alwaysvegas

Non-scale Victory (NSV)!!!! Never lose sight of the NSVs! NSVs are numerous and add so much motivation to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Keep the NSVs in mind when/if you hit a plateau. Congratulations and continued success to you!

I wouldn't order anything. I would just ask to share with my family off their plates. Having a couple bites of different things is quite nice. I don't know what your surgeon allows in your current phase however.

When I think I'm eating 'alot' (at this point that's more than 5 oz) there are two things that help me regain perspective: I have to consider that I'm eating 4-5 oz of low carb/low fat foods. Prior to surgery I was eating upwards of 4 cups (upwards of 20-25 oz) of food at a time and much more calorie-dense. Because I feel so full with small quantities (thank you sleevie!) I sometimes feel like I eat too much. I watch how much other people are eating around me. I don't do this to be mean or feel superior, but to compare what 'regular' meals were like. When I eat now, I use appetizer flatware and small plates/bowls, so my proportions seem larger than they are. When I take a look at how much people are eating, it helps me regain my perspective.

You mean the last appointment before surgery? That will vary from surgeon to surgeon. after my last supervised diet meeting with the nutritionist, I attended a group nutrition class that went over Vitamins, pre-op and post-op diets, and a psychological class on emotional wellness. I also had to get my PCP clearance. Your surgeon should give you a schedule of all that you need to get done pre-op. Best of luck!

You haven't said what phase you're in or what your surgeon's guidelines are for your phase. I'm assuming high Protein, lower carb, lower fat. If you're on solids, then any sort of baked chicken like chicken tenders (not breaded, not fried) would be great! Deviled eggs are also great! If you web search "low carb appetizers"...many will be perfect, depending on your surgeon/nutritionist's guidelines. I found this website. I'd look for lower carbs/lower fat or adjust accordingly: http://allrecipes.com/recipes/everyday-cooking/special-diets/low-carb/appetizers/

When I was first diagnosed with sleep apnea, I had not weighed myself in years. I thought I'd weigh about 240. I weighed 285! I gained more after that. I don't even have a "before" pic (except my driver's license) because I deleted any/all pics of me when I thought I'd never lose the weight. We all have our breaking points and reasons for finally getting the surgery. Many great threads on here about that. Best of luck on your journey! There is a healthy life waiting for you!

44, but felt much older. Now I feel so much younger!

Quick summary: Find a goal that is attainable and maintainable. Long-winded version: I wore 46 waist pants at my highest weight. I bought very cheap pants as I lost weight. And I bought several pairs of 34s as my "dream" pants. I also bought several slim-fit medium shirts as my "dream" shirts. All are now somewhat baggy on me! I think part of setting a goal is not only what is attainable, but also maintainable. What's the point of reaching a 30 waist if I can't maintain it? I've really tried to come in for a "soft landing" toward my goal weight or a within 5 lbs or something, but something I could maintain for life with a reasonable diet and exercise. I'm still not sure if I've got the balance perfected as the weight is still slowly coming off. I've been working with my nutritionist and PCP along the way. I would suggest the same for everyone who has the benefit to do so. Best of luck to all!

This thread presents a great point. If you are pre-op and considering a surgeon, then the surgeon's office/nutritionist should provide you with detailed pre-op/post-op phased diet plans, including do/don't foods for each phase, timelines, etc. If the surgeon's office is not providing that information, then I highly suggest you: 1. Run away, 2. Consult with another surgeon. The sleeve is only part of the weight-loss process. A comprehensive dietary plan is essential to our healing and long-term success. You should become as familiar you as you can with the pre-op and post-op process, including dietary guidelines. The less surprised, the better. You have so many lifestyle changes to make, so it's best to be as prepared as possible. One recommendation I always like to give is to learn to cook your own food if possible so that you know what's going into your body. Even an average post-op mushies phase, which has limited ingredients, you can make thousands of recipes. Best of luck to everyone.

