For Lori - knowing when to stop

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori! Congrats on your success so far! Believe me, I know exactly how you're

feeling. There are days when I can't wait to eat, and Then...after a few bites,

I'M FULL!!! and sort of let down. For instance, last night we went to a Mexican

restaurant. I ordered a chicken quesidilla. I couldn't wait to dive into it.

Well after enjoying (immensely) only 1/4 of it, I could not eat any more. I was

a bit bummed, but then I said to myself... " Hey! I can take it home & enjoy some

more of it tomorrow! " SO, YES! It does get easier. Before surgery, I never took

food home, always ate it there. Leftovers is now a new word in my vocabulary.

Try it! You might like it!

Sue (Maine)

MGB Post-Op 4/17/00

[Guest guest]

> Hi Lori! Congrats on your success so far! Believe me, I know

>exactly how you're feeling. There are days when I can't wait

>to eat, and Then...after a few bites, I'M FULL!!! and sort

>of let down. For instance, last night we went to a Mexican

>restaurant. I ordered a chicken quesidilla.

Oooooh, yum, my absolutely favorite food before surgery and I

*could* eat the *whole* thing then. Glad to hear I will still

be able to have that. 1/4 sounds fine. I had french fries

at Walmart the other day and the order looked *HUGE*. I ate

about 10-15 of the fries and pitched the rest. I know for

a fact that the week before surgery, I had *two* large chili

dogs and an order of fries at Walmart and ate all of it,

with a sweet tea chaser. Now sweet tea tastes awful -- too

sweet. This is great! All the self-control I never had,

with no effort on my part. It doesn't get any better than

this.

Kind regards,

( " the Barbie Wannabe " )

email: lindat@f...

website: http://www.fourlane.com/lindat

Stats:

47 years old

5'4 " , 249 lbs., Waist 45

Surgery date: May 18, 2000

Wt. @ 1 week May 25, 2000: 238, Waist 45, Upper Arm 17

Wt. @ 2 weeks, June 1, 2000: 238, Waist 45, Upper Arm 17

Wt. @ 3 weeks, June 8, 2000: 234, Waist 42, Upper Arm 15

(and I am *not* sucking in my gut or stretching the

tape, it's loose!)

Note: Dr. Rutledge says that the initial weight you lose

after the hospital in the first week or so is just water

weight. I was concerned when I did not lose weight the

second week. He explained this is because it takes the body

longer to break down actual fat (and we come into the surgery

" well nourished), so that true weight loss (fat loss) generally

begins in the late second week to third week. He said a

better measurement of actual fat loss than using a scale was

to measure one's waist and upper arm. My abdomen was still

slightly swollen the second week so that didn't help (so my

waist was still 45) and since I had no prior measure for my

upper arm, I can't tell you what it was before surgery,

either). I mention this because it seems to be common for

people to get very discouraged when they don't lose weight

the second week. All of us are just sure we will be the

only people to not lose weight with the MGB. Rest assured it

is normal if you don't lose much or any weight the second week.