Ali2010

Back to work today.....and of course my first day back they are having a celebration this afternoon with lots of food! This will be a test of will power! I am glad I took the four weeks off but it feels good to come to work and have everyone finally notice the weight loss! No one at work knows the surgery so I feel kind of guilty.

Thinking of you Ash! Hope all goes well! BTW, at my pcp appointment last week she went over plastic surgery a little bit and showed me on the computer the criteria for tummy tuck. The computer said you had to be under 180 pds, 80% of goal weight, and the excess skin had to be to close to the knees. There was an exception for repeated skin irritations. She was basically telling me that I am not a candidate--one drawback from having the weight all over and just in the gut! My ass carried much of my weight so I guess I should have asked about a butt lift! I updated my ticker! Yeah! 1/3 of my weight to goal!

Mo, have a great birthday day, birthday week, and birthday month! Ash, gosh darn it, I hope you are better. Let us know what they say. Well, 4 weeks ago today I had sleeve surgery...surgery day I weighted 260 and today.....242.5! 17.5 pds! I am happy with that although it really had slowed down this past week so that was disappointing. Today I should get the Robin call and can advance my food to soft food. I haven't been good about logging my food so I started yesterday with making more a commitment to logging my food so when I will be prepared for these next stages that allow more variety of food.

Lee, that's is so awesome! You are doing wonderful. Keep posting and encouraging everyone, you are full of wisdom.

Reggie, so sorry to hear your struggles. Don't stay away when your struggling...come to the board and get some motivation. There are many people here that have been or are in the same situation. Blessings and positive thoughts going your way!

Hi everyone, Looking forward to seeing those who can make it to Point West meeting on Saturday!

yeah for Annalyn and Chrissy...you both have dates now! Whoo Hooo!! Ashly, sorry you don't feel good but you have time to shake it! Keep up the vitaman c and lots of water and flush out the germs. I am happy that your date is coming fast. I had my pcp apt today and she was very happy with my progress. She has had 4 patients go through wls and she felt I was doing great. I was her first sleeve patient so she asked me lots of questions. I am down 16 pds since surgery. I feel the loss is starting to slow a bit so I am going to bump up my excercise. I am ready to go back to work next week but I tried to email Dr Park and she is out this week so I guess I have to wait unitl Monday to email her for a release. She wrote my initial paperwork to be out through 5/30. Well, keep making good choices everyone!

Tamara, I also just found some Starkist Salmon in individual containers that are packed in very little water so they don't need drained. I like that with a bit of mayo for a change of pace from Tuna.

Try this Tamra, Baked Ricotta 8 oz of Ricotta Cheese (you can use low fat) 1/2 cup grated Parmesan 1 large Egg, beaten 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning salt & pepper to taste 1/2 cup Marinara Sauce (I used no sugar added sauce) 1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella Cheese Mix ricotta cheese, parmesan, beaten egg, seasonings together and place in a oven proof dish. Pour marinara on top and top with mozzarella cheese. Bake it in the oven @ 450 for about 20-25 minutes (best) or nuke it till hot and bubbly. I usually bake it first in the oven and heat the leftovers in the microwave. I placed a scoop in cupcake pan that I sprayed with non-spray and baked inside that pan. Made nice little serving sizes.

Riley, so exciting for you to be at the stage to get the cosmo surgeries! that is awesome! That is my goal...to need all that! I see the eye thing coming first..I can't believe how quickly my eyelids changed and have layers of skin...I am going to mention it to my pcp on thursday when I have my follow-up. Analyn, you go girl! No ONE is going to stop you now. Christie, good luck tomorrow. Liz didn't get to deep with me on anything, we went over the test and my routines and that was about it. You will be fine and get a date quickly. Looking forward to Saturday's group. Most of you are probably out of 22/24's but I have tons of clothes coming so if you know someone that could use some clothes that size, take them home a bag. I hope to score some 18's! Whoo Hoo!

Ash, you're getting close...whoooo hoooo christie, so excited for you! Welcome Stacie! This is a great place to ask questions, what type of surgery are you having? who is your surgeon? I am doing good; my loss seems to have slowed a bit this week so I need to kick up the excercise. I am hoping to drop 3 pds this week and that would put me down 20 pds since surgery on 4/26. It's been hard to get all the Water in but I get about 40 oz. Great day everyone!

Tina, I am only 3 weeks post sleeve but my pb episodes have stopped. I got them only when I drank water to soon after eating. I hope it continues that way once I get on regular consistency of food. Yesterday I didn't eat lunch so by the time I was able to eat something I was light headed. I didn't feel hunger pains but I could tell my the way my head felt that I needed to get something in my stomach. I ate about 3 oz of turkey and I was good. Lee & John, congrats on 3 sleeved months! John sounds like you are staying close to program during your travels and that is awesome. Lee, you are going to look smokin in the Riveria with your slim body and a deep tan! That is so exciting. Do you guys use on-line programs to log your food or do you do handwritten? I have tried a few different ones on-line but they all seem so time consuming.

You are so right Pam it doesn't make sense. I looked into that program prior to surgery and it was cheaper for me to have surgery than participate in that program--so obviously I chose the surgery. Lee, you are so right about the different surgeons ways. I don't know if these meds are helping because I haven't had any stomach problems or reflux but I guess its preventative. Its just hard to remember to take all this stuff. I stil need to get a routine going.