You can also try adding sugar free Torani or Davinci syrups to make many more flavors from existing Protein drinks. http://shop.torani.com/Sugar-Free-Syrups/c/Torani@SugarFreeSyrups Most syrups mix well with vanilla protein drinks and the syrups that would tend to taste good in coffee also taste good with chocolate shakes. As for Premier Protein. I like the chocolate best. The vanilla has more of a milky taste than vanilla, but mixes well with iced coffee (as does the chocolate).

It does get easier for most people, though the cravings will come and go. When I got a little disheartened, I looked in the mirror and said, "Yup, I have plenty of fat stores to live off of!" Just remember this is a small blip on the radar of your life and you'll be sleeved before you know it. All though not the same experience for everyone, I found that my hunger was almost nil for weeks post-op. Best of success on your pre-op!

I definitely started feeling the cold after losing about 50lbs. Now I'm cold AND sitting makes my rear sore easier without the extra padding. Huge problems, I know!

Even though the normal sized bath towel wraps around me, I still like using my beach towels from my heavier days because now they REALLY wrap around me!

Severe sleep apnea, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, but I waited until pre-diabetes as the turning point. Now, all cured. But you really need to read and watch as much information as possible, including people who regretted having the surgery and those who failed to keep the weight off despite being sleeved. Know all sides so that you have healthy expectations for what the sleeve will and won't do.

I did the same thing when I moved from liquids to mushies. I also felt like my sleeve wasn't small enough because the post-op liquids still went through rather quickly. I wasn't really hungry, but the 'full' feeling went away pretty fast after having a Protein shake. But once I got to mushies...whole new world! I also ended up with the slimes at least 2-3 times a week the first couple weeks. Now it happens every few weeks, but it's still an ongoing learning experience. Then once I was on solids...wowza...the need to chew is very real with the sleeve on solids; otherwise, I fill up with just a few bites. I do weigh my food because I know what my maximum is at this point (about 4.5 oz) and I still eat rather fast, so it helps to keep my portions in check. I also know which foods tend to fill me up faster, like turkey and tuna, so I do only about 4 oz total with those.

I was sleeved on a Monday, home my Wednesday afternoon, and clothes shopping on Friday...mainly to get my waking in! Wonderful recovery time!

The two foods that I love now that I didn't care for pre-op are tofu (baked with onion, garlic powder, soy sauce) and cottage cheese (usually with Herbes de Provence). I also love pudding now. I like to make it with Protein powder and sometimes even bit of cottage cheese to make "power pudding." I think my cravings are for these foods because I can eat them rather quickly (I'm still a bit of a fast eater) without overdoing it.

Any fears I felt before surgery were mitigated by all the success stories and first-hand accounts I heard in my bariatric support group. I was absolutely sure I was doing the right thing, but--like so many of other people--I wondered if I could just 'do it on my own"...again. I knew I could do it on my own, but I knew I'd also gain it back. And now with pre-diabetes cured, sleep apnea cured, high blood pressure cured, and high cholesterol cured...I wish I could've been sleeved 20 years ago. Best of luck in your surgery!

Breakfast: Eggs, cheddar, Herbes de Provence Lunch: egg drop soup with tofu Dinner: chicken and broccoli teriyaki stir fry

As @@BLERDgirl said, you may or may not be up to both the opera and party, but you must put your recovery before everything. I also had a fairly quick recovery, but did nap quite a bit and energy came and went. I did several hours of clothes shopping 5 days after my surgery. Just make sure you take it very easy when you're out and about. The recovery can be very fast, but it is a major surgery and you should allow yourself time to heal. Best of luck on your surgery and recovery!

I still eat using appetizer flatware and use appetizer plates and bowls. It really does make me feel like I'm eating more than I am...that and my itty bitty stomach helps too!

