i1Linda

I would second Tiffy's response. I can definitely eat more now tha I could 11 months ago. I am nearly a year out, have lost 98 lbs and can eat a cup of food now at one time. Sometimes I feel like my sleeve is too big because I eat more than I want to, and other times I wish I could eat more. With that said, I think it's perfect. My weight loss has slowed significantly (those last pesky pounds) but let's be honest, I have not been the model sleevester lately. But the pounds are still slowly dropping. FYI - I believe my doctor used a size 34 bougie.

Oh Dee Dee my heart is breaking for you. :001_tt2: I know that motherhood was one of your primary goals for your WL journey. I am so sorry you and your dear husband are struggling with this. I know God has a plan for you, just see it thru and see where He leads you. Sending lots of HUGS and PRAYERS.

At just over 11 months post-op, here is a typical day: Breakfast: 1 cup of coffee with SF International Delight Hazelnut Creamer 1 Premier Nutrition Protein shake Lunch: 3 oz chicken breast OR 2-3 oz lunch meat with hummus roll ups Snack: Quest Protein Bar Dinner: 3 oz Chicken or Pork or Steak (whatever protein I am serving the family) 3-4 bites of carb (again whatever I made for the family) a tiny salad or couple pieces of fruit Snack: Chobani yogurt w/ lowfat granola OR reduced fat wheat thins w/ hummus Dessert: 3-4 dark chocolate Hershey's Bliss pieces I am pretty much a creature of habit so I only really vary my diet at dinner and weekends. I am on the go during the week so the protein shake in the morning while driving into work, pack my little lunch and a protein bar for snack works great for me. I start "craving" food in the evenings. That's why I added the chobani later in the evening. It is filling and kind of kills all my cravings and is healthy. I could loose the last few pounds if I could give up the chocolate in the late evening :001_tt2: I also drink about 12 cups of Water every day (6 x 16oz bottles). I drink it plain or with whatever Crystal light type substance I feel like. My current obsession (it changes from month to month) is Hawaiian Punch berry Lemonade. It comes in the little 5 calorie sleeves like Crystal Light but costs $1 per box at Walmart. It is much sweeter than CL, so I add it to a 24oz bottle of water rather than 16oz bottle.

Don't worry, just keep after it. Remember you are doing this for you. I can honestly say my surgery was one of the best decisions of my life. And yes, around 60 lbs lost, they will notice and the compliments will start pouring in. I have actually gotten to a point where I wish they would sometimes (not all the time) stop talking about it.

I took a week off from work for my surgery. Was a bit tired the second week but manageable. Got my energy back on day 14 - just like flipping a switch.

Okay - I'm 9 months out. To answer the question of food intake, for example, just this past weekend my family went to a sandwich shop (Which Wich). My husband and I don't like the same sandwich here so I had to order my own (we typically share or I share with my kids, but again that didn't happen here). I ordered a turkey sandwich on wheat with provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, ff mayo, avocado, hot peppers and pickles. I enjoyed 3-4 bites of my first half (all together for the experience of a sandwich) and then just ate the filling and left the bread. The other half of sandwich came home with us. I also snuck a few of my husband's baked Lays. Now I can honestly say I still get a little frustrated at times when I am really enjoying a meal and just CAN'T eat much, but then I remember, I am getting exactly what I paid for. My brain could never tell my stomach to stop eating so my stomach has to tell my brain - and it does a fine job of it. :001_tt2:

Whoops - sorry. I have learned a trick or two on WL drinking. When mixing your crystal light (I really like the Ocean Spray Cranberry 5 calorie packets with a squeeze of lime and vodka - a diet cape cod), use only about 3/4 of the water indicated. This makes it sweeter and better as a mixer. By the time you add vodka and ice, it's perfect. IMO, if you make it as indicated, it tastes watered down as a mixer. Cheers!! :001_cool:

Okay - you all know I like my vodka martinis so I had to way in on this one. I had my first 1/2 martini at about 9.5 weeks post op. I know I was supposed to wait until 3 months post-op but many of us know that didn't happen. I have had no problems with an occasional drink (or two) and primarily stick to vodka because I can mix it with anything including crystal light, or my favorite dirty vodka martini. It's easier to monitor the "empty calories" when it's simply crystal light and a shot or two of vodka, rather than all the sugary mixers. Thus far, I haven't had any problems with any of it, but we all know it's just empty calories so use caution. :001_cool:

WhooHoo - you are on your way!!!! Congratulations and welcome to the "sleeved side". :thumbup1:

Like many veteran sleevers have already posted, yes you can have it again if you want it. You just won't be able to each much of it. I found thru my journey that I still like the "idea" of sandwiches and burgers. Now them I am getting closer to goal, I let myself have them on occasion. I usually have a couple bites, for the experience of it all together (to feed the craving in my mind). I then usually don't want any more and nibble on the Protein from the middle until I've had enough (to feed my body). Tonight my husband made pizza, it smelled sooo good I just had to have a slice. I ate 3 bites slowly and enjoyed it but then didn't want any more and grabbed a chobani yogurt. IMO - Once your body gets really accustomed to utilizing healthier fuel, it craves healthier food.

