BLERDgirl

My typical base is either Isopure unflavored whey or on occasion CVS vanilla whey with sunfiber plus half to whole cup of Fage 0% Greek yogurt. I then add fruit, cacao powder or nut butter to taste. I almost always use water to mix and loads of ice. I drink half before my 9am water aerobics class & half after. I end up with 30 - 40 gms of protein before noon.

Same parent company so essentially same bra made in different sizes for their target demographics. Depending on your size I like LB's sports bras which are really great for back fat issues. Other good but pricey bras are Soma, Enell & Spanx

if I lived closer I might have to come over for dinner. Yes, seaweed is a vegetable.

@@KS123 - I was sleeved a month before my 51rst birthday.

@@Kindle - your post just made me hungry!

Not true. I'm a vegetarian. Easily 75% of what I eat contains fiber. I have been eating them since day 1. When I was all liquid I would make a bean Soup. I also added a bit of spinach to my Protein drinks and Soups. As for vegetables try what you like. Just allow time to see if you body reacts negatively before adding anything else new. I have been enjoying small green salads since 6 weeks out. As for grains, I don't eat white rice, but I have had brown rice and quinoa with no issues. I have never had constipation or diarrhea. I had my first BM 3 days after coming home from the hospital and I've been regular ever since.

Do you mean the fruit added ones?

It varies greatly. I didn't have any pain. I was pretty functional about 3 - 4 days post-op but found I tired easily for a good week post op. I'm retired but after a week of taking it easy at home I was bored silly and ready to get out of the house beyond my daily walks.

Those are the point you prepare for. Make sure that you have a chance to speak. Prepare by sitting down and writing out your responses. Review it carefully. It helps to use their language back to them. Be positive but also determined. (not rude). The key I have found with systems like this is trying to think of all possible ways they could say no and coming up with prepared rebuttals. 1. You doctor reported you "likely" had slippage. List each and every symptom and problem you are having with the lap band. Make sure to list them all no matter how minor. 2. Point out the deadline discrepancy. Make a copy of the information as listed in your policy or their online website. Point out that the nutritionist and internist were monitoring your weight while you were attempting to eat sensibly and exercise. Perhaps even mention that the lap band complications made this challenging. (if this is indeed true). Talk about your co-morbs. You want to play up the worse case scenarios while still being honest. Most of all fight for this. Appeal until there are no further appeals left.

I'm not saying be dishonest or lie. Just keep it to basics. Perfect! You give age appropriate information in simple terms they can handle.

@@Tauruslady5 - True stevia is not an artificial sweetener. It's an herb made from the stevia plant. It will be green because it's the stevia leaf dried and powdered. However it is in the ragweed family so if you are allergic to ragweed or have seasonal allergies you may not be able to use. it. Spiri-tein uses Xylitol to sweeten which is a plant based sugar.

I would say no and I had no problems or pain. I would take at least a week, 2 if you can swing it. I was fine and could have returned back to work after a week, but there's also the eating/drinking part. You have to sip almost constantly those first two days. I also got tired easily so those first few weeks I had to have a mid day nap. If you have issues with gas or anything else, you're really not going to be up to dealing with a job.

What are you eating/drinking? Are you reaching you getting at least 60gms protein and 64 ounces fluids? Are you exercising or at least walking each day? For us it really is quality over quantity. It's not just a matter of eating very little.

I like to cook, and go out to dinner frequently. I'd say I am eating everything I ate pre surgery just in much smaller quantities. The surgery definitely worked for me. Yes I have more energy. By the time I came home from the hospital my feet were no longer swollen. Even better my chronic uterica is in check for the first time in years! Prior to surgery I had a severe hives outbreak at least once a week. Since surgery I've had one and that was from trying to go off the daily dose of Zyrtec D.

I've using MFP for several years before WLS. I eat anywhere from 700 - 850 calories a day and try to keep my carbs around 50. I'm vegetarian so my carbs tend to be higher than most people. I shoot for 70gm protein or more a day. I don't worry about the fat/sodium/sugar. I just aim to keep them low. I drink 64 ounces of fluids a day, at least 40 of which are plain water.

Isopure Unflavored. It's 100% pure whey Protein with no added flavors or dyes or sugars. I add it to regular food. My Protein shake in the morning may be FAGE greek yogurt with a scoop of Isopure, a tbsp of almond butter, ¼ cop of Water blended in the nutra bullet or something similar.

WUT!??? That's a HIPPA violation. I would file a grievance with OSHA. They had no right to divulge personal information to your boss without your explicit consent.

You don't have to say anything to them. They don't run your life. Stop talking with them abut it. You cannot change others behaviors, you can only change your reaction. A simple, "Thank you for your concern, but I don't want to discuss this anymore" is all you need to say.

@@jjmcrash218 - I resumed Water aerobics 3 weeks post op. 3 - 4 days a week. I'm now doing water aerobics 5 days a week, low impact aerobics 1 day a week. I'm hoping the weather clears so I can begin riding my bike again. I also just bought this kettle ball workout and I plan to do that at home on Sunday.

@@muzikgal21 - What are you eating? I think it depends on the food. I just finished dinner and I am stuffed! Seriously as in tightness in the belly stuffed. I had 3/4 cup of raw spinach, 2 grape tomatoes, a sunny side up egg, a small blood orange 1 oz of pepper jack cheese and a sandwich pickle slice. My total calories for today are 785 with 71gms of Protein. I also did an hour of aerobics today. What helps me is to constantly sip Water in between meals. It helps me reach my Fluid goals and keeps my belly full. Not to mention I never have problems with constipation. I find I lose better if my keep my protein at or above 70 and get in at least 64 o of fluids, most of which has to be water I also have to workout at least 5 days a week. Everyone is different but this is what my body responds to. If my calories go over 950 and I don't get enough water or exercise, I don't lose.

@@Mom0f3inOC - Don't give in attitude is everything. Fight to the very end and make them believe this has to happen!

There are actually several people on this forum who have appealed and won. Some even had to a peer to peer review. I was fortunate to be approved the first time out but I know from personal experience that appealing insurance company decisions works. I have done them for other things and won. What will not work is having a defeatist attitude such as this: if you want this, fight for it.

@@Peace Love & Sleeve - That's sounds awful. Hopefully they can fix this so you can actually enjoy losing weight.

You can give up or you can appeal. Insurance companies can be particular and arbitrary. What may often look like a slam dunk can and has been denied.If you want this, fight for this. Do the appeals and work the process. or sit home mad.... Your choice.

I figured. I looked at the app on my phone and couldn't figure it out either. (no biggie ) I use Isopure Unflavored. It may also be called Isopure Naked whey. Advancing your diet isn't the end of the world. Especially if you were getting nauseous from the meds. Just make your nutritionist aware. She can probably give you better tips on how to adjust your diet. One more thing about the unflavored powder; mix it in gradually. If you dump in the entire scoop at once it doesn't mix as smoothly and may clump up.