Rainbow_Warrior

Yes, cripplingly sore knees and ankles have limited my movement and, largely, tied me down for several years. My leg joints were designed to carry 70kg to 80kg, not 170kg to 180kg. My mobility ... keeping up with seven lovely grandkids ... it means so much. Hence my gastric sleeve decision as my problem became too big to fight without help or intervention.

That's the reality I want to be at. My late father, a well-meaning man (whom I miss very much), grew up in an orphanage when his parents gave him up because of their poverty during The Great Depression. From just under 5 years to 16 years, he was a ward of the state. Food was scarce but, under no circumstances, were the several hundred child orphans allowed to not like what was served and ALL plates always had to be cleared. That was a rule at home right through the '50s and '60s ... leaving food on one's plate or not liking/appreciating what was served was a no-no. It's been locked in my mind for over 55 years. I eat past my 'full' often and have done for as long as I remember. Playing three or four sports and having an active outdoor life until my late 30s meant I was just classified as overweight. But, with injuries and changing job responsibilities came obesity ... BECAUSE I COULD NOT COMMIT TO CHANGING HABITS. By 2019, I hope to be that person who can, like you, just eat the tastiest bits of what I order and take the rest home for later (or the pets). Thanks for your anecdote. It's thought-provoking.

Yeah, began happening to me since Friday. Checked twice ... nothing really in the cart. But, as another poster said, it's more likely an advertising ploy.

Warning bells. Talk to your dietitian from your pre-op/post-op surgery days. Advise your surgeon's reception team of your worries ASAP.

What about a dietitian that has a line of contact to your personal trainer or gym trainer and you. I envisage a valid three-way exchange.

And you're still pre-op with 90 days to wait? Ouch.

Sublingual is the way to go ... i.e. melt under the tongue. Blackmore's Vitamins come in a style called "Rapi-Melts". They melt in less than ten seconds under your warm wet tongue.

ISOWHEY for low-sugar, high-protein, medium fibre. (Online or in pharmacies) ALDI Slim & Trim for sweet taste and high-protein. (Aldi supermarkets)

Best? Best value? I am into my fifth year of ownership of a Tribest XL which, back in late 2012, cost about $AUS156 with the 'deluxe' pack: two extra large cups, two large, two small; two blades; four screw top sealer lids, six sipper lids. It's very powerful for its size but is 'small footprint'. Nothing frozen or tough has stopped it so far. The instructions say that meat pieces should be small cubes or tiny strips. Worth a look! Half to a third the price of some very expensive ones that don't do so well in consumer tests.

Was this a result of a longitudinal study? A sociological study? Was it a Facebook post? Was it part of a book? Or a thesis? Was it in a magazine in a cafe? What sort of veracity can we expect from the source.

I did not say that. You drew that assumption. If the teacher is properly qualified, has an in-depth subject knowledge, runs lessons to the curriculum/syllabus mandated by the state and the education district, has mandatory Level III First Aid and Emergency Care training and, as well, is "safe" in all respects to work with children, that is great. That any teacher can bond 100% with 20-32 individuals in their class these days is nigh on impossible. With mandated state and national testing the big focus of school systems these days, the best teachers do their best to be fair, organised and entertaining to kids of diverse social, ethnic and economic backgrounds. We just hope that ALL the children possible will be on task and stay on task so that the educational leader (teacher) gets them through the range of knowledge, skills and experiences required. My grandkids all like school but they are all different but they are polite and friendly and are shown that in return. I chip in by doing reading support for three hours on one day and physical education support for two hours on another day. Schools are brimming with refuse-niks and misfits these days ... kids who bring their home hang-ups and eccentricities to school. The teachers at the primary and high school where the grandkids go do their 100% whenever I see them interacting. - - - As for being "a while for me", and you only being 26, I might say I am in my sixties but I can remember back to every Thursday afternoon and every Tuesday morning since the last summer vacation when I have done my volunteer hours at the schools in question. I was also there (at my eldest grandchild's high school) last autumn vacation for three of the sixteen days helping out the grounds-staff with my pressure sprayer and leaf-blower. I am very much in touch with schools and education.

Can you give a brief summary of what this is and what the key tips she suggested are, please? (Here or maybe in a new thread.) [I am using a search engine in the meantime!]

I want a professional, highly versed in her/his job, well-trained, adaptable. Friendliness is a bonus. Friendship or bonding is NOT a requirement. I want the same attributes in my plumber, my electrician, my grandkids' teachers, my hairdresser, etc ...

Hallelujah, Apple1. I was looking at the statistics and anecdotes of many people post WLS, the successes, the partial successes, the failures and the in-between post-operatives. Without a doubt, the most common causes of failures with gastric sleeving and RNY are: (a) rushing back to old trigger foods (b) not breaking the relationship with soft-drinks/sodas (c) not moving forward on the issues of only eating to satiety (d) other bad "old" habits (e) brand new bad habits - - - Aware of those things, I'm 'arming' mentally ... I have no intention of wasting this chance to grab extra years of life.

