Tracy46545

You'd be better off to do high Protein, low fat, very low carb diet with solid foods. It's probably too late to have any true effect on your liver, some studies show it takes up to six months to shrink your liver. But getting rid of the glycogen will firm it up so it's easier to handle in surgery. This is major surgery.....get serious about your pre-op diet!

Follow your doctor's dietary restrictions for when to add raw vegetables such as salad. Mine said no raw vegetables until 16 weeks after surgery. I contacted them at 10 weeks after surgery and asked..they made sure to find out if I was tolerating other foods without any problems and then gave approval to use tender lettuces and finely chopped raw vegetables with the instructions to chew very well. This is a decision for your surgeon to make!

I'm having a blast with these! I made savory ones yesterday and since each batch makes six "clouds" I made two of them into onion rolls (added 2 T broken up Durkee Fried Onions), two were italian seasoned, and two were pizza rolls with chopped pepperoni and pizza spices. Next I'm going to try sweet again...and try something along the lines of a fruit filled danish, I think if I use No Sugar added apricot preserves it will work. By the way...I split one of the "onion roll clouds" last night and had it with a 3 oz hamburger patty, a thin slice of velveeta and no sugar added bread and butter pickle slices, and some ketchup. You can't handle them roughly..but it held together enough that I felt I was having a cheeseburger!

Netrition.com also has a flat rate of 4.99 for shipping....I just order 12 glass bottles of Torani syrup.. they're losing money on me!

It's a very tender pastry Stacy..not sure it would hold up to heavy toppings. Honestly, I would add pizza type spices into the dough..and finely chop some pepperoni to stir into the batter. Then maybe just put mushrooms and cheese on top after the pastry is cooked? I think it's a forgiving recipe as long as you remember that it's basically a meringue with cream cheese for structure. I toasted it today and then split it open and made a PB & J with no sugar added Peanut Butter (Trader Joes) and some sugar free Grape jelly. Yummmmmmm!:lol0:

Or......pack healthy low carb, high Protein snacks! pork rinds turkey Jerky, beef jerky, bison jerky cheese, individual portions lunchmeat wrapped around a dill pickle with some seasoned low fat cream cheese spread in there laughing cow cheese triangles BabyBel cheese mini's 25 almonds 25 pistachios..in the shell so you have to eat them slow soy nuts Protein shakes :lol0:

oy I hate back fat

Totally not "sleeve" related....well it is sort of... Some of you know I raise show dogs...Bichon Frises. Two of my dogs are competing over the next ten days in California, (actually four of them the weekend of the 12/13th) ...and my puppy boy won today:thumbup:! The girl went Reserve:thumbup1:...(top loser...lol). It's sleeve-related because I'm hoping this will be the last set of shows that I have to pay a professional handler to present my show dogs. I have been unable to do the getting up and down in the show ring to pose the dogs since I gained weight. Additionally, I have bad knees (two dislocations last winter) and that is exacerbated by the weight. I want to get back out in the show ring!

This dog is going to cause my head to burst! I got a call Saturday morning that Archie was Best in Show at his very first competition in China! This is just incredible! I'm so excited for his co-owners and handler...we're all so proud of this dog!

Carolyn, I doubt you saw anything about my weight loss/ sizes etc...I don't share that much. I'm content with my loss considering that I have not been able to exercise due to my knee injury. As for dog shows, the dog pictured will be shown in California later this summer but I don't know exactly where yet. The big show in May is in Indianapolis, Indiana. I will not be showing him, his handler from China will be showing him. Dog shows are confusing at first, but fun once you know what's going on.

I've been promising to post a picture of my handsome new show dog. This is the one that was born here at my house, he finished his AKC championship in 6 shows and is now in China working on getting an international championship there.

Shontel, I'm so proud of you...run a mile or two for me until my knee heals up ok??? congrats on getting the exercise in!

I can't relate because I don't have children. However, you're definitely not taking the easy way out. I can attest to that. All this surgery does is give you a bit of control. Not ALL, just some. Obesity is a horrible example for our children. With you fit and healthy, there's a better chance that you'll raise her to be active and healthy. Actually, I think if I'd done something like this 10 years ago, I wouldn't be childless.

I recently saw something about someone using "hemp milk" ? I have hemp seeds that I toast and throw on salad. I rarely make shakes...I just don't want to drink something icy cold all the time. I drink alot of hot teas. I make a hot cocoa with unjury chocolate flavor..(also use the Body Fortress chocolate from Walmart). I think WLS lifestyle just forces us to be inventive. Let's face it....it's damn easy to go through a drive-thru.... but actually planning your day and leaving time to prepare healthy meals is far more difficult in a busy life. I'm sorry...what was the question? Oh look, a squirrel.

