Chancie

Thanks Vegas..... I think I needed to hear that. But am on the "wagon" again... I've got 12 pounds to lose by the 1st- it might be too much to do in such a short time, but I'm gonna try! BTW- I wanted to tell you how great you are lookin'!!! Keep up the good work!!

WOOO HOO DeeDee!!! Good for you!! Isn't it great??? I can't wait to be where you are, and I'm with VA- when I hit ONEderland......cartwheels!!! Well...... maybe not, don't wanna hurt the tiny hinney!!!:001_tongue:ha ha hahahaaaaaaa

WOW- thats gotta be heartbreaking and scarry! But as the others have siad.... it happened for a reason and now you know whats going on, you can also go forward. Keep us posted on your progress. Wishing you the best.

JoAnn- I don't have any advice or information- just wanted to let you know I'm thinking of you! It really is a shame with these insurance companies... don't they realize this is like preventive medicin? All the comorbidies that go along with extra weight........ It's frustrating!! Keep up the positive attitude! I'm sure there will be someone to come along and answer your questions.

I'm only posting recipes that I've tried... I tried this one tonight, with brocolli and rice.. wasn't too bad, and even you guys that are early out can probably eat this too... if you shred your chicken real small like I did.... Ingredients 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves 1 can healthy request cream of mushroom Soup 1 8 oz package reduced fat cream cheese 1.5 cups of Water 1 packet good season italian dressing mix Directions Add chicken, water and good seasons to your crockpot, let cook for 4 hours on low. About 1 hour before serving pull chicken out of fluids and shred. Add back chicken, add cream cheese and cream of mushroom soup, mix well. Serve of egg noodle, rice or veggies. Delish! Number of Servings: 4 Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user MEGANTRIS. Number of Servings: 4 Nutritional Info ? Servings Per Recipe: 4 ? Amount Per Serving ? Calories: 308.4 ? Total Fat: 13.3 g ? Cholesterol: 104.5 mg ? Sodium: 571.1 mg ? Total Carbs: 9.5 g ? Dietary Fiber: 0.5 g ? Protein: 34.1 g

Cajun- you sound like I was- was very hard for me to get in my protein- I was very sick the first few months. I still use protein drinks to get in my protein. I'm also glad that you mentioned the hair loss.... I never dreamed it would haopen to me. but at 5 months out it DID!! I was taking no precautions because I always had a thick head of hair. I'd reccomend anyone that had weight loss surgery to take extra hair and nails vitamins, and I also started using a topical solution of Minoxidil- Generic at Wal-mart and I can see a difference! I ended up cutting my hair a bit shorter and I can see a difference lots of new hair groth.

GREAT responce guys!! Getting me motivated too Susan!! I'm gonna be under 200 pounds for your Birthday toooooooooooo!!! Before I logged on, I already made my eating plan for the day, and did my morning exercises...... I AM SERIOUS- getting back to basics. I think alot of my problem is I have gotten too comfortable at the weight I'm at now. I'm in a size 14 pants which I havn't seen in MANY years...... and going from a highest weight of 373- welll--- I FEEL almost skinny... I know it sounds crazy. I don't want to stay at this weight, but it is such an improvement to where I was.... does that make any sence at all???? So I'm shooting for 199 by Nov. 1st!

I'm one of those that WANTS to see my surgen. My PCP was one of his patients too... so I use both of them. My surgen has BLISS insurance and it hasn't cost me a thing to see him, and I have insurance that pays for my PCP visits- so why wouldn't I use them both??? I was never on prilosex, but after the first month my surgen gave me Nexium. I only take it when I need it. I needed it the first month or two- infact- I just got my script filled. I wanna know its there IF I do need it. I don't know why they want to ween you off.. but some docs just don't like to dispence ANY kinda drug- and Phenegan is one of them. One of my docs in the past did that too. only 12 pills! Hope you get things sorted. why not try to change docs? do you have that option?

Stoongal hit the nail on the head..... said about everything. I brought my personal night gowns, but ended up just using the hospital gowns. Only suggestion I could make was to take your measurments the night before- you will be amazed at the difference!! Keep a journal, with measurements, food experiences etc. Will be thinking of you!

Yay!! Congratulations! You will do just fine and the jitters is common! Will be thinking of you tomorrow...... and let us know how you are!

Yesssssssssss!! WE CAN DO IT!!

