facorsig

Starting at 262....targetting to get down to 245

262 (again)...would have like to cross 10% loss during this challenge, but hey, 9.97% was pretty good

I don't count it as liquid. I am still taking daily Premier Protein shakes as a replacement for my one egg and toast allowed for Breakfast each day. I drink a lot of sugar free KoolAid made from the liquid drops. I try to drink an entire pitcher of KoolAid each day to achieve my liquid target.

One of the skills I learned on Day One was how to feel a gas bubble and induce it to come up so it is no longer in your stomach. The only other suggestion I could make would be to minimize the amount of air you swallow with the food. I never downsized my spoon size. Frankly, gas was a bigger issue in Month One....it's seldom an issue now in Month Three.

The Bariatric Pal chat room was a great source for real-time information while I was making decisions to prepare for surgery. With the relocation of the chat room, it is really dead and difficult to find anyone. I think the veterans know about it, but I rarely see "new faces". Can the chat room be restored to the main menu bar? Fred

I have tried several brands and the best, by far, has been Premier Protein. I did have an experience to purchase spoiled product. The response from their customer service was outstanding. They sent a case of replacement drinks for the two spoiled ones and a pre-paid FedEx envelope to return the defective product for their examination. I have stayed with chocolate. I have also used Muscle Milk and others.

262...smaller loss despite dramatic increase in exercise activity

Great week, despite business travel....down to 264...my goal is in sight

271....started riding Expresso stationary cycle....very fun and better intensity than elliptical trainer I was using

274...was really hoping to lose a few more today

276 this week...my first weight gain in almost three months; however, there was a lot of deep fried turkey consumed!

The chewables I bought were very pleasant...berry flavored bariatric vitamins I bought on Amazon inexpensively by Twin Labs (?)....during my last doctor visit, I was told I could switch whenever I wanted and that my stomach would tell me if the switch wasn't "right"...mine are Men's Multi Prime by Swansons...I am also taking the calcium supplement pill and B12 supplements....the tablet size is 'R'...it's not a small tablet...I can feel it, but doctor told me the primary consideration is how the lining of your stomach reacts to the pill...I was afraid of the small anti-reflux pill I was given the night of the surgery in the hospital, but nothing happened.

I am moving away from chewables....I've used swanson vitamins online website for many years to buy vitamins and other supplements.

Down quite a few pounds this week to 276 despite very light cheating (slices of honey baked ham).

Nutritionist agreed that sublingual B12 would meet the need..she told me 5000 mg dose, but I think she meant 5mg...I buy my vitamins at Swansons.

I would like to participate....I was 291 last Friday and 286 this most recent Friday. Must admit the temptation of honey baked ham has me fixated. My goal is to be 265 at the end the challenge.

Doctor's office provided coupon which said I had $25 co-pay, but when I went to pharmacy, they said fine print says price is more than $300 with the coupon. Frankly, I think this price is outrageous!

I was also sleeved on 9/11. I have yet to have a nausea episode, but two close calls I attributed to gas wanting to come up. I allowed the gas bubbles to pass and everything was okay. I am still taking the acid reflux medicine. If I don't, I wake up about 11PM with the onset of reflux so I take the med then (cause I forgot). I am holding to the doctors diet. For the last week, I stuck a pound of turkey breast in the blender and a pound of canned mushrooms. I get two tablespoons of each for lunch or dinner. I bought a pound of chicken breast yesterday, but it doesn't taste as good. Otherwise, I have Greek yogurt every morning and two protein shakes.

Before sleeving, i was waking up 4-5 times per night with frequent urination. After sleeve on 11th, I have slept solid every night until the last three. I have attributed the sleep interruptions to intense dreams (no dreaming prior to surgery with sleep apnea).

@ sleeve-endo: Sleeve is achieved by running sizing tube, called bougie, down your throat during surgery. Doctor has tables from Bariatric Surgery associations to size the tube. My friend had a 50. I had a 35. I saw a YouTube video which explained how these sizes correspond to inches. I think there are 74 French bougies in one-inch of circumferential length. Ask your doctor what size bougie you had.

Manage the expectation by not weighing yourself every day....this is sage advice I received personally from someone who went through this....after losing 2#/day for 2 weeks, I lost 5# this past week. Frankly, all of it may have been lost in the first two days or the last two days and it won't matter because I don't know. The fact the loss stalled is accepted to be normal.

Yes, the dates on my approval letters corresponded to the actual surgery dates.

I was scheduled September 11.

I was also approved by Aetna following a 4 pound gain over a 4 month weight loss period.