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Everything posted by BLERDgirl
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Yes. It took several weeks to even work up to getting all my protein & water in. Nearly 3 mths in and still Hoover between 600 &. 800 calories a day. I am losing steadily.
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No health problems apart from obesity, is surgery right?
BLERDgirl replied to Amina's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
I wasn't on meds. The only thing I took was Zyrtec-d and a multi- Vitamin. I have arthritis from a menicus repair & multiple allergies but none of my issues were weight related. I'm not sure why your doc thinks snacking rules out the sleeve. You can only eat so much food with reduced stomach. If you qualify for wls and you've been unsuccessful at changing your eating, why not have the surgery? I wanted the sleeve because I wasn't keen on re wiring my plumbing as much. 3 mths in and nearly 50lbs down it has been extremely easy. I don't crave sweets like I used to. It part the survey and part changing your attitude about food. I have no regrets with my surgery. -
Beginning this journey
BLERDgirl replied to kellogirl428's topic in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story
Hello & welcome. You'll find that different doctors have different protocols. Many have had to do pre-op diet & just as many have not. People are successful both ways. -
3 mths in, and not a single regret.
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What do you drink when you go out?
BLERDgirl replied to Kaitlin 1013's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I haven't had a drink yet. Just not interested. I think if you are careful everything but the shots would be okay. Just be mindful that you may get drunk quicker & it's empty calories any way you slice it. -
I think part of my issue is missing my giant salad. The sleeve size one just looks sad in comparison
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"Best" is a subjective term since everyone is different. I found Premier Protein insanely sweet & it triggered my allergies. I am allergic to stevia so I had to read labels. Many of the popular ones use that instead of sugar. I am also allergic to food dyes & artificial flavorings which ruled out a bunch of other brands. I choose 3: CVS Whey powder. It comes in vanilla and chocolate and was pretty inexpensive. Orgain organics RTD shakes Prosource Liquid Protein. I used both the orange cream flavor and the unflavored. The unflavored was good to mix in Soups and broths. I mixed the orange cream in herbal teas. Like I said everyone's taste is different. You need to try out a few before deciding.
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That's impressive! Congrats!
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I was given a handbook of the entire process from start to finish. It had everything from contact info to brands of Protein shakes, sample menus for each stage, brands of Vitamins and supplements. For the first few weeks post op I referred back to it religiously . Different programs do things differently. One of the most helpful things I learned was: Practice now eating slow and taking small bites. Each bit should fill no more than ¼ of the spoon or fork. Chew each piece of food until it dissolves in your mouth. When you think you are eating slow, go even slower. This will be helpful when you are post op and need to sip slowly. Start testing out Protein Shakes, powders and liquid Proteins now. They are available everywhere; drug store, Vitamin shoppes like GNC, Whole Foods and online. Buy single serving packs and try them out before committing to a large size of anything. I was told to look for products with either whey or soy isolates, at a minimum of 15gms of protein per serving, lowsugar (no more the 6 gms) and low carb. Quit sodas and smoking. Smoking can impede your healing so if you can't do it on your own, get a patch or something. Do what ever you need to quit.
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Feeling like you're getting no where
BLERDgirl replied to mmckaskle's topic in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story
Did your doctor give you any info on what to eat post op? What are you eating now? -
My doctor was okay with either whey or soy isolates. So far the shakes I have used have had either one or the other. I haven't had any hair loss issues so far, but I was taking biotin before surgery and continued to do so after.
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It's not encouraged because your body has to work harder to process all that roughage and it can be uncomfortable on a healing tummy. I can eat small amounts of cooked veg and I've had a few pieces of lettuce, but no where near the amount of raw and cooked veg I used to eat.
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Others finding solid foods unpleasant?
BLERDgirl replied to Lallylocks's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
It take me longer to eat solid foods and I can eat less of them. For example, if I make mock chicken salad, I can eat at most a ¼ cup and then I am stuffed. I also tend to heartburn more easily if eat more solid food. -
It depends on the brand you get some are tofu based and others are made from a Japanese yam called Konjac.
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If it's that painful you need to call your doctor.
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I've been dreaming about a salad since week 2 post op. I used to make glorious salads. I LOVED salads. I'd start with a head of romaine lettuce or 2 -3 cups of mixed baby greens. Then add 1 chopped up hardboiled egg, a ¼cup of black Beans or chickpeas, 6 grape tomatoes cut in half, 1/8 cup of dried cranberries a dill pickle spear and ¼ - ½ of an avocado. I''d season with a dash of garlic powder and then a splash of pickle juice and olive oil for the dressing. I couldn't eat ¼ of that now. I've made lettuce wraps but even though I'm nearly 3 months out I prefer to use my precious tummy space on getting in my Protein and Water.
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I agree with @@JerseyCityGal, get that stuff out the house. My rule is always do not keep anything in the house that I can't eat without bingeing. Then once you identify your your triggers develop a plan of what to do instead of what you used to do.
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If you are getting in 66gms of protein don't worry about the calories at this point. Just focus on getting in your water. Water is not an issue for me since I was drinking 4-6 glasses a day pre-op. I drink about that amount now. I think weeks 0-4 my recommended calorie goal was 400-600. They were more concerned with my protein intake being at least 60 gms of protein.
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Pennsylvania sleevers?
BLERDgirl replied to thisisforme2013's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Philly as well. I had mine done at UPenn. Couldn't have been easier. No preop diet and not a single issue post-op. No pain, no gas, nothing. -
I wouldn't call it painful, but I did feel it. The slower I sipped, the better I was able to tolerate it. The hospital gave us little cups like the kind you get on liquid medicine like nyquil. I sipped from that as it made it easier to remember to sip and not gulp.
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I found initially I had to thin the Protein shakes out. So I would make them as per the directions and then add ½ a cup of Water plus tons of ice to the drink. I then made it a point to sip super, super slow. It would sometimes take an hour to get it in but this way I got in both my protein and my water. How many gms of protein are you getting in? The incision that hasn't closed is likely the one where your drain was. It's the biggest incision and also the deepest. Mine took a good 3 weeks to scab over.
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There are probably hundreds you can try. My doctor gave me a list of that was literally a full page front and back. I went shopping prior to surgery an bought single servings in a variety of forms. I tried powders, premade and liquid Proteins. Surprisingly enough my main one ended up being CVS brand whey powder. It comes in vanilla or chocolate and is 26gms of Protein per scoop. I mix it with juice, almond milk or greek yogurt. What helped me the most was mixing the Protein Powder with greek yogurt for 2 meals a day and then having vegetable broth or a pureed bean Soup for dinner. After a while you get sick of all that sweet and need something savory to cut it. I also did unflavored Liquid Protein. My brand of choice as Prosource. They gave me that in the hospital and I liked it enough that I ordered some when I was home. Premade I like Orgain organic.
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A nurse shouldn't be a big selling point. I was home and had a visiting nurse once I was discharged. I'm not familiar with this provider, but you could check the surgeons list on this site.
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Have you met with them yet? What stage are you at in the process?
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Are you self pay? Why not look into a local practice?