DanaInNewOrleans

Just wanted to share some ideas I came across that I really think will help me with the shake thing. I'm sure the sleeve veterans know these things but maybe some newbies could use the info. I was digging around here last night trying to find different opinions/ideas on Protein shakes -- I'm supposed to be doing Prescriptfit right now per NUT but I just cannot stomach them. Too frothy and slimy and gross. So that means in less than a week I'm already disobeying instructions I've always thought the Atkins RTD shakes were the best around and I could drink them with no trouble. No slime, no bubbles, no froth. The Premier Shakes are good too. I have pretty much decided that I'll have to just circumvent the NUT if I wanted to be able to be successful and get enough protein after surgery. I just put my Atkins Mocha Latte in my little personal blender with 1 tablespoon of sugar free banana cream pudding and about an inch of fresh banana and it came out awesome! The only problem I'm seeing is that I only have had half of it and I am stuffed. The Atkins shakes have 15 grams of protein. After surgery I will only be able to sip, sip, sip, sip -- 1 shake will take me all day! I cannot figure out how people can realistically get in the amount of protein they want you to have in the first few weeks(months) after surgery. I've seen people mention "high quality protein" here. I have no idea how to tell the difference. I didn't even know there was a difference so I have no idea if the Atkins shakes have quality protein. Also MegInNOLA posted about making her own Protein Shakes and smoothies because she never could tolerate the protein powders. She uses simple ingredients like Greek yogurt, egg whites, milk etc. Why that never occurred to me I'll never know. Thank you Meg!

Kimberly you look great already!!

Sending positive thoughts your way on getting your surgery next month! You're going to be a knockout -- you have a beautiful smile!!

That is hysterical!!! I LOVE IT! I did mix up some Prescriptfit earlier today in only 4oz of Soy Slender. It of course was still all slimy and frothy and gross so I held my breath took a big swig, swallowed, held my breath took a big swig swallowed... about 5 times. Each time I did it like I acted like I was belting back a bunch of pills all at once. Still gross but much quicker that actually sipping and drinking. The problem is after surgery I'm going to have to sip sip sip sip....gross.

Kimberly! If I could follow your path I would be the happiest and most grateful person! Congratulations!! Any secret to your success?

Hey Cheri, What shake did you finally find that you like?

I do hope that one day I'll be able to participate in family dinners, holidays, etc. This is New Orleans and EVERYTHING revolves around food ( the best food in the world too!). I'm not worried about portions-- I can handle tiny portions, I just want to be able to "have" it! My entire life I've thought ..if only there could be something that would make me not WANT to eat or COULDN'T eat --well, this is it! I intend to go to the support group too -- I'm going to start now before surgery.

First nutritionist appointment yesterday -- she was very nice and informative however she said something that kind of took me by surprise. She was looking at my stats -- weight, BMI.... She says ok, "lets see, you have one year to get 100 pounds off". I said yeah, that would be great. Then she says ." you only have a year to do this. This doesn't go on indefinitely, you only have about a year. After that, pretty much where you are is where you are going to stay". I must have had a surprised look on my face because she said again, kind of scolding --- "Yes, you have about a year do get off as much as you can because after that is where you'll stay". That is not the impression I've gotten from VST. I would say, yes, the majority of people lose the majority of their weight in the first year-- that makes sense, but there are many that are still losing after a year. Right? She was also very dramatic when I mentioned I was dreading the pureed/mushy. She said. "we're not doing anything to your teeth -- YOU CHEW" I do not want you pureeing food and only eating mush. I want you to CHEW your food until it is soft. And I DO NOT want you eating baby food, for Gods sake. All these people come here and say their pureering food - ridiculous! They need to use their teeth!" Thoughts? Dana

Thanks Angie, Are you happy with your decision? Any regrets?

Are doing something else in place of the shakes? I already don't like anything too sweet so I'm guessing this will affect me too.

Hi Raven, Yep, what I want most is to be basically invisible. Sounds crazy but I just want to blend in and no longer stand out.... My 90 days is up Nov 13 and I'm hoping for surgery at the end of November but that may be pushing it because of Thanksgiving. I wish I would have come to this decision a few months sooner.... My husband is from New York City and we are going to spend Christimas with his family. My in laws have not seen me since I've gained 40 pounds and I'm sick over having to see them even fatter than I was before.

