ange117

You can add it before or after, but you don't want to let it get over 140F. Anything over that will denature the protein and it gets clumpy and gross, so if you're using a pudding that needs to be boiled, add it once it cools. I just use instant sugar free pudding to avoid this. For Soups, I heat it first.

For me, it was getting much better around day 3. Around day 5, I was barely hungry anymore. Now on day 16 of 21, I really only feel hunger right before I'm supposed to have another shake/meal. I'm even noticing that I get annoyed with my dinner if it's too big or not light enough (I'm on a plan with shakes for breakfast/lunch and a high protein/low carb real food dinner). I drank a LOT of sf drinks during the first week to keep the hunger at bay, though. Every once in a while I'll get a random craving. I'll be sitting at work and all the sudden I'll be like, "MAN I could go for some cheetos right now." But that's all my head talking, I'm really not physically hungry anymore. It's kinda nice, to be honest. Makes me feel like I can actually do this. The two weeks will go faster than you think!

The hospital I'm going to actually provides really nice chapstick in their toiletry kits, so I'm not even bothering with that! I'm planning on my phone charger, a pack a colored pencils and an adult coloring book to occupy me when I'm not sleeping/walking, and a couple changes of underwear. That's it. I hate having to keep track of stuff in the hospital; it's the worst.

When your fiancée can hug all the way around your waist and asks, "where did you go??"

Call them back! They might be able to give you an injection of antibiotics instead, or your bariatric surgeon's office might be able to advise you on a way to help protect your stomach while you take them.

April 4th here!

It really, really does. I'm on day 10, and while I still get cravings for specific things here and there, the overwhelming feeling of "oh my god I'm hungry and could eat everything" is mostly gone. The hardest time for me is late at night, so I keep lots of sf popsicles and jello around to munch until I feel full (it doesn't take nearly as much now! ).

I'm on day 9 of pre-op diet and I just had my first major NSVs this morning!!! Today, I put on a pair of grey ponte pants that I bought in the middle of February for an interview. They were TIGHT when I bought them, like just this side of fitting, and now they're falling off! I keep having to pull them up, they're loose in the thighs, and I can pull the waist out a good 2-3"! Also, when my fiancee gave me a hug this morning, she put her arms around me and went, "where did you go???" For the first time, she was able to not only completely encircle my waist, but interlace her fingers at the small of my back!! Such a great motivation to continue on this liquid diet and stay focused! So excited!

I'm on day 8 of my pre-op diet and today has honestly been one of the worst in terms of cravings. I did a lot of heavy duty housework yesterday and my muscles are killing me -- I think this might be why protein shakes just aren't cutting it today! So far I've had a shake, a protein pudding, and a sf jello for lunch. I'm about to have my second shake before class, and then tilapia with a cucumber salad for dinner (my plan allows real food for one meal, thank god!). I've also been sipping on Propel water and diet citrus green tea!

My surgeon did not answer my questions to my satisfaction at all. He was trying to give me the 'simple 'answer when I wanted the cold hard facts. When I left his office, I really wasn't sure about continuing on with the surgery. My PCP, however, was brilliant. She specializes in weight management, so she was extremely well informed and has a lot of bariatric patients and could provide a great deal of insight and support from the outcomes of other patients in her practice. I have loved my doctor for years and this has only sealed my decision to stay with her as long as possible.

I actually leave mine in the fridge for a few hours to let the air settle out! I can't stand the texture I get from just shaking in the blender bottle, so I make my day's worth of shakes in the morning and leave the bottle in the fridge and then have really smooth, really tasty shakes all day long!

What is/was your goal weight?? I'm 6' tall and I've been overweight my entire life. I have no concept of what looks 'good' on my body at a healthy weight and my surgeon has not set a goal weight. At my pre-op appointment, they asked me what MY goal weight was, and I just said 'under 200 lbs.' But I know that's still overweight in terms of BMI. What are your experiences regarding your body at different sizes? I know everyone is different, but I'd love to get some thoughts from different people!

I'm on day 6, down 14lbs, and I've gotta say it's been a long week. That said, today I actually feel good. Like really, really good -- no headache or brain fog, I'm not hungry, and I'm not having anymore cravings. I think the biggest thing that's gotten me through this is distraction. I'm currently planning a wedding for next year, so when I felt like I wanted to eat, I'd busy myself on Pinterest looking up ideas. I bought a bunch of adult coloring books to fill up long evenings. Find a few things you really enjoy that aren't food and throw yourself into them when you want to eat! Also, remember that this is a choice. We're choosing to have surgery, no matter what circumstances brought us each here. Difficult situations are always easier to weather when we feel like we're in control of them!

