7 Bites_Jen

Your body will fluctuate the first few weeks. Don't worry about it!! In fact, I would step away from the scale for a while and only weigh at doctor's appointments - go by your clothing size, it's a much better gauge anyway

I am a baker by heart, and love to bake goodies! This year I decided the unhealthy stuff will go to friends and family. I have healthier versions of some of my favorites that I plan on making this year for us to eat here, though. I am also a junkie - BIG TIME!!

Thanks everyone! For the information - I'm going to track this week to see what I'm eating and get a gauge of my regular daily calories and go from there.

If you're looking for some easy holiday breakfast/brunch ideas (or just every day ideas!) here's our latest episode! Let us know what you think!

Thank you! This is really helpful!

Broth, jello, decaf and herbal teas (I loved Taos' Zen Green tea!!), water, crystal light ... How long is your clear liquid phase? This might give you some ideas for the full liquids stage:

I had it on puree stage! Watch the sugar content, though. Not everyone dumps, but some people do and I REALLY did!!! I haven't tried the PB2 for the reason that I was worried by it too! Knowing that it's pretty natural though I'll have to check it out. Wonder how they get it powdered ..?

Okay, I missed the hooker name post! LOL

For me, it's improved greatly. We can do things now that were physically impossible before ... And he can hit spots he couldn't hit before.

IF I buy new stuff (I'm a thrift store lover) I will do the sales at JC Penny's or Macy's - some of those sales are phenomenal. I'm also a fan of the Old Navy clearance rack!! I try not to spend over $20 on ANYTHING ... I'm cheap that way, LOL! On jeans - I am having a hard time finding skinny jeans I like! If they fit around the waist they're too big in the legs and if they fit in the legs the fit weird on the waist! Anyone else have this problem?

I'm a little confused on the concept - Is it 5 feast days and 2 fast days or reverse? Also, what are some examples of what you eat on fast days? I am over a year out and can't seem to get these last 30-40 lbs off, so am really looking into this ...

I really like it a lot - it has more flavor than regular cream cheese, I think. I use it in a lot of different recipes.

I have used a straw since I got home from the hospital. During the early phases you CAN take in too much air and it can be a problem for some people. It wasn't for me. I would definitely talk to your doc about it and get his reasons behind it. If you can try a sip or two and tolerate it, I don't see why it would be a problem, though...

Loved this! And as a fellow girl nerd, I think she was FABULOUS!!! I want to dress up like Moxxie from Boarderlands 2 next Halloween if my hair grows out ... LOL

Ooooh ... on the breast feeding thing: I couldn't w/ number one - the milk NEVER came in - and the "consultant" at the WIC office REAMED me for it!! She said it was impossible for me to not make milk and that I needed to be breast feeding more. If I'd tried any more I'd have been walking around with a kid attached to my boob 24/7!!! And #2 REFUSED to breast feed. He turned his head away and wouldn't take it AT ALL - after multiple times!! And my husband's cousin is one of the militant ones ... Yeah ... I feel ya' there. So ... I tried. And failed. But, both kids turned out just fine!

This is such a wonderful thread! I am really enjoying seeing the different perspectives and experiences from across the board. One that that I want to throw in is that there are a lot of people that think sleevers loose all their weight too quickly and reach goal before a year is out - and then keep losing. I am here to say that that is not true at all. I am a year and 5 months out from surgery, have yet to reach goal, and have even completely stalled out here and there. Also, sleevers CAN dump. I still have dumping after I eat anything with high fructose corn syrup or a very high fat/grease content. I was actually told prior to surgery that it wouldn't be a problem, but it can be. And the hunger thing - I get hungry. I get as hungry now as I did before! Thanks for starting this!

AACK! I'm still catching up. Just watched the finale to season two last night and about to start season three tonight. I love this show!!!

I am LOLing at "drop the hippo but keep some hips" - CLASSIC!!! and I agree ... To me skinny is "sick" looking - someone that looks almost anorexic. I want to be healthy. My goal size is between a 10-12. I haven't really set a weight because there's some debate about that, LOL. But the honest truth is, I want to look at myself in the mirror and be proud of how far I've come.

I have really enjoyed reading this thread and seeing other perspectives. My decision to go with the sleeve was based on a lot of research and talking with people that have had every surgery out there. It wasn't one that I made arbitrarily at all. I originally was going to go for the lap-band but after talking with a few friends that had it as well as my mother, I decided it wasn't for me. I didn't want to have to return over and again for fills and removals of saline, and I didn't want to give myself a way out (if this doesn't work, I can always have it reversed ...) FOR ME - that wasn't an option (I have a tendency to give up and not finish what I start...). The other thing for me was that I was terrified of the bypass. I knew three people that passed after having it done, two of which were from malabsorbtion (sp?) complications. The sleeve was the best choice for what I wanted out of bariatric surgery. EACH of the surgeries have their merits. For every band that slips, or doesn't work right there are fifty that work beautifully. For every RNY or duodenal switch person that has had severe complications, there are hundreds whose lives are saved from it. For each sleever that has had a leak or other issue, there are many, many that have better lives from it. It depends on what YOU want out of your surgery - that's the beauty of it! There really is a good option for everyone.

I can relate to this simply because I have been in his shoes!! I fought the decision for ten years to do it. I had to come to terms with my health on my own - no one could make that choice for me. Just be there as a support for him, and if and when he DOES decide to do it (or any other way of weight loss, for that matter!) be there to support him. You're a good sister to care so much for him and his well-being.

I feel you on this! I have a particular friend that has even taken to LYING about the weight she's lost to make it look like she's keeping with me! I don't know why it has to be a competition - she's becoming more and more unhealthy in the process too.

The hubbs and I were JUST talking about this!! I'm trying to steer away from using as many processed things as possible when possible, and when I DO use them I have to read labels because I'm having reactions to anything with MSG, aspartame, and citric acid. I've been using cream cheese made with greek yogurt, but I am starting to second-guess that decision! My poor hubby still has it in his head that low-fat and sugar-free are the way to go... We still have some work to do.

Well this particular forum is for everyone, but there is a lap-band section

Love this topic!! Of course, mine comes from the title of the show, LOL. But THAT comes from the idea the doctor that did my psych evaluation told me about: Basically bariatric patients (at least the first few months) are eating about seven bites of food at one time. Four protein, two veggie, and one starch (thereabouts). Now, of course, I can eat more than that, but the title stuck because it was catchy, LOL.

I have certainly had my ups and downs. The first few days were hard - very hard. The next few were better, then the next few were hard again. It is an emotional roller coaster for sure. Everything from elation to excitement to anxiety and depression. It will vary day to day. But eventually it evens out. After the first six months or so, a normalcy set it. Sometimes I get down that I can't eat everything on my plate (especially on taco night!), but those times are becoming fewer and fewer as time goes on. I'm over a year out, by the way. Hope that helps!!