JoiaRox

Start by gathering old magazines and cutting out things that reflect dreams you have - you can either do it for a year (I made a dream/goal board in 2012) or for your life! I also bought a piece of poster board (black)...throw in some glitter stickers (you can buy glitter foam sheets and cut them into the design you like), and have fun! Mine is below

Use a recipe analyzer to find out the nutrition of your own chili! I happen to love Hormel's chili (turkey no beans), and it's high in protein!

Chipotle was MY last meal before my pre-op diet, too!

You just can't eat when and what you used to - you physically can't. THAT'S what my sleeve is for. I focus now on getting my protein every day (70g/day by my doctor's standards). When you focus on that, there isn't room for anything else. You can't grab a few french fries when you really need to eat some chicken breast. You can't help yourself to Lucky Charms because you have to eat eggs. For me, my choices are driven by my need for protein and water - my day (and tummy!) is consumed with that, so there really is no room, physically, for anything else!

I had an iced coffee with SF Caramel syrup yesterday - added 1-2T of half n half (lower carb). They have tons of SF syrup options, just ask! If you go with just coffee and SF syrup, you're looking at 0 calories. Really. Other great options are their "skinny" and "light" options for lattes and frappuccinos. With SF syrups used in those as well, you're looking at low calorie and sugar counts.

I'd recommend calling your doctor anyway, especially if the bruise grows or looks odd (at 5 days out, it should be done "bruising" at this point), but my money would be on what I said above. Good luck!

Is that where one of your incision sites are? It's normal to get bruising near those areas if there was any trauma to the area! While I didn't have any bruising with my sleeve, my LapBand removal had a ton of bruising around my former port area - they had to fight that sucker to remove it from my muscle wall!

Hey there! I'll be 33 next month and work in Rockville - moving up to Germantown in 3 weeks (currently living in VA). I was sleeved 5 weeks ago and just had another fellow MD sleever in my office

I revised in two steps (band out in March, sleeved in June) and after the struggles of "soft food syndrome" from a slipped LapBand, I felt better mentally prepared this time around. Must be working, because I'm making the smart food choices 99% of the time and doing what I'm supposed to be doing! I know when I'm full and I don't push it - and I know I'm not going to throw up every day as I had to force myself to do with the band if I ate anything with a consistency thicker than a McDonald's frappe (I consumed many of those just trying to get "calories"). I believe this new journey will work for me, and I believe it will work for you, too!

My doc is one of those who's quite fine with coffee, tea, etc. - at support group this past Monday I told him about the "great debates" that happen in this forum regarding carbonation, caffeine and straws...he just laughed. I'm almost 5 weeks post-op and have been enjoying my coffee in the mornings and my unsweetened iced tea with straws.

Eating a healthy diet that consists of weight loss level calories...and not being hungry!

Your weight loss will be exactly what it will be...focus on your Protein, fluids and exercise, and the weight will come off! 9-10oz may seem big, but it's still a helluva lot smaller than you used to be able to eat! If you trusted your doctor to do this, continue to trust. Sometimes we read things on here or other places around the internet that freak us out, question ourselves, etc. - choose not to let them.

I did tons of "cream of ___" Soups in my post-op full liquids stage. Note: cream of chicken with a scoop of Unjury's chicken soup flavored Protein powder is awesome, and a great way to bump up the protein! Regarding the diarrhea, if you're not taking in much solid food or Fiber...seems justified

Different doctors have different requirements based on their own research, experience and surgical preferences. Do what you were instructed to do, regardless of what you read here.

Congrats! Make sure you consult with your bariatric surgeon as well!

Sounds like your band may have slipped - intolerance of solid foods is a good first step! Your insurance may cover the revision at your low weight if you've got slippage - that could lead to fatal consequences (trust me - been there, done that...for 2+ years).

Can I ask why you're putting yourself through such a serious surgery for 15 pounds? Has your band slipped?

You have to have set a password on here - it's in one of the settings in the various menus. I had the same problem initially

I'm on soft foods and LOVING the restriction I have! I'm actually FULL (not stuffed) off of a few ounces of food, and it lasts me a long time! Portion control was the exact thing I could never master, and explains my heavy weight. I'm pleased with my sleeve so far at 31 days post-op

Hahah! Don't know why I'm so hungry today! Last night I made two veggie sausage (oxymoron much?) patties and 3 scrambled eggs with a Laughing Cow wedge melted in...I was STARVING and was sure I could sit and eat it all after awhile. Yeah...no. I thought I was going to explode after finishing 1 patty and a few bites of egg. P.S. Them patties are SMALL.

So far today: Breakfast - Protein bar lunch - 1/2c chicken breast, 2 string cheeses, 3 slices cheddar "snacker cuts" Snack - Protein Bar May not eat much, if anything, for dinner tonight...maybe a Greek yogurt? I take a little while to eat still, but work on getting my protein from food sources rather than liquids now. I usually don't eat Protein Bars...today was a rarity because it's Monday and I wasn't prepared for work

I wouldn't bother "feeding the trolls" - let them say what they want and don't bother responding. My doctor would concur with yours, by the way

MFP is having server issues today, so it may be them and not you. Give it some time. Shutting off your tablet will "force close" all problems - that's not an issue.

You'll be absolutely fine! I was back at work on Day 10 post op (desk job w/elevator use also) - other than some residual sleepiness, I was pain-free and good to go!

Did you get your band through 1-800-GETSLIM?! I did - horrible, horrible after care, which my current doctor believes led to the severe slip. He also doesn't believe the surgery was done correctly. I'm happily sleeved now, but interesting to know!