VDLT

Before I had surgery I told my husband that we were just going to each have to fend for ourselves food wise and that there might be times we would not eat together. So much importance is placed on eating and eating together, but I have found out it is not that big a deal if we do other things together. While I have not been able to get him to eat better or go with me on walks etc, he has taken to the idea of fending for himself.
I make what I want/need to eat and he is welcome to have some. I try to plan two meals or three meals for the week that I can eat and I know he will enjoy, and one of us makes them. I eat what I can and he can have my leftovers the next day while I eat one of my other approved meals. I do the shopping and ask him to put whatever he wants on the list and I purchase it. He goes out to lunch without me sometimes and gets the food he wants. Sometimes he will bring something home and eat while I have my own meal and it doesn't bother me.
What I am trying to say and please don't think this is mean, but you are doing this for yourself and need to do what you need to do. There is no reason why you need to sit and watch him eat. If he wants to eat crap that's fine, but you don't have to and shouldn't sit by and watch if it is going to make you crave that stuff. You need to say that you are doing this for you and that while he does not have to do the same, that you will need to make some changes to be successful, to not be hurt if you have to change your life a bit, and to find other things you can do together that do not involve eating.

I went on a cruise a month after my surgery. Like you, I had planned and paid before surgery was even contemplated. In fact, my first day of "solids" was on the cruise.
I called the cruise ship and was able to get a letter from my surgeon asking them to allow me to bring premade Protein shakes on board.
What worked for me was to have a shake for Breakfast while walking the deck, for lunch I went to the buffet and put one scoop of tuna or chicken salad on a plate with two slices of cheese from the sandwich section, and for dinner I ate in the dining room and had the fish option every night.

Bitchy friends are my favorite types of friends.
Carp, never! Crap, always.
Thanks. I feel so happy right now. Happy and bitchy!

@@gustavio,
Congratulations – for a few things! Congrats for maintaining your exercise program. Congrats for not letting the weather interfere, and for getting to the gym instead. Congrats for finishing your workout even though you didn’t feel comfortable. Congrats for even considering talking to some people to make some “gym buddies.” All of that is wonderful!
As for people staring at you…they probably weren’t. Everyone who goes to the gym is there for themselves. They’re pretty engrossed in their own workouts.
If they were staring at you, they were probably doing so with admiration, and here’s why. Getting to the gym is hard for everyone. Fit people know that better than anyone else, and they are more likely to respect anyone who gets to the gym – whether or not they look fit.
Plus, the gym people know that it’s extra hard for you. Just like them, you had to get up early, get to the gym, and do your workout. And on top of that, you had to feel self-conscious about it. They know that, and most of them respect it (and the few who don’t aren’t worth bothering about).
So, keep using the gym whenever you want, and talk to everyone whether they look approachable or not. They’ll let you know quickly enough if they are open to chatting or not. And keep up the great work!

@@gustavio,
I can understand! I am terribly self conscious, and the gym can be so intimidating. I am going today for the very first time since I just go my OK from the surgeon. All I can say is that you rock for going, no matter what anyone may or may not be thinking. You are miles ahead of those who don't go at all. Everyone has to start somewhere, and I think you should be commended for going! If you really are being judged, screw 'em.
The group of ladies you saw coming in when you were leaving might be a great way to start enjoying yourself, perhaps try to go when they go, introducer yourself and get workout buddies!
Hang in there and don't get discouraged. You have all of us in your corner, all of us also heading to the gym with the same feelings. Keep the rewards in mind!

