Ashlegal

You will ultimately need to learn how to prepare food for yourself. It will support the success of your weight loss. Pre-packaged food often comes with loads of calories, hidden sugars, a high fat content and a lot of carbs. Youtube has a plethora of instruction videos, Pinterest has a ton of recipes that take you step-by-step through the recipe and many times local libraries or community colleges will have free or low cost cooking classes. Yes, supporting this decision will take a huge amount of dedication. Like many people the reason why they are obese is the types of foods they ate. A lot of those food selections were made based on ease, convenience, taste and affordability. It is a habit that needs to be changed or their success will be derailed. It is just the reality of having WLS. Aside from that pep-talk there are options. Many have already been mentioned but I'd like to add a few. Deli made chicken salad. You have to be careful as a lot of places use a Miracle Whip type dressing and not a Mayo based one. You can always ask before you buy. Many grocers will offer already shredded rotisserie chicken in their Deli's cold case. Making chicken salad is not hard. If you can make tuna, you can make chicken salad. Hormel canned chili. I have had both Turkey and Vegetarian, as well as regular. It is great with a few sprinkles of cheddar cheese, some sour cream and a splash of Tabasco. There are frozen meals that cater to high Protein needs. Just pay attention to their carb content. I used to eat Tomato Soup with a sprinkle of cheese and a slice of Avocado. I also would heat a can of refried Beans with some shredded cheese, sour cream and salsa (smooth no chunks) and even Progresso Light Soups as the veggies/protein in them are super tender.

The following words are not intended to make you feel worse but to help you focus on what is important. The pre-op phase is critical to not just getting the surgery done but to all that surgery will require from you. It is a challenge to re-program your brain and the way it responds to food. It is a challenge to allow your liver to shrink for surgery to be completed safely. It is a challenge to get you adjusted to the diet immediately post-op. It is a challenge to make you accountable for the decision(s) you have made. Not losing enough prior to your surgical date can lead to an incomplete surgery. Gaining weight prior to your surgical date can postpone your surgery and in some cases give your insurance the platform to deny you surgery. You owe it to yourself, your health, your future to give this entire journey all you have to offer. It does NOT get easier when surgery is complete. It will remain a challenge to eat what is on your surgeon's plan. Six months later if habits have not been changed you could ultimately derail your weight loss. You have already done the hard part by making the decision to have WLS. The rest is all about supporting that decision and making it a success.

Isn't that a great feeling when you are caught by surprise on your weight loss?! The other day I noticed my shoe needed tied. I would normally sit down and need a place to prop my foot to comfortably tie my shoe. Not this time! I bent down and was able to tie it with no strain, issues or discomfort. I was kinda blown away! Congrats!

You can always make cheese crisps as the vessel for whatever dips you decide to eat/make. http://healthylivinghowto.com/1/post/2011/07/looking-for-a-little-crunch.html

Someone brought this to my party last night, I ate it with a couple of Wheat Thins and dipped a few carrots in it. I don't have the nutritional values but I imagine it is low carb and not horribly caloric. You could always use reduced fat cheeses. JALAPENO CREAM cheese DIP PRINT PREP TIME 10 mins COOK TIME 10 mins TOTAL TIME 20 mins Author: Terri Recipe type: Appetizer Serves: 8-10 INGREDIENTS 16 oz cream cheese 2 4 oz cans diced green chilies 1 4 oz can diced jalapenos 3 cups pepper jack cheese, grated ¼ tsp garlic salt ¼ cup cheddar cheese, grated Green onions Sliced jalapenos INSTRUCTIONS In a large mixing bowl, mix together on medium speed, cream cheese, diced green chilies, jalapenos, pepper jack cheese, garlic salt until nice and creamy. Pour mixture into a glass pie plate that is microwaveable. Microwave for 5-6 minutes on high until the center is hot and edges are bubbling. If needed, put back in microwave and cook for 30 second at a time until center is hot. Garnish with green onions, sliced jalapenos and cheddar cheese. Serve with tortilla chips.

When all the scabs were gone, I asked my PCP if I could start putting lotion on the area and of course I could. So I would mix a little of this: https://www.mederma.com/products/advanced-scar-gel In with an all over cocoa butter lotion. http://www.niveausa.com/products/body-care/cocoa-butter-lotion I am just about eight weeks post op and the look of my scars are minimal.

I used to HATE milk and Greek Yogurt. Loathe. Gag on the idea of having either. Now I drink Fairlife Milk twice (sometimes 3) times a day. I get a little panicked if it is late in the evening and I pour my four ounces in a frosty mug only to realize I don't have enough for my morning cup. I have one time at around 9 p.m. in my p.j.'s, house shoes and hair a fuss, rushed to the nearest convenience store to buy three of the little 11.5 ounce bottles. Not all Greek Yogurt I enjoy. I don't really like the Dannon Light and Fit Greek (or regular) it is too chemical tasting. It leaves a weird taste in my mouth. I do LOVE the Triple Zero Oikos, Chobani Simply 100 and the Yoplait Greek 100. Yum!

