HaddocksEyes

The doctor is deciding whether or not to go forward without it. Thank you so much for asking!

Just saw these at 7-11 (of all places). They are made with whey Protein isolate. I was wondering if anyone had tried these yet. I only had enough cash on me for my diet A&W root beer, so I didn't try them. I looked them up and here's the nutrition information for them: Calories: 200 Fat: 0 Carbs: 39 g Protein: 20 g Sugars: 16 g Vitamin C: 100% Calcium: 8% Gluten free Ingredients: Whey Protein Isolate, Glucose syrup (i.e. "sugar"), Erythritol, Glycerine, Tapioca Syrup, Sucrose ("sugar"), Gelatin, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Natural and Artificial flavors, Vitamin C, Phosphoric Acid, Coconut Oil, Red 40, Stevia extract, Canauba Wax, Sodium Citrate. They seem to be a bit high in calories but for post workout recovery, they have a good carb-to-protein ratio.

We're not allowed to use a straw right after surgery but heck, I can't remember whether or not we can use one after the stomach is completely healed. Not sure about gum either but I would think that would be prohibited as well because that too can put extra gas in your stomach. Thanks for asking - now I am curious. I will ask the nurse or nutritionist next time I see them.

Wow, 39 polyps - I take it that none of them were cancerous? You have a good point that you found this out early and that you will have regular screenings for them. I think the age they start ordering colonoscopies as part of a checkup is mid to late 50's? Had you of waited, who knows what would have happened. I hope the surgery ends up being free for you. Good luck!

Off topic - I almost forgot to mention I love your honest and funny posts! I've had a good chuckle at quite a few of your humorous (but true!) observations about life with a GS.

I totally understand where you are coming from. We all have to make the choice for ourselves whether or not to share something like this (or when). It's definitely a hard decision to make because yeah, I was one of those people out there that said to myself "Hey, "so-an-so" lost weight through hard work and determination, so I should be able to do it too". Well, that worked out pretty poorly for me because here I am, getting ready to undergo a bariatric procedure. Wow, it's just a hard question. Do you present loud and proud so as to remove the stigma of bariatric surgery, barrelling through the negative comments and remarks or do you keep it private? I wish I had the answer to that.

I think something you may or may not have not thought of is that people have traumatic experiences in their lives which makes them reluctant or unable to go through certain things. It's not just about "womaning-up", it's about dealing with the psychological affect of going through a procedure that makes you feel vunerable and not in control of your own body. For some, that is incomprehensible. Other women may take issue with the requirement that you get a pelvic exam because that is traumatic to them. I know of a woman in her 20's that flatly refused to have this done and the doctor let it go because at her age, the liklihood of cancer is low. Obesity is such a complex condition, and we all know that the mental part of it plays such a huge part of why we are obese. This is part of that mental condition. Rationally, we know that there are things we need to do in order to be healthy. Emotionally, we derail the rational part. And as I said, the rational part of me battles with the emotional side of me. Unfortunately, the emotional side of me has won far too many times than the rational when it has come to my weight loss struggle. So, I appreciate the responses but at the end of the day, this is a complex issue that I will have to continue to deal with and eventually overcome if i want to ensure good health. Many of us are in the same boat with the whole emotional vs. rational struggle (of any type or situation), which is why I posted what I did.

LOL! True, but everyone has their achilles heel, and this is mine. Not going to do it.

LOL - I would know if someone stuck a finger in my "@ss", which feels very different from having a speculum placed into the female orifice. I don't know about other women, but I have never had my gyn do that during a pelvic exam. My husband said they do that to men when they check for the prostate, so that might be what you are referring to.

Nope, I'm pre-op

I am wondering if you have lost inches because you are replacing fat with muscle? I plan to also hit the weights as soon as I am able. I think I will take measurements before I start. I agree it is discouraging when the needle on the scale doesn't budge. If you can see success elsewhere I will bet that will help motivate you!

You reminded me - no caffeine, no alcohol, practice drinking 30 minutes before and after meals, practice drinking 1 oz. over 15 minutes, no soda (unless it is diet and completely flat).

Develop a consistent exercise regimine and then stick to it, take daily supplements.

LOL - I was just quizzed on this today. First two days - clear liquids only, as tolerated (Water, basically) Week one and week two - Protein liquids (Protein shakes, milk, etc.) Week three and four - Blenderized or pureed foods (hummus, cottage cheese, etc.) Week four and five - Soft foods (whole-grain pastas, mashed legumes - like pinto Beans, etc.) Week six and beyond - "regular" foods (so, everything else that your stomach can tolerate, as it is able to)

Yeah, I noticed they seemed to be a bit high in carbs, but for the person that is really active (read: heavy weight lifting recovery) they may be useful. We'll see - I'm not anywhere even close to that part of the journey! Thank you for the responses!

