Foxbins

The Luna Protein bars in Cookie Dough are tolerable. 21 gms of carb for 12 gms of protein. When I eat one, the rest of the day is meat only as I try to keep carbs under 30. When I am stuck somewhere mid-day with only a vending machine it's a better option than the machine. For powder I use GNC Wheybolic 60 somethingorother in vanilla--tastes to me like yellow cake batter.

I take protein powder and a shaker cup, but most of my flights are short for business so no checked baggage. Have you thought about protein bars instead of RTD shakes?

I just had it the first day I drank a protein shake, then things settled down. I think my insides were so surprised that I was sending down something other than clear liquid they didn't know what to do except expel what was there--and what was there was liquid.

Can you kind of walk me through the first day? Check in, tests, etc? My flight arrived in San Diego at 10:30 am. Ernesto the driver picked me up at the airport and we drove about 3 hours to Mexicali. He stopped once at a convenience store so that you could buy a cold drink or a snack and use the restroom if you needed it. After we arrived at the hospital at about 1:30, I gave a urine sample, a blood sample, had a chest X-ray and an EKG. The coordinator gave me an antibiotic and an Ativan to take that evening, and if you have not already paid she will collect the balance of the money due for surgery. Ernesto drove me to the hotel. Pickup the next morning was at 7:00 a.m. Catheter? If so, before you are asleep or after and when does it come out? No catheter, but I had a surgical drain that came out on the 3rd day.. How long are you hooked up to an IV? I was on an IV the day of surgery, the day after, and part of the 3rd day. It was taken out before my contrast study. Are you feeling well enough to walk to the pharmacy by yourself the day before you leave? Is there an opportunity on the pre-op day? Yes, I felt well enough to walk to the pharmacy on the 3rd day, and depending on what time you get to Mexicali on the pre-op day there is time after your testing. Are you allowed to eat whatever you want for dinner on pre-op day? Is there a decent place to eat at or very near the hotel? Yes, I could eat anything I wanted on pre-op day. I ate at the hotel, I didn't think it was expensive--I had a glass of wine and rib-eye tacos for $14 including tip. Do they really not have wash cloths at the hospital? I don't know, I don't use wash cloths. Did you have diarrhea on going home day? No. I had diarrhea 4 days after coming home when I tried my first Protein shake. If anyone had a revision: On me, Dr. Aceves plans on doing a barium swallow test and an endoscope under heavy sedation on pre-op day. If you had this done, how groggy were you after? I didn't have a revision.

I don't know if they qualify as soft, but those little cans of already-prepared chicken or tuna salad (the kind with the crackers) is a great carry-along as they don't require refrigeration. I just eat the salad and chuck the crackers or give them away.

I only lost 17 lbs. my first month. 20 is great!

My first month I lost 17 lbs in 14 days and then...nothing... for six days...then nothing... for seven days...and then the scale started moving down more regularly. Your poor body really is in shock for a while.

Like Lily, I booked the surgery first and then put down the deposit. I used a credit card for the deposit and an electronic bank transfer for the remainder. I did not have to do a pre-op diet as my BMI was less than 40. Check with the office of the surgeon you decide upon and they will tell you if a pre-op diet is required, how long you have ot be on it, and what it should consist of. Good Luck!

You have done fabulously well and must be so proud of yourself! Congratulations!

I am sorry but I am going to tell you to please stick to your doctor's plan. I know the liquid stage is terrible but you only have a few more days left. Have your tried blending soups and straining out any chunks? Maybe you could have a cream of potato soup if you did that. Despite the wide range of diets and timelines to change to different types of food here on the board, it's my opinion that you should stick to what your doctor said. You picked him or her because you thought they were good, right?

How far out from surgery you are what percentage have you lost? I am 12 weeks out. I have lost 46% of the weight I want to lose. How many times a day are you eating? Three or four. I count calories, Protein, and carbs and depending on where I am for the day I may have a fourth meal. What is the amount of normal food (non liquid) you are now able to get down? I can eat about 2.5 oz. of dense protein, or between 1/3 and 1/2 cup. What kind of supplements are you taking? Types and Brands I take Centrum Chewables Vitamins, 1000 mg. D3 and sublingual B12 every other day (both just drugstore brands), and 1200 mg. of calcium citrate liquid (ReVive from Costco) How much protein are you supposed to be getting and how much are you actually getting in daily and what are your sources of protein (brands of shakes etc), I am supposed to be getting 60-80 gms and day and I meet that target 90% of the time. I drink the costco Premier Protein Shakes or make shakes with the GNC Wheybolic 60 powders. I try to get at least half my protein from food each day. I generally eat between 500-600 calories a day and keep my carbs under 30. How much Water you are actually getting down each day I am getting in 64 oz of water each day but it's a chore. What is your exercise routine, type of exercise, and how often. I walk or run for 40 minutes 3-4 days each week. I swim for an hour 1x each week. I have a 15 lb. barbell next to the recliner and when I watch TV I will do curls or presses while I watch. How is your energy level? It fluctuates. I tried exercising every day but I had to take afternoon naps! I feel like I am still finding a balance between my calories in and calories out. I will say my mood has improved greatly since my weight loss took off this month. Weight loss history: January 13-31 17 lbs. February 10 lbs. March 7.5 lbs. April 4 lbs. so far! The first two months or so I was freezing cold all the time--now, it's better although I still wear one more layer than everybody around me.

