cindymg

Since 2007 American citizens have needed a passport to get back into the U.S. Apply today. I needed to renew mine quickly so I paid the expedited fee and it arrived in a week. I think normally it takes 3-4 weeks, but may be longer for a first time passport.

I get the sugar free version and it is good. But it's a bit of a slider food for me so I limit how much I get.

Mashed potatoes, soft moist chicken (Boston Market is good for this), plain Greek yogurt with s/f preserves, cottage cheese, string cheese, moist ground beef, moist turkey, eggs any way, s/f pudding, any kind of cream soup (Panera Bread broccoli cheese soup with tiny bits of their chicken dropped in makes a nice protein packed meal), cream of wheat.

United Health Care. 36 BMI, 3 co-morbidities, 40 years of yo-yo dieting, pills, programs, etc. Approved in a week after submitting paperwork (it does pay to go to a Center of Excellence -- they know how to play the insurance game). Sleeved May 15, down 56 lbs. Best decision I ever made! Hang in there! It will happen!

I eat one Atkins protein bar a day, usually in the afternoon when my blood sugar is low. They are high in protein and contain no sugar. I usually eat the Chocolate Oatmeal Fiber bar because in addition to protein, I am on a continual quest for fiber.

I had my surgery in May. Didn't find it hard to stay hydrated at all this summer. Just kept sipping in between meals. After a couple of months, the ability to drink normally returned. Have to time it so that I give it at least 30 min after a meal before drinking. There really isn't enough room. Don't want to frighten you off here, and maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't be caught dead anywhere near a pool. Or a bathing suit. Rapid weight loss does weird things to the skin. Like my inner thighs. I've lost and gained many times in my life, but I have never lost in my inner thighs before. Right now they look like melting candle wax. Hoping that exercise will help firm them, but there might be a body lift in my future. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't take the 56 lbs I've lost to have less sagging skin though. I'll deal with it. But right now Bermuda shorts are the way to go. Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

Slow and steady, that could be your mantra. It took me about 3 weeks before I started to feel less exhausted. Everyday I slept a little less, moved a little more. Slowly and steadily I got there. Now I am 5 months out, down nearly 60 pounds, walking 4-5 miles 3 times a week, gym 2x a week, and I feel fantastic! Don't be so hard on yourself. You just had major surgery and are getting used to a whole new lifestyle. You'll get there. Just keep at it! Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

I feel so bad for you. Sounds like a little passive aggression is going on there. Is she not supportive of your decision? Is there another family member that could accompany you? I paid the airfare for my sister to be with me for surgery and a few days afterwards. I had friends that volunteered, but I really wanted family around. I hope it works out for you. Let us know.

Good for you! I only weighed at the doctor's office because I refuse to buy a scale (if there was one in my house I would be on it 10 times a day!). So for me it was nice to not have to sweat every pound every day. Now at 5 months, I don't go to the dr so often, so now I weigh at the gym. But just once a week. Trying to break that 200 lb mark (2 more pounds!). Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

I told all my family and friends before the surgery. No negative reactions. Now I have to tell everyone else because I would never be able to remember who knows, and who doesn't. Best for me to just tell everyone. Besides, it's kinda funny seeing the look on people's faces when I tell them I had weight loss surgery. Sometimes it's like I've told them I had a sex change! On my soapbox here: we are on the leading edge of VSG surgery. We can help remove the stigma of weight loss surgery by being open about our positive experiences. Maybe that makes it easier for the next person. Maybe it helps more companies add the option to their insurance policies.

Boston Market is my go to place. Their chicken is really moist and goes down easily. Great mashed potatoes too when you are on soft foods.

I'm mostly cold at night. It's like the cold comes from the inside out. sleep in sweats -- and wow, is it sexy! And now that winter is upon us, I wear my Cuddle Duds under everything. For you gents, Cuddle Duds are like long johns, but more feminine. I buy the ones made out of Cool Max so I don't get hot when inside (yeah, like that's going to happen!)

Me too!

