Starwarsandcupcakes

This is my 3rd or 4th 2lb tub of the chocolate truffle nectar after a friend who had WLS in like 2010 recommended it as that’s what her office said to use. I definitely prefer the nectars over the matrix ones as those have weird bits in them. The nectars mix great in water by themselves and don’t have that weird protein taste to them. You can get a sampler pack of the nectars to try them but my favorites have been the chocolate truffle, the roadside lemonade (SO good as a frozen lemonade!), and the unflavored to mix into baked goods. So, yes, I like them.

If you have a Kroger or affiliate check there. I can get it on sale there for $2-$3, which when I need a vegan dessert is worth it.

I don’t drink alcohol (family history of addiction is too high for me to consider it). That being said I would be careful because alcohol can become a transfer addiction in some after WLS, especially if they’re predisposed to addictive traits (ie. binge eating or disordered eating habits). If you do decide to imbibe, do so carefully. I was never off limits as far as carbonation is concerned. My surgeon office said that it’s a personal choice and some find it very uncomfortable afterwards. However I do realize it’s different practice for different surgeons.

Ok so according to this I’ve currently lost roughly 79.44% of excesses weight. The IBW for me is 136lbs. My ABW from my highest weight is around 155lbs. At my lowest weight I was 153lbs and I’m now around 180 depending on the day. Here’s a picture of me at my lowest weight (left) and now (right) in the same size scrubs. I have a TON of excess skin (plastics said it’ll take 2 separate surgeries to get it all) but I feel happier and healthier now than I did at my lowest weight.

Chocolate almond smoothie for breakfast! Weirdly tastes like a Wendy’s frosty. A little higher in calories but you could save about 150 calories (and add 5g protein) if you switched to peanut butter powder and left out the heavy cream. Just remember you also need a cup of ice for either one. Im also including the amounts for the one with peanut butter powder (the last picture) in case you’re feeling fancy and want to make it. *Currently halfway through and I’ll have to drink the rest later as it’s oddly filling.

Kids had burgers with artisan buns (I’m just a touch jealous) but I had this salad so who’s really winning? 😂 I didn’t eat it all but saved the rest for later.

I’m gonna say this was probably a hiatal hernia based on my own personal experience. I had an intense sharp pain by my sternum that hurt so bad I called my cardiologist! He sent me to the ER. They told me it was palpitations and to see my cardiologist in the morning. I KNEW it wasn’t palpitations because those were completely different from what I was feeling. I brought it up at my next surgeon visit and he sent me for a barium swallow… and then another when I told him the first radiologist didn’t do enough imaging. The below image was the result- a hiatal hernia of almost my entire sleeve. The result from delayed care was esophagitis, constant heartburn(gerd), and hiccups from waking to sleeping. I ended up getting a revision to RNY and a second (had one with sleeve) hiatal hernia repair along with it. Hopefully yours isn’t as bad and they’ve caught it in time to make repair easier.

If it wasn’t for my cardiac clearance I’d have never known about genetic heart defects I have. I was still approved for WLS. The clearance is more of a way to manage things so there aren’t any surprises during surgery and to make it as safe as possible. I don’t think that a history of afib or the occasional PVC will keep you from having surgery, but I’m not your surgeon and it’s just my personal experience. Good luck!

I was impressed when I used that brownie mix back in June for my brother’s wedding as he asked me to make a vegan dessert for those abstaining from dairy or eggs.

Random food the last week(?) or so. All keto. The mini bagels also happen to be vegan! Cough @GreenTealael cough. Also, I didn’t get that job I interviewed for but I wasn’t willing to take a pay cut either so. Their loss.

I’ve been looking for more daikon recipes. It’s definitely not like normal radishes. I think it stays crunchier.

I actually had a hiatal hernia of my sleeve which is what lead to my revision. I’m pretty happy with my results from it. The only complications I’ve had have stemmed from my uncanny ability to develop hernias leading to one of my mesentery followed by 2 more of my mesentery and intestines that lead to a small bowel obstruction with necrotic tissue after developing 2 seromas from the first mesentery hernia repair. Plus, I already had a hiatal hernia repaired when I had my sleeve (this is totally genetic for me- being hernia prone and is totally atypical of most revision surgery patients).

