gamergirl

Yes I can recommend two. One is vitafusion, recommended by our surgeon and very tasty. Our bloodwork has been stellar with these. If you take the women's ones or the prenatal ones, you get some Biotin in it as well. Second has twice the quantities of Vitamins as the vitafusion, considerably less tasty but so much better than the chewables, and that's GNC's soft chews. They have samples in the store you can try. I don't love the taste but they are entirely edible and I like knowing I'm getting 100% of essential vitamins. Good luck!

Isn't it amazing what people think it's okay to say to each other? You're right, no one told me I was getting too fat. In fact, I sometimes wish someone had sat me down and said, "GG, whatever you think you're doing, it ain't working". But no, they told me I was beautiful no matter what size I was. Liars

gah isn't that frustrating?! Just as you get to a significant milestone, your body decides to stop and smell the roses. I wanted to get below 175 as that would have been my weight 19 years ago. My body decided to take a 3 week stall for no apparent reason. Finally got there but I was ready to tear my already-thinning hair out. hang in there. It has no choice but to surrender those pounds.

I really appreciate those who have shared. There are a lot of good habits in here that I should be building but hadn't thought of, such as appreciating my new body, wrinkles and sags and all. I find myself standing in front of a mirror--and my eyes go straight to the "faulty" parts of me, not the great curves I have gotten back, not my much slimmer thighs and my butt which is still round but so much smaller. Rather I see the fat rolls on my stomach, my sagging tummy, the overhang in my thighs--why oh why do we do this to ourselves? telling ourselves we are beautiful. Another good habit to learn.

We haven't stopped with spicy food at all. My husband can eat a little less spice than before but not significant. You may be just fine with it

So glad you added to it! Don't worry about what others can eat. Just focus on not eating too much for your sleeve and you'll be just fine. Maybe you are just a fast healer, nothing wrong with that.

Butter will likely start it in a day or so. Well I met my walking goals, I only had one flare up, but I'm not happy with myself. I didn't finish the plank challenge nor the crunch challenge and overall I don't feel like I was as active as I should have been. I move more during the day than I used to, but I don't feel like it's enough. Don't know why I can't get motivated to do this more. Mad at myself. Ugh.

Really? I have never checked out his recipes. Thank you so much for suggesting him. One more recipe book to add to my collection

For pictures and nutritional info see: http://sleevers.wordpress.com/2013/12/28/low-carb-high-protein-orange-chicken/ love orange chicken, but I don’t love all the fried, sugary stuff that goes into it. I thought I’d try a simpler, healthier version and I’m happy to say it turned out just fine. Wonderful orange flavor, not too sweet and syrupy. Would love to know what you think of it, if you try it. Ingredients 1.5 lbs chicken tenders 2 tsp baking soda 4 cloves crushed garlic 4-5 dried red chilis 1 tablespoon peanut oil For the Sauce 2 tsp orange zest juice of 1 fresh orange (zest it before you juice it, otherwise it’s no bueno, mess everywhere) 4 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine or Sherry 1 tablespoon Chinese rice vinegar 1 tsp sesame oil 2 tablespoons agave nectar or artificial sweetner of choice 1 tablespoon corn starch (substitute arrowroot or cassava root powder for Paleo) 1 tablespoon Water Method Cut chicken into bite-size pieces and mix in the baking soda. This will tenderize the meat. Do not skip this step since we want the chicken to cook quickly and the more tender it is, the better it will taste. Set aside until you get the sauce ingredients together, or about 15 minutes. Mix together all the sauce ingredients and stir well, dissolving any clumps with a whisk. Rinse out the chicken and pat somewhat dry with a paper towel. In a wok or sauce pan, heat the oil until shimmering on medium-high heat, and put in the garlic and the red chiles. Saute quickly for a minute or two, and then add in the chicken. Let the chicken form a light brown coat and then flip over and let it cook on the other side. I flipped back and forth for about 5-8 minutes until the chicken was cooked through. Pour in the sauce ingredients and immediately take it off the burner to mix it well. If needed, you can put it back on for a few minutes for the sauce to thicken. We served over steamed quinoa but it would taste great on cucumber “noodles’ or shirataki noodles as well.

