KathyM

The stall is normal - it will pass. Mine lasted 2 1/2 weeks! I have actually found that increasing my calories can sometimes get me losing again - I think your body gets kind freaked out at times and then your metabolism slows, for me adding in a few extra calories seems to help with that. I know exactly what you mean about taking that one bite that is too much - it's a killer isn't it? I have also learned not to eat for a while before I go to bed or I will have problems with reflux.

I had surgery in Mexico in July with Dr. Almanza and haven't needed any follow up care at all. I feel better than I have in years. My patient coordinator was a putz but is no longer working for them. I actually had a new patient coordinator from there contact me and tell me that if I ever had any questions or problems to call her and she would help me. I have emailed her a few times with questions and she has always answered the same day.

Yoplait Whips yogurt in the freezer - just like eating ice cream!

Ugh! I lived on Crystal Light preop and for the first few weeks postop and now I can't even stand the thought of it - and I have about a million of those little singles in my cupboard!

I don't have any problems with mushrooms, but I seriously can't do pineapple juice - something that I really love. For some reason it doesn't set well with me at all! Weird how some foods do that.

You look AWESOME!!!!!! Doesn't it feel great? :biggrin0::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Lisa - keep your chin up, you are doing great! I'm not sure what your mom's motivation for her comments is but it really doesn't matter. What matters is YOU! If your nutritionist has told you that you can advance your diet, then do so!! You can't stay on clear liquids for the rest of your life and that is not how this works anyways. I too was excited about every new food that I have been able to add in. When I was on full liquids, I used my Magic Bullet and pureed Campbell's chunky soups - I could only eat about 1/4th of a cup at a time but the taste was heaven! Someone else told me to buy the Yoplait Whips yogurt and put them in the freezer - it's just like eating ice cream! Good luck baby, you are on your way!:biggrin0: Kathy

It's absolutely normal and healthy to be worried and scared. This is a life changing decision - once it is done, you can't reverse it. I remember having a last minute panic attack about 30 minutes before my surgery. I went through with it and have never looked back. I have lost almost 50 pounds all together, 33 of those since surgery. I too lost and gained wt a million times over the years, but I was tired of always losing the battle. I can't believe how much better I feel! The only regrets I have are that I didn't do it sooner. Don't get in a hurry. Take your time, read everything you can find, ask questions, ask more questions. When you are ready you will feel confident that THIS is what you want for yourself. That might be now or a year from now. It's your body and your life, you need to do what is right for you! Kathy

How did you feel after you ate it? Were you uncomfortable at all?

I tried drinking out of a straw at about a month out and had no problelms. I use them all the time now.

lol - Jane that made me laugh! It reminds me of that saying "Skinny people are crunchy, like carrots." :thumbup:

Go!! you will love being with your family!! I was there about 2 weeks ago and ordered a cup of a southwest chicken soup - it was perfect and tasted so good. I was completely satisfied afterwards and not too stuffed. Learning to not be scared when you go to a restaurant is a big thing post-sleeve, but there are always things you can have so don't stay home - you will be glad you went!

I luv luv luv spicy hot V8!!

I am one month out and I don't have any problem drinking normally. I do have to be a little careful not to gulp because then I swallow air with it, but I can drink water and tea pretty much like I did before surgery. Can't do that with crystal light or any other kinds of drinks. Your body will tell you when it is ready, you can try slowly drinking a little more at a time rather than sips and see how it feels. If it works, then great - if it doesn't, then give yourself a few more days or another week and try again.

I had that too for a while - it was really gross. I think it was just from a change in nutritional intake. It improved and then resolved after I started adding in alot more different kinds of foods. When it was just liquids and mushies it was worse, this is just my opinion but I kinda think that eating things with more textures helps clean that tongue off.

My BC/BS says it will "not pay for any services related to the treatment of obesity." It did however pay $27,000 for my knee replacement, it will pay for my arthritis medication, it also pays for my blood pressure medication. When I was researching my policy limits before my surgery I noticed that it will even pay for treatment of erectile dysfunction lol. It will pay for all of the effects of long term obesity - stroke, heart attack, nursing home care, etc. But nothing preventive so you don't get to that point. :thumbup1:

I have a friend who is also overweight, and we started looking into WLS together. At one point we talked about what we would do if one of us could do it and the other couldn't and we promised that we would continue to be supportive of each other no matter what. Well as it turned out, both of our insurances denied anything to do with the treatment of obesity. I was able to get a loan and have my surgery done in Mexico. My friend wasn't. Understandibly she was disappointed, but when she found out I was going she just kind of disappeared off the radar for a while. For her birthday, I bought tickets for a Muder Mystery dinner, it was night before last and it was the first "public eating" for me since my surgery 2 weeks ago. I am on the soft/mushy stage and was extremely anxious about what they would be serving. It turned out that it was a buffet - salad, scalloped potatoes, green Beans and BBQ brisket or a grilled chicken breast. When we were standing in line, I mentioned something about feeling anxious about other people at our table noticing that I wasn't eating much. She said "boy this thing is really messing with your head, isn't it?" I didn't answer, I felt kind of hurt that she said that to me, but I know she is still feeling bad that she didn't get to have the surgery like she wanted to. At any rate, I took a small spoonful of potatoes, a small spoonful of green beans and a chicken breast. I ate a little of the potatoes and a few of the green beans, then cut up the chicken and sort of pushed everything around on my plate. It was kind of a small victory for me that I didn't overdo it, and I was perfectly content all night. I am looking forward to when these social situations that involve eating get a little easier. I have been stuck on the same wt for about 3 days and wonder if I am doing something wrong or eating too much but then when I am tracking my calories, which right now are usually between300-400/day I know that I have to be doing ok. I think the old feelings of failing again creep in at times. I started at 291 postop and am now at 270, I haven't been in the 260's for YEARS and for some reason that 270 is holding on for dear life! :001_tongue: lol My friend and I have been best buds since high school more than 20 years ago. I hope this won't be a detriment to our friendship. Just venting - thanks for listening Kathy

