Unbridled

Agree with @@KristenLe Over the 6 months of visits with my dietitian, she pounded in my head that not enough Protein will cause sweet cravings. She challenged me on it. So I played around with it and she was so right! So maybe just go back to the basics and increase your protein throughout the day? I'm no expert by a long shot, but sometimes the basics are so obvious we forget them.

@Ivfavy c'mere and hold my hand while I tell you this. If you have a job and you do it every single day, day-in and day-out, would you want anyone else doing that job? The nurses and surgeons are trained to do this one thing over and over. They are incredible experts. They could likely do it in their sleep. Take comfort in knowing they really know what they are doing and relax into their proficient hands. Also know... by the time you get to the hospital, you will have been given so many instructions, which insure a positive outcome. You will have been prepped for months before you even got to the hospital. So take comfort in that as well. I would go so far as to say, the surgery will be the easiest part because you don't even have to participate. You get to sleep through it! Your assigned legions of angels are already around you. I can do all things through Christ. Phil 4:3

So, this evening I sit down to watch ABC News with David Muir because I want to torture myself by listening to more about the Republic National Convention. (dabbing at my bleeding ears) I noticed that there are many... many, many food commercials. Its the dinner hour so why not, right? Mentioning any of these foods would be completely unkind in this forum. But I have an idea. Probably an old idea, but I do not see evidence it has materialized. @AlexBrecher, founder of BariatricPal, can you sponsor or produce television ads with healthy foods that are not dripping in butter, are not fried, or smothered in the words "all you can eat", please? Can you be sure they run during the dinner hour until around 2am, please? Maybe you could start a forum topic to get ideas about what kind of ads would help support the post-bariatric surgery person. Perhaps you could partner with egg, chicken, or Protein shake companies which would finance these ads? Maybe there could be an ad sponsored by Rubbermaid to help us plan our meals? You could produce a couple 20-second or 30-second public service announcements with encouraging tips for the growing population of people who have undergone/endured bariatric surgery. (Did you know that even Dr. Oz said that bariatric surgery is the best, but most under-utilized surgery offered to give people back their lives in the US today?) How about PSAs about annual fundraisers to help those who have to self pay? Fun runs/walks, dog washes, blah blah blah Autism Awareness Month is in April. Muscular Dystrophy Awareness is over Labor Day. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is in October. Alex Brecher, you are in the perfect position to bring post-bariatric surgery people out of the dark. We need our own month to Celebrate our accomplishments and support others who have just started their journey! We have tons of special needs after the surgery is behind us. Restaurants should offer very small portions for us and welcome us! We are growing in numbers every single day. I think I counted at least 25 people who on this website who have had surgery in the last month. OMGosh, Unbridled... turn off your monkey mind! I probably posted this in the wrong place entirely.

Written partially tongue-in-cheek and partially from frustration, I love the feedback! Seriously @AlexBrecher, thank you for providing this place for us, the mostly misunderstood. With in-your-face hatred and prejudice on the planet, even if we are anonymous strangers, its wonderful to have a place to be understood. Thank you for the foresight you had to create a space for us to gather. We all have multifaceted lives, but in this one place, we can come together for a single purpose and feel stronger when we leave. (Not wanting to see the commercials about Olive Garden's Pasta lovers special again, I gather up my Kindle to read myself to sleep) Sweet dreams all.

August 30th surgery date in Charlotte, NC I started this journey September 2015. I'm a fact finder by nature so I could not go into this until I understood it all. The research was part of it all. Now I'm ready.

@Littletiea it truly is not an easy decision. But know that you can attack your weight loss with the very same determination as when you were doing it on your own. It is just a tool. You know? A tool like a hammer. You cannot push a nail through wood without it. WLS was an amazingly long researched then finally offered tool to help you. You GOT this girl! LOOK at all your support from complete strangers! We have surrounded you and lifted you up. God placed us here,; in your life, for a reason... a second tool of support! Look this up if you'd like... Dr. Oz says that weight loss surgery is the most beneficial, under utilized surgery in the nation for curing co-morbidities and giving people back their life. May He continue to bless you and those who love you.

