MrsSugarbabe

I concur with @@JamieLogical and @CowgirlJane. I have no regrets with going with the sleeve. It made the most sense to me and for me, and I didn't want my plumbing to have to be rerouted. I had GERD before surgery, not extreme, still have GERD after surgery, no change really. Still have very noticeable restriction.

Ask your dietitian or surgeon to be certain. Not all WLS programs are the same. I was able to eat some apple sauce (unsweetened, of course) in the pureed phase, if I wanted it, and others as tolerated as time passed. You will/may find that because you can eat so very little now that you focus on the Protein you need to consume and eventually add other foods down the road. I still have trouble getting sufficient veggies and fruits eaten because once I eat my protein, I'm full.

I don't think having the surgery change the essential me at all; just what and how I eat, and my relationship with food. My people relationships are as good as ever and I'm more physically active than before surgery. I wouldn't worry about it. Enjoy the journey!!! Sounds like you have a lot going on so ENJOY!!

I agree with the others - you don't have to buy their products. Find what you like as long as it fits with the carb/protein/calorie guidelines for your program. I love the unjury Protein Powder - buy online from their website. whey protein isolate, very low carb, 100 cals./serving. Great support from dietitians and if you don't like it, they will take it back - 100% guarantee. I love the vanilla, chocolate splendor, unflavored, and when I don't want something sweet, they have a chicken Soup powder, just don't heat Water over 140 deg. or the whey will clump - doesn't change the taste, just the looks and texture. This is one Protein Powder you can mix in advance and drink it at your convenience, even 24-48 hours later. Be creative with flavors and combinations: SF orange drink made with water, 1 serving of vanilla Unjury = dreamsicle shake Vanilla and chocolate mixed with skim milk with a little brewed coffee = a not too chocolatey mocha shake Vanilla shake made with skim milk and a squirt or two of your favorite flavor of SF Torani (or other brand) syrup - I love the SF Black Cherry.

I use the SF vanilla and SF hazelnut in my morning coffee with creamer and sweetener. I use the SF black cherry, a couple squirts, in an unjury vanilla Protein shake made with milk for a black cherry shake. I have the peach flavor, too, but have not tried it yet. For an orange dreamsicle Protein Shake I use SF orange drink mix, skim milk, and vanilla Unjury. Sometimes I even use a little SF pineapple mix to make it orange pineapple (happen to be drinking one now ). It's easy to get creative with the flavors using them with either the vanilla or unflavored Unjury protein shake powder. I get tired of plain vanilla, chocolate, and mocha shakes so it's nice to have several flavor options.

YOU CAN DO THIS!!! YOU WILL SUCCEED!!! Don't let stinkin' thinkin' get in the way of your success!! Remember -- nothing tastes as good as being thin feels. As I'm typing this, I'm telling myself the same thing because I've been stuck in the same 7 lb. range for 6 months. Every day, every week I keep plugging along and working to getting back to doing what I know I am supposed to be doing -- Protein, protein, protein, Water, water, water, walk, walk, walk - to keep it simple. And.....log log log that food in somewhere. Accountability by tracking my food and exercise helps keep me honest with myself. I don't have to prove anything to anyone. I did this for me. I am doing this for me and my health. WE CAN DO THIS!!!

You will have to do it all, whether required for insurance or not. Most likely these are the requirements of your surgeon's practice for WLS. We all had to do some variation of all the specialists you listed. Do everything they tell you to do and you will be successful! Welcome!!! Your journey has begun!!! Good luck!!

I was fortunate, it was my PCP who recommended I consider having WLS. And has been super supportive since. It took me a year to wrap my brain around the option and to research everything I could. Once I made the decision, and had the first appointment with the surgeon, I didn't look back. Even though years before another PCP's PA with whom I had my appts. had suggested it "lightly," I always thought I should be able to lose this weight with the surgery; I'd done it many times before. But, life changes things, the body changes, and no matter all the efforts made to lose even 50 lbs., I was not successful. WLS certainly IS NOT the easy way out no matter what others may think. It still takes a lot of work, but having the restriction of my sleeved tummy certainly helps. No regrets!!

I've been hanging in the 202-208 range for months now. Onederland has been very elusive. Working hard at getting back on the downhill slide, but nothing is doing the trick. Have made food and exercise adjustments to decrease food and increase exercise, specifically weight training to try and ramp up the long term calorie burn. AND....doing my best to not get frustrated anymore than I already am and to not get depressed/discouraged about being camped out here. Still a whole lot better off where I am than where I was when I started this journey. We're in it for the long haul, right

Monthly massages as of 6 months ago, occasional facial, overnight trips with sister-in-law or my hubby, occasionally new clothes.

