dgoerlitz

Yup...rice, Pasta, and noodles...completely off the menu for me permanently. I had a REALLY bad experience with rice and am afraid the same/similar will happen with pasta or noodles, so I just skip them. Also, all of these things are empty calories. Since you need to focus on Protein might I suggest just sauce and meatballs? Or instead try spaghetti squash...it is delicious roasted with some marinara and a meatball or two. Also, I make lasagna using zucchini slices in place of the lasagna noodles...everything else the same. Also a delicious alternative.

Commercial frozen yogurt (most types you find in shops or grocery stores) has minimal Protein and LOTS of sugar, so yes.

Mine, too, are not very noticeable, BUT I have rubbed Mederma on them EVERY day after my shower. I'm 17 weeks out and they have turned from red to a light pink/grey. I probably won't be wearing a bikini, but still they bother me. The 2 smallest ones are almost non-existent. They 3 others are about an inch. (All in all, not a bad tradeoff for going from a 3x to a size 8-10 in 17 weeks!!)

Yup...rice, Pasta, and noodles...completely off the menu for me permanently. I had a REALLY bad experience with rice and am afraid the same/similar will happen with pasta or noodles, so I just skip them. Also, all of these things are empty calories. Since you need to focus on Protein might I suggest just sauce and meatballs? Or instead try spaghetti squash...it is delicious roasted with some marinara and a meatball or two. Also, I make lasagna using zucchini slices in place of the lasagna noodles...everything else the same. Also a delicious alternative.

I wouldn't have believed it either. The decision to add more calories was a big one for me. After having little control over calories for so long, and now reveling in taking care of myself it was a big deal adding them in (really I was afraid to loose control again). Previously I kept them about 600-700. The scale was hardly moving for the past 2 months. I have read on here, and my trainer told me the body will not let it go (not easily anyway) if it thinks your not going to feed it. So I moved my cals up to 900-1000 per day. I said to myself just for this week to see what happens. 5lb in a week! That hasnt happened for me since week 2. I'm upping mostly with some extra fruit (has helped energy), sometimes Peanut Butter, and sometimes the occasional small treat! Yay me!

I don't eat very slowly, but when I am full, I know it. I usually start hiccuping or I just feel uncomfortable. It also depends on the food. chicken usually does it for me...fills me right up. Avocado...not so much...kind of a slider food. And rice/pasta...fugetaboutit...I don't even try (had one bad incident and I am an experiential learner).

Great point RickM! I always try to pick where we are going to eat ahead of time, and ALWAYS go online and look at the menu if there is one before we go to eat so that I have a plan before I get there. I might change my mind based on daily specials, but I always have the fall back decision.

I am now three months out, and have done pretty good overall. I found myself so focused on how many =pounds= I was losing. Comparing, to those here even though I tried not to. Playing that head game of, am I like others? am I not doing it right ? etc........and today...WAKE up call. I had my three month checkup and as always I do labwork. My cholesterol is under 190 now ( used to be 230) , my triglycerides rather than being over 250 are now 170. My good cholesterol is up, my Vitamin D went from 16, to 52. My blood pressure when has always been borderline high, is now 127 over 78.
I am losing weight, I have really no side affects other than Hair loss and sometimes I feel like I will never have a normal bowel movement again.....and my blood work has NEVER looked better. I would guarantee many =average sized= people don't have these sort of numbers.
So, I guess what I am trying to say.....is if you are like me. Dreaming of every pound lost, grumbling when it doesn't seem to be enough. Remind yourself, that this is way more than what the scale says. Even though I am no where near my goal, my body within three months is healthier than it's been in 20 years.
The mind games I play with myself is amazing!

So today I had a lot of errands & appointments scheduled. I knew I would be gone from the house for hours (including snack time & lunch time). Without a thought I packed a bag with low fat, high Protein, low carb food for both my lunch and a snack. I grabbed two 24oz bottles of Water (it's day three here of a heat wave) and headed off.
When I stopped for lunch, sitting on a park bench under a large shady tree and opened my bag it hit me........who is this person I've become? I like her! She no longer goes to a drive thru fast food restaurant, or stops at a convenience store for a lunch of soda, chips and a candy bar!
Packing the lunch and healthy Snacks was done without even thinking about it. This change all happened a step at a time over the last 11 months - almost 8 months post op and the 3 months of preparation for the surgery.
:-)

Oh...and I forgot to add, I just made hotel reservations in Mackinac City, MI so that I can walk across the Mackinac Bridge (5 miles long) on Labor Day!

