woo woo

if you haven't done so already, I highly recommend cutting out sugar as much as you possibly can. It creates those cravings and also stimulates your appetite a lot. I can immediately tell the difference for days after I have something with lots of sugar in it so I try to abstain completely. This is a great recent thread with a ton of delicious ideas for easy meals and snacks: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/326291-convenience-foods-made-me-fat-these-food-are-keeping-me-thin/?hl=%20convenience%20%20food

3 months out and I have never experienced slimes or anything like that. Basically no problems eating anything. I haven't tried rice or Pasta though, just by choice. ETA: Getting enough liquids is always a challenge. I do the best I can with that.

Wonderful, congrats!

Call the number on the bill and make sure that it was submitted to insurance. They may not have received your insurance info. This same thing happened to me and it was in error.

I'll have what she's having.

You are going to be "off" in that department for a few weeks or more. I was told to use miralax or milk of magnesia.

I spent one night and discharged around lunch time the next day.

I am also one that eats real foods, full fat and feel that it's not only better for you but also more satisfying. For a snack or sometimes for Breakfast I will have about 4 or 5 good quality pepperoni slices (from the fancy deli area in the grocery store -- the good stuff, Italian) with a mini babybel cheese. Very tasty and filling. I also shop the fancy cheeses area each week looking for new options to try.

I have to disagree regarding the getting up at night and the drinking at night. When I had SA I would not only get up 2-3 times a night, every single night to use bathroom, but I also ALWAYS had to sleep with a drink on my nightstand and would have to wake up to take a sip several times to wet my mouth as it would become extremely dry several times per night from breathing through mouth/gasping for air. Overall I was waking up prob at least 5-6 times per night to deal with these 2 issues. This was when had been diagnosed and had a machine but never used it (over a year before surgery). Now that I have lost weight I never need a drink at night and it is extremely rare for me to wake up during the night at all. PS I wasn't using the cpap only because the mask made me feel claustrophobic. I wish I could have used it more. My sleep was very bad and it also gave me high blood pressure and headaches when I woke in the morning. (luckily gone now too).

Do you have co-morbid conditions? I was approved by cigna with exactly 35 bmi w/ apnea and hbp. I didn't have a band before but I don't see how that would matter? We have a cigna expert on this board, maybe she will chime in with info. Good luck!! ETA: If you love your surgeon and his team, I would stick with him unless there's a real reason not to. I couldn't tell from your post whether there is an issue with that.

The simplest way is probably to do meal replacement shakes for all your meals except for dinner. For that meal have a meat with non-starchy veg.

I'm not sure that I agree with your base assumption that everyone here is a food addict. But that is a long-standing debate on this board. Opinions differ on the issue.

My insurance paid, I was below 35 bmi day of surgery but was at 35 when I was approved. I don't feel that I am losing particularly slowly. My date was 9/8.

I see no reason why she can't work around food after surgery. It's not the same thing as alcohol at all, seeing as how we need to eat to live.

Yes I was also advised to try and transition to more real & protien rich foods such as eggs, chicken etc because the body gets used to the liquids and losses can slow down. Also it's just more fun to eat real foods. I still have a few shakes a week though, as I like them for breakfast sometimes.

I am noticing the same trend as Babbs. If I am not careful I find that I don't eat or drink enough and the next thing that happens is that I stop losing. Up the calories with Protein (real food, not shakes) and see what happens. I am betting you will see a change. Good luck to you and hang in there!

i don't know the answer to that but be careful of taking too much tylenol at once. I think that lortab also contains it.

1) Wear your heaviest clothes and shoes and 2) Scrunch/slouch down a little when they measure you. If you can be an inch shorter than you should be fine to qualify. This really works!!

If it is near or even an inch or two below the large incision on your left side where they pulled out the stomach, then it is normal and it's part of the healing process. Basically I was told by the NP that blood kind of pools up in that area repeatedly during the healing process which causes the burning/pulling pain that kind of comes and goes. If yours is something different you should speak to your doc for sure though. It seems like it finally went away for good for me at around 3-4 weeks. But it gets worse before it gets better.

The most important thing is to drink fluids. Worry about Protein later. Find something you can drink comfortably. Some find that Hot drinks like herbal teas help. The sounds will slowly begin to subside after a few weeks.

From the date of surgery to 1 month out I lost 21 pounds.

I really enjoyed soft meatballs in marinara sauce with melted mozzarella on top at that stage, as well as sliced lunch meats and cheese slices rolled up. I would get the meatballs parmigiana at the local pizza/italian food takeout and it would cost like 2 dollars for a big order. A lot of people really like to eat refried Beans with salsa (if you like) and melted cheese on top as well.

What stage of eating are you on according to your doctor's instructions? Any suggestions will depend on that.

I started regular (non herbal) tea at about 5 weeks out. I felt better waiting and just stuck to non caffiene teas until then, give the stomach some time to heal. I never asked my doc either way because I know there are lots of different views about it. I'm 9 weeks out now and still haven't gone back to coffee yet. Not sure when/if I will.

I don't like it. I also don't particularly like the quest bars and never really have. I also dislike the monk fruit, actually worse than stevia to me. It seems like the only artificial sweetener I like at all is splenda.