I have always LOVED Halloween. Always. For starters it is my birthday, yes I was born at 1:13 am on October 31st and for whatever reason my family has always had a hard time celebrating both. They have always somehow been combined. Whatever. As an adult I have grown more attached to a Halloween theme and always have a big party. I don't call it a birthday party, I call it a costume party and people come in costume bearing gifts. It is a win-win. This is the first year I didn't "make" my costume. I always had a hard time finding even a plus size costume that fit. It was either too long, too short, too tight, too loose, too revealing or too expensive. Anyhow.. I bought two costumes because I couldn't decide which one I liked more. Also, I may be going to a party tomorrow night then having mine on Saturday night. I couldn't bear the idea of wearing the same thing twice. (totally kidding, I am not like that. kinda) I also didn't realize the company's return policy and am now faced with the possibility of having to sell one. Damn. I need your help in deciding which one I should wear to my party Saturday night. Snow White: Or Red Riding Hood:

@@WLSResources/ClothingExch I went with Red. I actually had a friend beg me to sell her the Snow White. I couldn't say no as it would otherwise go on used and take up space in my place. My party starts in about an hour. I'm just not feeling up to partying, I kind of just wanna get my PJ's on and curl up on the couch. I haven't been hungry in two days, have consumed very little outside of fluids and Vitamins. I'm trying to get myself pumped for tonight but it feels like a lost cause.

You'll someday eat another sandwich or a bowl of Cereal or a scoop of ice cream or a burger with fries. You will only say goodbye to the way you eat them NOW. Your ideas about eating your favorite foods will change and you will discover alternatives that not only are healthy but you'll like them more than their previous counterparts. Maybe it will be a high Protein cereal with some unsweetened almond milk or a sandwich made with "carbless" bread or a a lettuce wrap burger with crispy baked green Beans. The idea is to not take away your favorites but to make them better and to help secure your weight loss success. Last night I was craving Thai food. I searched a few recipes and discovered one that sounded satisfying. It was a deconstructed version of Pad Thai. It had all the flavors, textures and smells of my previous love but had all the health benefits of something much better. It can be tricky and the further out you get, the easier to eat past favorites grows. You have to reprogram your brain to think of foods differently. You'll find new favorite foods and won't miss the old ones.

I use the Ziploc Vacuum sealer bags for clothes and throw in dryer sheets. I've had a ton of luck with anything I have stored not getting holes, stink, wet or wrinkled.

@@Inner Surfer Girl Thank you! Another year older and getting skinnier!

Today I turn 33 and have been looking into, researching, talking about and watching videos on Yoga for a damn decade. Yesterday afternoon, I went to my first Yoga class and it was amazing. I have a horrible auto-immune disease that makes simple tasks some-days unbearable. And not only has my PM and my PCP but my rheumatologist have recommended Yoga and or Pilates for several years. I too was afraid that some of the poses would cause pain but what I discovered is that with any exercise, the pain is temporary. The body needs exercise, it needs its core to be strong, it needs it's muscles to be used and it needs flexibility to be completely utilized. A body in motion, stays in motion. Good luck!

*Big Hugs* I didn't lose a boyfriend in post-op but I did lose a best friend to suicide three weeks before surgery. I don't compare the two, both hurt, especially during a time when YOU (general) need all the support you can get. It's a rough road. With that said, his loss and your gain. When someone drops us like a bad habit we can't rationalize the idea that it isn't our problem, our fault, we are the bad guy, we are the not good enough in the equation and those thoughts will tear us apart. Then of course that stress makes even a well person ill and for all intents and purposes, you're not well. You are recovering from surgery and the body needs everything you have to heal itself. You need to heal. You need to know that his decision is no reflection on you, your journey, your transformation and your worth. Focus on making you whole again from the inside out and I can guarantee the time will come when being single is the best.

When I started going to the local support group while in pre-op, I met a lot of people in different stages of their journey. A common thread among those who were less than a year post-op had this vigilante, "I'm never eating carbs again and I'm never going to even tempt myself with candies, Cookies, Snacks and I'm always going to work out 3-5 days a week; I cannot FAIL at this drastic decision!!" And most of the members who were 2+ years out would comment with "your surgery was a tool, not a punishment and you have to be realistic about maintaining the weight loss because no matter the size of your stomach, you're still human." I was confused as to why the huge discrepancy between ideas about the way one should eat after surgery. But the further out I am post-op the more it makes sense. I realize the idea behind remaining strict on diet is the fear of slipping into bad habits and the idea of going a little lax on the diet is a human reaction to enjoying pleasure. Never having a cookie is extreme. Having a homemade cookie that you have prepared using great ingredients, tweaking the recipe to include less sugar, less carbs, more Protein is the balance between the two. I believe balance and moderation is the key to long term success. It is something that is taught months before surgery and in most of us will be "perfected" months after surgery. You (general) have to know what fuels your desire to have a cookie and changing those behaviors to ensure a cookie is just a cookie and not a coping mechanism.

