Susie in Lima

Glad you are doing well! I remember leaving the hospital thinking how stupid I was since I had walked into the hospital feeling great and fine only to leave not feeling so great! So glad I did it though. That little bit of discomfort and pain has been sooooo worth the outcome! Keep on keeping on. Do everything your Dr and NUT tell you and you will do just fine! Have a super weekend!

I use the Syntrax - Nectar Medical Unflavored and it really doesnt have any taste at all. Hope you can find something you like. Keep doing what you are supposed to be doing and it wont be long until you wont have to rely on those protein shakes.

I think you are fine with however much you can handle without hurting since you are on liquids. Just make sure that you are getting as much in as you can. Once you start eating solids you will begin feeling restriction and then you will know when you are full (no doubt in your mind). Just concentrate on keeping hydrated. Welcome to the losers bench!

Thanks for the recipe. I have been trying lots of new recipes too trying to eat better and also keep eating things that taste good. I keep up with all of my calories etc on My Fitness Pal and I was suprised that alot of the recipes on the major websites that i have tried are already on there calculated for me. That has been nice. I have been playing around with lots of new veggie recipes and have enjoyed making Cauliflower Crust Pizza (it was really yummy), roasted brussel sprouts, stuffed mushrooms etc. Who knew I could eat tasty stuff and still lose weight and consider myself as eating healthy. I will try this recipe next week after I head to the store. Thanks for the recipe!

Just wait, you will get to the point where EVERYONE notices and you are the talk of the town and almost get tired of talking about it! haha That is where I am at right now. It wont be long, hang on and get ready! Congrats on the good job!

Dont worry, it wont be long until you are saying "I am so glad that I did this and would do it again!" You will get through these bumps in the road soon, just keep doing what you are supposed to be doing, WALK WALK WALK! Walking will help the gas pains! Hope you feel better soon!

The bad thing is....my husband has a clean plate syndrome for me! So when I am finished and cannot eat another bite he feels that it is his responsibility to eat my leftovers! SO, he began to gain weight while I was losing weight. We eventually got this worked out and he is on a diet and exercise regimen and losing weight but when he isnt thinking, he still goes for those last few bites on my plate. haha I am good with leaving them there because when I am done, I am done! I dont want to feel bad for eating one bite too many.

My surgeon told me that if I eat too much it will cause hot flashes and even the symptoms of a heart attack. He told me if that ever happens to me, to just walk, walk, walk. It happened to me once and I began to sweat and breathe hard etc, I havent made that mistake ever since! Have a super day!

I agree with all of the above! I also want to encourage you to eat normally but don't eat things that would make her mad at you! haha Like pizza or her favorite food. She will eventually be able to deal with it but at first it is pure torture. Encourage her to walk especially when she is having pain from the gas. GasX strips also help a lot! Walk with her and be a part of her exercise routine once she is up and about. Thanks for being supportive. It does mean a lot! Hoping great recovery for her!

Yeah I know that peanut allergies are a big deal now but the rational for them taking my big ol jar of Jiff Creamy Peanut Butter is because it "Could be considered a liquid" ahhh NOPE! Anyway, I had to hand it over because they wouldnt have let me get on the plane with it! I havent made that mistake ever since and always pack in under the plane. I bring it back with me from the US to Peru because you can find it here but it is tooo expensive!

I havent been shy about telling others. At first I thought I would be but I have been met with such positive responses especially since they see the huge change in me. There were only 2 times that i refrained from telling and it wasnt a big deal, just decided I would rather not explain it all to a person that I am not that close to and only see once a year. I have only been commended for telling the truth and never, not even once have I heard a negative comment. Yeah for me I know! Because there are those people out there with their opinions! I hope that if you choose to disclose this information that people will support you! You have to make that decision for yourself though. I thought it would be hard to tell and that I would be embarrassed but I finally decided that it is what it is! Have a super day!

Perfectly normal to question yourself and your decision. I think i made a post almost exactly like this right before my surgery. I can say that personally I have been very pleased with my decision and would do it again in a heart beat! You just have to decide within yourself what is right for you! Take care!