Lee, you are so awesome in your dedication to this way of life. You are so good at knowing how to work things to get weight loss. With only 600 calories and all that excerices you are going to get to goal. I was kinda of confused on the pill thing to so I emailed the doctor and she said it was fine to take them. They sent me home with a liquid stomach coater and a pill for hearburn. Both my heartburn pill and my vitaman go down good. I have a baby shower today; I am going to have to stay away from all the goodies but thruthfully none of that stuff even sounds good so I should be fine.

Done! Let me know if you don't get it. Ali

Tamara, I feel all your pain as the will power to walk past those damm cookies is hard. I bet if you were losing you would have the motivation to not eat them but when your struggling it gives you a different mind set and its harder. Keep pushing for the fill and get past this part so you can get your motivation back. I'm with you Tina, I think a "sponsor" would really irriate me too. I might want to look into that program too but I want to be a "silent observer" but that probably goes against what they do. lol. Ok, ate dinner last night and b/f today and no pb'ing. I am so glad. This morning I made the ricotta bake dish and it was so yummy! It felt like i was eating lasagna and I needed something tasty like that. I cooked mine in cupcake pan so it made little individual pies. Enjoy the sun!

Good Luck Ashley! You are going to be all set to go! It will be great.

Ha, Tina. I don't think I am leader material at this point...I am still getting my hands around this big picture stuff. lol John, what a decision, Miami or ME? good luck chosing! lol As far as follow up apts, I have a one month and a three month and that's all I know of. That was one of the main reasons I switched to the sleeve, is I am not a fighter and if I had to go to Kaiser and beg for a fill and fight for myself it wouldn't work for me. That's why I admire you guys so much is that you are working for what is right. I am so glad I didn't pb today!

You guys are all so thought provoking; I knew that this journey would be more than eating less calories and you guys are helping me relize that early on in my journey and I am learning from you. Tina & Candra, I think its great that you guys are tackling the big issue..that will help you with long term success. I just saw the email seeking a facilitator for the Point West support group and I think anyone on here would be great as you all have a wonderful gift to share. Ok, I had a much better day today. Breakfast I ate a scrambled egg with a bit of cheese and I dipped it in sugar free marina sauce that is delious! I kept that down no problem. I felt good all day and never even thought about lunch. I just ate dinner and had 2 oz of turkey in the same sauce and it seems to be doing well. My only issue is I am so thirsty but I will not drink before 1 hour as that seemed to get me yesterday. So since surgery I have lost 14 pounds--not bad for being only 2 1/2 weeks ago. I am happy with that. My total weight loss since orientation 1/26 is 50 pds! Yeah for me! Happy Friday!

Thanks Lee; I really am at a loss. Yesterday when I ate my pureed chicken and gravy I felt fine. It wasn't until I went to drink some water almost an hour later that I got sick. I have just been incredibly thirsty so its very hard to wait that hour. I am going to try some different things today as I need to find something that works. After surgery I couldn't take my chewable vitamins--those made me sick too. I went to my regular vitamans and cut them in half for the first few days now I can swallow the pill without issue. I can do my chewable calcium but no way on the vitamins. Wish me luck today!

uggg, still not getting it right and tossing after I eat. I am eating a 1/4 only but it seems when I take a sip of water an hour later I get sick....makes for a miserable hour or so until it passes...having this three times today is not fun.

Chrissy, I think I would change up your diet a bit; try something different to get your metabolism back working. If its your time of the month you may just be retaining water too! Shake up your excercise a bit; by changing things a bit you may wake up in a couple days and be down 4 lbs. PS, don't weigh yourself everyday--its to stressful. Maybe 2 or 3 x's a week. Also, I ate lots of Wendy's chili and Taco Bell pintos during our hectic nights when we weren't cooking. That was the only fast food I have eaten since jan. Oh wait, I would eat a bunless burger from in/out (no fries) once a month. All the food places have their nuturtion on their website so as long as I plannded for it seemed to work for me. Don't worry, it will drop back down.

Sherri, I went to Obestyhelp.com and they have a receipe section and there is some good stuff there. I am making the ricotta bake today. Amazon has a couple cook books that are topiced on recipes for lap banders or gastric bypass; even though I had the sleeve I am going to order one of those when I can have a diet with more variety. Even though it got old, I found that having one menu that I liked and just keep repeating made it easier. For me it was lunch, I always had my 1/4 cup cottage cheese, sliced turkey, and aparagus. I am not much of a cook either so I know what you're going through.

Hi John, I can't wait till I'm 3 months out so I will have learned all the do's and don'ts my new tummy likes. On the eggs, my book lists them on the pureed stage so that is good. So far they have tasted the best to me. I had my 1/4 cup chicken and gravy puree and its not bad. Looks gross but tastes yummy. So far its staying down. Tomorrow I am gonna try a ricotta bake dish and see how that works. I had been feeling so good I was feeling kinda guilty for not returning to work but after today I am so glad I am still off so I can work through this part. I think I will go back a week early just becasue they miss me so and they call me everyday---lol. Congrats to the ones coming up on thier case manager apt! You will be soon.

Well, this has been a trying day. Two meals and two pb's. For breakfast I had a hard boiled egg mashed into a 1/4 cup of Cottage Cheese and ummm, that was to much. Lunch I tried a smashed egg and then had 1 tiny lick of bean soup and that put me over the top as well. So, I guess my stomach is about the size of egg and that is where I will stop from now on. It's not fun getting sick.... I'm kind of afraid to eat dinner but I am going to try a boiled chicken breast ground up with a bit of gravy...no more than 1/4 cup. Wish me luck!