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My NUT has recommended the Quest bars and that is good enough for me. I do not crave them, but instead use them as a go to source if I am low on Protein for the day and not able to get protein from other sources. I am currently on vacation in San Diego this week and we are scheduled to go to the the zoo on Weds. and doing the Hop On Hop Off Bus tours on Thurs and Friday. YES I will have the Quest bars with me during those excursions. Oh yes, and a huge Water bottle. My life is so different now. No more sodas and snack foods from the street vendors! I have to plan ahead. The Quest bars help me with that planning. I love all of them. We had a blind test in my support group. We all tasted various bites of Protein Bars that the NUT selected as good sources of protein. Hands down the Quest Bars won over the others. Another good one was the YaYa bars. I have yet to run across them in the stores. I get the Quest bars at my local GNC store.

I know weight can be an issue, and something we all know here on this site. There are many illnesses that come about due to weight. BUT I hate that obesity is the blame for everything! If that were true, why would skinny people drop dead from heart attacks. Why would perfectly healthy looking people get cancer? You never hear that they died because they did not monitor their health better. Someone get sick and also be fat. weelllll... We all know why they got sick! I call that bullsh..t. I know many people who have high blood pressure, high cholesterol etc. and they are not fat. Now how can that be????

I am 30 days post op. Been in a stall for the past week. Can't believe it. already a stall! I started at 220 and hit 199.5 and am stuck! How often did you hit times like this when the scale refused to move. I am so discouraged. I am wondering if I will actually ever lose weight or if this is my natural level and there is no hope for me.

My daughter was scheduled for that day also with Dr Illan but we are going to try insurance resubmission in 6 months to see if we can get her approved. I think it is worth one more try before we head to Mexico. So if that does not work we will review again the options in Mexico after the first of the year.

I am a 60 year old woman and I know when a horse has been beat to death. I have seen enough information here to agree that there is enough smoke to easily come to the assumption that truly there is likely unethical behavior here. Here is my take.....The ladies in question were not bad people, only a bit misguided by a very smooth talker. This happens everyday to many women around the world, not just in Mexico. Most appalling is the fact that the coordinator may even be beyond simple misconduct due to patient doctor relationship. Ok. Point has been well made. And I appreciate the information because it could have been much more serious considering HIV and other diseases. Best point that has been made on this thread for days! Anyone reading this thread now and in the future should be fully aware of potential abuse by this man of prey and that is the positive thing that has come from this thread. But what I don't get is why continue? I am not seeing the relevance of the nasty nasty comments that are being strewn from post to post. Am I missing something? Are we continuing to enlighten here or what is the ultimate goal past making everyone aware of this issue, which I think has already been accomplished. I would agree to support the women as a group to address the issue directly with Dr Illan, and see what actions the doctor is willing to take to resolve this misbehavior. Or even support any other actions that might stop future interactions between the coordinator and patients. I just don't see the purpose any more in what is going through this thread. Is there more relevant info to be had by continuing on with this topic? Or have all the actual facts to the reported abuse been made? If yes, put it out here because the actual facts ARE important. But if not, can we agree both sides have presented their case, opinions, etc, and we can be done here?

Hydration is so important! I also learned the hard way. 3 weeks after surgery I had real constipation issues. I know, another issue I had to learn the hard way. I tried to resolve the C problem via Benefiber and Muralax. No luck. So my PCP recommended Duralax and an enema. Well after I lost all fluids due to use of these products I unfortunately did not replace the lost fluids along with I did not even get in the recommended water to begin with. Within a few days I could not walk 2 feet without total exhaustion. Yup, ended up in the ER and thousands of dollars spent for them to ultimately tell me I was severely dehydrated. Needless to say, I take Benefiber daily and drink a minimum of 64oz of water each day. That was two weeks ago. I am just now getting my strength back. Long story short...DRINK WATER!!!

I haven't told anyone either outside my immediate family. I don't want my friends to be looking at me each time they see me to see if they can tell if I have lost weight, or even worse keep asking me how much weight I have lost. I want the focus to be on other topics just as they were before I did the surgery. My weight loss is personal to me and a part of my journey that I am not ready to share with others. I don't have to explain stalls, give excuses for why I can't eat much, etc. I want to get back to normal as soon as possible. It is only me that needs to know what that new normal is.

I just hate how this type of thread is degrading the overal value of what I once thought was a respectable and worthy source of bariatric information. But you are right it is up to me to stop this nonsense on my own.

Alex, you agree that this thread continues to provide valuable information? Really? I think the relevant info was presented many many posts before. Fact or no an accusation was made. This provided us with information that is up to us as individuals to digest and determine for ourselves if it should be a part in our decision to utilize Dr Illan's services. Bashing the women who came forward, who, if true, are truly victims, is very sad. Those who wish to support Omar have said their piece as well. Why continue this! Is the only way for relief from these types of threads is to delete my app? So sad, cuz there really were good things here. But I can't stand for this any longer. It has gone from informative to cat fighting and nasty comments. Well, maybe that is what you enjoy. Who knows, maybe no better morals then Omar has.

