BKLYNgal87

Zen you are always encouraging me on MFP and it's my turn! Get back on the horse and don't dwell on the set backs! We all have them at some point. Just keep pushing forward toward goal and you'll get there as long as long as you keep going in the right direction and keep positive.

LipstickLady is right on the money. Just because it's on the net, doesn't mean it isn't BS. Plenty of people (not everyone) who post their photos on that site either lie, take misleading photos, or just plain look a little heavier because the camera adds on a few lbs. That being said, everyone carries weight differently. If I get down to my goal of 144 I know it will look different on me than my friend who is taller than me and weighs roughly the same. You get to stop being the fat girl when YOU decide to stop calling yourself that. Girl, even now you have a body so many people on here would envy and may I say killer legs. You worked hard for it and you will continue working hard until you've reached your goal and after in maintenance. But you've got to snap out of the mentality that you are somehow "less than" because you are not. You're a star. Get used to it.

At the very least it will probably give you some wicked heartburn. You're only a month and a half out and still healing.

If you do a forum search on the soda you'll find everyone has thoughts on that subject. It has been overdone, actually. There isn't concrete proof in hard data, only correlation, that carbonated beverages alone will stretch the sleeve. But that doesn't mean there won't be one day. Better to err on the side of caution and do as your surgical team tells you, at least on this issue.

What about exercise? Are you physically able to do cardio or strength training? Food isn't 100% of the battle after all.

You can also do soups and stir in unflavored (note - not tasteless) protein powder.

My general rule of thumb these days is this: just because you can do something (according to your surgeon) doesn't mean you should. Though more often than not I think surgeons go way over the top alarmist about food, caffeine, alcohol, etc. For me, at one month post op I was not eating much carbs - only cooked veggies and some fruit. I am more than 2 months out now and I can tolerate protein-infused oatmeal okay but rice, Pasta and bread feel like bombs going off in my stomach. I avoid as much as possible.

I know this may sound strange but I am jealous. I may not get as ravenously hungry as I used to pre-sleeve and may not be able to eat nearly as much, but I still crave and tolerate sweets the select times I've tried them. Self control will make or break me. Still, as you may have figured out, better to lay off the bad stuff for a while until you know you can enjoy in moderation. Your reaction to the ice cream may not be permanent but for now it's certainly good incentive to not eat it!

Bread and pasta feel like bombs exploding in my stomach. Sweet things go down no problem. I am actually jealous of people who say they get bouts of dumping syndrome after surgery. I have never vomited once since the sleeve, and there have been a few times when I probably ate too much. I put my best foot forward every day though. I keep going despite a "cheat" because I can't beat myself up about mistakes that already happened. I agree with Laura, though, it's best to avoid some things entirely as much as you can, especially in the beginning.

My nutritionist told me not to eat more than 700 calories until I was 3 months out. Every post-surgery plan is different. If you're allowed a little more and you can comfortably eat it then why not. I know it's hard to get enough protein in and there's only so many protein shakes you can take before going crazy. What I've started eating for breakfast each morning is weight control quaker oatmeal (has 8 grams of protein / 7 grams fiber... something like that) and half a scoop of unflavored protein powder. I knock out 215 calories and 20 grams of protein. But I balance it out by not eating much in the way of carbs later on in the day. Shrimp is a great lunch or dinner option for protein-loading!

Even abusive people can "love" those they hurt. Doesn't mean they deserve to be loved back for their actions. Doesn't mean the pain they cause should be tolerated. I'm not saying my grandmother is abusive but she's not a good person on the facade and even less so deep down. She certainly doesn't put me down about my weight issues because she loves me. I learned that a long time ago. She does it because she hates things in me that remind her of herself. If tough love was her way of caring about someone, why does she always rave about how perfect my cousin is and put her up on some silver pedastle even though she's a complete screw up who always gets fired from menial jobs and still lives at home? According to my grandmother, she's perfect because she's skinny and beautiful and nothing else counts in life apparently. Good to know that in reality beauty alone doesn't pay the bills. I am trying to do everything I can to be successful at weight loss this time around. It's a tough battle to wage alone and so I am grateful for the people in my life who are supportive and always have been. But I need to strictly limit interactions with people who are at best not supportive or at worst toxic, lest I stop moving forward. I like the letter suggestions I received here. I may just send postcards instead to keep it short and sweet.

Been there, done that I'm afraid. All it gets me is her crying for days saying all she does is care about her grandchildren. We're the center of her world and she does what she does because she loves us so much. Even when she was much younger, logic never worked on her. What I have learned after years and years of this is that it's not about us at all. She doesn't do it because she loves me, she does it because she hates herself. She hates herself and she's always been unhappy with her life and the only thing that seems to make her feel better is taking other people down with her.

