CelticHarpist

Broth felt fine to me as well. Had some while still in hospital as part of a first meal. Hope it is fine for you, too!

I am sorry to hear of your difficulties. You'll be in my thoughts. I hope you have some supportive people around you.

I bought some lentil crackers and ate them (chewing them silly) during my mushy period. Someone said they have less ruffage than whole wheat but I liked them and they added some protein. I also got some of Annie's very cheesy rabbit-shaped cheese wheat crackers (think goldfish crackers health-food style). Now I am on fairly normal foods and am eating some whole wheat crackers with things like tunafish or cheese (or both). Saving some whole wheat with pumpkin seeds for when eating seeds and nuts are okay. They really satisfied that need to crunch. Tasty, too.

I happen to like EAS AdvantEDGE Drink EAS® in French Vanilla which I can mix with sugar free syrups or puddings to change the taste a little. I like it chilled like it is. Normally I am not a vanilla fan but this pleases me. A lot of people like their chocolate and dark chocolate. (EAS = 17 grm protein) I don't mind Adkins dark chocolate fudge drink either. EAS is very reasonable in price at Walmart. Can get similar packs at Safeway often costing $3 more per item. Haven't priced them at King Soopers but know they sell them, too. I just tried Premier chocolate the other day. Tasted okay but I liked the EAS better. It has 30 grams protein. It's available at costco and Sam's club. I'm not a member of either.

I am starting my gym membership on the 18th so I should jump in, too!

Food addictions are known as process addictions, like other process addictions of sex, gambling, etc. What #26 HetKF posted is good information. Addictions are known for cravings, numbing out using the "process" or chemical to avoid or escape stress or feelings, spending a lot of time preparing or thinking about the addictive substance so "obsessing" in some people's vernacular, some people have hopelessness others shame about use, often other people comment on the results of use (whether it is weight or health) in concerned or derisive ways. it is also common to switch addictions. Many folks who have been banded or have been through bypass end up having chemical addictions if they don't also look at their behaviors which lead to numbing out or easy overuse. Medscape has articles about this phenomenon. It is common to seek these "numbing agents" when overtired, angry or resentful, lonely or bored, or ill. So this is a P.S. to the posting of HetKF (#26).

Wow! thanks for sharing. I'm looking up those recipes. (Got my first HgA1c back yesterday after sleeved 2 months and the A1C covers 3 months - mine was 5.7! and 5.6 is normal. My doc was impressed).

Hey Julie, I just got back my first HgA1C since surgery. It was 5.7 (and only had surgery 2 months prior to it and the test rates the last three months). 5.6 is NORMAL - non-diabetic. My primary doc was impressed!

It is sooooo worth it in the end, so be patient. I had trouble with the pre 3 month weight loss program my insurance required. The PA was not nice, was shaming and critical. One session I told him he had never told me a certain thing and he lambasted me saying the other three ladies in the group that day would tell me differently - I reminded him I had never been with this set of ladies before as they had stuck me with a different group each time I came. He always made me cry. They kept mixing up appts and times. I came for an hour visit at the assigned time to find out they had moved me to a 3-hr group from an individual hour appt. The group wasn't to start for another over 30 minutes later, and they hadn't notified me about the appt changing to three hours either. I had to work following the scheduled hour appt. It was a mess each time I went. I kept telling myself it's only three months, only three months like a mantra and I would never have to see these people again.Whew! thanks for letting me vent, too. Soon it will be all done, with some followup appts, but after surgery it is really about YOU, your program and you using this wonderful tool of VSG well. Don't let the turkeys get you down.

Nice pics! I totally want to be like you in two more months (I'll be off to a trip to Florida then - think swim). You look awesome. I like your photo layout designs, too.

Lol, after reading tons of posts here I think I finally figured out what NUT meant - nutritionist? maybe Dietician? All this time I thought it meant your surgeon but I couldn't figure out how that came to be nut. Duh. My doctor surgeon has me taking a sublingual Vitamin B12, a multi-B, a multi chewable vitamin (I do Centrum), calcium with D3 (love the chewable lemon Bariatric Advantage ones). I haven't seen the dietician yet but will in two weeks. She may add something more, not sure. They gave me a sheet I took into the pharmacies and scouted what I needed as I am not to do gels or capsules, but chewables or pills and no time-release.

So glad you are having this opportunity and build in one for post, too! I am planning a working trip to Florida in November and am just starting to let it in that I might actually look pretty good while I am there. New place, new people who will only know my new self. I also will make sure I have a pool to work-out in and an exercise room to continue my journey! Happiness is from within, but there are paradises to travel to. Enjoy! Bring photos to share!

