Bona Fide Diva

I did not want to post. I lost about 3 lbs total in the last two weeks. The scale was playing with my emotions...DEARLY. I know stalls happen. I was prepared for it. More at the 3-week mark, but from week 6 to 7 and A HALF. Come on! My TOM came and I realized I was also retaining water. It ended today and the scale went down. I still feel like those old habits creep up when PMS sets in. I wanted everything I hadn't thought about in weeks. I gave in a few times too. Aside from that...I need to learn to pack my meals daily and not allow myself to just "grab something" . The days of doing that are long gone. Although I can still do it, I don't think everything I chose will or is in my best interest. I'm still learning.:cursing:

What an achievement! Great job!

I feel your pain. I'm stuck too, but its TOM. I hope this isn't going to happen EVERY MONTH. I'd be horrified.:thumbup:

Thanks Guys! I really appreciate your encouragement it really helps me to know that this WILL WORK! It's hard to believe it after having it come right back SO many times, but your successes and support keep me positive.

I don't know if this is the right place for this. But I'm just so happy I could cry. Im in the 2 - teens for the first time in 3 years! Im just happy I chose to do this. Now don't get me wrong; sometimes I think LORD what the heck have I done to myself. Then I see those that are a lot farther out and realize that it gets easier. I haven't experienced a REAL stall (knock-on-wood). I normally weigh EVERYDAY:scared0: but there are some days (I notice mostly on weekends) that I stay at the same weight for about 24-48 hours or go up and down during that time. I honestly know that if I make it to one-derland I would be ecstatic. I usually low ball myself so that I don't get disappointed, but I don't think I can screw up with this thing. I was driving along this morning and thinking that I USED TO be thinking about what I was going to EAT all day long... That was the highlight of my day. But I've replaced that concentration on my family and my home and I LOVE IT!:blushing: I do have to think a little on planning my meals, but I could care less about which movie theater we go to because one doesn't have hot wings! I NOW realize that my weight was making me a depressed slave and now that I am no longer a slave to it (except for the fact I can't chug a Pepsi *yes I MISS THOSE*)

I'm going to grab some and try them in the morning with the mandarin oranges. I agree; that's a great way to get the day started.

Seems like there is NO WAY I'm going to the bathroom (from either end) enough to compensate for the fluids I'm taking in. Maybe I'm holding on to them...not good. Maybe I'm not getting enough. I'm down 25 lbs as of 5 weeks out. I hope next month I will see at least 3 lbs a week. My clothes sizes are moving but obviously my clothes were just too freaking tight to begin with. Now everything is just baggy. Spring is here and summer is a stone's throw away so I'm not buying any pants for now just some belts.:cursing:

When is it OK to try nuts? (I'm 5 weeks out) Thanks, I know that I could get Protein out of them also.

I've been having trouble with this one also. I also find that I BURP BURP BURP. When I'm eating I frequently have to burp to get the food like out of my throat. Its not annoying, but could be embarrassing if I ever eat out again. Im 5 weeks out also and that not drinking thing is a beast. I wish someone could just slap my hand everytime I do it wrong...LOL:001_smile:

Great Job! I'm taking everyone's advice and kicking in the exercise a notch. Im sure it only makes you feel BETTER.

Thank goodness Tiffy! I was worried I wouldn't like anything EVER.

Wow! Great progress so far. Keep it up!

I'm now 4 weeks and a day out! I never thought I would REALLY get this far; having the surgery, surviving and getting to the 4 week mark. BUT I'M HERE! I'm down 21 lbs; which I can not believe. I got my TOM last week and then when she left I lost about 7 lbs! I haven't been having any cravings or like when I used to "smell" things I HAD to have it...Not anymore. But I do notice that when I'm eating something if I chew it TOO much it starts to taste bad, or my body or brain is saying "you dont want anymore of that" and I spit it into a napkin. I also find that if I have something that lingers on my tongue I HAVE to scrape it off. I just don't like lingering tastes in my mouth. I thought it could be because my breath isn't in the best shape right now, but I just can't stand the "taste of food". Is it possible? OK most of you have proved it IS. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ME?:scared0:

Congrats! I'm glad you're home. I also went alone to Mexicali and I have to agree that strangers CAN be the nicest people. Dr. Aceves and his team helped a lot knowing that I was alone, but the people I met while there REALLY helped me cope. Welcome to the losers' bench!

Welcome! Best of luck to you on your journey. I agree you have what it takes to make this thing work. And OF COURSE...Dr. Aceves is the best!

