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Well, I've just come back from seeing my doctor. She took one look at me and told me that I look lousy. I said that that was because I feel lousy. :sick I told her that I still have a sore throat, that I am coughing more than ever, and that I am now hoarse. :help: She said that she could hear that I am hoarse. The upshot of this is that she wants me to stay on my present dosage of omeprazole until I see her next week and she also wants me to go back onto a pair of asthma meds which she had me on after my last cold. :phanvan She decided this after she sent me off to take a breathing test which I flunked! :tired She suspects that I am an undiagnosed asthmatic and the truth is that colds and flues do leave me ruined for 5-6 weeks with secondary lung and ear infections, a problem which I have had all my life. This is why I am positively Howard Hughsy during germy seasons. And then I prodded her about the results of my blood tests. She drew a complete blank and then after chasing these down, the nurse still had 'em, asked me if I was a vegetarian. It seems that some of my vita Bs are in the borderline range. I told her that it was true that I didn't eat meat all that often, preferring dairy and tins of tuna as a rule. But I do eat eggs and I take vita B supplements whenever I remember..... Anyhow, I did do another round of blood tests and I will find out the results of these next week. My shrink wanted me to do a pee test but I skipped out of that one. I hate giving urine; I always end up up to my elbows in the stuff. Ugh! So disgusting! On my way home I stopped off at my local pharmacy in order to pick up my latest array of prescriptions. That place is for me just like Cheers, the bar where everybody knows your name. :faint: After they got me my asthma meds I explained that I was hoarse from acid reflux and asked them if some kind of throat lozenge would help. The pharmacist suggested zinc lozenges and Tums as a back-up for the omeprazole. He said that I will be able to reduce the amount of calcium that I have been gobbling in order to deal with my osteopenia while chowing down on Tums, an added benefit. :drum: Tums are very bluddy cheap, you know. And, oh yah, I've shed another lb or so since last week. I weighed myself while at the doc's and I now weigh 147 fully clothed and shod. I dunno whether this is healthy weight loss or not.... Anyhow, these are Green's *cough, cough* latest adventures in gastric land.

meat. liquid chicken just isn't for me. I used to be vegetarian and I think I want to go back to that. With a rare exception the only dead critter I eat anymore is fish.

I did a bunch of research when I was first looking at protein shakes, probably around January. It really wasn't difficult at first but it got harder to find the information the more I got into it. Example, the stuff in the plastic test tubes, that is made from collagen. That is the cheapest and most poor quality of protein available on the market today. Sad thing is, even though their quality is absolutely horrible and they use the cheapest raw materials possible, they are some of the most expensive products on the market today. That kind of information was easy to find. The hard part to dig up were the other details on quality of protein. For example, some companies have a decent product but the raw materials they use to make their protein products varies from month to month. One month it is excellent quality and the next month it is poor quality. When it comes to Isopure, Matrix, and unjury they consistantly have excellent quality raw supplies to work with from month to month. Protein is nothing but a chain of amino acids. One chain (23 total??) equals one full protein. The reason it is more challenging for vegetarians to get a full protein from a veggie diet is because one veggie has part of the chain and another has the rest of the chain. So they have to consume two or more foods to obtain the full chain. This is just as good as eating meat, no doubts there. But veggies need to know what they are doing before they venture out on a veggie diet. But it is totally doable, it can be done quite easily. I know because I used to be a vegetarian, I'll likely go back to it again. I think Isopure is beyond disgusting. It tastes like it has a component of pond scum. But I've only tried the pre-mix, I never tried the powder form. I've never tried Unjury but lots of people like it, especially newbies that need the chicken broth type and the unflavored type they can mix with anything. I prefer Matrix but I can't stand their nector line. I only like chocolate. The nector line may taste good but I can't get beyond the stench. Gahhh... With that said, I hear soooo many people that like the lemonade the most. I don't get it, I think it stinks. But lots of people like it. Bottom line, the worst protein quality bandsters consume are the plastic test tube types. Hopefully they are getting their protein from their diet because it isn't going to come from the test tubes.

