minnesotafats

Yes, I did talk to a nutritionist after Stacy from WLS insisted I needed to eat meat.

Kate, I still love you, but you need to know where I live. I have never lived in Kansas. I live in Missouri. Most of Kansas City is in Missouri. Many people don't realize that. Kansas City KS is a small part of the metro area. The name doesn't make sense, I know. The state animal for MO is the mule....so does that answer your question about stubbornness :> :> I eat chicken breast and turkey breast. I have discussed my dislike of meat and fish with many of the dieticians and nutritionists I have worked with. I am not the only person who doesn't like those things and not the only sleever either. I have had online conversations with several vegetarian sleevers. I basically am lacto-ovo vegetarian by definition with the exception being that I eat chicken and turkey breast. Yes, I am stubborn about this. As long as my labs are fine, I am not going to worry about it. I have always been healthy and this isn't a new phase for me, I never have liked meat and fish. Enough about that....I really liked Faye's suggestion about the crock pot. It doesn't get much easier than a slow cooker! I make several meals a week for the family in the winter with a crock pot.

Kate, I am going to disagree with your assessment of my eating habits. I believe I HAVE found what works for me. I love Protein drinks and it is a good way to get my protein. To get enough protein on a full Vegan diet you have to eat a lot of weird food that I don't like any better than I like meat or fish. I eat my cottage cheese, eggs, plain greek yogurt etc and I am happy with it. I have lost > 60% of my excess weight in 5 1/2 months and they only promise 60%. I am basically happy with what I eat. I eat some veggies every day and a small amount of fruit about 3-4 times a week. Before I had surgery I was drinking whey Protein from Walmart for Breakfast and an evening snack and loved it. Just because I can't tolerate the taste of steak and pork chops doesn't mean I'm not getting my nutrition. I am doing what works for me. I enter every single bite and drink that I take on MFP and I get 80-120 gm protein/day and am satisfied with what I'm eating. My 3 month lab follow-up lab work was the best lab results I have ever had since I was in my 40's. So I don't think it's broke and I'm not gonna try to fix it:)

I do agree with the concept of finding something that works for you post-op....at least to a point. Me, I could drink 4-5 protein drinks most days and forget totally about food. But they don't want us to do that. So I stay at 2-3 protein drinks. I HATE HATE HATE most meat and fish. I do try to make myself eat a little of it at dinner most nights. If I didn't have family to cook for, I wouldn't cook either. If I eat meat, my preference is meatloaf or hamburger helper with pasta in it. But I gave up pasta about 10 years ago. I used to just cook pasta and put ketchup and cheese on it and I was in heaven. Pasta and cereal are my favorite foods other than desserts...LOL. I also dearly love fruit.Truly, most of the food I like is not on the post op diet, but even before this surgery I didn't eat much of the foods I love.

That is Amazing!!! Congrats! You are going to be so skinny that if you stand sideways and stick out your tongue, you will look like a zipper .....

Wouldn't you know that yesterday there was activity on here and I was away from my computer most of the day. I can't/don't use my phone for this site, I need to be on my desktop and I was not at home for the bulk of the day and evening. My guess is that we need a few more members so that there will be more chatting on this site.

Fruit is also loaded with carbs. Bananas are the very worst but truly, any fruit is carb laden. Post-op I eat a bite or two of fruit sometimes after a meal when I am too full to eat much of it, because I dearly love fruit and I don't want to have the room for it. I eat like 2 grapes, etc. Other very high carb foods are potatoes, corn, and peas. All fruits and veggies also have quite a bit of natural sugar. I use My Fitness Pal which keeps track of calories, fat, carbs, sugar, Protein etc. I make sure to enter every single bite or drink that I have in a day. MFP isn't the only program but it's what I use. I would definitely recommend using something to keep track. It helps me know if I'm getting enough protein and also watch my carbs etc. In the beginning you won't over-eat, but I am almost 6 months out and can tell you that it is amazing how your sugar content can add up so quickly while eating healthy foods. I am always at my limit for sugar and I never eat anything WITH ADDED sugar it is just the natural sugars that rack up quickly. It would be good to get started with a tool like MFP before surgery. If you do end up using a service that prepares meals, I would recommend that you make sure they have the nutritional information on the foods they make. Hope you will find these tips useful, Sassy.

PS...Faye, I can see a difference all over, but I only said face because you said that you couldn't see it there. And Sassy....thanks for your "improper" birthday greeting...LOL

Faye, You look great! I can see a difference in your face! I know exactly what you mean about having to catch up in your mind, even though the numbers etc are changing. It has been the same for me. When I am clothes shopping I still head for the plus sizes even though I haven't worn them for months now. Sometimes I pass the cheval mirror and catch a glimpse of myself and am surprised how much smaller I am that I was before surgery....and other times, I still am not sure. I actually have a funny story about that. After one of my many diets where I had lost about 70#, I was talking with a new friend who had not known me heavier. I referred to myself as fat and she protested...my reply was "Oh, but this isn't my real body....I just lost a lot of weight....." Sad but true....LOL

How exciting that this group will have 3 surgeries in November!!! Sassy, congratulations! It is finally going to happen for you :). You are going to love it on the losers bench. Same for Linda and hubby...you will love the sleeved side. I have never had one regret. I hope it will be smooth sailing for all 3 of you. It was so easy for me, and I wish the same to all of you...but even if there are bumps, it will be worth it. You will lose weight like you have never lost before. Am I the only one of this group who has to endure winter? I can't remember where you live, Cheryl, but I think the rest of you live someplace with warm winters. I know you do, Sassy. Let me just say how very envious I am! I hate winter. Right now it is autumn and the high temps are in the lower 60's, which isn't bad. By November I will be wishing for a weather remote so I could fast forward to April:) Hope everyone has a great evening!

Somehow I missed these last 2 posts until just now. Sorry for my absence. Thanks for the birthday wishes Faye. I am down to losing only 1# per month, so I will have to be very careful with the holidays. I'm not looking forward to it really. I am so compliant and I log every bite that I eat. Faye, I also just noticed your "after" pic on your profile. Isn't that new? You look great! Sassy,hope all is well with you, I know you are busy scoring SAT's! I've had a really busy week and next week is going to be crazy. I'm retired and it seems like I am still quite busy....wasn't expecting that, but it's ok. I don't get bored. Hope everyone is having a good week!

Hi Linda, and welcome! How exciting that you are having surgery and having it together! You won't find yourself like me, having to continue cooking big meals for family when all you want is a few bites and later a few ounces:) I had my surgery in May, I was 62 then and just turned 63 last week. I am so happy I did it and would do it again in a heartbeat! We will look forward to sharing your journey(ies). Jean

Hi All, I'm happy....I made it through my birthday without eating anything I shouldn't. I am normally very compliant but the birthday is a hard one. Traditionally, Joe takes me to dinner and we share dessert...usually Bread Pudding which is one of my all time faves. We did go to dinner but shared a plate and NO dessert. He offered, but I was strong and declined:) Now on to Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.....I can do this!!!

Sassy, How was your Dr Meyers Seminar? I know that was a rough day, and I hope you weren't too exhausted. (Why is it that sometimes I can't start a new paragraph? Like right now it won't let me...sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't??)