Crosby

What great progress everyone !!! Three weeks today for me....it has gone by fast! I haven't bothered with an updated picture yet as there isn't too much difference. I finally started feeling alive the other day. I actually have been able to do a couple minor tasks without feeling exhausted. I still have found I can eat everything I am allowed without issue. And drinking has been easy as well. Surgery date 3/27/2015 Original starting weight 282 Surgery weight 269 Current weight. 247

Popcycles really helped me a lot...being able to chew a bit. It's great you are doing so much walking.

That's great Beckaroni!

Wishing you the very best.

I ordered them from http://www.mybariatricpantry.com It is nice to have them as a fruit type drink. And they are not concentrate like some that are popular.

If WW indeed is okay I don't see online being sufficient as there really is no monitoring....you could input anything. I did online for four years so I amfamiliar with it. It would possibly even be cheaper, with insurance, to go the PCP route.

My insurance required my monitoring to be by a medical person which for most people ends up being your PCP. Frankly I don't understand why they would tell you Weight Watchers would be okay since you are not "medically" monitored by them. I would not consider it as an option unless they put it in writing. I got more than one bit of inaccurate information from customer service reps from my insurance company. Your surgeons office may be a more reliable source on what is required.

You got to get moving...regardless of how much you want to lay down. This is one of the first examples of having to push through and do what is good for you...there will be a plethora of similar things in the future...that's why this is NOT the " easy way out."

First and foremost you have to take responsibility for your choices regardless of what others do. Surgery will do nothing long term if you don't change your mind set. If you go out for fish then you get baked or grilled..he gets to get whatever he wants. Take charge of you!

That's great.

Glad to hear it went well.

Super sweet..good boy you have there.

Just an FYI... I don't do much soup but what have had I added unflavored protein to it to make it a better option.

I am sure there are some but I only do powders. If I find something I will let you know.

Remember this is head hunger as nerves have been cut and will not work again for awile. That being said head hunger can be a bear. And as the other poster said I was told no to chewing gum. I too found sugar free Popcycles to be such a good relief..it gave me something to kind of chew plus hydrated me even more. I found chicken broth gave me the most "real" food taste. That first phase is rough..I was crawling the walls the last two days ...but it will end. Hang in there.

Drink and walk. I was so glad I was warned about the gas pains which can be piercing. Knowing what they were kept me calm and walking. Follow your instructions and clarify anything you are not sure about before you leave. Wish you the very best.

My understanding after being told Premeir changed its formula to a concentrated blend in the Fall. Quote from Obesity Coalition on Protein and gastric bypass............ "Isolates In general, isolates tend to have a higher concentration of protein than concentrate forms. For whey protein isolates, the filtration process removes a lot of the lactose, minerals and fat in the product; therefore, these products have very little or no lactose and often provide more protein in smaller volumes. These products may be beneficial to those patients who have lactose intolerance. Also, isolates tend to have a better mix ability and cleaner taste, therefore compliance is often better with these products. Concentrates Whey protein concentrates have a lower concentration of protein and higher concentration of lactose. Although the protein is of good quality, the percentage of protein will vary. Consumers can always view the nutrition label as well for accurate quantities of protein." For me there are enough products out there to not even take a slight risk in not absorbing enough protein. And just having a NUT say it is okay is simply not enough for me...especially since some are still recommending Flintstones Vitamins. I research everything...using Sourses like Obesity Coalition and ASMBS. And lack of protein, as well as other nutrients, can take quite awhile to show up on labs. Since ( although I have not verified when Premeir changed their formula) the change supposedly was less than 6 months ago folks who used it may not show any negative affects yet. Again...this is my summation, as well as some others I have read. I could be totally wrong but it's not worth the chance to me.

Wish you the best.

Grlfrny...hope your pain eases up soon. Melanie I can see the difference ..especially in you face. Look forward to more pics as we all progress. I am moving along. The only issue continues to be the total lack of energy...I mean to the point where I am sitting or laying most of the day. I am hydrated fine and getting more than required Protein but no improvement. Weight loss has slowed a bit as expected. I am limiting myself to weighing every three days which is actually easier for me.

Aetna only has a " net " loss requirement so unless you gained from your initial weigh in weight I don't understand why they would deny you. I gained twice during the 6 month review period but overall had a loss. I was approved in less than 24 hours. I know several others who did the same? I would clarify reason for denial. as far as current problem with gaining perhaps you need additional support. I know it is tough but it is tough after surgery too so don't give yourself the okay to go off the wagon.

I had a bad cold and kept in touch with both surgeons office and hospital. I didn't have a fever and my lungs were clear so it was a go. But I still had a bad cough and mucous...it made the first few days post op even tougher......coughing was very painful.

Calories have not been mentioned at all. And no where in the provided literature are calories mentioned through all phases. Everything I have read and been told is about meeting protein guidelines, measuring religiously, and good carbs only after protein. I track using my fitness pal so I do know calories but focus on proteins, carbs and sugar. That being said I average about 550 right now...in purée phase. I had surgery 2-27 weighing 269 and weighed 249 yesterday.

I haven't been surprised as I had read about all the noises and movements. For the most part it is kind of funny. I am only 2 weeks out but it already seems normal.

And even better detail http://www.pamtremble.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Vitamin_and_Nutrition_Guidelines.pdf

Go right to the source. Here is the link to the American Bariatric Society...no better source. This is the beginning of the section on vitamins. https://asmbs.org/patients/life-after-bariatric-surgery