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I thought everyone but Jordin tanked!! I like Blake, but I didn't like either of his performances last night. I'm thinking Lakeisha's going home, too. I guess we'll see. Show starts in 10 mins for me!

Krisk - First off, Dont give up! You can do this! It's vital medicine. It sounds like you're mixing your own shakes instead of using the Ready To Drink (RTD) ones. Am I right? If you're mixing them, I highly recommend trying some premade RTDs to identify flavors you can stand. Then try making them at home to match that target flavor and thickness. A lot of the problems are in the making. I find all milk makes them too think so I cut it with Water. I also find the powder clumps if its too hot or too cold. So I sit my milk out and use some room temp water, mix it, then put it in the fridge to chill post-mixing. (It also lets the 'froth' die down). For non shakes - Try adding your unflavored to other soups you can buy at the store. Start with a little bit and step it up. Dont make it too hot. I found wegmans tomato soup had a little spice to it that covered up the Protein 'nose' completely. You can buy it one little cup at a time and experiment. Also, dont be surprised if your tastes change daily. You can mix up a vat of SF Jello and add unflavored to that too. It's a clear liquid. For RTDs, Premier chocolate IS really chocolaty. They taste like real shakes. You may think its too sweet. Try to buy one and try it before getting a case. For non sweet, I found the less thick they were, typically the easier I could get them down. And vanilla is the least sweet (some would say bo-ring). EAS carb control vanilla will probably go down very easy for you. It's almost watery, with just enough vanilla flavor to mask the protein in it. I think you can get a 4 pack at GNC to try. They're also best COLD, very cold. Vitamin Shoppe is real good about making samples. They have lots of open jugs under the counter. Tell them protein makes you wretch and they take it as a challenge! 10 mouthwash-sized dixie cups later, you may find one you can handle. There are also tricks. How did you take medicine as a kid? In Peanut Butter? Mary Popping sang "a spoonful of sugar" - we cant do THAT. But bust open a SF popcicle. Take a drink of shake, take a lick of pop. Hold your nose. Smells are powerful. Put something that smells fruity under your nose while drinking the protein. It's medicine. You can add SF Torani flavored syrup to ANYTHING. hazlenut is my favorite, but they make them all. It will mask the taste and also the smell. Be creative! You only have to survive this grueling phase a short time. Finally, contact your NUT, maybe they approve you to switch early. But don't do it on your own. We're all pulling for you. You can do it!

Thanks for your replies. I feel as if I have turned a corner an am now just really tired! 10 hours sleep a night seems to be helping.

19 days till Idol '07

I'm very sensitive to smells especially mouth odors... and now I'm on the offending end 🤢 I've worked in oral surgery for 28 some years and I can smell rotting enamel and perio.. Since surgery I have yuck mouth and I cannot make it go away. Granted, water intake isn't up to what I used to consume and my diet has been almost keto like... this morning my breath was so bad it made me nauseous..🤢 10 days post op sleeping 1/2 way seated upright.. I don't want to have that breath.. smells like I'm pooping out of my mouth...🤢🤢🤢🤢 Any suggestions? Will it go away soon? Lapband placed: 8/2011 Lapband removed: 3/2017 VSG: 8/2/2017

This is funny, when I was about 2 weeks post op I literally Googled for them and they do have them, but they're 10 gm and below, so I just stuck to protein powder. Unflavored saved me because I was able to mix it in any food I ate and I would drink 8 oz with crystal light and add the 30 gm of unflavored protein.

Even after losing 98 pounds... I still sometimes look in the mirror and think I"m still that fat girl that weight 256 pounds 10 months ago... it's all part of the process and our minds catching up with our bodies. I agree with "indecision".... just let the feelings happen, it's all part of the process and just keep in mind this is a journey.

I had my 6-week post op check today - all going well, surgeon is about as pleased as I am! I thought some of you might be interested - seems his approach to eating now is more relaxed than for some of you guys in the US. His reckoning - I should work my way from 1/2 or so cup of food per meal, up to 1 cup or a bit under over next 6 weeks, strictly 3 meals a day forever. I need no longer worry about “protein first” in each meal - a good mixed balanced meal is more important now. If anything, eat well-chewed veggies first so I get in enough, then protein as it tends to not pass through as easily (my pouch is a “fobi pouch” with a silastic ring permanently set in the bottom. A “no-stretch” pouch.) My surgeon has longitudinal data on 1700 patients post RNY. Makes for great comparisons and predictions! My weight is maybe 3 pounds ahead of his estimate for me at this point - but he is right on in his predictions of when my 5 pounds a week loss dropped to 4, 3, and now to 2 pounds a week. His estimate is this will be reasonably steady for 6-10 weeks, then a pound a week average until the 9 month post op point. My current lack of interest in food, lack of hunger and food drive, is exactly as per most of his patients. His research - 1 year after RNY the average intake is 750 calories a day - which he says is fine, if the diet is balanced, and with a good vitamin supplement daily. Blood work tells us whether the food we are eating is hitting the right balance. He also isn’t as wedded to “you must have 70g of protein a day” - a reasonable amount, sure, but he said ‘your liver makes protein, and some days with less is really normal’. So, in his relaxed guidelines, we are both pretty happy with my easy progress - AND best of all I am cleared to go scuba diving in 9 weeks! Hooray!