I tried to eat a Trader Joe's salmon patty for lunch at about 8 weeks. I had no problem eating about half. Three hours later, I got foamies that lasted most of the afternoon and into the evening and that prevented me from eating or drinking anything else. Finally, I vomited about 9 that night and felt better. I was dehydrated the next day and caught up on fluids and drank shakes to give my stomach a rest. Haven't had a salmon patty since, I'm too scared to try again. Maybe in a few more months. I loved them pre-op. My stomach regularly gurgles in the am when I wake up and sometimes, softly, after I eat.

I was surprised by how little pain I felt. I figured, well, you're having most of your stomach cut out, and even if they are using five little holes to do it instead of one big one, your stomach is gonna HURT. But mine didn't. I am sure the IV drugs helped a lot, but I was truly expecting a lot more pain.

They are pretty carb-y, but mine is not as bad as yours. My liquid has 10 gms per 2 Tbsp and 1000 mg. of calcium citrate. The Calcet lemon bites I used to take were 14 gms and 80 calories for 1000 mg. of calcium. Can you take the pills eventually? They are big and kiind of hard to swallow early out but have no calories.

I am 56 and 5'8". I was 232 the day of surgery less than 3 months ago and I'm 194 today. No complications and no problems healing. I also had a big hiatal hernia repaired at the same time. I say go for it!

Don't get me wrong, I love my sleeve, but I haven't had an entire hot meal since January 12. I cook my Protein, put it on the plate, sit down, take a little bite, chew, chew, chew, put down the fork, wait a minute, take another bite, and repeat the process. By about bite 3 the food is cooling and by bite 6 it's cold. If I eat too fast I get the foamies so I eat slowly. I have tried warming in the microwave but that just seems to dry the food out and overcook it. I have tried to get used to cold meals like shrimp and chicken salad, but sometimes I want to eat something piping hot. I think that's why I enjoy my morning coffee so much, it's HOT. Anyone else feel this way or have suggestions?

Good job! Almost a pound a day last week! WOW!

Good luck and here's wishing you a quick recovery!

The amount of magnesium citrate you want for the day before surgery is a lot more than the 300 mg in the calcium/magnesium citrate liquid. You want straight magnesium citrate from a drug store to use as a laxative before surgery. The magnesium in the calcium formulation is there to help regulate how your body uses and stores the calcium.

What works for me is if I cannot measure my food (restaurants, friend's house) I deliberately undereat. I might have 4 spoonfuls of soup slowly and stop, talk for 5 minutes or so, have another two spoonfuls, and then stop. I try to estimate what 1/3 cup of food would be (the amount I eat now) if I subtracted it from the pile on the plate and I try to eat one less spoon/forkful than that. So far I have not had any problems eating in public.

On the bright side, you never have to drink clear Isopuke again. Pudding--I could take it or leave it. Greek yogurt with sugar-free flavored syrups is pretty good and I liked thinned-out oatmeal with some vanilla protein powder added.

I don't know if I ever had a fat "bump" at the back of my neck but I can tell you that a 16" necklace that used to look tight around my neck now hangs down into the hollow of my throat. Also, men will take a smaller neck size in dress shirts after they lose weight, so I think your neck will be smaller but as for a specific area...I don't know. If it bothers you, I hope it goes away!

I don't know about other folks, but when I wrote about gas pains post-op, it was the carbon dioxide gas the surgeon put in my abdomen to expand my belly so that the laparoscopic instruments could go in and he could get a clear view. Some of the gas is expelled when the instruments are withdrawn, through the incision sites, but some sticks around and irritates some of the nerves under the diaphragm. The diaphragm pain is generally "referred" to the shoulder area, which is where I felt most of my gas pain. I don't know if there is anything I could have done pre-op to prevent the pain.

My doc said yoga was okay at six weeks. I didn't ask about boxing, sorry.

I would be looking super-hot and walk up to him and say in his language, "Who's a fat cow now, asshole?" and walk away.