keldolbeth

I'm trying to find some low carb recipes for holiday parties. I'm specifically looking for a low carb brownie recipe. I've found several online but I'm just wondering if anyone has their own recommendations from ones they have tried. Many of them require very specific ingredients I would have to pay a lot for at a specialty store and I don't want to waste my money. I am going to be making things for non-ops but I want something I can enjoy as well. I figure the more dishes I bring to a party the more options I have to eat! lol I don't like being limited! Also, anyone know of direct substitutions for baking to cut out carbs? I'm wondering if I could just use Atkins baking mix, carbquick, almond meal, etc in a recipe for a normal dessert. So, what has worked for you and your holiday sweet tooth?

Yesterday I had what was thought to be a gallbladder attack. I experienced a quick onset of severe chest pain, shortness of breath, tingling in my hands and arms, and sweating. It was very scary. I ended up calling 911 because I could not get a hold of anyone to take me to the ER. While in the ER, they ruled out all cardiac issues, as well as blood clots. All of my blood work was normal. The PA said to get a hida scan to check gallbladder functionality. I had an EGD and ultrasound a few months ago for a similar, but not as severe, problem. The chest pain finally went away 15 hours later but I'm left with a dull, but extreme, soreness throughout my upper body. It hurts to walk, just from my weight pulling on my rib cage and back. I haven't eaten much today but, when I have, I've felt a new pain. It's like I can feel the food traveling down my esophagus and shortly after it hits my stomach I feel a quick sharp pain. So while I'm eating I get waves of these pains. I'm 6 months post-op so I know the risk of a leak is slim to none but when I told my mom (an RN) about this new pain today she's now thinking it's something sleeved related. Plus, all of the symptoms I've had go for both gallbladder and sleeve problems. Has anyone heard of (or had) complications at 6 months out? What about gallstones? Are these symptoms accurate? By the way, I'm calling for my hida scan in the morning (office was closed for the holiday). And after that, I will call my surgeon. I had to include that because I know that's usually the first response people get on here. lol Just looking for other experiences. I've searched a little through the boards and haven't found anything that helps.

So I'm not going to be able to have my hida scan until Monday. I hope this pain goes away before then.

This is a big NSV I'm hoping for! I've been thinking about it for months. I have to renew my license on my birthday this year (March 7th) and I'm 22 pounds from the weight on there now. I want to be at that weight when I renew in a few months. I'm 6 months out and have slowed to an average of 10-11 lbs/month so I'm going to be cutting it close but I'm really hoping!

Well, I think just about everyone in here should have hit the 6 month surgiversary by now... so anyone care to share an update? I was sleeved 6/25 so Christmas was a big day for me... I could drink! lol I've had a few drinks before now but it's nice to know I'm finally "allowed." My sister turned 21 on 6/26 so we promised to do a shot together on Christmas, the first time we could drink together. That's the picture below. And we discovered I've lost exactly the weight of her... 142 lbs! I'll share more once others start to!

I'm in a similar situation, although I'm not quite as close to goal. We've been dating 3 months and I always think about telling him but I worry after this long he's suspected or figured it out. I mention often losing weight, working out, low carb, hoping he will ask questions but he doesn't. He has seen old pictures of me too. I've lost 30-35 lbs since I've met him but he hasn't said anything. He's a nurse and he has seen me naked so I'm sure the scars tipped him off. To me, my weight loss shows on my body but since I still have a lot to lose he may not realize it. I am also more insecure now than I was 135 pounds ago, which was one of my biggest fears with VSG. I also think it's because I worry he's a little out of my league. He's so much hotter than any guy I've ever dated.

Thanks, ladies! Keep it coming if you find anymore.

