No game

If you are talking about our fast days? I personally try to make my calories dense protein and non starchy veggies on fast days so carbs don't really come into play as far as watching them.. As a matter of fact unless I'm seriously blowing it I still watch my carbs on all days, as I'm pretty sure all the other 5:2 people here do..

Oops, I forgot to answer! When you can, start incorporating fiber into your diet. the high protein can cause lots of constipation and hard stools. Also, in the early days I took milk of magnesia.

So basically your shitting bricks???

You are doing great! Not all of us had all the drama post op with not getting in our liquids... I spent my day drinking in the beginning but I got my liquids in. Now I can chug like a sailor

Yes my personal favorite is Fage. In the beginning I put stevia in it to sweeten it up. Oh and when you get to the yogurt stage stevia, pumpkin purée, pumpkin pie spice and a bit if vanilla! Yum. Plain Greek yogurt grows on you. In my early days it was hard to stomach unsweetened. But now it's my favorite meal a day Fage plain and frozen blueberries. In fact just not "right" if I don't eat it at least once a day..

It's all cracking until one starts crying and the other one starts spewing Sleeve or no sleeve laura-ven can hold her tequila Ok imma going to have to imagine your pretty eyes to go with the rest of the fabulousness I'm seeing... Don't kill me I can't draw!

Yay!!! Drunken (Oh.... I mean festive) Christmas pictures!!! Looking beautiful madam, although when I imagined you it was always with eyes A picture of me and the evil sisters in laws after our first bottle of tequila but before the end of the second and them on the rolling around on the ground (and one puking ) Don't try this at home newbies! (Try it at your mother in laws house like we did)

Just because you can get it done quickly doesn't mean it's the best thing for you..I know it's part of our American, instant gratification fast food nation mentality of I want it now! Now! NOW!! I vote go through your classes.. I see people here increasingly getting this done not knowing anything about what they are getting into. Blinded by "girl I want to rock those skinny jeans" Take the time learn, adjust your lifestyle and know that you will be truly prepared for every up and down that comes with this major surgery..

That's... Well.. Just weird.. But if it's required that you write here, I would suggest that you read here MORE importantly..

Coops!! A loss at Christmas??? It is a true Christmas miracle!! Sarsar, and the others hang in there. After this winter hump I'm sure we will be right as rain again.. I'm just telling myself it's the season of the blahs and somehow it's helping keep my head above water a bit knowing its just the perfect storm swirling about. Skiing Jane? Yay! I've always been terrified of it. somehow the thought of my body momentum hurling me downhill on two slick thin sticks attached to my legs just never sat well with me I do like cross country skiing though Ok fast yesterday was HARD! I drank tea non stop all day and it just didn't help very much (damn carbs) I "ended" the day at 465 only to cave and have some yogurt and blueberries late last night, so yeah..

Lol, being alive and breathing stimulates mine!!

It sounds as if you had already made the decision to eat these things before you asked the question. No judgement, just an observation.. As for them being anything relatively good for your? Ummm deep fried fat and skin? Also the "protein" in them is not usable by our bodies. In fact most packages will have an asterisk by the protein count that says "not a significant source of protein"

It is not "ok" you are only a few days out.. I would go into all the reasons but really If you look at your guidelines I'm sure you will not see it on the approved list.

You can eat around the sleeve just as you can with the band... If you do not put the hard work in you will not see results no matter what surgery you get... food for thought, http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/292173-you-should-not-consider-bariatric-surgery-if/#entry3294618

Yes, that can fill a whole different thread... From an article I read recently.., "Body-image experts say it’s not uncommon for people, especially women, who have lost a lot of weight to be disappointed to some extent to discover that they still aren’t “perfect.” The excess fat is gone when they reach their goal weight, but they may have sagging skin, cellulite or a body shape that they still deem undesirable. Some even continue to see themselves as though they are overweight. Some specialists use the term “phantom fat” to refer to this phenomenon of feeling fat and unacceptable after weight loss." Bariatric surgery will not cure self esteem issues..

Yep news! I don't go out often.. But when I do, I order my own plate. Shortly there after the buzzards circle (husband and kids) so it's never a waste. If the food makes it home usually my son will have taken care of it by the time I get out of bed the next morning. And wait staff? Who cares...

Not only does my states side surgeon do routine blood tests ( CBC, complete metabolic panel, parathyroid, etc) every few months to make sure they are looking ok or not.. he is there to guide me through dietary choices and any side affects that may arise (gerd, gallbladder, etc)

The bummer about lying about the weight though is I'm stuck with my newest one for awhile because I haven't lost enough weight according to my license to warrant a new one.. Ok I'm at 465 so far today and it's 8:09 Wow this has been hard today because of all the carbs the last couple of days... I know later I will be fighting myself for something so I've given myself permission for a protein hot chocolate if need be.

Cathy I always lied through my teeth Lol sometimes there would be my picture there looking like the stay puff marshmallow man and the weight would say 150

So happy for you, I'm glad you are feeling better. It must be such a great thing to be able to go on this journey with your spouse! Continued health and happiness to both of you

lol I didn't mean to sound snarky! Must have been my staples acting up. Girl you'd better hurry and poop them out then!

Well, forgive me for explaining the obvious to you then...

Not sure if you are talking to me or butter?? But It depends on how long before the surgery you are asking about.. Years? I thought like most people that it was a cure and end all be all.. But the months leading up to it?? 1. If I thought it's a magic bullet? No I went through years of therapy leading up to this and had to meet certain criteria and be evaluated by an outside therapist. 2. Did I think it would be easy? Hell no! I'm an expert at dieting I've lost this weight so many times. I've always "finished" my diets and then ate like a "normal" person. The thing that I learned going into this from my surgeon, therapist and nut is this is for the long haul. There is now "end" if I truly want to succeed this time.. Also I can never eat (sleeve or no sleeve) like a naturally skinny person. The surgeon let me know that the smaller stomach was only one part of the equation. I, me, Laura was the other part. 3. Is it in the back of my mind that if it doesn’t work I will just try it again? No! This is my last stop, this is by far the most radical thing that I have done. If I don't succeed after this? short of a lobotomy nothing will help. It's in my head not my stomach 4. Have I Truly Made Committed Attempts to Lose Weight? Yes so many times.... I still meet with my surgeon I will continue my relationship with him. And I learn more and more every time...

That was a painful day.. Emotionally and physically. I'm so glad I chose to do something about it instead of settling for that misery... But I tell you fluff, looking at that photo made me down right giddy today! I was snickering like a school girl I wanna go back and kick that kayaks azz next time! It's a good day at vertical sleeve land

Beautiful!!! That is definitely a worthy NSV!