Warmest congratulations @@laurenella82 and welcome to the Losers' Bench! Glad to hear that your surgery and your recovery both went well! Don't forget to drink your fluids as you've been doing! The shakes will start to go through more quickly as your sleeve heals. I actually was afraid my sleeve was too big because the shakes went through so quickly after the first week. But once I got to mushies/purees...wow, what a difference! Keep us updated!

OK, this is seriously funny, but I just got back from a week in Vegas and I lost weight. How much do I love my sleeve? You bet I do! This is a victory on many levels because the last time I was in Vegas, I was over 300 lbs and could barely walk for more than 1/2 hour before feeling winded and needing to take a break. This trip...I walked over FIVE HOURS three days in a row. I just stopped every now and then for some quick gambling, some hydration, etc. It's like I had the seemingly endless energy I had 20 years ago! It felt fantastic! No pained feet, knees, back...I felt fit again!!! I stayed off-Strip, so the hotel buffet ($8 for Breakfast or lunch) was totally worth it. Breakfast with eggs, cheese, sausage, bacon...about 4-5 oz worth was delicious! It's actually fun to try "just a bite" of many different things. lunch was bone-in chicken (removed most of the skin), beef fajitas, and steamed veggies (broccoli and grean beans). I indulged in a fried ravioli and a couple bites of teriyaki chicken (totally fried and sugar-coated) also, which were the first fried items I'd had in months and both were yummy. I still have this fear that I'll fall back into eating too much of that garbage, but trying to deal with it rationally and maintaining balance. My eyes were seriously bigger than my sleeve (as I knew my eyes would be)...even though I used a small salad plate. I seriously wished I had my scale with me so I could determine how much I was eating. I brought my small flatware (appetizer-sized fork and spoon) to keep myself in check. I eat very fast, so small bites are a must for me. I did overdo it once at lunch and got the slimes, but live and learn. The food was still wonderful even in small quantities. I knew I'd probably try and check the boundaries of my sleeve at a buffet. Yup, I still can't eat too much. It's fantastic! I also tried the Fit Slam (Proteins and the low-carb melons and finished less than half. It still feels a bit insane to actually leave food on my plate, but I'm getting used to it! I did Atkins for several years and total carb-junkie, so I'm still a bit afraid of carbs. After years of trying to find the most food for the money, it's strange to search out the best Protein values. I did check out this site (meats are just not sleeve-friendly. I tried beef fajitas and pork tenderloin. They seem to go down fine, but fill me up too quickly even with chewing. Next time, I'm dropping the dry meats in a soup or adding some gravy like I do at home. I seem to be able to eat oodles of meat-heavy Soups without problem. Eating out wasn't too bad. I traveled alone, so kept feeling like any "big" meal would be a waste of money. I found that Subway's salads were too much lettuce after they chopped it all up (seriously like three meals there in one salad with the bulk being lettuce) but ordering a sandwich and eating everything but the bread (I ordered flatbread to make it easy) was just perfect at around $5. I got the oven-baked chicken (Protein Bars (I like the Pure Protein best because they're seemingly low-carb though I don't completely trust carb content on protein bars...chocolate Shake" (http://eas.com/products/drinks/carb-control-drinks-rich-dark-chocolate) which were awesome in decaf iced coffees through out the day for some extra protein. I did alot of people-watching and was really aware of how overweight so many people are...and I was just like that a year ago. That was a big reality-check as I could barely get up a flight of stairs a year ago and I was literally sprinting up stairs every chance I got. I really don't want to fall back into old habits. It feels like a slippery slope. I'm sure most of us who have yo-yo-ed throughout our lives get that panic feeling when we're at a healthy weight. It's a good feeling, but also scary. But when all is said and done...I lost 5 lbs in Vegas, which I'd never done without my beloved sleeve! I look forward to vacations now with lots of walking and outdoors-y stuff because I seriously have the energy now for it!

I was/am eating between 700-1000 calories per day.

Higher fat, calories, and cholesterol. My nutritionist recommended limiting to two whole eggs per week and egg whites for the remainder. All depends on your own health situation, of course.