Malaika

Get a food sealer and seal it - freeze it and eat it later -- if you have several things, you can mix it up during the week - and the nice thing about the seal-a-meal bags is you can boil them or nuke them ... I LOVE my seal-a-meal - already wore one out -working on #2. Before Bearded had his surgery, I never had leftovers -- I'd bring them home, but they'd be gone by the next morning or the next evening when I got home -- I was used to that though, as my kids were always the same way -- it's like they could sense there was a doggy bag in the fridge!

THANK YOU!!! I've never cared for milk - can't stand it - my grandmother used to give me calcium pills because she was so worried I didn't drink milk. As I got older, I become lactose intolerant. I get my dairy with yogurt and cheese -- I have no trouble with either of those items. Me too - I don't do probiotics - not even sure what that is - however, I can eat cheese and yogurt with no issues whatsoever. Like the new Avatar Daisy - much better than the one we worked up for you!

Oh Mac ... I love Chevys ... all of them in Las Vegas closed down :-(

That's great news Susan -- now you're on the down hill side ... how fun!

I don't know why Dr. Aceves follows that procedure; however, I have always heard that you should eat several small meals (5-6) throughout the day to keep your body burning ... maybe he is concerned that people will start grazing .. I don't know -- I will have to ask him when next I see him.

Congrats Ash! Now next time (and yes, unfortunately, there will be a next time) when you stall, have faith that it's only temporary! And enjoy your iced teas!!

That's awesome Susan congrats -- I think I've got a ways to go yet but I'll get there eventually and will probably have the same reaction as you!

PhoenixRising - Thanks for your great story - WOW that is an amazing weight loss - I hope to be able to do as well as you have done. I am only on BP medication and hoping to get off of it in the next 3 months. I've never been in a size 6 in my entire life, even when I wasn't overweight - however, if I can into a 10 or 12 I will be thrilled beyond belief. SCLady - welcome to the forum, glad you decided to come out of hiding and share your story with us - keep posting and don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have. We're all here to support you!

Welcome Hope4Me to the forum, glad you found us and glad you posted your story. Bearded and I have found that if we use a baby spoon, you are forced to take smaller bites - and then make a conscious effort to put the spoon down between bites helps not to eat so fast. Leave the liquids off the table or in another room while you are eating so you are not tempted to drink while you eat - that may be contributing to your being able to eat so much. Just a thought.

Thanks - I will definitely check it out - easy sounds good and since I don't really enjoy eating, I don't really care what I eat - if I don't have to do a lot of planning, that would be great for me -- and probably Bearded too!

I know I have an easier time with warm items, especially until about 11 am -- I like really cold things; but I can't drink them because it hurts to do so ... that's why I suck on ice cubes. Hope it gets better for you - might want to try some gas-x to see if that helps.

WOW -5 lbs. really? Dr. Aceves said nothing over 15 lbs. for the first six weeks ... yikes! My spasms, I believe are getting better -- or I am learning to work around it perhaps. I have found that as long as I stick with warm liquids in the morning until about 11 am, that I don't have as much trouble eating lunch and dinner. I've also found that whatever I do eat needs to be pretty moist or it doesn't work -- I tried a potatoe skin one day at a going away luncheon for a friend and after 3 bites I couldn't eat anymore - it was stuck. I guess they were too dry. So I pretty much still stick with mushies and venture onto solids cautiously. Thank you so much for asking!

I'll definitely try it and suggest it to Bearded too!

I started back on coffee when I started on mushies; however, like everything else, it just doesn't taste the same - I end up drinking maybe 1/4 of a cup. I've been switching to tea, as it seems to taste better than coffee these days. I also drink iced tea every now and again. I don't have any headaches since I don't drink it on a regular basis anymore.

Welcome Dybarra - and I'm glad you're finding what you need here - we are all very supportive of one another and not derrogatory or negative - straightalking at times; however only for your own good and not meant to hurt you if that makes any sense.

Everyone stand back and stay away for bob -- whatever you do - do not - i repeat do not - pull his finger if he asks!!!

Welcome BAMA and wow - what a great way to look at this new you - I am sure with the determination you have you will make all of your goals!

YOUR BODY being the optimal words here!

I was lactose intolerant before the surgery - however, it affected me differently (out the other end) and I didn't throw up - so there were times when I would suffer the consequences and eat some ice cream -- however, I don't like throwing up so I will now pass on ice cream. I tried lactaid before surgery and it didn't really seem to make a difference in the reaction my body had to ice cream so I gave up on it. I don't care to drink milk at all and I actually can enjoy my Golden Spoon frozen yogurt as much as I did ice cream. I can't tolerate much of anything sweet as it is soooo very sweet tasting to me.

I always thought it was best to eat several small meals a day to keep your metabolism up; however Dr. Aceves really stressed eating 3 meals a day, no snacks, and to eat about the same time every day even if you weren't hungry at the alotted time. I haven't been able to do that thought because I can't eat anything before 11 am without problems.

What's involved in the medifast diet AJW?

If you don't indulge when you have the craving, then you'll end up gorging eventually and that's even worse. I, unfortunately, have had to remove ice cream from my list -- I've had some 2x since surgery -- one time about 3 bites and another about 5-6 bites and apparently my new smaller stomach doesn't like it anymore as it came back up within 15 minutes of eating it ... so I'm not willing to give it another try ... thank goodness frozen yogurt seems to stay down okay. If I have a craving for something, then I eat a bite or two - that generally gets rid of the craving and I don't feel the least bit guilty for it at all.

Most definitely - I have had it since surgery and still have it now whenever I eat -- I can feel everything going down - food, liquid, pills - you name it, I feel it - and yes, I get that "stuck" feeling and have to wait for whatever it is that is "stuck" to move down before taking another bite. If I take a sip of anything while having that feeling, whatever is there comes right back up. Not sure how long that feeling will last - I though it was from my spasming esophogus; however, I'm not sure anymore. I have to admit it's a very odd and at time uncomfortable feeling.

After surgery, some surgeons put in a drain to drain out excess fluids from your cavity area - I had one from Friday following surgery until Sunday morning. That was the only incision on me that hurt and it wasn't an unbearable pain, just a sort of "sore muscle" pain ... I was very happy to have it removed which didn't hurt at all, was a very strange feeling though.

Glad you're home safe and sound - the pain will pass in not time flat -- and soon you'll be back in school and too busy to even think about food, let alone be consumed with everyone around you talking about it!