bugwitch

I have a few different types of Protein powders. The Jay Robb stuff is pretty good (vanilla, Pina Colada, strawberry, chocolate...though I have not tried that one yet). His stuff is also rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone) free. I have also tried the TerasWhey products which is made from goat milk. The blueberry is good. I have Chocolate and Pomegranate-Cranberry left to try. I didn't care for the unjury "unflavored" because all the taste that was left was the whey. Yuck. I imagine, when it gets time for full liquids and I can have Soups and such, the unflavored might be okay added to something which can mask that taste. What I've been doing is buying up a bunch of Vitamin Water Zero. I test drive how much Protein Powder works well for the different flavors and carry that around with me for the day. The Blueberry goes well with the XXX (acai-blueberry-pomegranate) and the Pina Colada goes well in the orange flavored ones. I put a full pina colada in those. The blueberry one is going to take some more adjusting to get the flavor right. I think about 1/2 serving/package per drink is best. But that's me. Everyone is different. All of the above protein powders (except Unjury) were bought as samples and are available in bigger containers at Whole Foods. Possibly other places as well.

Ug...feeling a bit like crud. Sniffles, cough with phlem and a sore throat! Plus, a fever that comes and goes...typically showing up in the evening and going away at night. SN.........................Starting Wt........Current........Goal.......Lbs to Goal bugwitch...............285...................270.6...............255...............15.6

Hey! I had surgery there on the 21rst. As far as clear fluids, I like the Vitamin Water zero. Sometimes I add Protein powder to them. It helps. Just try and think of it as just one more of those uber strict stupid diets we have all done. Only you are SUPPOSED to go back to "normal" after a time. Good luck.

I just tried to make some miso a little while ago and it tasted AWFUL!!! I used to love the stuff and I had pre-approval for it as a clear liquid. Maybe some of you will like it, but grrr....I guess I don't anymore. At least not for now.

Sleeved on Monday. Currently sitting in a coffee shop so I can get online. Have some yummy apple juice and hot tea, which is still too hot to drink. I'm not really tempted by the sweets around me, but I gotta say...that german chocolate "muffin" does sound hella good. I use the quotes around muffin because...really...when they are that big and frosted...it's not a muffin anymore, it's a cake. Oh...so much for not weighing myself for a while. I just couldn't resist it this afternoon. SN.........................Starting Wt........Current........Goal.......Lbs to Goal bugwitch...............285...................278...............255................23

Sleeved and gassy. Bleh. I thinkbi won't weigh myself for a week or so. Wait to check that later when I'm feeling better.

Agreed! It will be annoying going all this time eating only Soup, but not being able to make my Tom Kah.

Gotta get up early for the plane tomorrow. Eeeekkkkk I've never been thin before....I don't know what it will be like. Am I putting too much pressure on myself to get there? I know...just let it happen and see where this experience takes me...wakka wakka wakka

Um...I guess I don't understand exactly what you are saying miz z....after having WLS, just having two drinks will make me an alcoholic? Do you know what alcoholism is? I wouldn't be surprised if people who have WLS end up substituting one addiction/habit (excessive eating) for another (excessive drinking) but two drinks does not a drunk make. There is a reason you should see a therapist before having (after too IMO) WLS; so you can make sure you are not going down a path of addiction in lieu of food, among other things.

For those who want a bit of info on it, here's a neat video:

I was at the San Diego Zoo back in December. It was fun. I wanted to spend more time looking at the other stuff in the area (museums, japanese garden, etc) but didn't get a chance. All of those places are right next to each other. Not sure about where you should stay. Check out yelp.com and look at reviews.

I am a vegetarian (no surgery yet...3 days away!) and have attempted veganism a few times. I did not watch that clip, but I imagine it is from the film Earthlings which is an excellent movie and one I think anyone who wants to eat animals should watch. I am a firm believer in the concept of knowing what impact you are really having on the planet. If you want to eat meat, know where it came from and what that animal has to go through in order to feel your gut. If you want to continue to eat meat, but do so in a more ethical (and environmentally) friendly manner, there are a number of options for you. As someone mentioned, contact your local farms. I am lucky in that my local Whole Foods gets a lot of products (milk, cheese, and meat too I assume) from local farms. Here at the University, there is a program which teaches proper butchering and the cuts which are not cut to perfection are sold at a discounted rate. Those cows live a pretty decent life here on campus. Big thing: Go to your farmers market. This will be your best asset to getting good quality and ethical products. They are locally made and therefore decrease your ecological footprint. But, since these are typically smaller operations, the owners don't have the same pressure to hoard 300 cows into a space big enough for 50. Also, look at getting involved in a CSA (Community Sustainable Agriculture). Weekly deliveries of veggies, fruit and sometimes meats if those farms are involved too, can be a great. Hope that helps. I would suggest being a vegetarian for a while post-op (meaning, eating eggs and dairy products). Baby steps. Even take it slower..just phase out beef first. Then chicken and/or pig. And eventually fish and seafood. I did it all at once and that worked for me. But most people find it easier to progress in stages.

I've been at 281.2 for a few weeks now. I know I must have gone up because I've had some rather stressful days with not-so-good eating, but I keep sticking at 281.2. Damn you scale!!!!!

Interesting. I had my gall bladder removed in 2004. I left the same day and stayed with family while I recuperated. I had a tube sticking out of my belly that sucked the Fluid that had built up. I was up and moving around, but kinda drugged and wacky/sleepy for a few days. The tube is what hurt the most, not the surgery. I think it was pushed up against an organ, so when I stripped it (pinched and sucked fluid out), it hurt like a son of a biyatch. My surgery is coming up on Monday. There is still the chance that I might not be getting the sleeve and will instead be doing the band (don't post about why one is better than the other...I don't want to hear it and that's not the reason). Anyway, from what I have read, it sounds like the day of surgery you're pretty groggy and unhappy. But it starts to get better after that. Funny, it never crossed my mind that this experience would be similar to the gall bladder. With the exception of that damn tube, the removal was pretty easy and pain free.