The other night my boyfriend and I were cuddling on the couch and he had his head on my chest. Out of nowhere he said "you must be in a good shape." I said "HUH?" He repeated himself. I still didn't know what he meant but I never thought I'd hear those words in my life! He said "your heart rate is ___. That's really healthy." (I don't remember what it was exactly.) Yes, he's a nerd. But he's also a cardiology nurse. He knows I've lost weight but not about the VSG. I'm five months post-op and I've known him for less than 3. I keep saying I'm going to tell him but I always chicken out when I'm with him. I've lost 130 and still have probably 90 pounds to lose but after 28+ years of being obese I NEVER expected to hear myself described as "in good shape." However, I have noticed a decrease in my heart rate. I check it before, during and after a work out. I love the NSVs!!! There are so many you anticipate and look forward to and yet still so many you can't even imagine. I hope VSG has positively impacted your life as much as it has mine!

Yeah, I'm kinda thinking he knows by now. He's seen me naked plenty so I'm sure he's noticed the scars. He hasn't noticed too much about my eating but I haven't been as good around him though. I've lost 30 pounds since I've known him. AND, being a nurse, I'm sure he would suspect it more than most!

I've lost 130 and it's just now starting to happen. But I also upped my workouts recently and have a desk job. A lot of sitting can cause tight hips. I found this on Pinterest and it has really helped! I usually do #4, 6, 7, 8, 10 before and after I get on the treadmill. When I first stand up after the stretches I'm in a lot of pain but after a few minutes on the treadmill I feel really good. I also have a few strengthening exercises I learned when I was in physical therapy two years ago for a knee injury. They said strengthening my hips and quads can help the knees too. A week ago I could barely lift my leg it hurt so badly. Readjustment takes time but, in the meanwhile, try some stretches! http://www.fitsugar.com/Basic-Stretches-Tight-Hips-3130483

I will be 5 months out as of tomorrow and I'm down 63 pounds. I've been stalled for a while now. Frustrating, but ~13 pounds a month is good with me. Just remember, slower losers have less skin problems! That's what I keep telling myself.

My CNP said "as soon as you feel up to it." I did 10 days post-op. I probably would have been fine sooner but I didn't have the chance. I was single at the time.

I had that issue too... I couldn't get the numbers exactly where I wanted them to be. I'm almost 5 months out and have mine set at 1,000 calories. Once I input 75g protein it made my carbs 63g, which my NUT said 45-60 anyway so it's not a huge deal. But, yeah, I had that same issue.

This is one of my planned rewards for when I get close to goal (or comfortable enough to go). I've never done it but it'll be nice not to have to maintain myself! Although, oddly enough, it's becoming easier to do the more weight I lose since I can actually kinda see "down there."

I live in Dayton but was sleeved in Cincinnati 6/25.

Does anyone know if Atkins baking mix and Carbquik are interchangeable in recipes? I recently went to a health food store and found both but opted to go with Atkins because it had Protein. Now a lot more of the recipes I find use Carbquik instead. I could easily go buy it but I don't want my Atkins stuff to go to waste. All I've used it for is pancakes so far. I've googled and can't find many recipes when I feel like I saw plenty before and never saved them. So does anyone have any recipes using Atkins baking mix? Specifically I'm looking for something to satisfy my sweet tooth and that will taste good to my boyfriend too. He eats like crap and I'm trying not to let him bring me down.

I've been hooked on Morningstar Farms classic grillers. Never thought I'd be a veggie burger person but they are good! And they are thin so I can eat almost a whole one, which is 15g of Protein. Add a slice of cheese and reduced sugar ketchup. Also, I love the chicken sausage too. Emeril's are my fave but they about 1.5x as expensive as Johnsonville. Plus, Jville microwave better. I add a little spaghetti/pizza sauce and parmesan cheese. Mmm! Tyson and Perdue have come out with lightly breaded chicken nuggets and strips. I want to say 5-6g of carbs for 3 oz. These three items are my most popular "quick foods." As a single woman with no kids sometimes it's hard to get motivated to cook for one person Another tip, pack your lunch the night before! It's a difficult routine to get into but I make sure I put together a lunch-sized portion of my leftovers to just grab and go in the morning. I keep laughing cow and cheese sticks stocked in the communal fridge at work. I usually have nuts, Protein Bar and Peanut Butter in my desk. There's no one solution for everyone so just find what works for you!

