FindingElise

This is such a fun problem to have! Congrats on your weight loss. I'm down 48.5 lbs since surgery, and still have a long way to go, but my panties (which were already very big and granny-ish before surgery) are not fitting well at all. I was running to catch an elevator last week, and my underwear started rolling down. (Thankfully I was wearing pants!)
Like gamergirl suggested, have fun browsing and looking at VS, Frederick's, La Perla, etc. as you "window" shop! You might even want to create a Pinterest account, so you can keep track of the things you like.

I started getting the weirdest cravings about 3 weeks out of surgery. I was dying for something salty, so I took tiny sips of Pickle Juice right out of the jar. I can't explain how refreshing it felt, waking up in the middle of the night and standing at the fridge drinking pickle juice! Then came my broccoli cravings. Once I finally had a taste of a piece of steamed broccoli, it hurt like crazy in my sleeve, so that was disappointing. I'm pretty much over my cravings now (at 15 weeks out), and if anything, there are foods I can't stand the thought of - mainly yogurt, applesauce, horseradish cheese (yes, yes...this is an odd one), Laughing Cow cheese wedges, and oatmeal. These are things I got very ill on at some point during the early stages of my recovery, so I'm completely turned off from them.

I love the Gilligan and O'Mally from Target. They have a knock off of spanks too, I can't remember if they are from Target or Walmart. I'm not a girly girl, so I don't do lace, or satiny material, but the Target panties come in several materials and I have always liked the feel and quality of them.

I also LOVE going to Ross, TJ Maxx, and Marshall's for designer panties at super discounts.

Hi. Good question why I stopped. At 255 I was in a size 18 I had not been in a size 18 for over 20 years and I was really happy with myself. I got busy with my daughter and new grand son and other life derailers. I mention hubby cause he would bring home my trigger foods. chips and chocolates. I was doing the best I could to not gain any weight. Thoug I saw 255 daily on the scale I was satisfied with the 75 pound loss at that time. There were times when I tried to focus and lose more but scale wouldn't move and I lost focus. Yes I lost the weight for me not hubby and I have called him out on his attempts to sabotage my progress we have that under control now
Laura-ven HI I follow the 5:2 group daily. I was so excited to see others in my situation on the 5:2 plan you Feedyoureye Georgia M2G Coops and Globtrotter are my source of inspiration and now Lisahopes and others have joined You guys are the reason I decided to begin posting again

So when I exercise my shorts are too big and fall down and my panties are too big so when my shorts fall down my panties fall down too. I have always bought my panties at Lane Bryant and bought the high leg. I liked these because I have a big lower stomach from excess skin and the high leg was not too high that my stomach roll fit in the panty and not over it and because they had pretty colors and laces, etc. Well, I was wearing a 14/16 in LB panties and their panties do not go smaller in size. Does anyone have some recommendations for panties that have the same qualities are LB's? I have lost 43 pounds but I still have this excess skin stomach that has to be tucked away.

I actually just bought some today. I just bought the cheap microfiber fruit of the loom.. I got seven pair for ten dollars. I figure they're good for the transition period I'm in. I LIKE maidenform panties but I don't want to pay right now for them.... Personally I buy briefs because my lowerstomach is really wide and floppy and sticks out the legs of the high cut.. gross.. Can't wait to get that thing cut off..... then I'll be able to wear something with a high leg and/or low waist.

Premier Protein shake all the way! You can get them at Sam's or costco but Sam's is cheaper. You get 30g of Protein with each drink.

