Holly5.3

Let me put it this way, not that anyone really cares about my input... some days you miss food, some you don't! But I rather cry my way down a size when everyone else can't lose weight eating Buffalo wild wings, pizza, etc.! In time we can eat everything, just an appropriate amount for a normal-sized body! The choice is simple: don't have surgery and gain more weight. Have the surgery. It's hard work, but in a year or two you can eat and be healthy and more attractive too! Food is fuel, not life!

Let me put it this way, not that anyone really cares about my input... some days you miss food, some you don't! But I rather cry my way down a size when everyone else can't lose weight eating Buffalo wild wings, pizza, etc.! In time we can eat everything, just an appropriate amount for a normal-sized body! The choice is simple: don't have surgery and gain more weight. Have the surgery. It's hard work, but in a year or two you can eat and be healthy and more attractive too! Food is fuel, not life!

Thanks, Cheri, for the advice about changing Ppi. In addition to my prescribed one each morning, I started talking Pepcid OTC at night, but I'm starting to realize I may be misinterpreting the gurgling as hunger when I should address the ant-acids I'm on. I have my 3 month post-op visit this Friday and my prescription needs refilling, maybe we can change brand or increase dosage. I'm trying to keep the Protein as my focus and since I'm still struggling with meats, dairy is my go-to for at least one meal, besides a shake for Breakfast. Maybe my gall bladder is acting up. We'll see.

For my am snack I have my Greek Yogurt. I still do best with Soups for lunch or cottage cheese with fruit, or Wendy's chili (1/4-1/2 a small, dep. on how fast I eat-eat too fast=eat less!) string cheese, sugar free apple sauce, laughing cow cheese. Just starting to eat veggies and I can tolerate beef better than poultry (strange!) still no eggs. I rely on fat free or low fat dairy a lot-I hope I don't get gall stones! I also have Smart Ones and eat less than a 1/2 serving. I try to only have them 1-2x a week- high sodium. But they make lunch fun.

For my am snack I have my Greek Yogurt. I still do best with Soups for lunch or cottage cheese with fruit, or Wendy's chili (1/4-1/2 a small, dep. on how fast I eat-eat too fast=eat less!) string cheese, sugar free apple sauce, laughing cow cheese. Just starting to eat veggies and I can tolerate beef better than poultry (strange!) still no eggs. I rely on fat free or low fat dairy a lot-I hope I don't get gall stones! I also have Smart Ones and eat less than a 1/2 serving. I try to only have them 1-2x a week- high sodium. But they make lunch fun.

Pre-op - 8/11/12 - 278 lbs.
Post-op 12/11/12 - 219
Today 1/8/13 - 208
Total loss - 70 lbs. 4 months! Yippie!

Yaaaa! You're doing great girl! You have to treat yourself to a new dress or something to celebrate! If you wear your 'fat' clothes, you're not going to feel that snappy-vitality a new (or new to you!) outfit brings! I don't want to spend money or charge  clothes I don't be wearing long, but I needed a dress for an out of town family gathering and it was well worth the money! I felt like a million dollars (for a change!) and when I wore the dress to work, everyone was blown away. When people see you in the same clothes it takes a whe for them to notice. Mix it up and pow! Superstar! Keep up the good work!

You go girl! Keep up the great work, Skinny Minny!

I lived on chewable GasX before having broth, I found chicken broth made me gassy (I still can't eat chicken at 3 months!) Unjury brand unflavored Protein added to crystal light and Unjury chicken broth is what I lived on for liquid stage. For pain I took exta strength Tylenol rapid release caplets - I have no problem swollowing pills at all! At full liquids, creamed Soups were ok, cheddar broccoli was ok-again, GasX helps with extra gass from broccoli. Good luck!

Yaaaa! You're doing great girl! You have to treat yourself to a new dress or something to celebrate! If you wear your 'fat' clothes, you're not going to feel that snappy-vitality a new (or new to you!) outfit brings! I don't want to spend money or charge  clothes I don't be wearing long, but I needed a dress for an out of town family gathering and it was well worth the money! I felt like a million dollars (for a change!) and when I wore the dress to work, everyone was blown away. When people see you in the same clothes it takes a whe for them to notice. Mix it up and pow! Superstar! Keep up the good work!

Love Target for a few items at reasonable prices. I'm lucky though - I've got a wardrobe from size 18 (current size a little smaller than 18 but not quite a 16) down to 10-12 from my lifetime of losing weight. Most garments are out of style, but I've managed to find sweaters and denim skirts that don't go out of style. It's like a time capsule-80's harem pants and slouch tops (back in style!)-too funny!

Also, would the term 'starvation' still apply when we consume x amt. of Protein, vit. and min. supplements and water/liquids? We are not depriving our bodies of these viral components, the calorie restiction does seem low and extreme but I've haven't felt this much energy in years and am being told I look much younger than my 50+ years. If I was starving myself, I doubt I could make those claims.

Just got home from 3 month post-op and I'm thrilled! Down 48.5 pounds since 10/11/12 plus 22.5 lost on Pre-op diet for a total loss if 71 pounds since last Aug. 11th. I'm no spring chicken but it goes to show even over 50's rock the sleeve! My surgeon was blown away and asked me to give a quick testimonial to a new patient having a consult! I'm so proud! One bad thing, he wants me to have my other hernia repaired ASAP - oh no! More surgery-I'll wait til summer.

