Spirit Fire

How many carbs and calories does this drink have?

Vitamin D-3 1000 iu/250% Calcium chews sugar-free (Kirkland) Hair, Skin, Nails (Wonderlife) Centrum Silver Chewable Multivitamin/Multimineral Supplement Chewable Probiotic 150 mg Omega 3, 6, 9 gummy vitamins 163 mg (65/33/65) ( Slice of Life) Zinc, L-OptiZinc 20 mg (Wonderlife) BComplex (Vita fusion) Chewable Iron (Bariatric Advantage)

Pre-surgery my daily intake was a minimum of 64-oz of caffeine-laden black iced tea and 20-oz of non-fat latte. My greatest post-surgery concerns included: Not being able to ever drink iced tea with my meals Not being able to ever use a straw Not being able to ever get iced tea when dining out (or at drive-thrus) since restaurants and fast-food places don't typically offer decaf Not having my morning latte At three-plus months out -- In alignment with my Nut and Surgeon's instructions: I have settled into a nice routine of not drinking 30 min. before or after a meals. It has become an easy habit and I am so full from 4-5 oz. of food that I can't imagine adding liquids to the mix. I have easily learned not to order drinks with my meals at restaurants. Funny how the wait-staff keep asking, "Are you sure you don't want water?" I brew decaf iced tea at home and work (Paradise Tropical Decaf is fabulous) and have this throughout the day when easily accessible. At three-plus months out -- NOT by the book: I have no difficulty using a straw When out-and-about, I drive-thru and get caffeinated iced tea without consequences Starting at the 3-month mark, I make 8 oz low-fat decaf lattes daily HOWEVER I have had caffeinated now and then without any problems. We are all different and you just need to see what your body will tolerate. I do believe there are legitimate reasons for the "rules" but we are creating a new way of life -- this isn't just a short-term fix -- so we have to learn what works for our bodies and lifestyle.

I am in the "slow loser" category: Started process: October 18, 2011 -- 298 lbs Surgery: 3/21/2012 -- 248 lbs Today: 6/28/2012 -- 211 lbs Goal: 148 lbs Total loss: 87 lbs % loss: 58% Basically, I am averaging the same weekly weight loss before surgery as I am post-surgery. HOWEVER, I know I will reach my goal and I will maintain the healthy weight as a result of this amazing tool. I have moments of frustration that eating 800 calories a day and walking 6 miles a day isn't dropping weight like a hot potato, but then I adjust my thoughts to realize that this is a path I will be walking for the rest of my life, not a temporary fix.

This is the general guideline I was given by my NUT.</div> Phase I Clear Liquids (Weeks 1 and 2) Zero Carb Isopure Drink (Nature's Best) Per 1 bottle - Calories: 160kcal | Fat: 0.00g | Carbs: 0.00g | Protein: 40.00g Clear broth SF popsicles Water, decaf tea Phase II Full Liquids (Week 3 -- 500-600 calories) runny Protein Shakes Low-fat soups (strained / pureed) runny cream of wheat Non-fat milk Sugar free/fat free ice cream Phase III Puree (Week 4 and possibly 5 -- 600 - 700 calories) Baby food sugar free/fat free pudding pureed cooked meats with broth pureed cooked Beans low fat cottage cheese nonfat yogurt low fat mashed potatoes * pureed cooked veggies * unsweetened pureed fruit * * add Protein powder Phase IV Soft foods -- things that can be mashed with a fork (Week 5, possibly 6 -- (700-800 calories) scrambled eggs steamed or poached fish low fat cheese / string cheese skinless chopped or ground meat soft canned fruit well cooked veggies Phase V Regular Diet (Begin week 6, 7 or when ready -- 800-900 calories) 3 meals, 1-2 Snacks or 5 small meals the first few months each meal 4-6 oz (always start meal with eating protein) High Protein, Low Fat, Low Carb and avoiding simple carbs (concentrated sugar), alcohol Add one new food and record intolerance

Sorry -- posted formatting -- I will fix and repost!

