Orchids&Dragons

Awesome numbers! Congrats! I can't wait to be in any number that starts with a "1"!

Congrats on your weight loss so far! My guess is that you're going too fast. Think like a lazy tortoise or a sloth on Valium :-)

Nice to meet you, we're in the same life boat! I'll be 59 this summer and got sleeved 7 weeks ago. Also like you, I didn't have any co-morbidities yet, but it was only a matter of time. I've been dieting since I was about 12. Hang in there, the pre-op is tough, but you're tougher!

I just LOVE Irish Wolfhounds! They are the sweetest dogs ever!

Have to wait and see. The center of my abdomen is still very tender (not near the incisions which are healed). The doctor is running some blood work to see if maybe my liver and/or pancreas are unhappy with me.

Also remember, 64 oz. is the minimum water intake, you might need more.

I was really hungry the first week. At my one-week checkup, the doctor removed the liquid restrictions, said I could have as much liquid as I wanted and that helped. My intake went from 65 oz per day to over 100. But I didn't really get rid of the hunger until last week, so about 6 weeks out for me, which coincided with my transition to regular foods.

At the rate I'm going, that would probably be another 4 meals! We had steak and onions/mushrooms last night for dinner. I ate .5 oz of steak and .5 oz of veggies! Hardly worth dirtying the plate! I was full. I hope my swollen tummy can hold a bit more soon. On the upside, I calculated that steak dinner to be 4g protein and 35 calories :-)

I never thought about the kid's menu like that! Thanks for the tip!

Jessicasz, I'm with CreekImp on this one for sure. You need to really discuss this with the therapist. Surgery changes your stomach, but not your brain. They need to work together to make you successful.

OMgosh, where did you see that? You're scaring the daylights out of me!

Try really small bits for starters, like 1 teaspoon servings. I couldn't do beans at all for the first month or so. Listen to your tummy.

Congrats! Keep us updated on your progress!

Also, for those times that you get "caught" unprepared, keep something non-perishable in your car or purse. My fave was almonds. That way, even if there was no good option (which was rare) at least I wasn't starving. Because when I'm starving, all reason flies out the window.

When you stop eating sweets, it takes 7-10 days for the cravings to die off. During that time, you really just have to tough it out :-(

I'm so sorry that you're having to drag through the process so slowly. The bridesmaid analogy is a good one. I didn't get married until I turned 30 and my biological clock was booming like Big Ben. We're all rooting for you, hope you get to be the bride soon!

I doubt there's a person on the site who didn't have second, third, fourth thoughts about the surgery. It is a major life change that affects your own relationship with food, your relationship with family and friends, your way of celebrating, and your way of managing stress. This is why there are so many hoops to jump through before surgery gets approved. It's not easy, but neither is diabetes, high blood pressure, bad knees, etc. None of us is getting any younger :-)

Yeah, purees! I loved this cauliflower soup recipe. I just blended it after it was done to get rid of the lumps. I used the Test Kitchen Tips at the bottom to up the protein and lower the calories by not using a roux. You can add protein powder at the end if you want, as well. I had plenty of protein from shakes, so I didn't add extra, but it's up to you. Good luck!

I suggest any restaurant that has a menu posted online. Don't be shy about calling up and asking questions about specific dishes. I have eaten at Asian restaurants, Mexican, even Barbeque. There's almost always something appropriate :-)

I feel like I'm eating more TUMS than protein some days. (And the more protein I eat, the more antacids I need.) Yes, I am still on omeprozole, but unfortunately, the doctor wants me to take it at night with another medicine to protect my stomach. So, it's not there during the day when I'm eating. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!

Don't be so hard on yourself! There are so many factors that play into the weight loss: the total you need to lose, hormones, how well you are tolerating foods/liquids, your doctor's specific diet plan, etc. Try not to compare yourself to others, it just doesn't work. You'll get there!

I was on Lovenox injections for 2 weeks following surgery.

Oh, yeah! That upper GI stuff was nasty! Glad you're home and that everything went well. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

You need to tuck in that shirt or belt it to really show off!

I'm so glad the visit with your mom didn't disappoint! Hugs! And you are rockin' the new you - love the updated pic!