Canary Diamond

Yes, I agree, this would be great! Some people use quotes as their profile pics and I would love to be able to read them!

It has something to do with the vagus nerve and is very normal. If you start doing this you need to stop eating because you have reached full.

Vagus, baby! That's so money.

...our body image seems to play a much bigger part in relationships than we all realize.

I think this is an interesting point, Beach Lover. How much change in others' attitudes towards/treatment of us is due to our physical transformation, and how much is due to our own reaction to the transformation (i.e., gaining self-esteem, expressing ourselves, learning to set boundaries with those who may have taken advantage before).

You've done a great job, Chris! I'm glad you have found TRUE friends in the process.

Shut........up! NO WAY are all three of those pictures you. Looks like a family collage with you and your two grandmothers. Same beautiful skin, same sparkle in the eyes, different generations. I think it's time to change your profile pic, my dear (might I suggest the one of you in the pink shirt?).

Looking gorgeous. Thank you so much for sharing!

Good for you! You may have lost the weight, but she's the clear loser in this. I hope all that $h!t on the table is hers, right before you threw it from a tall building.

Do you have any before pics?

I have literally had frozen yogurt every day since being 2 days post-op. My coordinator even took me to get some to ward of a yeast infection from the antibiotics. I've felt fine on it. Some days it's the only lactose my body can handle.

No Sleeve for me.

I went to the hospital today and my blood count was too low. I appreciate Drs. Valenzuela and Cabrera for not doing a surgery on someone they were concerned about. Oddly enough, I am okay. Being healthy is best for me right now.

Sorry you had to go through the hassle, PrincessSleeve, but glad you're o.k. with their decision. It sounds like you have a very healthy attitude about it. What's your plan now?

I'm a sneezer too! I go into a sneezing fit if I have too much sugar or any dairy. I think it's a form of inflammation and rejection.

I'm glad you asked this question. My sleeve has been very picky and I'm finding it difficult to stay full as well. Thank you, OP and subsequent posters, for the good ideas!

I have developed a lactose problem since being sleeved on May 6. My stomach just gets all upset and it lasts for about 24 hours. Luckily it isn't worse than that, but it is really hindering my diet. I need to start advancing my diet but I am afraid to simply because it seems EVERYTHING has milk in it! Even a few bites of toast upsets it. I'm super picky about my food, so things are really getting hard.

Who else has this problem? I feel like I am the only one dealing with that on top of recovering. I need some tips, suggestions, anything. I'd even be happy with someone else with the issue to talk to. Help? Anyone? lol

Also, has anyone with a mild lactose intolerance tried the Lactaid pills? I wonder if they're even worth the money.

Hi there! How are you handling lactose now that you're nearly three months out?

I had surgery July 13 and am experiencing total lactose intolerance as well. Your post and its responses have been very helpful. Thank you!

I'm so happy for you! What a great victory! Thank you for sharing

I'm on purees and since surgery my body has decided to reject lactose (cow's milk) in all its forms. I can no longer tolerate yogurt, cottage or ricotta cheese, cream Soups, or Protein Shakes made with milk solids. Lactaid doesn't help. I know there are some Protein drinks out there without lactose, but I'm struggling to come with other protein ideas (and getting awfully sick of broth). I seem to do o.k. with Beans, but tuna salad (even pureed) does not go down well yet. Neither does an egg.

Any ideas?

Thank you, forum peeps!

Thanks, I will go to Gyne. But that may take awhile to get an appt. and I may need a new one because mine is so darned old and talking to him about this would be difficult. I was hoping to avoid this. Plus I can't imagine the pain!! But if its really that bad, they probably would have to give me something for the pain or do a scope. I'll get right on it, though. I never thought about being something as serious as a cervical polyp but now I cannot mess around with this until that is ruled out. Thanks again.

FYI - I've had two cervical polyps and neither was serious, just annoying. Certainly did feel better after they were removed!

Please see your gynecologist. Yes, as a gynecologist's daughter I'm biased, but this is not something you should try to diagnose yourself. You may have a cervical polyp that could easily be removed, or any number of other issues. And if it is something serious, you'll be glad you caught it now.