From looking at your stats though it looks like you are a third of the weight to goal already in just a few months so that is amazing. Congratulations on that.
I have learned that we all have different sized stomachs to begin with and that anatomy plays a big role in the ultimate size of the remaining stomach. It sucks. I have a lot less restriction as many folks on here who are years out and I am only 8 months out.
It is a very common and fair warning around here to not compare yourself to others. It is not fair to do that to yourself. We are all unique in our body types, physiology, metabolism etc. Again, trust me I know it sucks.
Are you eating less than you used to if so how much? After the first few months I could only eat about half of what I used to. Now I can eat about two thirds or so. Not enough of a change to lose without basically dieting by making sure I cut my portions and watch what I eat.
Like you I can also eat a lot more than I should if I am distracted so I make sure I try to be really conscious of what I am eating. Even though I don't measure or weigh my food, if I am home I only use salad plates and make sure I don't put too much on it. I shoot for about half of what my brain tells me to. When out at a restaurant I cut my food in half and shoot to not finish one half of it.
One more thing I wanted to mention, I had esophagitis and a hiatal hernia among other things when I got sleeved. My surgeon fixed my hernia but told me inevitably my esophagus would dilate again making it larger and easier for me to eat more. It is what it is on that front and another thing I have to deal with.
I hope this helps somewhat. Best of luck to you and again congrats on being a third of the way to goal. A third!!!

I am 8 months out. The first 5 to 6 months I did great but then some bad stuff crept in. Been an emotional time. Working on getting back on track.
I am making a big pot of turkey chili. It's something I came up with after surgery that really hit the spot. I can eat this stuff almost daily and not tire of it so I decided to make it again.
Since I make a large batch I never calculated the calories, Protein, carbs etc in it. I just added up everything (math is hard!) and divided by 10. I am certain I will get way more servings than that once I portion it out when it's ready but wanted to get a rough estimate.
Your thoughts on these numbers are appreciated! 90% of the carbs are from Beans...
Calories 253
Protein 27
Carbs 19
Fiber 5
Sugar 2.8
Fat 8.6

I would be happy to Note that while I love this and can eat it everyday my husband thinks its bland and gross! Hehe...
I eat it by itself or on top of lettuce with a bit of cheese and sour cream as a taco salad of sorts.
You might want to make half a batch first to make sure you like it... I make a large batch in my slow cooker. I measured it this time to calculate the nutrition and it yielded exactly 10 cups. I have a larger capacity I guess and I eat a cup as a portion.
2 packs of ground turkey - then ones I get from my grocer, Publix, are 1.3 lbs
1 packet mild chili seasoning (or spicy if you wish)
1 can of original Rotel
1 can of Rotel "Chili-Fixins" (I only use one of these and one regular because I can't tolereate spicy foods)
1 can dark red Beans
1 can light red Beans
Optional 1 more can of beans, I like black beans so I added this last round. That increased the numbers a bit but nothing terrible as it is divided by 10 portions. I can calculate those numbers if you would like.
Edited to add to just use whatever beans you like, this is just what I got in the habit of using.
What I do.... I score the turkey across so that it crumbles easier and dump it in the slowcooker with the seasoning packet and mix it up. Set it on high and just let the meat cook a bit.
Dump the two cans of Rotel and the drained cans of beans. Give it a stir and just let it cook on high for at least 4 hours or low for at least 7 or 8. That's it!
Send me a message if you have any questions

I would be happy to Note that while I love this and can eat it everyday my husband thinks its bland and gross! Hehe...
I eat it by itself or on top of lettuce with a bit of cheese and sour cream as a taco salad of sorts.
You might want to make half a batch first to make sure you like it... I make a large batch in my slow cooker. I measured it this time to calculate the nutrition and it yielded exactly 10 cups. I have a larger capacity I guess and I eat a cup as a portion.
2 packs of ground turkey - then ones I get from my grocer, Publix, are 1.3 lbs
1 packet mild chili seasoning (or spicy if you wish)
1 can of original Rotel
1 can of Rotel "Chili-Fixins" (I only use one of these and one regular because I can't tolereate spicy foods)
1 can dark red Beans
1 can light red Beans
Optional 1 more can of beans, I like black beans so I added this last round. That increased the numbers a bit but nothing terrible as it is divided by 10 portions. I can calculate those numbers if you would like.
Edited to add to just use whatever beans you like, this is just what I got in the habit of using.
What I do.... I score the turkey across so that it crumbles easier and dump it in the slowcooker with the seasoning packet and mix it up. Set it on high and just let the meat cook a bit.
Dump the two cans of Rotel and the drained cans of beans. Give it a stir and just let it cook on high for at least 4 hours or low for at least 7 or 8. That's it!
Send me a message if you have any questions