Thank you all for the tips. I've tried to put my cup away, but I really think it comes down to my rebellious attitude. All my childhood I COULDN'T DRINK UNTIL I FINISHED MY PLATE...What damage did that do? LOTS. I began to think I had to finish all of my food which probably is part of the reason I got to where I and for the rebellious part; when I got "grown" enough to do what I wanted I DRANK WHENEVER I FELT LIKE IT during the meal. Which in hindsight I see is why I was able to intake so much food it was being washed right down, because as an adult I could drink as much as I wanted WHILE I was eating. I don't make my toddler finish all of her food and I let her drink when she wants, she is a skinny minnie but perhaps not putting the restraints on her eating/drinking won't haunt her like it's haunting me now.

Thanks Lee! I think this is a very positive post. We do all want to see the scale move quickly but we must remember that its happening and will happen and we won't see those pounds again. A slow loser can be a happy loser as long as "LOSER" is in the equation it works out fine.

This is bad...I can not for the life of me remember not to drink while eating. At this point 3 weeks out I am SO used to having SOME type of beverage NEARBY. I find that now I'm trying soft foods it doesnt get stuck but I'm so used to taking a "swig" after I have a bite. I'll never get this weight off of me at that rate. I yell at myself and do it again. I'm afraid if I dont have anything nearby I will not "sip, sip, sip" and I will get dehydrated. Any tips for breaking this habit once and for all?!

Thanks Katt. It didnt move for until I got to day 6 for me. I was concerned because the other patients I was there with showed immediate changes on the scale. I'm a scale slave (ho) and I'm hoping to ease up on it but it's just so nice to see pounds go away you think it will happen EVERY time you get on the scale. Happy Losing!

SO I'm officially on week 3. YEAH! Not really. This has been one heck of a week. I only lost about 3.8 (yes point 8) pounds this week as opposed to 5 each of the previous two weeks. So I automatically assumed it was A STALL! But along comes TOM and since I hadn't seen TOM since January, I was certain I would be retaining something. But the awesome thing is I didn't gain 5-7 lbs like I normally do and I didn't even know it was coming I didn't have any insane cravings at all. Hopefully the scale will start to move in the GOOD direction once this is all over. Remember I said I thought I was gonna die from an infection...I may not have said that but that's what I was thinking :scared0: Well I did what Dr. Aceves said and VOILA! My scars look like bad acne that I just couldn't stop scratching and the long one looks like a cat got to my belly. All is well on that front, thank goodness. Today I was involved in a car accident. I was rear-ended taking my daughter to her first day of nursery school. I'm sitting at my desk slumped over. My back hurts really bad and I just hope and pray I'm not going to be putting off exercise anymore. I haven't done enough of it as it is and really don't need the "excuse". But I will go see a doctor just to be safe. Did I mention I LOVE MY SLEEVE? I've been trying mushies and since it's on the list...I'm going to try some melon tonight. I tried a scrambled egg and it was OK but after about 3 nibbles it just felt like a creepy crawler going down, I didn't like it too much. It didn't come back up so I guess that's a good thing. The weather is warming up, my tummy is slimming down or at least the back rolls are (these thighs look like they won't go without a fight) and I can't wait to be in full swing with losing.

Thanks everyone for your responses. All is well! Dr. Aceves told me to take that tape off. And already it looks WAY better. I took pictures I sent to him whining about it. I was just REALLY paranoid about an infection of some sort. Now I just look like I got poked a few times Which technically I DID!

It will pass. I used to have to let it "marinate" in my mouth because I would forget "how BIG" of a sip I could take and if I gulped man would I catch it. It only happened a few times but I would feel it move down and I would just hold on to something. But at almost 3 weeks out... I just noticed I can sip and almost gulp without any discomfort. I just assume it means the tummy swelling has diminished a bit.

Things have been going pretty well. I went back to work on Monday so I notice I dont have any more trouble getting my fluids in. I've been trying mushies a lot. I probably wont lose weight this week at all but so far I've lost 12 lbs since surgery. I got so bored with the Soups and stuff. For some reason I think it will be a lot easier when the food stages change. I havent started to work out which I promised I would start Monday when I went back to work; but Monday I got home and crawled in bed:blushing: and then the sun came out so I did walk around outside to the playground and through the mall.

Great Job! I'll be three weeks out on Monday, but I did already try grits....yummy; some substance. Keep up the good work.

Great News! Keep up the good work!