jandseakin

Burger King has a grilled chicken wrap for only $1.99. I get it without sauce, and ask for a side of ranch to dip it in. It is just a grilled chicken breast with a little shredded cheese and lettuce wrapped in a tortilla. Very good!

I went to Maxx nutrition and they sold me New Chapter whole mega "tiny caps". The recommended dosage is 4 pills instead of 2 of their large caps, but they are very easy to swallow. You couuld google them and see who else sells them if you don't have Maxx.

I also like the idea of feeling like I'm not on a "diet", and can occasionally eat comfort foods. I can have a few bites of potato salad or a hot dog, for example, things I would never have allowed myself when I was on a diet before. And I don't feel deprived, or fearful, knowing my sleeve will help keep me in check. But I also know I am an "addict" and one bite of sweets, crackers or chips, will make me want more and more. I have decided that for me, those things are like booze to an alcoholic. So I choose to never eat candy, cookies, cake, chips, pastries, etc. again. I don't trust myself. Everyone is different in how they handle foods, especially "trigger foods", and which ones they can control and which they can't. For me I'm happy with healthy foods most of the time, an occasional few bites of a higher calorie treat, and living without those things that used to make me binge. If you can lose weight with portion control, and are eating healthy most of the time, more power to you! Good luck.

I wonder if it's because we're no longer "anesthesizing" ourselves by overeating. Sometime when I am awake in the middle of the night it helps to get up and drink a glass of milk. I don't feel hungry as much as "empty".

My Doc's pre-op diet was less than 40 grams of carbs a day for 2 weeks. I did it for 3 weeks because I wanted to lower my bmi before surgery, and I lost 19 pounds pre-op. It was easy and painless. No need to count anything except carbs. If I was hungry I had cheese or meat or an egg. I don't see any need to suffer on liquids.

Everyone has to decide for themself, but here is my input. I am 64. In my 30's I lost 76 pounds and reached goal with WW. In my 40's I lost 115 pounds and neared goal with a hospital-supervised liquid diet. Dozens of other times I would lose 30 - 50 pounds on various progras. I was even a WW leader for a number of years. But I am a food addict and every time I gained it all back plus more. When I turned 60 I reached 300 pounds for the first time. I decided I want to live an be healthy and the only way to do this is to get this weight off for good. I was sleeved June 6 and for the first time I am hopeful and encouraged for the future y sleeve is only a tool I know, but it won't allow me to binge, and it makes me only want to eat protein and other healthy food. My only regret: I waited 30 years to do this (of course it wasn't an option when I was young) But you have the opportunity to change your life forever! Whatever you decide, get the weight off, keep it off, nd start living! Best wishes to you!

The first month or so on solid food I tracked to make sure I was getting enough protein. Once I got my routine down, I stopped. I eat 5 times a day and don't nibble in between so I don't vary much. As long as I am losing and feeling well, I plan to continue this way. I don't want to obsess about food and feel like I am a slave to this process, as this way of eating is forever.. Having said that, if I stop losing or start eating more quantity of food, I will definitely track for awhile to see what is going on. Maybe this would work for you too. Good luck!

Quinoa is very sleeve-friendly. My nutritionist gave me several recipes and I made a quinoa slad anad it wass great! I was sleeved June 6.

I wish you could see yourself as we here see you! You have lost 142 pounds!!! OMG! You have tremendous pressures right now but you have managed to stay below 200!!! OMG! You are about to get a degree and be very employable and insurable!!! OMG! Please hang in there and in a very short time you will be back on your own with a terrific new job, a new life, major self-esteem ...and all this at only 26 and in spite of your negative family. You have your whole life ahead of you and it can be fabulous! I agree with the other post's advice to spend as little time as possible at home, prepare your own food, live your own life... the life you chose when you chose VSG. Also, check with bariatric surgical centers in your area. Mine has monthly support groups (free) and they are open to everyone, even if you had surgery elsewhere. Best of luck to you. Please let us know how you are doing. You can do this!!!!

I LOVE Kim's magic pops. They are 15 calories with no fat and no sugar and they are huge. Very sleeve friendly.... I can eat a whole one. Great for tuna or chicken salad, guac, hummus, laughing cow cheese, etc. They come in different flavors but I have only tried the plain ones. I can't buy them locally, so ordered a whole case from the website, and share them with a friend. Just google Kim's magic pop.

MMM.... shrimp and avocado sounds wonderful!