A very common revelation here, Kim. I think it accounts for at least 95% but probably nearly 99% of WLS. My wife (60yo) has a gastric balloon, her second, which is two weeks old. Her first gastric band was in eight months for a 30kg (67 pounds) loss. I am awaiting my gastric sleeve surgery on Oct 12 ... just 25 days now. (It's 8am Sunday 17th in eastern Australia as I write.) My son-in-law was 208kg on 25 Jan 2015. He lost 28kg (61pounds) before surgery in July that year. Now, 26 months on, he is 99kg. He's a very tall man. His success has convinced me that my surgery is a best choice for me. My wife and I share home with three older very demanding (i.e. NOISY) cats.

The wandering reference was that, at the gym I used to go to, there were three classes of employee/attedant. 1. the person who runs a class or is an active personal trainer 2. a desk-bound "clerk" who is a receptionist or enrolment person 3. everyone else. The wanderers who close doors, mop messes, put weights away, wipe benches, etc.

But the post where I said I was offering my 2c worth was NOT negative. In fact, it canvassed other ways to deal with the thoughts that the O.P. was having ... i.e. another way of dealing with the concern. And, also, you might have looked a tad harder and seen that TWICE in that conversation thread, the O.P. actually thanked me for the reflections and opinions. She/he did not perceive any vein of negativity.

No issue with the protein/nutrition "demand". I noted that there were great low-sugar protein shakes compared to Unjury and Nestle Optifast. As for taste, it's a bonus if the taste is acceptable to excellent. But good taste can be achieved without having 2X to 6X the sugar. There are some stand-out good flavoured, low sugar protein shakes. I like the fact that Isowhey is 87% to 94% protein and tastes great because of the successful flavour marriages. The last thing the recovering obese folks need is the sugar/sucrose/glucose "hit". And, I note, in reading some of the Unjury nutritional panels, there are some low sugar choices. (Unlike Optifast, FatBlaster and Protein Food) - - - Also, re taste, we can learn that "difficult" tastes are a trade off. In my own case, if I know a food or medicine is for my ultimate benefit, I can accept the fact that there maybe a slight/moderate unpalatability factor. We are adults and should be able to realise that.

Good point. I went with Nestles Optifast on my first shopping excursion ONLY BECAUSE MY DIETITIAN SPECIFICALLY RECOMMENDS IT. - - - But, after some research and commonsense, I have given up on Nestle Optifast for the future because: (a) poor value ... only 18 packs and 12 packs ... and, even on 20% general discount, more expensive than undiscounted ALMOST 100% IDENTICAL brands. e.g. An 18 pack of Optifast on the best special price is $AUS52 (or 36 for $104) which is $AUS2.89 per serve. Optislim, OTOH, a 99% identical formula, which comes in 21 packs is on an almost permanent two for $AUS55 which equates to $AUS1.31 per serve. Isowhey, a lower sugar, more fibre product is $AUS1.77 per serve normally and $AUS1.60 n discount. Optislim Rapid, the low-sugar, low-calorie version at two 21-packs for $65 full-time is $AUS1.55 per serve Optifast by the Swiss Nestle is a giant wallet ripoff. (b) Immorality! This is really galling. On the one-hand, Nestle owns lots of food and confectionery companies which worked their proverbial arses (asses for my USA readers) off selling us 5h1t to make us fat or obese in the first place. The seductive ads to get us to buy less nutritional and dubious foods ... but then they're waiting with a high-cost paid solution to help alleviate obesity. Grrrrr. That is why I will buy almost any other brand that IS NOT at "both ends" of the "get-fat, lose weight" continuum.

Yes, Isowhey 672g packs are 33% off at Chemist Warehouse & Priceline. Optifast (which I have resolved to buy no more) is 25% to 21% off at CW, PL and Pharmacy For Less. Optislim and Optislim-Rapid are two for $55 and two for $65 respectively ALMOST all the time. They come in 21 packs (compared to Optifast at 18 per pack).

The thing with UNJURY & OPTIFAST & OPTISLIM REGULAR is the 20%-27% sugars per 100g. UNJURY (in some flavours) has low-to-zero dietary fibre. I like to give top billing to ISOWHEY as it's 5%-7% sugar per 100g. It also rates well with 5%-12% fibre per 100g. Second best, in my observation, is OPTISLIM RAPID. ISOWHEY & OPTISLIM RAPID are also 40% less energy (calories) per serve. They taste all right and have 4-5 main flavours each

Yes, njgal, I probably need to put that on my extensive practice list or to-do list.

It's sad that they don't "all sing from the same page", so to speak. This must make a lot of food addicted sleevers reticent to move forward. I'm planning to stay away from my trigger foods or at least pre-plan their occasional appearance in my food diary.

City: Newcastle Postcode: 2300 Population: 177000 State: New South Wales (a.k.a. NSW) Country: Australia

1. Peeling off a few more kilograms and shrinking my liver in the process. 2. Practising drinking 1.75 to 2.5 litres of water per day. (Hard work.) 3. Practising the stretch in my protein consumption. 4. Checking out the quality pureed food packs at ALDI ready for post-op eating. 5. Using the blender (more than ever before) to liquidise/puree raw fruit & veges. 6. Reading the dietitian's folders. Reading advice from sleevers past and present. 7. Ending my connection to high consumption bread and beer ... practising abstinence and minimisation. 8. Warning "the trusted few" which signs to warn me of post-op. 9. Stockpiling discounted Optifast and discounted Isowhey for shakes now, soon and later. 10. Various other bits of self re-education.