BLERDgirl

I agree with @CowgirlJane. You may want to get some counseling because there may be a self esteem issue at play as well. You deserve to be happy just as much as anyone else. Please don't settle for anything less.

@erp- It's a sort of hand in hand thing. I have a sweet tooth. Always have. I could probably eat a baby if it was dipped in chocolate and I'm a vegetarian! I don't limit or use sparingly. I have it when I want. However what has changed is my desire for them. This morning I had a mug of coffee, I put a good half tbsp of raw honey in it because I like it sweet. However other than some fruit I doubt I'll have more sugar today. Unless you actually eat this way it's hard to explain, but the less artificial sweeteners and additives I have in my diet, the less I want them. However I am completely satisfied and do not feel deprived.

@@erp - I think what's getting lost in this discussion is whether or not it is possible to follow a bariatric diet without eating fake foods. If splenda and such work for you, go for it. There just happen to be some of us who prefer not to, or in my case are literally healthier without since I am severely allergic. The OP was asking if she could do this without fake foods. Fat free milks are slightly different than using splenda instead of sugar. There are no chemical additives. Fat free milk is typically just a matter of removing the milk fats from milk. IIRC they just spin it in a centrifuge and since the cream or fat is separated as it sinks or floats. The greek yogurt I eat is 0% because it's made from fat free milk.

I bought mine from The Vitamin Shoppe. The smallest size it comes in is 2lb canister. Save your receipt and if you do not like it you can return it.

@@Grateful_Love - I have experienced no chalk or grit in the time that I have been using it. I don't drink crystal lite so I don't know if a chemical reaction occurs with using them together, but I doubt it would. I personally found the Isopure an easy way to add protein to my normal foods.

Why worry about what others eat? The way this thread is titled sounds very judge-y. If the question is where is the restriction, then I'll say this: you have to work the program. The sleeve limits the amount you can eat in one sitting, but it's still up to you to make good food choices. Focus on yourself and your choices. Do not compare yourself to others either positively or negatively.

Find some new friends. Channel that hurt into new social situations. Join a few groups on meetup .com or sign up for a class at the local community college. True friends would not shun you because of you size or be threatened by your weight loss. You deserve better. I would never accept that in my life. If you like me, you like me for who I am, not my physicality.

Hello, try doing a search on what to bring to the hospital. You'll find several threads with lots of helpful tips.

@@genise82 - It's taken me 4 mths to find a Protein powder I like. I finally tried Isopure Naked whey. Also known as unflavored protein. The only ingredient is whey protein isolate (26 gms per scoop). I mix it in my hot tea, in my soup, in 50/50 diluted apple juice and in my greek yogurt. I even mixed it in Water. It made it cloudy but didn't change the taste.

"Like you're supposed to." - WUT? When is the last time you lost 22lbs in a month? Stick to your program. Protein first, get your fluids and some form of physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day, even if it's just walking. You sound like you're on your way to me.

@@onikenbai - When I went to my first WLS appointment I introduced myself to the nurse as May Cause. She looked confused since that was not the name on the chart. I asked her, "you know how on every prescription in the fine print it says 'may cause X,Y or Z in 1/10000 people? ' that's me, I'm *may cause*" She laughed but she got the point. Part of what was so difficult about my chronic conditions it the meds that are commonly used to treat them would trigger my allergies. Long story short, I look up the side effects of every medication I am every prescribed. I am not trying to tell the doctors their job but I know for me that I have to be vigilant for the potential side effects. As for what you are dealing with now. See if your doctor can prescribe aqua therapy for you. It's a gentler way to get you moving and may help alleviate some of the soreness in your joints and bones from the fribro.

Oddly enough when I looked at the goals MFP sets, my Protein goal per their calculations is 95. I guess 100 is not that high after all.

Just a few things: I wouldn't recommend adding the bit about losing weight because I wouldn't want to give children the impression that the only way to lose weight is surgically. These are young children and they could make that leap in thinking. Part of speaking with children is to keep it honest and simple. If the hospital you are having surgery at a hospital that has a pediatrics department you can call the Child Life Department and ask them to arrange a pre-surgical tour. This is especially helpful if you plan to have the kids visit you in the hospital so they are scared or intimated by the things they see. Most major hospitals have Child Life Departments. I used to prepare children for everything from short procedure like getting tubes in their ears to visiting relative in the ICU.

CCLS here. You start at their level. Your son associated hospitals with being sick? Explain that sometime doctors try to help before people get really sick. So you're going to see the doctor and he's going to fix your tummy. He wants to make sure he fixes you right so he's going to keep you in the hospital for 2 days to make sure everything is right. Then you'll come home but your belly may be sore for a little while so they'll have to be careful not hit your tummy for a while. After that mommy will be fine.

Aw man, it sucks that you're so uncomfortable. I'll chime in like everyone else. Walk as much as you can and have them give you something for nausea and gas.

I not lying but I don't tell everyone I meet either. I just don't feel obligated to divulge my business to everyone who compliments my weight loss.

@Elode yup. it's really tasty. I get them in Chinatown or if I go out for Pho

Now I dislike the feel of chia seeds so I grind them to a powder. Oddly enough I love bobo tea.

@@getbacktome Weird fact of the day. Almonds aren't technically nuts. They are something called a drupe. They're closer to a coconut than say something like a cashew.

I don't take an amino complex. I take multi, calcium citrate D, & D3. Once a week I take B12. What is the amino complex for?

I grind them because I don't like the texture. Reminds me of raspberries. Weird, I know.

Paging @Rogofulm

I grind mine to a powder. I mostly use it if I want to make a jam like topping for something. Mascerated fruit + a bit of honey + a tsp or so of chia seeds. I haven't made anything with it since surgery though. I'm also getting back to the grains I used to eat pre-op. Quinoa has been easy and I may make some farro this weekend.

@@texaslady89 - Thank you!

I was curious. I've just never heard of 100 or higher being set as a goal for a female unless they were doing very strenuous workouts.