I was June 6, so right there too. I gathered some recipes and cooked all morning to try to add some variety. I made egg muffin cups, ricotta bake, parmesan chicken casserole, quinoa mediterranean salad, and chicken breasts in the crockpot to shred and have on hand. I also like the tortilla pizzas and you can vary them greatly with different sauces and toppings. There are some great recipes on this site.

OMG Kathp.... you've lost 106 pounds in 3 months? How is that possible? Congratulations, and you look fabulous!

I'm from Yakima too. Sleeved June 6, 2013, with Dr. Billing at Puget Sound Bariatrics in Edmonds. Wonderful experience!

Great! As you get into it, you'll find they'll be a lot of help. Just take one step at a time.

Do you have a surgeon yet? If not, shop around as there are apparently huge differences in the kind of follow-up care you get. My pre-op diet was 2 weeks low-carb diet. Post-op was 2 days liquid, 1 week full liquids, 1 week puree, 2 weeks soft food, and then regular food. Very easy! But the best part is, the follow-up is a 2 year program with monthly meetings with the nutritionist, exercise trainer, and psychologist, plus regular follow-up with my surgeon. The nutritionist gave me a notebook with easy instructions and suggestions for each stage, when to add vitamins, etc. Very straightforward and easy. It doesn't have to be complicated. I feel so lucky I ended up in such good hands!! Good luck to you. This is an amazing journey!

My surgery was June 6 and I'm still very tired a lot. I think it's because I'm still hauling around 260 pounds on about 500 calories a day. Also, I'm 64 years old. I know I need to exercise, but all I've managed so far is water walking and an occasional short walk. Housework, etc., is a huge effort. I hope it gets better when I can hold more food. And yes, I am getting my protein in, thanks to at least one protein drink a day.

If you are a coffee drinker the withdrawal will cause severe headaches. I took 3 weeks to wean myself off caffeine before surgery. Went from 2 cups a day to 1 cup a day, to 1/2 regular mixed with 1/2 decaf, to one cup of decaf every day. No headaches! And now that I've broken the addiction, I plan to stick with decaf. I also have bone-on-bone arthritis in both knees and miss my ibuprofen but I take turmeric for inflammation now, and find the better diet and weight loss is much easier on my knees. Tylenol is not an anti-inflammatory, but can help for pain. It's difficult but good luck to you!

Almost 8 weeks post-op, and these are the things I love about my sleeve: 1) NOT being on a diet. Eating things I love like lean meat, fish, chicken, cheese, yogurt, and comfort foods like chili, cream Soups, omelets and tortilla pizzas! 2) Knowing if my Protein intake is a little low one day, there is a quick fix available with Protein powder or if I'm hungry it's ok to have a piece of cheese. 3) Not missing sweets and carbs..... at least not yet. 4) Feeling satisified with small amounts of food. 5) Looking forward to being off meds for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and c-pap machine. 6) Watching the scale go down. 47 pounds so far! Things I don't love: 1) Watching the clock to get meals and liquids in. 2) Taking Vitamins and supplements 3) Many foods taste different than before. Takes some time to learn what is worth preparing and what isn't The minor inconveniences are nothing compared to the benefits of being sleeved! For the first time in many years I an encouraged and hopeful. Are you feeling the same way?

Thanks so much, Pixie Dust! You'll get there. My 47 lb. loss includes 19 during 2 week pre-op low carb diet. I'm sure it'll slow down, but it's nice for now.

47 for me. 19 pre-op and 28 post-op. I only weigh when I can't resist...usually 2 weeks. We are all different , but we are all going in the right direction. :-)

On our annual "girlfriend's getaway", the 6 of us went out to dinner. The waiter came to take our drink orders .... assorted orders of wine and beer, and my order of "just water, please". No problem. Then, it's time to order dinner. On the appetizer menu was 3 skewers..... one chicken, one shrimp, and one beef. It had a price, or, $2.50 each. Perfect! So, I ordered one shrimp skewer for dinner. The waiter informed me I could have 3, and I said no thanks, one shrimp please. Then, he told me if I didn't like beef or chicken, I could have all 3 shrimp. I said no thanks, just one shrimp is fine. He took the order and after he left we had a great laugh at the look on his face! Poor man! But I really enjoyed my skewer of 4 shrimp for $2.50!

I use an electric hand blender .... no lumps! Just don't overmix and you won't have foam either. Hea water in 2 C measure, blend, and pour into mug. Delicious!

Are you on pain meds? There is no reason to suffer needlessly.

I haven't found a RTD one that I really like....too sweet.....but I keep Premier Protein on hand for car trips, etc. My favorite by far is Unjury chocolate splendor mixed in warm water. Tastes just like hot chocolate with no aftertaste. YUM!