Baker_gurl

I've been able to drink my protein shakes ok. It takes me about 30 minutes to sip 1/2 of the shake. I will usually put the rest of it in the fridge and sip about an hour later. I've also been drinking water and eating sf pops. Those have been great and Kroger even makes a store brand sf pop. I found some sf vitamin water from Kroger brand. This week brings the change to soft foods. I feel myself getting fuller much faster when eating smooth soups or cottage cheese. I added unflavored protein to the soup, but the bowl of soup is going to last 3-4 meals. I have to remember to wait to drink after meals. I find myself thirstiest after meals.

Glad to hear you're home now! I had surgery Monday too. Coming home and getting rest and medicine really helped me. I didn't get much rest while at the hospital due to so many hospital staff and nurses coming in. Hope your discomfort goes away soon!

Hey, I was on facebook and noticed that Spenda is coming out with a new natural sweetener made from Monk fruit. It is called Nectresse. Has anyone heard of this or Monk fruit? The website said that it's not available in stores yet, but you can request a free sample at the website. Here is the site link: http://www.nectresse.com/home

Congratulations on being approved!

I used to live in Kalamazoo, MI. Rock n ry was my favorite when I was a kid! I just realized that blue moon ice cream is sort of a regional thing too. I will miss: Muddy's bake shop in Memphis makes THE best Chocolate peppermint cupcakes. biscuits and honey Amazing Memphis BBQ

I found the PB2 at vitacost! Here is their website: http://www.vitacost.com/Referee?wlsrc=rsReferral&ReferralCode=90206257 Also, if you follow this link, you can get a $10 credit when you sign up. It's a great deal! you could get 2 jars of PB2 for just over $10, and if you use your credit, you can get a great deal! I really like this website. Their shipping is fast and their products are lovely!

It's surprising to hear all the variations! My surgeon said he wouldn't perform the surgery if I had eaten anything the day before/of. I would have to reschedule. I think this hospital tends to follow a really conservative/traditional approach to the surgery.

Just found out this morning that my insurance approved my surgery! I will meet with my surgeon tomorrow morning to set a surgery date!!! I'm so excited!!This makes all those trips to various doctor's offices, classes, waiting, waiting and more waiting worth it. I am so thankful!

I was in the Doctor's office last week and while waiting, I read an interesting article out of Obesity Help magazine. It was about personal responsibility. One segment of the article really struck me. It was talking about temptation after surgery. I know this is something that I will battle with while in recovery. The author said that when she was tempted to give in and eat that unhealthy food/do that unhealthy habit, etc, she thought of all the people who desperately wanted/needed surgery but were denied due to insurance/health, etc. I can relate to this. I was without insurance for about 5 years and had wanted to get this surgery but just couldn't afford it on my own. I felt so helpless. I am so thankful that I found a job that provides insurance and the ability to have surgery. This gives me a chance to have a better life and I don't want to screw it up! This is one of the thoughts that will be driving my motivation to succeed after surgery.

Congratulations on getting your surgery date! You're thisclose to post op! I was so excited last week to get mine! I am going to have mine on 8/27. It sounds like it's a popular date! I consider it my personal independence day!

Thank you to everyone! I am so excited to have the surgery. An added plus is that my mom is coming down from MI to help me for a few weeks. I'm the only driver in our family as my husband is visually impaired, so that's a big blessing! When the NP gave me my surgery date, I just had this rush of emotions. I couldn't believe that this is finally happening!

My weight loss center has requested that the drugstore in the hospital stock the unflavored.

Way to go!! It's just the start of it! What a way to kick off the weight loss journey!

Thank you everyone!! I met with the surgeon yesterday and I chose my surgery date as 8-27-2012!! I had to immediately start the liver shrink diet today. I was very surprised as I didn't think I would be able to have surgery so soon! I'm in hyper mode now to get everything I need to make sure my house and work are in order for me to be out of commission for a while. I just can't believe this is finally happening! I have been wanting to take this step for years! I am just so grateful!

Congratulations!! All that time spent running around to appoints will pay off soon!

I'm 5'8" and would like to be about 150. I haven't been that size since elementary school, sigh . I want to finish my Bachelor's degree and I work at a University that will pay for me to get my Master's degree. I really want to lose enough weight so I can have children someday too. I want to be an active mom and set a good example for them.

I had to do the stress test a few weeks ago and it wasn't as bad as I thought. The cardiologist told me there are two different categories of stress tests preformed. I was low risk, so I just had to have the heart monitor electrodes (?) stuck to my chest and walked on the treadmill. Every 3 minutes, the machine would up the speed and elevation. I was able to tell the technician how much I could take. For the cardiac clearance they also had to perform an echo heart ultrasound. That hurt a bit. The technician had to firmly push the wand into my chest to get accurate pictures of my heart. My chest was sore for about 5 days afterwards. All in all, I would say that the cardiac clearance was fairly easy and stress free.

I can understand this. A few years ago, I was in an education class at my college and we were discussing the "obesity epidemic". I felt so uncomfortable as if flashing lights were going off all around me. It's as if obesity is the acceptable public issue to attack and there are no holds barred when the discussion occurs. Yes, it is an important issue, but it's not black and white. It is more complex than people who don't have a weight problem think.

I saw this cake idea on pinterest. Maybe I should use this for my birthday after WLS or an "anniversary cake" for my surgery date!

I am thisclose to submitting my information to my insurance for approval! I have to attend a nutrition class tonight and have my final weigh in this month and I am finished! These six months have flown by! I feel like I have learned a lot and I am incredibly excited about what the future holds. Here's to a new year filled with success, adventures, and finding out what's behind all these layers I've created. I'm hopeful and thankful to have found this forum.

Thank you Yolyann!

Thanks Jessamarie! I'm on pins and needles waiting for approval. This would be an incredible blessing for me!

My husband has this annoying habit lately of saying "You know, you won't be able to have that (whatever I'm eating at the time) after surgery". It's like why does he say that!?! I know I won't be able to have it anymore, why does he have to mention it? I guess he doesn't say it to be mean, he just isn't thinking before he speaks.

Thank you both! My surgery group is supposed to be sending in the information today. I had to do the 6 months of weigh ins, nutrition classes and appt., cardiac clearance, upper GI test, psych eval. Now, I am just waiting. The insurance coordinator said with my insurance, the approval could take up to 7-10 days. I'm really excited. I've always been overweight and I am looking forward to using this tool to finally give me a chance to live the healthy life I've wanted.

I am really going to miss biscuits! I moved to Memphis last year and they are everywhere here! I am also a cupcake addict! I am more excited about the transformation that is going to happen within the next few years though! Healthy living, here I come!