WildcatGirl71

Losing the weight is easier. Changing your entire life and way of eating - very hard.

Yes I want to know this too!

That looks yummy! I’m gonna try to find your Instagram page. You have some great recipes.

Sugar free popsicles and chicken broth were both life savers for me. Regular water just did not sit well with me. I could only drink ice water or Powerade zero orange (ice cold). I am almost 4 weeks out (sleeved 4/11) and still am drinking the powerade zero. It’s constantly sipping away at it, every second you’re awake. Exhausting but better than more IVs at the hospital.

Good to know. I’ll check them out. I actually don’t care for my liquid calcium. It’s easy to forget it since it’s not in my pill organizer. Lol

Yeah I just had a small spoon of sugar free cool whip - yep. Tasted pretty gross and my belly is not my friend at the moment. I’ll keep the nice illusion of sugar free in my head only to keep me from having any more grocery store meltdowns. Lol

We’ll get through this. It is temporary. So we just have to be strong and don’t give up or give in!

Today was my first trip to the grocery at 10 days post op. It was much harder than I anticipated. My husband went with me and as he was casually throwing his usual junk food in the cart, I felt a huge wave of sadness just looking at all the things that I would no longer get to enjoy. I had a committed relationship with each one of those tasty morsels. I had mentally broken up with this food about 5 months ago via the usual food funerals but seeing it all piled up in the cart, it was like ripping a huge bandaid off and boy oh boy, it was painful. The reality of the break up hit hard. I felt myself tearing up in the frozen food aisle, surprising to me since I’m not overly emotional. I dropped behind my husband, as he pushed the cart along, and tried to regain my composure. Once we turned the corner to the next aisle, I pulled it together and remembered that this phase is temporary. I just have to let myself heal. Two words came to mind.... SUGAR FREE!! I can have treats similar in about 4 weeks except I now have to be smart and choose the better options. They are out there. I just have to take the time to find them for me. It was like a giant weight lifted off my shoulders. I was so busy feeling sorry for myself that I forgot - this is temporary and it too shall pass.

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Prayers for both of you!

Sorry my reply button keep going. Ugh.

Will do. Just sip sip sip and keep chugging on [emoji4]

Will do. Just sip sip sip and keep chugging on [emoji4]

Will do. Just sip sip sip and keep chugging on [emoji4]

Congrats at keeping your cool! It’s hard with VA. We are military and they make nothing easy for those who have sacrificed. I’m glad it all worked out for you. Thank you for your service!

We have all had those thoughts I think. I know I did. The realization for me was that it wasn’t the issue of losing weight, but the issue of keeping it off. I need the long term, lifelong help to maintain. I’m tired of losing the same weight over and over. I’m now 9 days post op and I won’t lie, the first week at home was a little rough but if you keep a good support system around you, it’s completely doable. Do yourself a favor and don’t watch any more YouTube videos. Those journeys are not yours. The only pain I’ve had was the gas pain. Walking and gasX helped take care of that. Of course in the end it’s your choice so if you feel you can do this by diet and exercise alone, then rock that decision. But please don’t let fear determine your future.

Yeah it’s too far from my family so we’re fixing that this year. Just the right distance from his family. Lol

Omg that’s so cool. We will be moving over by Knoxville for my husbands job but I love Nashville. We are in Washington State right now and can’t wait to get closer to family (mine is KY, his is TX).

Sweet!! The Sam’s clubs here have closed but when we finally get to Tennessee this August, I’ll be getting my membership. They have awesome deals.

I’m looking forward to: Being in more pics instead of hiding behind the camera. Not doing some freakish yoga move to take care of bathroom needs....I know...TMI not constantly pulling on my shirts and adjusting my bras because the fit is never right. Buying clothes in regular misses sizes instead of plus (or just giving up and buying men’s shirts since they run bigger) Not having to cram into a airplane seat or ask for a seatbelt extension. Sliding into a new pair of jeans and feeling like I’m rocking em! Buying pretty lingerie and driving my husband wild - WIN, WIN! Having more energy to exercise.

I’m using the premier protein too. They are pretty tasty. My nutritionist told me to get the cookies & cream one, freeze it for a mock ice cream treat. I haven’t tried it yet but I’m sure I will once that flavor is more available. Haven’t seen it at Walmart yet.

Mines been doing that too. Gurgle gurgle. Lol For your stage 2 what would you be doing if you were lactose intolerant?

Isn’t it so funny how every program is different? I’m 1 week Clear Liquids, 1 week liquids with Protein or cream Soups, 1 week puréed, 1 week soft food, then move to regular food. I have my first follow up appt on Tuesday. Then next Wednesday I can try the purée but if I have issues I have to go back to liquids for 2 days and then try again. I just had some cream of potato (little less than 2 oz and not the chunks) and I’m trying to decide if my belly is gonna like it. It’s roaring right now. No pain but loud and grumbly. Nose, of course, is running. [emoji25]

I think we’ve all felt this way at some point. I know I did. But each day it gets a little bit better.

Just started stage 2 - liquids with protein drinks. I can’t wait until next Wednesday so I can try some puréed foods. What stage are you in?