Are you a nurse? I am starting a support group for nurses that are contemplating, undergoing or are now 'old pro's' with their sleeves!

By way of introduction, my name is Jana & I live in the DFW area and am currently undergoing the approval process. I have been a RN for 38 years--18 years in Surgery & 18 years in Case Management & as a Manager for a major health plan carrier.

So feel free to jump on board!

Hey guys!

My name is Crystal...I have been a Registered Nurse for 7 years and a Certified Nurse Midwife for 2 years. When I went back for my Masters degree my weight really BALLOONED up because all I was doing was working, school and eating...there was no time for diet and exercise. When I graduated midwifery school in 2012 I managed to lose 20lbs...but unfortunately have gained back most of that.

I don't count calories I eat 6 times a day

Normally I eat

cream of wheat with coconut and almond milk

Yogurt 5oz pot

4 oz chicken

protein bar (quest)

4 oz turkey Burger

Cream of wheat before bed

Normally I get 70-80 gms protein

Hi everyone! My name is Melissa and I'm an RN in Anderson, SC. I've been a nurse for a little over 10 years and currently work in Home Care Nursing. My surgery is scheduled for Nov. 17. I would love any advice and/or support.

Hi everyone! My name is Melissa and I'm an RN in Anderson, SC. I've been a nurse for a little over 10 years and currently work in Home Care Nursing. My surgery is scheduled for Nov. 17. I would love any advice and/or support.

Hi everyone! Haven't been on here in a while. I was sleeved in June, down 40 lbs. my concern is that I have been eating more at meals than the standard one cup. It varies, sometimes it's a cup, sometimes 1 1/2 to 2 cups. I'm scared. I do not want to regain the weight. I know I also need to exercise more and eat smaller more frequent meals and 99% protein which is difficult. Anyone else been there and can I get back to being satisfied with one cup of food??

I was just talking about that with a co-worker sleever, being scared after I ate all that restaurant serving salmon. but I only took two spoonful of rice etc. I've lost 50lbs, so I think I need to kick up the exercise. I'm right there with you

One cup of food is still a lot of food for just 4 months out. I'm 6 months out and can't eat that much unless it's salad, because I pretty much stick to my protein sources which are very filing.

What have you been eating? Too many carbs? Remember that ALL your meals should be protein-focused, with maybe a few bites of veggie or fruit, IF you have room in your sleeve. I believe if you stay protein-focused, you will be satisfied with a smaller volume of food. If you went back to eating carbs, I highly recommend you cut them. No bread, pasta, rice, crackers, chips, tortillas, etc until you reach goal, and then add them back slowly (if at all--they are a lot of empty calories that take up room in your sleeve). I will eat 2 or 3 small bites of rice AFTER my protein, and I can be satisfied with that. Some people can't, and eating carbs sets them on a binge. If that is you, eliminate the refined carbs. Also, are you drinking with meals? That will allow you to eat more. Don't drink with meals!

Is not that hard to remain protein-focused, especially if you can cook. I read labels and I hunt for recipes whose ingredients fall within my eating plan. Yesterday for breakfast I ate a crustless bacon and egg mini-quiche (I make them in muffin tins, automatic portion control), a chocolate, sugar-free, protein mini donut (these are easy to make and delicious), and 6 raspberries. A very delicious, satisfying, and guilt-free breakfast that falls well inside my eating plan. Lunch is a spicy tomato soup with shrimp, crab, and scallions. Takes 10 minutes to make, very healthy and satisfying. You CAN stay protein-focused and eat well!

Try to keep your day balanced as a whole. If i have oatmeal in the morning (with a scoop of peanut butter cookie protein powder added) then the rest of my day will be very low-carb since oatmeal is a lot of carbs. I still eat it, it's good for me and falls inside my eating plan if I add protein to it, but i limit it to once a week or less because I choose to limit my carbs to leave room for protein. Am I making sense here? I've been craving a grilled cheese sandwich, but I choose not to eat bread. So lunch today will be a slice or two of turkey breast rolled up with cheese inside and maybe a pickle or a green chile and grilled in a pan so I can still get the enjoyment of that cheesy goodness and stay on my plan. Sometimes you have to get creative to kill those pesky cravings! I will say that my carb cravings are WAY down since I stopped eating refined carbs. It's true what they say, eating carbs makes you crave more carbs!

I would talk to your doctor if you have real concerns, but I believe getting back to your eating plan will probably solve your problems.

Snacks should be things like cheese, nuts, cottage cheese, half a protein bar, hard boiled egg, protein shake, etc. But limit snacks to once a day, it's easy to go overboard on snacking. It's not difficult but it does take some planning. If you have only healthy things to eat in your home, you will eat healthy.

Feel free to PM me if you need more tips on staying on track. The sleeve is a tool. USE YOUR TOOL.

No! One cup is too much! Im week 4 and im full off of 4oz

Sorry im week 5 now. I eat real slow and full in no time. Its crazy but I love it!

Here is a pic of the chocolate, sugar-free, protein mini-donuts, and a pic of my breakfast with the mini-quiche. Today I'm making pumpkin protein mini-donuts with orange glaze (made with Splenda). They keep well several days in the fridge--if they last that long. My (very picky) kids gobbled mine up!

D smith, how do I pm you?

This is scary to read that people are falling back into old habits. I am

Not yet sleeved and i have set up time with a therapist for first 6 months to get at root causes of my self loathing so i do not my efforts. Weight is a complex issue. Look deep as to why you want to hold yourself back from health and vitality in your life. Stop doing what you are going. Just stop.

@@deanna

I will be getting mine done December 2. I also am an Nurses Aide, how long were you out of

Work for? My dr says 5-6 weeks due to the constant lifting and boosting. I work in a " no lifting" facility, but we all know how that goes lol

I am a surgical technologist. I am in the process of getting banded. I am new to this site. All help is appreciated

I'm a psych RN and NP student - also in TX. Looking to sleeve second week of December, between semesters. So excited!!