Shanny

I don't have gas that way. However, some days I burp... a lot. Mainly when I drink too fast. Other days, I can't burp at all. I think all in all I'm more gassy than I was pre-op, or maybe I just notice it more. No one has told me I was stinky though.

Yes, I track them on My Fitness Pal. When I do eat "food" I can't finish it. I have to force down 3.5 ounces. Plus, when I exercise I'm burning off the little bit of calories I did consume.

We don't have Kroger in Baltimore. I'm going to look up what other chains they have to see where I can find that. Thanks for the tip!

Explain to her that you have to do this for you so that you can be there for her and your daughter in the long run. You want to make a change for your health and for the betterment of your family. Yes, surgery is scary, but so is dying from a heart attack, or having diabetes or 100 other problems that being overweight cause. Hopefully, she'll get on board. Once you do it, if you decide to do it, and she sees your progress, maybe she'll decide to do something too. It's a hard road, but it's definitely the best decision I've ever made. Even if she doesn't support you, you've always got us! Good luck!

So today I went for my 1 month post op appointment. My doctor says I'm doing great. I'm pissed because I haven't lost any weight this week. I haven't gained any either, so that's a good sign. He's concerned because I'm only averaging about 450-500 calories a day. I just can't eat that much. I've been scared to try food too much, still holding strong to puree because I'm afraid to stretch my sleeve. He wants me to get at least 750-800 calories and to start trying to eat real food. Do you have any suggestions of what I can eat? Right now my diet is all Protein, except my 1 yogurt a day. I have 1 Protein shake in the morning, 1 yogurt as a mid morning snack, some sort of meat or fish for lunch (chicken in a can or tuna), 1/2 Protein Bar in the afternoon, and Soup for dinner. I still can only eat about 3.5-4 oz at a time, so I don't see where I can fit more calories in. He said I could increase my carbs, but I know myself and that's not a good idea. Knowing me that'll be an excuse to eat Pasta and everything else I'm not supposed to have. Don't see how I'm supposed to do it with what I'm eating and all the drinking of Water. There aren't enough hours in the day. Just looking for suggestions.

Thanks. I'll give the Greek yogurt a try, and try to add something else in it. I don't like fruit in my yogurt, that's why I usually get the kind that tastes like deserts. Not a big fan of any kind of fruit. Maybe I'll put some Crystal Light or some Unjury Strawberry in it and see what it tastes like.

Danon Light & Fit or something like that it's called. All I know is it makes me hungry.

Good luck on your surgery! Congrats on the 30 pound loss!

I usually have 1 yogurt a day as a my snack. The goal is to keep me from starving in between meals. I don't know what it is, but whenever I eat yogurt, I am STARVING about an hour after I eat it. I wasn't this hungry before I had it. The sad thing is, I can't eat for another hour. This is the only time that I can't wait to eat, is after I have yogurt. I don't get hungry like this any other time of the day. And it doesn't matter when I eat it. I guess it just passes right through me or something.

No, I've never been to that site. I'll check them out! Thanks!

I know I didn't take the easy way out. I failed at every diet I've ever been on. I was always able to lose 20-25 pounds then nothing. And when I gained it back, it was 30-35 more. I even did the Phen-Phen. I made myself vomit. I did Weight Watchers and laxatives...nothing I did worked. Part of my depression was how discouraged I was because I couldn't keep the weight off. But this time I'm doing it with the supervision of my doctor, a nutrionist, and a therapist. I feel like I have a chance at success here! I did something drastic because something drastic had to be done. I know that I mutilated my stomach in order to save my life. There's no way I can go back now. If I do, it'll be kicking and screaming. I'm fighting this disease of obesity with everything I have, and this time I'm going to win!

So, in 2 days it'll be 1 month since my surgery. Not only am I down 45 pounds, but I found out that I'm also down 2 pants sizes! Woot! I had to go shopping to go back to work because none of my pants fit. I'm officially a size 20 petite. Granted, I could get the 18s on, but they rested right on my incision and it was a little uncomfortable. The 20s gave me a little more room in the waist so I can hike them up or pull them down so they don't rest on my scar. I'll be in an 18 in no time. It's still not easy finding a 20 petite. I guess it won't get easy until I'm out of the Plus sizes to find something for short people. But, I'm so happy I'm not in a 24 anymore! For all the hell I've been through the first 3 weeks with this sleeve I'm seeing the pay off!

In the morning when I weigh myself, I'm 202 lbs. At night, I'm 206. I am only eating 2 meals a day, and a protein drink, and 1 snack which is usually yogurt - all protein. I'm only averaging about 500-600 calories, so why the dramatic weight difference. Am I doing something wrong?

I think it's the Fiber since it doesn't interfere with blood sugar. I think that's how they get the net carbs.

I like the Atkins Advantage Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar. It's got 19 grams of protein and only 2 net carbs. They're pretty tasty and aren't too sweet! They have other flavores but the peanut butter has the highest protein.

