KBT

I found the Nectar Syntrax brand to be simply so so. After 11 months, my go to is Click at www.click.com. They also have a sample pack for 9.95. By far, it's the best to me. When you get a little further along, try the Chike for your coffee fix and I find the cheapest way to find it is on Amazon. Oh yeah, they have decaffeinated now too. I like to mix all of my shakes in the single serve blender with soy/milk and ice for that frappucino effect.

Ha Ha! I guess I could eat a whole banana too if I wanted to put in the effort. It might take about an hour, but I could do it. Enjoy that over ripe banana Newme!

I'm just wondering who can eat a whole banana? Slider food? Not for me and I've owned this sleeve for almost 11 months. Very, very filling......

The key is finding the brands you can tolerate. You may have to go through a bunch of absolutely horrible ones which it sounds like you already have. I detest Unjury but others love it. At nearly 11 months out I still like to incorporate one shake a day into my diet and use it as my breakfast. I always mix the powder ones with Soy and Ice and blend. I buy three brands.... The Pure Protein ready made from Costco, Click which is ordered from Amazon and satisfies my coffee addiction, and Chike which is ordered online from their website only. They have a sample pack if you want to give them a try. Like others have said, stop by GNC or Vitamin Shoppe and see what samples they can provide.

Yes, I take Zyrtec year round.

After losing only 11 pounds in three months, I did my own version of the pouch test in February. I did liquids for three days and then eased back into eating. I lost 4 pounds and was happy with that. I got the flu the next week and lost another 4 pounds but I do not recommend getting the flu!

I think Lipton soup would be fine for you. If you are concerned about the noodles you can always strain them out.

Life changing! Never regretted it.

I always ask for Dilaudid as a morphine replacement.

Best thing I have EVER done for myself.... I'm getting my life back.

Don't forget the children's menu. While the choices are often not good, there are a few healthy ones. I like to order the Chick fil A grilled chicken nuggets with fruit or applesauce and can get two or three meals out of it. Another is an IHOP child's omelet. Two meals out of that one!

I've had both knees replaced and one hip done twice all within 38 months. Mine were done pre sleeve but if there is anything I can answer, I would be glad to help. Knee replacement is much more difficult to recover from compared to WLS. Expect about a year to really get back to normal. Next on my agenda is Ankle replacement most likely later this year.

I would say 40 to 50 lbs but if you are really motivated to meet a goal at graduation, get started now! Okay, get started after the holidays... Everyone wants that last meal but believe me, at seven months out, I can eat anything and everything I ate before but less of it. There is no need for a last meal. I wish someone would have told me that because the weight is coming off a lot slower now and if I had worked harder pre surgery, I would be that much further along now. I'm happy with my loss but still anxious to make my goal.

I went off Celebrex one week before surgery and was able to restart it one month after surgery. That was the worst part of my recovery.... no NSAIDs. All is good now. I never had problems with an upset stomach or ulcers prior to this surgery so why would I now? Believe me, I took a whole bunch too! Now, I stay within the dosage limits.

Yes, It's usually thawed by the time I heat it up in the microwave at lunch and it takes about one minute to one minute 20 seconds to reheat. I'm up at 5:00 AM so like not having to figure out lunch so early in the morning. Just grab and go.

I've made many to include the french dip mentioned above, lasagna, mexican, parmesan chicken and buffalo chicken. I usually make a couple of different types at a time and put them in the freezer, individually wrapped. I like to have variation saved up and pull one out each morning to take to work. I absolutely love this idea. It leaves me little decision making as to what I'm having for lunch other than what kind sounds good for the day!

I started back on Celebrex (Prescription NSAID) one month after my surgery. If you don't have trouble with NSAIDs prior to surgery, I don't think you will have problems afterwards. Being able to take pain medicine was one of the reasons I went with the sleeve.

My refrigerator killed over this week and I lost about 30 cupcakes.... ugh... I had Lasagna, Mexican and Buffalo Chicken. Now I have to start over with my collection of grab and go lunches. I love the cupcake concept.

That's definitely affordable! I need to get to the doctors to start getting my saggy tummy recorded!

Ashley, does this mean FEPBlue is covering the portion of the tummy tuck that removes the panni? That is great!

I can't stand "should have went" or "has went" instead of "should have gone" or "has gone." I don't know why this has become so common. There is one person at work that does this all day long and it drives me crazy! Have/has/had do NOT go with went.

Here is the benefit brochure for 2013. The only thing I could find is on page 62 where it says they will pay for surgery to correct a functional defect. Further down, it says Not covered: Cosmetic surgery – any operative procedure or any portion of a procedure performed primarily to improve physical appearance through change in bodily form – unless required for a congenital anomaly or to restore or correct a part of the body that has been altered as a result of accidental injury, disease, or surgery My guess is that plastic surgery may be covered if you can prove issues with rashes, sores and so forth. http://www.fepblue.org/downloads/2013-service-benefit-plan-brochure_100512.pdf

I like the Think Thin bars with the nuts so that's where the carbs come from. Can't speak for the other flavors as these are the only ones I buy of that brand. I also like the Quest and Atkins bars. I think the important thing here is moderation just as it is with everything.

I have lost 49% of my excess body weight and excited to get over that 50% level and get over that halfway hill!

A stall in the weight loss seems to be very much the norm at 2-3 weeks out. Don't worry as it will come off. Try to up your calories (add peanut butter) and if you are happy weighing yourself everyday, then by all means do it. I do. Definitely measure. I record my weight and my measurements on my monthly anniversaries and this definitely helps when it seems I'm not losing. Good luck!