Just bought a new bicycle and have been hiking. Have also done 2 5k's so far this summer (I'm a walker due to back surgery) and have 2 more scheduled, as well as a bike hike. Also, just took some friends to a local tourist area and out-walked everyone in the group for the day! Best of all...I am at a loss about buying clothes. I don't know how to buy clothes not at a plus-sized store. I am really eager to practice, practice, practice though!

Just bought a new bicycle and have been hiking. Have also done 2 5k's so far this summer (I'm a walker due to back surgery) and have 2 more scheduled, as well as a bike hike. Also, just took some friends to a local tourist area and out-walked everyone in the group for the day! Best of all...I am at a loss about buying clothes. I don't know how to buy clothes not at a plus-sized store. I am really eager to practice, practice, practice though!

Oh...and I forgot to add, I just made hotel reservations in Mackinac City, MI so that I can walk across the Mackinac Bridge (5 miles long) on Labor Day!

Just bought a new bicycle and have been hiking. Have also done 2 5k's so far this summer (I'm a walker due to back surgery) and have 2 more scheduled, as well as a bike hike. Also, just took some friends to a local tourist area and out-walked everyone in the group for the day! Best of all...I am at a loss about buying clothes. I don't know how to buy clothes not at a plus-sized store. I am really eager to practice, practice, practice though!

Oh...and I forgot to add, I just made hotel reservations in Mackinac City, MI so that I can walk across the Mackinac Bridge (5 miles long) on Labor Day!

My wedding was Saturday night and I did a swing dance with a good friend of mine- and he legit picked me up! My husband also picked me up during our first kiss!

Weighed myself this morning and I'm 195!!!! I'm so excited. Being stuck at 203 for two weeks and now this. Yay!!!

So im 9monhs post-op had my surgery Oct-9.2012. ive lost a total of 113lbs...feels great....but I found out today that I'M PREGNANT! I thought this would never happen to me due to fertility problems....I know its been only 9months but this surgery has made one of my DREAMS come true and im so happy to start my own family with my husband!

Check out theworldaccordingtoeggface.com and emilybites.com both sites have tons of great sleeve friendly recipes for all stages of diet.
Good luck and congrats on your surgery!

Start a new fresh slate go on a ten day full liquid diet then start back on the basics! You need to get 70-80 grams of Protein in daily and remain at 800 calories max per day!.In order to do that you must eat protein rich foods first at each meal. The protein should be 75% of your meal. Measure and weight what you it. 4 ounces at each meal only. If you follow these main rules you will definently loose weight. You also need to drink 64 ounces of Water a day. Take your multi Vitamin and calcium/vit-d daily. Keep your carbs around 40 grams a day. Use myfitnesspal.com to keep your self accountable.You should also exercise 5 days a week for 30-45 minutes. Everyone falls off the wagon the key to success is to get up dust your self off and try again! I tried to quite smoking for 3 years. I would stop then smoke then quite then smoke. finally quite and it stuck! Each time you go threw failing at something you learn and change in a certain way. Give up for a while but go right back to it when your ready. You can do this. The sleeve is a tool. If you use it the way it is meant to be used you will have amazing results. The way you use the sleeve will become your new way of life. By repeatedly following the rules it will eventually become a habit and will be like second nature to you. good luck and never give up

I'd recommend two things - go see a nutritionist and go get counseling. Sounds like your head isn't in this game. If you were eating Protein first, making good food choices, etc., you would NOT be gaining. What's going on?

First I have to say, you DID NOT "CAUSE" her to leave you! She did that for her own selfish/cowardly reasons. Most people would feel happy that their mate was taking steps to get healthy to be around longer. It is her own insecurities that caused this, nothing that you did. I honestly think you should go for counseling. We can all offer you a word of encouragement here, but I think you need a professional to help you see that you have nothing to feel guilty about.
I wish you nothing but the best and you deserve nothing less. Keep moving forward. You are doing this for you, not for anyone else.

Thank you...I share your frustration. I didn't have the surgery so that I could go back to doing all the bad things I was doing before. Do I really want to go through this ever again - HECK NO!!!

I am 6 days post-op and feeling pretty good. But the more I read the more it amazes me how badly people want to get back to old habits. The questions of 'when can I eat this again', and 'when can I have that' seem to be posted by the hundreds. I have to say I am in NO hurry to eat again. I don't want to visit 'Starbucks' or my local 'bar' as that is partially what put me in this position. Please don't take this the wrong way, I know some of you are just trying to get a feel for what is to come and when you can start doing some things. I just want to reiterate that this surgery is a tool and changes are desperately needed to be successful! Now is the perfect time to make those changes. Bring on the broth!