liannatx

I loved chicken salad in the soft/mushie/puree stage. Canned chicken breast, some fat-free Ranch, and a little relish. Mash up with a fork. Super easy, tasty, filling, and easy on the tummy. High Protein too.
Others favorites: Refried Beans with some grated sharp cheddar and salsa.
Ground turkey with a little spaghetti sauce (no pasta),
Ricotta cheese with marinara,
Tilapia seasoned with a little lemon pepper,
Cottage cheese with a teaspoon of sugar-free orange Marmalade and some Stevia,
Cottage cheese with Salsa,
tuna salad,
soft Scrambled egg with cheese or salsa,
Ground turkey with taco seasoning, topped with cheese and salsa

Salt, pepper, and some Picante sauce... I love it like this, and got the idea because I also like it with chopped tomatoes, salt n pepper.
If I want something sweet I will add a little squirt of strawberry Mio and a pack of Stevia.
Cottage cheese is also good topped with Spaghetti Sauce and warmed in the microwave.

@@nnagle323
Understand there is no way I could have known your recipe for low carb meat loaf and enter every detail correctly. It was a guestimate. My intention was not to upset you. It was to get you instructions that you did not receive. I call that support. Take what you want from the site that is helpful...Wish you the best.
moving on.

@@nnagle323
you haven't lost more than 2lbs in 3 months. You might want to call your dietician's office to reevaluate your diet and exercise.
Check your dietician's instructions that you were sent home with. Make sure you are eating and getting the correct nutrition in. Check your Protein goals 60 to 100grams. check how many carbohydrates you are allowed on your plan. Carbs can trigger hunger and cravings. Carbohydrates will slow and can stop your weight loss. Extra carbohydrates will cause weight gain.
In food stage, there is no need to get Protein by drinking shakes. Fish, chicken, turkey cheese yogurt eggs..etc...Only supplement with a shake if you're not hitting your protein goal for the day.
Are you tracking your food and hitting your protein goals?
Here is a link to my fitness pal to help you track. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/mobile/android
4 oz Ruftys low car meat loaf = 243 calories
string cheese = 80 calories
Steal cut oatmeal = 152 calories
1/2 subway multigrain flat bread = 110 calories
fruit roll up = 80 calories
PROTEIN = 36G (you didn't hit your protein goal of 60g to 100g) Protein will help you to feel full.
CARBOHYDRATES = 73Grams. (Your getting more carbs than protein.)
Calories = 665.
hitting 800 calories is pretty normal in the first few months.

First, I agree with the above statements...you look great as is but I know you won't be happy if YOU can't see that.

I've taped before but mostly my chest for the purpose of doing Drag. Lol Even with the tape. It's hot as HELL & not in that ooo-la-la kind of way. So my suggestion would be to buy a panty girdle that you like & have someone alter it in the back so your dress doesn't show it. If you buy one high enough for the front of you then they can cut it at angle in line with your dress as it dips in the back providing you support & comfort.

Congrats on the wedding & the weight loss!

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In case you can't not sweat it, can you have a heavier liner added to it to smooth out the fabric a bit?


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Just hit 100 lbs post op. Still a steady loss. I wish I would have done this years ago.

