VDB

Cody's Ma -- do you think you could drink skim milk? I resort to it, kept very cold, when I get tired of Water, also mix a bit of EAS chocolate Protein powder in it sometimes. Skim milk is 85% water!

I was genuinely hungry for about a month. Then, the hunger gradually went away and now am almost never hungry. When I was at your phase, I started mixing Protein powder with skim milk powder 1/2 and 1/2, to cut that creamy thick texture I was gagging on. That really helped and still do that. Honestly, I miss hunger and feeling hungry but it sure helps me put food on the back burner and other life things up front.

From what I was told, don't drink more water than your pouch can comfortably hold without feeling pressure, but that since the water drains out of the pouch in 15-20 minutes, you can then again drink to comfortable fullness. At three mos post by-pass, I now just try to sip 3-4 large mouthfulls at a time, any more than that at one time gets uncomfortable.

DAVEO, thanks. It really is that simple, Protein first, then veges/fruit. I have learned to vary my protein sources as otherwise I get bored.

Daveo, congratulations!! Can't wait, just 20+ pounds, will be there, too. Could you share with me what your biggest lessons learned were? Thanks!

You dog, you! Have to try this.

B-52, truly inspirational. When I went to the initial public education on WLS which our clinic gives, they had a slide where an MD said that WLS can cure 5 major illnesses with one surgery. That slide was my tipping point. Still have a 100 # to lose but now, with five major illnesses gone or in retreat, I am full of hope.

Love it Justwatchme!!! Way to go...

Good news! Thanks for letting us know. It will change your life, 3 mos post by-pass, mine is changed forever.

Ditto on "slap me hard" !!! What is wonderful about this surgery is that most of those old nasty foods which got us so fat are really not that tasty when the hunger is not there. I have almost no hunger, and almost all yearning for foods I crave is completely in my head. So much of my previous eating which got me so fat was tied to salty, fatty, carbs.... and I just don't get excited about that stuff. When my hunger returns, I will have gone 9 mos to a year without eating those types of foods, and will have a good chance of eliminating them.

Thanks, everyone. I quickly realized I did not have good information about the speed of weight loss, and thought I might lose 75# in a year, but lost that in 3 months. I thought it would take 24 months to make goal weight. But, seeing that most are getting to goal weight much sooner, I am adjusting my thinking. I don't feel pressure to match anyone's loss, but it is pretty clear to me that goal weight will "be coming around the mountain", as in "she'll be coming 'round the mountain when she comes".

I would like to know, for you, at what month post-op did you make goal weight, if you have? Thanks!

I am with Blerdgirl, no problems of any kind, 3 mos. post by-pass. I live in a valley where cherries are raised, we just had Cherry Days, and no problems eating them.

Your PAL name is offensive and not worthy of this site. Please change it.

Here is what I do: I go to Target and buy their EAS brand of 24 g whey Protein powder. I mix it half and half with dry powdered milk, which ends up being 24-25 g. of protein for two scoops. It is very lightly sweet, the chocolate is not too strong, and it does not have that cream texture of many Protein drinks. I mix it up a quart at a time and keep it very cold.

My hair turned white at 40. From then on, it was "Would you like the Senior Discount?" My standard reply was "Of course". I felt they offered, and yes, I would like a discount, I really would. I was lying, my karmic goodness is intact (I think)

Yes, whoever says that has never had my Aunt Kate's berry pie....

The night before my heart attack four years ago, here is the meal I had at a Dairy Queen in Austin TX: Triple Cheeseburger (they no longer have these on their menu), large chocolate shake, large onion rings. Turned down a hot fudge sundae, trying to cut down I estimate calories at 2500, sodium at 1500, fat at 80% of daily. Heart attack was mild, no damage, but sure never had that meal again!

Way to go, great before and after. I have been giving the fat clothes away on Craigslist, from 3xl to 2 xl. Got to be honest, my reaction to your post is that when the 18 months honeymoon is over, and your body clicks into normal weight gain, you are one who, according to my surgeon and my nutritionists, and my daughter's father in law (bariatric surgeon) is at very high risk of gaining your weight back. The honeymoon of easy weight loss is when we cement our better food habits. Beer, lots of Desserts, no vitamins/calcium (you are young enough you might get away with that but it may effect your bone strength in your 40's) means that you have not changed enough habits to maintain post honeymoon. No criticism intended, I have 100 pounds to go, but every week my core food habits are better, I am Never going to be fat again.

Back in the late 80's an obesity researcher studied this question. She found that most non-obese people felt superior to obese people, which was not always accompanied with negative behavior toward obese people, just feeling better than. Then, she studied obese people who were around "really" obese people. Sure enough, the obese people felt superior to the really obese. I was over 400#, 6'4", a very big guy, and on the very rare occasion when I was around someone much bigger than me, my internal reaction was always "That poor fat SOB!" Today, heading for 80# down, 3 months post op, at the public pool, there was a much heavier guy in the pool than me. I introduced myself and we had a good chat about the weather. As I swam away, he said "nice talking to you, John, see you next week". My point is we are all just people, let's use those social skills.

I know what you mean. Can't speak for you, but for me, this hard look in the mirror is not too attractive, and similar to you, get lots of muscle building exercise, but now going on 80# down in three months, looking pretty droopy. This sounds really strange, but I expected to see the in-shape, smooth skin (no droopys and no stretch marks) 25 year old farm boy emerge even though I am 64 and made decisions that meant that I was significantly overweight from 35 on. The reality is that I got up to 450 at one point, and put my health at high risk, and as a result, my skin got very misshapen and stretched out. Now, like you, moving around great, have much better endurance, have gotten cured of five major health issues due to surgery, but am STILL looking for that good looking farm kid. I am having to adjust to a very different "Me" ..... and to reframe my experience into being so glad that I am better, and this is me with droops and sags, and that is ok...

Go Octavia16, go, you will love the results of this surgery...it is already changing my life. I walk my remaining unmarried daughter down the aisle in two weeks, doing it much healthier than 12 weeks ago! You have to be courageous to have this surgery.

Shoe size dropped from 18 EW to 17 EW (Bigfoot), primarily due to all edema going away. I expect to be at a mere 16 EW by the time I hit goal in Feb.

Yes, when I went into surgery I was on four meds plus insulin (64 mg a day). For a week after, my BG never got over 100 and they took me off all meds. Then, it slowly started to rise until my MD told me that I would likely need a little bit (5-15) mg a day for my lifetime, to support the pancreas. However, after 50# down my BG is fine, so not using the insulin. Now at over 70# down, even better. When I am 170 down and at goal, it is unlikely I will need anything, ever, but we will see. My foot neuropathy is still there, but 50% less painful with weight off, the MD says it will always be there just less painful. Thank goodness, no eye problems.

I have found that I drink more Water if it is very cold. I fill water bottles 2/3 full and keep them in the freezer, taking them out a couple a day. I also put lime slices in water. I usually use crystal light lemonade or pink lemonade at about half strength.