From looking at your stats though it looks like you are a third of the weight to goal already in just a few months so that is amazing. Congratulations on that.
I have learned that we all have different sized stomachs to begin with and that anatomy plays a big role in the ultimate size of the remaining stomach. It sucks. I have a lot less restriction as many folks on here who are years out and I am only 8 months out.
It is a very common and fair warning around here to not compare yourself to others. It is not fair to do that to yourself. We are all unique in our body types, physiology, metabolism etc. Again, trust me I know it sucks.
Are you eating less than you used to if so how much? After the first few months I could only eat about half of what I used to. Now I can eat about two thirds or so. Not enough of a change to lose without basically dieting by making sure I cut my portions and watch what I eat.
Like you I can also eat a lot more than I should if I am distracted so I make sure I try to be really conscious of what I am eating. Even though I don't measure or weigh my food, if I am home I only use salad plates and make sure I don't put too much on it. I shoot for about half of what my brain tells me to. When out at a restaurant I cut my food in half and shoot to not finish one half of it.
One more thing I wanted to mention, I had esophagitis and a hiatal hernia among other things when I got sleeved. My surgeon fixed my hernia but told me inevitably my esophagus would dilate again making it larger and easier for me to eat more. It is what it is on that front and another thing I have to deal with.
I hope this helps somewhat. Best of luck to you and again congrats on being a third of the way to goal. A third!!!

there are several websites where you can input your recipe and it will break out all the nutritional information for you (myfitness.pal for instance) I have done this with several of my recipes. It is really a useful tool

I am also a lapband conversion so I feel you. Trust me. And I don't think anyone is telling you that there isn't anything wrong with eating 20 ozs of steak, I think what everyone is saying is that it should not have been on your plate to begin with. Yeah, I know, you should feel full, except you didn't until it was too late, many of us have been there.
At 4 or 5 months out, you should still be eating really carefully whether you think you can fit it in or not. You are still healing and establishing your new habits.
The sleeve is not what I expected it to be. I expected to feel that clear restriction I had with the band in which I would eat one more bite and it would tell me "nope! that is the last one or you are going to pay for it!". The most I have felt with the sleeve is being uncomfortably full. It is way more subtle than the band and therefore requires a lot more from the patient.
Again I don't think anyone is telling you that it was ok that you were able to eat that much, but do take into consideration that your capacity may be way greater overall than many, and that doesn't necessarily mean that your sleeve was performed poorly, just that you started with a larger stomach than others. Seems to be the case with me as well. And also consider that while you can eat more than others, doesn't mean you should.

From looking at your stats though it looks like you are a third of the weight to goal already in just a few months so that is amazing. Congratulations on that.
I have learned that we all have different sized stomachs to begin with and that anatomy plays a big role in the ultimate size of the remaining stomach. It sucks. I have a lot less restriction as many folks on here who are years out and I am only 8 months out.
It is a very common and fair warning around here to not compare yourself to others. It is not fair to do that to yourself. We are all unique in our body types, physiology, metabolism etc. Again, trust me I know it sucks.
Are you eating less than you used to if so how much? After the first few months I could only eat about half of what I used to. Now I can eat about two thirds or so. Not enough of a change to lose without basically dieting by making sure I cut my portions and watch what I eat.
Like you I can also eat a lot more than I should if I am distracted so I make sure I try to be really conscious of what I am eating. Even though I don't measure or weigh my food, if I am home I only use salad plates and make sure I don't put too much on it. I shoot for about half of what my brain tells me to. When out at a restaurant I cut my food in half and shoot to not finish one half of it.
One more thing I wanted to mention, I had esophagitis and a hiatal hernia among other things when I got sleeved. My surgeon fixed my hernia but told me inevitably my esophagus would dilate again making it larger and easier for me to eat more. It is what it is on that front and another thing I have to deal with.
I hope this helps somewhat. Best of luck to you and again congrats on being a third of the way to goal. A third!!!