Yes, you read right, it is a carbonated drink. However, we are allowed to have them if we let them go completely flat before we drink them. Some people don't like the tast of flat diet soda at all and don't consider it worth drinking, which is understandable. I only like diet root beer and diet orange soda flat (any other kind tastes yucky to me), but they have to be super cold! I like a little variety here and there between plain Water and the Mio-Crystal Lite-sugar free drink additions to my water-etc. routine.

I'm also someone whose only major medical problem is being morbidly obese. I too have read the stories on here, and other sites. I pesonally know people that have had both the Roux-N-Y and the sleeve. Not one of them had a complication. That doesn't mean I cannot have a complication, or even die, just that it is not as likely. I chose a board-certified doctor who works in a Baratric Center of Excellence. They have a great and comprehensive program (UC Davis). I feel so comfortable with my doctor. If something goes wrong, it won't be because of something he did or did not do. It's funny, when I saw him the other day he said to me that I looked petrified with fear during the group orientation, so much so that he mentioned it during the staff team meeting they held the next day. Apparently, it was written all over my face! He reminded me that this was not a race and that it will take as much time as it needs to take and that I can always decide not to have the surgery. He's totally right - we have to take as much time as we need to in order to decide what course is right for us. But I know if I stay this way, I will continue to be less and less healthy as the years pass by. It's not a question of IF I will develop diabetes but WHEN. I've been seeing this scenario play out with my dad for the past 25 years...I don't want to go there. So that's my thought process. Whatever your decision is, I am glad to see that you are considering all sides, both the good and the bad. This is the only way to truly come to a informed decision, to be at peace with whatever you choose to do. Good luck!

That IS a bit different. I believe in God and I would say, and this is just my opinion, that if more than one person tells you this and they don't know each other, it's probably divinely inspired. And as far as not being special, you are indeed special. We all are in our own way. If God has a plan for you, He will eventually make it known to you so it all makes sense. Thank you for sharing this!

Yeah, I have two pairs of old Guess jeans from the early 90's that I have been saving. I can't believe I used to wear them because they seem so small but I am sure I will be able to wear them again very soon! Good topic!

Sweet! If you think of it, come back and tell us all the juicy details!

I just realized this morning that for the first time ever, I will be going to my next class reunion (25 years in 2016) as a normal, thin person. And then I realized it's 25 years since I graduated high school - geeze where does the time go!!!

Oh, by the way, if your plan allows Protein bars, Bari Wise's Rockie Road bars are, by far, the absolute best tasting bars I have ever come across. Not too crazy about the other ones.

That is such a great response! You have good goals in mind that you are focused on. That it what I need to do. I have had two c-sections and one knee surgery but I am a baby about being stuck with needles and It's hard for me to trust people that I don't know really well - I basically have to give them control over my body, and that's scary to me, even though I know they are trying to help and want the best outcome for me. Just something I struggle with..... I have been on a liquid diet before, in one of my previous weight loss attempts. Yes, they do work to take the weight off. I went on a product manufactured by Robard called WonderSlim. It's a program with bars, Soups, shakes, puddings and other protein-rich items (like Medifast but not soy based). The hardest thing about it is the first few days because you are limiting your carbs to such a low level and, of course, you aren't eating "regular" food. As I shared with another member, I was actually mad at me for telling me I couldn't have what I wanted to eat! It was silly, but I still thought in those terms. But I got over that and now I am looking forward to being on the diet again prior to surgery, as preamble to how I will be eating for a few weeks after surgery. It's totally do-able. Make sure you don't let yourself get hungry..that is a killer and the hunger will lead you to throw up your hands and say "screw this, I am eating a sandwich (or insert a favorite available food here)!" Plan for contingencies during this time by having an approved snack in your car or your purse so that if you cannot have your shake, you at least have something that won't screw you up. If you are hungry, have another shake, even if you have had your alotment for the day. It's far better to have that shake then to have something off plan, which will make you start all over again in terms of lowering your carbs. I have a VeriBest personal blender at my desk at work and I have kept ice in our office fridge to make fresh shakes during the day, since they took away our ice in our building's cafeteria. If people ask me what I am doing (since the blender is noisy) I just say I am making smoothies and they say, "oh, wish I had that for margaritas!!" And then we would laugh about that and then just move on to talk about something else. When you reduce your carbs, your body draws from your carb stores in your muscles and I believe, your liver. After that, it burns your fat for fuel. So eating something off plan can start that process all over again. Some people move more quickly into ketosis (process of burning fat for fuel in a low or no carb environment) than others. Sounds to me like you will be successful!

Mine requires this as well because he said he wants to make the most healing environment for the stomach as he can.

Thank you. I guess I should say I feel like a more involved mom. we are always hard on ourselves as mothers..we just really love our babies, no matter how "grown" they get! I think that is an awesome NSV!!