Well actually, I think that happened for me today. My husband and I took our boys to get summer hair cuts (they were looking a bit shaggy) and I had to take a call for work so I stepped outside. As I'm talking on the phone, I see a "skinny person" in the reflection on the window and then realized it was my OWN reflection. I didn't really recognize that person. It was kind of odd. I was happy, but it was surreal. Fat mind in a thin body.

Yep - can totally relate. I HAD so many really cute clothes to hide my really BIG self. Hated to get rid of them, but so glad I can look cute now in any old thing I throw on. I don't seem to be as obsessed with wearing the "right" thing anymore, since just about everything looks flattering. I've had several closet clean outs over my WL journey and really need to clean out my closet again. I have lots of 12s & 14s bottoms that are way too big and lots of XL tops that are way to big. Completely comfortable in 8/10 bottoms and M or L tops (I'm still busty although they shrank a BUNCH :thumbup1:). Sometimes it gets frustrating finding something cute and then trying to wear it weeks/months later to find it too big - however not as frustrating as before surgery where I would find it too SMALL. :thumbup:

9.5 months post-op and NOT a single regret. LOVE MY SLEEVE!!!!

Tiffany - I'm in!!! Can't wait to meet everyone. Linda

SParkle - Welcome to VST! I am 6.5 months out and still have 21 lbs to go to reach my lofty goal. Yes, I can eat anything, just in smaller portion. Since I am still trying to lose, I still am very conscientious about what I eat on a daily basis. However, we still eat Mexican, Sushi, Thai, steak (medium rare for me), even a cheeseburger (well part of one anyway) on occasion with no problems. I due tend to notice that I crave the Protein more than I did before surgery and therefore eat more of that than anything else. I have found that things like crackers and chocolate are slider foods for me so I am trying to avoid them while losing. Good luck on your WL journey!!

Good Luck tomorrow. Lots of prayers and hugs headed your way. Enjoy your pedicure :001_smile:

Wow Tiffy - you look smokin' Congratulations on half yourself.

Whoo Hoo Anna!!!! Can you fix my scale too? - it's currently stuck at 164. I complained to my husband who so kindly reminded me that when my 4 year old gets on it, it properly reads 37 lbs, so can't be stuck. I wanted to strangle him for the that!! Not helping!!! Congratulations again on Onederland!!!!

Hey Barb, I have had some weird left incision pain too. I think it is scar tissue tugging and pulling. It was pretty common for me around 8-10 weeks post-op. I could call Brittany tomorrow though, just to be sure. FYI - I am having some weird pain under my incisions from my knee surgery. Kind of similar - so again, I think mine was scar tissue forming and then pulling. Great to finally meet you (in REAL life) last week :001_smile:

About a week post-op.

Congratulations Theresa!!! Way to rock that sleeve!!!!!!! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

The drain is a little uncomfortable and a nuisance but not horrible. Having the drain lets your doctor know what's going on inside by seeing what's coming out. When they took it out, I was surprised at how long it was. I was always worried about accidently pulling it out. Yeah, that wasn't going to happen.

Daisy, I'm with you on the Premier Nutrition chocolate Protein shakes. Pretty darn good (like chocolate milk) for 160cal and 30g of protein. Bought some last week and have been using them for a snack. Even my picky husband likes them.

Order samples and try it yourself. Everyone has different opinions on taste. I lived on Nectar Fuzzy Navel mixed with Sunrise Crystal Light and 28 ounces of water for 3 months. Loved it. Although, I got away from protein shakes over the last few months, I am back to trying them in an effort to increase my protein and break this nasty stall. I recently tried the Chike Protein sample (chocolate) I had ordered and enjoyed that. I also recently purchased Premier Nutrition Protein shakes from Costco (RTD) and like those too. I also have many tubs of protein sitting on top of my refrigerator that I don't particularly care for. There is a thread under food / protein that lists lots of places to order samples of different proteins. I would highly recommend checking it out to save room (and $$) on top of the fridge for protein you will actually drink :smile: