Tiffykins

I couldn't drink out of a straw early on, but for the last few months I have zero issue drinking out of straw. It definitely helps me get in my fluids. I didn't have any restrictions on straws, but early on for me, it caused discomfort.

YAY for vacation, icky on the poo issues, I'm sorry nothing is working to resolve that issue. I hate to hear that it isn't resolving. I hope something gives you some relief at some point because that must be miserable.

Thank you both. Luckily, I did talk to my younger brother, and myself and Caysen are going to stay with them for the week.

I am tired of us hurting each other too. I want us to have a good relationship, I don't want to end up like what has happened to her family. She estranged from all of her family, and had a deplorable relationship with her own mom. I just want to move passed all of this.

Thank you all for your support.

YAY YAY so glad to hear you are doing well, and recovering.

From what I've read on OH, it seems men's recommended protein is 70-100grams a day. Women are between 60-70. I'm not sure why the difference, but 70 is the norm.

I couldn't get in protein until I got to soft solids. I got in 30-40 grams with yogurt and cheese. Protein supplements didn't work well for me. During the first couple of weeks, my surgeon was more concerned with me getting in my fluids. Protein came later.

Don't stock up on too much quantities pre-op. A lot of us dealt with changes in tastebuds. So, if you can get samples and figure out which brand and flavors you like it will definitely help.

I'm so excited for you ! ! !

I agree with DeeDee ! ! ! Have a great trip, and be safe.

I'm so glad your bp issues are panning out as well. I was really shocked today when I was my PCP and their scale weighs me 2 pounds heavier than my home and surgeon's scale. So, it actually looked like a 4 pound gain. John was all excited. I think he misses the plump wife he had. He loves me regardless, but he is not digging my bones sticking out. But, it just feels good not fretting over a couple of pounds. Before, I would have been devastated, and pissed off. Now, I'm just like okay, I can low carb it for like 4 days and lose 5 pounds again. BUT, I didn't have this surgery to diet, and fret over 2 pounds. I realize it's a slippery slope, I could easily slip back into some bad habits, but I actually feel like I'm more aware of everything I put in my mouth, and how my body feels with certain foods.

French fries are now off my list. I love the way they taste, but I literally feel icky afterwards. It's gotta be the oil/grease factor.

I realized just recently this will be a lifelong journey. Just because I got below/to goal, doesn't mean I can just toss all my hard work out the window. I'll still have to mindful, but not obsessed.

For the first time, I'm enjoying life with food in a healthy manner.

I'm really stoked for you. I'm glad you have been able to enjoy food again, and once you're through the post-op diet, you'll get to enjoy so many foods that the band never let you. Best wishes, and I can't wait to hear an update from your experience.

Best wishes Rob, I think we all get a little consumed right before surgery. Stay focused, and know you are going to do fabulous with the sleeve for the LONG HAUL.

Some people add the unflavored protein powder to their soups just to get in some protein. You can also pop an egg white in the soup, nuke in the microwave for a little bit, and that adds 7 grams of protein. I left out the yellow as that is where all the fat, and cholesterol are in eggs.

What you are experiencing is completely normal. I could only eat 2oz for the first 3 months. Mushies I could get in about 3oz, but if it was dense protein, I was lucky to get in 2oz per meal. Swelling is different for everyone, so just give your body time. I found if I drank warm fluids before eating, I had more flexibility. If that makes any sense. I drank quite a bit of warm, herbal decaf tea. Exhaustion at this point is very, very normal, are you getting in your protein? I've talked to a few of the male patients and they say they needed more protein to feel more "normal".

Best wishes, and don't give up. If you start having pain or vomitting, check with your surgeon ASAP.

Kimber do it on your time. I understand the military situation, good luck with the house selling.

Congrats on your success thus far Shell ! ! ! You're doing great.

Honestly, the long term risks of being fat, and dealing with co-morbidities, and poor quality of life got rid of my fears of the sleeve. I had a band, and it's not reversible either. It's removable, but once it's wrapped around your stomach, suture to your stomach, your anatomy is forever changed.

As far as the long term risks, there are tens of thousands of patients that have gastrectomies, partial or complete meaning they lose some or all of their stomach due to cancer or ulcerative conditions. I found that most lived very normal, functional, healthy lives. They did have other nutritional issues because their stomach was diseased before surgery. So, we really can't compare these situations completely, but it gives some perspective on how people live without their stomachs.