I'm laughing out loud at your post! As far as I'm concerned they can take my stomach and burn it...hell, I think having a little ceremonial burn right there in the OR would be great. That damn thing has been the bane of my life.. I finally came to the realization that I cannot do it on my own. I have literally tried for 40 years. I just want an opportunity to live a normal life -- not just living physically a normal life but mentally normal too. Every one of my thoughts and decisions is filtered through my FAT. I can't take it anymore...I just want to be normal.

This is such a great post!! I'm looking forward to all the responses!! Thanks Dave

I just added a drop of almond extract to my Prescriptfit vanilla shake. My doc wants everyone to start on a diet plan before surgery. There were two to chose from -- My Weight and Prescriptfit. I chose Pres.criptfit because I already had two full containers ( at like $40 each) when I tried them 2 years ago. I'm a sales rep and the surgery group I'm using was my client so I was in the office all the time and decided to give Prescriptfit a chance. The flavor is not bad --- it the disgusting foaminess and sliminess. I tried adding 1/4 of a banana and I used Soy Slender instead of Water hoping that it would help the texture ( didn't help much). I think on my next appointment with the NUT I'm just going to have to tell her I will stick to a diet before surgery but it will have to be using Atkins shakes and Protein Bars. They have as much protein as the Prescriptfit. Prescriptfit's claim to fame apparently is it has a ton of amino acids as well as protein. The actual diet is 4 shakes a day and 1 food only (veggies, chicken, seafood, etc) for a week, then you pick another food for another week....and so on.

Yeah, that's what I thought! Darn!

lol... guess what? You're right! She is overweight!

This is definitely what she meant but my question to her (which she didn't really address) was what about the people who have to lose say 200 pounds -- is it reasonable to think they will lose 200 pounds in one year? I'm sure weight loss continues. I didn't mean to imply that I thought she meant," ok, year is over, you're done" I just was surprised that she came at it from almost a negative position instead of saying, hey the first year is where you will have the most success so lets make sure you get the most bang for your buck.

Is it my imagination that it seems like the guys here have an easier time as far as common complications after surgery? Maybe it's just because there are less guys here...lol.... but it seems like most say it was a piece of cake ( probably not a good analogy huh?) I don't hear them complaining much of nausea or pain. And they don't seem as food specific sensitive. Seems like they're running around quickly too.

I have a feeling based on my track record that I will be a slower loser than many here. I've just got to prepare myself and try not to compare --- that is where the disappointment comes in. Think about it -- if you had lost 79 pounds in a vacuum with no one else to compare to you would be ecstatic right?

I was thinking the same thing Cheri! 79 pounds is wonderful!!

www.VST.com Oh my Gawd! I'm obsessed with this place! When I wake up, I'M HERE. When I should be emptying the dishwasher, I'M HERE. When I should be trying to read my Weight Loss Surgery For Dummies book, I'M HERE. When I should be doing paperwork, I'M HERE. When I should be sleeping, I'M HERE. When I'm out with friends, I'm thinking about being HERE. When I'm out having dinner with my husband, I'm thinking, soon I will not be able to eat this, uh oh-lets get home so I can be HERE.....and on and on..... I'm thinking VST will play a large part in my journey.... LOL

When people talk about being in pain after they eat something...exactly what type of pain? Heartburn type, gas type, gall bladder type, heart attack type....LOL just trying to get an idea...

I second that Cheri!

I was just thinking about asking this same question! What is a concern to me is can it fail even if you follow the plan? I guess my fear is this.... I lost 160lbs doing low carb....over the last 5 years or so I've gained back 60-70lbs (depends on the month). I've never discontinued a low carb life. For the most part carbs are not a part of my life. I'm not saying that I didn't cheat here and there but I'm serious when I say that rice, Pasta, bread, potatoes are not a part of my everyday life..... I went back to very strict atkins...did not lose a pound. Decided ok, maybe by body has just become immune to atkins for losing weight because I've been doing low carb for over 10 years. So I tried Weight Watchers... I GAINED WEIGHT ON WEIGHT WATCHERS. Which I'm sure was because my body was sucking up those carbs like crazy because I had been on low carb for long. So, after that looong introduction to my question..... I'm concerned that my body has adjusted to low carb and less calories ( although I averaged 1400-1600 calories not the 600-800 calories with the sleeve) and that the surgery will not have much bang. I asked my surgeon and he said no, that this surgery completely resets " set points". He explained a little bit but I guess I'm still concerned. One of husband Jay's main concerns is that I will go through this as a " a last chance/resort and what if it doesn't work -- you will be crushed. And then what?" Also, I'm concerned that such low calories will screw up my metabolism even more. Anyone have any insight on this? Thanks!