Yes you can. Generally if it is prepackaged and is not a liquid or gel over 3oz then you can bring it. We live in South America and have learned not to bring a jar of peanut butter though because they will take it. You can get the individual snack size packs of peanut butter and that works fine. I have also been able to bring fruit cups as well and never had a problem and string cheese or the individual sliced packets of cheese. Have a good trip!

I was on a 1 week liquid diet before and I lost 10 pounds.

I havent tried any of the fruit flavors but have used the chocolate and vanilla in both water and milk. When I use water, I tend to mix it up in my blender with some ice cubes and that makes it icy so it makes me think of a shake. Anyway, I think both ways are good. I usually make the decision depending on how my calories and protein are looking.

Oh dear I am so sorry to hear that but so happy that you have a good attitude about it. As I was in the process I told my dr that if there was anything that would not make me a good candidate then I didnt want to do it. I will be praying. Please keep us updated and dont get discouraged! Do the liquid diet and just wait and see! Hugs to you!

I know that just by not buying sodas ALONE, that has saved me a ton of money!!!! Not to mention the empty calories that I was stuffing my face with when I wasnt even hungry! I agree with joatsaint when she says that in the long run that the sleeve will pay for itself in saved money!!! Happy Happy!

This morning I was at the grocery store in the check out line, I began to unload my groceries onto the conveyor belt and the lady in front of me kept glancing at the items that I was putting on there. I was a bit self conscience at first because it was normal occurrence in the past for people to take a second look at the full buggy of food that I was purchasing. It was "normal" for me to be piling up the conveyor belt with things that aren't good for me and that helped to get me into the position I was 9 months ago right before I had my surgery. It was normal for me to have Cookies, chips, prepackaged foods like chicken nuggets, pizzas, lasagnas, then ice cream, candy, hamburger helper meals and a TON of sodas. But now, I am one of THOSE people that I felt self conscience around (although they didn't do anything to make me feel this way except for to make better choices in the food that they purchased) Today, my purchases consisted of fresh fish and chicken, lots of fresh veggies and yogurts. I chose to skip the chip, cookie and soda aisles and I am not missing a thing! (And as an added bonus, my grocery bill has gone down!) Woo-hoo!!!!

WOOHOO! Keep it up! I know those last 2 pounds drove you crazy! I am sitting on my last 8 pounds! Scale just started moving again! Ready to post the same thing in the near future! Happy day Happy dance!

I actually did take preop photos are they are for sure a great thing and humbling thing to do. Go ahead and take some today. Also take your measurements! They are all good indicators for later on of how far you have come. I used to have a calendar item each month on the same date to take my monthly pictures, I have stopped doing that, not sure why but it has been invaluable to my success especially on those days that I am stuck or "feel fat" haha. It is never too late! Happy losing!

Congrats keep up the good work!

Woo hoo! Look at you rockin that sleeve! Keep up the good work!

Yes I agree with Cheer Mama, the GasX strips were a lifesaver. I also had some biotene dry mouth spray for when you come out of surgery and cannot drink yet but you need your mouth to have a little more moisture. Get up and walk walk walk! This and the GasX strips will help with the gas pain. Not sure if you are married or if you live with someone but have things prepared for when you return home with whatever your NUT and surgeon have told you to eat/drink after surgery. You dont want to have to go to the grocery store on your way home. Be patient with yourself! It will take time to lose the weight, you will have stalls but you WILL lose the weight! Set goals for yourself along the way, not just the final goal. Some examples are: 1st 5 pounds, BMI goals, Clothing sizes etc. If you are an emotional or boredom eater, be prepared to have other things to do in place of eating. Have someone to talk to, go for a walk, take a bath, exercise, but be prepared to have to deal with this. Also, it was good for me (and my family) to clean out all the foods that got me in the position I was in. All the fast and easy foods like crackers, Cookies etc. If they aren't around, they cant be a temptation because they very well can be. You can do this! Keep coming back to the Forum and get/give support. Let us know how it goes!

YEAH for you! Keep up the good work!!!!!

Fantastic! Congrats!!!!! Keep up the great work!