I was worried about this, too, but my PCP had a really good answer -- the biggest problem they see long term with wls patients is weight regain. The number of people who actually lose too much (and can't just up their calories a little to hit a good maintenance weight) is very rare.

I'm actually feeling pretty good physically today (day 5, also)! My headache is almost completely gone and the hunger only kicks in right before it's time for my next 'meal,' but I'm definitely starting to notice some of the emotional effects! I almost burst out crying today at work for literally no reason -- I'm actually in a good mood! I've always been super sensitive to my hormones, I'm on my period this week, AND I've lost 14lbs since Sunday. I'm trying to be nice to myself; my body's been through a lot already! It's so nice to be able to just vent this stuff to be people who understand, though. My coworkers and friends are just like, "I couldn't do it!" and that's not helpful.... >_<

Honestly, I love it! The chocolate splendor is my go-to 'shake,' and to me, it tastes exactly like if you added hot cocoa mix to cold milk. It's chocolately but not overpowering, and there's NONE of that sour whey aftertaste that I loathe. The unflavored I've mixed into both broth and sf pudding, and I don't notice any real alteration in flavor. It has a very slight sweetness to it, but you really don't notice it once it's mixed into other things. The only flavor of theirs I didn't like was the strawberry -- it was way too tart for me and actually DID give me some of that whey-taste. It kinda reminded me of strawberry syrup, only more sour. A lot of people like it though, so you might, too!

If you're looking for a waterproof tracker, check out the Garmin Vivosmart HR. I love it! It's completely waterproof so I don't even have to take it off to shower. It buzzes to remind you to move if you haven't walked a certain number of steps in an hour (great for me as I have a desk job and a tendency to get 'in the zone' and not move for three hours), you can have it push your mobile notifications to it, you can get your local weather, as well as the typical trackers like steps, stairs, and sleep! The Garmin Connect mobile app also has a super sleek interface and I love it!

I'm using a mix of unjury (chocolate splendor and unflavored) as well as EAS carb control ready-made shakes for when I need one to grab-and-go. I'm easily hitting 100g protein each day.

Unjury's sample pack is worth it, if you're interested in trying it! You get 10 packets (2 each of the chocolate splendor, strawberry sorbet, vanilla, unflavored, and chicken soup), as well as a Blender Bottle and a food thermometer, as you don't want the chicken Soup one to be added to Water greater than 140F or it will denature. I have tried DOZENS of Protein powders, from premiere to muscle milk to eas to vega one to trader joe's soy to sun warrior to Isopure and Syntrax. The unjury is BY FAR the best tasting, imo. You don't get any of that gross whey taste, and it's 0g lactose for those of us with dairy issues! If you're interested in it, I'd definitely order the sample pack.

So I recently ordered the Bariatric Advantage chewy bites 500mg in caramel, and I have to say -- they taste great! But they are incredibly sweet, and I'm little worried about how I'm going to tolerate eating 3 of these a day. I've heard great things about the lemon ones, however. For those of you who've tried both -- what do you think of them?? I know the lemon chews only have 250 mg of Calcium, but they're significantly cheaper. Are they better/less sweet so that I could tolerate taking twice as many or would you recommend chowing down the least number of chews I can??? lol Being able to get back on pills will be a wonderful step in this journey!!

Does it bother you to have to eat twice as many?

I'm on day 3 and I've been doing good until now (3pm). Oooooh, that hunger is setting in! Tummy cramps, headache--the whole works! I'm pounding Water to try to take the edge off until my next shake, but I'll be glad once the ketosis starts up and this gnawing hunger dies down!!! Anybody else going through their pre-op diet right now???

My answer to evening hunger has been to sip a cup of broth. Because I'm drinking sweet protein shakes all day, the savory helps it feel more like 'dinner' and seems to sate me a little better. The flavor is a nice change, too. Might be worth a shot if you're allowed to have it!

I actually just had an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy yesterday! They're very easy. I think I have more memories than most people do, as I actually remember gagging on the scope a little as they took it out and watching part of the colonoscopy lol. Kinda weird in retrospect, but it wasn't distressing in the slightest. I was just like "oh that's my intestines" and then next thing I knew I was asleep again. I was sleepy yesterday, but totally fine by evening. Drinking all the prep solution is far worse than the procedure itself. Don't sweat it!

Hello ange! Are we suppose to be taking Vitamins before surgery?? Sent from my 7040N using the BariatricPal App Honestly, I'm not sure! My program has had me taking Calcium and a Multivitamin since the first time I walked through the door. I'm also talking Vitamin d and b12 for preexisting deficiencies, so I'm basically already taking everything I'll need after surgery. I think it's wise to check with your program, but simple logic also tells me that 3 Protein shakes and one small meal a day cannot provide the vitamins your body needs.