MrsKarenC2008

@DashRipr0ck Wow ... where do you put ALL that Fluid? I'm lucky if I can get the 64 in that is required .... I applaud you on that accomplishment! BUT ... at the same time ... that can be a bad thing too ... you're not leaving much room or desire for food ... ( at least in my opinion ) And please take that with a grain of salt ... I am NO expert ... Just speaking from experience ... ( 9 months out ) I pray you do talk with your doctor and be HONEST ... they cannot help you if you're not ... Best of luck!

I've been reading other posters answers ... and thinking about my own ... I can honestly say I read and re-read all the information I was given by the surgeon ... so I was "prepared" ... as much as you can be I guess ... the only thing I wish someone had really stressed to me ... was the left shoulder gas pain ... whoa ... that made me stop in my tracks ... the pain from the actual surgery was a piece of cake compared to the shoulder pain ... So when someone tells you you probably will get the gas pain in your left shoulder ... listen! It does go away ... thankfully !

@Stacey78 My surgery was outpatient ... I was there at 8 am and home by 2 ... I went through True Results and it was done by a local bariatric clinic here in Atlanta ... I had excellent care before, during and after so far ... ( 9 months out ) I am so glad I didn't have the additional costs of a hospital stay, etc ... since I was self pay ... If I understand your post correctly ... you're having yours today ... GOOD LUCK!!!! Welcome to the club!!

And by change I mean our personalities ... our being in general ? I know we're completely different on the outside ... but what does everyone think about the inside? I'm just wondering ... because I'd like to think I'm still the same girl as before ... that I'll always be her ... But I think others around me ( who haven't said anything ) think I'm changing in other ways besides physically ... Just actions that I've noticed ... Let me know what you guys think ... or have experienced ... PS ... oopsy! spelled "lose" wrong! LOL ... guess I'm losing my marbles too!

Losing 100+ pounds feels FREEING!!! Finally I can LIVE my life instead of just existing in it ... And I second pretty much everything else that the others have said ...

@KindaFamiliar I was thinking that too! That it's the calorie-God's way of saying all the Easter candy is calorie free!! Just teasing

i have had the premade Monster Muscle ... omgosh tastes like Yoohoo!!! I also do the Atkins premade with a scoop of Pure Protein powder in it ... that is pretty good too! I haven't been mixing powder in my food ... though I guess I could try it ... just not too adventurous on the food front yet ...

Everyone has been SO insightful in this post ... There are so many points being brought up that I think we ALL can relate to and understand ... and some that we may not even have thought of ... Being that I went through a clinic and my surgery was outpatient ... I wasn't required to have a visit to the "shrink" before hand ... or after ward ... I am thinking about going on my own though ... Just to "get it out" ... All the things I'm feeling ... wondering about ... going through in my brain ... That those around me cannot begin to understand as you all do ... I cannot thank you ALL enough for your replies ... Your HONESTY ... your support ... and just being there ... I'm so blessed

@Babbs Well said Babbs ... well said

You guys are hitting the nail on the head ( at least how I was feeling about it ) ... I was always thinking that we're pretty much hard wired to be "who" we are ... and unless we also got lobotomy's ... we're always be that way ... I guess @@Christinamo7 said a key thing "I don't know if I've changed or if they have" ... I think @ said something key too ... that others react to us differently now ... we're no longer invisible ... Sad how people and society put a stigma on people who are different than what is considered "normal" .... There is no such thing as normal ... People who are overweight or have a handicap are often pointed at and laughed at, etc .. we all know this ... but because we're leaving the weight behind us ... we're now socially acceptable? How sad is that. I would like to think that people would always treat me as they always have ... because I am the same person I always was ... I just look different ... I'll stop rambling now .. Keep the responses coming everyone!

I only drink my Protein shake for breakfast ... lunch is a P3 ... snack is peanuts ... Protein Shake on the drive home ... dinner is meat of some sort ... snack is either a SF fudgesicle or 1/2 of a Protein Bar ... and lots of Water of course! that is pretty much it for me ... too scared to venture to new foods right now ... did that a couple of times and didn't feel the best afterward ... so i'll stick with what I know for now

I'm almost 9 months out from surgery and I've lost 141lbs ... but as everyone else agrees ... you HAVE to follow the plan ... Sleeve is just a tool ... it's not a magic wand ... it's not the WHOLE answer ... a lot of things combined make this work ... Best of luck on your journey ... It's SO worth every second!!!

@Proud2BMe You're almost at ONEDERLAND !!! Congrats !!!

I weigh everyday because it keeps me on track and honest ... What I mean by honest is ... if I had something like an extra handful of popcorn ... or 2 more bites of the Protein bar before bed ... or a bite of bread ... I wanna know how that affects me on the scale ... I do my darndest to NOT have bad carbs ... But if we're truly honest with ourselves ... we do have a bite now and then ... So by tracking my progress daily ... I keep up with it Just my anal-ness coming out

i have 18 more to go !! Haven't been to Onederland since HIGH SCHOOL !!!!!! Look out here we come!

Omgosh ... what a wonderful start to ANY day ! I just sat here reading your story saying "awww" over and over and staring at that sweet little fuzzy face wanting to grab him through the screen and take him home! What a blessing! Love, love, love!

@Lexigurl82 As @@Dub said ... fellow Georgian! We can get through the stupid pollen and stupid heat/humidity ... We can get through ANYTHING! As others have said ... you're much better off now ... Not worth staying in something if you're not fulfilled, happy, loved, respected and treated as an equal. I love the saying "If God brings you to it .. He'll bring you through it" ... I have said this to myself a million times through my sleeve process ... And in a way it's similar to divorce ... Getting rid of the excess weight!! You will be OK ... your daughter will be OK ... Time for the girls to focus on the girls! Brighter days are ahead ... One foot in front of the other ... You got this:)

I'm with pretty much the majority so far ... I can understand not using them first 2 or 3 months out ... which I was religious about ... but now ... almost 9 months out .. ( omg I could have cooked a kid already! ) MUCH rather have this surgery than a kid! LOL I use straws now ... I have missed them so much ... I never ever liked to drink from the rim of someone else's cup ( like dining out ) ... yuck ... and yes, I'm the one you see in the restaurants wiping her silverware on the napkin before using ... I'm anal.

Anyone dare try this post op? Just curious ...

@JamieLogical Thank you for your answer ... I really appreciate it ... I know we're all different and follow different docs orders ... but I was just curious ... PS ... I always like your advice and information ... You always take the time to help everyone no matter what the subject ... it's greatly appreciated!!

See ... I knew asking you guys was the right thing to do! Thank you for the feedback so far

Hey everyone! I've been looking at the new line Atkins offers called LIFT ... Anyone tried any of the Protein bars or Protein drinks ? I was just looking for a little feedback from the experts before I buy something ... Thank you!!

mine was $12,900.00 cash price paid by me ... insurance wouldn't cover anything ... and mine was outpatient ... I was there about 7 hours total ... from walking in the door ... and rolling out afterward ... I'd do it again in a heartbeat

I'm 8 months out and I drink a childs size unsweeta tea when I want something ... what I call "zippy" Granted .. it takes me ALL afternoon to drink it! It's not had any negative effects on me ... thank God ... I know we're all different though ... and following your NUT's instructions are best ...

I'm with @@Dub