I've been at my job for 6 years. It's a small place with about 60 employees and we're all pretty close. I fit in and I have a ton of friends here. Only 4 of them knew that I was out for surgery. I've always hid behind my weight. It was my shell, my protection. It helped make me invisible and play the background. Well, now that it's rapidly melting away, I don't know if I like all the attention. Everyone keeps telling me how good I look and I'm so embarrassed. People are stopping me in the hall and complimenting me. I should be living it up, right? WRONG! I feel...exposed. I didn't want to be invisible anymore, I just dont' know if I want to be visible yet - or this fast. I still look like the same person to me. My clothes don't fit, my scale and my coworkers says I've lost a lot of weight, so I guess I have, but I still feel like the shy, girl trying desperately to hide behind my fat so no one would notice me. Why is it that I never have therapy on the days that I having a crisis?

I've been on Pristiq for 3 years. I also take Topamax at night. When I had my surgery I was switched to Xanax and Topamax in the hospital because it could be crushed. When I came home I was able to resume taking the Pristiq and Topamax. It was only for 3 days so I didn't have any side effects. Hopefully that'll work for you, too! Good luck!

I'm now on the soft food part of my diet, and I was wondering if bread counts as soft foods. I want a taste of bread so bad. It can be wheat bread or whole grain for all I care. I know white bread is out. That's so sad. Just wondering when you started eating bread, if at.

I had my surgery 3 weeks ago. My surgeon had me on Clear Liquids for one week, then full liquids for a week, then puree for 10 days, now soft foods for 2 weeks and then slowly introducing solid foods after puree. NO carbonated drinks for 1 year, no tomatoes for 4 months and no raw veggies (salads) for 2 months. It's pretty strick, and I've tried to push the envelope a little. Jumping the gun gaveme horrible indigestion and push me back to full liquids. I'm listening to what he says from now on. You can't eat and drink at the same time. Your stomach will not be large enough to handle it. It'll give you a horrible stomach ache! I've been living off of Campbell's soup. First the broth, now the Chunky kind. It seems to fill me up and I eat about 4-6 oz at a sitting. Laughing Cow cheese goes down smooth, too. So does that chicken in a can, put that in a blender with a little fat free mayo, and some seasoning and you have chicken salad. It's pretty tasty and fills you up. Best of luck to you!

This is my first challenge, but I'm going for 25 pounds. I've already lost 3. By Easter, I want to be at least 180. Here's hoping we make our goals! SN.......................Starting WT....................Current...................Goal.................Lbs to Goal Shanny...................205..................................202.........................180......................22

I'm 3 weeks out of surgery, I'm 5'1" and was 247 pounds when I first entered my program - I was 228 my surgery date. While I don't regret having it, I've had my days where I've cried and asked what have I done to myself. Mainly it's because I ate too fast, or ate something that I used to love but now I can't really digest it that well. It's hard getting used to this new stomach - learning what you can and can't tolerate anymore, how much you can have, understanding what you're body is telling you. Indigestion sucks, so does the new feeling of hunger and getting used to the feeling only having about 600-800 calories. I don't regret it, I just wish I was more prepared. I went to classes and group meetings for 6 months, and I even got a binder full of information. Nothing prepares you for it like doing it though. It's a learning curbe, and for me, the type that wants to understand everything right away, it's frustrating as all get out sometimes. Days like yesterday I love my sleeve because I felt great! Today, not so much because I don't think I drank enough yesterday and I'm dragging today probably from dehydration. Research, ask questions, and talk to post sleevers. Find out the good the bad and the ugly. I only heard wonderful things. It wasnt' until I was sleeved that I found this board and found out some of the uglies. Luckily, they're the same uglies that I face, so I don't feel so alone. It's a life changing learning process. In the end it's worth it, but getting there can is a journey. Just becuase we're sleeved the problems don't go away. Real life is still there, waiting to get me alone so I can eat my problems away. I am still in therapy and will continue to be until I learn other coping skills besides food. You have to be willing to put in the work not only during the operation, and care thereafter, but on you, on the inside...as well as exercising and working your body on the outside. It's a tool. You have to use it. I think if you decide to do the surgery you'll find the good days outweigh the bad and the end result will have you feeling like it's the best decision you've ever made. Good luck!

I still get hungry, but it feels different. It doesn't growl, but it feels like a huge gas bubble and it makes me want to throw up. I hate that when I'm hungry I get sick to the stomach. It happens about every 2-3 hours. After a few bites I'm full until about 2-3 hours later when it comes back. I crave everything though! Even things I don't like. TV sucks because every other commercial is about food and it makes me want everything. I've never been impulsive so I don't have head hunger that much.

Thanks!

That's awesome! I spent $18. Yogurt, Campbell's Chunky Soup, and Carnation Breakfast Essentials. That's it. I'm set for the week. I'll make up the difference in the new clothes I need to buy because I everything own is now too big! Here's to the new us!

I've lost 24 pounds in 19 days. That's great! I'm excited about it. The only thing is I'm worried it's coming off too fast. I know 1/2 of it is because my stomach still is healing and I don't eat much, don't want to eat much, and can't eat a lot of things. My friend asked me how do I stop after I reach my goal weight. I really don't know. If I continue to eat right and exercise, won't it make me keep losing weight? I want to be about 135-140, which is still bigger than a 5'1" is supposed to be. But, I don't have the bone structure to be that small. I want some meat on my bones still. Is there a brake or pause button on this sleeve? I don't see my doctor until next week, and I'll ask him them. In the meantime, I realize that I was excited about losing weight that I never before questioned how do you stop?