920amy

I am terrible about breakfast. I have a pre mixed shake now every morning. I drink Rockin Refuel Muscle builder, it's made by Shamrock. 190 calories per bottle, and 30 g protein lactose free. If I don't grab one of those, breakfast is out the window unless it's a weekend and I go out with my husband.

Most of us do dairy because of the whey protein. It is one of the very best types of protein out there. The good news it, there are lactose free whey proteins, and their are lactose free ways, even vegan ways to get your protein in. One of my go to pre mixed shakes is 100% lactose free, but still has 30g protein. It's called Rockin Refuel Muscle builder, ti's made by shamrock, only comes in chocolate, is 190 calories. There are powders out there also, I jsut wanted to give you an example, but there are tons more. You will just have to look for them. I personally don't do much dairy, I feel like the calories are high for the protein trade off. It is possible to do this without lactose. Also, the Isopure drinks are lactose free. You'll find you're groove Best of luck!

Yay Amanda Rae!! You will do great! Good luck!! Can't wait to see you on the losers bench!! Congrats on making it!

A couple squeezes of lime livens it up. Also, if you make it enmasse (I usually boil up 3 gallons of broth at a time from bones) you can add rice, and the rice adds a slightly nutty flavor. skim it out before eating, or puree it if you want for a more intense flavor, but beware athe added calories and starch. Personally, I hated broth immediately after surgery, it was too salty for me, and I still can't stand chicken soup anything...It's strange, but your tastes will change after surgery.

So while our scars aren't really significant, or huge or overwhelming. They are kinda ugly, and well, they're scars. I know there are lots of remedies, and Bio Oil and mederma, but something I hadn't heard of before and am seeing results from is silicone sheets. I bought one, cut some patches and have been using them on the scars. All you do is peel the backs off (they're sticky) stick 'em on and go do your thing. They do need to be peeled off (they are not sticky like a band-aid, it doesn't hurt) and cleaned with soap and water and air dried (they stay sticky) and then re applied, but personally I've seen significant lightening of my scars since I've been using them. Just wanted to share

I bought my silicone sheet from Amazon. I had to cut it into patches myself, but they have ones that are cut specifically for certain types of scars, in case you get a tummy tuck, breast lift, etc. I've been only using them for a week now. I wish I would have taken before pics I'm about 4 months out, had not done any treating with anything, am very pale caucasian, and my scars started a very deep purple color. Now they are more of a mauve. they are still purple, but seem to be lightening significantly. I agree, I wonder what part of our scar healing is genetic, what is actually results from our therepies. I am happy with what the silicone is doing, so maybe others will have success too! I'm all about info sharing!

LOL. I didn't tell many people for that exact reason. My aunt, however, was talking to my mom and my mom told her she was proud of me because I'm losing weight and went from a 24 to a 14 already. My Aunt flipped out! She immediately called me up and was rude and snide and demanded to know what surgery I had because it would be impossible to lose that much weight without surgery, and why haven't I posted pictures if I've lost so much weight. She was SUCH a B*TCH, and all I could do...was laugh. I laughed so hard I actually teared up. I could not believe the icy disguist spewing from her mouth. My laughing didn't help at all. I never did tell her I did the sleeve, and now I probably never will. When people would offer me unsolicited advice, I just laugh and tell them thanks, I appreciate their thoughts. I think these people make their suggestions and comments because they are jealous, and scared that you might actually succeed while they...stay the same. Laughter is the best medicine, and it lets them know you don't take them seriously, because they are saying ridiculous things. Hold your chin up, ROCK that sleeve, and become the woman outside you've always been on the inside

It's ok. I really don't like the banana one, in my opinion, the calories are a little high for the protein. I actually drink Rockin refuel muscle builder, 30g protein for 190 calories, Not sure where you're located, they are distributed by Shamrock. The taste is similar to the muscle milk. Try it, 4.99 for 4 is a good deal!

Lol! It does I think because the broth is strained from their chicken and rice soup. One afternoon when I ordered it, it came out with rice and chicken chunks and carrots...I had to send it back but yes, you definately get a yummy rice taste to it. Also, ask for some lime slices to switch it up a bit. The broth with just a little lime squeezed in it is DIVINE! Congrats on getting sleeved!!

