victoryinJesus53

Hello, my fellow Florida Sleevers I had surgery on 4/24 and Dr Steven Webb was my surgeon. I have been blessed to have very few issues since surgery and my return home. I am yet determined to stay active and I find that my energy level is improving more and more. On saturday I entertained a house guests and I prepared a real down home ,eal from start to finish, which had not happened in quite awhile by myself. My journey is yet in front of me, but I am happy to be 50lbs smaller and feeling much lighter.

use 4 to 6 oz of protein shake

After researching I used a recipe for protein pancakes that I like and wanted to share with everyone. This recipe also included blue berries, which I love so much. You can also used other fruits that are in season in this recipe. High protein Blueberry Pancakes 2 Eggs or use egg whites 1/4 container of your favorite protein shake ( I like adkins advantage and Premier shakes) 1/2 c Oatmeal 1/8 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp baking soda Dash of Splenda or Stevia 60 gr blueberries ( or fruit of your choice) dash of vanilla (optional) Pam cooking spray or use small amount of Canola Oil combine of all ingredients in your blender and prepare your sauce pan by heating on high for 5 minutes or so and reduce heat to medium/low. Slowly pour mixture forming your pancakes cook eat and enjoy! I enjoyed my pancakes so much and I am glad to have another option for breakfast. If you do not like Oat meal you can use 1/2 c Whole Wheat flour and add Splenda or Stevia to sweeten. Using my favorite protein shake sweetens my pancakes enough for me and I use whole eggs as my pouch is unable to tolerate eggs alone.

I began eating fruit during the end of my second week out and watermelon and my pouch tolerated it well. As a matter of fact I eat fruit quite often aas dessert along with cottage cheese. Also, if you like blueberries or other fruit they can be incorporated with yogurt in order to get in your protein count for the day.

Hi and good morning to you and thanks for your post and like you i have been blessed to lose 50 pounds, but I have gone from size 30/32 to 26/28 and Iam slowly on the way to 22/24. I recently tried on a pair of slacks that I had not worn since 2007, which were size 26 and to my surprise the slacks are beginning to be baggey. I am finding old clothes that were to small in the past that are now almost to big. My husband who so supportive presented me with somr mad money and politely said, " Here go and buy you some britches". He is quite down to earth and so proud of my weight loss to the point each time I ask him how do I look he now says you look pretty. In the past he would compliment me and and say you look nice, but I here pretty all of the time even when I don't ask how I look. He will say Baby you look pretty today. I thank God for this time in my life and for change in all our lives who have choosen to select to have the Vertical Sleeve!

I understand your situation well as my experience was similar to yours. I found by taking my prescribed prilosec twice daily helped to alleviate gas pain. Also, if you can eat something make sure to eat your small meals on schedule daily. After arriving home I decided not to eat on time and wait making my pouch very uncomfortable. So take your Prilosec or its generic Omeprazole and this should help.

We are pulling for each other and as we each post information regarding our individual journey it helps to encourage everyone. There are days for me when my weight seems to want to sit and not move. During these days I regroup and review what I eaten or how I have not eaten enough. I find self inventory is best and to move at the pace, which is best for me. To date from 4/24/2012 God has blessed me to lose 50lbs and one friend remarked to me you are melting, which made me feel so happy to no longer be the largest female in my church family and being able to stand in the choir without me feet and legs hurting. I say to God be the Glory for helping each us and allowing us a second chance to choose to become healthy. ladies and gentlemen we are blessed!

I find that some fried foods don't affect me, but I am careful not to go overboard. I would like fried fish one day.

I like to eat oatmeal for breakfast and I use my Adkins Protein shake to cook the oats and also I will add walnuts or pecans if I have them along with blueberries. ymmmmmy! Also, I have found Premier Protein Shake is good to make pancakes using whole wheat flour. Next, I will try the pumpkin muffins. Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Nutrition Facts For Foods

Hi, joining the discussion late, but I was wondering the same, which allowed me to research the matter. According to the recommended daily allowance (RDA) chart for those who are in good health meaning those of us who are not hypertensive we are allowed to consume up to 2,400 mg of sodium, but those who are fighting the war of high blood presure much like me the RDA is 1,500 mg daily in order to prevent elevation in B/P. For we personally I try to read the ingredients in everything I buy in order to limit my sodium intake because sodium is in nearly everything that we buy whether the food items are purchased at our local market, sandwich shop, and even those drive thru fast food places. In the past I experienced a problem with Fluid retention and since my surgery that problem has seem to go away. I control my sodium intake at home greatly by selecting foods low in sodium including reducing my intake of cold cut meats.

i have tried fried pork chop using canola oil, which I found worked real well with my new pouch; however, I do not make it a habit to eat fried foods whether fast food or hme fried. usually i attempt to eat meat, but have problems trying to finish.

