Odeya

In my experience, barring complications, you will be "able" to take the grand kids camping. However, you may not want to. I looked at your profile to see your vital stats, but your age, etc. isn't listed. So let me share my experience. I am in my early forties and was 222 when I was sleeved. Four weeks post-op, my sutures were nicely healed, I felt great...and I still tired easily after a full day at my desk job. Yes, I was walking and doing other exercises everyday; yes, I was eating my Protein and drinking my fluids. All was well, my body just took another 3 or 4 weeks before everything felt fully recovered and my endurance and energy levels were back to normal.

Dr. Smith did my sleeve on Dec. 3rd, 2012. I met with several others in the area before deciding to use him. I was self-pay and had my choice. I found him personable, easy to work with, and his self-pay rates were better than the other choices. I had awesome experience at Baylor Trophy Club; the staff was fantastic. There were no complications and I was back home in just over 24 hours with minimal pain and a quick recovery. Surgery was 2 months and 19 days ago and I've lost 45 pounds. I couldn't be happier.

Grape is the only one I truly like. The others I tolerate, although they are all better than thick, sweet milky shakes.

Sleeved 12/3. Down 44 lbs total. I lost 7 pre-op and 37 so far post-op. From 229 to 185.

UPDATE: I stepped on to the scale this morning, resigned that it would still report my weight somewhere between 200.2 and 204, as it has for the last 7-10 days. Surprise!! 199.0 on January 2 and one day ahead of my personal goal of 30 lbs. lost in the five weeks between start of liquid diet and one month out from surgery. I know it's silly in some ways, but to finally make a personal goal AND to be in onederland for the first time since I miserably starved myself down to 170 in 2002. THAT didn't last long...this will!!!

I was sleeved 12/3. I weighed 222 at surgery and have been stuck at 200.6-200.2 for the last week. Very frustrating to be so close to onederland, but I have read enough posts to understand that a stall in weeks 3-4 is common. I am going to be so glad to see 199. I just hope it happens by 1/4 - that would be nice. My weight before the liquid week was 229, so that would give me a 30 lb. total weight loss for the five weeks. Good job everyone and Happy New Year!

Four days out and doing well. I'm sore and tire easily, but feel good and have no regrets. Eight pounds lost just since Monday. Amazing!

An egg? Wow! I was excited about my fruit smoothie and "blended soup" additions. It is interesting how different our protocols are. I guess that is why they call it "practicing" medicine. Each surgeon prescribes the plan s/he thinks best, but there is no pat answer for all patients. Now that I'm thinking about it, it kind of reminds me of the art of parenting.

Happy one week anniversary to all of the 12/3 sleeve friends out there! What a week it has been! To mark the occasion, why don't we all post today about how we feel and what life looks like as of this morning. My great one week anniversary began this morning when I woke up and realized I was sleeping fully face down, on my stomach, discomfort free! I had been sleeping on my side all week, which was a less than ideal alternative. A few days ago I tried to sleep on my stomach and it just wasn't comfortable. But today, as I woke, I discovered that I had flipped over sometime in the night and all I could think was, "I'm back!!" Hope you all have a great day!!

Don't you just love auto-correct? Ugh!

Melissamass, I am getting 40-60 grams of Protein in daily by adding a scoop of unjury unflavored Protein Powder to what I eat. For instance, mixed with a can of V-8 fusion Light for a morning shake, in my broth at lunch, and mixed up in my homemade Jello. Each scoop is 21 grams of whey protein isolate so it adds up fast. I also drink 1/2-1 20 oz. bottle of Isopure Protein Drink a day (40 grams of WPI). I think you may want to try to get your intake up as I understand not hitting your protein targets can have significant impacts on energy, weight loss, and hair loss. Sounds like you are recovering well! Keep up the great work! Boss123, based on my surgeon's guidelines, sf puddings and Greek yogurts are permitted during the full liquids stage. I stocked up tonight! You might look at Better Bowl products. I ordered chocolate and vanilla pudding on Amazon. They are sf and protein fortified. Made with milk, each 1/2 cup serving offers up 9 grams of protein. I'm so glad to have other 12/3 folks to share this journey with!

I appreciate all of your comments and support. I just found this site yesterday and am so happy I did. You are all such an inspiration and I look forward to sharing this journey.