cseidman

Thanks for the suggestions! I'd rather stay indoors too, but my kids are always begging to go hiking, or camping, or to the zoo, or whatever. Some of it I'll agree to, but I draw the line at camping! I don't know why I didn't think about Protein Water. It's just not something I've tried at all yet. I'll definitely look into it. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yes, I love reading and have some great recommendations. I enjoy historic fiction, literary fiction, and an occasional YA book. Here are a few of my favorite books of all time: Life of Pi, by Yann Martel; Echo, by Pam Munoz Ryan; The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon; In the Garden of Beasts, by Erik Larson; and Let the Great World Spin, by Colum McCann. None of those will really make you laugh though, more likely to make you cry, so they may not be what you're looking for this summer. Echo might be the best summer option, but I highly recommend listening to the audiobook. Music is a huge part of the story, and it's incorporated beautifully into the audio version. It adds an entirely new level of feeling and emotion to the story. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Great thread! I've enjoyed reading all of these and finding certain things I have in common with some of you. You've inspired me to create my own list: I have two daughters - one is 16 and the other is 5. Yes, I love living in Colorado. No, I don't smoke pot. My first marriage only lasted a little over a year. We split when my daughter was born, because I didn't want to continue living in a van while traveling to frisbee tournaments. Yes, we were very young. :-) I was a single mom for 9 years. During that time I completed my bachelors and masters degrees and became a Career Counselor. I am so thankful to family that helped me out during those years. I don't know how single parents do it without a strong support system! I met my current husband on eHarmony. We have been married for 7 years. Lipstick Lady, this one's for you: I'm a first degree black belt in taekwondo, but haven't actually practiced in almost 10 years. Once there was an expectation to teach it to others, I lost all interest. I enjoyed the learning part of it, so I think I need to learn a new martial art. Now that my weight loss has begun (one month post surgery), I want to try Tai Chi. I'm not an animal person. We finally caved in and let my oldest daughter get a snake. I'd probably allow a cat too, but my husband's allergic. My current tv favorites are: Game of Thrones, Supernatural, House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, and Madam Secretary. I love to read. I've been with my book club for 6 years and we meet once a month. It's my greatest social outlet. I love to travel, as does my family. We prioritize vacations and put money into that fund every month. Our house may be outdated and our cars may be old, but we do have good vacations. Over the past 20 years, I've been to Mexico, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Iceland, much of Europe, and almost all of the states. My 16 year old is currently on her first trip without me. It's a school trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. I'm unbelievably jealous but so happy she gets that opportunity. I'm definitely an introvert. I can enjoy myself around other people, interact with groups, and teach workshops or classes, but I'm always exhausted after. I need time by myself or I'm a raging b*&%$. I have found that I have become happier and more confident with age. In my late teens and most of my 20s, I was a bit of an emotional wreck. Getting older has it's positive side. One of my regrets is that I didn't pursue a career in art, simply because I knew it would be hard to make a living. So, I've recently started taking a few art classes at the local community college. I'm learning a great deal and am getting positive feedback on my art. It's exciting to be pursuing an old interest once again. When I was growing up, my dad was a ski instructor in Aspen. We had free passes to all 4 ski mountains there. It was awesome. Now I haven't skiied in about 12 years, and I don't miss it. Thanks for letting me get to know some of you better! Being so newly post op, it's easy to get completely wrapped up in talk about weight loss, food, surgery, etc. Like all of you, I am more than just my WLS. Christi

Hummus has been my absolute favorite during this phase. It is so flavorful and savory. The one I like is extra garlicky, so my husband is probably very sick of my stinky face now! now I'm really enjoying the pouches of tuna. Again, my favorite is the garlic herb one. Poor husband. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Whew, the first four weeks are now behind me! I've been doing quite a bit of reflecting on my experience so far, and here are some of my thoughts: 1. I've lost 27 pounds! I'm so excited by the numbers on the scale. Still wearing the same clothes though. I have a box in my bedroom already labeled "too big", and I can't wait to start filling it with clothes to give away! 2. The first few days sucked way more than I expected (too much vomit!), but after that it's actually been a pretty easy recovery. I'm meeting and often exceeding my Fluid and Protein goals. 