Thank you all for your input. I'm relieved to hear no one has to stay with me. I will have my 27 year old son take me and then pick me up when I'm ready to go. @trekker954 2 big dogs? And here I was worried about my 7lb cat wanting to sit on my chest as she does nightly. TGIF!

On a separate day from the pre-op diet class, I am scheduled for a "mental preparedness class". Wasn't passing the 3-hour psychological evaluation evidence enough I'm mentally prepared? Seriously, what else is there to talk about? I've read each of the 5 books recommended twice. Somehow I think I don't know what I don't know. Do any of you know?

Did you get the tooth pain treated by a dentist? That can be dangerous all by itself depending on which tooth is infected. Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

Laughed out loud... scared my cat.

I'm reading all I can get my hands on about everything pre and post-gastric sleeve as I have for nearly a year; however, I've never read anything on sleep. I can take almost anything, but don't interrupt my sleep! Can you tell me... how's your sleep been? Good? Better? Bad? Need more? Can you tell me... how's your sleep been? Good? Bad? Need more?

Great answer @@ShelterDog64 That is what I wanted to hear. I hope many agree with you. Congrats on your recent surgery!

Congratulations! Let the weight depart!

Trash pick an old piece of furniture, then paint all kinds of stuff all over it. Write your thoughts on it. Especially if its an old chair, turn it upside down and write your secrets under the seat. Turn up the music. Don't use paint brushes. Use your hands. You can paint over anything you don't like. You can savor all the fun parts you do like. Hang beads off it. Paint wings on it. Paint the sky or the beach or scripture on it. When the chair is dry, use it to sit on and read, exercise on, or write in your journal. You can sit on the chair when the paint if still wet, but that is an entirely different post.

Sleeved this week and already checking your BariatricPals. I take that as a really good sign! <Handing you both a big fresh bottle of water> One for @Clarevoyant One for @gettingsleeved1

Great question @@kbuck3779 This is a topic I've been wondering about as well. Amazon sells a pretty neat lunch bag that you put in the freezer until you pack it in the morning. It has lots of good reviews on it. Supposed to keep your food cool for 8-10 hours. I put it on my wish list... ha! PackIt Freezable Deluxe Large Lunch Bag with Shoulder Strap, Viva Looks like an efficient way to keep your food chilled. That way it can be kept at your desk instead of in the company frig, which can be icky.

Seriously? In 16 months you have lost over 300 pounds? (doing the Snoopy dance for person I don't even know!) WOW girl!!! You need to write a book about your journey. I'll buy it. That will be your first $20.00 toward your skin removal surgery. (tapping my foot... so when is the book going to be on the shelves... huh? huh?)

Look how stinkin' cute you are! Your results are an incredible inspiration... completely worth all the horrible stuff I'm reading about the pre-op diet and the post-op miseries. You are the "Keep Your Eye On the Prize" poster child!

"She just dropped by for the festivities" Cracking up out loud! Too funny! Thanks for the giggle @@Wonderwoman516 !!!

Heavenly Father, please give your LadyPoet peace and calm as she goes to the hospital tomorrow. Let all who see her prepare for this new chapter know that You are in control. I pray for discernment and wisdom for her doctors. I pray for a swift and uncomplicated recovery. Let her be a beautiful example for all she will accomplish. Asked in your son's name.

My dietitian recommended unjury unflavored and any of the Syntrax nectar flavors. I actually like them a lot. I put the Unjury unflavored in my oatmeal or spaghetti sauce to boost Protein. The Syntrax Nectar flavors I either drink with straight Water or in a smoothie with other fruits. No aftertaste with either of these protein sources.

What a great idea... a really great idea. I have so much to write! Thank you for the prompt. My best to you.

Surgery moved to August 2016 Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

Awww... look how beautiful you are!