I don't personally drink Crystal Light but I know several people who have had WLS and drink all varieties. I have never heard of there being a dye restriction and because of that, I'd stay away from all flavors. Here is what I have been drinking pre-op and post-op. It may give you a few ideas! Sobe Lifewater: http://www.sobe.com/#!/product/index/category/4 All flavors are great but the Fuji Apple Pear is AWESOME! Hint Water: https://www.drinkhint.com/#?offset=0&limit=40 I have stayed away from the "fizz" variety but the cucumber, peach, blood orange, watermelon and lemon-cayenne are yummy. Decaf Herbals Teas: http://www.celestialseasonings.com/products/herbal/country-peach-passion-herbal-tea http://www.celestialseasonings.com/products/herbal/lemon-zinger-herbal-tea http://www.celestialseasonings.com/products/herbal/red-zinger-herbal-tea Congratulations on your new journey!

Late last night while studying I craved the salty, crispy yumminess that only comes from a potato chip. I haven't had a potato chip in about a year and before surgery was eat Pop chips, Veggie Sticks, Pork Skins, Pirate's Booty. Ya know Snacks that you convince yourself are not as bad as eating a handful of Lay's. I have a few different recipes that would satisfy this need PLUS be low-carb, WLS friendly and give me some Protein. I also had a couple of zucchinis in the fridge that needed used, so I Googled, then Pinterested and found this recipe: Parmesan cheese Crisps Laced with Zucchini & Carrots *Note - I left out carrots. Print Parmesan Cheese Crisps become something extra special with the addition of zucchini and carrot shreds. Easy bake recipe. Ingredients 1 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly shredded (keep in longer shreds) ½ cup shredded zucchini and/or carrots Parchment paper or silpat mat Instructions Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Using a paper towel, remove excess moisture from shredded zucchini and carrots. Combine Parmesan cheese and shredded vegetables. Place Tablespoon size drops of the cheese and vegetable mixture on a baking sheet topped with parchment paper or a silpat mat. Gently flatten mixture with the back of a spoon, if necessary, and move in any loose shreds. Bake for about 8 minutes or until the cheese crisps are sizzling and the edges are starting to brown. Allow crisps to rest on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes and then transfer them to a serving plate with a spatula. Crisps will continue to harden. They were good and while I can't find any nutritional value with the recipe, I can't imagine they wouldn't be suiting for any of us.

I'm not a sleeve patient but I was told by my Surgeon no raw/fresh fruits/veggies until two months.

I have been going to concerts since I was eleven when my dad took me to see the Rolling Stones. Since then I have been to close to a hundred big name shows and about three dozen live local shows. Every show I have ever been to I have bought a shirt and they were a huge part of my wardrobe; I took very good care of them, made them look cool with jeans, shorts, little skirts, tights, boots, flats, heels, scarves,cardigans, blazers, etc. Obviously the ones I bought when I was much younger (early teens) didn't fit for very long but then in the last three years, none of them fit well. It felt as if a piece of my identity grew too small for me and it made me sad. I sealed them up, boxed them up and stored them away. Last night as I was pulling out the last of my Halloween goodies, locating Thanksgiving/Christmas "stuff", I decided I'd bring the box of concert T's in to see if any of them would fit. All but a dozen or so looked good. Not just fit but look good. I was stoked! And I know that once they get too big, I'm going to make a quilt for my King Size bed out of them! Then I'll start collecting ones in a size that I can strut until the threads wear out.

My doctor tried giving me Valium in the hospital and I ended up spitting them out. I didn't want another "crutch" to have to overcome post-op. But I understand the need.

Wow. How much did you lose during pre-op? I had surgery the day before and have some time before I lose 100 pounds. Congrats!

Three nights ago I wasn't feeling well and went to be too early. When I woke up a little after midnight, I was really hungry. I had some cheesy Soup with a few shrimp. This is something I have had at least a dozen times since surgery and during all food transitions. Never had any problems. When I finally got around to heading back to bed, I started to feel so horrible. I laid down hoping to sleep it off. Nope. When I woke up a few hours later for work, I was even worse than I was before I laid down. The feeling lasted all day and by late in the evening I was finally feeling some relief. Sometimes the foods we eat just don't sit well. Just as some did before surgery.

@@Elode You'd be one hell of a sexy wolf. My what big eyes you have!