<div> <div>This is the general guideline I was given by my NUT.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong>Phase I Clear Liquids</strong> (Weeks 1 and 2)</div> <div>IsoPure</div> <div>Broth</div> <div>SF popsicles</div> <div>water, decaf tea</div> <div> </div> <div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; border-collapse: separate; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><b><font color="#8600a4">Phase II Full Liquids</font></b><span> </span>(Week 3 -- 500-600 calories)</span></div> <div>runny Protein shakes<br /> Low-fat soups (strained / pureed)<br /> runny cream of wheat<br /> Non-fat milk<br /> Sugar free/fat free ice cream</div> <div> </div> <div><font color="#328712"><b>Phase III Puree</b></font><span> </span>(Week 4 and possibly 5 -- 600 - 700 calories)</div> <div>Baby food<br /> sugar free/fat free pudding<br /> pureed cooked meats with broth<br /> pureed cooked beans<br /> low fat cottage cheese<br /> nonfat yogurt<br /> low fat mashed potatoes *<br /> pureed cooked veggies *<br /> unsweetened pureed fruit *</div> <div>* add protein powder</div> <div> </div> <div><font color="#fa7a00"><b>Phase IV Soft foods </b></font>things that can be mashed with a fork<span> </span> (Week 5, possibly 6 -- (700-800 calories)</div> <div>scrambled eggs<br /> steamed or poached fish<br /> low fat cheese / string cheese<br /> skinless chopped or ground meat<br /> soft canned fruit<br /> well cooked veggies</div> <div> </div> <div><font color="#3665ee"><b>Phase V Regular Diet</b></font><span> </span>(Begin week 6, 7 or when ready -- 800-900 calories)</div> 3 meals, 1-2 Snacks or 5 small meals the first few months<br /> each meal 4-6 oz (always start meal with eating protein)<br /> High Protein, Low Fat, Low Carb and avoiding simple carbs (concentrated sugar), alcohol<br /> Add one new food and record intolerance</div> <p> </p>

Check-in: Beginning challenge weight-219 Challenge goal- 209 Weight last week- 210 (1 lb from goal) Today's weight- 212 (3 lbs from goal) Don't know what happened? I've been walking more and monitoring everything I eat and staying with the program? Well, hopefully I will reach goal!! My next personal challenge is to reach Onederland for my 51st birthday on 8/7/12!

I found that I needed to have my grocery shopping list easily available AS WELL AS keep the recipes new, exciting and flavorful. I joined the FREE online site: Allrecipes.com (They also offer a pay/subscriber membership but I haven't found the need for it). After creating my account, I added recipes to my RECIPE BOX. You can add recipes from various websites and personalize/input your own recipes. I am now able to create shopping lists easily from these programs and access them from my smartphone via the app "Chef Tap" which links to the Allrecpies.com site. I have found many recipes from these sites: Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes www.genaw.com/lowcarb/ Low Carb Luxury: Recipes www.lowcarbluxury.com/lowcarb-recipes.html Emily Bites - Weight Watchers Friendly Recipes www.emilybites.com/ The World According to Eggface theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ Low Carb Recipes lowcarb.betterrecipes.com/ Low Carb Recipes - Cooking Good food That Keeps Your Diet on ... www.low-carb.great-recipes.tv/ Bariatric Surgery Recipes www.froedtert.com/SpecialtyAreas/BariatricSurgeryProgram/Recipes/ Bariatric & Lap-band Surgery Shared Recipes recipes.sparkpeople.com/cookbooks.asp?cookbook=47556 Bariatric Eating www.bariatriceating.com/ Recipes, Cooking and Baking Forum - Weight Loss Surgery, Obesity www.obesityhelp.com/forums/recipe/ Happy Cooking!

