shrinkydinkme

These are my favorite too but I can not stop at a half a bar and am very full when I eat a complete bar. The 200 calories & 10 carbs (only one of those is fiber) is a bit high for the 13 grams of Protein but I picked them up because they are not full of the sugar alcohol that many low carb bars contain. They are a total treat for me, I feel like I am eating a giant sugar wafer cookie.

On an Atkins low carb diet - you count your carbs but do not count the Carbs of Fiber or sugar alcohol because they believe it is unabsorbable and does not affect your blood sugar, insulin or being in a state of ketosis for weight loss.

That is great news.... for the reasons the others above shared I choose the sleeve also. Other WLS options had side effects I did not want to live with. I had to take a 3 month class on WLS, weigh in weekly and learn about diet and exercise, loose 10% of body weight (suggested not required) and I have to say although it was difficult to wait what ended up being 6 months total of hoop jumping it was great preparation and my only regret is that I did not work harder to loose more during that time to get me further down the road on the 150lbs I needed to loose. I am 50yrs old and 10 weeks out from surgery with no regrets at all and an easy complication free recovery. So excited you have found a way to pay for this option of WLS. Enjoy the journey to a new you.

Salmon I can eat more of then any other meat.... 4oz instead of 2oz. I have also had albacore that is much more dense and dryer and found that I can only do about two ounces. I just make sure to put veggies with the salmon and I am full, I am sure it is because salmon is such a moist and oily fish that it goes down so easy for me.

Celebrate has a capsule that I switched to after chewables. I would hope it is comprable.

I still have a tiny bit up inside my left shoulder -now and then and I am 10 weeks post-op. It is very small and not often but woke up to it this morning and said to my self, "Wow, is this still here?" It is such a unique pain, that I am sure it is a gas thing from surgery. Just surprised it was still here for me 10 weeks out.

Yep.... courage, I need some of that too. I do know I have great friends and when I decide to tell them, they will be fine with it and totally understand my hesitancy (especially because the stigma reasons are true to me) and they will extend to me any grace that is needed. I am sure as time passes I will choose to tell most people. I am very outgoing and mostly just did not want the pressure of them knowing right now or pre-sugery.

Stigma - you have touched on a different topic then the usual "to tell or not to tell" so I am going to be honest even though it is UGLY! ( Not asking for those of you on here to tell me my feelings are wrong and I should change them, they are what they are and I am admitting up front with UGLY I know they are, but feeling have a mind of their own- they are not facts or chosen beliefs that we control) #1 I am EMBARRASSED I felt I needed to and decided to "not do it the right way" and I am taking the "easy way out". #2 I have judged others for years and wondered why they would have WLS and take that giant risk when they could have just changed the way they ate and exercised more. #3 I do not feel like people understand the difference between the different types of WLS and when I say I had the sleeve even with an explanation of what it is, they just lump me in the WLS category with everyone else and I feel I am so different and made an informed decision and was unwilling for years to get the bypass because of the complications. I do not want to be considered "One of them" ( see UGLY judgement on my part once again) #4 FEAR! So many I know who had WLS have gained it all back and I it breaks my heart and I feel so bad for them and can only imagine how difficult it must be. To have taken such a big risk and failed. I fear that will be me and if others do not know I had surgery it will just be another in my long list of diet fails - some how that I know I can handle,but a WLS fail seems bigger and I would feel much more judged/disapproval so I would rather they did not know. #5 I have way to many friends who would be watching me, asking questions wanting explanations of why and how come and asking me to help friends and adding a lot of to-do's to my daily life -when I am taking time to establish a new healthy lifestyle and do not need the stress or burden that would bring. So if they do not know about my surgery, I do not need to be bothered to help, inform, explain or whatever would arise by their inquisitive minds #6 I am loosing about 1 1/2-2 pounds a week which is so normal there is no need to give details. It is the easy way out by not telling them. Except for the tiny bit of guilt when they are all excited and proud of me and just can not believe my will power and ability to eat such a small portion and move on. That tiny bit of guilt ..... for now I can live with.

