luckylady131

I have a protein bar that is 180 cal, 4.5g fat, 17g total carbs (2g sugar), and 20g protein. That seems like a pretty good ratio to me. Hopefully it will taste good. It's the Pure Protein bars that someone on here recommended. Plus they seem small enough to actually eat in a sitting - versus the EAS bars that are HUGE and made a couple of meals.

At 3 week post op, we took a weekend vacation and went to Sea World. I didn't ride the rides, but I walked and walked! We went slow, and I rested and tried to stay hydrated. It was tiring, but fun. We also went on a cave tour and that was 90 minutes of walking down 180 feet and around the bottom, and then back up 180 feet. That was quite tiring - we did that the 3rd day. I just took the foods I was allowed to have with me.

I made pot roast with onions and red potatoes and really pureed it - with my immersion blender. I put in some meat, and 1-2 potatoes to help get it creamier, and some of the juice. Looked pretty gross, but tasted REALLY good - like pot roast! And that's heaven after weeks of liquid only!

Be glad your insurance pays. I had Aetna when I was working, and my plan covered bariatric surgery. Then I quit to be a stay at home mom 2 years ago, and my husband also has Aetna. But his company refuses to pay for bariatric surgeries. So same insurance, different coverages. So I ended up being self pay. So $500 and a few months is way better than being out the $12,000 I paid. Could have gone to Mexico I suppose, but wanted to do it stateside. If there's one thing this surgery will teach you (before and after!)...it's PATIENCE!! Good Luck!

So far I'm liking the Isopure chocolate powder the best. Lactose and aspartame free, 1g fat, 3g carbs, 2g Fiber, 0g sugars, and 50g Protein. It's 220 calories, but I don't get enough calories in a day anyway yet (struggling with that), so this helps. I've tried Muscle milk, EAS Myoplex, Chike, and Jay Robb protein premade shakes/powders.

Well, the stomach is pliable, and they just pull it out. Once cut, it's no longer a "ball", but more of like a long sock. So it comes out pretty easily out of the incision. As far as what they do with it - they probably look it over for anything susupicious (just to be sure), then chunk it in the trashcan. They may weigh it first.

For me it was several things. I've researched WLS for several years, just never did anything about it. Then I started having health issues and being on the verge of Diabetes at the age of 34. My father dropped dead of massive heart attack at the age of 51 - he was tall, skinny, and healthy (just a work-a-holic). I started having severe heart palpatations after my second daughter was born, and was diagnosed with a cardiac arrythmia. I'm on a beta blocker for that and my blood pressure. My triglycerides are through the roof. I have high cholesterol. But the thing that really pushed me over the edge to make to proceed with this surgery was the day my Kindergartener came home and told me a story about how some of her classmates had been making fun of me and my size/weight to her at school. She was sad they did that, and I never want her to have to feel like she has to stand up for me again. I should be protecting her, not the other way around!! That day broke my heart and made me see the light.

I have had bad motion sickness whenever I'm in a car all my life, yet boats and plane are fine. I had the patch as well, and the first 24 hours for me were brutal. I couldn't keep down ice chips. I also had zofran and phenergan IV on board, but they didn't help me much. The nausea would be sudden and severe. I usually get the saliva in the mouth about 20 seconds before throwing up....not after surgery. I would be fine, then try an ice chip or 2, then immediately have severe nausea and immediately vomit. I had severe swelling and edema in my sleeve that wouldn't allow anything to pass thru. Once they saw that (during my leak test right after urgery), they gave my a diuretic and a steroid and in 24 hours I was much much better. Now at 3 weeks out I haven't had nausea since.

My husband is currently doing the HCG drops. He started when I got my surgery. It's kind of nice because we basically eat about the same amount of food!! He's dropped some weight. Who knows if he will keep it off. The drops mainly help you keep from getting too hungry. The weight loss is from the restricted diet. He adheres to it very well. He cheated this weekend when we went on vacation - and paid for it both in some weight gain and GI issues. He now knows it's not worth it to cheat.

