suzcomptime

I am pre-op but from the message board posts, nutritionist that I see and from what I have read on the Internet, rice is one of the hardest things for the sleeve. Maybe eventually but I don't think the sleeve usually tolerates rice early on. Maybe there is hope later on and someone who is several months out can comment to the positive

Is it beneprotein or benefiber?

I mix my protein drink with milk and then add ice cubes and run through my blender. It makes for a milkshake like consistency with little bits of ice that I chew so at least you have some consistency. I have been having broth for lunch and dinner as I miss the savory if I try to only have protein drinks. It seems more like a meal. Just finished day 4 of pre-op liquid diet, pre-op appt at hospital on Monday and then a week later, my turn.

I am still pre-op but my plan is still to eat low-carb. That being said, it would probably look more like 40 carbs a day max not the strict 20. Protein first and than eventually healthy carbs like fruit & veggies. I plan to stay away from white anything which I've pretty much gotten out of the habit of eating. Carbs are not my friend and like Foxbins said, I find them a slippery slope. If I binge on a lot of carbs in a day, I feel groggy and tired and overly hungry the next morning.

I haven't thought to ask about other restrictions after surgery. I concentrated on learning what I can eat but didn't think to ask the following. Probably at pre-op or after surgery I'll have all the answers but what were your restrictions? How long before driving? How long before being able to swim in a pool or a lake or the ocean? What are the lifting restrictions and for how long? Any others? Thanks

hmmmm, haven't had cardiologist appt, my surgery is in two weeks. I do have a pre-op appt at the hospital next Monday, is that when they might do cardiology tests?

Oh, I forgot....I do take biotin, started when I heard about hair loss. Don't know how much science there is out there about whether it helps or not but figured it wouldn't hurt. I just grabbed a bottle from the local drugstore, it happened to be NatureMade brand, says 5000 mcg which on the back says 1667% Wow, must be one of those that you can't overdose on, at least I hope so. I don't think they will be a problem after surgery, they are tiny, smaller than an M&M, and smooth.

Good to know about the icecream recipes, I will check them out. I have an icecream maker already.

I got those things and a small strainer as I didn't have one (for soups). I also picked up some small ramkins for making stuff in small servings and as a small soup bowl. Small plates. I got a heating pad, liquid tylenol, miralax, gas x strips, tiny silverware to train to take small bites at first. Sippy cup to train small sips. I got some small plastic freezer containers for freezing pureed food to take to work. I don't know if I will use all of these, just ideas I heard from others.

Low Iron can cause those symptoms although what you get in the Flintstone complete should be plenty. I did find this online about Multivitamins with iron: Avoid taking antacids, dairy products, tea, or coffee within 2 hours before or after this medication because they will decrease its effectiveness. That was news to me. It seems like just when I think I have this Vitamin thing figured out (with food, without food, don't combine this or that) I find out something new. I guess I need a chart! Can your Dr. do blood work to test for low levels of Vitamins or minerals?

To attach you just need to reply to a post and hit the "More Reply Options" at the bottom instead of Post, that brings up a bigger screen and at the bottom there is a link that says "Attach Files". Click on Choose File which brings up the standard screen that allows you to pick the file on your computer and upload it. You can also do it by creating a new post, the "Attach Files" shows at the bottom of that window by default. I hope that helps. Once uploaded, I believe it will show in your profile under settings, manage attachments.

I'm ordering the Chike too, thanks for the link. One thing to be careful of.....I assumed all protein drinks from Bariatric Advantage would be caffeine free even the tea flavor and didn't check before ordering. I ordered a tub of the lemon tea nectar and found out after that it has caffeine.

As far as my mini goals, I just looked at other people on here and how fast they lost after surgery and tried to come up with something reasonable. I assume I'll lose 7 or 8 lbs during 2 week liquid pre-op. That means I would need to lose about 10 lbs in the first month to get to my onederland goal. My next goal is 23 lbs in 3 more months, that may be too aggressive....I am typically a slow loser. But I'm not going to get too hung up on that.....I set the goals for it to be fun, not so I can get down if I don't quite make it that fast. I have hope and that sustains me.

Honestly, I made mine up. I actually put my goal weight about 15 lbs higher than my weight watcher goal weight and 30 lbs higher than my high school weight Why? I guess for me I am not looking to go back to high school size, I am looking to be healthier so that I feel like biking, swimming, canoeing, hiking etc. I am hoping to avoid high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol that my mother has so for me fitting into smaller clothing isn't the main goal, although it will be a nice perk I am hoping my highish goal will keep me from being discouraged and if I get there and am more active and feel like taking off a few more than I will.....13 lbs below my goal weight puts me at normal bmi and is around what my weight watchers goal is for my age.

WOW!

I'm over 50 too but my nutritionist told me to take the Centrum chewable regular because she said there were some findings that iron could be low after bariatric surgery and that is one of the differences of the Silver....Centrum Silver has 0 iron. I assume that there would be periodic blood tests to make sure iron and other nutrients are at an acceptable level??? I haven't thought to ask that.

hmmmmm I have tickets to a baseball game at 3 weeks out.....will this work since it is mostly sitting. We have Beach Boys tickets at about 4.5 weeks after my surgery. Does that sound feasible? Again, probably sitting most of the time.

I am using Centrum chewables (the ones with iron), I use fish oil which are large so for after surgery I bought two flavors of liquid fish oil that I can add to food I eat (lemon & pina colada), I bought a Bariatric Advantage b-complex which I have yet to receive in the mail so am not sure what that is like, I use the Bariatric advantage Calcium chewables (my Dr. recommends calcium citrate not calcium carbonate)...I think that's it. I currently take glucosamine chondrotin or however it's spelled....for arthritis in my knee. I bought a mortar and pestle to crush them but then found they are available in liquid. Haven't worried about that one as it isn't as crucial although once I am cleared to work out, I will need to start it back up.

I sometimes do my protein shake in the blender with ice to a thick shake consistency. It gives you little chunks of ice and you can kind of crunch it or it at least it has more texture to it. Not sure if that will help because it really isn't quite chewing but what someone else said is correct, (at least my Dr. says) 'no gum'. Good luck.

Actually the one I just watched was scneaux 2 years out.

When people say muscle weighs more than fat, they aren't technically saying a lb of muscle weighs more than a lb of fat. Another way of saying it is "muscle weighs more than fat, given the same volume but I think most people think that is understood .....but the bottom line, like everyone has said is that you may be losing those inches so take measurements and then have something to feel good about. The other good news is that the higher your % of muscle to your total body, the more calories you will burn.

I've been watching you tube videos of people 1 to 2 years out. Most that I have seen do not have a lot of restrictions on types of food, amount of food is small but I am thinking I will just eat slowly (supposed to anyway) and not feel excluded at family events. I am presurgery but had just watched a video from someone 2 years out when I saw your post, so that I would let you know that the videos can be helpful.

I don't like to cook all that much either. I can do it and make big meals for family get togethers that my family loves but cooking isn't a hobby for me like it is for some. I haven't tried any of these tactics yet, still pre-op but I bought some unflavored Protein powder and chicken flavored Protein Powder. I thought it I was in the mood for soup that didn't have much protein or if I couldn't get down enough food for my protein I would add these to food. I have heard pros/cons about the chicken broth flavored plus I have heard taste buds change after surgery so I will see how that works. In the beginning stages I think it is more about getting your liquids in rather than worrying about protein. Protein comes later probably more feasible during the pureed stage that you are in. For an early stage I bought several flavors of V8 soup, butternut squash, garden broccoli, potato leek which appear to be very smooth (I will also strain). I will add protein powder to them to help get my protein during my early stages, when it is puree time, I bought a baby food blender, I am hoping by then the flavor of new things will offset the fact that is blended to mush

In fairness to the person that you quoted, there are statistics that show serious crimes higher in Tijuana than most US cities (albeit the ones I saw were from a couple yrs ago) so I don't want it to seem like that person was totally off base. I looked online and 2 or 3 years ago things were at a all time high and there were some higher serious crime rates at least that is what I saw in researching. That being said, I believe things have stabilized in the last few years and as long as people are aware to be careful just like if this small town girl went to Miami or Detroit I would be super careful because I am not used to thinking that way...... people that live there know what neighborhoods to avoid and where it's safe to go alone or after dark.

Uh Oh, I just bought liquid Tylenol because I thought that was the only pain/fever reducer that we could have. Do you have a book from your doctor that might confirm that you can't have Tylenol? I'll consult my booklet too and let you know if it says anything.