AliveAgain

The unflavored does have a bit of flavor, so you don't want to just add it to water. But it's not noticeable in that it just takes on the flavor of whatever you put it in, some people put in diluted juices. I use it in making Jello adding it to the cold water and not mixing it it in until the hot water has become room temp. Some put it in yogurt, cottage cheese... things like that.

Ah, yes unless you live out here most people won't know Yuba City. Much like most people think Santa Cruz is like an hour from Los Angeles....

How far out from surgery are you? The real answer lies with your surgeon and what he/she does or does not allow during the stages of your diet. Some doctors allow bananas earlier than others. Mine absolutely did not allow them for the first 3-4 months due to their high sugar content. The basic premise behind the first months after surgery is to be high-lean-protein and low-non-refined carbs. Granted, banana is not as bad as white sugar, but for a fruit -- it's one of the highest next to pineapple in sugar. What kind of Protein Drink are you using? Have you tried different kinds and brands to see what you like more than others?

You'll make it through this. Believe me, the first 6 months went by like a flash for me! Now, I eat fries and I'll have a couple of small bites of a burger -- on occasion that present itself. You will find yourself quickly satisfied yet enjoying just a taste of the foods you once loved, maybe more than any of us ever needed!

While I used a different Bay Area surgeon, I've heard good things about Dr. Nyugen. Wish I could remember where/who it came from, but I think it was from users on this forum over the past months. I would definitely talk to anyone in his support groups, or do a search on this forum. Best of luck! (If you're local, I'm selling lots of clothes this weekend at community yard sale in Santa Cruz. PM me if you're interested! I'd love to hook up another VSG buddy!)

The anxiety and nervousness won't be as bad as you think. Of course I was thinking about it non-stop, but was amazingly calm the day of surgery. Accepting that you've made the right choice, saying some prayers (if that works for you), and putting the rest into the hands of your surgeon. I know that sounds way too easy, but I find it easier to just "accept and move on" than to question it too much. I know I had some remorse in the first month, even a little in the second month. But that was just me working through emotions without the crutch of food. It was about 6-8 weeks out before I knew I had made the right choice, and I've never looked back since!

Yes, it's very normal to feel stinging between weeks 2-5. It usually goes away by week 6. There is another set of stitches inside that takes a little longer to heal than the ports elsewhere.

Yes, you will. Breasts are largely comprised of fatty tissue. I was a 40I the day of surgery and am now a 34DD or 32DDD depending on the bra. They are not the prettiest of things, and I will most likely have breast lift in a year or so for my sanity and self-confidence. I have to wear a bra ALL THE TIME now, even sleeping or they end up in my armpits. Not kidding. They are so flat I can see all my ribs when I lie down flat. But I am so much happier with them at this size, I NEVER want to go back to being above a DD EVER again.

I think 20 min on the elliptical, treadmill or bike one month after surgery would make most anyone dizzy. I agree with the other posters: Take it easy and at a pace you can maintain. I know it's tempting to get out there and go nuts with exercise now that the weight loss is finally happening -- goal is within sight now! While I do not discourage daily fitness, I do encourage knowing your limits. I would try to get in at least half your days' calories and half or more of your days' fluids before exercise. Proper hydration is very important!! Perhaps you should mix it up with 8 minutes on the elliptical followed by 5-6 on the bike, mixed up with some yoga stretches or balance exercises that work the core abdominal area. One of the best decisions I ever made was to get with a personal trainer about six weeks out. She knew about my surgery and showed me some basics that would leave me feeling fatigued, but not exhausted or dizzy. We mostly worked with a resistance band for the first month, it's amazing what a workout that is for the arms, back and abs. Everyone thinks cardio, cardio, cardio is the best way to lose weight. And it is great for the cardiovascular system, but building muscle and strength will take you farther. It will help your balance and prevent injury which is the number one way to get off track, going too hard walking, running, ellipticalling and injuring a variety of joints or over-tightening calf or hamstring muscles to.

Syntrax Nectar have been a winner for me since the beginning, and I still drink at least one of their shakes a day now. They come in powder form, easy to transport and take with you on the run. I mix mine in a Blender Bottle with water (mostly), or milk of your liking. All kinds of tasty flavors: Lemon Tea, Roadside Lemonade, Natural Peach, and Vanilla Bean Torte are some of my favorites! I order the tubs from Amazon (best price) and they last a long time.

Urboyp is right. The goal right now is to shrink that liver, give the surgeon a safe space to work on the stomach. Stalls happen, period. Most say in the beginning of any diet change restricting carbs that the first 10-25 pounds is mostly Water from depleting glycogen stores in muscles. Hang in there, this will happen post surgery too. For whatever reasons the body will stall like a car engine, then eventually will adjust to get moving again. So long as you're staying true to intake, fluids, Vitamins, and exercise -- the weight will come off again.

You might be low on electrolytes, you don't get much during the liquid phase. Some use Gatorade G2 (it's supposed to be lowest in carbs). My doctor prescribed Potassium pills that I halved, crushed and dissolved in water. That helped me a lot. I had dizzy spells and he said it was most likely electrolytes. And make sure you're gettin 64oz or more of fluids in a day (protein drinks count). That will help with low blood pressure. Remember, your body is still healing so some lack of energy and rest is very normal!

