Menelly

I was told that gum can get stuck in the sleeve and they've had to go after it surgically in some people. Don't know how true it is, but it's enough to make me skip it! But I cheat and use straws all the time.

I'm in Utah too. You can drive as soon as you're off narcotics, for me that was 4 days. That said, the seat belt wasn't exactly comfy on my incisions...

Same. I'm 3.5 weeks out and it's shark week. My scale has been laughing at my attempt to will it to move. Heh.

Weight does tend to fluctuate during the week, but it's more likely mental. After years of being fat, it's often hard to see yourself as anything but the fat girl. :/

Someone else on here says this better than me, but: You need to get "cheat" and "failure" out of your vocabulary. You have a choice, you make a choice, and next time you have a choice again. Choices are empowering. Cheating and failure lead to the same shame and guilt cycle that got us here in the first place. I spent some time with my therapist coming up with alternatives I could do when I think I'm hungry and I know I'm not. Could you spend time thinking of alternatives? My favorite currently is coloring. It's really hard to shovel hand to mouth when you're using a crayon. Think of 5-10 things that you can do for you, that would make you feel good, that aren't food related. That take only a few min. And use that list when head hunger hits. Mine includes things like coloring, turning on an old 80's Madonna song and dancing to it in my living room, throwing pebbles in the backyard, lotioning my body, singing, etc. Just something small, cheap, that'll bring a smile to your face and distract you. You need to learn how to find pleasure in life, not in food. It may be time to employ your own therapist. Good luck!

I like the P3 Protein Packs that are near the lunchables in the store. They're usually $1.25 or so, and they have cheese, deli meats, and nuts. They're just about the right size to be filling. Sargento has one that's cheese, nuts, and cranberries too. Otherwise, can you do Protein Bars yet? Grab some protein bars and stick them in your purse?

Personally, mine is where my BMI hits normal.

I think it's all individual and how you carry your weight. I'm only 2.5 weeks out and already down 2" on my thighs (where I carry a lot of weight.) If you're more an apple shape, you may lose it off your abdomen first.

I'm 2.5 weeks out and just barely switching from diarrhea to the opposite problem, since I started soft foods on Tues. I hear this is pretty normal.

I tried some sugar free sweet tea the other day. I spent the night feeling as though I was a fire breathing dragon, it caused such bad heartburn. I'm starting to think severe heartburn due to the acidity might be a valid reason.

My surgeon said no corn for the first year. He claims it's digestable reasons, but my guess is it's easier to forbid it than to get people to understand it's a starch and a carb, not a veggie. So it doesn't fit into our diet till maintenance anyways.

I just started puree stage, tried a scrambled egg this morning. Oh the pain. No good for me. (2 weeks out.)

My surgeon's nutrition guide says one strawberry (or strawberry sized fruit) twice a week MAX if you need it to get... ahem... regular.

That's a LOT of carbs when you're still in active weight loss phase. Can you make yourself some with spaghetti squash instead? Or zucchini noodles?

I chose the sleeve because I have an autoimmune disease that requires me to use NSAIDS at times. With RNY, NSAID's are a never again. My doctor told me so long as I'm on a PPI, I can use NSAIDs with a sleeve. I'm also on other maintenance medications for bipolar, and I didn't want to risk my meds being malabsorbed. So sleeve it was for me!