songsmith

Fage Greek yogurt. I use the 2%, but numbers are similar in the 0 fat and whole unflavored versions. 23g of protein per cup. Even better, no additives, just milk and yeast cultures.

Congratulations! I really like my PCP. She was beyond excited for me when I decided to get the surgery. I look forward to seeing her after I've shed enough pounds to be noticeable.

Almost forgot to post! 231.1 (eta because I can't type)

I breathed a sigh of relief when my insurance gave their approval after six months of hoop jumping. Congratulations!

Oatmeal, stews and chili come to mind.

I added another shake yesterday (mixed it with Greek yogurt) and guess what? Lost more than I have before and I feel more energetic. It was a good decision. Thank you, everyone, for advising me!

Surgery on 02/15. I'm losing on average about a pound every other day or so. I'm fine with that. I know my body is doing what it needs to do. I am, however, concerned about my Protein intake. My doctor has me on 3 small meals of 3-4 TBSP of pureed food plus one shake. The amount of protein available in the eaten portions is negligible in those amounts. I have no problem drinking the Water. I get 64 oz a day pretty easily. I was always a huge water/coffee drinker, so I'm used to taking in fluids. Last night I actually felt hungry. I had another 2 TBSP of cottage cheese. That's when I thought about how much protein I must be eating daily. I was consuming more protein during the full liquid stage where I had 3 shakes a day. Thoughts?

How many grams of Protein are you supposed to have in a day? How many ounces of Water? One shake and a few Beans can't be more than 30-35g of protein. See, my doctor told me to cut down my shakes during my puree stage and I realized fairly quickly that I should add another shake because once I cut one out I could not hit the protein goal on 9 TBSP of food a day plus a shake.

Wow! I couldn't take in 5 ounces just now. 3 1/2 TBSP is my absolute limit--and that's pushing it! Funny how we're all different and what our doctors have us do is all different. I know as my sleeve adjusts I'll be able to eat more so getting in the Protein won't be as much of a problem.

Thanks, everyone! Like I said, I met the Protein requirements during the liquid stage, but not since they scaled back the number of shakes for the pureed stage. I don't think it can be good for my body. I will try it for a few days to see how I feel. I don't want my body to start cannibalizing my muscles! I do have Greek yogurt. Last night I felt guilty about having an "extra" meal so grabbed the first "allowable" protein I saw.

Sleeved 02/15. Looking for a buddy or people in my area to share experiences with, local sales when they happen (like there'll really be a run on the perfect low carb/high protein wonder food).

Did your doctor prescribe you any sort of reflux medicine? If not, you might want to call them. I like it! Your sleeve is officially the Audrey 2!

I get horrible cramps in my calves, thighs, abdomen, hands and sometimes even my tongue (!). They're a side-effect of a drug I have to take. They're exacerbated whenever I'm low in electrolytes (potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, etc.). It's hard to pinpoint which you're low in without a blood test. The best quick cure I can suggest is a sugar free energy drink like Powerade Zero. In my case after months and months of trying the more likely candidates, I discovered that lack of magnesium (for me) is the culprit. We're all losing weight. That means we pee a lot. When we pee a lot, we lose electrolytes at a higher rate--yet another reason to meet our Water requirements!

My mom and yours must be related. Same thing with the weight. I had an aunt who weighed 350 pounds. My mom was always telling my 12-year-old self I was as huge as Aunt B. She'd buy hand-me-down tops (no way the pants would fit, but I have huge boobs) from my aunt and make me wear them. One time (when I was an adult) I had lost 75 pounds doing Atkins. My mom knew my size. For Christmas she bought me something 3 sizes too big and then threw a temper tantrum when I said I couldn't--not wouldn't!--couldn't wear them. The pants wouldn't stay up. Then again my mom was BPD. I used to laugh that it was sad a grown woman was still afraid of her mother, but there you have it. She's gone now. If she was still alive, I would never tell her about my surgery. Never. Telling you this so you know I really do understand how that feels. Could you be more specific about how your mom isn't supportive? The things she's saying? It will be easier to think of responses with examples. You could try the, "I appreciate your concern for my well-being, Mother, but my doctor gave me strict orders about (whatever she's on about) and I need to follow those." It sounds counter intuitive to telling her off, but I always found it better to deflect my mom than attempt reason.