I am also a lapband conversion so I feel you. Trust me. And I don't think anyone is telling you that there isn't anything wrong with eating 20 ozs of steak, I think what everyone is saying is that it should not have been on your plate to begin with. Yeah, I know, you should feel full, except you didn't until it was too late, many of us have been there.
At 4 or 5 months out, you should still be eating really carefully whether you think you can fit it in or not. You are still healing and establishing your new habits.
The sleeve is not what I expected it to be. I expected to feel that clear restriction I had with the band in which I would eat one more bite and it would tell me "nope! that is the last one or you are going to pay for it!". The most I have felt with the sleeve is being uncomfortably full. It is way more subtle than the band and therefore requires a lot more from the patient.
Again I don't think anyone is telling you that it was ok that you were able to eat that much, but do take into consideration that your capacity may be way greater overall than many, and that doesn't necessarily mean that your sleeve was performed poorly, just that you started with a larger stomach than others. Seems to be the case with me as well. And also consider that while you can eat more than others, doesn't mean you should.

I am also a lapband conversion so I feel you. Trust me. And I don't think anyone is telling you that there isn't anything wrong with eating 20 ozs of steak, I think what everyone is saying is that it should not have been on your plate to begin with. Yeah, I know, you should feel full, except you didn't until it was too late, many of us have been there.
At 4 or 5 months out, you should still be eating really carefully whether you think you can fit it in or not. You are still healing and establishing your new habits.
The sleeve is not what I expected it to be. I expected to feel that clear restriction I had with the band in which I would eat one more bite and it would tell me "nope! that is the last one or you are going to pay for it!". The most I have felt with the sleeve is being uncomfortably full. It is way more subtle than the band and therefore requires a lot more from the patient.
Again I don't think anyone is telling you that it was ok that you were able to eat that much, but do take into consideration that your capacity may be way greater overall than many, and that doesn't necessarily mean that your sleeve was performed poorly, just that you started with a larger stomach than others. Seems to be the case with me as well. And also consider that while you can eat more than others, doesn't mean you should.

From looking at your stats though it looks like you are a third of the weight to goal already in just a few months so that is amazing. Congratulations on that.
I have learned that we all have different sized stomachs to begin with and that anatomy plays a big role in the ultimate size of the remaining stomach. It sucks. I have a lot less restriction as many folks on here who are years out and I am only 8 months out.
It is a very common and fair warning around here to not compare yourself to others. It is not fair to do that to yourself. We are all unique in our body types, physiology, metabolism etc. Again, trust me I know it sucks.
Are you eating less than you used to if so how much? After the first few months I could only eat about half of what I used to. Now I can eat about two thirds or so. Not enough of a change to lose without basically dieting by making sure I cut my portions and watch what I eat.
Like you I can also eat a lot more than I should if I am distracted so I make sure I try to be really conscious of what I am eating. Even though I don't measure or weigh my food, if I am home I only use salad plates and make sure I don't put too much on it. I shoot for about half of what my brain tells me to. When out at a restaurant I cut my food in half and shoot to not finish one half of it.
One more thing I wanted to mention, I had esophagitis and a hiatal hernia among other things when I got sleeved. My surgeon fixed my hernia but told me inevitably my esophagus would dilate again making it larger and easier for me to eat more. It is what it is on that front and another thing I have to deal with.
I hope this helps somewhat. Best of luck to you and again congrats on being a third of the way to goal. A third!!!

From looking at your stats though it looks like you are a third of the weight to goal already in just a few months so that is amazing. Congratulations on that.
I have learned that we all have different sized stomachs to begin with and that anatomy plays a big role in the ultimate size of the remaining stomach. It sucks. I have a lot less restriction as many folks on here who are years out and I am only 8 months out.
It is a very common and fair warning around here to not compare yourself to others. It is not fair to do that to yourself. We are all unique in our body types, physiology, metabolism etc. Again, trust me I know it sucks.
Are you eating less than you used to if so how much? After the first few months I could only eat about half of what I used to. Now I can eat about two thirds or so. Not enough of a change to lose without basically dieting by making sure I cut my portions and watch what I eat.
Like you I can also eat a lot more than I should if I am distracted so I make sure I try to be really conscious of what I am eating. Even though I don't measure or weigh my food, if I am home I only use salad plates and make sure I don't put too much on it. I shoot for about half of what my brain tells me to. When out at a restaurant I cut my food in half and shoot to not finish one half of it.
One more thing I wanted to mention, I had esophagitis and a hiatal hernia among other things when I got sleeved. My surgeon fixed my hernia but told me inevitably my esophagus would dilate again making it larger and easier for me to eat more. It is what it is on that front and another thing I have to deal with.
I hope this helps somewhat. Best of luck to you and again congrats on being a third of the way to goal. A third!!!

