McButterpants

I'll be honest, I teared up when I read this. Reaching goal - WOW - that seems like a very distant dream for me. It sounds to me like you're feeling at peace - maybe that's why you weren't jumping for joy. Or maybe the fact the jumping for joy came when you "got naked and nobody died of shame" (one of my all time favorite posts). I am so happy for you. You have worked hard for this. Enjoy and I hope you get to get naked again very soon.

January 14th is ssssooo close. It's an exciting time that's for sure. Congrats on your new beginning - and you will get to that convertible!

I've been living in sweatshirts and fleece tops! Yeah, it's sexy for sure. Last night I cranked the heat up to 75, had on a sweatshirt, wool socks and had a blanket over me.

I have tried to message you but can't seem to get it..They keep sending it to another all lower case letters! I just messaged you - see if you can respond to that.

"You're getting too skinny!" That makes me laugh. Where was your heartfelt concern when I was slowly committing suicide with knife and fork!?!?!

I agree with Fluff and Bufflehead...comparing your weight loss to someone else is setting yourself up for failure (and not just in weight loss - that's true in just about everything in life). For the stall question - I understand it to be two weeks with no loss defines a stall. I was sleeved on 11/14 and hit a stall from 12/13 - 12/26. I lost no weight. It sucked, I'll be honest. It played with my head, even though I knew it was going to happen. I thought I was prepared for it - I wasn't. I didn't got off plan, however. I got back to basics - 3 meals and 3 Protein supplements as my doctor's order state. I upped my Water intake and I exercised. Those are the things I COULD control. Best of luck to you!!!!

Sandisleeve - hoping things get better for you very soon!!!!!!!

Here are a couple of examples from my doc - every doc is different...If you have questions on what's allowed by your doc, you should call his office for clarification. My doc gives out handouts with every stage. Cream of Wheat or oatmeal w/ skim milk pureed lean meat, poultry or fish (blend w/ low fat cream Soup or broth) pureed cauliflower or green Beans pureed cottage cheese pureed pears blended soups soft scrambled egg (mix an egg w/ some milk or Water - it will make it soft)

Congrats!!!!!!!

I had a much easier recovery from VSG than I did from c-section. I took a total of 4 pain pills after surgery - mostly so I could sleep. Walking was the best medicine for me - it helped with the gas pains and it helped keep me busy. The 2 week pre-op diet does suck. But you can do this. January 7th is right around the corner. You are so close! It's normal to be nervous - hang in there. You're going to be OK.

I'm sorry - I didn't realize this was under the Plastic Surgery forum - I was talking after VSG.

Are you pre-op or post-op? Pre-op I would add some fruit (about 1/4 of a low glycemic fruit like blueberries or strawberries). Post-op I add PB2 to chocolate and vanilla shakes. sugar free puddings and jellos are good to add as well - my favorite is a vanilla shake with about 1 tablespoon of sugar free pistachio pudding dry mix. Do you have anything else or can you purchase something other than strawberry? I also have the sugar free flavored syrups. I mixed the chocolate with hot Water (less than 140 degrees or you get a clumpy mess) to make hot chocolate. Good luck - shakes really do get old. When they do it's time to get creative!

Me three...I didn't attend Thanksgiving dinner this year (I was two weeks post-op). I remove myself from bad situations where I feel like I can get out of control easily. Identifying your thoughts and feelings will get easier, I'm sure. Chewing food then spitting it out causes issues as Laura states - it's a slippery slope. It can cause stomach issues with the saliva and acids as well as emotional ones. Hang in there!

I was cleared for walking immediately after surgery - any distance was OK, just don't push it. I was told to stop when I got tired. I was up to 3 miles about 2.5 weeks after surgery and my doc was OK with that. Nothing strenuous, just walking at a moderate pace. I hope at my 6 week appointment next week I get released to do all exercises. Best of luck to you!

I had a very nice Christmas with my family, even though the crud my son had (ER visit on Christmas Eve) was so generously passed on to me. At any rate, I ate a few things off plan which was planned, however I ate more than I should have of the "forbidden" foods. I'm back on track today with no issues - no desire for those bad foods. I hopped on the elliptical for the first time since surgery - I was only able to do 15 minutes, but it felt good! The balance of my work out was 45 minutes on the treadmill. I did a total of 3.5 miles today - my highest post-op. I'm at 42.6 miles to my 54 mile goal - 11 more to go for the month!

I'm doing well on both the protein and the water the past week - it's hard work, isn't i?

I think you're looking for something in this thread. I'm not going to provide what you're looking for. Drama. I will state to the others that read this post...I'm scared. Yesterday I ate a cookie, 3 homemade caramels and Chex mix and I didn't have a physical reaction. I ate roast beef, some potato and a dinner roll...nothing. The only thing that upsets my sleeve is the bariatric Vitamins. So while I'm not screaming (or posting) "Oh my god I had a cookie, Is that OK?" or crying in the corner, I believe I have cause for concern. I'm scared because I believe the limitations with regard to the types of food I eat I will not be provided by my sleeve. It scares me that there appears to be little my stomach won't tolerate. I will get the portion control from the sleeve, however, as evidenced by yesterday, I can eat around it. Like Roo101769 states above, I'm not going to bash anyone for eating anything and certainly not for something I have done myself. While I enjoyed my Christmas day with my family and I did enjoy my Snacks, I am moving on. I have made my plan for the day - 3 meals, 3 Protein supplements and a trip to the gym. Happy Holidays, all! And best wishes for a very, very good 2014!

Congratulations! You look great! Over 100 pounds lost - what an inspiration! (I will forgive the Kentucky shirt for this post only - GO DUKE!!!!!!!) :-)

My husband called me brave the other day and I threw me off a little. I didn't think of myself as brave when I was scared $hitless!!!! He said "It takes a lot of guts to do what you did and I admire you."

Congrats on your 40 pounds! I'm right at the 40 pound mark as well...I notice a big difference in my tops - all my tops are baggy and I need to get some new ones. I can still wear the same jeans I wore pre-op, although they are a lot baggier and I don't have to lie down on the bed to get them zipped up.

I'm at 39 miles to my (revised) goal of 54 miles. Did 3 miles on the treadmill this afternoon and burned more calories than ever before by increasing the intensity. Had a stressful Christmas Eve morning...my 14 year old son has had the flu and he fainted and collapsed in my arms this morning. We got him to the ER and everything checked out OK. Just need to keep pushing fluids and rest. I thought about what I would have done pre-op after a morning like that...I would have bagged out of the gym, I'm sure. I would have drank many coffees (light with sugar or honey) to get thru the day and eaten lots of food and Christmas goodies. Instead, when we got home, I made some scrambled eggs and turkey sausage, then headed to the gym. Came home and now I'm enjoying a strawberry protein shake and ready to wrap some presents. What a difference 6 weeks makes, huh? Merry Christmas everyone!

I hate artificial sweetener and I believe Splenda actually triggers hunger for me. I think everything in moderation is OK, however, you can't let one pudding cup become two pudding cups to making your own pudding and eating the whole bowl. I allow myself one teaspoon of honey in my coffee every day - it makes me feel normal in a very "unnormal" situation. With that said, I track everything I eat and drink. If I don't, I know I will let things slide - that's been my M.O. my whole adult life. The "Oh a little more won't hurt" syndrome.

How inspiring for you, at 71, to have this surgery! Best of luck to you!

I LOL'd at that...

Well said!