Thanks for your post and I will do the same as your suggestion incorporates time management and thinking ahead. Sometimes I go along involved in a project and time goes by and at the end i am starving. Also, i will now need to buy the breezer bags that i have put off for the last month.

JimmyGotsleeved, I highly agree with your comment because each of our bodies are different and DNA has a lot to with how our bodies react to weight lost and illness. I learned a little while ago not to stress over my progress versus the progress of another person. My mom used to say to me, "Be yourself, and try not to be like someone else".

Grocery shopping with my husband is now a joy as I can move without discomfort, and today while in Winn Dixie I noticed how I left my husband to go n search a food prodct that we needed. In the past I would have needed a riding cart, but thanks to God I am able to walk about and look for whatever I need. I felt lighter and energetic, which was different from the previous month. I am finding that my clothes from a frew years ago fit me now and am looking forward to becoming smaller! I GIVE ALL PRAISES AND HONOR TO GOD FOR ALL HE HAS DONE!!!!!!!!!

Hi, Looking at your results you are doing tremondously well and i want to encourage you to keep going. I was 332 on my surgery date 4/24/12 and ass of today I am 290.8. weight lost for me is slow,, but it is sure as the old saying goes! Keep It Up because God is the person who is helping us all on this journey.

I have found that foods made from dough give me little problem, but I quickly remind myself that eating such foods could easily place me back from whence I have journeyed. I attempted to eat a grands biscuit, but chose to eat 2 bites and give it to my husband who is now controlling his diet in order to level out his bllod sugar. My husband is great and like his words for me I only want the both of us to be healthy. I encourage us all to keep going and to continue drinking our protein shakes. I have found ways to incorporate my protein shakes into my breakfast cereals and next I will try protein pancakes!

This week has been such a great week for me and I believe for all of us because we are all moving on in this new adventure. I am yet losing weight and after weighing yesterday I have lost another 3 pounds Wow! To everyone who encouraged me and offered pointers on how to increase my protein intake I say Thank You All. drinking the protein shakes in between my meals really help me ! Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Weight Loss Tools

Thanks for the exercise suggestions and I have already saved the website livestrong that refers to exercises for chin and neck. Oh, by the way I began repeating the vowels over and over , which seemed to invigorate both my chin and neck.

Please don't feel bad because I too am seeing signs of a turkey neck. I am 53 and losing weight just three years ago did not create this problem, but now the signs are here. Like you I do not have funds for plastic surgery. To combat this problem I keep my face/neck washed and rinse with cold Water.

Hi ThisTimeisIt, I can eat meat, but only so much an by the time I eat my pouch can only hold so much. i am going to try your eating regimen and drink my protein shakes one between breafast and lunch and the second between lunch and dinner. perhaps this will help me. Thanks so much for direction and for such a quick response.

I spoke with my surgeon and found that my inability to get in my proteins from meat is not uncommon. Has anyone experienced the same issue please give me some ideas. Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

Well, I went in for my three month visit and I have lost another 6. 4 lbs and I am now in 2 ville and I am so excited Praise God! So many years living in the land of the threes and in my surgeon's words spoken today and I quote " you won't see 300 anymore. I have another new goal, which encourage me to push further to trying to achieve losing an additional 95 lbs.

Congrats to everyone who is ye slimming down. We all waited a while and I say thanks to God for all he has done!

I too attended a nutrition pre-op was told to try to consume 6 small meals and afterwards told to eat 4 to 6 meals. I was so concerned about counting my calories, but later learned to keep with my Proteins and watch carb inatke. I usually am able to take in 40-60 proteins daily sometimes more by eating Peanut Butter or consuming more cottage cheese with a fruit chaser. Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter