Inner Surfer Girl

This is something you probably need to run by your NUT. I didn't have watermelon until a few months post-op. I know it tends to have a lot of fibers that some people have difficulty with.

I like Premier Protein and GNC Lean Shake 25. What does your surgeon or NUTS recommend?

Sounds like everyone is doing great. Keep sipping!

If you have time and room to nibble a ritz cracker you have time and room to be sipping a Protein shake or another liquid, Your priority should be protein and fluids. A ritz cracker has neither.

What are you looking forward to? A grand adventure and a whole new life. An opportunity to learn a lot: about obesity, nutrition, and yourself. The opportunity to practice positivity, patience, polite persistence, and perseverance. Write everything down and ask lots of questions. Keep asking questions until you understand. Be prepared to do everything your team asks you to do, even if you think you can't. Best of luck and keep us posted on how you are doing.

I probably didn't save any money because I stocked up on Protein supplements, Vitamins, etc. But, a year out and I am still using some of the things I bought last year. I spend less at the grocery, but I am spending more on clothes, and living life (a lot of my money is currently going into my garden).

I can't help you with your current issue related to insurance, but reading your comments I have a few suggestions. Please consider talking with a counselor or therapist, attending bariatric support groups and/or 12-step recovery groups (like OA OA.org), and/or read books related to food addiction and eating disorders. If you are in the habit of stress eating and needing to control circumstances and people, addressing these issues will be a great help in determining how successful you are with WLS. This whole process is a great opportunity to practice patience, persistence, perseverance, and positivity. Some books I recommend often are: Eat it Up by Connie Stapleton, When Food is Love by Geneen Roth, and The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie. Another book, not food related, that I found very helpful is: The One Life Solution by Henry Cloud.

Once you are cleared to get in the water, swimming and water aerobics are great for the core.

Yes, it is possible. But humans are very complex creatures Are you working with a counselor or therapist? Many folks find that it helps to have professional deal with many of the emotional and social changes after surgery.

Glad you are home. Keep pushing your protein and fluids. 20 grams may seem like a lot but it isn't. You need a lot more. What are you allowed on this phase? Premier Protein has 30 grams of protein per 11 oz. What is your protein target? Keep sipping!

You are doing really well on the weight loss and in becoming a label watcher. Very, very important habit to get in. Staying under 50 grams of carbohydrates per day seems to be very reasonable to me. The carbohydrates are almost always displayed on the labels in a way that even breaks down the carbohydrates into sub categories. Fiber is one of these. Sugar is another. Embrace those wonderful fiber grams. Shun the sugars just like you are. Fiber carbs can be removed from your totals. Our bodies don't process fiber carbs and they provide great benefits to us, both short term and long term. I supplement with fiber powders every few days. The orange flavored Metamucil stuff works great and tastes really good, too. Using your app.....and using your own savvy when checking those labels is a POWERFULLY helpful tool in your future life. I would submit that it may even be the MOST important tool any of us could add to our post-op arsenal. I'm only 6 months out and I feel that the constant awareness of exactly what I eat and how it adds up every day is a tremendous part of this war on the fat that has collected in my body over the past several years. You are doing great and approaching things with a good battle plan. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App I use MyFitnessPal.

Complex carbs are "good" carbs from whole grains, vegetables, fruits, etc. carbs that have fiber. Simple carbs are processed, sugars, starches, etc.

You are probably drained and exhausted because you: are dehydrated, malnourished, and just had surgery. I hope you got out of your car and walked every 45 minutes. I was told post-op that anyone who lived more than 30 minutes away needed to have a plan in place to stop and walk every 45 minutes due to blood clots. I am glad you are home, but yes, it is absolutely critical to follow your post-op rules and guidelines. They are for your benefit. Please take care of yourself.

I am squarely in the camp of eating whole eggs. Other people may disagree. All the nutrition is in the yolk.

How much are you drinking? A lot of times what we think of as hunger is actually thirst and/or head hunger. In your case, for your pre-op diet, don't be afraid to eat or drink as much as you are allowed. Restricting isn't going to help you be prepared for surgery. Try drinking more Water, decaf teas, sugar-free Popsicles, etc. I didn't have a liquid pre-op diet (mine was more like Atkin's level one) so tomato soup would have been a no-no for me. What does your surgeon allow? If you are hungry, try drinking another Protein shake. If you normally eat a lot of carbs and sugar, it will take a few days to get them out of your system. Once they are out of your system, you probably won't have nearly as many cravings. Also, you probably know this, but only eating once or twice a day is a great way to wreck your metabolism.

I like Palmer's cocoa butter and cocoa oil. They smell great!

Swimming! Swimming is the best all around exercise as far as I am concerned. I swim laps, do Water aerobics, use water weights, work my abs (crunches, etc.), and stretch. Great idea!! I always wanted to learn. Now I just need to find a good/clean pool that isn't too expensive? Any idea where I should check? I've tried YMCAs but it $300 for 2 sessions! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App The YMCA is $300 for two sessions of what? I used to belong to Y and they did have an initiation fee and a monthly membership fee. Group exercise classes were free. They did charge for swimming lessons. Is that what the $300 dollars is for? I know my Y did have financial assistance available if someone was in need. I currently belong to a Wellness Center associated with our local hospital. I have a discounted membership because I got a referral from my PCP. Their group fitness classes are also free. The swimming lessons also have a fee. I'll have to go in and see, I believe it was for two beginner swimming lessons. Thank you! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App That sounds like it would be for a series of classes if it is that much. I know my wellness center charges $18 per half hour for private lessons.

V8, Herb "teas", decaf tea, crystal light, Mio drops, infused water

It sounds like you are doing great to me. Have you started any kind of exercise?

Swimming! Swimming is the best all around exercise as far as I am concerned. I swim laps, do Water aerobics, use water weights, work my abs (crunches, etc.), and stretch. Great idea!! I always wanted to learn. Now I just need to find a good/clean pool that isn't too expensive? Any idea where I should check? I've tried YMCAs but it $300 for 2 sessions! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App The YMCA is $300 for two sessions of what? I used to belong to Y and they did have an initiation fee and a monthly membership fee. Group exercise classes were free. They did charge for swimming lessons. Is that what the $300 dollars is for? I know my Y did have financial assistance available if someone was in need. I currently belong to a Wellness Center associated with our local hospital. I have a discounted membership because I got a referral from my PCP. Their group fitness classes are also free. The swimming lessons also have a fee.

Thank you! Thank you for some positive news. I know stalls happen, I know weight loss is different for everyone but sometimes when week after week the scale stays the same, it's hard to keep looking forward. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk Embrace the Stall! Embrace the Stall http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

It sounds like you need to read your packet. I read mine multiple times a day for a good month. If you are confused about your program: 1) read the materials provided by your surgeon/NUT and 2) if you are still confused, call and ask.

Can the greek yogurt be flavored by yoplait or it has to be straight plain? Sent from my KFTT using the BariatricPal App I like the Danon Light and Fit Greek.

Expiration, perspiration, and urination...