I have been taking Biotin for a number of years. Started taking it after Protonix destroyed my fingernails. Now no more Protonix (it eats your bones too, by the way), and my nails are like Iron. At 5 months my hair loss is minimal, a few more strands every day than before the surgery. But I take fish oil 2x a day, get 100 gm of Protein a day, use Revita shampoo and conditioner. My head is full of new regrowths of hair. Just had new bloodwork done. All vit levels were great, except it turns out I was low in zinc -- which can cause hair loss. So now I have started taking zinc. Let's see if that helps stem the hair shedding.

My life has completely changed since my sleeve surgery 5 months ago. I no longer have that bottomless pit of a stomach that was constantly screaming for more and more food. Foods that used to "call to me" are no longer calling my name. I don't know why, but my tastes have changed. And even when I start to overeat, my sleeve saves me saying, "nope, no more. All filled up!" As far as exercise, where I could only do about a 6 block walk in the beginning, and needed a nap afterwards, I now do 4-5 miles easily -- with no naps required. The gym has become fun again. I feel so much better with each passing day that it's easier to add another mile, or another exercise. All this is to say that what is difficult now, will become sooooooo much easier after surgery. I'm not young and when I was your age this surgery was not available. If it was maybe I wouldn't have wasted 40 years of my life carting around an extra 80 lbs., trying every diet, pill and program, feeling crappy, missing my life. Maybe I wouldn't have developed diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. It's a tough decision for someone so young to think about permanently altering your body. But, think about the possibilities for your life if you change the path you are on now. Good luck with your decision. Let us know how you are doing.

No complications for me. No nausea, no vomiting, no leaks, no pain. If I didn't have 5 funny little scars on my tummy and an inability to eat very much I might think the whole thing never happened. Down 56 lbs, off most medications and I feel fantastic!

I eat one Atkins Protein bar each day. They are sugar-free and protein-packed. My fav is the Chocolate-oatmeal Fiber bar, since in addition to protein, I am on a continual Quest for fiber. 6 grams of protein, 10 of fiber. Also try 0% fat, plain Greek yogurt with a tsp of no sugar fruit preserves and Splenda.

Girlfriend, one piece of cheesecake and a craving for a brownie does not a failure make. You don't have to have that diet mentality anymore -- you know, the "I've blown it now. May as well give up and eat anything I want." You can move on, get back to the eating program that makes you feel good and proud of yourself. Your life is changed now, you are changed now. You don't have to be the sugar addict you used to be anymore. You can be different. And, you will have a plan for the next time you or your husband have friends over.

It could be stomach acid. Are you taking a PPI? If not, call your surgeon and get one. Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

I live in Chicago and just this week it has turned cold. I am going to have to move somewhere warmer. Since my surgery 5 months ago I have been sleeping in sweat pants and a sweat shirt (under 2 blankets, a coverlet and a big comforter). Saved a ton on air conditioning; I suspect my heating bill will go into the stratosphere! But, since I was always the hot one in any room before, being cold is okay. Besides I won't be taking off jackets when I am hot. Arms are not something I want to display yet!

Try Atkins Bars. They are high in Protein and contain no sugar. I eat one of the Choc-oatmeal Fiber bars every day as a snack, since in addition to protein, I am on a continual Quest for fiber. I also eat raw nuts (not roasted as they are cooked in oil and are about as bad as eating potato chips). I like raw pecans, but they are rather dry. Raw cashews have a sweet flavor, and enough good fat to go down easily. String cheese is a good snack, as are ham roll ups. Take thin sliced deli ham, wrap around thin-sliced Sargento Swiss cheese. You can add a dill pickle spear to the middle if you want. For yogurt I use Stonyfield Farms Greek yogurt. The plain, 0% fat one. Comes in a 4 pack, each is 4 oz. Mix with powdered fiber, a little Splenda and 1 tsp of sugar-free preserves. If you are near a whole foods they have a delicious line of sugar-free flavors from Dalifor. The blueberry is my fav. Happy snacking!

Bariatric Advantage makes a calcium chew that is caramel flavored. It's like a Kraft caramel and only 15 calories. It's my nightly treat! They also have chocolate, and new is chocolate-peanut butter!