WL WARRIOR

I don't like taking antidepressants either. Most of them do cause high blood pressure. One of the oldest antidepressants around is Prozac and therefore has had more research on long term user side effects. I am taking it just during the winter months because it is easier to stop taking than most antidepressants.

I've known two woman with gastric bypass gain that have gained all their weight back after 1.5-2 years. GRAZING was the main culprit along with denial and defense mechanisms. During the first year post op, its quite hard to over eat. You are practically forced to lower your daily calories. However, the stomach starts to feel more normal after the first year. Side effects from overeating like dumping, sliming, vomiting, tightness, start to lessen or disappear altogether. Many patients with food addiction issues begin to struggle after their "honeymoon period". You no longer have a substance to satisfy the reward centers of your brain. Most long term successes have learned coping strategies and effectively put them in practice from day one. Implementing strategies similar to the normal eating behaviors of many skinny people is vital. If you overeat on Saturday, then you need to make sure to cut back on Sunday, make exercise a priority, etc. Its disheartening to read posts on here from those that gain a lot of weight back despite trying really hard. Insight into WHY you do or do not follow through with healthy behaviors in not what really matters. The actual DOING of healthy behaviors is what really counts You either choose to eat Halloween candy or you choose not to. You can't TRY not to eat the candy. Hence the expression, "trying is dying".

I am a little over a year out and have recently learned something important about this process: the sleeve has helped my to lose 150 pounds in less than a year, but after that, its mostly up to me................ My hunger returned around the year mark and sometimes I'm surprised at my capacity. In order to maintain, I have to stick to three meals a day with two small Snacks. Eating every three hours or grazing does not work so well when your capacity has increased. Of course, I can't eat as much as I use to. I can't sit down and eat five rice crispy treats like before. Like others have mentioned, stay away from processed food. I actually try to stay away from almost all foods at the bottom of the food triangle. You can still follow the bariatric diet without undergoing surgery because it is very similar to the Atkins program. I don't know anyone who has lost over 100 pounds and kept it off for more than a year without surgery. This surgery has reset my metabolism and now I can maintain my goal weight by eating 1800-2000 daily calories. This changing of your "set point" is probably the best aspect of VSG.

Although the five day liquid diet is a very admirable endeavor, it is not for me right now. Even though getting five pounds below goal would allow me some wiggle room, it would make my face even more bony. Besides, I'll be forced into doing liquids sometime this year when the flu or strep come around. I'm around kids constantly and it happens every year. I did a full six weeks of fluids (two weeks pre op plus one month post op) and I was practically gnawing on my arm toward the end of it. My last ten pounds was coming off slowly, so I used garcinia cambogia (citrimax) along with afternoon coffee for a few weeks. It seemed to help. I've given in to a few pieces of Halloween candy these past few days. My street is wildly popular on Halloween night and we usually get around 200 kids. I've tried hiding the candy from myself with no avail. I'm actually looking forward to getting rid of it all.

I had my surgery at Univ. of MO hospital in Columbia, MO. I went through the Univ. of Missouri Bariatric Clinic. Who is your surgeon? I had a good experience, however, I did skip out on my one year follow up. I was super busy and have had three different bariatricians throughout the pre op and post op process at that clinic. I have a PCP that I see regularly, so I didn't see the need to go to a newly hired stranger.

I'm over a year post op and feel that my capacity has increased quite a bit. If I was one of those that are full after a few tablespoons, then I would understand your point. However, I'm not. If I've met my Protein requirement for the day (65 grams or more), then I rely on green vegetables to keep me full. There are certain veggies, like cucumbers and lettuce, that have high Water content to keep me hydrated and full. This aspect makes it almost impossible to overeat. Although nuts, cheese, and Jerky are all great choices for Snacks, they are not my go to if I've already had enough protein in my meals. Why? A serving of these types of foods is quite miniscule. As I mentioned above, this may not be an issue for someone with a small capacity or less than 8 months post op. I truly believe my green vegetable consumption is the key to maintaining goal (150+ pound loss), which I have successfully done for over five months now. My recent blood work is excellent and I feel great. I can still get in the necessary protein while remaining on a plant based diet.

