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I counted and you just passed six weeks. At six weeks I started adding regular food back to my diet. I hated Protein Shakes, I found that the protein shots AKA protein bullets, save me!! Some say the 'protein isn't as good' but I say, "It is better to get 60+ grams in with a bullet and food rather than NOT getting it because those darn shakes gag you!!! LoL Worked for me and I never lost my hair and labs have ALWAYS been good! I got mine from GNC, blue raspberry was the least offensive. They aren't good, but 42 grams is packed into about 3.5 oz. I'd take a few sips in the morning, a few at noon and finish it off that evening. I'd hold my nose and breath and take the sips. Then, just like a kid, I'd rinse my mouth out with water!! That said....let me tell you what else I did. From almost the first week, I started and ended every day with 8 oz of skim milk. I still do this, almost 3 years out. My go to foods were: eggs (this early you probably cannot finish an entire egg, or it will take a while) 1% cottage cheese (breakfast of champions!!) steamed shrimp (i still keep a bag in my freezer) seafood seems to be THE easiest meat to eat. Canned tuna (an entire can is 1/2 cup) At first I could only eat about an eighth, I add 1.5 TB of Lite Miracle Whip to the entire can. At this point, I can eat the whole can for lunch, I do not eat bread with it. If I want crackers (8 - 10) I'll eat 1/4 cup....half the can. Tons of protein in all the things I've listed. I also started eating beef, pork and chicken. Cooking a lean pork chop or chicken breast in the oven, on top of the stove or in a crock pot.....with a can of FF cream of mushroom or cream of chicken Soup, is good. (add a can of Water as well) You'll have 'gravy' and it makes the meat 'softer' - easier to eat. Good luck!!! I hope this helps a little!

I call 1% cottage cheese, the breakfast of champions, that's what I had this morning, sometimes with and sometimes without a little fruit in Lite Syrup!!! Or I'll have an egg or two. I 'fry' them over med some times. Either on my griddle (i use non stick spray) or it a non stick skillet. It's not fried in bacon grease, but I didn't do that PRIOR to surgery!!! I start every morning with a cup of skim milk, even before I have coffee. It's habit now, I've been doing it for almost 3 years! Depending on how far out you are, and are you at goal.....I'll have a half an English Muffin, low fat, and put it in the oven with a piece of 2% sliced American cheese. Now that I'm at goal, I'll have a low fat frozen waffle once in a blue moon, but to tell you the truth, it isn't satisfying, I don't recommend it unless you just NEED something totally different. I hope some of this helps.

Congratulations!! What is the milk diet? Do you have a surgery date yet?

THE single most exciting thing for me is when I could see my collarbone. I even have ribs and hip bones!!! Who knew??!!! Collarbone.....I still like looking at it, I'd even say it's a pretty good one, as far as collarbones go!!! LoL Congrats!!! The rest of us understand exactly how you feel. No doubt about it!!

No problem!! I'm good at decyphering! (sp??)

Back in June 2010 it was $12,500. I THINK it's a little less now.

I can tell you that the self esteem factor alone, was worth it to me. I don't feel self conscious when i walk into a room of people. If people look at me, it is for some reason other because I'm big, wearing big clothes to try and HIDE the obvious!

You CAN lose 80. I've lost between 81 and 84, depending on the day!! I went into it wanting to lose 50 0r 60 lbs. I got there so fast and it was so easy, I KNEW I could lose more, and did!!! Love, love, love it. I wasn't this size when I got married at age 19!!!

I had a bariatric nurse tell me about the same thing. I think a lot of it might have to do with we have no or at least fewer health issues going into surgery. That would hold true for ANY surgery we were going to have. I had no health issues at all, and had zero problems with the surgery. Easy greasy! I remember having my tonsils removed in my early 20's - I was a lot more uncomfortable!

How much do you want to lose? How tall are you? What do you weigh? That is a low BMI, but so was mine, although a little more than yours. Best decision I've ever made. At your age I probably had a BMI of 28, continued to lose and re-gain over the next 20 years. You don't pay that much attention when it's 5 or 10 lbs per year. All of a sudden I was 50 yrs old and 228 lbs. OMG, if only I could have had this surgery when I was 30!!! Life changing!

Other than a having an English muffin or a half a thin bagel once in a blue moon, I rarely EVER eat bread at home. I'll pick at it when we're at a restaurant, if I eat too much, it fills you up and you can't eat what you NEED to eat. I love bread, but there is really nothing good about it for any of us!!!