Written communication instead of in person or verbal - I love it lol! But alas she calls me every other day. I don't know how long I'd get away with merely not returning her calls without having to give an explanation. Thankfully I won't have to see her until Thanksgiving. I have some time to build up my mental faculties. My parents support my desire to limit communication. Well, my dad scolded me until I reminded him that he limits communication with her for the same reason. My fiance is a different story. He's from a culture where loyalty to one's parents or elders must always be unwaivering. He doesn't get why I can't just ignore the reprehensible things she says. He, of course, has never had a problem with his weight or food .

My obesity and my toxic relationship with my paternal grandmother have gone hand in hand since before I can remember. She has always been one to project her insecurities and low self-esteem onto me (and before me, my dad) and it did me no favors growing up. She was always nitpicking, always dieting, always telling me to be on a diet, always cheating on her diet, always encouraging me to cheat on my diet. She would scold me for being fat with one hand and push a plate of fattening food at me with the other. It's a Jewish thing I guess. She is a lover of backhanded compliments (you have such a pretty face - but no one will notice it with that body). She has a sick way of twisting words and intentions to make it seem like all she does is love and care about me, and that's why she puts me down. Even if she cared about me, she never learned how to express it in the right way no matter how many times she was lectured or ignored by me. As she has gotten older, you'd think her senility would soften her demeanor but for the most part it hasn't. It only makes her repeat herself more.Her behavior crushed my self-esteem and I began to associate shame with food. I would snack in secret. I would hate that I was fat but then stuff my face because it was the only thing that made me feel better. I went into food addiction therapy for a while, and I learned a lot of great skills. My counselor (and my parents) supported my decisions, even when I estranged myself from my grandmother for nearly two years. But she's getting on in her years. I don't know how long she has left. I don't want to feel any guilt when she's gone that I was too petty and weak to grin and bear it but I also have come too far to start sabotaging myself again. She was happy for me when I had the surgery - it was a long time coming - in her words. She was pretty supportive for a while. But last night on the phone, after I told her from my highest weight I've lost nearly 45 lbs, she matter-of-factly informed me that I would never be thin. I would always be a "bigger" girl. No one in her family was ever thin and I would be no different. I'm too big boned. My brother and my cousin got the good genes and I got saddled with the bad ones. I will never look like them. I felt sick to my stomach. I felt like I was 10 again. My mom pointedly remarked later that no one in their family was ever thin because they all ate whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted. I know that to be true. But I can't shake the hurt feelings I have. I have come a long way since I was a teenager. But my grandmother is who she is and our relationship will never change. How do you all deal with toxic family relationships? Part of me wants to shut her out again so that I can focus on my weight loss journey and succeed. The other part of me feels bad and frustrated that I'm not strong enough to withstand the lifelong obtuseness of a bitter old lady. I need to succeed at this. My life depends on it. But it would be nice to have a clear conscience too. It's also nice to vent sometimes.

While in the hospital you no doubt noticed you were hooked up to IV's the whole time, right? Constantly pumping fluids, plus edema, plus surgical "trauma" to the body all cause a little water weight gain. It will all go away in the first week or two. Not to worry.

I never said they were bad per-se. Did I not say everything in moderation? Eating them is probably no different than taking a laxative with a high fat content. Should you eat them all the time? Definitely not. Personally I would rather have a weensy bit of sugar over the sugar alcohols but that's because I'd rather not have the laxative effects.

Manufacturers that make "sugar free" products with sugar alcohols usually compensate by doubling the fat content. You eat a lot of fat - you won't lose weight, sugar or not. Everything in moderation. I too can't tolerate them! Talk about an afternoon bathroom marathon. No thanks.

The gas pains do get better, especially after the first week. Just remember, every day you're putting one foot in front of the other. I am 2 months PO and feel better than ever. VSG was the best decision I ever made for myself. Wishing you well!

Unlikely, though ketosis does seem to change bodily odors in some people. How is your liquid intake? Could be dehydration also.

Mabrouk Ahmed! Hope you have a speedy and smooth recovery.

I had a glass of wine at 4 1/2 weeks post op and a scotch on the rocks recently. I agree with the others - drink it slowly. Limit yourself not only because you'll get drunk faster but also because it's empty calories.

He probably can cut down on the blood pressure meds. My dad recently lost 15 lbs and he was getting dizzy every time he stood up. He felt better as soon as he halved his dose. Your husband should go see his doctor who can better advise how much to curtail.

Welcome to the forum! Congrats on taking the first step of the journey to a better quality of life. The sleeve is an excellent tool and with proper education and motivation you will be successful! Wishing you a speedy and smooth surgery and recovery!

I use skim milk and sweeten with either splenda or stevia. Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts both have sugar free flavorings if you need a fix on the go. I bought a six pack of torani sugar free syrup. I use them for a variety of things, not just coffee. http://www.amazon.com/Torani-Variety-Sugar-25-4-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B003PFUNU4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376315640&sr=8-1&keywords=sugar+free+torani+syrup