LenaC

Well...I am already rethinking blogging. I think you can set your blog to be private. I want an online record, because I am good at losing paper journals, but I do not want negative comments. Every once in a while, I see comments on other peoples blogs that are just plain mean. stuff like "if you would just wire your mouth shut" or "if you would just get off your butt and exercise." That's not what I am looking for.

Hey, I wanted to give you my e-mail. It is mtdarlene@gmail.com

I check that more frequently than the lapbandtalk and I am still figuring my way around that forum. I still have not been able to get my pictures to upload. I think I am going to start a blog. I am debating though over the v-log. I appreciate watching them, but I don't know how I feel about putting myself out there like that. I know it is not much different that the whole blog thing...but I dunno.

My post-op diet is

Stage 1 - CLEAR LIQUIDS 2-3 days,

Stage 2 - FULL LIQUIDS11-12 days,

Stage 3 - SOFT and PUREED (begin 3-4 weeks post-op) for 1 week. I just realized that if I am to begin stage 3 three to four weeks out, then I will be on stage 2 for something like 12-19 days. (I thought I was paying attention in the nutrition class) I guess I wasn't.

I am not definite when my post-op visit. I forgot to jot that down and I cannot recall how soon they said it would be.

I just started taking a generic (flintsone's type) children's chewable with iron which was recommended by the nutritionist. I also just bought OPTISOURCE from Walgreens. It is a post-op bariatric multivitamin with iron and it has great reviews. I am also looking to the Bariatric Advantage brand vitamins.

They also have a multi-vitamin. I took samples, but I know I will not be using them because they are a big ole horse pill and you have to take two and I would think those things would get stuck.

thinking if I need fiber, I might just get some benefiber and throw a spoonful into one of my protein drinks. They also had 4 different drinks. One was be-Beautiful Hair, Skin, and Nails. It was a powder drink, like a crystal light package. I think I am interested in this one, because I am really concerned about the potential hair loss that we may have around the 5th month post op. There was a meal replacement drink that they mixed with a calcium powder to help us get the extra calcium that we need. The next was a protein drink AMP pro performance amplified wheybolic extreme 60 (which my husband uses. He is doing P90X and is in his 2nd month). This is the protein drink that I will be using. He drinks the chocolate and I am going to use the cookies and cream. The last was a fruit and veggies powder. You mix it with water. It is like eating 5 servings of 15 different types of fruits and veggies.

The GNC items that were brought to the meeting were a series of 5 chews. There was a probiotic, calcium, vitamin D-3, fiber, and a chew that has the good stuff you get from drinking red wine. They were all easy to take, kind of like now and laters or starbursts. The probiotic was a little too sweet. The red wine was a little too strong in taste for me. I think if I used any of these, it might be the fiber...but I am

I am supposed to start the pre-op diet on Wednesday, but I am going to start tomorrow. That gives me 2 days to adjust instead of going cold turkey. I have not been overly cautious the past few days. As a matter of fact, I have been enjoying some things that I haven't had in a while. I don't want to call it my "Last Supper" or whatever other names it goes by, but I took my daughter school shopping and we went to an all you can eat buffet for lunch. I know it was the wrong choice. I went for a 2nd plate and I had 2 cookies. Tonight I am making a skillet brownie. Another bad decision. I just don't see myself as being able to ever eat these things again. I think I want this to be my "closure" if that makes any sense. Like a farewell to these things that have been so dear to me. Gosh I sound nuts. I wish food wasn't my friend.

okay...after doing some browsing on this site, I am going to have to re-think that 18 months. It may be 24 months before I reach goal. I don't want it to take that long and as motivated as I am right now, I think it will be sooner, but I want to prepare myself to know that it may be 2 years. I have never wanted it as bad as I do right now. I think I finally am in the right mindset. All of my previous failed attempts, I don't think I was mentally ready to give my all.

As far as my goal weight, I originally wanted to get down to 150. I currently weight 297. Someone on here said that I should consider "normal BMI" as a goal. I checked to find the range for 5'7 and that is 118-159. No way in the world could I ever imagine myself at 118, nor do I think I would ever want to get that low. The happiest I ever remember being was at 145 and that was when I was 20. So, I guess 140-150...I don't think I want to be at the high end of normal BMI. Therefore, I have 147-157 pounds to lose. I'm not definite what to expect as far as how long or how fast I can do this. Naturally, I want instant results, but I know that is not going to happen and I didn't want that bad enough to let my insides get cut up, because I'm sure I'd be at goal in no time. I expect this to take longer. I would love to be at goal in 1 year, but I am thinking realistically closer to 18 months. What do you think? Oh, I will give to my review on the supplements on my next message.

I forgot to tell you that I went to a WLS support group meeting on Tuesday evening. There was a representative from GNC with samples of supplements and drinks and there was rep from Golds Gym. I sat with a woman that had the surgery 14 months ago and she has lost 125 pounds. She has reached her goal of 130 and she looks incredible. One of the GNC reps had bypass surgery in 2002. She was 340 pre-op. She didn't say what her current weight was, but she said that after she lost her weight she was approached for modeling and did some modeling for a short time. Could you imagine?

what are you exercise plans? I have the Biggest Loser Last Chance Workout (which I really like) and I have an elliptial machine. It is too hot and muggy to be walking outside, but I would like to when the weather is more agreeable.

I have a 2 week diet too. I have 4 protein shakes 64 oz of calorie free liquid and for dinner 3-4 oz of grilled chicken, tuna, or pork loin, 2 cups of raw greens and 1 tomato. I start my pre-op diet on the 4th. I am evenly distributed too. I would not like 4 weeks of liquid only.

Interested in a buddy?