AmandaD

I finally felt confident enough to get back on stage for an audition and I got a part!!!!

I had grilled ribeye. Not too much. It was fabulous. I'm amazed at how much better steak sits in my pouch than ground meats. That really surprised me. However, seafood sits the best.

I made tofu for the first time today. I sautéed it in some Thai peanut satay sauce. Sauce was great...tofu....not so much!

Try pressing it between 2 plates with some paper towels or freezing and thawing it before you use it. Then marinate it before you cook it. Makes the texture more meaty and it picks up more flavor.

Every moment that scares, frustrates, and unnerves you passes. Every day gets better. Be patient with yourself.

I could have cottage cheese and tuna (made loosely) at that stage. After liquids, tuna was such a thrill!!!

I must confess...i have :-(

Preop weight 389 current weight 327 that's 62 lbs lost since RNY 6/11/13

It's called "ruminating" I've heard of people doing it but never felt the need to do it myself.

Just tried a turkey burger from 99. No bun just turkey' date=' cheese and lettuce. Did not go well. I had four bites and it didn't get stuck but it was very rough going down. I'm getting discouraged. I want to be able to just sit down and enjoy a meal without any issues or even having to think about it. Not possible right now I guess. : ([/quote']

I don't do well with any ground meats unless there is a ton of some kind of sauce. It's just too dry.

I had Cheesecake Factory's Asian chicken lettuce wraps--- holy! Yum! SO good' date=' but I only ate about 2/3. The best part? Our Cheesecake Factory bill only being like 50... I guess that's what happens when you don't get appetizers, alcoholic drinks, or dessert! Yay for the double whammy of awesomeness![/quote']

Those are my favorite thing from The Cheesecake Factory!! Yum!!!

Unjury shakes are by far the best.

2 turkey meatballs in marinara sauce and zucchini I picked from the garden 10 minutes before. Yum!!!

I wasn't really feeling hungry tonight. I had some baked Beans.< /p>

Do you (or any 'long termer') get full after the initial phase?

I'm 4 months out. I eat slowly and would describe my full feeling less as feeling full and more as just not wanting to eat more. You'll get used to ball parking how much you can eat at a meal.

How far along we're y'all before trying a piece of pizza? I'm craving cheese pizza an want to try it but I haven't had any bread yet.

I didn't try pizza until 8 weeks or so. Craved it like crazy until then but bread does NOT sit well for me so now the idea of pizza makes me cringe.

Ok I have a question on the 30 minute rule for drinking when you eat cereal is ok to drink the milk in your cereal same for Soup what about the broth in soup

The liquid washes the food out of your pouch. You want the food to stay in there as long as possible so no, you shouldn't drink the milk. I was told no Soups. Rule of thumb is no liquid calories.

Does anyone still wait 30 minutes after eating before drinking something? I know we did it in the beginning' date=' but its a little tougher to do when you are eating more. I try to time my meals so I won't drink too soon.[/quote']

I am supposed to wait an hour and I was told that's a permanent rule.

So funny how every doctor is so different. As long as I get 65g Protein a day I can have whatever I want carb wise.

I'm amazed by how different the requirements are too. I have no calorie, carbs or protein targets. Mine goes by volume. At this point I eat half to 1 cup per meal. I'm not to ever exceed a cup and a half per meal. But, I can eat whatever I want. I'm losing slow and steady with no illness or Hair loss or stalls. I'm dropping 2-3 lbs a week.

My first dumping episode was on no sugar added ice cream. It was NOT fun.

Yes, completely normal. The fact that you're not in pain is great!!! Just keep moving and sipping and you'll feel more like yourself every day!

Sushi for me tonight. It sits well more consistently for me than any other Protein. And it's YUM!!!

You shouldn't really be getting hungry yet. It takes longer than 4 weeks for the nerves to regenerate. Are you sure it's not head hunger? My surgeons meal plan says 3 meals a day, no exceptions. I guess if I were you I'd time and measure my meals and up my fluids. And I'd check with your nutritionist.

That has happened to me with ground turkey. It was NO fun. I focus more on how well I chew and that I have enough moisture and have had no more issues.

Welcome to the loser's bench!!! Congrats!! Wishing you a speedy and uneventful recovery!!

I thought for a long time about whether or not I was going to tell people and if not, I finally decided to play my hand face up. I told people and now I don't have to worry about a cover story. Everyone is great about making sure restaurants we pick have options for me. Waiters and waitresses still think I'm nut when I don't order beverages but that doesn't bother me.

I'm most fascinated by how my hands and feet have changed. I look at them and don't recognize them.

Anyone have gall bladder issues? What were your symptoms?