Hello everyone! I kn...

Hi Carrie - you look great! Keep up the good work. I know you weren't asking for advice or anything, but I thought I would post a fast note. I really recommend you watch the diet soda- for two good reasons. ( I know its a good break from everything).. BUT 1- Earlier this spring- a frend posted on the NYBoard- that a postop had died- she had ruptured her sutures- eating pizza and diet soda. It was the third time she ripped them. She was eating 3 slices of pizza and a can of soda. 2- Soda has HFCS- High Fructose Corn Syrup- the scourge of the fast food industry. I've discovered one clue why people may overeat and why so many of these places are being sued. One is HFCS. This syrup- when it enters the bloodstream- reaches your brain- and literally "turns off" your "I'm full" button. And becuz it does that- it lulls you into eating more. The more you drink etc. So that may be another reason why the docs say it stretches your pouch- plus the carbonation- but even without the carbonation- I think its dangerous becuz I can see how it helped me to keep eating- I drank it more than coffee or tea. And after reading the post about the PostOp - I asked my surgeon about it. (It wasn't his patient) and it seems all surgeons do the surgery differently. My PA told me- they staple 3 rows and then sew the pouch and staple again( I think) cuz I was concerned about ripping staples. But she also pointed out - I dont drink soda. But I do eat pizza (once a month) and look anorexic doing it. LOL. So I just wanted to pass that along. Many people don't know why its bad. I always think- it may not affect me now- but later on- who knows? Might even be one reason why people gain back their weight later on. Hugs, Donna I

Donna, Hi...I had read before that people who drink diet soda are actually more likely to be overweight. 3 slices of pizza?!?!?!? I thought I could eat a lot, but have not even been able to finish one. Anyway, I don't drink so much soda, unless I am outside for a long time when it is hot. Coffee is my drink of choice. Occasionally Crystal Light, but I just can't stand to drink water. Might as well ask me to drink a glass of that barium they made me drink after surgery. I asked my surgeon about the rupturing/stretching pouches, and he thinks it is pretty silly. He said they are not tailoring pants, they are permanently altering a human being's anatomy, and, therefore, take great care that that does happen. He said that of 600+ patients, he has had a few patients with strictures but never one with a rupturued pouch or staple line disruption. Also, because he does not charge for the 5 years of follow-up appointments, the vast majority continue through, and he said after 5 years he has never had a patient gain a significant amount of weight, and only 2 lose too much (but they also had underlying eating disorders). Anyway, I trust him, and I can't spend my life thinking about my "pouch." I just try to live as normal as I can and practice moderation (by force). And thanks for the compliment. You look great too! Carrie

*Hijack!!* Carrie! I love your new pic! You look awesome!

hey sheree! we're almost surgery sisters! for breakfast i usually have a 16 oz. iced nonfat SF vanilla latte for lunch it's usually cottage cheese and fruit, either canned or fresh. right now i'm hooked on fresh donut peaches! dinner is usually some kind of protein and maybe a small bit of salad or veggies my dr. doesn't want me eating snacks, but if i do it's either cheese or fruit or maybe a couple of crackers. sometime during the day i usually have another latte, but this time decaf and i try to get ice tea and/or water in. i take all my vitamins and workout 3x a week. i'm fine if i don't lose anymore weight, but i'm still losing very slowly. now i'll work on toning instead of losing. have a great weekend! Lisa B 226/142/126