ziggypbang

I think it's great you can get all your Protein from food this early on. My NUT keeps nagging me to do the same, but I've stuck with protein shakes for Breakfast because I can't stomach food first thing in the morning. I also grab one around 5:00 when I still have another hour to work but I need some nutrition. I always work out after my morning Protein shake, and I think that's a great way to make sure that my muscles get the protein they need during recovery. And yes, protein shake move through your pouch faster. You may not notice it this early out, but that's true of all liquids, and even mushy foods. I think you are doing great! Keep up the fight!

ICE. COLD. ALWAYS. I sometimes go into the bathroom at work just to stand by the hand dryer for a while. Wool is the greatest stuff EVER. Everything should be made of wool! And all base layers should be poly or silk - those cotton thermals just don't cut it. My fingers and toes have developed this weirdness called Raynaud's phenomenon- I usually can't feel most of my fingertips and they are bone white from the last knuckle to my fingertips. Sometimes they turn blue, and sometimes red. They're very patriotic! I have to touch people's face in my job as an eye doctor. I've been apologizing for the icy hands when they jump away from me in shock. Sometimes I mention that my father is half vampire. Not everyone gets the reference.

My shoe size has gone from a wide to a medium. I had to get rid of last summer's sandals because they were flipping right off my feet. But you should see the gorgeous new ones I bought! I'm buying clothes at Goodwill still, so I can't feel guilty buying great shoes!

This is so true! My husband has been complaining about my "protein breath" (I didn't take the time to educate him about ketosis breath) ever since the weight loss began. I started chewing mint gum fairly early on because I'm an optometrist so I have to get close to people. I also use breath spray, and the minty CD Bigelow Mentha shimmer tint from Bath and Body works. I get my breath spray at Dollar Tree, stocking up when I can find it. Lastly, I scrape my tongue faithfully after eating or protein, and sip water too. It all helps, if only in my mind! But yes, it gets better with time!

I empathize with you! My hair was thin before, butthe weight loss really accelerated the thinning. Even with extra iron and protein supplementation, which I was religious about. I cut my long hair short at six months because it was looking so bad. I don't feel like I'm losing hair as quickly any more, but my weight loss has slowed down a great deal as well. It seems that the weight loss/hair loss link is strong!

People are uninformed! Its so sad that the lack of information affects people in the health care and fitness field as much as everyone else. You are on a great path! Don't be derailed or discouraged when the ignorant try to be "helpful.". Best wishes!

Oh man, I cannot Believe LilMissDiva Irene isnt 25 years old! What? I always just assumed you were unusually wise for your young age! You are still very wise and clever, I just understand now that there is more experience behind the wisdom;) My answer: fat, unhappy, hypertensive and in pain, especially my back. I just went running this morning for the first time in 20+ years. What a bloody power trip THAT was!

You will enjoy great food again, just not yet! Those are some painful reminders, eh? But if I had to go the rest of my life without Turkish food, I'd almost choose to stay fluffy. ALMOST.

As long as you are losing, you are winning! And even at 20 pounds from goals, I can't imagine really loving my body in a swimsuit. I've tried on a few at the mall and all I can see is redundancy and saggage. But I look kinda great in clothes now, and you DEFINITELY have THAT to look forward to a little more each passing week & month! Best wishes!

oh my goodness! I had never read the Haribo sugar free gummies reviews! Hilarious! Thanks for the afternoon of fun reading!

Just got back from a conference at the InterContinental O'Hare this weekend. The Desserts were decadent and plentiful, but there were always good meat/seafood and veggie choices for me. The only bad day was today, when they served pre-made sandwiches as we left, and they were already bagged up with chips and a chocolate chip cookie and potato salad and an apple. I took two different sandwich bags, and took out all the stuff I don't eat (chips, cookie, salad), and left them on the table for the men who always want more of somthing. Then I ate the roasted veggies off one sandwich and the ham & cheese off another sandwich, and tossed the bread away. But yes, I also carried my own RTD shakes with me, along with some dark chocolate roasted almonds and some laughing cow and Fiber selects crackers. Just in case!

It's interesting how my tastes have changed, and continue to change, since being sleeved. But seafood - my gosh. I can't believe how much I used to find fish depressing because it never filled me up unless it was battered and deep fried. BLEEECCHHH - the thought even bothers me now. But I absolutely love how tilapia, salmon and most types of fish and seafood land gently in my tummy. You can buy frozen fish in the supermarket that has been marinaded in all kinds of nice seasonings, which I used to never buy because I knew I would eat it and still be hungry. Not anymore! I can make one 4 oz filet last for two meals, even at six months out. I try to make the other half of my meal vegetables. I like cooking veggies like Greek style green Beans or Caribbean style brussels sprouts. I'm all about the seasonings - and pretty much everything has garlic, which just make me happy. Another thing I absolutely love are beans - even something as simple as a 3 bean salad is nice, and settles well for me. You're going to find some foods easier than other, and don't be suprised if you eat something like a crazy person for 2 months and then don't want to look at it again for the rest of your life. I went through a flavored Laughing Cow phase that lasted about six weeks and now I can't stomach the thought of another flavored Laughing Cow (although I'm still loving the original - weird)

Go with the 245. The 250's just a blip on the radar and had nothing to do with your true weight. THEN, try to stay away from the scale for a while before you become a slave to its deceptive ways!!! Your success is in the bag!

26 pounds in 2 weeks?! Oh, momma, that must feel good! Give the little alien a nice name. Sounds like he deserves his own zip code. (and yes, I'm sexist. Really crazy annoying things become male in my mind. Hmmm....)

CONGRATULATIONS! Enjoy your healthy new life! Seeing that under-25 BMI must feel almost surreal.