The "Good Eats" guy does a show devoted to making Protein bars. They are pretty good and easy to make. This particular episode is on one of the seasons featured on Netflix.

I don't mind Isopure at all and find that it gives me lots of energy. I've read all the rave reviews about Premier Protein and Syntrax nectar and have finally tried them both out. I just don't get it. They just aren't that great tasting to me and the aftertaste of Syntrax Nectar Fuzzy Naval is putrid. The rotten orange smell of it lasts ALL DAY for me. There have been days when I burp up the stuff all day. It sometimes even feels like the smell is stuck in my nasal passages. Even on days when I don't drink it, it's still there. Of course, I still finished my jug of it. I'm one of those that can't stand to let protein powders go to waste even if the taste is below average. For now, I'll just stick to Isopure powders as long as I can afford it.

How many servings are in the product? Have you sold this yet?

Yes, it does cause hormonal issues. The severity of hormone fluctuations vary from person to person. My period stopped altogether back in January (3 months post op) and put me in menopause at age 38. I have difficulty differentiating between symptoms of a depression/mood disorder and symptoms of hormone fluctuations. It all feels the same to me.

My nutritionist said mash potatoes were not a good choice during weight loss. Its so starchy and full of carbs. My plan from the beginning was to not eat all those foods that kept me fat: mashed potatoes, rice, bread, cheese, Desserts, processed food, etc. I know many of you eat cheese, but I am not satisfied with 2 oz., even with the sleeve. So, I just don't eat it at all. Even though I've lost 150 pounds and have been at goal since May, I still hesitate to eat foods like mash potatoes. I'm not going back to the fat person I use to be no matter what.

I eat tons of lettuce, spinach, cucumbers, and leafy greens in general with some kind of vinegar dressing (Walden, low calorie Italian, sugar free balsamic). In fact, I eat it everyday in a salad combined with cut up fish. I've found that eating the same meals everyday have helped me be successful. All the leafy greens weren't added into my diet until 6 months post op. My stomach did make some weird gurgling noses when I first started adding in all the green vegetables. However, it doesn't do it so much anymore unless I overdo it or eat too fast. All this fibrous roughage has alleviated my constipation problems and helped me stay hydrated. It's nice to not have to depend on Miralax or Smooth Move tea anymore. The only downside to eating mostly plant based is the price of all the vegetables.