Very common. Your stomach is healing and swollen and the liver was gently pushed aside to perform the surgery. Liver reacts to everything! They may have taken a sample from your liver if it appeared fatty. With time, fluids, protein and walking it will get better. Take your pain meds if you need them!!

I'm 36 and started close to your weight. I also had trouble losing restricting calories alone to 1000-1200. But this works, the focus in protein and smaller portions, food journaling. I guarantee it will work for you!!!!

That is GREAT! Don't push too hard too fast, injury is all too common in the beginning. KEEP IT UP!

How much exercise have you been doing up to this point? How far and on what kind of terrain did you walk? Do you stretch before/after and have proper walking shoes? Chances are you are just experiencing what everyone feels when muscles are not practiced with exercise and strain. It should get better with more time and more activity. It is very important to have proper shoes to support your feet. It's amazing how much what happens at foot level can affect knees, hips and other joints. I highly advise basic stretching and perhaps foam rolling (Google for videos, it's amazing stuff and I swear by it). You may want to try adding magnesium to your diet with supplements. I use a brand called Calm, it's a powder you mix with warm Water and drink. Magnesium is wonderful for sore muscles (i.e. soaking in Epsom Salt bath), anxiety, energy, and heart health. Added benefits are better sleep and help with constipation, if you have that. You can also buy it with added Calcium, since the two work well together to be absorbed by cells.

Pre-op shouldn't be a problem so long as you're not adding too much milk and sugar, which most people do with the savory spiced flavors of Chai. But post-op, may not be the best option for the first 4-6 weeks if it is caffeinated chai made with black or green tea. Granted it's a very mild amount of caffeine per cup, less than coffee. But your healing stomach will not like caffeine very much in the beginning and it can be dehydrating at a time when hydration is #1 priority. I would google for kuerig chai and seek out the ingredients. There is such a thing as decaffeinated or Roobios chai, if you really like those flavors.

Such a great feeling! Welcome to the club

Reglan = bad stuff man! I had severe "kwown" allergic reaction in ER when they gave to me for severe migraine. Involuntary limb movement, wicked dry mouth and lip smacking. I looked like a lunatic for five minutes!

Think about it like a stone wall with 275 rocks. Take away 50 rocks, you see a difference but not that much. A little here, a little there, down to 170 rocks, take away 10 you notice it more. It definitely took a large drop to notice a difference. I could wear my size 20/22 stuff well into when I could fit into an 18. Then it just drops, drops, drops! I'd go buy stuff and just two weeks later have to exchange it for another size. People noticed at 200, but just since hitting 160 I've been getting the "Holy Cow! WOW!" responses. Here were my stats: 270 - size 22 235 - size 20 215 - size 18 200 - size 16 188 - size 14 176 - size 12 168 - size 10 159 - can fit into size 8, but still most comfortable in 10

Talk to your ortho about Supartz. It is a replacement joint Fluid made from chicken combs (the things on their heads) that is administered through a series of weekly shots directly into the knee, 5-6 usually. I have patella femoral syndrome which has left me with very little cartilage behind my kneecaps. I had surgery in my right and more than 60% was scraped off. My ortho highly encouraged me to lose weight and strengthen muscles in my legs to help my patellas track better. The pain from walking, stairs, etc. was part of the reason I had the surgery. A few months before the VSG, they looked again and said my knees were osteoarthritic. I had the injections about two months after the VSG surgery. After the surgery, I was doing everything I could to help the weight loss -- walking, biking -- but with pain. So my ortho suggested this to get me through this hump of working out, but having yet not lost all the weight. The injections are not fun, but it's over in 30 seconds. The benefits last about one year, and should help my own knee somehow produce more of the natural joint fluid on its own. It's been great, and I'm not sure I could be doing what I have been without it. Just losing the weight helped the pressure on my knees more than I ever realized. And now I have well-defined muscles in my thighs that are helping as well. I do squats, lunges, treadmill, hikes, hill climbing on my bike -- things I could not do when I was 275lbs.

You will chuckle, but my favorite is chocolate Avocado pudding. It's best when you are 3-6 months out, depending on your doctor's allowance of fats and some carbs. All in moderation, you won't be able to eat as much as you might think, but it's great for sharing. My husband scoffed at first, now he's asked me to make it multiple times! Ingredients: 1 medium-large avocado, soft and ripe 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 cup unsweetened, dark cacao (chocolate) powder 1 tbsp REAL HONEST TO HEAVEN maple syrup 6 tablespoons milk (coconut, cow or any type of milk you prefer) 1-2 scoops chocolate Protein powder Instructions Cut avocado in half and remove pit. Scoop out flesh and put in in the blender along with remaining ingredients. Add Protein Powder last after a few pulses. Process until smooth, occasionally scraping down sides. Serve immediately or refrigerate until you're ready to serve.

Are you still drinking enough fluids throughout the day? Sometimes this happens to me when I haven't had enough fluids and it feels like more of a "shock" to my stomach to throw something down there. I still observe the "no drinking" fluids during a meal, but it helps to drink a little water up until about 15-20 before eating.

I keep Ativan (Lorazepam) on hand in it's smallest dose (0.5mg) for the occasional anxiety attack. It also helps with my monthly menstrual headaches. Most of the time I score it in half to just 0.25mg and that's all I need. To answer your question, yes, it is safe to take after surgery. My doctor actually prescribes it for esophageal spasms in the first month after surgery. Ativan and Xanax are in the same family of benzodiazapines.