I agree that, regardless of how healthy the fat choice is, nut butters have not been part of my plan because of the extraordinary fat content. Even nuts may slow down your fat loss in the first six months. You want to use IP your boy's own fat stores for now, and protect your very delicate tummy!

Ha ha! 66 is still awesome! I was typing on my phone so my post had tons of typos, too! On the other hand can you imagine living as an 800 pound woman? I am VERY glad for you that this was never the case! :-)

Hi! WoW, your Wright loss eh the band is way beyond the best Ive ever heard. Amazing. It sounds like it's something you're committed to maintaining. From this perspective, you're going to find A LOT of people on this site who will wholeheartedly endorse your decision to consider the sleeve. We are generally a bunch of passionate sleeve-lovers, if you will. If you speak with folks immediately post -op who've had complications, you'll surely hear some criticism, but we've all seen how those folks tend to love their sleeves in the long run. So here are my thoughts: 1) Yes, the sleeves permanent. Thank God, because I don't want my fat loss to be reversible! You can still, however, eat 'around' your sleeve by grazing or making bad food choices, similar to the band. 2) staying slim gives you your best chance to conceive and maintain a healthy pregnancy. I agreed not to get pregnant for 12 months after surgery, but I am 4 weeks pregnant at 6 months out. I have had to start eating more so I don't lose too fast. I added 350 calories to vet up to 1200 very clean calories per day, and I intend to add 300 more with each trimester. No problems. BTW, we were faithfully using birth control when we conceived. 3) from what I've read, yes he procedures are similar. However, I'm not sue if you can create a feeling of fullness with the band just by drinking like you can with the sleeve. I still have to drink quite slowly, and I wait for 60 minutes after eating to begin drinking. I have never had reflux with my sleeve. 4) there are chances of regaining weight with every surgery, but that risk isn't higher with the sleeve to my knowledge. If you can maintain your weight loss after banding, I believe you will every successful with the sleeve. Hopefully some of the many band-to-sleeve revisions on this site will chime in. Best wishes! And be sure to check out the forum on this site about revisions like you!

Try to wean yourself off the daily weighing. You are doing GREAT, and there is no way your body can keep up with that crazy fast loss. Sometimes you wont lose anything for weeks, and that's totally normal! Just stay on plan. As long as you are eating and drinking according to your surgical team's orders, and getting activity in, it's going to bring the results you've been dreaming of!

Important topic, and I'm a filthy liar! (Wink!). I've indulged in all sorts of crap since being sleeved, but I do realize that there are significant psychological and nutritional factors that make each person's journey different. I'm six months out and remain very much in the learning phase with my new tool! Here are some of the tips that I need to stay on track: 1. I write down what I eat as well as calorie content. 2. I drink Protein on waking, as an afternoon snack and before bed, for a total of 340 calories per day. 3. I eat 40-50 calories worth of dark chocolate after lunch, or as a snack. 4. I only eat fruit once per day, and always with Greek yogurt, and limit to 2-3 oz fruit. I don't eat bananas. 5. My meals are tasty, because I feel deprived with boring food. They are half protein, half veggies. Rarely cheese, it just slows me down. Beans are great! 6. No white stuff. I don't even bother with brown rice, but may add it back when I reach goal. 7. Sometimes I have to look away from store shelves or advertisements for food. I also have to mute the TV during commercials. 8. I get my fluids! Sometimes my fluids include a Light sugar free decaf Starbucks caramel frappucino, and that is the biggest treat ever! But it only puts me back 100 calories. Awesome! 9. I started working out before surgery, and I will not stop. I can see my biceps, and that makes me proud and happy regardless of whether I continue to wear half sleeves to cover the bat wings. 10. I keep healthy Snacks available always, especially for my car ride home from work when the siren song of the beautiful cheese croissants from the super market next door used to seduce me so regularly. Even while grocery shopping I have to walk around the bakery area. 11. 50 ways to So I the Yourself Without Food is a wonderful book on mindful eating. Its heavy stuff, but its real. It takes effort to do something as big as overcoming a food addiction. But it can be done. You get the idea. These are MY ways of dealing with my imperfect mind. But they do help. May you find your path to success and a more peaceful mind, too!

Oh man! You reminded me of how much I HATED people telling me that I have such a pretty face!! My heart always heard, "With the exception of your face, you're a real tragedy." I don't have to rely on the kindness of others for confidence now. I know I am strong, I know I take care of myself, and I know my husband can't keep his hands to himself. And I love it!

"Coochie cutters!" Ha ha - I love it! I wore a pair around the kitchen last night and my husband kept grabbing my backside! I swore I wouldn't wear them outside the house, but I just HAD to wear something that had a single digit on the size tag, after years of all those cursed X's!

Maybe thats why my girls aren't "magically perky". I can finally fit into the cheap Target bras with skinny straps (I've always had to wear over-the-shoulder-boulder-holders) so I buy those now. Maybe I should go back to my $50 bras? Haven't taken a risk with the skinny straps yet, but I did try a bra with them at TJ Maxx this week. Yikes! It takes more than a a bit of delicate satin to keep these girls north of my navel! I'll stick with Wacoal, and pretend that the way I look in my beautiful but highly structure brassieres is exactly the same as how I look with no bra at all...

Am I the only one here still shopping at Goodwill!? I can only wear each size for 6 weeks or so anyway, then it' s back to Goodwill! We have several near Indy that are quite good. Sometimes I even grab things that are too small because I know I'll be there soon! Got this gorgeous Ann Taylor jacket that I will look SMOKIN' in 10 pounds from now! I do have to invest in expensive bras, however. The girls deserve to appear as magically perky as I can afford!

Another user just posted syntrax's number: 866-333-7403 x 803 where you can get 15 sample packs for 15 bucks plus $2 shipping. Great value!