moregoodtimes

I add various mio and dasani flavors in mine and whip it up...yum!

Welcome! Are you in a local support group? Perhaps making that connection now would give you, not only support for you through this journey, but also a connection to a local person willing to give you a lift home, or at least ride in a cab with you. Best of luck.

Glad you are doing well. I always enjoy your posts.

I used to eat it all the time before going on the reduction plan for surgery. While purging my cabinets, I had it once while on preop plan and nearly fainted when I put it in MFP. The carbs and calories were not worth the little bit of protein it had. I think I'll have to wait on it until maintenance. I'm trying to stick to butterthebean's formula... 10:1 Calories:Protein ex..200 calories/20g protein Quinoa at 28:1, for me, just does not "fit" right now.

I'm currently on day 4 of liquids. I also have a calorie limit so I want as few calories and as much protein as possible for post op. I like Premier shakes.. 30g protein plus easy for me to grab at Costco. I also have added two clear drinks. Cytosport.. I got the tangerine. It has 32g protein, 2 carbs and 120 calories. And the very tastiest one I've found is Designer Whey Blast.. love the grape.. It has 120 cal, 1 carb and 30 protein. The drinks seem to work for me while at my job. I drink the shakes down quickly, but I kind of nurse the drinks along more like sipping a soda now and then. I am fighting the hungry feeling today.. first 3 days went easily. I think the drinks stick longer and I don't think about needing to eat while I sip along on them. In addition to these, I'm doing broth..I found miso broth at Whole Foods, along with beef, chicken and veggie from anywhere. That hot flavorful broth for dinner is really working.. kind of a calm down time and I feel nourished without the extra calories... that's all in my head, but it's working for now. Other than the above, I do lots of herb teas... chamomile, white, green, etc..and I have a big water bottle in my hand and in my car at all times. I think I'm more afraid of getting hungry and blowing it than really being hungry. I am a bit worried about the upcoming weekend. I think work keeps me busy so I don't think about.. am I hungry, is it time to drink some protein so I won't get hungry...yada yada... I also have Isopure (those here call it Isopuke) but I can drink any drink and any shake with no complaints right now. That may change after surgery. I also have Unjury and Nectars but am going saving on them for post op. So that's my current plan... who knows how I'll change it up by the time I get through 2 weeks of this! Best of luck to you.

Yep...it is worth asking doc about making "an arrangement" with you. I had to wait and switch insurance at open enrollment time, but surgeons office said, at the first appt, that if I ended up with no coverage to make sure to talk to them and not just disappear. Good luck... Truly wish you the best. Hang in there...you never know what is just around the corner.

Not excited about surgery....then be excited about your future! In your mind "see" yourself doing some new activities you have always wanted to experience. Find a favorite future visualization and every time you find youself thinking about old failues and the past... Chuck that thought and refocus on the positive! Train your brain to have more positive thoughts than negative. You have identified the problem so take an action to change it rather than dwell on it. Best wishes to you. I hope you feel better soon.

I got that same call last friday. I was so apprehensive when i saw their name come up and then the coordinator who called wanted to say hi and how are you, etc, etc... I am thinking... Ugh..must be a denial since she is taking so long to share why she was calling. She then up and says...we have your insurance approval! I was doing the happy dance around my kitchen and saying thank you, thank you! Quite exciting day! Congratz to you and best wishes!

When youre really ready, you know you are without question. That does not mean you dont have any concerns or fears but you know youve exhausted all other efforts and your health depends on it. Two years ago when the thought entered my head to get wls, it scared me and i decided to eat healthy and exercise. I lost and gained back yet again. I now know with certainty that this is right for me. Good luck in your search to find whats right for you.

Best of luck to you. I was a lurker here as well for several months before joining and posting a few times. I have a Jan 30th date also so we'll do this together! I do have a two week pre op requirement of clear fluids and 3-4 shakes a day and then 3 weeks of clear liquids post surgery. I have a feeling the preop liquids is going to be a lot tougher than the postop weeks! Post to the january sleevers also. There are a bunch of us on the 30th.

It also comes in chocolate peanut butter as well. Mine was a little less than $6.00 as well.

We have a chain of health food stores called Moms in our area, as well as Whole Foods and Trader Joes who carry it. Or order from bellplantations.com...they make it. It is dangerously good!

Way to go!

