Ashlegal

I actually cook big batches of Soups I know I can freeze. It is always nice to have a few handy in a pinch on busy days. I also take some to work and make sure an elderly neighbor gets some of everything I make.

I had a three week stall. It was super frustrating. I cried. I was super b*&$thy and then it suddenly I started losing steadily. Be patient.

I've been contemplating getting into yoga... So far it is has only started with the contemplation.

I wish you the best going from this point, heading into surgery and coming out on the other side. You need be proud of reflecting past your initials fears, worries, doubts, what ifs and digging deep enough to summon the courage to go ahead with surgery.

Remember to be patient with yourself, stay positive about your decision, be proud of where you've been and where you are headed!

I had serious doubts during the six month weigh ins, the last time I met with my surgeon and while I was in pre-op waiting to go into surgery. It is a common thread among those deciding to make such a big, life changing decision. I would play over and over in my head the "what if's", the "how comes" the "what happens when"...It was at times so frustrating, nerve-wrecking and exciting. I was on my way to having a new life, a new chance at something, a different, better, healthier me and yet I still had doubts. I am seven weeks post-op and have small meltdowns at least once a week. It is a serious life style change that starts from your head to your toes. Your head needs to be re-programmed and your toes need to always be moving you forward. I don't know about you but I have been a yo-yo dieter since I was a teen. 20 years of losing, gaining, losing, gaining more than I lost, losing a little, gaining more; made me aware that I needed a drastic decision to be made. This is not an easy decision, it is not an easy way to get out of being obese and most importantly it is not just about losing weight. It is so much more and because it is, all the work, all the effort, all the challenges, the doubts, the worries, the sacrifices are worth it. It is outside of being a mother the biggest dedication I have to this life I was given. It takes incredible will-power to change the habits of 20 plus years and to make a commitment so great that in a year (or less, or more) you won't recognize the person you see today, she'll be a memory that validates your decision to have WLS.

1 pound ground beef1 pound ground pork½ cup almond flour½ cup grated Parmesan cheese⅓ cup Water1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes¾ teaspoon garlic powder¾ teaspoon salt½ teaspoon dried oregano½ teaspoon onion powder¼ teaspoon fresh black pepper I used the above recipe two nights ago and it was great! I did use ground beef but ground turkey would be an okay substitute. I froze the ones I wasn't intending on using right away. I enjoyed them over some zoodles! It definitely satisfied any "Italian food" craving I may have had.

I had a date set, all my tests/screenings/labs complete and in the final weigh in before submitting the packet to insurance I had gained TWO POUNDS. A whole two pounds. When the packet was submitted, I weighed two pounds higher than I did the first month of weigh ins and was denied. Having a surgery date doesn't mean you have been approved by your insurance company. My surgery was changed three times before I was officially in the operating room. Surgeons, their staff, the surgical center, their staff are busy individuals and don't like scheduling surgeries "last minute", so they "pencil in" surgeries as tentative. Another issue is the liver shrink. It is imperative that your liver is of a certain size to complete the surgery safely. Some people don't lose any weight during their pre-op and are denied surgery. Gaining is an even bigger problem. The whole idea behind pre-op is about prep. Prep for the surgery to be safely completed, prep for you to prepare for the incredible change in eating habits after surgery, prep for the mental expectations you'll endure after surgery, prep for the dedication it will take to make your surgery successful. Stress, hormones, not eating right

I had a red chili con carne burrito with sour cream, guac, chips, salsa, unsweetened ice tea and two bites of fried ice cream. I made red chili the other night, it was really yummy. Even without the tortilla.

I don't sugar coat ANYTHING with regards to ANYONE. With that said, most of what you or another member may view as "rude" wasn't actually intended to be rude. When people don't hear what they want to hear (or more like read) they assign a tone of voice to the words. In their minds they have determined that the replying post was intended to be snarky, un-supportive, rude or mean. Me personally, if I reply to a post, I am offering my support. When I don't reply it simply means I had nothing to contribute.

Thanks for caring! I will have to call first thing in the morning. This weekend was a bear to get through and I can't maintain my responsibilities in this much pain. Ugh! I guess it is par for the course and something I'll just have to figure out.

I bought a can of peaches a couple of weeks ago and while it was decent, I instantly craved a fresh, ripe, juicy peach. Bummer for me as the season is over and peaches are $3.99 a pound. I've had cooked til soft fruits and veggies but I am craving the snap, the crunch the taste of fresh. I just have two weeks to go but seems like an eternity.

Rocketman.. And I think it's gonna be a long, long time 'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find...

It is not expected to cause dumping but that doesn't mean that Sugar Free doesn't have sugar alcohols and those have been known to cause dumping. I drink sugar free drinks, eat sugar free puddings, popscicles, Jell-O, some ice creams and yogurts; I have never experienced dumping. And to be fair I've had a few items (very little) that had plain ol' white sugar. No issues. Everyone is different.

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/dumping-syndrome-causes-foods-treatments

I followed my Surgeon and NUT's plan to a T. My plan never included pureed food and by day ten I was allowed soft Proteins which included salmon, tuna, other flaky fish, turkey and chicken. I just made sure that whatever Protein I was eating was super moist, chewed really well and only small bites were taken.

I have had Salmon in many forms since surgery. Out of the can with lemon, salt, pepper and a spicy mustard. Fresh put in tinfoil and baked til cooked. Smoked, thinly sliced, mixed with capers, cream cheese and smeared on Wheat Thins (just a few) and grilled with olive oil, lemon with a few sprigs of Asparagus. I even made a low-carb Salmon Patty then drizzled with garlic Aioli sauce. And my favorite is with baked salmon, flaked over zoodles with sesame oil and white sesame seeds. Yummo!

I don't like any Gatorade or Powerade type drinks. They all taste like watered down salty Kool-Aid. Ick! I have been drinking a lot of the following: Sobe Life Water. Especially the Fuji Apple Pear. It is so good! A friend on here recommended it. http://www.sobe.com/#!/product/index/category/4 Hint Water. The cucumber, watermelon, lime and peach are yummy! https://www.drinkhint.com/#?offset=0&limit=40 Herbal de-caf teas. Especially peach or raspberry flavored. http://www.celestialseasonings.com/products/herbal/country-peach-passion-herbal-tea I drink most everything from a 24 ounce cup with lid and straw. I do straws, some don't, I get more Fluid in with a straw then I do without. Personal preference. I drink two 24 and half ounce cups of liquid, eight ounces of Fairlife Milk and have no trouble getting in all my required fluids in daily.

Always grab from the back, the freshest, further out date is rotated to the back. Any perishables and some non-perishables are stocked with the newest date to the back and the closest date up front. Buy smaller sizes, quantities and you'll have to alter how many times a week you shop. I don't mind grocery shopping. Either does my husband. I have a little more of a challenging situation as I have to shop for not only MY needs but those of my family. My family has broken our grocery needs up into two categories. One category my husband maintains and the other I am responsible for. The change didn't happen over night and in some ways were are still learning. I unfortunately throw too many leftovers away weekly. It is definitely a learning lesson and comes with practice.

I'm sure there are those that have but there are also individuals who didn't lose enough and woke up with an incomplete surgery. The preoperative diet is as much about getting control of your eating habits as it is shrinking the liver.

I have the opposite issue. I am losing inches and in six weeks have gone from a tight 24 to a nice fitting 20 and even some 18's. But, the scale is barely moving. Ugh!