Lee

Hi Everyone, Just a quick check in before bed. I had a great day. Runs just left me today and I got to eat three meals. B. 1/4 Fage L. 1/2 cup organic tomato soup D. 1/2 cup organic tomato soup. I worked for around 6 hours and got a lot done, then went down to the treadmill for 20 minutes. I feel like now that the runs have quit chasing me, I've got some energy and color in my cheeks. A friend came over tonight to watch a movie. All in all, 8 days out and this was my best day. I feel like I was actually very productive at my job today. It's great to read about everyone doing so well. I love it! Sweet dreams!

We'll be waiting for a report Daisy! Have fun.

Loser and PNW, I'm so sorry you're both feeling poorly. It sounds like quite a humbling experience. PNW, I'm also 8 days out. I don't get to advance to mashed potatoes or potato soup for at least another week when I get to pureed foods. I'll be on full liquids until then. Maybe back it up a little and do more fluids and see if you feel better?

Great to know about the Almond Breeze. I've used it in the past but forgot about it. I've been using unsweetened soy milk with 3 carbs and 7 protein per 8 oz. I'll pick up some Almond Breeze.

Hello Team, I finished my first week! I've had food challenges as moving to full liquids gave me the runs. Hopefully this will get better. The big incision isn't causing me near as much pain as it was a few days ago! My fevers have subsided. My sore throat finally cleared up yesterday. Each day shows more improvement. I started back to work yesterday. I'm working from home for a week. I carefully count my carbs and I haven't felt a moments hunger this week. Best of all...... a loss of 7.4 pounds this week. How cool is that? I don't know what's "normal" because I don't think there's a normal because we're all so different, but for me this rocks. I'm a slow loser but this week I feel like a champ. I can't believe that I'm almost out of the 220's! YAY!

Awww, never late PNW! Thanks for dropping by!

Ella, I wouldn't waste your time having hurt feelings. It won't get you what you want which is to feel fabulous about yourself. Whatever was in his way is "his stuff" and really has nothing to do with you. I'm so sorry he made you feel like it was about you. I dated a guy recently for a couple of years off and on that kept telling me how gorgeous I was at 249. He saw me for who I am and loved it. Your guy is out there. Think about all the fun you're going to have. We can compare notes. I can't wait to be at a place where "I'M" feeling great about my looks and want to put myself out there again. I want a healthy man. Likes attract so I want to look/feel very healthy. Daisy, you'll know the right thing about whether to tell him about your surgery or not. I imagine it's a tough choice. I don't know what I'll do when I'm in your shoes. I love that the guys are paying you all this attention!

Congrats on your date!! I packed a bag to take to the hospital and never opened it except to get out my rich and creamy Nivea lip stuff. I had my iPod, never used it. Robe and slippers, never left the bag. I was only in 28 hours so never got around to anything. The one thing that I would have liked would have been pre-moistened face wipes. I wasn't offered a washrag or anything and it would have been so nice to wipe my face a few times. I just wore my comfy clothes back home. Make sure you have shoes that are easy to slip on to go home.

Hiya everyone, I'm only on day 8 so I can't comment on food, but I can comment on fluids. I can drink about 4 oz in one or two minutes. I can drink pretty much as I did pre-op. Sometimes I have to remember to burp. I can down 8 oz in just a few minutes. I'm easily getting in 64 oz by afternoon. In the morning I'm drinking 32 oz of hot herbal tea in less than 2 hours. We're all so different. Maybe my 40f bougie has something to do with it. Dunno. It certainly hasn't stopped my weight loss of 10.4 pounds in 8 days. I haven't experienced a moments hunger except when a neighbor was grilling a steak and that was definitely head not stomach hunger.

Shylady, I'm sorry you had a scare. It sounds like you're doing much better now. You'll feel a little stronger each day. I can't wait to read your reports!

Good Morning! It's not raining here either. I'm planning a walk later today, at least a short one. I haven't been out of the house since last Sunday when I walked to the corner and back. I need fresh air!! If I don't make it outside, I'll open the doors in the gym and get on the treadmill. That feels a little safer because it doesn't leave me out there alone if I get weak. I'm still not holding food in. I'll get concerned if it doesn't change soon. I'm working from home today so will check in. What's everyone up to today?

Cajun, waiting for the poop to come sounds fabulous to me. I haven't been able to stop since Monday. I'm getting very wore out from the process. In, out, in out. There's no nutrition staying inside me. This morning I woke up down another 2.8 pounds. I couldn't believe it. I'll never be in the 200's again! That is so exciting to me. For years my set weight was 222 and I would diet and lose, always to come back to that weight, until I surpassed it in 2007 and went up to 249. I'm glad those numbers are now in the rear view mirror! 199 is going to be such a celebration for you when it happens Cajun. We'll have to hold a big party, a testament to your patience.

