MzPecanBrown

I had to do 3 weeks of clear liquids, too! I was so jealous as I read about people eating yogurt, eggs, mashed potatoes, etc at a week or 2 out. Towards the end I moved away from broth and strained clear Soups. That stock tasted much richer to me and helped me make it. But it was SO HARD!! I didn't cheat at all; I was afraid to! You'll get through it! It made me hate Protein Shakes for a few weeks afterwards. I am back to drinking them now.

I really didn't start to feel energized again until almost 2 months out and I was taking my Vitamins the entire time. I returned back to work after 2 weeks but I was dragging each day. It was all I could do to put one foot in front of the other at times. I would get dizzy in the shower, also. I felt like I needed a nap daily and it didn't help that I returned to an 8:30 am to 8 pm work schedule. But close to the 2 month mark it started to improve tremendously. I started working out 3 weeks ago. I am up to a little over 3 miles in an hour which is FABULOUS for for me. I am hoping to push it to 3.5 miles today .

It will get better. I felt COMPLETELY wiped out for the longest time.

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I have already factored in Protein Shakes but I don't plan on making that my staple for the rest of my life only at the beginning stage,

I personally VOWED to never drink another Protein Drink after doing the 3 weeks of liquids after surgery. And my 3 weeks of liquids were just that. No yogurt, cottage cheese, applesauce, purees - just Water, Protein Drinks, clear broths and strained Soups. I didn't chew for 3 weeks. I don't think anyone hated Protein drinks as much as me at that point. But after 3 weeks on soft foods I am now back to a Premier shake on many mornings for Breakfast. Thankfully, they taste much better to me now. Hopefully, you'll be one that won't have to continue with shakes ever. As for the grocery bill, it has gone down some. I see savings in not eating out as much. I didn't realize how much I ate out until I noticed how much extra money I've had since January. Maybe I'll add the reserve to my shopping fund. :-)

Like was said: get your Protein in and your fluids and the weight loss will follow. Honestly, I was told to not even count calories, but I was curious and so entered them on fitday.

Things have not been this simple for me. I lost 38 lbs during the 1st month after surgery. Then I pretty much stalled almost the entire 2nd month. I NEVER reached Protein and Water goals during the first month. It seemed like the moment I began getting in 60-70 grams of protein from solid food, the weight loss stopped. I was highly frustrated because I was doing everything I was instructed to do food wise. I also started with a high BMI so I didn't expect the weight loss to slow down so soon. I was getting in between 500-700 calories per day.

Last week, my stall finally broke. I lost 4 pounds. I went to the gym 3 times last week, walking about 2.5 miles each time. This was the first week that I had the energy to do any physical activity. I also ate some things I shouldn't last week and still managed to drop weight (I attended a baby shower and had chips, fattening dips, and cake).

I am so confused. Stay within a recommended calorie range - no weight loss for weeks. Splurge and go over recommended calorie and sugar ranges - lose weight. I am certain that the exercise helped with the weight loss, but why wasn't reducing calories enough for my body to use up all this lucious reserve I've packed on for years? UGH!

I LOVE this thread! I can't wait to....

Have a child.

Be able to cross my legs.

Wear a sexy, black, above the knee dress.

Have someone I haven't seen in a while not recognize me.

Walk in ANY store and be able to shop.

Weigh less than my husband.

Get my swagger back with sexy pumps and strappy sandals.

Trade clothes with my sister.

Not have to question whether I'll be comfortable in a chair with arms.

Say goodbye to my chronic knee pain.

I could do this all night! My imagination is running wild!

I see you, Diva! You look AMAZING!! I can't wait to say I've lost 100 pounds!

I was told no aspirin or NSAIDs anymore by my surgeon and the providers who run my pre and post op groups. I'm not taking any unnecessary chances with an ulcer.

Wow' date=' that's a cheat for you? LOL It's a meal for me. I LOVE hummus, and my sleeve tolerates corn chips so much better than any other sort of cracker. I eat this regularly, around the same amount as you, as one of my five mini-meals. Lemon hummus is my favorite. I do sometimes eat the hummus with cucumber instead of chips for dipping, but seriously--I'm a corn-chip girl, love them, eat them regularly, and don't sweat it. I'm not low-carbing, though. I think this is a pretty healthy cheat--good for you![/quote']

I'm only 2 months out today and my NUT says no chips until after 3 months. I haven't been very adventurous since I introduced solid food. But I can see this being a regular menu rotation when I'm technically allowed to have them.

Actually except for the carbs' date=' your's is the healthiest cheat.

I have this one inch square of 72% dark chocolate everyday. It tastes like sin [/quote']

True. But I felt SO guilty for the chips! LOL! They were delicious! I also had a frozen margarita over a 2 hour period last night.

I ate hummus with about 8 corn chips this week!

