7 Bites_Jen

Yes, I do - and I'm over a year out. There is some new research into this. Where they THOUGHT it wouldn't cause it, they are now finding it does cause dumping in most cases. I am fine with non-refined sweeteners like honey, coconut sugar, etc. But refined white sugar and corn syrup are what really get me.

Beef jerky, turkey jerky, chicken jerky, they even have bacon and pulled pork jerky now!! I LOVE IT. It is absolutely perfect for an on-the-go snack. I didn't start on it until I was about 2 months out, but once I did, I didn't stop!!

It does get easier, and you will get through it! Are you pre-op or post op? This might help, it's our first episode and we talk about the liquids phase:

Absolutely - just take it slow. Try taking smaller bites, if possible. That may help.

I'm an old hat at this forum (don't let the new profile fool you - this is my shameless promotions profile), and I know exactly what you're talking about. It does get tiresome to see the same posts over and over again, from different people. I do, some days, wish that people would use that cute little search function over there in the upper right hand corner ... That being said, we were all newbies once, and we all had the same questions, the same fears, the same oh-my-God-I-just-ate-an-oreo-am-I-gonna-die moments. Some of us react differently than others to those moments. We can chose to freak out or not. For those that freak out a little more exuberantly than others, they may require a little more hand-holding and reassurance, and that's okay. We can see the post, chuckle a little, and either click to reply or not ...

YES!!!!!

Stalls can happen at different times and for different lengths of time. I've had stalls last almost three months!! So, I guess in answer to your question - yes, there can be!

The best thing to do is to look at how much you're able to eat/drink before you feel full. My guess is that it's not even close to where it was before!! :-) You are truly blessed - and there are several people that have had similar experiences!

Oh yeah! Alcohol!! LOL I drink hard cider, wine, beer ... I get tipsy a lot quicker though, and I learned the hard way that it's a lot easier to overindulge ...

Oh goodness, so many secrets, so little time ... LOL I drink soda ... I eat carbs ... I ate real food three days early ... I eat sugar I know there are more, LOL, but I can't think of any!!

I actually usually just eat off my husband's plate, LOL. Or me and my mom (a fellow sleever) share a meal.

Just about any soup and/or stew can be pureed - just add some extra water or broth to it! I would stay away from chicken noodle, minestrone, or anything with pasta or rice added to it though. Some great ones that I loved were split pea with ham, bean with bacon, cream of shrimp, etc. I have a YouTube series, and our first episode (it came out today, actually!) is about just this kind of thing!

I couldn't tolerate it either until my fourth or fifth month out! Just stick with what you CAN eat and keep trying! Eventually, it'll stay down.

1/2 C is about right where you should be! You're doing great! :-)

I would not invest in Protein shakes prior to surgery unless you have to have them for your pre-op diet. I couldn't tolerate them at all after surgery. You might get some samples to try after to see if there are any you can tolerate without making a huge investment. I would go ahead and stock up on your essentials - at least for the first few days. Water, crystal light/mio, tea, soups and stews, a Magic Bullet (the blender ...). You won't feel like going ANYWHERE - at least for a few days!!

Yes, yes, YES. It is a daily battle. I am a year out and I still struggle with this. food is an addiction unlike any other - unlike drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes, you cannot separate yourself from food - you HAVE to have it to live. So we start the cycle. I think a LITTLE guilt is healthy - to an extent. But riddling yourself with guilt is not productive. For example, I am currently munching on White Castle sliders. I have eaten 1 1/2 and I am feeling insanely guilty telling myself I should have stopped at one. The guilt is not going to change the fact that I ate that other 1/2. It might stop me next time, if I listen and learn from it. But it doesn't change what has already been. A little fear is also healthy - I should be more afraid of what I eat than I actually am! It keeps you accountable and from eating what you shouldn't and eating too much of it.

It happens! You fall down, you get back up and start over again. I think the worst for me was second day out and I ate a chicken nugget. I was sick for hours ...

Thank you! The camera is a Canon VIXIA HF G30 ... LOL that's a mouthful! My husband and his best friend are our production team - they have a production company together.

Toxic people ... That's what I call people like that. Not only when it comes to weight loss, but also life in general.

Water and my pillow!!!

There are a TON of options for soft foods that are high protein and low carb. Canned meats that can be mushed with a fork, refried beans, ricotta cheese ... Lots of stuff. It's easy to fall into the "this is all there is" mentality, but sometimes you gotta get creative

I wonder if it's jealousy? I think sometimes people see us losing weight and they don't like it for one reason or another. What I hate is that now I still have about 40 lbs to lose and every once in a while someone says something about my weight. I'm thinking, "what?? I've lost 100 lbs!!" but it's all about they're own perception. You're OBVIOUSLY doing an amazing job, so don't let them get to you. :-)

It DOES get better!! I am a year out and my scars are pretty much gone. The largest incision really hurt on the inside for a few days, but that went away after about a week or so. Most of may pain was in my shoulders!

Clear liquids was 24 hours after surgery for me - broth, gelatin, water, tea ... Try steeping some fresh herbs and garlic in your broth then strain them out before drinking it for a flavor boost. How long does your doctor have you on clears?

The sleeve is one of the safest surgeries out there. The largest risk is of a leak - but that doesn't happen very often, and when it does it is caught quickly and taken care of. There is little risk of death or dying from the surgery. Your last post was in August - how has it gone since then? Did you have surgery? Where are you at now?