I agree. Having recipes and food options is important. I found that needed to have my grocery shopping list easily available AS WELL AS keep the recipes new, exciting and flavorful. I joined the FREE online site: Allrecipes.com (They also offer a pay/subscriber membership but I haven't found the need for it). After creating my account, I added recipes to my RECIPE BOX. You can add recipes from various websites and personalize/input your own recipes. I am now able to create shopping lists easily from these programs and access them from my smartphone via the app "Chef Tap" which links to the Allrecpies.com site. I have found many recipes from these sites: Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes www.genaw.com/lowcarb/ Low Carb Luxury: Recipes www.lowcarbluxury.com/lowcarb-recipes.html Emily Bites - Weight Watchers Friendly Recipes www.emilybites.com/ The World According to Eggface theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ Low Carb Recipes lowcarb.betterrecipes.com/ Low Carb Recipes - Cooking Good Food That Keeps Your Diet on ... www.low-carb.great-recipes.tv/ Bariatric Surgery Recipes www.froedtert.com/SpecialtyAreas/BariatricSurgeryProgram/Recipes/ Bariatric & Lap-band Surgery Shared Recipes recipes.sparkpeople.com/cookbooks.asp?cookbook=47556 Bariatric Eating www.bariatriceating.com/ Recipes, Cooking and Baking Forum - Weight Loss Surgery, Obesity www.obesityhelp.com/forums/recipe/

Please accept my deepest sympathy for the tremendous loss of your two brothers. Healing thoughts are with you and your family during this very difficult time.

I do the same thing -- I check the nutritional value of menus online before going out or suggesting places to meet. I am shocked by what I used to eat (and know for sure how I got to be in the shape I was in). Now those things don't even sound good to me. I love knowing what I am going to order and thrilled that I can participate in life and sociaize with friends while still supporting my goals. So empowering!

I remember feeling tired until about 6-7 weeks out. I take B-12 daily as well as iron, but my surgeon told me to up my protein from 70-80 grams a day to 90-100 grams a day. It truly helped and my energy level has been consistently great this last 5 weeks.

Great reference/resource! Thank you!

I just looked through my phone/computer app: fatsecret.com on which I've recorded everything I've eaten since October 18, 2011. I find that I am not very adventurous, but stick with the Protein first rule at each meal. Breakfast: I typically have a Pure Protein shake or Premier Protein Shake during the week. On the weekend I have a scrambled egg and a piece of turkey sausage, or Special K Protein Plus Cereal with 2 oz of 1% or 2% milk. Lunch: chicken or turkey meatballs (I like Aidells Teriyaki Chicken and pineapple meatballs from Costco), deli turkey with hummus, a turkey patty and cottage cheese, Soup Dinner: fresh Ahi tuna, Flamegrilled Chicken Breast from El Pollo Loco, Cilantro-Lime Shrimp (from Costo) or warm up some frozen shrimp, grilled halibut or talapia, Ricotta Bakes, Hungry Girl BBQ Chicken Dip (see recipe sites below) The sides, if I have room include: broccoli, blueberries, mixed veggies, a small salad Snacks: Mini Babybel Creamy Swiss Cheese, low-fat latte, or Creamy Hot chocolate from BariatricChoice.com recipes sites that are good: World According to Eggface, Emily Bites and Hungry Girl http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ http://www.emilybites.com/ http://pinterest.com/hrs125/hungry-girl-recipes/ http://www.hungry-girl.com/chew http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/cookbooks.asp?cookbook=13807 I keep stocked up on high-protein snacks from Bariatric Choice website http://www.bariatricchoice.com/ I live near a Low Carb store and purchase low carb bagels that I eat with low fat cream cheese, and products from the vendor Eat-rite who makes amazing soy pizzas and wraps. They can be too expensive to order direct from the company: http://www.buyeatritenow.com/eatritepizza.html but you can sometimes find them in other locations like amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Rite-Chicago-Pizza-Cinco/dp/B005176420 I like flavor so I use a dill-yogurt dip with fish and hummus is a go-to dip for me, I even use it as salad dressing. I put herbs and spices on everything. When I need to crunch, I buy protein chips from bariatric choice.com or I will have a few Popchips or Snapea Crisps. Just a few (not a whole serving) satisfies the craving. Best of luck to you! It is easier as time goes on. I feel I can eat just about anything I want and I do go out quite often but just keep my goal in mind and lean protein first.