Premier Protein in chocolate from Sam's or costco. Lately, I've gone back to drinking one of these a day. I was sickened by most everything else, especially right after surgery. The nectar worked for me for a few days but then it became too sweet. I would literally gag at even the smell of it and had to force it down. I could probably tolerate the Nectar now because my taste buds have settled down some.

YAY! Making room on the loser's bench for you!!

I normally had bad cramps pre-seleeve but the period I had the week after surgery was KILLER! That period was not expected at all and the cramps came with a vengeance! My next period after that was surprisingly mild compared to that one and any average cycle before being sleeved. I hope your next one is better, also! I completely feel your pain.

I was told in my first post op group to not color our hair during the first 6-8 months after surgery. We were advised to avoid any stress on the hair at this time. I don't plan on doing anything but washing and conditioning it. I'm avoiding all heat and letting it air dry after washing. Just what I'm doing. Hair loss scares me terribly because my hair is already fine.

We moved away from wingstop and suffered! Luckily there was a local restaurant with good wings - but I LOVE the garlic/parm ones! BW3's has nothing on Wingstop!

I loved the Buffalo Garlic. Those things were like sex to me! LOL! I agree on BW3. I like them but Wingstop was special! We have a few other local places that are good, too.

I had baked Beans with a little lean ground beef mixed in.

I'm more excited about dinner. I made lemon pepper salmon last night and will eat the other half tonight. YUM!

Same here! 3 wings from wingstop and I'm done! Makes 2 meals out of a 6 piece

Ahhh! Wingstop! They closed the one in my area a couple of years ago! I miss them.

*back to topic*

WOW! I will be 7 weeks out tomorrow and thought I was bad on Saturday by eating 2 ribs over the course of an hour! LOL! I am still not allowed to have the things you ate on Saturday and I'm further out than you. No rice (I'm assuming the Gumbo had rice in it), no Desserts, and no fries. I've made deviled eggs and tried a little potato salad.

Sweets are my weakness and plan to wait until I'm 4 months out to even sample anything like that. I'm proud of myself for not deviating from my NUT's plan. I do not want to sabotage myself which I have done so many times in the past.

The more that I read, the more I realize that my sleeve must be small. Someone posted the other day that they ate 8 buffalo wings in one sitting. I went out to dinner on Friday and was STUFFED after 3 wings!

I also have to get an IVC filter a week & a half before surgery. I'm nervous and excited.

I also had an IVC filter placed. Let me know if I can anwer any questions for you.

I have 200 to lose. I've lost over 40 lbs since my surgery on Jan 10. Check out the 200 + to lose forum. Several of us have posted there recently.

My starting BMI was 63. Now it's 56. Best wishes on your surgery! It'll be here before you know it!

Thanks Dorrie and Cheri! It's hard for me not to weigh daily. I weighed daily even before surgery so it's a regular habit. As many have stated, I don't want to be the one that this doesn't work for.

Cheri, the carb advice is helpful. I am not allowed any soft bread or pastas at this stage. I have had crackers here and there. My only other carbs come from yogurt, applesauce, or no sugar added peaches from time to time. Some days I don't have any of these things.

It's reassuring to hear from those who are at goal and close to it. I ONLY have 157 more lbs to go. But I'll get there!!

Thanks for the replies! I may try increasing calories some. I'm averaging between 600-700 daily. UGH. It's so frustrating. I'm scared of carbs but tired of just eating meat, cheese, and Beans.< /p>

I have read that many people have stalled at a weight that they previously maintained for a long period of time. Is that scientifically proven with data or just a hunch that your body is stalling because it's comfortable there?

I have hovered between the same 2 lbs for 10 days now. I didn't freak out last week when I didn't lose anything because it was my TOM. But this week, it's the same thing. I'm 6 weeks out and down 42 lbs, which is fantastic. But I am ready to see the scale move again! I was around this weight (give or take 5-7 lbs) from around fall of 2009 until June of 2011.

This could be just a regular stall or maybe my body is just comfortable here? For those that this happened to, did you do anything to start losing again? How long did it take? I wanted to hit 50 lbs by my 2 month which will be March 10. Any encouraging words or stories are appreciated.

The "freak out" is beginning....

Not to alarm you because I'm no doctor, but the only time I had pitting edema was during an acute renal failure in 2009. I was hospitalized for over 2 weeks while being treated. It was out of the blue and thankfully my kidneys went back to functioning fine. I still have some insufficiency, but nothing that warrants any diet changes or talks of further treatment. I am sure to see my Nephrologist every few months for routine blood tests to make sure nothing has changed. So far, everything is great.

By NO MEANS am I saying that this is the only cause of edema, because there are many things that can bring that about. But I would surely call my doctor ASAP. Like Pookey said, it could be totally unrelated to your Sleeve. Please keep us posted.

Do your research and make up your own mind. I just wanted to add my 2 cents to the conversation.

Great post, Lissa! Very inspiring!