Magic Mojo

Hey guys. Check out FoodCoach.me. Step Wagner on YouTube, and she has a blog. I found her on Pinterest. She gave me this tip for post op WLS: no bite should be bigger than a black bean. WOW! that is tiny! I use baby food spoons, small dishes and put down the spoon/dish between bites. Also, I looked up Pyloric Sphincter and Gastric Bypass. Turns out that this valve closes up and causes that backed up feeling that hurts (and makes you feel like throwing up if it is bad enough) To prevent that eat very wet food. I read "Soup". Eat seriously slow and small bites. Do not drink anything with your meal. The valve will let the liquid through but not the solids. Also stay calm and relax, that helps your valve relax. I have often made food for my family, high grades the meat and some of the veggie (70% protein/30% veggie) and blended it lightly. No pain, not really yummy either. But I am no longer eating for entertainment or pleasure. Food is nutrition now, not my substance of abuse. Also I am only allowed 2 oz of food per meal, 3x per day and 2 Snacks (string cheese, V8, etc.) This is hard and can be painful and sometimes a bummer. But once your energy starts kicking in again you will feel much better. It helps if you learn to feed yourself without pain and struggle.

Make no plans to be away from a toilet! Do not cough or fart. Just sayin...

I am wishing all of you headed in to surgery the best of luck. Milk this thing. Love your nursers and aides. They are there to help you. It will all go much more happily if you connect with them, talk with them and get to know them the best you can. Tell them how much you appreciate them. They are the midwives of your rebirth. Be VERY grateful. Time goes by slowly during your recovery. Not all will be pleasant, but it will pass, and the good stuff will show up day by day. The pain is only temporary and manageable. Write a love letter to yourself before you go, so you can read it when you come home. Be brave and confident and cheerful. This is going to be great! I am already too small for my clothes. It hasn't been even 2 weeks yet. OMG!

Hoping to her from you. I would love to have a walking buddy. Or someone to hang out with once in a while who has gone through this. I live in the Sugar House area. I am aware that meeting strangers in person is edgy. We can meet at a library or something first time. Let me know. Meanwhile there is a good book about weight loss surgery written by a woman from OGDEN. Well written memoir and clever, and very honest. You will learn a lot and give you plenty to think about before your surgery. I read it in a few days as an e book. It's called Stranger Here by Jen Larsen. Marti

Ok. So Nov_kisses, what's your story? I had my surgery Apr 8th, so am almost 2 weeks in. I get tired easy. Am finding out what food works and what does not. I don't get to drink Protein drinks. Our doctor wants us to eat real food, and only 2 oz at a time. My little pouch, the size of a walnut can not handle mor of that at a time. It is odd, but I am doing it. I was working for a company that I didn't like (accountant) and so I quit, made the appointment for the surgery and here I am. Once I feel like I have the details of this new life down (the food, the Snacks, the regular exercise) I will think about going back to work. For now I am just focusing on the new me. Nice for me. Am grateful to my husband. And curious to see what comes next.

Hey ladies, how is it going? I would love to know how you are doing. My legs looked thinner to me already. And my clothes are already loose. It's only been 1.5 weeks. Amazed.

My surgery was on April 8, 2015. It would be great to have someone nearby to share successes and challenges. I'm 62, married, liberal, smart and witty. Let me know if interested

Sorry recovery has kicked my butt. Am feeling much better. It is getting easier everyday. I have been pain free for almost a week. Although once in a while I get funny little cramps/or twangs. I tried to eat an egg today and that was surprisingly very hard on me. Ouch. Could only eat half. Sheesh. Am amazed at how little I do eat. I was told to eat no more than 2oz per meal. I didn't think I would be able to do that, but turn out that 2 oz is plenty. Sometimes too much. I've struggled to get the Water in. It hurts if I drink more than 2oz at one go. But my doctors nurse says if you fail to get enough water, we are likely to experience anxiety, exhaustion and irritableness. So drink up.

