I'm doing pretty good. Down 55 lbs post op, 85lbs total. I'm down about 5 pant sizes & it feels wonderful! I hear you about the exercise program. I started out really good; even joined Curves. But I don't think I've down any type of exercise in 3 weeks! Keep up the great work!

lol, sorry...I'm a little long winded today! I had to split it because it would only take 1500 characters at a time )

I keep telling myself that I will get better at this. I hope I do! I did find this awesome website that helps me keep track of my protein and exercise each day. It is fatsecret.com. There are some pretty good recipes on there too. I really like being able to add everything that I eat and it keeps track for me, protein, carbs, sodium, everything. If I didn't use it I would probably not have a clue what I was getting in a day.
Congrats on your loss so far! You are doing great! I was at 263 pre op, I lost 11lbs on the liquid diet and I have lost 16 since surgery. I am starting to do more walking now and as soon as this one incision closes I will start swimming again. I feel good though, I mean once I get up and get going, I am good to go. I have read that a lot of people are tired all the time and just can't get it going but I do not have that problem at all so I guess I must be getting enough to fuel my body. What about you? Do you feel tired like some say they do? Are you going to walk in the Susan B. Komen walk? I am really thinking that I am going to try. I think by then I will feel pretty dang good!
No worries about being over the board...I'm glad to have someone to talk to about this that is going through the exact thing!

I tried to make egg salad with my ninja but the consistency made me gag. I did have a little avocado and it was good. I also ate potted meat for a little bit but that got old pretty quick too. I am still doing ok with the water, I think I get close to or over 48oz a day. I was thinking that I would be glad when I could have protein bars but since the thought of chocolate gags me right now, I'm not sure that is going to much help.
I didn't even think about that drying out your skin but I guess it makes plenty of sense, but imagine what your insides are feeling! I put a little lemon in my water just because the lemon is good for digestion and it hasn't bothered me at all. I sip all day long from an Aquafina bottle but then when I get home I switch to ice water and I can really put it away when it is cold like that. Strange I know but I love ice water .

Thank you for reminding me about the Isopure. I haven't gone to get those but I will try one this weekend. I found that Gatorade makes a protein post game drink and it has like 16g in it but it was pretty thick to me also, it was like super thick koolaid. I drank it but yuk, it was just too much. I can't bring myself to drink anything chocolate or even vanilla. The sweets just don't even sound good to me right now. My biggest problem is craving salt. This has always been a problem for me but I had hoped that it would go away, it isn't! The really bad thing about that is it makes me retain water and therefore makes me upset when I am not losing! Mercy, vicious cycle. I really have to get that under control though. I have really only reached my protein goal one time since I have been home. My menu is getting a little redundant because I have figured out that if I can get down two eggs in the morning then that will give me a good start to the day with 13g of protein. At lunch I have been eating super thin slices of ham and american cheese. If I can get in 5 slices of that black forrest (land o frost) ham and 3 slices of cheese then that gives me 24.5g more of protein. So with those two I can get in 37.5g which is good for me because I don't like yogurt or tuna or any other kind of seafood for that matter. I agree about the veggies and fruit, I have been really craving a salad, an olive garden salad would make me sing hallelujah!

Hi MBee, I am doing great! I feel good and I don't seem to be having any of the food issues that I have read about, thank goodness! I had a stall too. I seemed to stay the same from like day 9 to day 18 but now I am losing again. I started to let myself get discouraged but my clothes were getting more loose so I didn't really understand what the heck the deal was! I decided to stop watching that scale like it was my life line, lol. I think that our bodies must go into starvation mode or something and that is why it is holding on to every pound it can. Once it gets the clue that we are still eating and giving it just what it needs, it will kick back in. I'm so glad to hear that you are doing well also. I am having a hard time getting all that protein in but I think it is just because I haven't really found a shake that I like and can stay consistent with. How are you doing with the protein and water?

I had surgery April 17th, so I am eating grilled chicken, fish, beans, cheese for protein with veggies. Only occasional protein shakes, slim fast that has 20 gms per bottle. I also have whey poser that I can add to meals If I need to. Support groups are really important part of success!

Just wanted to give you some info on the Protein Shakes I am drinking. They are Premier Protein & you can get them at Sam's Club or Costco. Each shake is 160cal & has 30g of protein. I think they are around $14 for 12 so pretty resonable. They come in chocolate & vanilla, although the vanilla doesn't seem to sit as well after I had the sleeve. Makes my tummy gurgle a lot! I am also using a 20 oz water bottle that I alternate between plain water & Crystal Light. I just need to fill it up 4 times & I'm done, although it does take me about 12 hours to get all that fluid in. It takes about 3 hours for me to finish 1 11oz shake & 20oz water, alternating sips. But I feel so much better! Before I started this I was so tired & sluggish I had no energy to do anything! A lot of this journey is going to be trial & error and what works for one may not work for another. But give it a shot & see how you feel. I also haven't been constantly thinking about food anymore since I don't allow myself to get too hungry. Good luck to you & let me know if you decide to try this. ~Tonia

Thanks so much, I'm still scared to death, but somehow amazingly calm at the same time. Weird.

Today was a good day! Pain is slowly going away, of course some discomfort still..
I drank all my fluids today, I believe a least 42oz! I even had scrambled eggs with just a touch of shredded cheese for dinner! AMAZING! It was all I ate all day
I'm so happy for you too, we can do this! Just know we will for sure not go through this alone
Thank you sooooooo much!

You're so right! I'm glad to hear you're on the same page as me I have some broccoli & cheese soup I've been eating on from Mcalister's Deli & it's freaking amazing! Lol it really helps. Cottage cheese has too!
Tonight I think I'm going to try a little scrambled eggs, a lady told me she had them a week out & she loved it! Can't wait
I hope your journey is getting easier & you're doing well! I really appreciate your great advice!!

I'm feeling pretty good today. I started protein shakes yesterday but didn't do very well. I felt so bloated! I didn't take any pain or nausea meds so I think that may have been the problem. Once I took both last night I felt much better. Took both meds today & thinned out the shakes with some water..so far so good. Although I am not getting near enough the amount of fluid or protein as I should, but doing my best. Good news is I've lost 8 lbs since surgery! Each day gets a little better. Have my follow-up with surgeon tomorrow. Hope he's happy with my progress.

MBee, yes I am excited just 18 days to go. I just spent 4 days at LIttle Glasses camping with a group of friends. I am having surgery in Denison, Texas with Dr. Cernero also being covered by insurance. Thanks for the encouragment. I will be keeping an eye out to see how you are doing.

TrendyJenn, I am looking forward to today and trying a shake! How are you doing with water, I need more water but it is so much easier to drink Isopure and Gatoraid. I had dry heaves the day after and thought that was the end I was going to die. Of course I am fine and feel really good, I am not sure if I would feel nauseas or not? I keep taking the nausea meds and on time to keep from the awful feeling again. I think I finally lost 3 lbs. but I am sure the fluid retention and swelling have kept the scale from moving...

I feel better everyday. A lot more energy yesterday. Just a little bit sore. I haven't needed pain meds since day of surgery. I had a lot of nausea and dry heaving the first 2 days. Being home made a world of difference. I made a choc protein shake yesterday with 4 oz of skim milk n 4 oz of water for dinner. It tasted like a milkshake!!