Hi, I'm reading this forum, but I've put the dating on hold until I'm further out from surgery. I'm still too new pre-op to add in dating. I can't figure out my new body, let alone try to explain it to someone else. I'd like to wait until I've let go of some pounds before I get out there with the internet dating again. I guess the fat girl site might not be the right one for me in a few months! I can't wait to hear everyone's stories.

I have to say that I LOVE ground beef/turkey. I hope I can live on it when I get to that stage. A touch of sour cream and salsa and I would be in heaven. That's what I was eating pre-op to get my weight down. I'm looking forward to that more than anything else. :wink: Tamra, the thing about carbs for us is that it just sets us up to crave more. I'm so glad that you're recognizing that early out. Hey Jes, I wish I was going to Kaiser on the 10th, bu my appt is on the 12th. John, napping is good and healing. Anytime we sleep, our body gets to heal. I worked several hours today and now see why people take off work for awhile!

Carol, we're the same age. I will turn 60 in October. I too started out wanting the Lapband but it never felt right so I continued researching and found my way here. Welcome to VST. There's so much great info here!

Thanks Trippsmommy! This is an incredible journey.

Hi Carol, You're just starting out. Keep asking questions. My response was geared towards Determined who's been asking about bougie size. Determined, I'm so happy that Tiffy's response finally hit a chord with you! YAY!

Thanks Deedee and Ishary! I love that we all share this journey together!

Hiya Cricket! I found this forum in November and had my Sleeve last week. I'm so happy I found this forum so that I didn't have the Band put in. YAY. You've come to the right place for encouragment and information. Welcome!

Determined: My plan does not use any Protein powders or supplements. I'm 1 week out having 1/4 cup of nutrition, three times a day. I can have up to 1/2 cup when I'm ready for it. I count every calorie and carb that I ingest. My calories are more like 200 right now. I asked my doctor about the bougie size, he said that Kaiser has researched it and deemed that the 40 gives the best results in the long run. I trust him. If I doubted him, I would have self-payed to Mexico but then I would never have known. Maybe I would have had severe nausea or other complications. To think about this as failsafe won't work. No doctor can guarantee that you'll keep your weight off, regardless of the bougie size because we determine how to use it. I think that if you keep asking, you'll keep getting the same responses from all of us. Now it's time for you to decide what makes sense in your life. Here are the Cornell recommendations: Weeks 0-2: Total Cal: 400-600 Total Carbs: <40 Total Protein: 70 Weeks 3 - 3 months (Soft Foods): Total Cal: 600-800 Total Carbs: <40 Total Protein: 70 - 90 3 - 12 months (Regular Food): Tota Cal: <800 Total Carbs: <40 Total Protein: 70 - 90 After Reaching Goal (Regular Food): Tota Cal: 1000 - 1200 Total Carbs: 40 - 60 Total Protein: 70 - 90 I think that what matters is: 1. Amount of weight to lose 2. Exercise 3. Calories and Carbs I really don't think that bougie size has anything to do with it. How we work our tool has everything to do with it.

That's a great suggestion Tiffy. For today, my meals will be Fage yogurt to try to up my good bacteria. I'm sure that being on antibiotics pre-op didn't help keep good flora growing. I think I just need to wait it out but I've decided to eat the yogurt instead of going back to clear fluids again. I'm starting to get a little hungry today. I wonder if that's because I had 1/4 cup yogurt this morning.

Thanks Barbara and Dybarra!!

Mo, glad to hear that you did ok yesterday. I'm glad the funeral is over for you. John, I've only eaten 1/2 cup of cream soup in three days. Fat free chicken broth did it to me the other night. Today I tried 1/4 cup of Fage for breakfast. Still same results. I just leave my Kindle in the bathroom since i'm spending so much time in there. *sigh* At least it's not just me so I know nothing is wrong. Someone is cooking some mighty fine smelling beef. It's coming in through the forced air heat. They may cause my first signs of hunger for the week! GRRRRRRR....

Lan, I'm so excited with your progress. I know you've had a rough time of it, but with goal in your sights, you must be so excited!

Tamra, I eat anything for breakfast that I would eat for lunch or dinner. I suggest finding the meals that please you the most (from the binder) and stick with those. Protein first so that you don't get hungry between meals. John, one good potty break... haha... I can't stay outa there. Have your runs subsided? I'm glad I'm working from home because I'd be afraid to leave home. I'm a big mess!