Thanks little Mark! I feel great already. Good luck and write to me when you come out. You'll be fine. I will be here for you when you need a buddy. Keep on Keeping on!

Do any of you April Newbies experience enhanced taste buds. My nose was/is super sensitive. Which means when I do have energy I am cleaning cuz I can smell anything and everything! Then I am tired. And my taste buds... I made some split pea Soup, and it was so good! I added 2 T of cottage cheese. OMG, so good. This is not like me. Last night I was at a pub after choir practice, and no beer for me, and no Tiramisu (my usual) but 1 cup of the worlds best ever broccoli cheddar soup. I ate 2 oz and my husband got the rest, and I was full, and so pleased. I get full, and I don't always eat at the right time. And I have not got anywhere near the 64 oz Water mark yet. But I am so happy. Getting to make yummy vegetable based smoothies with Fiber and Protein powder in is great. Am only eating 4 oz of that at a time. But that fills up my little walnut just fine. Love my new little walnut. I thought I would not last the entire 2 hours of choir practice but I did. The music is sublime and challenging and it is going to be so good! I was ready to fold but my husband really wanted to out with our friends afterward, so I said ok. Then we were laughing so hard my gut hut. I fell into bed exhausted and happy and slept like a log. Was a little groggy this morning. Showering and dressing makes me have to lay down. Broke into a sweat while grocery shopping. Was so relieved to get home and lie down. Then it was time to eat again! That helped a bit. Have yet to get my walk in... Going to the movies tonight. Life is GOOD. What are all you guys doing?

Let those emotions work for you not hurt you. Listen to powerful empowering music. Read what speaks to your soul. Get some inspiraton. LOVE YOURSELF for what you are going through, who you were and you you will be. I went to choir practice on my day 7. I thought I was to tired. But I did go. And the music was so beautiful, and all my friends so encouraging and supportive. And it was hard to sing because I kept weeping. We are learning the Rutter Requiem. It is drop dead gorgeous. (no pun intended...) Every staff, every song, the whole thing. Download the Choir of Clare College version. Listen over and over until you get it. Or watch a Disney movie like Hunch Back of Notre Dam. The music, the human suffering, the drama and the resolution at the end will give you something to cry about. Chew some sugar fee gum. Move around. It is spring, go outside and smell the new world, it is your new world. You are renewed. We are so lucky. We are blessed. Find 1 tiny step toward the light, then another. Soon you will be dancing. You are so beautiful whey you love yourself truly. Start. Marti PS. have some greek yogurt. Plain is so good. My taste buds are exceptionally sharp. They wouldn't like the Protein drinks much either. My doctor has forbidden us to use Protein Drinks. So it's been yogurt and cottage cheese. I happen to love the two mixed. I get 2 oz per meal. But they are good. It's all good. You have to fight to be happy.

How's everyone today? What's new? This morning I received a gift from my mother. She sent me a Nutri Bullet, because they sent her 2 when she bought 1. Anyone have any experience making these smoothies? The literature does not emphasize Protein. Could I just add Protein Powder to one of the fruit vegie blasts? Seems like it could be a good thing?

So now how are you all? Water is my big challenge still. But //////i am doing well. No more pain meds! Not even Tylenol. It's interesting concocting little 2 oz meals. I feel like when I was a kid I playing with my Easy Bake Oven. Today's big breakthrough was adding vanilla Protein powder to coconut water. I had 4 oz of yummmmy! And was so full! Wow.

Today I made a 4 0z smoothie of bai5 Coconut Water and 1 scoop of vanilla protien powder. So good. FULL! Better every day.

Hey Freelee. Glad you liked the book. I am feeling better every day. Struggling to get anywhere near enough Water in. Love having all this time to myself. Love having good support network. Feeling blessed. If you are trying to get ready for your June date, I can give you lists to help you prepare. Meanwhile here's a tip? flavored water (or just use coconut water, I like bai5 Molokai Coconut) and add your favorite Protein powder. I really like GNC Total Lean vanilla Bean. Put in a blender and yum!