So how did you like the Zumba class? Crazy, huh? Everytime someone starts to exercise an angel gets her wings.....or something like that. It just does my heart so good to see folks ramping up their exercise even just a little bit at a time. Just remember that the scale is not necessarily your friend anymore! For example, yesterday I wore some pants that I forgot I had...I bought them in early June for a trip we took. I weighed 7# more than I do today. 7 measley pounds. I put them on yesterday and they were absolutely falling off of me...at least a size and a half too big. The scale is NOT reflecting my progress accurately! MSJEN - You remember that too! Sara -- why in the world did I think it was your SON who was injured??? I'm so sorry I misunderstood -- it's your husband!! I probably would have just broke down and cried if my FIL said that to me....I'm SO sensitive about that subject!! One thing I've noticed about my aging mother is that suddenly she has become downright RUDE sometimes and that is SO unlike her...she's always been so gracious it's like I don't even know her! I know it's hurtful, but just try to remember that it's a factor of his age....he probably doesn't even remember what you looked like 6 months ago!! DUH! And you are absolutely right about being glad you didn't have restriction while in Mexico....stress most definitely affects your band and it would have been disasterous if you hadn't been able to eat and keep YOUR strength up! OMG that would have been bad. So the angels were watching out for you in that way. Thanks for posting....I've been thinking of you. Pamela -- Your bed is downright LUSCIOUS!! Ya'll did a great job. I had my closet done last summer because it is too small and I also needed a cabinet and drawers for the jewelry I make. I couldn't believe how they actually gave me a cabinet and 5 drawers, a shelf unit for my shoes AND MORE rod space than I had before. It's like a miracle and I'm so glad I had it done! Thanks for the feedback, Kat. I just have to 'pay back' for all the help people like you gave to me when I was new ....and scared! I dont have the patience like you do, but like you said, I just let them know someone is listening...and I shoot from the hip. :woot: Are you still feeling blue about your job...or did that go away along with TOM? LOL :woot: Damn hormones. I've got the day off again today. Going to the gym, bookstore (for a strength training book :eek: ), walmart, the bead store (my favorite place), etc. Oh, NSV last night.... my 17 yr old son wanted to come for a visit (he lives with his dad) and bring his 3 friends. They're all so cute. Anyway, I asked if they were hungry, knowing how the girls eat like birds and probably hadn't had dinner. The two girls are both vegetarian (:eek:) and so I just started hauling out all the snack foods I had....and I was SO PROUD of myself that it was all healthy foods!! Granola, watermelon, cherries, hummus, whole wheat pita chips, cherry tomatoes, apple chips, cheese and lite cranberry juice to drink. They were in heaven! Bad news is now I have to go back to the store today!! LOL

Lowering cholesterol... many studies show it isn't diet. Cows have the highest cholesterol around and they are vegetarians. I think exercise is key in cholesterol and genetics is the biggest factor. They used to believe it was entirely food choices but now it's known that isn't true. Sleep apnea, if it is caused by weight then eating better isn't going to change that. Losing weight will change that. I just really disagree with this doc that claims older women have little chance for extreme weight loss.

Oh, BJean, that green bean recipe sounds profoundly awful!!! :car: Thanks for sharing this with me. Now I know to avoid any restaurant which advertises home cooking or country style cooking when travelling through Oklahoma. LOL :heh: As for the ma-in-law, she is German and is a Fan of Meat and Cold Cuts but at the same time she is thrifty and so often the stuff which she presents is meat which only a true Fan of Meat can eat. :phanvan As for me, my sensibilities lie more in the Italian, Indian, or Asiatic line of nosh when eating cooked food, and I love salads. When I do eat meat I want the expensive stuff and when it comes to beef I like it very, very rare. This means that I am usually on the wrong page when it comes to dining with the in-laws. :rolleyes I am also a fan of sauces. It was eating cheese, pasta, food in sauces, and bread that made me a fatty grrl. :tired My own ma was born and raised in England and she had a nasty way with meat. She bought the good stuff and then carefully cooked it until it was grey all the way through. :omg: She would squeal in horror if she saw any sign of pink. It took an hour to chew your way through a slab of her roast beef. :help: She turned lamb chops into lamb chips. I actually thought that I was a vegetarian until I lived in France. My ma had a lovely way with a sauce or a gravy, though. :car:

Hello Everyone! I just came across this thread and thought I would say hello. I am getting my band in a few days and will be a fellow July bandster! I am sooo excited!! I live in New Mexico and am going to Dr. Kirshenbaum in Denver. If anyone has any friendly advice to pass on, I would much appreciate it. I have learned so much already by reading all the posts and things on here. It has been a big support. I am so glad there is something like this out there. The weight problem sucks and I am so glad to finally be getting a solution. I also have PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) which makes it hard for me to lose weight but soooo easy to gain it. I am hoping this will help with that as well. I would love to hear from anyone else that is going through the same thing! Right now I am in the midst of my pre-op diet and am sooo sick of Meat & Eggs I could scream!! I am really looking forward to the liquids after the surgery just so I don't have to eat any meat...blaaahhhh! After this, I just might become a vegetarian.