I had very high regard for this bariatric site. It provided me with great information and helpful hints and made me feel normal when others related to what I was going through. I even was impressed that a thread was shut down when it became too negative and "bitchy." I just became aware of this thread and am actually shocked that Alex has not shut down this thread. I think everything necessary has been said at this point and now it is just bitchy. Susan believes her point should be published. I have no issue with her saying what she believes. Others have a right to state their opinion of Omar if they are so inclined. But that should have been the end of it. This has went far enough. Now I am only wondering why Alex has not shut this thread down. Is there personal interest in all this? What purpose is being served by continuing this negative thread. What is being solved here but spewing hateful comments to each other. Alex, please close this thread!

Ha! That was my exact thought. I cannot imagine even thinking romantically after I have just had surgery and feel like crap. And honestly, if you've seen pics of Omar he does not exactly elude sexuality. More he looks like a very kind and gentle person. But with that said I would not be able to defend either points of thought. I have not met him.

Yup,, smaller pans and storage bowls! My leftovers are crazy and I can't bring myself to throw it out!

Hi Jess! I have to be honest, we were taken back a few steps when we heard of Dr Aceves death. We were set to send the deposit that weekend! It has kind of thrown us off track. We decided to wait a few more months and do more research. I am not familiar with the other doctors associated with dr Aceves. We are thinking more like dec or Jan now. Give time to see how others are doing with those drs who are replacing dr Aceves.

I am down 26#s but still very weak. Everything else is going like clockwork. Just wish I had more stamina.

I have lost a small amount each day, now reaching 27 #s since June 17th surgery date. Getting water in, and reaching about 1/2 protein amounts required. Eating is going as prescribed, but 2oz is about max before I am full. Taking vitamins and calcium tabs. Just always tired. I try to walk every day at least 4000 steps broken down into 2 walks. By the time I get back home I am exhausted! So tired of being tired! Hope this gets better. I did reach one-derland yesterday, currently at 199.8. Not much joy in that when I have no energy to do much. I am getting B12 shots so maybe that will kick in soon and I can finally feel normal again.

I have Chike decaf expresso protein drink. Blend it with ice. Just like a frappe. Nice treat and adding protein to boot!

I am getting soooooo. Lose to one-derland. HW 226 SW 220 Current weight. 200.7. Yeah! Almost there Goal weight 140 Age 60

I would love to get together with those that live in the Puget Sound area. I had my sleeve on the 17th of June and would love to share this WLS experience with other like minded comrades. I have never shared this WLS with anyone outside of my immediate family (daughters, hubby, and mother). It would be nice to be able to discuss this topic openly with those that are currently on this journey. Anyone interested? I am willing to meet anywhere within the proximity of NW Washington. We could even make this a monthly thing.

I am in Gig Harbor. My dr was Dr Houseworth out of St Francis Weight Lost center in Federway Way. I had the sleeve 6/17/14.

Ha! Well said!

Happy happy Birthday. This WLS is the best gift you could ever give yourself!

OK, so I spent 6 months jumping hoops for insurance and then focused on preop dieting, then finally had my surgery. I recently completed by 1st week liquid diet, and trying to process myself through the puréed stage. I eat 2oz and I am miserable from being too full! I struggle getting in my required water and protein numbers. I am managing about half of what is should be getting in daily. So here is my question? Will life go back to normal where what I eat and drink is NOT the focus of my every minute? I signed on for the new lifestyle, and eating healthy is truly my goal. But I want to just go on living too. Will I get there?

Had my follow up appt. with surgeon's NP. She could quickly see how exhausted I was. I had a temp of 100.5. She said if it went over 101.5 I was to head for the ER. We ran tests for white cell count, etc. She also noted I was impacted. I have take Benifiber and Muralax but sadly they have to been effective. So, next step was the dreaded E word. Luckily my daughter is a NP and came over last night to do the honors. That helped a bit, but she said most is still to high up so she put me on Duralax to get more movement. With all this mess I am in, it is clear I am not getting enough fluids in. Keep in mind that for every softener you take you need to compensate with MORE liquid! Today I feel a bit better but certainly not where I was a week after surgery. I am supposed to be progressing not regressing! Just don't want to end up in the hospital!

Have done really well since my sleeve surgery on June 17th. Only 2 days nausea, no real pion (stopped pain meds on day three) no gas pain. Started walking right away and getting in three walks a day (around 4000 to 6000 steps each day). Really surprised at how well I felt. But the last 3 days I have had absolutely zero energy. All I want to do is sleep! My PCP said I was low on B 12 so I am set up for a series of shots. Hope that helps. Has any one else experienced this weakness a few weeks out?

I don't think I could skip ahead. My tummy is healing and needs the time that I give it to become normal again. I am in puréed stage. Even that has been a struggle at times. I have to be very careful. No more the. 2 oz. What is the rush. You have a lifetime ahead of you. Do this right and your journey will be uneventful, which is what you want.