FluffyChix

Congrats on your coming surgery. Remember to just breath and take it one day at a time!!

Congrats to you!!! You will do great!

If I were gonna do ointment, I would want to do an antibiotic ointment. After radiation I had about a 3inch long, 3/4inch deep radiation burn at the back under armpit area. I had to soak it in domoboro soaks which is an acetic acid solution/antiseptic that dries out the wound from the inside. Then I had to slather it in silvadene ointment which is a combo of silver nitrate and sulfa in a cream suspension. I had to only loosely cover it with gauze and keep my arm elevated so it could get the maximum amount of air flow to it. They wanted it to be very dry. When it scabbed, they debrided and we started all over again.

I'm counting my highest weight ever down to where I get to the SDW. Then will begin counting the #s from surgery day onward. Don't know how my surgeon is gonna do it. Even though it's almost a 17 year story, it still counts in horseshoes and hand grenades! These are the toughest 87+ lbs I've lost...since the last time I lost them. Today I'm at 50lbs loss (of my regain) since May 3.

@CJ Sunshine Hi, pleasedtameetcha! ROFLMAO! It's quite the icebreaker, yes?

Good luck!! So excited for you.

I know I'm not really qualified to give advice, since I'm still pre-surg, so just ignore it me if you wanna! I think now's the time you can "fish or cut bait" without it hurting you emotionally. I'd almost rather know what the "cut of the man" is like right off the bat. I'd level and tell him where you're coming from and then laugh, make some funny self-deprecating joke and ask if he's game to maybe do something out of the ordinary--like a baseball game, or football/basketball game, etc. Or ask if he's prepared to share about 5 bites of his meal with you--that's you're a cheap date. I kinda feel that guys are turned on by humor and girls that can laugh at themselves and their situation--even when it's a tough subject. Good luck and bravo for ditchin' the tool!!! You deserve better.

At HEB you can get the little street taco size corn tortillas. You can set one on a paper towel and nuke it at 30second intervals until it's crisp. Usually takes about 1minute in my microwave. Then it's soooo crisp for a tostada. You can break it into sections and make your own nachos without having the deep frying oil from traditional bagged tostada chips. They seem like a perfect size for someone who is out a few months from surgery!

Awesome! Now then, how's the gonorrhea doing? (Ok everybody, settle down! I'm j/k!!!! I've just always wanted to say something so stupid for a laugh!) Glad to hear you're all set to go!

Welcome to the board. Hope your surgery went well and you are now sippin' and steppin' your way to health!

I'm not a vet or medical professional, but I did study biochemistry and biology (not that it means crap). But as I understand, you don't "store" protein for a rainy day. Amino acids are scavenged and recycled daily in addition to the dietary protein we consume each day. So when we are losing weight, we liberate amino acids--sometimes from reducing our body bulk (getting rid of proteins that are injured or are no longer needed (ie excess muscle bulk that is lost as part of general weight loss, excess vascular networks et al)) or injured proteins. So unlike fat, there really isn't a "protein pantry" where we go to get the extra 12.9g of protein we're short on from our diet for that day. At some point, it will start catabolizing very important and necessary proteins from major muscles and organs. My understanding is that you will feel good, until one day when you no longer will feel good. Then it actually may be too late or will be very hard to repair the condition. Rebuilding LBM/protein is no easy feat. And, it get's harder with every year. Just my 2cents that isn't worth very much. I'm just a pre-surg noob science nerd. You should read the book The Art & Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance by Dr. Phinney & Volek. It's an excellent explanation into sports physiology especially.

OMG, you crack me up. Hilarious! My memory is horrible, are you also the poster that called his boss, Felicia? *snort*

Hey little girl, come over...I have a Big Mac for you... *said in the most pervy voice possible* Hillarious! I love this: " She then told me she had a bag full of big Macs she wanted to give me and holding back the rage anyone on a liquid diet feels, I again said no." Good for you hon!!

Good luck. What an exciting day for you!!

So, sadly there is a medical reason for doing this. Removing the scab is called debriding. It allows a wound to heal from the inside out and "may" even reduce scarring. ((hugs)) Sucks to have to deal with though.

@Apple1 Dr. Atkins specified a stall as being 3 weeks without movement on the scale or with a measuring tape. (If I remember correctly!)

So sorry to hear this and sad for your disappointment! ((hugs))

Wow! So sorry you are dealing with this. Very scary. Saying prayers for you. Please let us know how things go!

My surgeon also told me that it's partly about compliance. They want to know--really know--that you can resist urges and cravings for chewing before they cut and rearrange your guts. She said they also want to know ahead of time if we're gonna experience problems with the protein drinks. (Plus the whole liver shrinkage and transitioning into a low carb world while still a normie.)

@fruitandveggies Have you been losing inches during this time?

As far as I know it's from cows that haven't been stabbed with growth hormones and they concentrate the milk to up the protein and wave a magic wand to reduce the carbs. LOL. Do a google on it. It's all over down here. Try using the Unjury in rich flavored chicken broth and stir in a spoon or two of cream of chicken concentrate. It's really delish! I think add spinach (fresh) to it and let it wilt. But I bet you aren't at the puree stage, so even blending that wouldn't work.

Ew. How about Fairlife Milk (like 12 or 13g per cup and lower carbs), then add some dried non-fat milk to it to make it "double milk"? I personally love using my Isopure unflavored. But I use it in things like soups...where the creaminess is a bonus.

@AnA92212 In the early days, did you stop at that 1 bite of egg, or did you wait a few minutes and try to get down your 1-2ozs?

I'm just kidding with you hon. I absolutely agree that my jams and stretchies have contributed WAAAAAAAAYYYY too much to lack of accountability and lack of seeing progress. Sorry for being silly. I truly see your point. I will consider how to implement this and start making these changes. I really didn't think of it this way, since I'm an obsessive daily weigher that has a super long spread sheet with daily weights, cals, macronutrients, waist measurement, etc. But when you phrase it as being part of building new successful habits--you're definitely right! Ironically, Sunday at the grocery store I wore my magic pants and I looked down cuz I felt "uber free and easy." Low and behold, my pants are so big on me now, the waist band is still at my waste, but the crotch is almost to my knees! Did you take away my magic? Cuz at this rate, they won't make it another 18lbs (which was my lowest weight where I wore them).

Congrats Mikey!!! That's outstanding! (Sorry about it feeling like it's lodged though. )