Lee

I was just allowed to start using Benefiber at two weeks post-op. (look out, you may be caught in a compromising situation when it works!) I've never heard of the other product.

Congratulations and welcome to the Loser's Bench. I wasn't allowed even a sip of water or an ice chip for my first 24 hours post-op. My surgeon waits until after the leak test on day 2 to allow any fluids. You're doing great today getting in your fluids. You'll be just fine!

I too get the hicups. They're very dainty. I love that sign that I'm done.

What a fantastic post. Happy 50th and Happy 50 pounds gone forever. You've done such a great job with your Sleeve. 50 pounds in three months is awesome! I hope you're really proud of yourself!

As a former "raw foodist", I will be very curious to see how your weightloss is while juicing post-op. My Kaiser plan specifically calls for no beverage (juice) that is more than 20 calories per serving. I hope this really works well for you. I bet you'll feel terrific. I don't like the powdered Nutiva, but like the hemp seeds better.

My take on this is... why open the door to foods that we know aren't good for us. That one bite mentality led me to 249 pounds. I don't want to go back there and I know that carbs and sugar lead me there faster than anything else. I truly hope that I can stay away from sugar products and keep my Sleeve filled with happy proteins. I don't want to look back and wonder why I opened that door. I want to leave behind the mental obsession of how to get the next bite, how it will taste... blah blah blah... we all know that old story.

Wow, that's great to read about buffalo and bison. I actually just wander down to Trader Joe's where they have frozen buffalo steaks burgers. I really enjoy eating them pureed. Tonight I had it pureed with sour cream and salsa. YUM

A slider food is a food that doesn't stay in our Sleeve for very long. Dense Protein stays in the Sleeve for a long time. That's also why we don't drink Water 30 minutes before or after a meal, to keep the food in there longer. I got a box of packets of Bodytech chocolate pudding from Vitamin Shoppe. It has 145 calories for an entire packet (6 oz of pudding) and 25 grams of protein in the packet. I used it a bunch while I was on full liquids. It's a little too sweet so I sometimes use 3 oz of unsweetened soymilk and 3 oz of water to prepare it. It sets in just moments.

I've heard that if you live north of the equator, you can't get enough Vitamin D from the sun and need to supplement.

98 pounds in two months is incredible! Congratulations on a job well done!

My doctor told me that he would consider the surgery a success if I got to a 30 BMI. He said a BMI of 25 would totally exceed his expectations for me. He doesn't go by the number on the scale.

Laura, I hear your frustration. You've had an incredible weight loss since surgery. Maybe you need to change things up a little? Different exercise, change up your daily calories? More one day, less the next. Keep your body guessing a little?

Chancie, why is it so much easier to connect over the net? I actually got engaged to someone I met on the net. He moved to California for six months and it was great. I moved to him home (out of state) and it just didn't work on his turf. I ended up moving back home. Thankfully I was able to get my job back and had left a few of my prized posessions with my son here at home. Up to a year ago, dated a guy off and on for three years that answered my yahoo ad. It turned out that he lived a mile from me and we had a lot in common. In the end he wasn't my "one", but that was ok because I felt it from the start but it was fun to go out and play.

Ali, congratulations on making your decision. I don't think you'll regret the Sleeve at all. There's always two surgeons in the room so you'll have Dr. Park and someone else. I hear Dr. Park makes dainty little incisions. Tamra, how exciting that you're getting a new home!! John.... 20 pounds! You skunk! I knew you'd leave me in the dust. Robin said that 5-25 pounds is typical in the first two weeks post op, but that the men really skew the results. I'm so proud of you. 100 pounds let go of forever! Spent 8 hours in my office today and did ok. I too am not a big fan of the pureed foods. I'll be happy to graduate to soft stage.

*going to open the closets* Nope, nobody in there. DARN!

That's great to hear. Good luck!

Sending healing energy and good thoughts your way.

Tdriver, pureed foods really do help! Wednesday I'll be three weeks out and I'm full after every meal. I still to pure protein like ground turkey, ground buffalo (trader joe's), chicken, salmon. I use a little sour cream to pureed it. I want that 1/2 cup (which is generally 2-3 oz of meat, fish) to be mostly protein. I find that I'm very satisfied for the next 4-5 hours after eating.

Congrats Midwestgirl!! You are doing terrific!

Good Morning! HW - 249 SW - 228.8 - 2/17/2010 LW - 216 Today - 213.6 I'm not surprised at the slowdown as I lost 9.4 the week before. Let's keep letting go of those pounds!

I was eating 4-6 no sugar added fruit popsicles during the clear stage. I figured those were the only calories/carbs I was getting so it didn't matter. I was losing great. I have a box of the sugar free Fudgesicles in the freezer. I have one every few days now as a treat. I keep the carbs in my food below 10-15 so that it doesn't seem to be effecting me much right now. For me it's the carbs in the Calcium chews that are getting to me. 3x 4 = 12 carbs right there. I can't wait until I can start taking capsules and pills at one month out.

Hugapug, I'm sure they'll take very good care of you. Rest and get well and make sure to please let us know how you're doing.

Sounds like gas to me. Welcome to the Loser's Bench. I too opted to come home after one night. I was so much more comfortable here at home. My son came home from NY for days 4-6 with me. It was quite funny... the olympics were on TV and I took up passing gas as my olympic sport. It was great the day I won the gold medal!

Sending you good thoughts for safe travel and an uncomplicated surgery. We're going to be waiting for your update. You're in great hands and everything will go as well as you are imagining. Keep thoughts of your bikini clad body in your mind and stay happy! This is an incredible ride. We're all saving you a seat on the Loser's Bench!

Lookinup, I carry a Water bottle and always get in at least 64 oz so I don't think that's it. My vits have D in them and I was taking big doses of D up until 2 weeks ago. I'm waiting until I see my surgeon on the 12th to see when I can go back to my Vitamin D gelcaps and when I can take potassium as needed. Potassium, calcium/magnesium always helped stop those cramps for me. I woke up several times last night with my feet starting to cramp. UGHHH This has only happened in my life when I was eating very very low carb. I may drink some Sobe Lifewater 0 calorie just to get the carbs without adding calories.