enterprise01: Hey thanks for responding :-)! A Trekker after me own heart. I love that one too. I'm a big Trek fan. I agree with you. I think after so many years of not eating fish or shellfish and then eating that lobster, I think my guts went into a state of shock. It's slowly going away, thank god! Had me worried. Serena: Ah..as I said, it was the first time I have eaten fish in years,(for reasons I won't get into) I don't need the "what is a vegetarian lesson." I'm a vegetarian. Not going to argue it with you. See ya. Kthxbye

I'm sorry but I don't have anything useful to contribute about your abdominal pain. I don't want to come across as a b*tch on wheels but: You are not a vegetarian if you eat seafood. I've been a vegetarian for 52 years and I am so weary of people claiming to be a vegetarian who don't eat red meat (but eat poultry) or who eat seafood.

Hi Everyone I'm a vegetarian, and 2 nights ago I was at a wedding where everything was either meat or seafood. SO I ate the seafood. I had lobster as my entree for the first time in several years. Since then I have had cramping pain in my lower front abdomen around my navel area, to the sides around it and below. It comes and goes, but it's really weird. It continues in my sleep too, and keeps me up. The last time I felt similar pains was in high school, I had a bad cramping in my gut right before I got a bad intestinal flu. But I feel fine otherwise. No flu. My belly feels swollen. I tried all my old standby's for IBS (which I have) ginger, aloe juice, charcoal capsules. Nothing works. Anyone??

Hi, I thought I'd relate a few of my experiences at my pre-op day today! I saw a nurse anesthetist first. That went well. She was very thorough in going over my medical records, asked a lot of questions, explained the anesthesia process in pretty good detail. Then we went to Panera bread for lunch. They serve certain Soups on certain days and I lucked out because they were serving my favorite vegetarian garden vegetable.. 90 calories a bowl. And I had a half turkey sandwich. Not bad for calories for eating out. When we went back to see the surgeon, he decided he wanted me to have an upper g.i. so they sent me to radiology right away. That wasn't too bad until they made me lie flat on that cold, hard xray table and THEN... turn over on my stomach! I hated that! It was uncomfortable and I was afraid I was going to fall off the table.. its so narrow! They did find a hiatal hernia, but the doctor said it is small enough that he doesn't think he'll have to fix it. He is a little concerned about some abnormal "motility" in my esophagus. Hmmmm... all in all it wasn't a bad day and I was so nervous. He was very pleased with my weight loss. One thing that made me REALLY MAD... this time when they measured me they said I was 4' 11 1/2 "!! Give me a break!! I'm happy to lose inches, but NOT IN THAT DIRECTION!! What's up with that??? So I have a FAT HEAD and I lost 1/2 inch in height!! No way!! Do you know what that did to my BMI??? Bumped it back up over 60 and I was so thrilled when it went to 59.6!! Bummer! :omg::omg::confused::omg::confused::omg::confused::omg::faint:

Hey, Chickie, I saw on another post you have PCOS and have converted to vegetarianism. I too have PCOS, but my doctor has never given me any medication for it. What have you done through the years that has helped you? I know Atkins has been the only thing that's worked for me in the past. Are you happy with your band? I'm worried that with PCOS that even the band isn't going to help. Linda

I was so disheartened to read about maximizing weight loss by limiting carbs. I'm a lifelong vegetarian and I never met a protein source that I liked (except pizza!). I have choked down soy protein for decades, eaten tofu, edamame and cottage cheese until it has come out of my ears, all in the name of good health. But it was okay because I had my satisfying carbs to turn to, to make it all worthwhile. I had prepared myself to give up bread, popcorn, sweets etc. I don't know much about low-carb eating because I didn't want to start something that I couldn't commit to long term. Do you still talk about "net carbs" so that 100% whole-wheat pasta would have a much lower carb count that regular pasta? I do love whole grains... I hate to sound like a whiner, but it feels like I'm spending my days chasing protein, and there's no room for things I love, like fruit and the occasional pretzel. I am prepared and happy to make sacrifices to reduce my weight. But eating is a pleasurable activity, and I'm ready for a little pleasure!:drama::blah::Cry: Thanks for letting me get that off my chest! I'm ready to act my age again.