Be sure to talk to both your surgeon and the doctors who prescribed the medications. Some pills cannot be crushed or cut up. I was on a heart,education that was like that and had to switch to a different type while I'm on my puréed and soft foods phase. Then once I can swallow pills again, I can go back to my regular ones.

Yep, it's me!

I don't feel the need to keep it a secret. I'm not ashamed that I got surgery. In fact I've had a couple of people come back around and ask me MORE about it once I had it done because they've known for a while that I was researching it. I have yet to be met with negativity. And if I do - I wouldn't care. They aren't in my shoes. They haven't lived my life. And I don't need their approval. The people who matter to me have been nothing but supportive.

HELLLOOOOO Lil SISTER!!! Glad you finally made it over!

Careful! You might get hooked! I love Pinterest. It's basically a website book marking system using pictures. And I get sooo many ideas from it, from food to decorating my house, clothes, yard inspiration, etc.

Here are a couple of my other boards with links to awesome recipes: http://pinterest.com/luckylady131/favorite-recipes/ http://pinterest.com/luckylady131/healthy-meals/

That's how Pinterest works if you aren't familiar with it. Click on a picture you like and it should take to you the original site/blog/article where I got the recipe from (might click on the picture, and a bigger picture pops up - click on it again). The recipe will be there. Generally I find more awesome recipes by going back to the original site.

Can you see the pictures?

Ii get a lot of my ideas from Pinterest. Here's my Pinterest board of various "One Pot Wonders" that I have found that look awesome - and of the ones I've tried so far, they are yummy. I just got sleeved a couple of weeks ago, so haven't been able to venture too far out into the world of food again. http://pinterest.com/luckylady131/one-pot-wonders/

My doctor's rule for driving is off pain meds, and as soon as you can stomp your right foot real hard a few times without pain - in case you need to hit the brakes. I drove probably on day 6 to the store right up the street. Like a PP, I hadn't been on pain meds except at night to help me sleep, but I felt really disconnected. It was rather bizarre. And I LOVE driving, so that was an unusual experience for me.

Muscle Milk has the same affect on me, and I gave it up. I switched to Isopure shakes and it's been better.

It's different for everyone. You CAN overdo it. A walk can be a lap around your house. Or down to the mail box. Or around the block. I was told to get up and walk about every 2 hours. I don't push myself. I got out of the hospital on day 3, so day 4 I was taking it pretty easy. My first grocery store run didn't happen til day 6 or 7 and even then, it was a short trip.

I'm 2 weeks out and have yet to have a "solid" BM - just moved to the pureed stage. I'm an RN as well. Liquid in, liquid out as they say. Just keep sipping your fluids as you should - you will be fine.

Oh, that's the other thing - not drinking with meals. I don't "drink" with meals, but I have to take a sip usually about twice. I only take in enough to coat my mouth. Before surgery I always drank with my meals, so that's a big change for me.

I am 2 weeks out today, so I know it's still early for me. It seems weird to me because before my life didn't really revolve around food like it does now! Before I just ate when I was hungry,but ate too much and the wrong kinds if foods. But now I have set my phone alarms to remind me to eat Breakfast, lunch, and dinner and 2 Snacks. I am never hungry. I have to make sure I'm getting enough Protein. I have to make sure the foods I eat are puréed enough. I have to make sure I drink enough....which I don't. I feel like I'm constantly putting something in my mouth. I'm afraid of drinking too much at once. I don't really have any issues with food, but Protein shakes (any kind) make me run to the bathroom soon afterwards. It's very hard for me to drink enough throughout the day. Plain Water still make me feel nauseated and gross. But I can do crystal light without issues. I'm just trying to get into a good food routine. It will probably be easier once my kids start school. Right now I usually have a Greek yogurt for breakfast, a Protein shake for lunch, and something else for dinner. I'm still. OT good at getting my snacks in. Sometimes I have a laughing cow cheese, or Bella cheese for a snack. And yes I have some great water bottles that I like, I'm just trying to get better at using them! What is everyone else's eating schedule?