I went on a cruise a month after my surgery. Like you, I had planned and paid before surgery was even contemplated. In fact, my first day of "solids" was on the cruise.
I called the cruise ship and was able to get a letter from my surgeon asking them to allow me to bring premade Protein shakes on board.
What worked for me was to have a shake for Breakfast while walking the deck, for lunch I went to the buffet and put one scoop of tuna or chicken salad on a plate with two slices of cheese from the sandwich section, and for dinner I ate in the dining room and had the fish option every night.

Congrats on your revision. I am also a revision and although I have less restriction than I wish I had with the sleeve, I am glad to have the band gone. After all the complications and problems I had with it I feel so much better with it gone! I didn't realize how crappy I really felt until I didn't anymore.
Best of luck with your sleeve!

Congrats on your revision. I am also a revision and although I have less restriction than I wish I had with the sleeve, I am glad to have the band gone. After all the complications and problems I had with it I feel so much better with it gone! I didn't realize how crappy I really felt until I didn't anymore.
Best of luck with your sleeve!

I lived in TX and now live in FL so I know hot. Not much you can do about it other than drinking a lot of Water, popping inside to cool off in the A/C any chance you get, and in TX, get yourself a Bill Miller Tea Bucket to keep full of ice and Water

I am now officially under 200! Long has the day been coming, I can't actually believe I made it here! Sleeved Feb 2nd.

From looking at your stats though it looks like you are a third of the weight to goal already in just a few months so that is amazing. Congratulations on that.
I have learned that we all have different sized stomachs to begin with and that anatomy plays a big role in the ultimate size of the remaining stomach. It sucks. I have a lot less restriction as many folks on here who are years out and I am only 8 months out.
It is a very common and fair warning around here to not compare yourself to others. It is not fair to do that to yourself. We are all unique in our body types, physiology, metabolism etc. Again, trust me I know it sucks.
Are you eating less than you used to if so how much? After the first few months I could only eat about half of what I used to. Now I can eat about two thirds or so. Not enough of a change to lose without basically dieting by making sure I cut my portions and watch what I eat.
Like you I can also eat a lot more than I should if I am distracted so I make sure I try to be really conscious of what I am eating. Even though I don't measure or weigh my food, if I am home I only use salad plates and make sure I don't put too much on it. I shoot for about half of what my brain tells me to. When out at a restaurant I cut my food in half and shoot to not finish one half of it.
One more thing I wanted to mention, I had esophagitis and a hiatal hernia among other things when I got sleeved. My surgeon fixed my hernia but told me inevitably my esophagus would dilate again making it larger and easier for me to eat more. It is what it is on that front and another thing I have to deal with.
I hope this helps somewhat. Best of luck to you and again congrats on being a third of the way to goal. A third!!!

I went on a cruise a month after my surgery. Like you, I had planned and paid before surgery was even contemplated. In fact, my first day of "solids" was on the cruise.
I called the cruise ship and was able to get a letter from my surgeon asking them to allow me to bring premade Protein shakes on board.
What worked for me was to have a shake for Breakfast while walking the deck, for lunch I went to the buffet and put one scoop of tuna or chicken salad on a plate with two slices of cheese from the sandwich section, and for dinner I ate in the dining room and had the fish option every night.

Short tracking testimonial coming at you ....
I don't think I could have been successful with WLS without My Fitness Pal. It's the second most valuable tool I have -- the first being my sleeve.
Good luck. You can do this.
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