahhaaha. not having any trouble with cakes etc. I generally have one bite and am done. I have been re-packing everything large that comes in and giving it to neighbors and friends. That way tempting stuff does not stay around too long. I also am trying to get one fruit a day down. I can only eat 1/2 a small bannana. I working on it. Sheeze!

MGambino: after only 9 weeks and you look like that? WoW you should be the poster child for VSG. LOL Please tell us that is a picture from a long dam time ago, that you are trying to get back to looking like. huge sigh. anyway, drink a small amount of what ever you want and if it tases/feels good count the calories and get on with it. I used to drink beer too, and still buy it for Hubby. I don't miss it though. I had some champgne punch at a party last night. No problems. I do not believe alcohol per se is a problem with the sleeve its self. I think the problem is the usless calories. And, the fact of staying hydrated. Alcohol will leave you quite de-hydrated. You need to protect your sleeve for awhile yet. I am really watching it until I get my lab work done Jan 15. Be cautious.

Hang in there Haley. You are getting better. Just take it slowley. Drink your peotein and try not to worry. Let the past be just that, past. Think about your wonderful new future. What do you want to do when the weight comes off? Have any goals?

WannaBe: You are THE most positive person. I predict one year from now you will be our next "Tiffykins". Grins and giggles!

Welcome to the VST board. God I hope we can make your journey easier than your last one. I opted not to do the band when I was researching WLS about 4 years ago. For all the things that happened to you. I am sooooo sorry you had to go thru all that. This sleeve is so darn simple when you think about it. I am having such great sucess with it. I have already had my gall bladder out from the weight loss in 2004. So, I have NO pain and it is easy now eating well and OMG I love my life. I am down 42 lbs since surgery and I have a ton of energy. Loving my sleeve more each day. It takes over when I slip up. (eating) I sure hope you get approved for this and can become a sleeve sister on the loosers bench. We welcome you with open arms. (flapping a bit still, but, not for long as I am exercizing them like crazy) (((((((((hugs)))))))))

Chancie: I am right there with you on the 26th. I know exactly what you mean. I believe in the sleeve as a tool, so, maybe it needs to work on its own for a couple of weeks. We can be work~out buddies, tell me when you go to the gym and I will go then too. we can compare routines. Bet you are so far ahead of me I will really have to sweat to catch up! Hang in there until the 26th!!!

Yeaaaa Chancie! Isn't it great to see the scale go down even though we aren't really "working"our tool? Mine went down that one silly pound and you would have thought I won the lottery. lol we will get through Christmas, and then back to workin the tool. R I I I G H T!!!

Ash, that is G R E A T!!!!! Come to the Monday morning weigh ins thread. I love it there. I have stopped weighing myself 4 and 5 times a day finally. Now if I can just get to only once a week on Mondays I will be happy. Workin on it.

Yeah Katrina! I hope you get an answer/date for Christmas. Keep us posted.

Wis. Gal:Yup, perfectly normal. I got so frustrated having to re-heat everything. Just put a shot glass full of liquid in a cup and heat it and then you can finish it before it gets cold. Then repeat until you have your 1/4 cup done. Your new tummy is SMALL and healing from a major wound. Give it lots of time to adjust. Enjoy this part. Lots of new stuff coming. Gotta enjoy each stage of your journey. Chancie: Can you go back to basics: More protein drinks at a regular interval? Eat one meal a day, drink 2? I saw this recently: Breakfast like a Queen, (think Queen size) Lunch like a Princess, and Dinner like a Pauper. You did not talk about exercise. Come on Chancie, you are one of my hero's here. You and Tiffy are the only Long termers still posting regularly. Please do not let work take over your life. I loved the story about going shopping with your friend and her being bigger than you. NSV for sure. Look for thoes moments. You deserve them and many many more. Work that tool girl.

WOW! Tiffy seeing the picture full size is a huge difference! you have come sooooo far! God bless you and your great big heart. There is only one thing left on your outside that could be called big.~~~~~~~~~~ Your Great Big Ole "cat ate the canary" GRIN! Don't you dare loose that! CONGRATULATIONS

Kermit: I am praying for you today (monday) When you read this you will be on the Loosers side! Yeaaah! You will not be able to excersize for 6 weeks. Just walk. NO lifting any thing over 7 lbs unless it is your kidlett. This is major surgery. You must let your tummy heal. Staple line settle etc. After the 6 weeks, you must start slowly. Do 5 min at a time. take a 1 to 2 min. break/rest between exercizes. and No weights to start. If you can afford it, get a trainer with experience in recovery training. BE PATIENT. Give yourself Lots of time to recover from the surgery. You need your strength to go about your normal day. Do not waste it at the gym. Do not worry about calories until week 3. You need to get all the liquids down you can the first two weeks. Then come back to here and we will help you transition to week three. Your dietician did not mention calories because you need to constantly sip sip sip. water protein soup tea popcycles. I wish I had had a dietition! Oh well I had VST. All my sleeve sisters here answered all my questions. Post soon! God speed.

Steph123 and DeeDee: WTG! I am sooooo envious. I amat 211 today, so a whopping one pound loss from last week. Hey, I'll take it! Seriously, Christmas parties, lots of visitors from out of town staying with us. Upset my entire routine. I would not have it any other way. I know I have my "tool" for the rest of my life. So, I am relaxed and peaceful not stressed out and fearful of getting "off track" a bit durning these holidays. I have made an appt. with a trainer for Jan 2. I did not go back to the water class. Just upped the level of my bike riding. Staying at 30 min. Knees are good still. No snow for me to shovel. Great for you DeeDee!

I had a few sips of wine at Thanksgiving. Only 6 weeks post op. Did not like it. Ray finished it for me. I did not realize wine would be an issue. Maybe that sounds silly, but Wine is grapes to me. HA . More recently, I had a cocktail at a Christmas party. It was 1/2 oz of apple vodka with cranberry juice and sparkling water. I was fine (did not finish it though) I just enjoyed myself and I was fine. No burning, no uncomfortable feelings at all. I drank a protein drink before we went to the party. It was not a dinner, just a party with all the snacky foods you could imagine. I chose: cheese, grapes, shrimp, and two crackers covered with something?good. I had one bite of a decadent brownie and one bite of home made sinful fudge some one brought. Ray ate the rest. He is so good to clean up after me. He just waits until I have made my choices and then gets something else if I did not choose what he wanted. Too funny. Had a great time and I am down 1 lb. on today's (monday) weigh in. (weekly) Tiffy: did you loose or gain for the week after the party?

Can you up the exercize a bit? Do you have energy? Gosh, I am sorry you are having to go thru this. But, you will loose. Do not give up. Maybe you are going to be that one tough case. But you will still loose. It is just going to be more frustrating for you. Sorry again.

good for you Tracy! Other than feeling exhausted, I hope all goes smoothly for you. Rest peacefully angel sister. Welcome to the loosers bench!

thanks for posting thoes reports. I bought zone perfect bars from Costco, they are OK but I am going to try the Bariwise now, from your recommedations. Thanks again for this post!