The statistics were against me. I went to the hospital completely unsure if I would have the courage to go through with my surgery, and terrified I would die. No one... I promise you, NO ONE, ever wanted to have bariatric surgery less than I. I was an emotional food addict whose life had shrunk so much that food was my entire social life. I weighed 367.8 pounds, had out of control diabetes, and could no longer walk across my own kitchen on most days. I needed both knees replaced and my doctor refused to do it until I lost a lot of weight.
The night before my surgery I was alone in the house and I sobbed a funeral dirge for my best friend, food. I was certain I would lose my mind without it.
My friends, are you hesitating?? Struggling? Regretting?? If you can stay with me, read on.
I will tell you that after the first month there hasn't been one day in five years that I haven't thought, "I never could have done this before."
My journey has been difficult, and you will have your struggles, too. The first year, I cared for and buried my beloved sister--my "person" in this world--who died in my arms. The second year, I had my right knee replaced. The third year, my left knee. My weight loss stalled, but I never gave up. The fourth year, my father died and right afterwards, my husband almost died and needed months of nursing.
I didn't tell you all that to whine. I told you in order to try to put some context to my life, because in spite of all that sorrow and pain, I am filled with joy. I have taken back my life, and you can, too.
When I came out of my surgery, I vowed that having taken the drastic step of altering my body, I was going to be all in. I have honored that vow.
I had to learn to walk again. Now I am a landscape, wedding and portrait photographer.
I had to accept that I couldn't go on vacation and eat like the old me without gaining back weight it took me months to lose. Now I usually drop a couple of pounds on vacation, and I have one thing every day that I really want. To eat, that is!! I get to have experiences instead of food now!
I had to accept that carbs are not part of my daily eating. But I have learned to actually prefer zucchini spaghetti!!
Most importantly, I learned that no one will ever abuse me again. And that includes me.
I learned that emotional eating may feel like self care, but it is self destruction, and self destruction and self preservation can never exist side by side.
Last year, I photographed the cliffs of Maine, the mountains of West Virginia (going by rope down to the waterfalls), beaches in the Carolinas, and so many other things. (Check out my stuff at mlwolfephotos.com if you are inclined!).
I could babble on and on...
Today, I am at my lowest weight in 34 years. I have not met my weight loss goal. I'm still just over 200 pounds--a weight many people begin this journey at!! It may take me a year, but I'll get there.
On January 1st I turned 60, and I cried. A lot. I didn't cry because I was 60. I cried because I wasted so many years... My 30s... My 40s...half my 50s. I cannot get them back. But I have what's left, and I will cherish each breath.
So, I lost much of my stomach. I lost 153 pounds. I gained the world.
I wish that for each and every one of you! May you work to make all your dreams come true!
Attaching a few pics, not just of what I look(ed) like, but of who I am!!!

I have no idea how plication scar tissue distributes. I know I had so much from my band and port, over a 9 year span, that my records say that the doctor literally "excavated through scar tissue and adhesions" to locate my port, and he told me he "gouged a trough through the scar tissue" on my stomach wall in prep for my sleeve surgery. He removed what he needed to do the revision, and 9 months later I am still happy and healthy. If I could do any surgery once... it would be the sleeve.
Is this is any help?

I have to say..you are my hero...putting yourself out there to help others is as good as it gets. You are one heck of a woman. Thank you and you are looking great. Larry
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@ First thing i would do is report them to Alex Brecher. He takes this stuff very serious. He wants this site to be positive not negative..... look to the right you should see post that he has made, click on his profile and send him a message with the names of the offenders and a brief description of what and how this few are making you feel. He will reply.
I want to apologize that you had to experience such negativity. This site wasn't always like this. It's use to be fun, informative and encouraging.... Now if you disagree or write your feelings or ask a question you get chastised. It use to be the worse it got was a few that would correct your spelling and grammar... now it's much worse. What ever happened to agreeing to disagree....?
It shouldn't be that way. This should be a safe place to ask questions (any question)... state your opinion (any opinion). Come here and have fun and be up lifted and praised for what you have accomplished not matter what it is.
Please don't leave the site as we do have some really great and uplifting people still here...
Chris

Good luck! I was also self-pay. I went across the border to Dr. Alvarez in Piedras Negras. I am very happy I decided to do this, it is life changing. I look forward to you sharing your journey and progress.
I lived in Harlingen for 10 years. It is so pretty there in the valley, so green... I miss my palm trees, St Augustine, and beautiful yard lol. I now have West Texas bermuda grass and tumbleweeds : (

This was the choice we made. Why should anyone else feel guilty or alter their life because of a choice we made?
It sucks the first time it happens but you get used to it.

