NMJG

Yes, it can be a nightmare in Vegas. I feel for you.

When any thread gets a response, it immediately gets displayed as the top thread in that forum. If a certain thread hasn't had a response in awhile, other threads with more activity will be placed above that thread. When she posts on this thread, it gets *bumped* to the top making it more visible. Exactly. With all the site changes people aren't seeing threads that they normally would respond to, so I bump it up to the first page from time to time.

Best wishes and prayers coming your way, RJ. I do hope things improve quickly for you. Keep posting so we can support you through this.

I read that article in the news. Amazing that people would get after you on that.

I picked a normal range BMI, and it also happened to correlate to what my doctor came up with. I am going for 125 lbs. Last time I lost weight ten years ago I was 140 and always wanted to get that last fifteen pounds off. This time I will do it. I am 53, and now stand 5' 4 1/2". I used to be 5'6".

Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Diesel! What great progress you have made. Congrats!

I'll have to check the app out again. I do have it on my Android phone, but I mostly used the iPad app. At work I use a PC to post (because I'm working so hard!)

I had nuggets a few weeks ago when I needed protein and nothing else was available, and Yuck! They were nasty. Don't think I'll be eating those again. However, Chick-fil-A has Grilled Chicken Nuggets that are real chicken breast and are good. A pack of 4 stuffs me. Just skip the sauces.

Hey everyone. My surgery was 8/12/13. Doing OK. Not fast, but steady. I feel so much better, arthritis pain almost gone, although unfortunately my blood pressure hasn't dropped. Not weight related, I guess. I love my sleeve and every month improves. I am on regular foods, although I still like soft foods - they just feel better. Just in the past week I was able to start raw vegs and fruit. I had a cutie mandarin orange that was so delicious after months of no fresh raw produce, and I can eat salads now (not very much, of course, since I fill up fast). 4 month check up is Dec 12. I think the worst thing was my throat. It was so tight and had a lump. They tested me for stricture (none) and it has slowly been going away, but it was very uncomfortable.

Congrats! That's terrific!

I think for some folks Starbucks is a big trigger. Bravo to the people who have been able to harness their cravings. The most dangerous thing about Starbucks IMHO is that you can drink those liquid calories and carbs very easily with the sleeve. It doesn't fill you up and as others have noted, use up an alarming percentage of your daily calories when you are trying to lose weight. That said, I stop in maybe once a month or less. I get a tall decaf skinny latte or skinny decaf mocha and always log it into MFP. I was proud of myself for resisting pumpkin lattes this year since there is no sugar-free version of it. So to answer your question, I would say Starbucks ranges from bad/evil to not-so-bad if controlled. I don't think I'd put it on my list of "good" places to stop by, though.

Morning, my friends. Quiet day at work, it's nice. Since we are going out for Thanksgiving for the first time ever, we are trying to think of things to do in the city while we are there. Movie? 8PM early sales? We are having dinner at the restaurant at 4 pm. Any suggestions on things to do? What is going to be so weird this Thanksgiving is eating before dinner. In past years I saved up my appetite all day for the big meal. This year that won't work, since I won't be able to eat more if I skip meals early in the day or not. And skipping meals early in the day will hose my Protein intake.

Thanks, Lynda, that's very useful info,

Bump. I'd like to hear more, too.

Wow, everyone looks great!

It would have been way too much for me, but everyone is different.

Del Sol in El Paso, Dr. Acosta. My insurance required a center of excellence, and there weren't any in Abq.

Socorro, good weather for it right now

Megan, I'm so sorry to hear you are feeling so ill. Warm tea perhaps? I couldn't take cold water but chamomile tea worked for me. I agree with Laura on the liquids, it seems like you should be able to do full liquids at 6 weeks. It's definitely worth a call to your doctor or nut to find out. Protein shakes, or even a glass of milk, would do wonders for you. I think Isopure liquid protein drinks are consider clear liquids, but you can check with your doctor. You can get them online or at GNC or Vitamin Shoppe. Try it over ice, 8 oz at a time (trying to get down the entire enormous bottle at once is a bit daunting, so break it up over the day).

Honey, you are only 6 weeks out from major surgery. Give yourself a break. Recovery times can differ for everyone. Take it easy and enjoy your naps. If you are still feeling this way at 6 months, then I'd worry more (unless you do have a history of depression, of course). As you get further down the road, more weight will be off, you will have more energy, and the naps will cut back on their own.

Very nice explanation, Lips, knew we could count on you

I love my sleeve, too, but I wish I had known how awful the first month would be, I would have been better prepared for it.

Great input, folks, I love hearing everyone's thoughts on this. Laura and Lips, where are you?

No, but I have used Hemp powder, it's pretty good.

I've noticed this, too, and I think it's normal, but I'm not a doctor. Some days I just don't feel like eating (just like before the sleeve). Those are days it is hard to get my Protein in. It's the other days that I worry about I find that if I switch back to softer Proteins for a couple of days (tuna salad, egg salad, cottage cheese, chicken salad, tofu, greek yogurt, beans) it helps to get through those times, as the soft proteins don't give me that sick stuffed feeling after 2 bites and I can actually get down 3 or 4 oz. Just make sure you don't overeat them, though, and get back to dense protein as soon as you can.