I've always prefered flat soda. I'm just not a fan of carbination. I always thought it was some necessary part of the soda production process. I mean why would people want that, I figured. In college I met a couple of other vegetarian who agreed with me-- those little bubbles were unpleasant (I was a vegetarian for nine years but am one no longer). Now I find that apparently people like carbonation! Thats one of the reasons they drink the soda, not necessarily for the flavor! So is it just me? Are there any other bandsters here who find that flat soda is oh so much more joyful for them? I'm curious. I ordered some diet rootbeer syrup online today. I'm going to try mixing it on my own. I'm sick of waiting for sodas I do like to go flat. Wouldn't it be nice to have them that way from the start...

Hi Sizewize! Congrats on the 4lbs. I know they will have been hard fought for!! Regarding your PCOS. The best thing you could do in terms of eating with PCOS is to eat low GI. It keep your blood sugar stable, and that is what helps us PCOS'ers lose. There are quite a few good books out there in low GI. The best way to treat PCOS is actually diet and exercise, I am managing all of my symptoms through lifestyle change (low GI, plenty of exercise, Water, and so on) I was on Metformin for years, and lost and gained the same weight (plus a few Kg every time) It was only after my banding, and conversion to Vegetarianism, I started losing significant weight. Best of luck. Sam.

Hey there Ange, Just read your post. I agree that the Optifast was the most terrible 2 weeks of the whole process. With the Optifast I used to put frozen berries in my shake and blend them up together - either strawberries, raspberries or blueberries. That was the only fruit I used since that was all they told me to have. I did have the urge to chuck a banana in with the vanilla shake but decided I had better just do as I am told. I certainly missed the meat though - sure I would never make a vegetarian. But good luck with it, if you can do these two weeks you can do the whole process well.

Some people can eat bread and rice. For me, I eat vegetarian sushi a lot, and often at Breakfast will have a slice of very grainy toast with Peanut Butter. Although I should point out that I didn't even try to eat rice or bread in my first year of banding.

Talking with a group of gals in the lunchroom about vegetarian diets. I admit I was a vegetarian for 5 years but changed my life after that and now include meat Proteins in my diet. One gal said "well, we're you thinner when you were a vegetarian?" Now, see, I just thought we were talking about vegetarianism...not my history of a fat butt. It IS possible to be an overweight vegan and vegetarian and carnivore and omnivore. I should know. I've been them all.

If I open a restaurant that only serves beef and cater's to beef eaters, would vegetarians have the right to sue? I am not saying they cant come in and drink something but I am not going to offer a veggie platter just to suit them. I think it is wrong for the government to step in and tell a private business who they have to have a clientel. If a business suffers due to who they are not servicing, then that is the way capitalism works. Eharmony is not the only service that offers match-ups. There have been some lawsuits against some work out establishments for women only where men want to come work out there. I think that is wrong. It is the same thing. It is a business that caters to a specific customer base. I also support xxx(insert group) only work out places, xxx only clubs and xxx only what ever else you can think of. Oh and the military thing, listening to a commander at a base talk, he said that for the most part, he does not care who is what. What he did say is that where the problem lies is similar to why women and men are not in the same unit. As humans who have needs and desires and attraction, the military frowns on any kind of romantic relationship within the ranks. You should be willing to fight as a unit and protect eachother equally. And if it gets down to brass tacks, are you going to try to save your mortally wounded romantic partner on the battlefield or a less wounded platoon companion? Most times, you try to save the ones you love over your "just a friend". Love does not help you think straight, especially in the heat of the moment.

Another thing, the vegetarian site that stated 25 gms max or it turns into fat did not list any research this was based on. They just made the statement. The other material I read was research articles in peer reviewed journals.