I use GENEPRO for the most unscientific and unsophisticated reason: I can waltz right in to GNC near my house and buy it. I don't have to wait for it in the mail. I put it in EVERYTHING. Thank you very much for contributing to the conversation, @Sai. Wow, we've got an amazing array of peeps here on the forum. AND WOW, look at this conversation....people disagreeing in a civil and adult manner here on the BP forum. ***High fives all around*** Once again, @@LittleBill for Forum Dad.

Does anyone feel offended somehow? I do. I feel like someone with a splinter in their toe is parking in a handicapped space.
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@@Angelica Marti There is a thread active now called "Started at 29 BMI" that has others closer to your start weight which might be helpful.
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You are 5 ft 5 inches, 183 pounds, you have a BMI of 30.5. Here in the states nobody reputable would touch you. Anyone reputable would send you to counseling.

@@Tootsietoes
I'm really confused as to what your agenda is here.

@@Tootsietoes
Are we all adult's here? I have no Idea why I'm even responding..
The goal healthy. Whatever that may look like for each of us.
You asked..."Does it bother you that someone could choose to get the surgery based on the idea that Portion Control, not food, is what makes you fat?"
Never bothered me. I'm not here to rescue anyone. Good luck to a person that ate all their meals as cheese cake. Restriction alone is not a one size fits all. Your food choice will effect your outcome.
I see - People looking for permission to go back to old behaviors. As long as they are happy..... that's fine. You are happy with your outcome right?
Others are not so happy with weight gain. Some come here to get back on track. I would never tell them to eat what ever they want and all will be fine. That's just me...
The majority here are new. I will direct them to proven best practices.(Their program)
Not a one size fits all. Off the top of my head. You will see a program changes with people with health issues, complications, above average fitness levels, mobility issues and maintenance ... I'm sure their are more reasons.

Some before and "during" photos!

Left is about 2 weeks ago, mid-Nov 2016. Right is late Oct 2014, about 483 in that pic. Almost 10 lbs down from highest weight!

Just some face comparisons.

A Water bottle!

If only I had a dime for everytime I have to deal with ignorant statements...
Huh? So there is a failure of the material and it's the patient's fault and "ate his way through first surgery"? Yeah, right...
I think that statement is quite ignorant because it ignores the fact that there is revision out of very different reasons, even though weight regain or losing not enough weight might be the more common one.
Many revisions are taking place because of severe GERD after GB or sleeve or because of bands eroding into the stomach.

I guess I missed the part where anyone was beating anyone up (aside from a purported counsellor calling someone crass names while complaining about the behaviour of others).
I see people who are concerned about the OPs risk taking behaviour.
I see people who are concerned that many lurkers on this site may read this post and assume that this behaviour is just a slip up, instead of a potential medical emergency.
Where are all the personal attacks some people keep claiming are being made?
We're adults. If your ego is so inflated that even criticizing a mistake you admit to is damaging to your sense of self, that is your issue. Inability to handle even perceived slights is a hallmark of narcissism.

Hi Anthony74 I want to preface this with assuring you that I'm not trying to jump on you, bash you or shame you in ANY way. But for every person posting here, there are probably 100 reading, and I think a lot of the vets on here post with them in mind.
So, that pain that you have never felt before? It *could* have been your staple line rupturing as your stomach tried to digest the solid food you put in it four days after 4/5 of it was removed. That pain wasn't necessarily your stomach rejecting the TYPE of food, it was it rejecting the insult of ANYTHING other than liquids. And how would you have known that it was your staple line rupturing? You wouldn't have known, and then you could develop sepsis. I mostly want others reading this to understand that it's not simply a case of pissing your stomach off...it could be something very dangerous, even fatal, so soon after your surgery.
I'm glad you're okay!

I got a pair of super cute black Coach boots when I hit Onederland!
I think I would do a mani, pedi, and highlights if I didnt want to buy clothes or shoes.
I love finding what I consider "great" finds though. Maidenform has some really great control/shaper leggings for $14, and Walmart has some surprisingly good jeggings (Faded Glory i think) for about $13. Both have been great wardrobe extenders with a pair of boots and a tunic top.