I was sleeved 5 wks ago today. Have been doing pretty well, and have hit that stall that everyone talks about. I too worry that I will fail at this like I have every other diet. Patience is not one of my virtues so lol, but I am trying to just take one pound at a time. Learning how much my tummy can hold has been kind of a challenge - those old habits of eating until the plate is clean can sure sneak back up in a hurry. I'm not really a puker, but I have had 3 times where I overdid it and it all came back up.:thumbup: Lately I have had some issues with head hunger - that restless bored feeling that comes when I am home alone and then want to turn to food again for comfort. Geesh! I need to get a hobby! When it's all said and done I love my sleeve!! I wish I could fast forward to next year at this time so I can see where I will be! Kathy

I am officially 4 weeks out from surgery today! It has been an emotional roller coaster - the decision to do it, traveling alone and being oh so scared, learning to live a new lifestyle, my changing body. Through everything I have never regretted for one second getting my sleeve. I can see that I will not be one of those fast losers lol more of the slow and steady kind but I am okay with that. With the little amount I have lost since surgery I already feel sooooo much better and people are starting to notice, telling me that I look good and that feels awesome! I am in a losing stall right now, but I try to keep focused on where I will be one month, 6 months or even one year from now and I can hardly wrap my brain around the thought of the thinner me finally making its way to the surface! I love my sleeve and I love my new life!! I am never sure whether I should count my preop loss or not, my tracker reflects my loss since surgery. Here are my complete stats so far: Highest wt: 308 Surgery wt: 291 Today's wt: 267 Wt loss since surgery: 24lbs Wt loss since preop diet: 41 lbs

Big NSV for me this weekend - Moved both of the boys back to the dorms to start college. Just like last year, we carried all the stuff in, then went to Target to pick up all of the last minute things. Last year, my knees were screaming and my feel were like fat puffy sausages that were threatening to burst at any moment. I didn't dare sit down anywhere because I knew I would never be able to get up and walk back out to the car again. This year....we carried everything in, put it away and then as I was walking through Target I realized something.... I FELT GOOD!! AND HAPPY!!! I had energy and I wasn't hurting anywhere!! We bopped back over to the college and had to run through the rain (ok, well I am still pretty big lol so I maybe more like did this weird loping fast walk thing haha) back into the dorms and finished setting up the rooms. It doesn't really seem like much when I write about it now, but it felt so good!! :nono:

lol when you put it that way, then yes it is fast loss! When I read other's posts, I am amazed at how fast some lose, but I am completely happy with how I am doing. And....my boyfriend gave me a big squeeze the other day, told me that he could feel me shrinking and that I was stunning! I was on cloud nine for days.:001_wub:

I love tuna, crab and shrimp, but lately I have heard several people saying that too muchseafood is not good for you because of the high levels of mercury. I found a website called HowMuchFish.com where you can pick your seafood and there is a calculator that tells you what your risk from mercury is - I smiled when I saw that mine would be over 5.4 lbs of tuna/week. I tried to paste it in here, hope it works. [/url] canned albacore tuna ? reset If your mom called fish ?brain food,? she was right. But how much do you know about the nutrients in your favorite seafood? And is naturally occurring mercury really a concern? What about for pregnant women? This website shows how much fish you can safely eat?and just how much nutritional goodness is packed in every bite. How much do you weigh (in lbs.)? How much canned albacore tuna do you eat in a single serving? 1 oz. (hors d'oeurve) 3 oz. (appetizer) 6 oz. (lunch) 8 oz. (dinner) Proven health benefits of a 3 oz. serving of canned albacore tuna: Long Chain Omega-3: 0.73g (146.7% of RDI) Protein: 20.1g (40.2%) Vitamin B12: 0.9mcg (16.5%) Potassium: 201mg (5.7%) Selenium: 55.8mcg (101.4%) Iron: 0.81mg (4.5%) Hypothetical health risks: Your hypothetical health risk from the mercury in canned albacore tuna begins at a weekly intake of: 87.5 ounces (5.4 pounds)

Tomorrow is my birthday and I am really dreading going to work. Some of my coworkers know about my surgery but not all of them, and food is a HUGE thing where I work. People love to bring all kinds of junk to eat. I know my sleeve will prevent me from eating too much, but I was hoping not to have to take on this kind of situation so early out. Wish me luck!:svengo:

Yaaay for you!!! That must feel so awesome! I am just over 3 weeks out, and I can't wait till I too can be at that 50lb mark! Keep up the good work!!! :crying:

Turns out it wasn't so bad - I had 2 little smokies in BBQ sauce, 1/2 of a deviled egg and 2 tiny cubes of cheese - I was stuffed! Luckily the ER was screaming busy so no one had time to notice. First meat other than tuna salad or deli sliced turkey, I was a little worried but it went down just fine.