I wouldn't want to live another day being fat knowing what I know now. I swear I could hear my arteries hardening before my surgery because of my eating habits. I knew I would increase my years on this Earth getting healthy, and avoiding obesity related health issues.

I absolutely love reading your updates. I'm at a pivotal point in my journey. While I'm ecstatic with my results, and how I look now, I'm really tired of talking about it. I'm just ready to live life and kind of forget talking about it with people who want to be supportive, but I want to scream "there's so much more to me than weightloss". It's weird time in my little world. I hope the next 7 months bring you much joy and success ! ! !

Congrats on getting your consult out of the way, and good luck on the insurance.

As for posting pics, if you are trying to post them here, in the little box, on the top row there's a bunch of icons, the one that looks like a little box with a mountain or 2 triangles in it is for a link from a picture. You can upload pics from your PC to Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket and then copy the "DIRECT LINK" come back here, click on that little box, another box will pop up, paste that direct link into that box and hit OK. It will insert the pic into your blog, or post on the forum.

If you're trying to upload pics to an album on the main forum, click on the top toolbar where it says PHOTOS, make an album, and you can upload pics directly from your PC. Just hit Browse, find the pics you want to use, then UPLOAD.

If you need anything else, let us know.

Woohoo glad you are home, and recovering ! ! !

DeeDee, I have the same emotions, thought processes on my body image at this point. I'm looking really deflated, and realize that it's just going to be this way, but, that doesn't mean I have to like it all the time. It's okay to feel that way. I was having a really difficult time with my tummy fat roll. It was really bringing me down, I would actually push it in, stretch it out over my body, and stand and stare in the mirror just to see how I would look without it. Then, I really started realizing that at 130 pounds, it's okay to have that pooch on my stomach, that it's okay to saggy boobs, but I don't like looking at it all the time. I started trying to let it go. But, found myself kind of obsessing about it, and finally I let it go. Every once in awhile, I let the negativity creep in, then I go slide on my size 6 jeans, and get over it. It's something I think I'll struggle with regardless of my size, or shape.

Great job ! ! !

Congrats ! ! ! I'm so glad to hear you had a wonderful experience, surgery and cheers to a quick recovery.

Thank y'all so much. It's been a weird feeling with him not here, but I also know that he's not suffering. I was getting some shoes out of the closet the other day, and I found a tuft of his hair. I practically lost it. He like to sleep in my shoes. There's little reminders of him all over the place. I love him, will always miss him, and I hope I'm able to find the strength to go back to the vet when they call to let me know his ashes are available for pick up.

I LOVE CATO ! ! ! You wanna know a secret, this will make you happy, happy, happy. Their LARGE is a size 12 top, yes a SIZE 12. Woman, you doing wonderfully.

Wooohooo, I'm telling ya carbs are down right evil ! ! ! I'm glad you're enjoying the dancing, it makes working out much more pleasurable.

Excellent news on feeling better and better. It really just takes time. Not living to eat is really liberating, and you're gonna do great.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh my goodness, I could have practically written that myself.

I can tell you my experience. You know I bowl with a bunch of other military spouses, we do lunch, or breakfast a couple times a week, when they met me, I had only lost 75lbs, and have dropped another 58 since then. Anyways, the comments have stopped, and they no longer watch to see what I eat. Today, we went out to lunch and I ordered a shredded beef chimichanga, with smashed pintos and rice. I ate 1/2cup of rice 1/2 cup of beans, and few bites of the of the tortilla with the shredded beef. Not a single one of them said anything when I got a to-go box for the other half of the rice/beans, and about 90% of the chimi. They used to comment about how I was the only one to get a to-go box, or that there is no way I was only going to eat a "cup" of soup when everyone else was having a sandwich and bowl of soup at Panera.

It's like they realize that this is really how I eat, and how I live now. I also told them, I come home and eat again 3 hours later. Which about 99% of the times we eat out, I do come home and eat leftovers.

I only get policed from John when he doesn't think I'm eating enough.

The girls have seen me drink soda, eat a fun size snickers, and even some homemade Christmas candy. They have tamed their curiosities, and quit making the same "are you really done?" questions.