I had no complications and could get in all my fluids, proteins, soft foods. The difficulty for me was flat out fatigue, (due to incision pain) and inability to sleep on my side & tummy which I was use to, made me super tired plus recovery. Also my mind was very scattered due to the thinking required for my new tummy, lack of calories, carbs and sleep. I once put Strawberry Supreme protein powder in my cream of mushroom soup and wondered why it was turning pink? (thought it was unflavored protein) I did many of these types of careless mistakes my 2nd week post-op. Starting a new job with that kind of confusion is what would most concern me not the physical aspect. It is hard to start any new job, even when you are in top mental and physical shape. If there is a way to get more time do it, each week of recovery makes a huge difference.

My faith in Jesus is a priority to me and I know that this sleeve surgery was part of his plan for me. Over 25 years I prayed, was prayed for and always returned to my self destructive eating habits. I was unable to come to peace with gastric bypass for myself after 2 years of trying to, and mentioned it to a friend who told me about the sleeve. I learned that the sleeve removed the concerns I had about WLS and when I shared my desire with my husband and closest friends we prayed and they agreed, it would be a good choice for me. I know that God wants freedom from addictions and felt that in my case He desired to use a surgery to bring that. Would I think it was wrong for a drug addict to undergo surgery if it brought them freedom - of course not. I had surgery 2+ months ago and all has been simple and smooth with no complications or struggles to get in liquid, protein, or any real foods. Still, I can remember questioning my decision a few weeks out from surgery - just my human nature. Then I came across and read a letter I wrote 26 years ago that talked about food controling me instead of me controlling it. That timely reminder confirmed for me that this God choice was the right one for me and I go back to that moment, reading that letter when ever I doubt. My God is so faithful to me, even when I am faithless.

Thanks so much for checking in Darla, glad you are doing well. I will continue to pray for you and hope your neck improves quickly. See you in November.

At my 2month check up, I was 30 pounds down and they told me it was average- every doctor is different. But honestly you sound pretty normal to me. I lost 20 the first month.

My goal is 159 - my comfortable weight from ages 16-28 when I got pregnant with my first- I was a size 12. (I am 50yrs old now) Lost 25lbs during the 6months pre-op, 10 of those were the week before surgery. Feeling less discouraged this morning. Remembered that the 254 I weight today is a weight I sat for about 5yrs, so thinking it is a set point I need to break through and I know I will in time

Hi new tall friends... excited to find you all tonight to see I am not alone- as I sit here 5'10 and 254lbs - 55 pounds down from highest of 309. I was sleeved Aug. 1st so I am almost at 2 months out and 30lbs down since surgery. Size 11 shoes and would love them to shrink! Started in Avenue jeans size 24 and now in same style jean size 18. Tops 2x-3x now XL - I drain from the top down... collar and neck bones appeared about 10 pounds ago and saw top 2 ribs for the first time this morning. I feel like such a slow looser and expected the weight to come off faster because I am tall (higher weight to start).That has not been the case, but I am hoping for no hair loss and less skin sag because of it. I have had it easy no problems drinking or eating anything. Always been able to get in all suggested liquid and Protein. I plan to do an updated photo on Oct. 1st for my 2 month anniversary but here is one from 2 weeks ago

careful what you buy.... many people including myself love the chocolate and HATE the vanilla

I struggled with drinking the day after surgery but by day 2, I could drink a 1 oz cup with ease. Started yogurt, cottage cheese- baby food consistency day 4 and the bites were tiny but I could do 4 or 5 after a couple days. Progressing to more normal food for me has been problem free. Now 8 weeks out from surgery I can eat about 1/2 cup of food. Inside of a chicken taco. Dense protein like a chicken breast I still take the tiny bites of and chew well but can finish in 20 minutes. It is good that she warned you because it is so different it feels crazy. I am excited that I have this tool to help me loose the weight and keep it off.

my primary care doctor brought it up and said we will talk about the excess skin removal when I reach goal and at the 12 weeks of Options classes (we were required to do) we were told that we would be offered a discount on cosmetic surgery.

wow- what a huge difference. Great Job

Tolerated sushi fine but had a very small amount. It was my first adventure into real foods and I had 2 slices of an 8 slice roll. (shrimp and crab inside- spicy tuna on top) For me the amount of carbs from the small bit of rice was low enough to fit my doctors guidelines. Filled up rest of the meal with imitation crab meat for extra protein. It was not a problem with my sleeve at all and I have had the same meal a 2nd time. It is my favorite too.

totally draining from the top down- face- chin- neck-shoulders and yes the boobs have greatly diminished. I had hopes for keeping them because it seemed many on here did but, I am not one of them. Going shopping for some good padded bras soon.