Had some of us obsessed about calories PRIOR to sugery.....years earlier, then we might not be here posting on a WLS forum. That of course is my very humble opinion. Again, 100 additional calories per day, every day, is over 36,000 calories a year. TEN POUNDS per year. We can get an additional 100 calories in a blink of an eye. Tasting while we are cooking, or eating a few bites that one of the kids or grandkids leave on their plate. I know when there isn't enough to keep, I'll take a bite before putting it in the garbage disposal. This IS how we gain and we should all be aware of that. If thinking about calories and what we put in our mouths, stresses us out, then maybe medication is needed, not a granola bar. Just sayin'

Good morning Sassy! Just do a google search for bariatric support groups and then your town. That is how I found two of the three I just attended. The third one was through networking, I got an invite. It was not physician sponsored, a patient from where I had surgery got it put together, it was fun! I started attending a support group two months prior to surgery. We are from TX but at that time we were living in another state. I came home to have the surgery but I knew I needed to find a group in Wisconsin. I did and they were welcoming and in fact, I still keep in touch with the two women that run it. A lady started attending that was in a wheel chair, she came to several meetings in one. Then she had surgery and she went from the wheel chair, to a walker, then one month she WALKED in!!! It was sooooo neat to see the transformation. Sooooo, if you FEEL like it, you could start going to one pre-op. She was such an inspiration!!!! Good luck, do you have a date or are you still waiting? Take care!

I found ANOTHER support group in our area, tonight was the first time I attended this one. It was the third NEW group in a seven days. Yes, I love attending these meetings. This one was at Medical Center Plano - they meet the second and fourth Thursday of each month. It is really nice to attend these meetings, the questions and answers...and stories from all of us, all at different stages....I find it very helpful. In two weeks everyone is going to bring a 'bariatric dish' to share. I am NOT sure what the means, but I'll figure it out. I know it isn't rocket science. I know for a fact that a Texas chocolate Sheet Cake is not ok. I'll figure it out. If you don't have a support group that you attend IN PERSON, I recommend finding one and going!! Our favorite forums here, do not replace face to face meeting and sharing. Good luck!

Ugh, I had one today. Eight this month, but a couple of years ago I was having double that number per month. I was more than a little worried about the medication thing. I don't take Naproxin for headaches, but I have taken it for other aches and pains and cramps. Great stuff.....it is a no no, it was specifically listed in Dr. Davidson's list of meds we can't take.. It has whatever we aren't suppose to have in it. I take Maxalt or Imitrex. Imitrex (generic) pill is first then the Imitrex injection for the 2nd course of action if the first one didn't work. After than, I have fioricet w/cod - I might have to take this, my "rescue" medication, twice a year. Very seldom. Imitrex is my miracle drug.

I know nothing about the Baylor facility, I'm sure it's nice, but I do know about Forest Park, it was wonderful. I tell people that it was like the Ritz Carlton of hospitals. Small private facility, very good care, nurses are very attentive. I have no complaints at all from start to finish....on top of the personel, it's a beautiful hospital.

I am meeting a friend for dinner this evening at macaroni Grill. If possible, I NEVER go out to eat without looking at their menu on line. I know or at least have an idea of what I will get, or my husband and I know what we'll share. I haven't been to Macaroni Grill since surgery. Almost 3 years! I am thinking either Grilled Shrimp Spiedini or the Grilled chicken Spiedini, they are 380 and 410 calories respectively. Has anybody had either of these? If so, is it good, which is best etc? High in Protein for both of them, I'd eat a few bites of veggies too. If you have a suggestion, tell me!! Thanks!

Thanks y'all.....shrimp it is. It is the easiest thing to eat for me, meat wise. Goes down easy and I've never had a problem with it, making me feel tooooo full.

I disagree, I think it is extremely important to track calories. Dr. Ashmore, a PhD that spoke at the support group last week put it this way. 100 additional calories a day.....meaning,100 more than you need to maintain.....100 calories every day is over 36,000 calories a year. Equals 10 lbs a year. I don't know about y'all, but I didn't wake up 80 lbs overweight, it happened over a number of years, probably 8 - 10 lbs a year would be a safe bet. It sneaks up on us, it doesn't just appear. We don't go to bed a size 8 and wake up squeezing into an 18 or 20. I'm just sayin'

Just wanted to pass along what a RNY patient, who is also a clinical psychologist said to me at a support group meeting this past Saturday......I too am obsessive, this is an adventure to me, I weigh myself every morning, I still log my food and weigh and measure. It is a game to me. I don't get freaked out, but I can control a few lbs, not so much if I were up ten, I'd be overwhelmed. She told me that my being obsessive is probably what will make me successful in the long run, she said "don't try and change that" Just an FYI - embrace being obsessive!!