Madam Reverie

The absolute best of luck winging its way to you

i can't do battered fried stuff.. I'm kinda glad about that, too... Else I'd be eating deep fried snapper or cod... all... day... long...

'tis yummmmmmmy

I'm 15 weeks out and I still burp like a trooper. Its also the same when I lie down, even if its a very long time after food. It's something I and my partner have become accustomed to... Burp-o-rama

I would suggest you slow down your intake. A little at a time. Let it settle and see where you go from there. If you're feeling bloated so soon out, that's not a good thing. It'll be like you're forcing it a bit. Just be careful, slow down and see how you go. No guilt required.

As long as you're not feeling sick, bloated, in pain, or you're forcing yourself? I don't see the problem?

Its not exactly low fat, but it tastes good and let me get some much needed nutrition in... Winner!

Shrimp (small and boiled, in a marie-rose sauce) was all good for me, too... Chew chew chew... avoids spew spew spew

'Course you can. As long as you know how many calories/sugars/fats are in it and you're not drinking it in preference to getting your Protein in and veggies in. i would say,however, food (protein) and Water, is the most important things for you to consume. If you're hitting those targets and your calorie targets, I personally couldn't see why not.. Although, a lot of caffeine is frowned upon because it dehydrates.

I have it once in a while.. The world won't stop revolving if you have it as the odd treat. Every day and you might end up clocking up the calories?!

I know how much each meat roughly gives you per serving and for the other stuff I'm not sure about, I look at the labels . Obviously the shakes and the bars are standard and I only eat one variety and drink one manufacturers product, so its pretty easy.

Misty - I count my Protein only. Everything else is in my head. I know if I hit my protein, everything else will fall into place. The only time I might say 'hmm... how much was that worth', is when I'm about to nibble on something a little calorie-loaded. I'll have a look at the packet, do a bit of maths and know where I have to be the next day. If I'm hitting minimum 42g on protein and at least 1,500ml minimum on Water - I feel fairly confident that I'm going to be good.

Looks, sadly, can make the difference between being 'successful' in life and being 'unsuccessful'. A gross unfairness of which I despised and felt incredibly frustrated by for the whole of my adult life... Now that I'm losing weight, will I be one of those people who do not spare those who have troubles a passing thought? Or even worse and if I ever have children, instill in them a silent prejudice against those who do not conform to the general notion of 'normalcy' or 'beauty' - because they're 'bigger'. It would break my heart if I identified any of that in myself. But would I automatically and unconsciously do it because I felt/feel so bad about my own body-image? I hope I will be one to challenge those notions. It saddens me so often when I meet women who are so down-trodden that they look in the mirror and see nothing more of themselves than wives, mothers, house-keepers - glorified servants. They believe that because they have a few lumps and bumps, that domestic mundanity is the best they can hope for in being their 'identifier' - their value as a 'whole' human being. To manage a household is no mean feat and should NEVER be underestimated. So why is it then, that women feel they have to be perfect in the house, look perfect on the outside but yet feel so insecure about their bodies and their persona as a whole. What will it take for us all to feel 'better' about ourselves?

I use Lil-lets applicator.. Far superior to Tampax and others, because they expand width-wise, not length wise. Crucial for my PCOS self and the horrendous heavy periods I used to have. Very few leaks with their Super-super-plus...

Well, sounds like they're going for the zero carbs, zero sugars, zero fats option to maximise the loss in the first 6 months. I know every nutritionist is different, but mine said 'we want you to eat low fat, low carb and low sugar - it doesn't mean you eliminate them entirely. The body needs them to function.' He clarified it with 'obviously, we want you to get a bit of carbs from your veggies - not white processed flour and your sugars? EAT your fruit, don't drink it, but limit it to a very small amount. You need to be able to enjoy and embrace a healthy balanced diet for the long-term'. If this is about maximising weight loss and not about any other sugar related issues - I, personally, would not see the harm in having 10 blueberries in some yoghurt once a week.. or something similar, when you're cleared to eat mushies. I am of the opinion, that if you deprive yourself of everything, you're going to re-bound somewhere along the line and it might not be pretty. I know people consistently say 'Change everything now, get in good habits for the future'... yadaa yadaa yadaa... But a tiny amount of fruit is NOT a bad habit. Chowing down on sliders like chocolate, chips, sweets and the like, is. As I have stated - I have eaten fruit (admittedly, not citrus because of the stomach acid issues), and my weightloss is going just fine. I feel healthy and full of vitality, too. I don't know whether that would have been the case if I'd have been warned off everything... Its your body - you know what is right for it. Best of luck

You look marvelous! Well done, you!

You look fabulous! Well done you!

I'll admit, giving up fruits for six months after surgery will be hard. I'm allergic to bananas and kiwi, but other than that, there isn't a fruit I don't love. April Other than the 'sugar content' (and unless you have diabetes and other sugar related problems), did your nutritionist give you any more reasons as to why fruit was 'off limits' to you?

Crikey, that's awful! My response to that would have been 'Yes, dear, and you're a regular Rubens painting, aren't you?...' This would have been accompanied with walking off.... What a cow!

Have you thought about taking Theanine? Its quite expensive in its purest form, but boy, does it help with concentration levels. Remarkably so. It's an Amino Acid and although its present in a lot of 'body building' supplements, it was recommended to me by a herbalist and she was absolutely right on its effects. It clarifies the mind, facilitates concentration (obviously, this will have to be in conjunction with the right Protein, Vitamins and Water levels) Life saver for me and my ability to concentrate just after surgery. Best of luck in your Doctorate

By week 4, I was eating plain yoghurt and frozen blueberries. Well chewed, of course. I'm 16 weeks out and I eat all fruits. I know its high in sugar, but it has essential nutrients. I know everyones plan is different - but I can't see how any fruit can be considered 'bad', if eaten in sensible quantities. As I have said before, if someone had told me that I wouldn't have been able to eat fresh fruit after this surgery? I'dve not had the surgery. Fact.

I have yet to experience this.. Primarily because I haven't lost enough weight and I haven't seen the majority of my close friends for the past year (been overseas). I'm prepared for it. Thankfully though, I don't think my friends are the types to do that to me... I don't know whether its because they care for me too much to upset me. They're intelligent enough to know that comments like that are waaaay unhelpful or, more likely, they're afraid I'll go off on one. No one likes it when I go off on one

No target set for me. Personally? As soon as I hit 'normal' at BMI 24.95 or whatever it is - I'll be good.

I was of that opinion, too (search the word 'controversial' in the forum topics and it might come up) - that not all people 'look better' after weight loss surgery. It inspired great debate about whether it is better to be 300lbs and unhealthy, or really skinny and 'healthy'. I guess its a personal choice and finding that 'happy medium' for you. I do think people can go too far. I do think it has a lot to do with finding the right balance of calories - fats, Proteins, carbs and knowing went to stop losing and just maintain. Despite all this, I read a lot on here, I found my 'truth' and I still had the surgery. I think I'm doing okay. I am 5ft 10, I was 250lbs at the start. I've lost 46lbs. My BMI was 35.9 or something and I started to show signs of serious long term health problems that I wanted to 'nip in the bud' - so I did. Only you can make this choice, my dear. All I can say is read and read and read, until you're confident in your own decision making. There's a lot of experience on this site - do your own analysis and let it guide you to what is right for you. Best of luck

Made me well up, too... Isn't it amazing how we are all the architects of our own misery and how that passes on down the line, if we're not careful.. I wonder how many of us have actually experienced this?