You have plenty of time to make a final decision. Stop worrying and start researching! Read new and old posts on this site. Read all the research you can find about this surgery. Read so much about the process, how it works and why it works that you can rattle off the facts to your friends and family. Start keeping articles in your favorites and write down info you want to remember. Get myfitnesspal up and running and start thinking about your future, your goals for your life and make a plan to acquire everything you want. Getting everyone's input put here is good, but in the end... You have to make the decision. Use the next few months wisely and by summer you will have clarity. Wishing you the very best!

Good morning davius.. You came to the right site for support. Wishing you an easy time of it today. Stay in touch with us. Try to post on theJanuary sleevers thread also so we willall know how today went for you. It is obvious you are ready for this and will be successful!

Wow! Fantastic job! Wishing you continued success.

It has collegen and 12 g of carbs for those 20 gr of protein. I am totally a newbie, but i think there are better options. Let's see what those with more experience say.

You go girl! Gosh...sooo inspiring!

Already posted on the other January thread but wanted to post here too. I GOT MY INSURANCE APPROVAL LETTER TODAY! I am scheduled for January 30th! I absolutely cannot wait!! Good luck and success to all of us!

WOOT !! Got my insurance approval letter in the mail today. I'm scheduled for January 30th! I'm soooo excited! I have a big ole list of things I want to buy tomorrow. I'd been holding out until approval but two week clear liquid preop begins in a few days and I'm so ready to get going! I did order my tummy supporter and it came today as well. Good luck to everyone!!

Great job Kansas!

