Forsythia

There are some clear Protein drinks - Isopure fruit drinks/teas/coconut water are clear and have 20 to 40 grams of protein. I was only on clears in the hospital - two days. On purees for a week, soft solids for a month and normal diet from then on. And my program is a Bariatric Center of Excellence. Regardless of surgery done everyone who goes through Northwestern Memorial in Chicago has the same post op diet. I think there is more than one way to finagle a bagel and doctors/nutritionists in any given program go about things in a way that they feel works best for their patients and their success rate.

That's a very classic chic look. Like you should be jet setting about Venice lunching with Amal Clooney or something. (What, I have an active fantasy life..) I got a gift card to Macy's for Christmas and got a Kenise dress (I didn't see the one I liked online from my first post) but I had been eyeing this one below as well, and it was on sale for $17 (swearsies). I got cobalt blue since I'm a colorful girl. But it is super cute with tights and boots.

Fear. That nagging fear that you are going to fail and gain it back. At least that is why I still have size 28 clothes even though I'm a 16 on top and an 18 on the bottom. There is that tiny dissenter voice in the back of my mind that says keep them just in case.

I only took a week off work. As far as anyone knew I was on vacation. One caveat is that I just about hated everyone and everything about my job so it wasn't hard for me to not tell people my business. You are not obligated to tell people your private medical business. If you had infertility treatments would you tell everyone? If you had an ovarian cyst removed would you feel obligated to tell? Just because you had a procedure that will eventually be noticeable does not mean you are obligated to pass that info along.

I think you're gonna like Fabletics. I have two outfits from them. A top, bra and capris and a pair of leggings and a top with a bra built in. The bras do not stretch a whole lot, but they do keep the girls in place. The one I have and the top with the built in bra have removable pads for nipple coverage. If you don't mind a lower rise I think old navy's rock star jegging is a nice fit. And if you like a zipper and button like real jeans they have it.

Fabletics? I love them. Really nice quality.

My BMI was in the 50s. I had a sleeve. So far I've lost over 100 lbs. Still have about 65 more to go. I'm almost 8 months out. I can't comment on a duodenal switch's results , but for me do far the sleeve have been fab. My diabetes is in remission, no more snoring. And I've exceeded my surgeon's weight loss expectations. Not sure if there is anyone around on the boards to give you any data on the effacacy of either surgery for more than a few years post op though.

Hydrate, moisturize and lift weights. Also, genetics and how long you were big is going to play into things. I'm 37 and my skin is just not bouncing back like it did when I was 27. For the most part I've spent my whole life obese, so I don't have high hopes for bounce back.

Leggings are your friends. So are dresses. If you have to maintain a business wardrobe, consider doing your shopping at thrift stores or places like Burlington Coat Factory. I need to lose another 60 lbs to my goal. I feel like my body wants to stay in a size XL just to spite me. But I'm in misses sizes and that was half the battle.

Coffee is the only vehicle in which I can tolerate any protein powder. It was always allowed from day one in my program and in fact my nutritionist suggested I put my powder in my coffee.

I get seasonally dry in the winter, but this is the worst one for me in well, ever. I believe it's from being less hydrated (And I generally get in my 64 oz of fluids). As well as a dietary change. I use a baby oil gel after my shower but before I dry off. Then after that I use a really rich lotion on my body. My face is still oily, but not as bad as it was before my surgery. I use an oil free moisturizer on it and a cleanser for normal skin. I like biore.

Fun fact that I learned in science class about clear and colorless. Clear and colorless are two different things. A liquid can be both clear (you can see through it regardless of color) and colorless. Water is both, obvi. So you can drink something that is red, as long as you can see through it. If it's murky or opaque and you can't see the label on the other side of the bottle, it's not clear.

@@HBMoose I had to do that before my honeymoon to Mexico. Had to get the state of Indiana to send my birth certificate then go to the posy office and deal with that level of hell for my passport. My local PO branch in Chicago doesn't have a camera that works so we had to go to Walgreen's and pay them to take our pictures. But once that was all sorted, the passports came in a week, unexpedited.

Spices were encouraged in my program. So I spiced with reckless abandon from purees onward. Also if you like tacos try using ground turkey or diced or ground chicken instead of beef. Some people have an easier time with chicken and turkey.

I have coffee every day. It's the only way I can drink my protein powder. My nutritionist suggested it as a vehicle for getting in my protein. After surgery my tastes changed and I couldn't stand any protein powder. The vanilla powder in my coffee gets masked by the coffee, sugar free torani syrup and a tiny spot of creamer.

You don't. I think Veronica was saying her relative only had a birth certificate and not a passport and was summarily denied entrance.

My personal feeling is that as a woman over 25 you should avoid the juniors department, any item of clothing sized with an odd number (1, 3, 5, etc. Indicative of juniors clothes). Or anything that looks like your 15 year old should be wearing it. And the temptation is there to dress younger, especially if you were fat as a teenager or 20 something. I am 37, I don't mind looking 37. I like places like Old Navy and H & M for basics, New York & Company (good for work and casual), Macy's (specifically their Impulse Contemporary brands. They are a bit edgier, but that is my style. Of course I'm totally down with a legging and sweater from their Style & Co line too). Ann Taylor Loft (good for work). White House, Black Market. J Crew. Express and the Limited.

I was only on clears/liquid in the hospital. I was on purees immediately upon release.

I'm not willing to pay for something I personally don't find enjoyable. I wouldn't pay for zumba either. Also something I know I wouldn't enjoy. Simple as that. :-)

Could be. I am a side sleeper too, and when my knees touch they hurt. So I have to make sure my body pillow is between them, lest I wake up with sore knees in the morning!

I've basically been stalled for the last two weeks. Really focus on basics. Protein, water, exercise. I can eat complete garbage if I want. At almost 8 months, I have to really focus to keep the scale going down (and I still want to lose another 60 or so lbs). But I stall a lot. I'll lose then stall then gain then lose then stall and lose some more.

Eli, remember that you cannot control the actions and reactions of others. You can only control your actions and reactions. Since you know your in laws are jerks about food around you, change your routines. If they eat dinner at 6pm, cook your own meal (even if that is a lean cuisine) and eat it at 5:30. When they get on you, leave the house and take a walk. You get to clear your head and you get in your exercise. Don't give them your power. And lastly make sure your husband is your advocate. He needs to really talk to his parents. They may respond to him better than you as the DIL.

I take a prenatal vitamin, vitamin d, vitamin b12, and b1. I don't take the b12 every day since my levels were slightly high. I take it every other day per my nutritionist's recommendation. We added in the b1 after my primary had my levels taken in September.

I just took seven days of vacation. No one knew I had surgery except for the people I wanted to know. I really could have gone back after about five days. You are not obligated to tell anyone at your job your private medical business. If anyone asks tell them as much. We spend too much time worried about what everyone else thinks of us and how others are going to judge us. How everyone else reacts to you taking time of is not your concern. No need to give the gossip mill any more fuel.

Quest bars. Sold at GNC.They make a couple of them that taste like cookies. And there is one that tastes like a cinnamon roll. And a lemon bar. They all have like 20 grams of protein and a bunch of fiber. Otherwise I would honestly say to make your own cookies and throw in unflavored protein powder into the mix to at least make your snack worthwhile.