Just got home from 3 month post-op and I'm thrilled! Down 48.5 pounds since 10/11/12 plus 22.5 lost on Pre-op diet for a total loss if 71 pounds since last Aug. 11th. I'm no spring chicken but it goes to show even over 50's rock the sleeve! My surgeon was blown away and asked me to give a quick testimonial to a new patient having a consult! I'm so proud! One bad thing, he wants me to have my other hernia repaired ASAP - oh no! More surgery-I'll wait til summer.

My goal is to be light enough for my husband to not just lift me, carry me! Sexy! I'm 5'5" and shrinking (age 53). My surgeon asked me what me lowest weight was and I said, my wedding day (I was on the Diet Center plan) - 140 (size 10). I felt great! I told him my sister who is my build and height but always kept her weight in check, weighs bet. 130-138. he said, 'You'll be smaller than your sister!' whhhhhhaaaattt? That would be a miracle! But you never know-I never thought I'ld lose 70 pounds by New Years Eve when I was depressed, getting heavier by the second last July! If I lose another 30 by b'day in July (100 pounds!) I'll be 178 and prob. size 12. So psyched! I'm not obsessed with weighing myself or the scale, but from what I've read about others' success, it's hard to not try to compute which size will fit when- it's fun!

I agree-it's the tone, or sense of humor, that gets misconstrued. People really do try to help. I can't imagine this journey without my daily VST check-in. Also, people have to remember they don't have to post and we don't have to read everything posted! The last 'battle of wits' disgusted me, so I stopped reading...I noticed it went on for days! Some people use this forum to exercise various rights (free speech, etc.), but sometimes good intentions run amuck and bad feelings are the result. Don't like-don't read! It stops fueling the fire! Positive thoughts, energy, and results to all in 2013!

Awe, don't leave us Russell! I was involved in a heated 'chat' with an aggressive poster early on in my journey and was chided because I didn't want to 'get into it' on this site, I dont come here to debate, I come for the collective community of Verticle sleeved patients' support and advice and once in a while it's nice to be able to post a response that can also help someone. Some stories are pretty scarey and some advice is pretty hard-knocks, but I'ld like to think everyone means well. P.S. I checked out the chat room once and thought it was a singles match chat room! It really was like 'get a room, already!'-serious "flirting" (and I use that term loosely!) Maybe some of the battle of wits occurring is really some feeble attempts to get attention and maybe find 'mr right' (or right now). Just a thought after reading thread!

I agree-it's the tone, or sense of humor, that gets misconstrued. People really do try to help. I can't imagine this journey without my daily VST check-in. Also, people have to remember they don't have to post and we don't have to read everything posted! The last 'battle of wits' disgusted me, so I stopped reading...I noticed it went on for days! Some people use this forum to exercise various rights (free speech, etc.), but sometimes good intentions run amuck and bad feelings are the result. Don't like-don't read! It stops fueling the fire! Positive thoughts, energy, and results to all in 2013!

I agree-it's the tone, or sense of humor, that gets misconstrued. People really do try to help. I can't imagine this journey without my daily VST check-in. Also, people have to remember they don't have to post and we don't have to read everything posted! The last 'battle of wits' disgusted me, so I stopped reading...I noticed it went on for days! Some people use this forum to exercise various rights (free speech, etc.), but sometimes good intentions run amuck and bad feelings are the result. Don't like-don't read! It stops fueling the fire! Positive thoughts, energy, and results to all in 2013!

I'm 12 weeks post op and solid food doesn't like me at all yet! I can nibble on Pure Protein Bars (Costo or GMC) throughout the day and I have at least one shake a day and a Greek Yogurt. Meals are still challenging for me. Some days I can have the shake and yogurt before lunch then just have a couple slices of low sodium turkey and a slice of cheese between lunch and dinner. Dinner is also hard, today I had about 1/4 cup of a turkey-pot-pie (just a bit of crust, mostly turkey and veggies). I keep cottage cheese (the new ones that have about 1 tbl. of fruit on the side), low-fat string cheese and Sugar Free Chocolate pudding on hand. If I didn't make my 60-80 gram of Protein goal, I'll have another mini-shake (1 glass of skim milk w/ 1/2 scoop protein powder) before bed. If I don't get enough protein in my stomach growls like a son of a b.... until morning. Like "they" say, protein first (and Vitamins and water) before other nutrients. If you focus on the protein, your hunger will be satiated and you will survive on low calories (I'm still at 600/day) until you can eat more and exercise.

I agree-it's the tone, or sense of humor, that gets misconstrued. People really do try to help. I can't imagine this journey without my daily VST check-in. Also, people have to remember they don't have to post and we don't have to read everything posted! The last 'battle of wits' disgusted me, so I stopped reading...I noticed it went on for days! Some people use this forum to exercise various rights (free speech, etc.), but sometimes good intentions run amuck and bad feelings are the result. Don't like-don't read! It stops fueling the fire! Positive thoughts, energy, and results to all in 2013!