Oh lordy, the commercials! It's awful, isn't it? Yet another reason I'm ready to dump the cable and live off of Netflix. Plus, Charter Cable sucks rotten eggs.< /p>

...use their "experience" as a platform to be "more-sleeved-than-thou", so to speak...

LOL! Love this! You sleev-eth the truth, my child.

Wow, you look great! Love the pink lipstick!

I'm sorry you're feeling this way and I can relate. I asked a question on the technical thread last week about why so many women were posting in the Man Room - thought it was exclusive to men and the day I looked at it (I was lurking, I admit it!) there were literally more posts by women than men. The hostility blowback I received was worse than an old lady fart passed through an onion.

You absolutely have a right to your opinions and to own your experience. It's a shame how people use their online personas as barracks walls, which they hide behind and lob angry stink bombs at those who are just here to find information and support.

weight gain is something I always keep in mind so if I eat cake you bet your sweet ass I'm working out harder.. besides I'm normal I like having a little treat once in a while not everyday lol

I think that's great - and I hope I'm able to do that too someday!

You betcha, Taradawn! It was one of my faves too

I've found that since mindless eating is no longer the event/pastime that it once was, I'm watching much less television. The two used to go hand-in-hand and I'm finding it can be difficult to watch tv without eating. I'm curious if any post-sleevers have taken the leap and gotten rid of their television or cable and, if so, how has it affected your weight loss journey?

I like the real deal like carrot cake and brownies lol don't do Protein Shakes much anymore

I know once you reach a certain point, you can eat anything in regulated portions, but I'm way too paranoid about gaining all the weight back to go there, soocalchic! Here's why: My mother works with THREE different women who've been sleeved and gained all their weight back plus more and now eat whatever they want in huge portions. She always brings them up as a warning when I mention I'll eventually get to eat normally again, and I do not want to end up like them (or give her an "I told you so" opportunity). So I'm looking for alternatives to keep me on the straight and narrow for as long as possible!

Hello, Ken S. Do you know if the new website overhaul will allow us to add increments to our height and weight on our tickers to make them more accurate? For example, I would love to be able to enter a height of 5'2 1/2" or, even better, 5'2 3/4" to get the most accurate BMI calculations, and weights in either .5 lb. or .2 lb. increments.

If not, no big deal. Just curious! Thanks!

Hello JGJ, I understand where you're coming from. It can be difficult to comprehend why surgeons' post-op diet plans vary so much when you know they do not individualize them for their patients, regardless of BMI or other risk factors.

One way I found to help me deal with cravings for more solid foods when I was in the liquid stages was to puree something like frozen peas or Beans (you can do a search for my salsa bean Soup recipe) then thin it down with broth until the consistency was somewhere between a clear and full liquid. I did this with homemade lentil Soup and Trader Joe's Latin Style Black Bean Soup as well. It made me feel like I had something to "chew" (even though I didn't) and felt more satisfying in my tummy than plain broth. You also might try mixing yogurt or banana with your Protein smoothie to give it a fuller mouth-feel. As long as it's liquid enough to sip, you should be fine. However, I am not a doctor, registered dietitian, or nutritionist, so please don't take this advice against any given to you by your surgeon.

Sweet tooths? teeth? Anyway, if you haven't already you MUST try Now Sports's whey Protein Isolate in Toffee Caramel Fudge! I got a packet in the sample pack from netrition.com (which is a really good variety, btw). I was really craving something "naughty" last night (as I'm wont to do when my sister comes to visit) and tried this with some chocolate and vanilla soy milk and whoa, buddy! It was like a liquid Skor or Heath bar! I cannot tolerate artificial sweeteners and this was sooooo good, I was sure I was cheating...however it's made with stevia and only has 1 gram of sugar per serving! Plus, you get 23 grams of protein!

I woke up this morning feeling so much better than I did yesterday and ordered some packets of this along with Syntrax's Mint Cookie (which I've yet to try, but have heard amazing things about!). I found the best deal on AllStarHealth.com - 14 packets for $18.

What are your sweet tooth's favorites?

I love Bariatric Advantage choc. chewy calcium citrate,

but that's not Bariatric Choice.

Those are actually sold on the Bariatric Choice website!

Thank you all for the recommendations!