First of all, CONGRATS on your surgery!! I know it is really hard to see right now when your body and mind are adjusting to all of the changes. However, there IS light at the end of the tunnel. 

I had the DS about four years ago and remember thinking right after my surgery, "WHY DID I DO THIS TO MYSELF?!". Now I am at my goal weight and life is great. The pain will definitely subside after a little bit longer. Make sure to take it easy, listen to the surgeon's advise, and remember that you have majorly changed your body and it takes some time to get used to everything. 

Make sure to check your incisions for signs of infection- if there are none then it is just regular pain that WILL go away. Also, if you do not have a binder, you may want to consider getting one. For some reason pressure alleviated a lot of my incision pain. Keep a pillow around just in case you have to laugh or cough (if you have to do that, press the pillow onto your abdomen and it should help a little). Another thing that they said would help that I doubted but it really did help with is WALK. After surgery I would walk around my house and do a set amount of laps. As the time passed, I would walk more and more around my house. The movement helps to keep your insides moving as they should so you will feel less pain from pressure. 

Keep your chin up. It absolutely gets so much better!!! Best of luck and feel free to contact me if you need any motivation or general assistance. Cheers! :)

I use the sugar free flavored syrups with regular half and half. I don't see a problem with it, just remember to measure the amount and log it in your totals for the day :)

I've made a bean sprout pad Thai at home, and I've tried a few chow menu type dishes. They are great!

What is Polenta?  Is that something like Grits?

Hi there again.

I'm glad that you have the supportive nutrition classes. It sounds like you're really getting into healthy foods. It'll be so worth it after you have your WLS and you've already conquered the 'what's healthy to ea't' concerns.

Have you read much about post-op eating in order to start trying out some you might enjoy? Maybe you could spend time putting together a self-made recipe book of all your favorites.

As for me, yes I am dreading the upcoming holiday season. I've been reading blogs and articles about overcoming the holiday eating, but for me it's not office parties and extended family. For me it is my children & spouse. My children are generally healthy eaters, considering I do the shopping and thus I just do not purchases much processed junk foods. BUT... my husband is a junkie; a very skinny junk food eater! He goes through binge cycles of healthy smoothies and salads and whatnot to junk every day. It's his food 'stuff' and so I try to encourage him. But in the times when he's on his unhealthy eating kick, the kids are too. Those are the times I find it hardest because it is the house and I am tempted. I try to stay away from them when they're eating but that's really emotionally challenging to not to feel lost when you're family is indulging and spending time at the "throne" of food.

Anyhow, I'm glad you asked the question because it just reminds me that I've really got to continue to work on my mind & heart instead of focusing solely on my food.

Be encouraged on your journey. I look forward to hear about your nutrition class successes next week.

Marie.