3. I'm surprised that I don't miss junk food. I don't mind when my kids eat ice cream in front of me, or when we order a pizza. I'm mostly content with my tuna, or scrambled egg, or hummus, or cheese. However, I am starting to tire of the soft foods I've been eating and am looking forward to getting the docs okay to start trying a greater variety of foods. 4. I really want to take a bubble bath. I'm thinking I probably could at this point, but I'm such a stickler for the rules that I'm not going to do it until doc says ok. Since I was self pay, I really want to avoid any possible complications that will cost even more money! 5. Before surgery, I didn't really want to tell anyone. Now I'm so excited about my new, healthier lifestyle, that I want to shout it from the rooftops to anyone who will listen. I have not had any negative reactions from the people I've told. If they had negative opinions about it, they've kept it to themselves, so that's good. 6. I think I may be lactose intolerant now. Ive switched to soy milk, but yogurt and cheese don't seem to bother me. Not sure if things will stay this way, or if it's just part of my healing process and it will go away with time. 7. I've started a small garden, I've been walking every day, and I have TWO vacations planned in the next 4 months - Mexico with the kids, and New England fall colors with the husband. Life feels great right now and I haven't regretted the surgery once! Thanks for reading. This site has been very helpful for me so far, and I plan to stay connected here as part of my commitment to a new lifestyle. Christi Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yes to the Ricotta bake! I love it! I used the recipe from eggface and split it into a bunch of small portions. It's been one of my favorites since surgery 4 weeks ago. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm in Fort Collins and am one month post op. There are two monthly support options here, both at Poudre Valley Hospital. One is an educational group with a surgeon and a dietician available to answer questions. It's free and is usually a very large gathering, at least 50 people. The other is a smaller support group that costs $20. It's led by a therapist and I think it's kind of a new offering. Only 4 people the last time I went, but I'm guessing it will grow. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yes, I've been bleeding off and on for the 4 weeks since surgery. But, my doc also had me stop my bc pills, so my hormones are basically just all screwed up right now. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I love hearing these stories and seeing pictures from other moms near my own age. It makes me so excited for all my future "after" pictures. Great job and thank you for sharing. You look amazing! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I did. My out of pocket was just under $12,000. It varies depending on where you live. I'm in Colorado. My biggest worry was that I would have some sort of complication that would add even more to the cost. Almost a month out from surgery now and so far, so good! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Tokyo Joes apparently has a stevi-yaki sauce, which is teriyaki with stevia. Haven't tried it yet but plan to soon, either with fish or chicken. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

That's fantastic - way to go! And you're rocking that bikini! I've pretty much given up on the idea of ever wearing a bikini again. I'm only 3 weeks post op, but I just can't imagine my body ever being small enough for a bikini. Maybe I'll surprise myself one day. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

During both of my pregnancies, I had the craziest dreams. It's happening again now, a few weeks after surgery. Perhaps it's hormonal changes of burning fat? In my most recent one, I was paddling a kayak through the sky and it would only fly while I was eating pretzels and pomegranate seeds. In another one, I had a newborn baby, but it was a lobster. How about you? Anyone else have crazy food dreams after surgery? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My wonderful bed has clean sheets, tucked in snugly, and the blankets are all in place and smooth. Then my husband gets in and kicks around to loosen the sheets so he doesn't feel so confined. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm the main cook for my family (husband and two kids) and was worried about this same thing. I'm 3 weeks post op now. For the first two weeks after surgery, my fabulous friends and family brought meals over every couple of days. That was incredibly helpful, and I appreciated the company since I was bored at home while hubby worked and kids were in school. I highly recommend asking for this type of help if you have a good support system. If not, have the family fend for themselves for at least the first week. Now I'm back to preparing meals, and of course, I can't eat it. But it's really not as bad as I expected. I keep the meals simple for now and make extra so there's leftovers. Believe it or not, I'm enjoying the taste of foods more than ever right now. I don't know why, but it all seems so wonderful. Hummus especially! It's my new favorite! Anyway, since I'm happy with my own food, I don't feel like I'm missing out. Hope that helps! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm only 3 weeks post op, so I'm on soft foods only and haven't eaten out yet. Going out for the first time this Thursday night and hoping there is a soup I can eat! I asked this question recently in a local support group, and one woman recommended Tokyo Joe's. She said they have a teriyaki sauce made with stevia, I think it's even called steviyaki. I'm looking forward to trying it when I get the docs ok to get off soft foods. May be worth checking out if you have a Tokyo Joe's in your area. They also have sushi there, so I'm thinking it may end up being a favorite for me! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I just discovered the eggface blog and really like it. I'm still on soft foods, but I'm already using some of the recipes and portioning them for a quick and convenient meal. I've made a ricotta bake, an egg salad, and a krab salad so far. My fridge is full of tiny containers of them. I am definitely going to need to buy some more tiny dishes, tupperware, and utensils. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My surgery was on May 10th, and I'm also in a stall. But, I already lost 22 pounds! I keep telling myself that my body is just adjusting to such a rapid weight loss. I'm so excited about the new, healthier direction my life is taking, so it's hard to be patient. But, thinking beyond the scale, I already feel so much better physically. Cutting out all the junk food and sugar and sodas has already made a difference! So, let's both make an effort to be patient though our stall and focus on the good changes we've already experienced. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Well, I'm only 18 days post op, so I'm just getting started, but I already planted a garden! I should say, my teenage daughter planted it for me while I sat and supervised since it was right after surgery. But, I've never been a gardener, so I hope I don't kill everything. It's a container garden this year, but maybe next year we'll expand. We planted tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, peppers, and several different herbs. Other things I want to do: run a 5k, take my kids hiking, try stand up paddle board, and zip line in a tropical jungle. Costa Rica perhaps. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Okay, I only had surgery (sleeve) done 17 days ago, so I'm currently in the soft food phase. The past few days I've been wondering if I'm actually eating too much for this early stage. I've been hitting my Fluid and Protein goals most days this week, and I'm getting my protein from shakes, eggs, cheese, tuna, salmon, Greek yogurt, and hummus. I feel great - plenty of energy and am healing well. But, I'm already eating between 800 and 1000 calories a day. Is that a crazy huge amount for only 17 days after surgery? If so, how do I still meet my protein goals while consuming fewer calories? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I've made it through the the first 2 weeks post op! Happily moving on to the soft food phase and enjoying a ricotta bake right now. Anyway, I don't have a nutritionist, but would like to find one. My surgeons office had me do one required appointment with the dietary department at the local hospital, but that's it. Since my insurance doesn't cover any of this and it's all self pay, I want to shop around and not stick with the hospital. I have a couple of questions about choosing a nutritionist: 1. What is a nutritionist vs a dietician? 2. How often do you consult with a nutritionist? 3. What value do they add to your plan? Do they just review your food log and make recommendations? 4. Any specific things I should look for (or steer clear of) as I research my local options? Thanks, Christi Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Ugh, so a friend recommended a local nutritionist in private practice. She raved about how wonderful she is, how she doesn't just lecture about what foods to eat and what not to eat. She's a counselor as well and works with her clients on emotional eating, relationships with food, etc. Sounds great right? Well I was just on her website and reading about her philosophy, and she goes on a lengthy rant against bariatric surgery and how it's a horrible mutilation of the body. Now I'm angry and discouraged. She won't be getting me as a client. I want someone who respects the decision I made and will work with me to insure my continued success toward a healthier life. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Okay, I'm 10 days post op (sleeve) and just starting to ease into the soft food diet. The literature provided by my doctors office says to avoid fresh fruit. Elsewhere, it talks about using fruit in Protein smoothies at this stage. So, which is it? Yes, I'm kind of a stickler for the rules, so I want to make sure I'm doing this right. Is it mostly an issue of the texture of fresh fruit, and blending them into smoothies solves that? Or is there something about the way fruit digests? Which fresh fruits can I add to my smoothies, and which should I avoid entirely? Thanks, Christi Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm 13 days post op and am sitting in a massage chair getting a pedicure as I write this. Just one of many ways I will be caring for myself now, because it's not just all about diet and exercise, right? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I woke up with it once. I was drooling all over my face and pillow. And not just a little bit! I was like a teething baby and should have just slept with a bib on. Thankfully hasn't happened again! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App