ThinOneDay, my surgeon recommends 600-800 calories, 30 grams of carbs and 70 grams of Protein daily during the high weight loss phase. Your surgeon might say something else. A nutritionist usually recommends higher calories and higher carbs. 30 and under carb grams is tough. It takes real planning and I think it leaves out some really healthy eating. Like I've said elsewhere, I prefer a modified form of it. I eat healthy carbs in moderation (like Beans, healthy vegetables, high Fiber fruit, vegetables and grains). Then I make sure that my processed carbs don't go over 20 on that day. For instance, I'm not going to forego having a healthy bowl of chili, which is high in protein and fiber, just because the beans are high carb. However, if I have a few fritos with it, I'm going to count those carbs as they're more "dangerous" carbs, more processed and higher glycemic impact. Alot depends on your activity level.

Stacy, I know just how you feel on that! A couple weeks ago I had one of those "gotta munch" days...I tracked everything...but felt like I had really been indulgent with myself and had overdone it. Grim total that day?? 1064 calories, 65 grams of carbs and 87 gram protien. Now....I know people that have lost over 100# by keeping carbs under 100 grams per day and eating 1800 calories a day. It's all perspective, and sometimes we're just too hard on ourselves. I now believe in following my personal set of dietary rules 90% of the time. The other 10% I make informed choices. They might not be the best food choice, but I as long as I know what's in there and what I'll have to do to counteract it...I'm fine. For instance, last weekend I went to visit my brother's family. They had tacoes for supper (per my request). I had a corn tortilla...it was probably 16 grams of carbs in one tortilla shell. I enjoyed EVERY bite! I could only eat one, it isn't something I do every day and I felt very normal, and very satisfied with my "real food" portion! A year ago I would have eaten at least 4 tacoes. I had surgery to control my portions and be satisfied with less. Not to eat lousy food and to obsess about grams of this or that.

Stacy, I don't have an issue with anything you ate yesterday. It was healthy, minimally processed food high in excellent nutrients. Yes, it was higher carb, but at least it was healthy carbs not empty carbs. It's not like you were sittin' on your ass eating potato chips! Go easy on your carbs the rest of the week and you'll be right back on track.

The distinction I make is in avoiding processed carbs or white carbs. I allow myself high carb foods like beans, quinoa, small amounts of whole grains. I don't eat them daily but I don't avoid healthy carbs. I don't allow myself white rice, white potatoes, sugar, corn syrup, white flour. If I eat a grain, it must be a whole grain. The carbs I count are unavoidable carbs like the ones in greek yogurt, skim milk and the few carbs in my protein drinks. I miss vegetables..I haven't been including them lately and I want to start adding them back in. I'm just working on finding space for them in my daily portions.

Salt intake is a personal battle. If you need to monitor it, do so. If not, enjoy pork rinds, pepperoni...whatever.

You might be making healthy choices Faith...but not necessarily low carb choices. Technically, fruit is a healthy choice. However, it's not low carb. We have to balance our good choices with common sense. I personally don't care if my carb count is high on the day I had Beans of any sort. I know that beans are a great source of Fiber, Vitamins and Protein so I "forgive" the extra carbs. I do the same thing with the occasional serving of fruit. I try to pick fruit that is lower glycemic load, like strawberries, canteloupe etc. but I don't obsess about it. I don't throw a banana in a blender everyday with my Protein shake on the mistaken impression that it will be a great choice! Also, I have fruit about 2-3 times a week, not multiple times a day. Remember, all things in moderation. Avoid like the plague "WHITE" carbs such as white sugar, flour, rice, bread, potato, and anything highly processed. If you have carbohydrates, have them processed the least possible. In other words, eating an apple is better than eating applesauce. Eating Applesauce is better than drinking apple juice......Make your body do the work of processing!

Spaz80, I never got back to the same deli to ask the nutritional info on the pepperoni I had them slice up for me. However, I'll remember to do it the next time I have to go for more. These are a great "go-to" snack when the pizza cravings hit...and really satisfy that craving with all the flavor to back it up!

I am so glad everyone is coming up with neato ways to enjoy the pork rinds. I've made nacho's a couple times and am happy to say that I'm totally stuffed with just 6 or 7 pork rind chips. There have been a couple occasions that I've been near the end of the day and didn't have enough protein but was at my limit on carbs. Pork Rinds and cheese to the rescue!