I'm back!. I was sleeved in Nov 2011, so I will Celebrate two years being sleeved. I started my journey at 330 pounds. When I found out I was going to be a first time grandma, I knew I couldn't keep up with a two year old at 330 pounds. Having tried to lose weight for years to very little avail, I decided WLS was the way for me. Of course it was initially tough. The mandatory 6 months pre op, was tough cause I wanted to get started. Then the surgery was actually a breeze. The few months afterwards was really tough. Was so terribly weak for a while, thought I had made a mistake. However, once my body got used to the situation, I started losing and it was great. Eventually lost 75 pounds. Went from a size 24 pant (some times a 26) down to a size 18. Oh. I really thought I was cute!!. My hubby was really happy with me before and didn't want me to lose any more weight. I maintained at that size 255 for two years. Glad to have the tool that helped me eat smaller portions. Glad to have the control to follow the high Protein, low carb lifestyle for eating. During the past two years, I find that I can eat anything I want, I can sometimes eat larger portions (though still smaller than normal). During the past two years I've often had periods of tracking my food and not tracking my food. During the past two years I've not gained any weight (beyond the occasional 3 - 5 pound swing). During the past two years I've been very happy with myself, my weight lose and life in general. Now.. not sure why.. I want to move on down. I want to continue my general to a better goal. Most recently I've started the 5:2 method for eating. That is eating regular for 5 days and 2 days to decrease the calories. Theory is by reducing calories for two days will overall reduce your calorie intake and thereby cause weight loss. Theory for this life style is other science that I'm not clear on or actually sold on.. that giving your body a resting period from eating is supposed to be good for you. Let me say right up front.. THIS IS NOT FOR FIRST TIME WLS PATIENTS. you MUST MUST MUST MUST follow the directions for eating from your surgeon. You MUST MUST MUST MUST.. follow the advice from others in your same situation. A 2 year sleeve is much different from a new sleeve. My 2 year journey is mine and its different for everyone. Over the past two years I've been reading the posts and blogs from this forum and it has helped to keep me focused and on track. I use this forum to get good tips on staying motivated, good food tips, reciepes, protein advice etc. This is an awesome forum. At this point I want to begin posting and replying in the Vet forum, and to do that I must post at least 100 times. I consider myself a sleeve VET, because I've lived this life for 2 years, especially if you include the pre-op time. I'm looking forward to now actally joining the discussions instead of simply reading about them. Now that I want to use my tool to continue my journey its time to get back in the game.

We were sending you weird pickle mojo!

No Pickle Juice drinking - but so weird, I was eating a crunchy cold dill pickle while opening this thread!

Sign me up for pickle juice drinkers anonymous! I got started on dill Pickle Juice when I was a kid and somehow figured out that pickle juice stopped hiccups. (Now I just keep one of those fake lemons in my desk drawer and take a hit when it looks like I've got hiccups that are going to go the distance.) I actually also like green olive juice (and black olive juice...). I think I'm just gross... :-)
PJDA All the way!!!
I'm 8 weeks out, and I haven't really had any cravings for anything that were too far out of the norm for me, but I've had some issues with dehydration and nausea and seem to be developing an aversion to eating/drinking. Thank you MIJourney for saying that you were eventually able to drink normally! I have to keep reminding myself that it will get easier, but every day that I only hit about 20oz of Fluid, it seems more and more daunting. Somehow today, though, I managed to get 8 oz down on my 20 minute drive home. Maybe the new nausea meds are going to be my ticket back to hydration while my sleeve adjusts! One can but hope!

I was craving dill pickles at about two weeks. I put some dill pickle relish in my tuna salad with some extra Pickle Juice and I really enjoyed it. No problems! We must need the acidity?
I also miss beer and pizza! I look at food porn all the time... Cooking channel, cookbooks, magazines, recipe sites. I think I need to head back to the shrink because I still have major food obsessions.

Around $1200. That doesn't include co-insurance for pre-op visits with my PCP and dietician, the pre-op bloodwork, and sleep study. I'd say $1900 total with those things included. It was worth every_damn_penny!
The hospital bills came to over $56,000 before my insurance company made adjustments. They ended up paying just $17,000. Crazy, huh?

It's long, but the time really does go by quickly. Before you know it, you'll be sleeved too! Congrats on your decision to do something wonderful for yourself.

There's something about those pickles! There should be a pickle fever support group for the newly sleeved.

I started getting the weirdest cravings about 3 weeks out of surgery. I was dying for something salty, so I took tiny sips of Pickle Juice right out of the jar. I can't explain how refreshing it felt, waking up in the middle of the night and standing at the fridge drinking pickle juice! Then came my broccoli cravings. Once I finally had a taste of a piece of steamed broccoli, it hurt like crazy in my sleeve, so that was disappointing. I'm pretty much over my cravings now (at 15 weeks out), and if anything, there are foods I can't stand the thought of - mainly yogurt, applesauce, horseradish cheese (yes, yes...this is an odd one), Laughing Cow cheese wedges, and oatmeal. These are things I got very ill on at some point during the early stages of my recovery, so I'm completely turned off from them.

