Katcloudshepherd

Congratulations on your successful surgery and new life! Very happy for you and hope you continue to find increased energy and better health. Blessings, Kathleen

Good idea with the timer. Eating slowly was something I had to come to grips with. Only threw up once though. The longer I practiced--the better I got at it. As with any habit, it takes time to develop it. So happy you progressed to the pureed stage. I remember how happy I was to be able to eat real food . Blessings, Kathleen

Good luck with your surgery. I was in for 2 nights and boy did I use the morphine pump I was attached to on the second day. Walk, walk and walk. When you can sip--sip, sip, sip. I wasn't able to drink much at a time so I had to be constantly sipping to get my Water in. Blessings, Kathleen

Thenewnic, Congratulations on your surgery and most importantly getting OFF the diabetes meds! Wishing you a speedy recovery. Welcome to the journey down the weight loss road. Blessings, Kathleen

BigGirlPanties, Congratulations on your maintenance!!!! I think that's going to be the next hurdle for me--after surviving the holidays without stuffing myself into a coma. I think that is what I am REALLY grateful for. I can eat just a little taste of the food and BE SATISFIED with it. Thank God and VSG! I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Kathleen

newstartme, I didn't have a revision but I found myself drinking Isopure before my 1st week follow-up appointment. I was drinking the broth--which I'll never be able to drink again and found myself feeling weak. As soon as I drank the Isopure--I felt so much better. Congratulations on your life changing surgery. Blessings, Kathleen

Kindle, Thank you so much for the information!!!! I'm going to try the crabcakes and your suggestions. Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone! So happy that this year I can be SATISFIED with just a bite of food and I won't be eating myself into a coma. Blessings, Kathleen

RJ, Thank you for sharing that. What a beautiful story told by such a beautiful person. You are such an inspiration to me. I pray your surgery goes well. Kathleen

Andrew0929, Congratulations!! I hope to be there soon. I have my one year follow-up with the WLS office on 12/17. So happy for you Blessings, Kathleen

RJ'S/beginning, I hope your surgery goes well. IF ignorance is bliss, why aren't there many more happy people in the world? Blessings, Kathleen

I don't count calories or worry about fat. I concentrate on getting that 64 ounces of Water first, then getting my Protein in. I get a MINIMUM of 60 grams. I keep my carbs as low as possible--although I don't count them so to speak. I just make sure whatever I eat is extremely low in carbs. I find I do much better if I get MORE than 60 grams of protein a day. I live on GENEPRO unflavored Protein powder and Quest bars. I work full time, commute a total of 1.5 hours a day to work/home and my husband is 100% disabled. I just don't have the time to cook. The least expensive source of protein would probably be eggs. I think as far as meats, chicken and turkey are less expensive than beef. Fish, depending on what type, would probably be as expensive, or more so than beef. I haven't been able to exercise this week, I've been sick with an upper respiratory infection. I hope to get back in the pool next week. I haven't lost weight in some time. I think I've hit a plateau. If I don't loose any more--it's fine with me since I'm down to a good size. I'm not worried about a number on a scale, or a clothes size--as long as I feel good and can move well that is my primary concern.

Congratulations!!!!! I'm so happy for you . I'm tall and stuck around the 220's. That's OK for me because I'm tall. You'll be in onederland before you know it I'm just taking it one day at a time. If I get to 200 that's fine, if I don't I'm OK with that too. I don't want to get hung up on a number since I know when I was in the Army I was at 220 and I was good as far as being within the weight standards. Blessings, Kathleen

Congratulations on your surgery. I only weigh in when I see the doctor or once a month. I find it just works better. Blessings, Kathleen

I use GENEPRO unflavored Protein powder. It's a smaller amount of powder and the granules are smaller. You get 30 grams of protein per tablespoon. What I like about it is the unflavored part. It does add a very small amount of milk flavor. In the summer, when it's hot, I add it to milk and the juice from a package of thawed frozen fruit. The frozen fruit I buy is ONLY the fruit. The only sugar you get is from the natural fruit. I've added it to decaffeinated coffee as well, when I was unable to drink caffeinated coffee right after surgery. In the winter, I add it to my oatmeal. I make up a package of instant oatmeal, add some coconut manna, (it's basically a coconut in a jar), add some walnuts, almonds or pecans and a dash of milk. I add stevia if it's regular oatmeal and if it's the flavored low sugar kind no sweetener. I've also added it to the low sugar hot chocolate. I had some in some Soup yesterday. It was good. Like I said it adds a slight milk taste so keep that in mind. I've never added it to any citrus flavored fruits. I wouldn't advise you to purchase a large amount of the Protein shakes before surgery as my tastes changed and I got so sick of the super sweet ones. I order it on Amazon. Good luck on your upcoming surgery. I hope you have a routine surgery and super easy recovery. Blessings, Kathleen

Congratulations on getting your surgery scheduled. I hope you have a routine surgery and easy recovery. Sip, sip, sip when you are allowed and walk as much as you can. One of the biggest threats after surgery is dehydration. You can only drink such small amounts of Water at one time that you have to be sipping constantly to get the amount of water you need. Blessings, Kathleen

Congratulations!!! You look gorgeous. Wishing you continued success in maintenance. Blessings, Kathleen

McButterpants, Congratulations! So happy for you and I can relate--just a few more weeks and I'll be a year out. Wow, time sure moves quickly, especially the older I get . Thank you CowgirlJane for that advice about the 2nd year. I sure will keep that in mind. Blessings to everyone and hope y'all have a good one. Kathleen

I realize it's not scientific but I KNOW I'm a much better worker since having the surgery than before the surgery.

Congratulations! So happy for you. I've become a seasoned thrift store shopper. I decided not to spend a lot of money replacing clothes with a smaller size and a short time later, replacing the clothes recently purchased. Blessings, Kathleen

Ladies, I truly hope you feel better soon RJ. You are an inspiration to me. Chelenka, I hope your mother is able to fight the cancer and I pray you both have the strength you need. Those ugly "fat girl" habits which got me to 338 pounds are always right outside the door, doing pushups and fighting for the chance to come back into my life. I know it's going to be a lifelong battle to keep them outside that door. I wish you all well. You have all been so helpful to me in this journey. Blessings, Kathleen

jessiquoi, Very well stated. Yes, your life will change for the BETTER! I'm constantly amazed how much better I feel and how much more I move around than I did before surgery. I hope you have an uneventful surgery and quick easy recovery. I think it's fantastic that you are ahead of the game by realizing your current relationship with food is toxic. Blessings, Kathleen

yungshi, Good luck tomorrow. Hope everything goes well for you. When they clear you for liquids, sip, sip, sip. You'll be surprised how difficult it is to drink after surgery and dehydration is your primary concern after surgery. Walk as much as you can. Give your body the time it needs to heal. Takes a good 4 weeks for the sleeve to heal. Blessings, Kathleen

I had 5. Congrats on your surgery! Hope you heal quickly. Sip, sip, sip those liquids and walk as much as you can. Blessings, Kathleen

Wow, what a fabulous post! Thank you for that. So happy for your success!!!! My hubby is in the process of getting approval for surgery. SO HOPE he gets it and has success like you have had! Looking forward to the "sex" part especially Blessings, Kathleen

Congratulations on your life changing surgery. You got that right sister! This surgery and the behavior modification we must go through to be successful is not for the faint of heart! Sip, sip, sip and walk, walk, walk as much as you can after surgery. I wish you an uneventful trip down the "loser's" highway! Blessings, Kathleen