I had my 3-month post-op appointment today and I am walking on sunshine! I have lost 37 lbs since surgery which is 87 lbs total. I estimate about 60 more pounds to goal. I have gone from a size 26 bathing suit to a size 18. My blood pressure was 112/67. I am logging about 12,000 - 13,500 steps on my Fitbit. The extensive bloodwork I had done showed everything to be in perfect/normal ranges: Cholesterol 174 Glucose 86 A1C 5.2 etc., etc., etc. Tonight for dinner, I made Eggface's Ricotta Bakes and some turkey sausage patties which my husband enjoyed as much as I did. I am so thrilled with my decision to be sleeved. After some initial frustration with stalls, constipation, and not knowing what I didn't know, I am now feeling empowered. Within the last week or two I feel like I truly have a handle on knowing what/how much I can eat, drink and tolerate. At the same time, I still feel new enough into this that I enjoy learning all that YOU share on this forum. My doctor was very impressed with the knowledge I shared today and I attributed it all the VerticalSleeveTalk.com I just want to say THANK YOU and I wish everyone out there the same feelings that I am having today.

From the beginning I have had very little difficulty getting my liquids in each day (65-80 oz) and I easily get my 80-100 grams of protein in. However, I had the 3 week stall that lasted for a week. Then at 5 weeks I was up two pounds, down two pounds, up two pounds, down a pound, down a pound, down a pound, up a 1/2 pound. It continued this way for a couple weeks. Around week #8 I received some advice via this forum that I should shake up my diet a little. I stopped eating the exact same thing every day and I changed my calorie count from day-to-day: 700, 800, 750, 850, 650, 800, etc. I also up'd my walking from one 2-mile brisk walk a day to two 2-mile brisk walks each day. Over the last couple of weeks I have been losing consistently. I know that I will stall and plateau again -- but I am not afraid of it and won't feel like I have failed when it happens. I believe what all the experts have shared -- the stalls are a process that the body goes through and other changes, besides the number on a scale, are taking place.

I'm in Fullerton and was sleeved 3/21/12.

Thank you so much for posting this great reference sheet.

Mine was also 2 bites of refried beans and they were absolute heaven. I posted a picture on my Facebook page as it was truly a significant moment for me.

Any updates? What did the doctor/ER say? Sending you good healing energies!!

Thank you for sharing this wonderful NSV! Congratulations!

I started using FatSecret.com and I have the app on my phone. http://fatsecret.com/ I used this before hearing about MyFitnessPal and just didn't see a reason to switch. I like that it has restaurant foods and store brands in the database so most of what I input is easily logged in. It has kept me on track and I find it to be a valuable and beneficial tool.

Date of surgery? 3/21/2012 How much weight lost? 84 lbs total -- 50 pre-surgery and 34 post-surgery How many calories intake per day? 600 - 800 How much Protein per day? 80 - 100 What supplements do you take? Vitamin D-3 1000 iu/250% calcium chews sugar-free (Kirkland) hair, Skin, Nails (Wonderlife) Centrum Silver Chewable Multivitamin/Multimineral Supplement Chewable Probiotic 150 mg Omega 3, 6, 9 gummy Vitamins 163 mg (65/33/65) ( Slice of Life) Zinc, L-OptiZinc 20 mg (Wonderlife) Super Antioxidant Formula (Wonderlife) B-Complex (Vita fusion) 7-Keto Fit (Wonderlife) Chewable Iron (Bariatric Advantage) Are you exercising? I walk about 7,00-9,000 steps a day which I track using a Fitbit

No regrets! I was in the right "head-space" when my knowledge of this particular procedure was made known to me last October. I truly thought I was going to use the lap-band because I was not in favor of the bypass surgery due to the malabsorption issues. It was at the orientation with my surgeon's office that I learned about the Sleeve and I haven't regretted a single day since making this decision. I did a tremendous amount of research, attended classes, workshops and support groups -- all of which gave support to my decision. How long post-op? Surgery was 3/21/12 Doctor used? Dr. Aileen Takahashi -- Association of South Bay Surgeons, Torrance, CA Any complications? None.