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I love this thread! I'm just at the beginning of my WLS journey, and I so appreciate the hope this thread gives me! I cannot wait to revisit this at the beginning of next year. I was sleeved 12/03/13, and I'm down 41 pounds. In addition to the weight, I'm losing the hopelessness that always came along with doing/trying something new to get thinner, and I've gained the ability to put myself first. I've gained an excitement for the many good things the future holds. Looking forward to living fully in 2014!!!

I regularly buy clothes for myself and my family at your standard thrift store (not Goodwill -- too pricey!). I just picked up a while bunch of clothes this weekend, and spent $2/piece on average. Mall brands, boutique brands, etc. I can dress more casually, but my husband is a physician recruiter and has to dress professionally daily. He picked up a couple of Ralph Lauren half-zip sweaters for $3 each, and when he wore one to work today, he received tons of compliments from other men who stock their closets with full price items. Seriously, check out a few thrift stores. You might be very pleasantly surprised.

Hi there -- I'm. On the Dec. 2013 thread, but new to this one. I was sleeved 12/03, so four weeks ago today. I had 132 pounds to lose from my starting weight of 267. As of today, I'm down 41 pounds, so 91 more to go.

Unbelievable! You look fantastic!!!

Wow!! You look amazing! What great work!!!

I had no drain (although my doc's nurse did mention it was always a possibility). Re: a catheter: unless they put it in and removed it in the OR, I didn't have one. I was a bit loopy as they wheeled me back, and totally out within seconds after transferring from the gurney to the operating table. Seriously, one of the very easiest operations I've ever, ever done. I recall nothing humiliating.

I was sleeved 12/03, and hosted a food-heavy Christmas party at my house on 12/13 when I was still on full liquids. I just kept a mug of SF hot apple cider in my hand, and just kind of kept moving around. Everyone else was so busy with their own plates, no one noticed I didn't have one. It was no trouble at all.

There's a good chance you're constipated. I've been pretty constipated a couple of times since surgery. Back and hips hurt, bloated, etc. if you haven't had regular BMs, your symptoms might be explained.

I think you should pop over to the Vets thread. They've been doing the 5:2 diet to shed the last few pounds and/or to drop any regain. They're a fun and active bunch of posters. I think you'll find lots of good advice.

I don't see anything wrong with this! If you were regularly making choices that prevented you from getting in your protein, I would encourage you to figure out a way to time things to have one more protein shake, but 50g of protein in a day (particularly when you're typically coming in higher) plus a plate full of veggies sounds just fine to me! I would encourage you to mindful of any hidden calories in those glazes. I've not had the Market Street grilled veggies, so I have no idea what's on them (if anything). When dieting pre-op, I have had veggie dishes that I thought would be fine, but when I later logged them into MFP, the sauces ruined my day. Also, if this is going to be a habit that might make for lower protein several times a week, you may consider some InvisaWhey, a whey powder you sprinkle on food. I'm still early and relying on shakes, so I can't speak to the flavor of InvisaWhey, but I've read of other sleevers using it.

I had the Scoplamine (?) patch, and overall, I didn't experience significant nausea. My pain wasn't as well managed as it could have been that first day, so I had two instances where I felt nauseated in relation to my pain climbing, but nausea is my typical response to pain. I never threw up, and the nausea never got out of control, but mentioned the nausea to the nurse both times, and a shot in my IV took care of things. After 24 hours, I didn't experience nausea anymore. In fact, the anti-nausea meds I had at home for post-op still have not been opened at almost 4 weeks out.

Whew! I tried habanero hot sauce on my eggs this week at 3.5 weeks out. My sleeve was okay with it, but my colon was not! . Let's just say I won't need any Miralax this week. Haha!

The Unjury protein website has all kinds of information about the health benefits of taking in extra protein via shakes while pregnant. Check it out at Unjury.com

My doc gave me a general amount, 60g daily as a minimum, but 75-100g daily for optimal weight loss (for a woman). I've been averaging 75-85g protein since the first day I was allowed it (day 3), and I've lost 21 pounds since surgery three weeks ago (about 38 pounds total). Doc attributes that weight loss to hitting my Fluid and protein goals. Hope he's right!

My largest incision hurt a lot, and if I did too much bending, it would hurt more. Surgeon explained that was the one area that they do a through-and-through intramuscular stitch, and that when the stitch dissolved, the pain would dissipate. He was right. By three weeks post-op, I have no pain anywhere, and the dimpling around that incision has reduced.

I had decaf coffee and sex today. Counted one as liquids and the other as exercise, and my sleeve is a-ok.

I've always had size 10 fingers. I'm three weeks post-op, and down 37.7 total. Just had to add a Ring Snuggie to keep my wedding band from slipping off my slimmer fingers. (Picked these up in the Wal-Mart jewelry section, $3 for a 6-pack.)

Have you tried PB2? It's a dry peanut butter powder. Add a scoop or two to a vanilla protein shake, and handle that craving in a safe way.

Oh my word! I didn't even think about this stuff! I make this "treat" on holidays, but didn't even think about it being a Protein snack! I make mine with cottage cheese, drained crushed pineapple, chopped pecans, a box of pistachio jello (is there a sugar-free type?) and Cool Whip. SO GOOD!! Must make some pronto!!

I've had zero problems drinking, and put away two bowls of broth and a cup of hot tea straight out of surgery. I had no trouble reaching Fluid goals immediately, and I took in 85g of liquid Protein on the first day I was allowed (day 3). I was so worried something was wrong that I talked to my surgeon and his nurse and his office partner and anyone else who would listen, but everyone assured me I'd feel that restriction when I started taking in actual food. I've lost 21 pounds since surgery three weeks ago (37.7 altogether), and my surgeon attributed that to hitting those fluid/protein numbers. Hope he's right! I've just switched to the soft food stage. NOW I feel restriction, and now I'm having to really watch the clock to make sure I'm getting all of my Water in. This transition is a bit more complicated than I imagined it would be, and while I'm still not having pain from drinking, I feel much more full than I did before and am having to work harder at achieving those minimum fluid goals.

I'm in DFW, and was sleeved at Baylor Grapevine by Dr. Julio Rivera with the Baylor Weight Loss Surgery Center. For what it's worth, I think my surgeon is great. He's very patient with all of my questions, and is so kind and supportive. I'm fairly new at this, but I've had zero complications and feel absolutely wonderful. I'm three weeks out from surgery, and I'm down 37.7 pounds (21 since surgery). My surgeon's information session is online, and the folks in the office have been so great about everything, I imagine they would do their best to accommodate distance patients.

I know others will chime in here, but if you know you're eating slow enough and chewing well, this is something I would run by my doc. It absolutely could be nothing, or still just some post-op swelling, but it could also be a stricture. I think your doc is best qualified to answer this question.

Bea -- Thank you so much for setting this up! I'll be one month post-op, and I'd love to work towards a specific goal with accountability. All the advice for us newbies here has been great, so thanks to you all!

A VS shirt in medium? Seriously, I cannot even imagine getting to that size. If I EVER do, I'm going to pin a note to my shirt to tell the whole world. You should be SO PROUD of yourself. Sweet mercy, I know I would be! I'm sorry your family isn't complimenting you. I think you look great!

You look amazing! So inspirational!