I started getting the weirdest cravings about 3 weeks out of surgery. I was dying for something salty, so I took tiny sips of Pickle Juice right out of the jar. I can't explain how refreshing it felt, waking up in the middle of the night and standing at the fridge drinking pickle juice! Then came my broccoli cravings. Once I finally had a taste of a piece of steamed broccoli, it hurt like crazy in my sleeve, so that was disappointing. I'm pretty much over my cravings now (at 15 weeks out), and if anything, there are foods I can't stand the thought of - mainly yogurt, applesauce, horseradish cheese (yes, yes...this is an odd one), Laughing Cow cheese wedges, and oatmeal. These are things I got very ill on at some point during the early stages of my recovery, so I'm completely turned off from them.

My craving is pickles and salsa! I mean really?!

I see we have more pickle cravers here I had pickle fever BAD right after I was first sleeved. I don't know what it was about that delicious vinegary-brine...YUM! I also found I hated bacon and any kind of seafood! Very weird to see how my tastes changed literally over night. Things have mostly righted themselves now, but I still don't like overly salted foods whereas before surgery I was a salt fiend!

I started getting the weirdest cravings about 3 weeks out of surgery. I was dying for something salty, so I took tiny sips of Pickle Juice right out of the jar. I can't explain how refreshing it felt, waking up in the middle of the night and standing at the fridge drinking pickle juice! Then came my broccoli cravings. Once I finally had a taste of a piece of steamed broccoli, it hurt like crazy in my sleeve, so that was disappointing. I'm pretty much over my cravings now (at 15 weeks out), and if anything, there are foods I can't stand the thought of - mainly yogurt, applesauce, horseradish cheese (yes, yes...this is an odd one), Laughing Cow cheese wedges, and oatmeal. These are things I got very ill on at some point during the early stages of my recovery, so I'm completely turned off from them.

Okay this may sound hokey, but my friends made a gift for me before surgery. It's a large jar with a lid and it contains slips of paper in it. Each slip of paper is an idea for an activity that doesn't cost money and doesn't involve eating. When I "think" I want to eat I'm supposed to go take a slip of paper and do the activity instead of eating.
The items are things like taking a walk, call a friend, post on VST or some other on-line group. Each lady that participates in making the jar contributed multiple ideas. In fact I continue to receive anonymous slips of paper with ideas. They just show up on my desk. I dutifully place them in the jar at home because I know will need them someday in the near future.
I just got sleeved 8/19 of this year so I haven't needed it yet, but know I will.
Drink 64 oz h20 a day. Eat 60-80 grams of Protein everyday. Take your supplements. Pray/meditate! Love yourself through this! You are worth it!
Praying for you - blessings.

Poolguard -
I would much rather have you continue to attack me personally than add further fuel to the fire for those who chose to ridicule and belittle the original poster. In fact, I encourage you and these other posters, the alleged "iron willed", to use me as your punching bag. Leave this original poster and her supporters alone.
I have no expectations for postings other than they abide by the rules which clearly (see cathy above) do not encourage these kinds of postings. I also respect that we should be polite to others.
I can agree to disagree. Let's leave the people looking for support to the ones that can support them. Clearly the message from the original poster is she is looking for something you are unable and/or are unwilling to give.

You seem to be the only one irritated. Part of the reason forums exist is for people to vent and seek out support from like-minded individuals. If you're so annoyed by the OP's struggle, move on and find another topic to reply to. If weight loss was as easy as "eating to live" and getting "back on the damn wagon", or paying a therapist $150+ per hour to commiserate and tell us how our screwed up childhood and being attacked by giant hamburgers made us fat, it wouldn't be a multi-billion dollar industry - nor would any of us had to resort to surgical intervention.
OP, I'm about 4 months out and experiencing some of the same issues that you are. As someone pointed out, it's normal for our progress to slow down as we get further out. Our bodies have had some time to adjust to the lower calorie intake. Also, a person your size isn't going to need as many calories to survive as someone 60 lbs. heavier, so your metabolism has probably decreased. Focus on one day at a time...track your calories/protein/etc., plan your meals, take a PPI if you aren't already, which Lipstick Lady suggested (I can keep from being a hungry beast, as long as I take my Prilosec regularly), and speak with a nutritionist experienced in bariatric patients. You can do this!!!