BLERDgirl

I agree with Babbs, you may be a little tired, but unless you want to get sick, the food won't be much of a temptation. You will need to make plans to carry a back pack or something with protein drinks and water for excursions, but if you pace yourself you could do the cruise.

There is no way to tell. I was fine driving 2 weeks post op. I had a really easy surgical experience. However other are still cramping & gassy. Just walking to the bathroom was a chore. Also if you are on pain meds you aren't allowed to drive and likely will not feel like it. I won't make any plans so soon because chances are you may not be up to it.

I don't do supplements, but I do make sure to have Protein at least 30 minutes before working out and immediately after. I also try to have the bulk of my carbs then as well. However I only do complex carbs. My typical workout routine is a protein shake with 1 scoop of Protein powder, ¼ - ½ cup of Fage 0% greek yogurt and whatever mixins I feel like. Sometimes that a tablespoon of almond butter, sometimes a ¼ cup of fruit like pineapples, strawberries or peaches, or a ½ and orange. Depending on my mood I may add some flax powder for added Fiber, or a handful of raw spinach or ¼ cup if frozen. I add enough Water to mix and toss the whole thing in the nutrabullet. Often I end up drinking half before I workout and the other half post workout. My morning workout is and hour of aquafit and 30 minutes run/walking in the pool. This also counts as my Breakfast. After this I drink water until it's time for lunch. I get in 30 - 38 gms of protein this way.

food prep is your friend. Make things ahead of time to make the weekday rush easier. I prep on Sunday. You can make eggs in muffin tins and add any fixins' you like then bake them. In the morning you can grab and eat or grab and microwave to warm up. I've also been experiment with Protein powder pancakes. I use a scoop of protein powder, half a scoop of powdered flax, one egg and half tsp of coconut oil. If it needs it, I add a bit of Water to thin out the batter. I make small silver dollar pancakes and top with a bit of warm fruit. If you like oatmeal you can make overnight oats. Use plain rolled oats, not the prepackaged sugary stuff. then add nuts, fruit, whatever. Cover with milk of choice and sit in fridge, You can make these up to 3 days in advance. Oat are a good source of protein as well as Fiber. Tablespoon of nut butter with half an apple is also a good, filling breakfast.

@ - Hey! we had the same surgeon! Thankfully beans haven't bothered my tummy one bit. Love them especially black beans.

Not sure why peas would not be allowed. I had them during the first 2 weeks post op. (I had a full liquids stage) A cup of split peas is 48gms of Protein. I think that's pretty good.

Are you taking a PPI of any kind like omeprazole or prilosec? Sometime people have acid and the feelings can often imitate hunger pains. Other times people experience phantom or head hunger. If none of this applies to you, try to make sure the small amounts of food you are eating are filling. At 3 mths I would assume you can eat whatever you can tolerate. What is a typical food day for you?

I want to get a trainer because I want to start lifting more weights, but I want to make sure I'm doing it correctly. I cant afford it right now but I may treat myself to 3 mths of training with my income tax refund.

I chose. I knew it was either sleeve or bypass. After I attended the seminar I knew I wanted the sleeve.

Ideally you should meet with the nutritionist and review your eating habits. She may give you some sample menus, a calorie range and discuss ways to get that. Many programs also encourage you to keep a food diary and begin measuring your foods. These are things you will need to do post op anyway so it's good preparation for that. You can also begin to learn how to handle certain food situations, like what's a safe high Protein, low calorie meal when you go out to eat. How to handle situations like holiday's and parties. Also begin some form of regular exercise. Personally speaking I had an very easy hospital experience and I am fairly certain it was the core strengthening exercises that I had been doing prior to surgery that helped with that. Each month you check in with the nurse or nutritionist and they review your food dairy and check your weight. This is how my program works, it might be good to clarify with your team how their supervised diets work.

I didn't have to take a laxative, but generally speaking most surgeries allow clear liquids only 12 hours before and nothing the day of. if you have a morning surgery time they may say nothing after midnight. Confirm with your doctor.

It's all how you look at it. By doing the supervised diet, you are changing your life. That's 6 mths to change your eating habits, perhaps join a gym. Both of these things will make surgery easier and a lot less taxing on your body then gaining 10lbs of additional weight you do not need.

Try searching the forums. This question gets asked every day. There was just a thread started earlier that had several helpful suggestions.

What's the rush? I agree if they have already recorded your BMI at 49, then gaining isn't going to change that. Do the 6 mths supervised. You do indeed pick up tools that are helpful to developing lifelong tools to help you along this new way of eating.

My starting weight was 414, but I'm really short. 5'2" - 5'3" depending on who's measuring.

Go on a tasting spree. If you can go to brick and mortar store. Buy 1 bottle of Isopure. (I like the Green Tea, Black Tea & Coconut.) Try a few single serving packs. I actually like the CVS whey in vanilla. I use it instead of cream in my coffee. There's a company on line that sells a sample pack. Everyone's taste is different, you have to see what you like. With most brick and mortar store you can return any unused portion with a receipt so save your receipts. I like using the Isopure unflavored and making my own drinks in the nutra bullet. I add a bit of fruit, a bit of spinach, some plain greek yogurt. That works for me. I also keep one or two cartoons of Orgain for on the go days. I like the Isopure because they are clear and I can dilute the in my Water. I'm mostly okay with plain water but sometimes I want to switch up. 2 weeks before my surgery I went on a tasting spree and sampled loads of Protein powder, drinks and water. I then only bought enough to last 2 weeks postop in case my taste buds changed. FYI - I also prefer GNC to Vitamin Shoppe. The membership is worth it in terms of the coupons and discounts you get.

And if you do experience a stall you never notice it.

I think your husband may have expressed himself incorrectly, but yeah that was too much. I'm a vegetarian. I eat veggie burgers all the time. At 3½ weeks, I might have been able to eat half of a burger. Most people at your stage are eating between 2 - 4 ounces of food at a time.

Me! I've been reviewing my records since my 1 year f/u is on Monday. I thought my BMI was high 60's but it was actually 73. It can be done, but keep in mind you will likely need at least 2 years to reach goal. It's takes dedication and determination. This morning was one of those days I had to talk myself into going to the gym, but I made it there. I'm in this for the long run, come hell or high Water.

I'm vegetarian so that probably plays a part but I have never been constipated. My doc had us on stool softners from day 1 post op. If you think the extra Iron is the culprit, make sure to increase your Water. I would also try adding something like psyllium powder daily in addition to regular doses of prunes or prune juice. If you are eating an otherwise balanced diet, the added carbs/sugar are not going to hurt. My carbs fluctuate between 50 - 70 a day and I've been losing regularly.

An Olive Garden salad may not be the best thing, however there are loads of benefits to be had if you make a good nutritious salad. Most dark green leafy veg contain Protein. Additionally you get healthy doses of Vitamin A, K, Iron and plenty of Fiber.

I bought it from whole foods. I liked it.

Talk to your bariatric team. Usually they have a medical coordinator who can work with you on appeal. Additionally if you have any other health issues that are impacted due to excess weight, have that thoroughly documented.

True, but we're talking emergencies here. I probably last had one 3 mths ago. I keep them in my glove compartment along with single serving packs of nuts. Some days things get crazy and if it's a choice between fast food and a protein bar, Id rather go for a protein bar.

Nutra bullet hands down.