My 2 week pre-op diet was 3-4 shakes a day with no more than 200 calories each and minimum 15g of protein, celery and cucumbers, and 1-2 cups of chicken or beef broth a day. Absolutely NO popsicles or sugar free jello. I would constantly be shaving celery with a peeler into “noodles” and then adding it to the broth for a soup of sorts. AND I was super lucky enough to do it twice in an 8 month period. 😂 (needed a hernia repair surgery that was coupled with a VSG to RNY revision to reduce chances of future hernias.)

Gas station finds- Cottage cheese, yogurt, protein shakes, cheese cubes, hard boiled eggs, peanut butter or nut butters, and maybe pecans chewed really well (they’re a softer nut to tolerate). Travel plazas compared to regular gas stations will have more options to choose from. Taco Bell/taco places- refried beans with cheese or maybe taco meat Panera or Subway- scoop of tuna salad. Panera also has yogurt tubes, bananas, oatmeal, and smoothies (although high in sugar) KFC- chicken pot pie (remove the crust and either really chew or don’t eat the chicken McDonald’s- during breakfast you can get just scrambled eggs. They also have sausage patties you can order individually as well but that might need more time. Wendy’s- chili might be okay Tropical smoothie cafe- they have wraps and stuff for everyone else to choose from but you can get protein powder in a smoothie there and reduce or omit sugar in them as well. Sit down places- baked fish, some soups, and maybe spinach dip without the chips would be ok choices I’d think. If you go Italian you could order lasagna and just not eat the noodles. As always, try things before you go if possible because unexpected dumping on a road trip isn’t fun.

I can’t remember when but probably when I started soft foods for butter and oils. I use different ones daily for different things- baking, sautéing, dressings, marinades, etc. As for the chips, I was probably several months out. The quest chips aren’t for me though but everyone is different.

Surprisingly yes! I woke up today (day 4) and felt SO much better. Tomorrow after an interview for a new position I’ll be meal prepping for my work week ahead (woohoo for mandatory rotating work weekends 😒🙄)

My ortho told me that for every 10lbs you lose it takes 20lbs off your knees. I’ll eventually need a knee replacement but I did have the screws removed from my knee about 45 days after my sleeve surgery. It wasn’t terribly painful to walk on and definitely got easier as I lost more weight.

Super proud of my lunch earlier today. 2 eggs, 2 slices of bacon, spinach and mushrooms. 267 calories, 22g protein, 5 net carbs. Dinner on the other hand? Sigh, ended up eating only half. Sesame soy sauce tofu with kimchi, zucchini, and scallions with gochujang (the carbs in this are insane!) for 192 calories, 9g protein and 8net carbs. I did end up looking up several keto gochujang recipes so I’ll probably make and use one of those instead.

If you’re only 4 weeks out it sounds like the “3 week stall” most people go through one. Your body has been through a lot the last few weeks and is trying to recalibrate itself. Just stick with your plan and keep going.

Someone tell me WHY I thought it was a great idea to do keto for a while?! Keto flu is gonna kill me! The walnut bread is super dense but delicious toasted. 9g net carbs, 17g protein. 18g fat. Excuse me while I now lie on the couch and regret my life choices to reduce carb intake.

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up if it hasn’t been posted yet about a protein shake recall. Over 50 kinds listed https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lyons-magnus-voluntarily-recalls-53-nutritional-and-beverage-products-due-potential-microbial

I think it depends on when your last WLS was and your surgeon/insurance. I know I had to do the 2 week pre-op liquid diet again for my revision (due to gerd and hiatal hernia of almost my entire gastric sleeve) but I didn’t have to do the nutritional appts or the 6 month preop again because it was within a yr of my VSG.

I agree. It goes by so fast! I felt like I was just leaving the dr to turn around and have another appointment and before I knew it, it was surgery day. Just focus on making positive changes and identifying triggers now and it will help later on. You can do this!

If you’re using unflavored protein powder to add to soup then what you’ll want to do is mix it with the milk first before heating. It helps to disperse it instead of trying to add it after. Look into the protein broths that bariatricpal sells. I drank the beef and chicken ones daily for about 3 months. They also have a tomato soup. Steer clear of the mushroom and broccoli and onion ones until you are eating things with chunks though.

Snap and snow peas always fill me up quickly so I try and eat them last. Looks delicious though!