I hate eating in the mornings too. There are many days where by 3 pm I've only had about 200-250 calories, and I eat the rest between then and 8 pm. That's just when I get hungry. Been like that since I was a kid and my biological son is just the same.

omg, can i come over? I'll be right there. It will only take me... ....eight hours or so Looks delicious girl! Btw, check out the low carb orange chicken I posted today. My fussy son even ate it. Your family might like it.

Congratulations on the pregnancy! How are you feeling? Many people who are as far out as a year appear to still be drinking shakes.

What I have heard is to measure the narrowest part of your torso so that is what I do. I like that advice for obvious reasons

You make some very good points. I agree, the fat helps with satiety and also in inducing ketosis from what I understand, since the body has to use the fat rather than carbs etc. But you are also correct in that excess of anything will have the same fat storing response, no matter that it was quality protein. Complicated stuff, our bodies

What's funny about this is that you would never have thought, even pre-sleeve, that you needed a glass of milk, Protein powder, one banana, half a cup of strawberries and a tablespoon or two of peanut butter for a "light" Breakfast right? but in a shake? No worries! We too would throw it into a shake and somehow the connection of "omg you just ate half an apple, a banana and and and" never was made. I SMH at the old me now.

Did you just sneak in there this little tidbit about having reached goal weight TODAY??! Yay Indigo!! congratulations!

Cubs I just found an alternative that may work for you as well. A quick trip to Teavana, esp now when they have their boxed gifts on sale, led us to buying a variety of teas. They are what my husband calls "foo foo flavors" but I notice both he and my son are drinking them down just fine! They are flavorful and don't need sugar, and I'm trying to drink one cup hot and one cup at room temperature or over ice to start drinking "flavored water" that doesn't have sugar in it. Worth a try I think.

This reassures me quite a bit. You are correct, since 100 gms of carbs would have 500 calories, and 60 gms of protein would have 300 calories, unless I was eating non-fat protein (hunh?) I would be way under 100 no matter what. Phew!

For me, this is a large part of it. I'd never dream of finishing off the last of something that the kids love. The kids and the husband in contrast, don't seem to think like that. I now accept that. Took me long enough though!

The other thing you might want to try for salty crunchy cravings are dried, roasted edamame. High source of protein and fiber and they are crunchy and filling.

People set carb limits differently but the recommendation for those who are insulin resistant and carb addicted is to divide your protein/fat/carb ratios into 40/40/20. For me, at an 800 calorie diet that's about 80/36/40 gms respectively. I say anything under 50 gms is good for low-carb sleevers, but I'd be interested to hear what others have to say on this topic too.

are you in clear liquids or full liquids stage?

Just to reassure....my sleeve has always held more than people say. But it never impeded my weight loss apparently. Why? Because even though it will hold 12 oz doesn't mean I have to eat 12oz. I don't pack it full (usually). I weigh and measure, and learn to eat smaller portions. They leave me feeling not hungry, which is the goal....never full. And 18 months post op.....I still have a Protein shake most days. I like them. They are my chocolate milk substitute. They are easy and convenient right after a hard workout. They are nutritionally sound. Why some doctors insist we get our protein "from real food" puzzles me. I know they are encouraging good eating habits, but protein shakes are nothing but a healthy protein supplement. Just like a multi Vitamin. With a varied enough diet we wouldn't need a daily vitamin, but no doctor would tell you not to take a multi vitamin would they? No, because they know most people do not have a varied enough diet, so they encourage the supplement. A protein shake can be the same thing....as long as you're not too dependent on them all the time, they are a healthy and convenient nutritional aid. The only explanation I can think of for this is protein thermogenesis. We burn a lot more calories to break down and digest protein than we do carbs. Perhaps we expend even a little bit more if the protein isn't pre-processed into powder? I can see how digesting a chicken breast makes my body have to work harder than digesting a shake. I also wonder if some of it is because you can add all kinds of carp to a shake--fruit, Peanut Butter, more fruit and before you know it, you're holding a carb bomb in your hand but you tell yourself you're drinking protein. Don't look at me like that! I'm not saying I did that! I had a friend who....

My solution to all the shakes I don't love? Put Peanut Butter in it. Changes the taste and gets me through it.

Hmmm...i think it's worth a call to the doctor. Healing should be progressive, and regressing and being able to do less than before could warrant a look-see. Especially as early out as you are, better be safe than sorry, right?