It looks like Obesity Help has some people that got Bariatric surgery through HIP in 2010, plan may have changed. I tried to google for you and found this old forum, maybe you can directly contact some of those members and ask about their experience? Good luck to you!! http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/IN/4251154/Healthy-Indiana-Plan/

Livinglifeout, My diet on an average day goes wake up, have a premixed protein shake. I drink Rockin Refuel Muscle builder, 190 calories, 30g protein. Then for lunch, I try to stick with only solid protein. Today, I went to an Italian restaurant with clients, and had an antipasta platter for lunch, so I had some procuitto, some mortadella, and salami, pecorino, asiago, and motzarella. I had about 1/2 a slice of each of meat and about 2 bites of each cheese. I also ate 4 olives, and a small piece of bread about 1/4 the size of my fist with some olive oil. Typically I only have protein though, like left over steak, or roast chicken. I can eat about 3-4 ounces of solid protein for lunch before I am full typically. If I have a snack, I will usually have beef jerky or sandwich meat. For dinner tonight I am having coq au vin (chicken) and I might have a few tablespoons or 1/4 of a cup of rice with it. I am usually around 700-800 calories in a day. I usually have solid protein and veggies for dinner. I track on MyFitnessPal, my username is 920amy if you use MyFitnessPal feel free to add me!

WalMart

I am 4 months out, just had my blood done, everything came out good, cholesterol is way lower than it had been before surgery, but now I am low on vitamin D. I think it's just because I am very anti-sun. At any rate, I am definately more protein geared now than I was before surgery, and my cholesterol levels have gone down.

Rollargirl, I also used alighterme, I had a great experience. I went to TJ though, but feel free to PM me if you have any questions I can answer for you. Congrats on your decision!!

Well, obviously, this is a Sleeve board We might be a LITTLE biased One thing I liked about the sleeve over bypass, is sleeve doesn't rearrange your inards. Less down time, and faster recovery. Another thing is taht Sleeve can act as a 'gate-way' surgery. Of course both surgeries are permanent, once you do it, you can't go back. BUT, if you do sleeve and then feel like you didn't acheive all your goals, you can without too much trouble be revised to by pass. With bypass, you cannot revise to anything else, it's the end. Sleeve was developed actually because many patients taht were too big for by pass would get sleeved as a first step and then after they lost a significant amount of weight they would get the rest of the by pass. Most patients found taht they were losing enough with the sleeve alone though, and the surgery was born so to speak and offered as an independent surgery. So my opinion, do the sleeve, and if you're not happy, get revised.

Jmbaker, many of us track daily on MyFitnessPal, I average between 700-800 a day, personally. I don't focus so much on my calories as I do on my protein. I'm 4 months out, so 'm not really concerned with my liquid anymore since I know I pretty much hit my liquid goal no problem now. my nick on MyFitnessPal is also 920amy, feel free to look up my profile, add me, and see what I'm eating if you'd like. My average day goes protein shake for breakfast (190 cal, 30g protein) solid protein for lunch today I had shredded chicken some guacamole salsa and maybe 5 chips, Dinner I had 1 piece of chicken tender and 3 shrimp, I usually have some veggies with dinner also, but didn't tonight. For snack I eat beff jerky, sometimes nuts, sometimes left over protein from dinner the night before. I try to change it up so I don't get into an eating 'rut'. The only thing I usually keept he same is my morning protein drink. I am terrible with breakfast and if I don't have a shake I have nothing, so I try to force myself especially during the week to get that shake in first thing! Good luck!

I only told my husband, parents, sister, and 2 best friends the truth. My husbands family thinks I had the band, and otherwise I've not told anyone else. My sister when she found out flipped out especially about me going to Mexico, but I had already done the research and my mind was made up. My mother and fatehr and husband were scared, but they knew I would do this whith or without their support. People in my everyday life have been really complimentary about the weightloss, and when asked how I'm doing it, I've answered truthfully (sort of) I've told them I'm just eating less and exercising more. My mother let slip to my Aunt the other night thought that I have gone from a 24 to q 14 and she is so proud of me. My Aunt instantly flipped out on her and demanded to know what surgery I had saying it is impossible to lose that much weight without surgery. She was down right rude and pushy to my mom who would not give in and tell her anything. So my Aunt called ME and started the conversation 'So what did you do?' I was puzzled so I asked what she meant. She said my mother told her I lost weight and she wanted to know what kind of surgery I had. She was SO pushy and SO RUDE, I just laughed at her and told her I had no idea what she was talking about. which infuriated her even more. I really found the situation quite comical. She is trying desperately to lose weight (while maintaning her drinking habit) for my cousins wedding, so to hear that I've lost so much for some reason it made her flip her lid! Maybe out of jealousy? She was just down right angry, but that is the first person I've encountered that reacted in that way. I hope she is the last too! I haven't told anyone and don't plan to because it really is no ones business. I didn't have this surgery for them, I didn't have it for anyone to gossip or judge me about, and if they do, good for them. I had this surgery for me, and no one else. Hold your head high, be successful and laugh at all of them!