I'm four months post-op and (knock on wood) have not noticed much, if any, hair loss yet. My nails have been a mess so I was assuming my hair would thin out too but so far, so good. And I can't say I've done anything extra special to conserve it. I'm probably jinxing myself right now. Anyway, I had hair almost to the middle of my back and two days before surgery I chopped it off... well, to about shoulder length. It was the change and new beginning thing, not the concern of hair loss. I needed to feel different in as many ways as possible. I've had it short since and over the weekend I went even shorter, a chin-length bob. Again, not because of hair loss fears. I'm such a different person compared to a year or even six months ago, in so many ways. I want as many reminders as possible.

I never posted about this because I thought my insomnia was from something else! I'm 4 months post-op but for the first 6-8 weeks I had very little energy during the day and couldn't sleep at night. I wasn't sure what was the cause and what was the effect. I'm a teacher so I'm used to getting into a weird sleep pattern over the summer so I thought maybe that was it but this summer it seemed a little extreme. There were some nights I couldn't sleep, even after melatonin, and I'd go to the gym to swim laps at 4am. Then I would stress about not sleeping if I had to get up early or was sleeping with someone else. That just made it worse. I do think the melatonin eventually helped. I also tried to some relaxation techniques too. I found that I needed to "wind down" before bed, turn lights, tv, computer, etc off, then maybe read or listen to some soft music. Good luck! But I think things should return to normal.

TMI doesn't bother me! This has been discussed around here before anyway. I noticed a difference sexually as soon as I started losing weight (pre-op) but the penetration thing didn't become an issue until I was 80+ pounds down. The first time I hooked up with my friend with benefits post-op it hurt tremendously. He's used to being able to just got to town but I had to tell him to ease up or stop a few times. Afterward I told him I was mad because he "punched my cervix." lol It was a crazy difference. I saw him twice post-op, with the same problem each time. The guy I'm currently dating (and no longer seeing aforementioned guy) is very skinny but still well-endowed. I am -125lb now so there's a HUGE difference. I haven't had any pain due to depth issues (he's not as big as FWB) but I get a deeper feeling because he's narrower than what I'm used to and there's less of me to get through. The sex has been amazing! I know it's a combination of the weight loss and the chemistry. It's been a long time since I've been with a guy I liked and cared about this much. And only better things to come, my dear!

This happened to me at work a few weeks ago. Wasn't sure if it was a bone or a muscle. Now I walk and stand with my hands on my hips all the time! I think my student must think I'm always in a bad mood now... just the opposite!

BSV- big scale victory!!! I've made it to TWO-TERVILLE (such an odd name) and never going back!!! This happened anout a week ago but I kept forgetting to take a picture. Yes, I wanted to take a picture of my scale! lol I haven't been in the 200's since I was probably 15 or 16. I still feel like such a big girl because I have the same shape but just smaller. A fair amount of family and friends know about my surgery but none of them know my numbers so I feel like this is the only safe place to share. NSV- You can actually see my dimples when I smile now! NSV- My father and I have now lost about the same amount of weight (around 115lbs). He's not a WLS but lost a lot with Atkins years ago, gained half of it back. Then his doctor put him on a plan called Bella Nutra. He lost what he gained back and then some. I really hope he can keep it off because he's almost 60 and I really worry for him. There's a lot of obesity and heart disease in our family. Anyway, this is the skinniest I've seen him in my entire life so I had to get a picture of our accomplishment.

I'm 5'9".

I've made this for Fathers Day and Labor Day. I used all sugar-free items and strawberries instead of Butterfinger. You could do some SF chocolate chips or candy if you wanted chocolate. I also bought SF snack pack pudding because I'm lazy. It was great! http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Butterfinger-Dessert-Weight-Watchers-4-Ww-Pts-Recipezaar Just this week I bought a SF angel food cake bar/loaf at Kroger. I've been cutting a small slice, putting some Torani Caramel syrup, SF chocolate chips and almonds or pecans on top. Heating it up for a few seconds and it is amazing!!! I thought about sprinkling some chocolate Protein powder on it but haven't tried that yet.