lolasmom

Welcome! There are lots of GRITS (girls raised in the south) on this forum and we know all about that southern cooking! Congratulations on your decision...it will change your life.

You look marvelous!

I am a psycho-recycler so I re-use my 16.5 oz water bottles. Every morning I fill them up (4 of them) with water, add my benefiber and sometimes something like crystal lite or a similar product. When I have finished the 4 bottles I have had my 64 oz of fluids. I can take 1 or 2 with me when I go out and about. It really makes it easy for me. To keep track of my protein and everything I eat I have an app on my phone called Calorie Count. Online it's caloriecount.com. There are numerous apps, but this one is free. It keeps track of your food as well as water, the amounts of protein, carbs, fat and all the other nutrients and vitamins. It tracks your weight and BMI. It has a huge database of foods, but you can also add your own custom foods. best of all...it's really easy to use!

I can't stand crystal lite either! I found some pomegranate green tea by Arizona. It comes in the little stick packets that you mix with 16 0z of water. It's very refreshing, not sickly sweet and of course 0 calories. I also like the Publix brand peach ice tea...it also comes in the little packets. As for the protein shakes I am still experimenting. I can tolerate the Atkins carb advantage shakes, but what I have been using lately is Designer Whey powder in french vanilla. I mix it in the blender with a cup of decaf, a little skim milk and sometimes a tablespoon of sugar free chocolate syrup. I also throw in a couple of ice cubes to make it cold , but I try to blend it on low so I don't get all the foam and air bubbles. I hope you find this helpful.

The same thing happened to me...I believe that it was the swelling and some water retention When I went in for my 2week post-op appointment I only weighed two pound less than the day of my surgery. At my 4 week appointment I was down 30 pounds. Hang in there, the pounds will start melting off before long!

Wow these are some great lists! Most of these things fall into the " stuff I wish I'd known before surgery" category for me. The only thing I can add is a tip that was extremely helpful for me and for those that came to my house to help me out a bit. I made some homemade soup (I made split pea because I wanted the protein and fiber) pureed it in the blender and froze it in ice cube trays, popped them out when they were frozen and stored them in a big plastic container in the freezer. Two cubes is about two ounces, and they thaw and heat in the microwave in about ninety seconds. I didn't have to worry about opening cans, mixing milk or water in it and there was just my little bowl and spoon to clean up. Hope this helps! Good luck with your surgery!!!!!

I ordered a sample package of Nectar protein drinks from mybariatricpantry.com and it is more like a juice drink than a shake...not thick at all. For $13.95 they will send you 10 different flavors...it has 27 grams of protein, 0 carbs and 0 fat. It is the best protein drink that I have tried so far. I sure hope you feel better soon!

I didn't drive for a couple of weeks, but it was because the seatbelt was so uncomfortable...also, I was pretty weak and didn't have the energy to go anywhere.

Good luck! I'll be sending positive thoughts your way...

Good luck...I'll be sending positive energy your way!

Thanks! Great information!

I was sleeved on 5/23/11 and I had my emergency surgery for the bleeding on 6/1/11. I'm six weeks out today and I feel pretty good, but I felt really horrible for about a month. It just takes time.

Lyndyjo, I had bleeding as well, and it is going to add some time to your recovery. I am just now getting a little energy! I made a trip to the grocery store last Friday...I felt OK and thought that walking around with a grocery cart would help me get some excercise...it was OK but by the time I got to checkout I was out of breath and felt like I tried to do too much. I bet in about two weeks you will feel like a new person...I am still severely anemic from the amount of blood I lost and from my body adjusting to the transfusions...give yourself time, be gentle with yourself. I wish you the best and I hope you will keep us updated.quote name='lyndynojo' timestamp='1309886047' post='174379'] I was sleeved on June 24th and still can't take a shower without feeling exhausted much less walk a mile or two. Of course I did almost die from internal bleeding but still I am amazed at what some of you can do soon after surgery. I hope to start some soft foods after my dr visit thur and maybe that will give me the energy. I have yet to finish a shake, usually just 3 or 4 sips is all I can gag down so I know I'm not getting the protein but I am getting the fluids in. I'm proud of you girls and guys that have the energy to get on with living hopefully I will be there soon too.

Hi ladies! I am six weeks post op today and I have lost 43 pounds...I am thrilled! We don't have costco where I live (GA) but all the things y'all are mentioning sound yummy. Maybe I can check Sam's. Meggie would you please post the link to the Chemistry of Weight Loss article you mentioned? I would love to read it. Congratulations to all of us!

Do you like spicy? Buy the frozen raw shrimp, thaw them and boil them with about (for a pound) 1/4 cup of Old Bay shrimp/seafood seasoning, and about a teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Have the water boiling when you put the shrimp in and cook for no longer than 6 minutes (nothing worse than overcooked shrimp). A delicious way to get protein.[quote name='KellyL' timestamp='1309322802' post='171142'] Hi, I've had the taste for shrimp but don't live where I can get fresh. Has anyone tried the frozen kind at Walmart, and is it good or nasty? Any good ways to prepare it or recipes? I saw a recipe in a magazine for bacon wrapped shrimp that sounded good. Thanks for any ideas!

Keep your eyes on the prize...you will probably have some discomfort but you will have pain meds when you go home. I am 5 weeks out, I had kind of a rough time but it was so worth it! Experienced sleevers kept telling me that soon I would feel like a new person, and they were right. When the scale started moving downward the pain was all forgotten. Good luck!

You look MAHvelous!

I'm 5 weeks out...I was sore for a good 3 weeks, I didn't have to take pain meds ALL the time but I did need them occasionally. It gets better though, and when you see the scale moving it's worth the pain. Take it easy and if you have people that are willing to help you...LET THEM! Good luck!!!

I am in GA and I paid $15,500 and that cost included an insurance policy that would pay in case of complications...good thing because I had bleeding a week later and had to have emergency surgery, 3 nights in ICU and several more days in a regular room. If I had not had the insurance that came with my self-pay package, my bill for the complications would have been about $70,000. It might be a good idea to check and see if your surgeon offers this. The insurance is BLIS and it is specifically for bariatric surgery.

Thanks! I just ordered the sample pack...can't wait to receive it. All the shakes I've tried are pretty horrible.

I'm so glad to hear that you are home and feeling better! You've been in my thoughts...I did have to have surgery for my bleeding, I'm glad you didn't. Take good care with yourself!

I was able to switch to decaf but I can't find any kind of "cream" that isn't loaded with carbs. I cannot drink it black, and I don't want to use all of my carb allowance on coffeemate. I would love to to hear what others use...