Wrangler, you are moving along quickly. Sometimes I felt like they should just do a full body MRI and check out everything. I feel better though. I haven't ever been checked out this thoroughly and as I am getting older, issues can arise. I think the only thing not done is a mammography. Since my Primary care doc wants me to have one yearly, I will try to get it in before the surgery. Having just have a colonoscopy within the last 6 months, I will feel like I have been checked from head to toe...wait a minute, I HAVE been checked from head to toe...:biggrin1: Dini, you are going to have to give a report on the protein supplements. I did a great deal of internet research last night on the issue of maximum of 25 gm protein. I did find on vegetarian site that stated that. I read numerous research studies and the gist was you need to replace what you lose. Protein is like any other nutrient (carbs, fat) in that if you take in more than you use it will convert to fat. Protein absorption varies based on the type of protein it is (animal, plant) and even the type within each group. Several studies used supplements containing 50+ gm. per serving. Protein is broken down starting in the stomach with most absorption in the duodenum and upper small intestine. This is why protein deficiency is such a potential problem in gastric bypass patients. If you are not real active your protein needs are lower. The more physical activity, the more protein you need. Recommendations ranged from 0.3 gm/kg body weight(RDA), the average was 0.8 gm/kg, with athelete and exercise anywhere from 1-2 gm/kg. So the overall consensus was there is no set amount to take in or not take in at one time and you should work with your nutritionalist, based on your activity level, come up with a daily amount. It was stated it is better to space it out through the day as you use protein throughout the day. I sure hope this was not too much and too detailed information. I am really into research...

Ok, this is hat I found so far, I will send a message and try to find out what the name of the medicine is, anyway here is the post: First of all, I found out what my problem is. When people eat their stomach churns and works hard to break down food so it can pass through the GI system. My stomach works REALLY hard at this task. IOW, when I eat my stomach goes into overdrive and bottom line, my stoma closes. So I am now taking drugs to prevent stomach spasms. It is working sometimes. I still can't eat fruits and veggies yet I can eat dried fruits and veggies. The dried veggies I eat taste just like potato chips so I feel like I'm cheating but the scale tells me different. I was banded in December, I have lost 70 lbs, I have 32 to go. I can't eat meat but that's okay with me, I was a vegetarian for many years and am more than happy to go back to that lifestyle. Hope this helps. JC

rcorn60035 <O></O>JackieP12 <O></O>Finallythin@ 34 MkUSmile78 quadmom -you'll be fine. I command you to chill. I'm sure you'll all kick arse. We can't wait to hear back from you (when you're ready) Yeah it hurts a bit but you've just got to wait it out and you'll be better by the day. Pippz, I am a vegan. Have been for 7 years at least and a vegetarian for another 13 years before that. The fattest vegan in the world mind you but they shouldn't make vegan food so delicious, should they? I think I'll find the band transition a lot easier because of it. You showed incredible discipline. I would have caved for sure. You'll have to go back there in a few months and take delicate bites of the dish you had your eye on. I use pea protein powder. Another vegan on this forum recommended it and it mixes deliciously into soups (0 carbs). Have a daily wheatgrass juice too for the vitamin kick. To everyone else on pre-op diets (or pre-preop fun), keep plugging away. It is very hard but it will be your turn before you know it. Well done Minty Fresh on your loss so far. Snoopy, we are all thinking of your and your Mum at this scary time. The wait is the worst.

Thanks, Toni. I actually want to be a vegetarian after this surgery (I've always wanted to be and I think now I'm finally ready to commit) and we went to this AMAZING vegan restaurant and all I could have was broth. :-( I was trying to be in good spirits, but I'm really really depressed tonight! Okay off to bed I go. Just one night more of this and I'll be a new person. Oh - about the flavorless powders. I got a Soy one. I haven't tried it yet, but they had it at the vitamin Shoppe and it doesn't smell like anything! I think the Whey has a funky aftertaste so I'm REALLY looking forward to trying the powder! Goodnight ladies and gents. Hopefully tomorrow I'll feel better.

Hey everyone! Thanks, Neal for the the new thread. I'm in Atlanta for the next two weeks and man is it HOT! It was 45 degrees when I left Wyoming yesterday and when I got off the plane last night at midnight it was 80 degrees here. Oooooh, tooooo hot! It is storming right now, so maybe it will be cooler this evening. Eating is going to be a challenge this next two weeks because my DD is vegetarian. She eats lots of protein, just not the way I'm used to eating. Maybe my loss will continue with this type of food. Today I've had a thingy of no fat yogurt for breakfast and some spinach ravioli for lunch. Both good, both filling, just not what I usually have. But that can be a good thing. If I could lose another 5 lbs. this month, that would be great! Just breaking the 190 mark - where I've been hanging this last week - would be great. Of course while I'm here, I'm sure I will swim alot, walk alot and go up and down my DD's stairs A LOT! So that will help, too. Well, I'm sure the babies are on the verge of waking up and my DD will have to get up from her nap, too. The babies are just sooooo sweet! And very good too. Not much crying out of those two. Let's see if I can post a picture of them. Hudson and Sawyer - 2 weeks old. Hudson - two weeks old Sawyer - 2 weeks old