I'VE BEEN USING THE NUVARING FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW  AND IT WORKS FINE,I DONT FEEL IT AT ALL.MY B/F FINDS THAT IT STIMULATES HIM WHEN "IT" TOUCHES IT SO I DON'T TAKE IT OUT DURING INTERCOURSE....ITS A PLUS FOR BOTH OF US.

Hang in there, Denise.    I think you are doing everything right.

I lost 12 pounds my first week... which was bad because that set my expectations high... and then only 3 pounds the rest of my first month.  I kept thinking to myself, "I could have lost 15 pounds in a month WITHOUT drastic surgery, particularly with eating so little."

I guess we have to put some trust in the process.  I'm trying very hard not to compare myself to others because that will DEFINITELY drive me crazy. 

I did re-take some measurements one month out so it felt good to be losing inches, but there's nothing like seeing the scale move.  Do you weigh every day? I know it's bad, but I still do it... I mostly don't let it affect my day, but it is really hard.

My surgeon was clear at my first pre-op appointment that the weight loss tended to be in spurts and not smoothly downward.  

Lara

I'm sure I'm just being moody because of my "monthly friend" but I have only lost 5 or so pounds in the last two weeks and it is really getting to me. I can't break the 300 mark to save me. Even gained a pound when I got to 301. It is really starting to drive me batty. I feel like my body hates me and is fighting me every step of the way. I know my overall weightloss is okay, but dang it seems like it is taking so much longer than most. I'm trying to be patient--really I am, but I can't help but feel like I'm doing something wrong even when I don't think I am. I probably eat a few more (good) carbs than some, but my nut wants me to have 120g per day, so I have to eat some. Like breakfast was an egg and a 1/4 piece of whole grain (4g protein/4g fiber) toast. When else in my life would I have eaten a whopping 100 calories for breakfast? I don't know. Maybe my hormones are messing with me and I am feeling a bit depressed. I've joined the gym and exercised twice this week and hope to get in today and tomorrow too. I'm praying that will help perk up my mood and my weightloss.

Thanks for listening.

Denise

I gave in and got on a scale.......................................and if I round up I have lost 30 lbs in 6 weeks!
Had to update my ticker

I was increased to "Stage 3 Diet" today ...

Here's a few recipes:

Fish - to accompany

Fat free lemon sauce: 
skim milk or fat-free chicken broth
salt and pepper to tatest
lemon juice or lemon extract to taste
thickened with cornstarch or flour and water

Fat free tartar sauce: 
1/4 c fat free mayo mixed w/ 2 tsp vinegar and 1 pkt splenda (to taste)


Salmon Cake:
Drained salmon (make sure it's DRY - squeeze all the water out)
egg
old bay seasoning
pepper
parsley

Mix above ingredients.  Make patties. Coat in flour and pan fry in cooking spray in non-stick pan. Otherwise, bake in a loaf pan.



Tuna ideas: 
Mix tuna and fat-free mayo or fat-free Italian Dressing, or others.
If tuna is strong-flavored, mix in chopped hard boiled egg (you can leave out the yolk if you like)

Noodle-less Tuna Casserole: 
Make a fat-free "cream" sauce -  1 c skim milk heated on medium in saucepan. Keep stirring with wire whisk. Add flour and water mixture of 1/4 c flour and 1/4 c water. Bring to a boil stirring constantly as it thickens. Add salt/pepper to taste and dash of garlic powder. Add 2 cans of drained tuna into cream sauce and top with low-fat shredded cheese. Bake to melt cheese.




Chicken: 
Bake chicken in V-8 juice or thinned tomato soup.




FatFree Cheeses: 
Quiche - using a non-stick pan, no crust and skim milk, eggbeater and cheeses. (For stronger cheese flavor, use some parmesan mixed into cheese sauce).

Noodle-less Lasagna:
Using either cottage cheese or ricotta cheese with egg or egg beaters, a mixture of low-fat cheeses and fold in tomato soup for flavor.




Eggs: 
Eggnog Shake: mix 1/4 c egg beaters into skim milk with a dash of nutmeg and a splash of vanilla extract. Insulated mugs should be used -- If you cannot refrigerate, drink shake in 20 minutes.