You look terrific. I'm only one week out from my surgery and just had to set a goal weight. I went on the low end of the healthy range for someone my age and height. I read someplace that people do gain back a small portion of the weight. I figured if I had a lower goal and that happened I would probably be happy at the new, higher weight anyway. Win:win Hubby is probably worried about you and your health more than he is appearance. Sweet but a little maddening! In the end it's your body and your health and only you can decide where you're happiest. It's not like you can't come back up if you change your mind. Taking off those final pounds, though? That's hard. Best to do it now.

I used to power lift--heavy compound movements. The idea is strength. Anyway, despite squatting over my body weight and benching a little under it, I only firmed up, never bulked. Don't be afraid to lift. Think about how heavy your purse or books or toddler is!

Do you mean March 1st?

Keep us posted! My surgeon doesn't do a leak test. He thinks the nausea caused by the stuff you swallow is worse than (according to the physician's assistant who gave me this stat) the 1% of his patients who've had leaks. Anyway odds lean towards too fast eating and not the leak. Crossing my fingers for you!

Thank you for sharing all the in-depth information. I also thank you for not liking the Smith machine. I'm a huge free weights and compound exercise proponent (I make an exception for the awesome cable machine). *Oops in the guys' room. Closing my eyes. Didn't see anything!

My daughter is firmly in the overweight category. She's never had the weight problems I have. I have never ever ever ever spoken to her about size or her weight or anything else. (I blame my borderline mother and her competitive body analyses for many of the underlying emotional problems I developed with food, so I have always been determined not to do the same thing to my girl.). She's a picky eater, but she also eats plenty of fruit and veggies that she likes. She's the only person I know who hates potatoes and corn (well, she likes French fries). But she loves green beans and broccoli. I think we have a terrific relationship. We share common interests. She's smart and funny and I'm so damned amazed I produced someone like her. I'd say she was switched at the hospital but her brow line is definitely her dad's, so I guess she belongs to us. She was a petite child, but hit puberty early and is blessed (?) with huge breasts just like her mom. She wore a size 8 throughout school. Then she started college and went to a 10. Now she's a 12 and (I suspect) soon will be a 14. I remember how I started out "okay" and slowly gained. I do encourage her to find an activity (she's away at college) she thinks is fun because I never found one when I was her age and regret it now. It'd be fun to call a friend for a game of tennis, or wall climbing or biking or dancing or even walking. I did apologize to her for having a fat mom who never felt well enough to do some of those fun kid things with her. Mainly, I think she needs exercise and to not eat as much junk. She's developed a muffin top. I say nothing, but I fret. I don't want her to be in my shoes 20 years from now. Right now I plan to continue to say nothing and hope that as my weight comes off (and maybe as I even get down to her size) she'll do the comparison herself. I think it makes things worse when you talk to someone about their weight. It feels like criticism and puts the other person on the defensive. Besides, she's stubborn as I am and would probably dig in her feet and do just the opposite of anything I suggested! Then you have that weird mom/daughter dynamic. You know how sometimes it doesn't matter what you say to your daughter, they will misread it? Guess I just want to hear thoughts. It's not like she's home any longer to bear the benefits of the meals I'll be fixing. She's already flown the nest. And I worry. What can I say? I'm a mom!

Kansas here. Sleeved Feb. 15th. I used the narcotic button pretty much that first day/night and didn't hurt nearly so much the next day, though it felt like I'd been doing crunches forever. It gets better.

You must just be settling in. Welcome to the Losers' Bench!

I do ask her about activities and gently encourage her to keep up with them. Funny you mentioned a color run. There's one that will be about 6 mos. out from my surgery. I already asked my husband if he'd do it with me and was thinking about asking my daughter. I honestly think if she found something active, the problem I see on the horizon will be gone.

You said you were having your 3-month? Did your doctor offer any solutions? /Concerned

How much protein are you taking in daily? You said enough, but I didn't see a number. Possible you need more because of the weight lifting. I agree you should talk to your primary.