My family income level dropped quite a bit since my husband passed away. My job as a public school reading teacher doesn't help make up for that loss of income much, of course. My income is just a tad over the limit to receive government assistance, so I decided to let my insecurities go and make a trip to the local food bank. I wasn't hoping to receive food to help my dietary needs, since I don't eat that much. It was more to help fill my son's never ending stomach. Getting milk, eggs, and bread for free was actually my purpose in going this one time. Let me begin by saying that everyone there was extremely friendly and the process was quite easy. The place was packed and it was over an hour wait, which I didn't mind. Most of the people waiting were mothers with many small rowdy children. I'm quite aware of the stereotype correlating poor people with obesity. Looking around at the very overweight moms and kids, I could see why others might make that assumption. When they called my name to get my food, I was ecstatic about the number of bags of food they were bringing to my car. I only have one kid and he is quite spoiled. His only comment about getting free food was: "It better be doughnuts and pizza because I hardly ever get that anymore." I told him not to count on it, but it ended up I was wrong. Here is a list of foods that were contained in the five bags and four boxes: 7 Kings Size Peanut Butter Twix Candy Bars 7 Bags of mini-Butterfinger pieces 3 bags of mini Reese's cups 2 six count boxes of Crispy Crème doughnuts 1 bag of 48 unbaked chocolate chip Cookies 1 bottle of light corn syrup 1 bottle of dark corn syrup 1 canister of salt 1 bag of frozen Black pepper seasoned French fries 1 bag of frozen Barbecue flavored French fries 3 boxes of cereal: chocolate crispies, honey bunches of oats Baked goods: chocolate muffins, marble cake, pound cake, waffles, chocolate covered brownies, lemon streusel cakes, long loaf of French bread, 6 birthday cupcakes, red velvet cake 3 large unbaked pepporoni pizza's from Wal-Mart Little Debbie Snacks (zebra cakes, moon pies) 2 large canisters of Wrigley's gum 10 cans of raviolis 2 boxes of saltines 1 box of wheat thins 1 box with 12 small canisters of cheese its 7 small snack bags of teddy grahams box of Kashi granola bars box of peanut butter/chocolate power bars canned goods: green Beans, peanut butter, cranberry sauce, creamed corn, mixed vegetables box of 6 angus beef burgers deer sausage banana popsicles chocolate fudge pops 4 rolls of TP paper towels box of spaghetti noodles 3 boxes of hamburger helper bag of frozen cranberries pancake mix cornmeal mix 1 canister of chocolate milk powder 3 boxes of pink lemonade cake mixes 2 boxes of muffin mix (blueberry/cornbread) 1 quart of whole milk 6 large eggs I'm not going to complain about this food. In fact, I am happy that I got what I hoped, which was the bread, eggs, and milk. I've already given much of the baked goods away because my son doesn't need it. We have enough income to buy healthier food in place of it. But what about the families who don't? I keep thinking about those mothers at the pantry with all their small children. They must HAVE to eat all this food, including the junk because they have no choice. This makes me sad. However, I am thankful that at least they have something to fill their stomach. My neighbor did inform me that not all pantries give out the same kind of food. Some pantries actually have fresh produce donated by the farmers market. I'll actually have to keep this in mind in case we get into a rut again. My salary has gone up this school year and I've started my own after school tutoring service, so I think we are going to be financially set for awhile. Once we get ahead, I plan on donating some healthy food to the same food bank I just visited.

I think this surgery pairs with a plant based diet very well. If anything, it helps to be successful on a plant based diet and not terribly hungry all the time. Granted, it will probably be a little tricky getting all your Protein in the beginning. I still haven't fully switched over to full based plant eating but am slowly getting there (90% vegetables/fruits, 10% fish). I lost 150 pounds and got to goal weight after 7 months post op. Even after this successful weight loss, my depression was not cured. However, I am relieved that I no longer have to deal with diabetes and high blood pressure. That, and the fact that I will live a longer and healthier life and be able to raise my son. Dr. Weiner (a bariatric surgeon with many YouTube educational videos) promotes the benefits of the plant based bariatric diet. You can learn about his "Pound of Cure" plant based eating plan at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M1OUvHM_D4. It is for bariatric and non bariatric patients, so you can even give it a try before surgery.

I've talked to a few post op bariatric patients that have gained some or all their weight back. All of them confessed that despite having great restriction, their weight started to pile back on when they added in unhealthy Snacks and soda back in their diet. I don't think unhealthy snacks (Cookies, chips, soda) have any place in your diet during the weight loss phase. Its been shown that many processed snack foods contain chemicals that make them addictive. If you go completely without, then you don't have to deal with daily cravings. Once you hit maintenance, it all depends on what works for you. Personally, I'm striving to hit a 95-98 daily percentage of healthy eating (Protein first, low carbs, low sugar). The other 2-5% may be a few pieces of hard candy (tootsie roll pops) or some marshmallows because my blood sugar feels low. This seems to be working right now since I've stayed below goal the paste few months. If I find myself craving sugary snacks more often, then I will change it up.

