JackieBrown

Excellent idea, and finding losses elsewhere is so much easier for my fragile ego. I need to measure myself, as I haven't done that since right before surgery. Wore my size 14 pants yesterday, down from 20W only 2 months ago, and they felt so wonderful. No thigh chafing! We have to snag (and celebrate) our victories wherever we can find them!

You ladies are looking amazing. What an inspiration for us all!

I read about that. Amazing... some folks have even gotten fecal transplants from skinny people.

The upshot is, being overweight isn't just a question of willpower, is it?! Makes me feel a whole lot better...

That is amazing, Bruce! You're sort of like one of those Russian nesting dolls in that video. Good for you!

That is inspirational. Great job!

Torilee, is that a gut bacteria you're talking about?

Really. Crackers, veggies, and cheese are not going to make you feel better. Did your doctor give you that diet? You need Protein and Water, lots of both, as these will help to repair your stomach and whatever else was cut up. You have to realize that your body went through a major trauma (I admit, that's easy to forget as we heal), and it needs your help.

Carbs fill you up too fast and curb your appetite for short periods of time. Instead of that, eat those soft cheeses (ricotta, cottage, string), sugar-free yogurt, kefir, soft eggs, and even pureed meats to up your Protein. Plus, make sure your Water tastes good. I drink bottled water because my tap water is really hard and tastes lousy, so I drink a couple of quarts a day. That flushes lots of the garbage out of your system and also helps with the healing process. Water also curbs my appetite.

If you can't get to a gym right away, go out for a walk. Even a brisk trot through the mall is good when the weather is bad. Bring along your string cheese for a snack and always tote a big bottle of water. You'll feel better in no time. Keep us posted on your progress.

You will not believe the difference! I used to be hooked on Advil, but now I feel great as long as I get to the gym once in a while. My back, oh my back feels so much better. Talk about great side effects...

Great news! You should start feeling better soon as you lose weight on the pre-op diet. I certainly did. My knees are so grateful...

I'm sure you will be happy with how your body responds, and self love is a good thing, especially when it means taking good care of your health. When is your procedure?

I am almost two months out from my sleeve, and I have to admit that I am both elated and confused.

In all of my previous weight loss programs, the scale generally would reflect weight loss. But not this time. For example, right now I'm in an almost one-month stall at around 195 pounds. However, I continue to shrink, and yesterday put on some size 14 pants that fit like a glove. This does not seem physically possible. In the past, I had to get down to around 175 before I was a size 14, but 195?! Weird.

I'm not complaining, mind you. The skin on my face, upper arms, and belly is shrinking during this stall, and I even see the rear of my cheekbones near my ears. (Long time no see, old friends!) So, this is not a bad thing.

But does anyone know what is going on here? I exercise, eat carefully, drink lots of Water, yadda yadda yadda. Is it Water retention? Have I entered a parallel universe? Anybody out there who has experienced the same thing?

You look great and sound so healthy. Congratulations!

Congratulations! Sounds like you made the best decision ever. This operation is a life changer, so get ready for a wonderful ride as you turn into a healthy, happy butterfly!

Dang, girl!!!

Keep up the good work!

You are my new role model! Congratulations and happy new year!

You all are an inspiration. Thanks for some great ideas!

You look fabulous!

This last year really allowed me to have the tools to achieve something I've been fighting for since I was a teenager: the ability to permanently lose weight. So, when all is said and done, 2014 was a pretty fine year for me.

As for the coming year, I'm going to do my best to follow up on the protocol and change into a whole new bod. I've promised myself a really nice new wardrobe when I reach my goals, so bring on the string cheese!

I used to be a night eater, but I rarely am anymore. I sleep a whole lot better since there's less pain, and the high Protein helps keep me more full, too.

The main thing to do is to not panic about this. Have good foods high in Protein on hand for you to snack on, like string cheese or sugar-free yogurt. Toss out all of your junk food. (I used to be the tortilla chip and red wine queen at 3 am.) Know that if you wake up hungry, that's perfectly all right. Have a healthy snack, drink some Water, read a magazine, and then go back to bed. No foul, no loss. You will still be on track.

Overeating can do lots of damage. You might experience dumping, which is very painful. You could have nausea and start to vomit. You might just have a bad bellyache for a couple of hours. You might even stretch your stomach over the long run, which kind of defeats the purpose of the WLS. So this is the kind of thing you need to stop doing, and you are smart enough to ask and to check with your doctor, which shows you're halfway on the way to success.

I was an overenthusiastic portioner for quite a few weeks. I think it's a matter of being used to consuming a certain amount. But after finding myself uncomfortable too many times (nights are the worst!), I did the following:

I put my meal in the container (glass, bowl, plate, whatever) and then remove half of it. Really. My eyes want a whole lot, but I tell myself that this 1/4 cup or 1/2 cup is the correct amount, and if I'm hungry later I can come back for seconds. A lot of this is self-induced panic on my part, and it's probably one of the reasons I gained so much weight. (Lots of food-centered drama in my house growing up.)

The second thing to do is to eat s-l-o-w-l-y. Small sips and bites, really small. Tiny spoons and forks. Let the food sit in your mouth for a bit, chew it up while tasting it, feel it going down your throat and into your stomach. I found that paying attention to the food really helped. Don't watch the tube or talk on the phone while you're eating until you've got this part mastered.

You are probably like me in that you truly enjoy the act of eating. I adore having food in my mouth. It's a genuine pleasure on so many levels. But now we have new plumbing that just won't allow us to eat like before. So respect your tiny stomach, listen to her, and think about feeding her, rather than your mouth.

Keep us posted on how you're doing. We've all been there and understand.

Awesome comeback, vincereautmori!

Whoa! Way to go! How do you feel? How long did it take to recover?

Any plans for the new year? Are you going to go to the gym more? Throw out all those Cookies you've been hiding? Finally tell your in-laws what to do with themselves? Change your hair color? Get that tattoo of Jim Morrison and/or Elmo you've always wanted? Try on naughty lingerie? Try on your wife's naughty lingerie? Run a marathon? Become a vegan? Hitchhike across the country? Learn to rollerblade?

Curious minds want to know.

I'm looking into that naughty lingerie thing. I mean, it's Spandex and that has to be good for keeping things up snug and in place, right?

Great! I found that regular Water didn't sit well with me for the longest time. Someone here recommended Whole Foods' electrolyte water, and that was a lifesaver for me. I bought it by the case (10% discount!) and drank around 2 liters (or quarts) a day. It was a long softer on my tongue and seemed to soothe me, for some reason. Anyway, it's worth a try. Keep posting on how you're doing.