SunnyCox

I've never heard of Lending Club. I used Dr. Kelly, but Drs. Almanza and Garcia seem to have a lot of happy patients on the forum. I don't think you can go wrong with either of them. Can you not go alone for surgery with Dr. Almanza?

I went back to shakes only. Dropped to 249. Hope it keeps moving down.

I might be wrong, but I don't think he finances. I know people who have gone through CareCredit.

Foodaddiction.com has some good links under publications.

279 start of 1 week preop diet 271 day of surgery 275 post op week 1 253 post op week 3 251 post op week 4 253 post op week 5 I've dropped five pounds this week, but I officially weigh myself on Thursdays. Mine goes in spurts.

I love Italian food too! My partner orders the fettuccine alfredo with extra chicken. I picked the chicken out and having a little bit of sauce on the meat made it extra delicious!

I noticed you are in the Dallas area support group. Have you tried Plato's Closet? They are a second hand store that resales brand name clothing. 90% of the clothes are current styles / trendy. They have dressing rooms. I've never felt awkward trying on clothes there.

I also add sugar free pudding or jell-o mix plus a packet of sweetner. It still doesn't taste all that great to me even doctored up. I love the ranch powdered dip mix idea! I sometimes eat it in place of sour cream on my taco casserole.

I had cold feet up until the moment I scooted my big booty from the stretcher to the operating table. Then, I was out a minute later. I think it is normal to be excited and apprehensive. The best part of being sleeved is that I am no longer a slave to food and hunger. Before I had surgery, I kept telling myself that I should be able to diet on my own. I kept failing. I felt like a failure. Once I came here, I realized a lot of people had those same feelings. They thought they should be able to do it on their own. Now that I am sleeved, food doesn't control me. I am in charge of what I eat. I don't feel like I am starving. I don't constantly reach for something to eat. I don't have the desire to graze, eat sweets, or stuff myself. I can go shopping and pick healthy choices for dinner and be satisfied. I also realize that I can eat not so healthy choices on occasion, but I eat them in moderation. I feel so in control of myself in a way I never did while dieting pre-sleeve.

I find that my drinks have to stay cold for me to enjoy them, and the broth had to stay pretty warm. For Protein drinks.. Make smaller portions Add ice Use the ready to drink shakes and put them in the freezer half an hour before drinking so they are slushy. When taking a break in drinking, put them back in the freezer so they stay cool. For broth, I used one of those candle warmers hot plates to help it stay warm.

I think the best part of surgery is not feeling so hungry. I can chose to eat healthy foods because I don't have the same cravings nor desire to shovel food into my mouth. Here is a great blog with recipes. I've tried a few, and I love it! http://bariatricfoodie.blogspot.com/

I am also using Flinstone chewables, but I use the tablets and not the gummies. I take two at a time. They do have thiamin (B1). They are not making me sick. I liked the taste at first. Now that I am near the end of the bottle, I don't like them as much. I have a bottle of Once-A-Day Vitacraves which are gummies. They make a lot of different sub-types of Vitacraves, but I don't believe any of them have thiamin. I take the Bariatric Advantage B-50 complex in addition to my multi vitamin, so I am sure that I get enough in. These have not made me feel sick, but I was also recommended against using the gummy form of Vitamins.

I also get sick from the Bariatric Advantage multiple vitamin. Other brands haven't made me sick in the past, so I am probably going to switch to something else.

I do agree that it would be better to leave everything at home, but in case you don't, many US hospitals will have a safe place to keep your rings. I had an outpatient surgery where I went alone a few years ago, and security came down to take my purse, money and jewelry. They made an inventory list and returned them to me when I asked them for it.

Egg salad Refried beans Thick cream soups Thinly shaved deli meats

While everyone is different, I was back at work seeing patients within a week. I do not have to move or transport patients. I see them in my office and am primarily behind a desk or at the bedside for the day. I kept a bottle of water with me and put a few premixed shakes in the fridge. I think it is doable, but it would depend on what you were going to be doing for the day.

I started my preop diet on 6/21 at 279lbs and surgery on 6/28, and I have been in a stall since 7/23. I've gone up and down about 3 pounds, but I haven't dropped below 251 One of my friends suggested going back to Clear liquids, so I am going to try only full liquids this week to see if I can keep moving down. I'll let you know how it works.

In the past, when I have done low carb diets, it would bring on migraines. I would also get them if I was dehydrated or had gone a long time without food. I'm not sure why. I have only had one since surgery on June 28, and it was when I started on Clear liquids. I use an Rx med, zomig. It is the only med that has ever helped me, and I have tried several. It even works several hours after my migraine start which is different than a lot of meds where you must take them immediately when the migraine starts.

No food funerals. I did this a few times by going to my favorite restaurants thinking that I would never be able to eat a certain food again.. Now, I wish I hadn't. I realize that I am going to be able to have lots of foods, but I'll be able to eat them in moderation instead of the entire plate.

If you have a Jimmy John's nearby, you can order any of their sandwiches as an "unwich." An unwich is the same ingredients as the sandwich wrapped in lettuce instead of bread.

There is a great article that I came across that discusses the benefits of protein in weight loss: http://www.jacn.org/...ppl_6/631S.full. It is a scientific journal, and the reading is pretty dry. In short, when you increase protein intake over the basic amount needed, then the branch chain amino acids, which are metabolized in your muscles (not in your liver as are other amino acids), directly and favorably benefit muscle function and health – including enhanced calorie burning by muscle that supports healthy weight loss. Another interesting point in the article mentions that eating more protein for breakfast is beneficial. My PCP is a bariatric specialist. He had told me to eat at least 30g of protein for breakfast daily. This article helped me to understand why it helps.

I'm six weeks out, and I eat watermelon. It is the perfect end to a day in the heat. I've also had strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, cantaloupe, pineapple, and grapes. I try to have one serving of fresh fruit everyday and have the luxury of a market nearby that sells fresh cut fruit.

A simple description...Ketosis is when you have elevated ketones in your blood. You create ketones when your body burns fats for energy (instead of carbohydrates). You can measure ketones in your urine.

Dr. Kelly is $5500. I think it is $6000 if your BMI is over 50.

The doctors in Dallas, TX, will run specials too. It isn't unusual for cash paying customers. Also, when I needed testing before I had insurance, I would ask the doctor or hospital for a discount since I was paying cash in advance. It works.