I just got a $60 refund check in the mail from the makers of Lipozene. I purchased two bottles online about three years ago. If you have purchased Lipozene in the past, you may be entitled to a refund as well. www.complaintsboard.com/lipozene-b116415 Lipozene complaints and reviews. Contact information. Phone number: (800) 998-6763. Submit your complaint or review on Lipozene. On similar note, I watched an interesting video about Dr. Oz's magic bean supplements. Although I love Dr. Oz, his claims on many diet supplements are misleading. In this video, comedian John Oliver reacts to the Dr. Oz's statements at the senate hearings. https://youtu.be/WA0wKeokWUU

I love getting samples in the mail. Please leave a message below if you found any of these links helpful and want me to continue to post new ones every week. Two free samples of Quest protein: Protein (they just ran out of the free four pack coupons) Protein drinks, pudding, or bars. You make this request through customer service (chat or leave message). You will get your samples in a week. Click the purple bar in the lower right corner of the page: www.doctorsbestweightloss.com $10 coupon savings, 2 free samples www.bariatricchoice.com Use coupon code P915CP, you can also request two free samples from live chat/customer service Atkins quick start kit http://www.atkins.com/register?mcid=HHOM One year subscription to Shape magazine: https://tradepub.freebizmag.com/20001232/welcome.html?sold_out=false

What is the first symptom? Is it ongoing pain or stomach pain after you eat? I was never aware of this, among other things that can happen with fast weigh loss.

How to prevent your stomach from stretching after surgery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=753&v=3_aahPETzH0

My taste never changed. My sense of smell has never worked well ever since a massive sinus infection when I was a kid. I've never heard of salmon having that much Protein. Most frozen and canned salmon is about 22-25 protein grams per 3-4 ounces. Salmon does have more protein compared to other fish. Maui has only 60 calories and 15 protein grams per 6 ounce piece.

I found the website and you have to download some print at home software to get to the coupon. Did anyone else have success downloading this software? I don't like to download software like this because it slows down my computer.

Is this the actual coupon because it lacks a bar code. You can't click on the coupon as well. Do you have the website where you can download and print the coupon?

I'm actually a year out and it actually stops happening about 4-5 months out after your stomach relaxes a little. Anyway, it happened to me with sugar free fudge pops and butterscotch pudding. The butterscotch pudding sliming/frothing lasted around 5 hours and was awful. I would continually belch up a pudding and thick saliva mixture every 10 minutes.

I've been at 128 pounds for the past two months. There are days here and there that are quite challenging. I decided to purchase Garcinia Cambogia, in hopes that it would make maintenance a little easier. There are many brands that carry this diet supplement and you have to take quite a high about 1,000 mg a day for full effect. After looking at different brands and variations, I decided to buy Metabolife ULTRA Advanced Weight Loss Formula from Wal-Mart. With an online coupon, I was able to get a months worth for $13. After two weeks, without any change in diet or exercise, I've lost 2.5 pounds. I found this mildly impressive seeing how I eat 1800 calories a day and my recent blood work showed that my hypothyroidism has gotten worse. Although, my purpose in taking this supplement was to help maintain my weight, losing a few pounds will help give me more wiggle room. Additionally, I don't have to feel so terribly guilty when I have a little sugar. Here's some more info. on the Metabolife ULTRA Advanced Weight Loss Formula: http://www.drugstore.com/metabolife-ultra-advanced-weight-loss-formula/qxp514805?tab=1#TblTabStrip You can find the coupon here:http://www.metabolife.com/product/metabolife-ultra%C2%AE-1 (click promotions)

I just got my blood work back this week and it showed the same thing. The doctor doesn't think its my meds because my meds haven't changed since my last blood test (which didn't show elevated enzymes). She thinks it is due to the stress from weight loss/surgery, although my surgery was a year ago. I did lose my weight quite quickly (140 pounds in 7 months). It also could be due to the fact that I was recovering from strep throat and an ear infection. I started taking Garcinia Cambogia (sp?) last month to help me out in maintenance, so maybe that is what caused it. Who knows? It also showed that my thyroid is even lower than it was 6 months ago. So, my hypothyroidism has worsened despite losing 150 pounds. All my Vitamins and minerals were in the normal range, thank goodness. I've taken the Pro Care One-a-Day bariatric Vitamin daily for the past year. Alex posted some info. regarding this particular vitamin because it was tested to show that the label information was incorrect. Well, according to my recent blood work, it must be working for me.