Hehe, poisonous hissing queens...... Wow, from size 26 to size 18! Amazing. Just think you are able now to buy clothes in regular shops at large and XL size, right? You don't have to go to the Big Girls shops if you don't want to. Isn't that AMAZING!?!?! You've done it girl. Strut it. Let us be your supports and cheering section. Anyone for a pompom?

quoting from above: "unfortuanately many candy stores have now had to lay off people or have totally gone out of business" Thought that was soooo cute! I also have wondered about cheese sauce from the bariatric diet foods companies. I think they might taste great on cauliflower or broccoli. I actually tried the health food store Annie's whole wheat Pasta shells mac and cheese, and added more cheese to it. I didn't eat much as I'm not eating much, and it lasted 5 meals as an adjunct (and fed my dogs, too). I can eat whole wheat bread (I take off crusts) but found I didn't really enjoy the pasta all that much so that one try quenched my interest. My dietician encourages me to have some special snack every other day. If I want something, it would be a weight watchers dark chocolate singlestick raspberry ice cream pop, or a ww wildberry ice cream stick. They satisfy me for any interest in something sweet. I only seem to crave Protein. I am seeing more and more that when I feel hungry, I am actually thirsty or haven't been drinking my liquids like I should. Reminder to get another drink! hehe

Oh, yum. And look at all that protein. This is a gotta try. Thanks for posting!

WooHoo! soooo pretty, and the dress, too. You totally rock. I am sooo glad I got my sleeve, too, and have my niece's wedding late spring early summer 2013. Can't wait to see how I look in a new dress then. (BIG SMILE)

I LOVE your list. Quite an inspiration. I am going to read it daily! Thanks.

Nice post as it is almost your one year anniversary. I hope I can say similar things when I get to mine next June. You are an inspiration. Congrats!

Oh, PS, I forgot to mention coffee. I was an avid drinker prior to surgery. When I got constipated, my dietician said to add coffee (I do one cup to 20oz) a day if I tolerate it as it could help reduce my constipation. I tolerate it unless I add too much cream/half&half, and haven't produced excess acid so am going for it. Seems to help the constipation, too. Glad as liquid colace is gaggy sweet!

I was surprised by the "lost waistline" from the belly expansion immediately post surgery, but found for me it was temporary. The surgeon had told me I might have pain from the abdominal expansion gas in shoulder or elsewhere which I didn't but didn't realize the sense of lost waistline. It probably startled me since no matter what weight I was, I always had a waistline. Probably connected to my self esteem. I was surprised that things I thought I would like to eat post-surgery like a certain bariatric snack bar ended up not tasting so great (too sweet and dense), and other things I disliked pre-surgery like the bars with wafers in them, actually tasted great post-surgery. I wasn't told that I would burp a lot after eating and I do. Seems like others on this board do as well. I was told about the 64 oz of liquid at least daily, and found it is tough to get it all in. I didn't expect my bellybutton incision to be a chronic pain for awhile but it also was temporary. I found I loved being able to take a shower. Washing my hair and self was excellent post-surgery, very therapeutic. I bought myself a special bar of soap infused with my favorite perfume for the hospital. When I started soft food stage, I started with a part of a crab cake warmed up. It was delicious and I tolerated it well. I love crab, too, and had been craving it.

Mine healed fine. If you are having issues with healing prior to surgery from other abrasions or cuts with your healing then I would suggest telling your surgeon ahead of time. I have never had trouble with wound-healing, and I didn't post surgery either. The nice thing is pre-surgery I was on a diabetic medication that cost $500-600 every three months or close to $200 monthly. I emerged from surgery with my blood-sugars under control daily. Mostly I run 102-105 blood sugars every day since surgery (lowest 92-94, highest 115-117). I am off any medications. Now that I am starting more exercise, I will monitor for low blood sugars! Hoping things go well for you.

Congrats on your compliments and your success! I remember going on a plane trip and having to ask for a seatbelt extender. When I travel again, I will feel like you - able to buckle up with room to spare.

This looks good. I will try it out this week. I might try it using Cream of Wheat or wheatina another time, too.

I looked up a Will rogers quote for you - looking it up to get it right. It came in this context on the internet with this paragraph. I think it applies: [ Legitimately earned self-esteem comes from performing well, because you have worked so hard to reach the top. It means you have developed your natural talents to their optimal point. The kind that Will Rogers was talking about when he said, “If you done it, it ain’t bragging.” ] Congrats on taking the VSG and running with it - it was just a tool and you have used it well! Will Rogers also reportedly said: you might be on the right track, but you aren't going anywhere if you just sit there. Congrats on YOUR efforts to be your best!

Hey, congrats! Glad you were perseverant. Good luck on your procedure.