They have sugar free Jellos and puddings, I've seen people suggest both. It's really a taste preference I think.

I am 4 months out and down nearly 70 pounds. I personally think my little indulgences have been worth it, and I don't regret even one of them.

Early on I had a bite of a donut. Now, if I want a bite of a donut, I eat it. I've had cookies and cake, I shared a Reeses PB Easter egg with my husband, I've eaten french fries (froed potato ANYTHING is my cryptonite since the sleeve)!! I am not a 'perfect' sleever, I know I could lose more and faster if I was stricter with what I eat, but I didn't do this surgery to live with a sense of deprivation and tons of cannots. I did this surgery to control the amount of food I consume. Granted, i eat TONS healthier now than I did before, I think a lot before I eat something 'bad', but I still ahven't had a soda, I've rolled about 2 drops around in my mouth since the surgery, but just the carbonation in my mouth doesn't feel good. I think that not depriving myself has been my key to success so far. I don't 'eat bad' everyday, or even every week, but if I want a Dorito, I'm doing more than licking that powder off!

I did have the sleeve. TJ was not half as bad as I imgined it would be. I actually live about 5 minutes from teh Border in AZ, and most of our border towns are no where near as nice and clean. With ALighterMe, I stayed at the Marriott which seemed to be pretty centrally located. There was a WalMart in a neat plaza about 3 blocks away and there was a casino. I didn't feel like doing too much more exploring thatn that. I was able to get a taxi too and from Wal Mart for about 4 bucks, but one time I just walked there it wasn't bad. All of the chicken broth and popsicles from the hotel were free. The hotel was nice. Mi hospital was really clean, I had a room I shared with my mom who came with me for my surgery, and the hospital room had a private bathroom with shower. I would be happy to tell you all about my experience, and your friend too if either of you would like more details just ask!!

Yes, I used ALighterme to schedule my surgery. My coordinator was Rhonda, but I also spoke with and ended up meeting Janice. I had my surgery in Tijuana Mexico with Dr. Alejandro Lopez, and Dr. Ortiz at Mi hospital. Feel free to PM me or ask any questions. I had a great experience and would highly recommend them

Devichan- We were typing in a very archaic form of Tinglish (Thai-English) Thai actually is similar to chinese writing in that it is a series of characters. Babelfish would no doubt say any number of things I first said Hello, สวัสดี, (sawasdee) and good luck, โชคดี, (shoke-dee) ka and na are added at the end of phrases to show politemess and respect from women, krahb is polite for men to use ending their words and thoughts. PostalPatz then said Thank you, ขอบคุณ, (krob khun). The Land of Smiles or LOS is often used to describe Thailand, and I told her I miss, คิดถึง, (kitung) Thailand very much, มากมาก, (mach mach) BKK is short for Bangkok, and Silom and Sukhumvitt are very common streets in the middle of the Thai capital, like Times Square is to New York. A Soi is like a side street, or a small alley way. The streets are set up with many off shoots named by number, Soi 1, Soi 2, etc. I hope that helps หวังว่าจะช่วยให้คุณ

You can have anything in moderation. It's probably not advisable to sit down and eat a big 'ol cup 'o flour while watching TV though The recipe just has you dredge it for added 'crunch'/texture, if you are worried about the calories, and want to stay away from the carbs, try using almond flour, or just forego it altogether, and brown each side of the chicken a little more The picture looks yummy too, but my first thought when I saw it was 'I'd be more worried about that pasta than the flour!'

I don't know how that will go for you, maybe if you blend it really smooth, I had trouble that early on getting food in, and dense protein like tuna still fills me up so fast. I suppose you could try it, go slow, and see how it feels. I would recommend not eating more than 1 teaspoon at a time, and waiting a minute or two between bites. Also, make it REALLY moist. Good luck!