Hallelujah!!! Cheri, I am soooo glad someone said all this! I heard about WLS back in July/August 2012 and began doing research. I educated myself on the various types and then dug deeper into the band and VSG. I attend a seminar to learn more and decided VSG was best for me. In my digging for every site I could find on VSG, I ran across VST! YEAH!! I only read for two solid months before joining and making an initial post. I sat nearly every evening for a couple of hours and read new posts while taking notes on various major topics. I now have a notebook filled with what to do before, during and after the surgery. This past month, I have prayed that you would NOT leave this forum. I have watched several of those who post with quality, thoughtful answers slow down with their posts and then seldom or never post again. I miss missdiva and especially lollyfiddy – just to name a few. I love that you, OTR and butterthebean (as well as many others) who have hung in there for those of us who need you. We probably don’t support you as well as we should, so I am taking this opportunity to say a huge thank you and beg you to hang in a bit longer. Your input has been invaluable and I’m betting there are many like me who seldom post but soak up all your good info. A few months ago I began trying to figure out why this site had changed so much since I first began reading. I started hearing people who were within days of surgery, and even just post-surgery, ask some very basic questions, which, had they read about this surgery for even an hour, would have known the answers. I kept being shocked at the questions, the lack of knowledge, and the lack of support from the doctors as well. My conclusion is that this surgery has become so popular that the numbers have exploded and (this one is going to irritate some, but here we go) those less experienced in solving life’s problems – the young, the oblivious and those who feel entitled ( the world owes me) are headed to the surgeon’s table thinking this is a breeze. They never get the part that this is a complete life style change REQUIRING the individual to participate in its success. (here’s my disclaimer – yes some in those mentioned categories will succeed and many seemingly educated, dedicated and responsible people will fail – read through the words and try to get my meaning please) I’m really trying to figure out the very obvious change I see with the postings the past 3-4 months. As an aside – Dr. Oz had a segment on.. I think in October maybe and he said he could not believe more doctors were not recommending WLS and why more people were not asking for it. He has huge influence on sales of anything he mentions! Maybe… The surgeons are certainly not going to turn these bucks.. I mean unhealthy people.. away and more and more doctors and surgery groups are and will be cropping up to meet the demand – without providing the proper info and without doing all the extra testing and after care that helps to ensure a successful surgery. Example – Family of 3 – mom, dad and grown daughter - come to the same seminar I attended. All 3 had sodas and passed a big bag of corn curls back and forth, rattling the bag and crunching during the presentation. The doctor talked about the life style changes you should make after the surgery and mentioned regular walking. The mom immediately huffed and whined… “I really don’t like walking and do as little of it as possible.” I am betting that one of them if not all, have had the surgery by now. I hope they are successful, but I’m not sure I saw the level of commitment and willingness to change that long-term success requires. I think there will be more and more people coming to these sites seeking help so I do hope those with true knowledge and experience will stay for those of us who have done our homework and want to hear the truth. And people, please go into this fully informed… read, read, read. Watch the videos of the surgery online. Commit to the program which means when you are in the losing phase, don’t eat or drink the crap you used to just because you’re in the solids phase. It could be a long haul so either leave the old habit in the dust permanently or figure out how you will manage small indulgences that “fit” into your maintainence plan. This is a temporary tool requiring your total focus and participation if you want to have life-long success. Just my 2 cents… take it or leave it. Hallelujah!!! Cheri, I am soooo glad someone said all this! I heard about WLS back in July/August 2012 and began doing research. I educated myself on the various types and then dug deeper into the band and VSG. I attend a seminar to learn more and decided VSG was best for me. In my digging for every site I could find on VSG, I ran across VLT! YEAH!! I only read for two solid months before joining and making an initial post. I sat nearly every evening for a couple of hours and read new posts while taking notes on various major topics. I now have a notebook filled with what to do before, during and after the surgery. This past month, I have prayed that you would NOT leave this forum. I have watched several of those who post with quality, thoughtful answers slow down with their posts and then seldom or never post again. I miss missdiva and especially lollyfiddy – just to name a few. I love that you, OTR and butterthebean (as well as many others) who have hung in there for those of us who need you. We probably don’t support you as well as we should, so I am taking this opportunity to say a huge thank you and beg you to hang in a bit longer. Your input has been invaluable and I’m betting there are many like me who seldom post but soak up all your good info. A few months ago I began trying to figure out why this site had changed so much since I first began reading. I started hearing people who were within days of surgery, and even just post-surgery, ask some very basic questions, which, had they read about this surgery for even an hour, would have known the answers. I kept being shocked at the questions, the lack of knowledge, and the lack of support from the doctors as well. My conclusion is that this surgery has become so popular that the numbers have exploded and (this one is going to irritate some, but here we go) those less experienced in solving life’s problems – the young, the oblivious and those who feel entitled ( the world owes me) are headed to the surgeon’s table thinking this is a breeze. They never get the part that this is a complete life style change REQUIRING the individual to participate in its success. (here’s my disclaimer – yes some in those mentioned categories will succeed and many seemingly educated, dedicated and responsible people will fail – read through the words and try to get my meaning please) I’m really trying to figure out the very obvious change I see with the postings the past 3-4 months. As an aside – Dr. Oz had a segment on.. I think in October maybe and he said he could not believe more doctors were not recommending WLS and why more people were not asking for it. He has huge influence on sales of anything he mentions! Maybe… The surgeons are certainly not going to turn these bucks.. I mean unhealthy people.. away and more and more doctors and surgery groups are and will be cropping up to meet the demand – without providing the proper info and without doing all the extra testing and after care that helps to ensure a successful surgery. Example – Family of 3 – mom, dad and grown daughter - come to the same seminar I attended. All 3 had sodas and passed a big bag of corn curls back and forth, rattling the bag and crunching during the presentation. The doctor talked about the life style changes you should make after the surgery and mentioned regular walking. The mom immediately huffed and whined… “I really don’t like walking and do as little of it as possible.” I am betting that one of them if not all, have had the surgery by now. I hope they are successful, but I’m not sure I saw the level of commitment and willingness to change that long-term success requires. I think there will be more and more people coming to these sites seeking help so I do hope those with true knowledge and experience will stay for those of us who have done our homework and want to hear the truth. And people, please go into this fully informed… read, read, read. Watch the videos of the surgery online. Commit to the program which means when you are in the losing phase, don’t eat or drink the crap you used to just because you’re in the solids phase. It could be a long haul so either leave the old habit in the dust permanently or figure out how you will manage small indulgences that “fit” into your maintainence plan. This is a temporary tool requiring your total focus and participation if you want to have life-long success. Just my 2 cents… take it or leave it.

My doc requires liquid 2 weeks preop and 2 weeks postop. I'm also starting an additional week early because they think there might be an opening a week earlier to offer me but I had to be willing to start liquids early just in case. I worry about 3 full weeks of liquids preop but am going to try to keep protein very high and do lots of other liquids, along with lots of house cleaning and getting some work for my job done in advance so the time off won't be so impactful. I'm praying for some decent weather to maybe get some extra outside walking in. If anyone knows of other strategies to help, please share! Good luck to us! Here's hoping the time flies by!