Thanks everyone....... I guess I'm handeling it better than I thought.... I'm greatful I was wearing my seatbelt....got a bad habit that when I go home at night I forget it. but had it on. Just waiting for the insurance adjuster to call me, and trying to get a rental....... sighhhhhh here's a pic, got lucky that it didn't flip up and come thru the windshield!

I know what you mean about recipes making tooo much! This one wasn't too bad, and my son is here, so that helps. But usually when i cook something that makes alot, I freeze some or I live on it for the week....take to work for lunch and have for dinner. I know alot of people get bored with this, but I HATE to waste food! It's probably what got me in trouble in the first place!

Thin- When you wrote about drinking all in one swig....... THAT was me TOO! I could suck the bottom outta a beer in no time flat! A 2 liter of coke was nothing to be gone QUICKLY! That was one of my biggest concerns prior to surgery..... can I "Sip"? Yes.......I CAN!! And I wasn't all too crazy about water, but now, if I don't have one in my hands I feel like something is "missing" LOL I always make sure I have one when I drive, and I drink so much water ( with crystal light in it ) I usually pack 2. You will get the hang of it, just like me and all the others have. I don't know if you read my story at all, but I had doubts too, and researched for 3 years, not wanting to spend the money, but ended up being a self pay and now wish I had done it 10 years ago! You'll do just fine!!!

Do I regret anything??? NO WAY!! Do I regret being able to wear a size 14 pants instead of a "stretch" 4X?? Go from a size 5X to a XL/1X??? Do I regret being able to eat a 'normal/smaller portions of food' and feel FULL??? Do I regret being able to tie my shoe? Do I regret being able to exercise?? THOSE are just the "cosmetic" points of view.... Do I regret having normal BP? Normal Sugars?? Normal Cholestorol? Normal breathing? Normal or above normal activity level? Nope. I would do it again in a heart beat! The only regret I have is not having it done sooner....... but I have it now, and have to work at it every day, but it is worth it!

I think we all do things differently... yep. I ate like a pig too on my first consult....... but I "KNEW" I wasn't gonna get the surgery..... I went to 3 or 4 seminars before I knew it was "right" and final and going thru with it. And when that happened, I tried to do right, but ended up binging one day. felt soooo guilty. But I had the surgery, and its not a sure fire quick fix.. we have to work out why we eat like we do.... I struggle everyday.... not gonna try to lie about it. I still struggle.......

Saying HELLO!!!:welcome: Welcome!! glad you have a date! It's all downhill now! Long wait you went thru, but I did the same thing ( the wait ) and finnally ended up self paying........ glad you had the patience!

Gotta admit. I use to always use milk in my coffee. but I like HOT coffee... and the milk always cooled it too much for me. so I went to creamers. Since my VSG...I had quit coffee about a year prior, but now drink it in the morning, but I use my protein drink in it. I use the whey protein cookies n' cream and it is YUMMMMMMY!!! Get my coffee "fix" and my protein all at once, I can't eat breakfast, but am trying to make sure I get in my 3 meals a day, it works for me.

WOW- I hadn't seen this before! I'm gonna look for these too~!

I'm not new. am 7 months out, but maybe you ate too fast?? I didn't/still haven't had watermelon, but i do rember eating yogurt.. took me awhile, and only ate about 1/2, but it was almost like a treat to me. I'd have to look thru my journals, but I don't believe I ate anything real early out.

Hi Bob!! Good to see you!! And true to form..... you had me laughing!! "Never trust a fart" Glad you still have your sence of humor, even with what you're going thru, but WOW..... your weight loss is GREAT! Yea....... we gotta go thru some crap, but it's worth it.....I hope you're doing better!! keep us posted!

I don't know why I didn't read this before, but it sounds easy enough to make and I'm on a "soup" kick right now...... gonna give it a whirl!

That kinda sounds like an urban myth.... Alot of the reasons the doctors don't want us drinking anything crbonated is that it stretches the stomach..... and we don't want that do we?? I've posted before that I have an addictive personality, that I steer away from my "trigger" foods, It wasn't unusuall for me to drink a 12 pack of diet coke in 2 days...... havn't had one since Dec. and I don't miss it and don't think Ill go back. I've learned never to say never...... but thats my plan.

I think we're all friends here.. but sometimes we "connect" with different people, and being their friends sometimes makes it easier to talk in private about some issues. We might 'share" on the boards, but sometimes we might have the same issues or concerns as another.