I'm more than a year out and still burp some and tummy still gurgles for a bit immediately after eating. Not sure it will ever stop, but I'm okay with that.

Great idea! I have some 4 oz. containers that I use to freeze stuff in to keep at work for lunch. Love these little containers! They help keep me honest and to not eat too much at one sitting.

It is a challenge to fight the head hunger. Mine didn't return until I was about 6 months post-op. You did good by going for a walk; anything to stop thinking about food. For me, it helps if I keep my Protein intake as close to 100 grams/day as possible. I do supplement with unjury Protein shakes, 1-3 per day and as long as I do that, my carb cravings stay at bay which is what most of my head hunger is wanting. Make any sense? Anyway, keep walking, sipping and work on finding that hobby - mine is reading fiction or being on the computer at home (even though I'm on one all day long at work). Welcome to the losers club! Good luck with your journey!!!

Of everything I've tried, I prefer the @@unjury Protein powders. I use them all, except the strawberry sorbet. There are recipes available on the @@UNJURY website. One of my favorite combinations is SF orange & pineapple drink mixed with the vanilla Protein powder - delicious! Sometimes the same combination with a little skim mild added. I also like the chocolate splendor, skim milk, and a little coffee. Also, the vanilla with skim milk and your favorite SF Torani (or whatever brand you use) syrup. I buy the Torani syrups at World Market, Skinny Girl at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, my neighborhood Walmart and grocery stores also carry the syrups, and in a pinch I can always pick up a bottle of Starbucks SF syrup at one of their locations (about the same price as World Market). Get creative!

Fantastic!!! Congratulations!!! Enjoy your writing class tonight. I know you'll do well because all your posts are very well written and I believe we all have a little creativity inside us just waiting to get out. Have fun!

Thank you for your wisdom and for sharing your journey! You've done an amazing job! Congratulations on your success!

I use a straw regularly at night while sipping liquids or during the day when drinking a Protein shake. No problem at all. I probably avoided straws for about the first 6 months just because my surgeon/NUT/PA and the written instructions said not to use a straw. I can't tell there's any difference when using one or not.

Thanks for the suggestion @bikrchik. I do drink Protein shakes and will keep this in mind. I don't use a blender for the majority of my shakes for simplicity sake, but I may give it a try with an unflavored Protein powder, veggie juice and avocado. I think that would be very filling and satisfying.

Had 1/2 an avocado diced with 1 diced hard boiled egg and a little red wine vinaigrette dressing (Wishbone). Satisfied my taste for lots of flavor and very filling.

@@esskay77 - The sugar-free Torani syrups can be purchased at World Market/Cost Plus (about $7.99 in my area), and Bed, Bath, and Beyond carry the Skinny Girl brand ($4.99 my area) which are cheaper than the Torani, but tastes the same to me. I use both brands and have also used the DaVinci brand as well. My favorites are SF vanilla and SF Caramel which I use in my morning coffee. I've also used SF Black Cherry along with vanilla Protein powder in shakes. You can also stop by a local Starbucks and they will sell you a bottle of their brand; last time I checked they were $7.99 or thereabouts depending on the flavor. You could also check with other local coffee shops if you can't find another retailer who carries the syrups. You can also purchase these syrups on Amazon. When it comes to SF maple syrup, my husband prefers the SF Mrs. Butterworth's. It doesn't come out of the bottle looking like snot.

To me, green tea really doesn't have any taste to it so I might as well be drinking plain Water. In an effort to get the benefits of green tea, though, I will brew a bag of green tea along with a bag of my most favorite tea - Constant Comment. Preparing it like this it get all the things I want - benefits of green tea, tastes good, and taste of black tea. Add in a little sweetener, and sometimes a little cream when drinking it hot, and it helps to add a little zip to my doodah. In fact, I think I'll go make me a cup now. Happy sipping everyone!

Congratulations, @@gowalking!!! Such a wonderful testimony to perseverance and getting healthy. You inspire me!

Congratulations on all of your successes!!! You look fabulous!! It's evident from all your new found activities like you're enjoying your new life. Awesome!!! What can I add that all our other BP friends haven't already said I agree with them all. Yes, considering the circumstances, even the change in your marital status is a NSV. His loss. I'll look forward to future updates and your race results in October. Keep on keeping on!!