I had my surgery Feb of 2013. At first all was going well, I never felt any restriction, I didn't have any complications. My progress went great at first, until I started back on solid foods. I didn't have problems adjusting to a solid food diet afterwards, and little by little I started eating a bit more, and a bit more. I guess I've pretty much just hit a wall as far as the surgery is concerned. I didn't follow through like I should have, so instead of the usual "surgery failed me" posts, this is my "I failed my surgery" plea for any assistance. I had surgery with Dr. Kim in Colleyville, and after recent contacts from his staff as well as their "awesome" support group leaders, it appears unless I have a revision surgery I'm on my own with getting back on track. I've put on about 30 pounds back, I started at over 400 and I'm sitting around 330 right now, so there was some success, I'd just like to get back on track and get to my overall goal weight of 260. Anyone been in this position before, and what did you do to start things back up? I'm working out, I hike about 10-15 miles a week, and I mountain bike 20-25 miles a week (just started back up). I carry a pretty good amount of muscle mass from my powerlifting days, but have recently retired from competitive lifting so I'm not lifting as heavy weights, or as often.

I got my band about 2.5 months after my 27th birthday. I am so happy with my decision. Since I graduated high school (nearly 10 years now) my weight has gone up and down drastically. I have my education now, I have a great job, I'm married to the man of my dreams, I want to buy a house and have kids... my life is great... accept I was still fat and struggling. I fugure get it while you're young! learn to live a different life, it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks right? I'm looking forward to my new life ahead with the band, the ups and the downs. I know for sure that it will be better than any life I had before it. Good luck!

I weighed this morning and I was 394!!! I started at 450 on July 27, had surgery on Aug 10! It has slowed down but still coming off. I get my first fill on Sept. 21! Thats all thanks! Jerry

I was also banded on 04/23/08. I have lost only 10 lbs. It seems like I am loosing at a slower pace. I had a very uncomplicated experience when I was banded in Tj, Mexico. I am eating soft foods now and so far have not eating anything that doesn't agree with me. I get hungry but when I eat, I get full really fast. Has anyone scheduled their first fill yet? Has anyone started with any exercising? Resi 230/219c/137 [/img]

I was banded on 10-1-10 as well. Day after surgery was good, day 2 was rotten. I felt nauseous all day long. Today being day 3 is better, still not getting much down in terms of food though. My doctor said i should have lots of creamy soups, protein drinks and Gatorade. I'm lucky if I get one protein drink in a day, and maybe a cup of soup. My appetite just isn't there and after the severe nausea from yesterday, i'm scared. Since surgery on Friday I'm down 9 lbs. For a total of 20 including my low carb pre-op diet. I'm sure much of this is water weight as I'm not hydrating myself as much as I should. Wishing you all lots of luck! RSG

Protein shakes.... try to get 60 grams of protein it will take the edge of your hunger.... 100% whey unflavored with 8-10 ounces of warm Water and a tsp of better then boulion chicken base... very good....21 grams of protein there Isopure clear has 40 grams of protein in the bottle Keep the protein up and water intake too..... GOOD LUCK!!

Well my last appointment with my surgeon is August 6th hoping to schedule my surgery for August 21st. My surgeon requires a 10 day liquid diet. I have lost 40 pounds since April 30th. People are saying "you don't need the surgery". However I do need the surgery it is a tool not a miracle. I have had a weight problem since I was a child. I don't like a lot of foods. I am a very picky eater. I don't like any food that is mixed with anything. I have never had a Mcdonalds hamburger or any other fast food hamburgers. I don't like anything on a bun. Don't like soup, goulash or anything that mixed up. My problem is baked goods. I love to bake but I have not baked in the last three months. I joined the YMCA and I work out twice a day most days. I am up to about 6 miles a day now. Feeling much better than I used to. I am looking forward to the surgery so I don't have to worry about putting it all back on again. Good luck everyone on your weight loss journeys. I am so excited.

I love it❤I found it when I was looking for Calcium Citrate tablets a month ago at Wal-Mart, either there are more bari-babes in my county than i,knew or 5K-athletes have separated the supply. Well I bought a bottle, I m all for the ease of use, shake it up well , it tastes just like a melted orange push-up frozen treat. And under $10 the price isn't bad either. They won me over!😝🍶

Who is your dr.? I was sleeved at Forest Park Medical Center in Dallas on July 6th. I am 56 years old and I am a self pay patient. At the start of this adventure I only needed to lose about 65-70 lbs to get to my goal weight. I wanted the surgery for 2 reasons: 1) vanity (yes, I admit it:) & 2) as a preventative measure so I wouldn't get some of the health issues that go along with being overweight. I've used botox for about 10 years and I anticipate continuing to use it. Without a doubt, I don't have the same elasticity in my skin as I did 10-15 years ago - so I am just taking this one day at a time - and when/if the day comes that my ta-tas no longer fill my bra, I'll be first in line to get a boob job:). I don't think I will have enough excess skin to consider surgery elsewhere - but I'll make that decision, too, if the day comes. Your VSG journey will take you down different roads: The first 2-3 weeks, you will be focused on healing your body from the surgery. Then you'll be focused on taking your Vitamins and trying to eat enough to keep your energy level up. Serious thoughts of cosmetic surgery - at least for me - are still about 45 lbs away:) Good luck on your journey!

Oooo Skinny Fingers!! Keep up the good work!! Someday maybe I will get to wear the ring I was actually married in, again. I love my 10 yr anniversary ring - but gee, the first band has serious sentimental value. Congrats!!

Thank you MouseCrazy. I could not believe that my little district was given almost 10 MILLION dollars to run, but they never seem to have enough money for things. But somehow they manage to give Administration a hefty raise every year. HMMMMM.... I do wish more parents would become involved. We seem to lose them at the HS level. Honestly at open house I counted myself lucky to see 10 parents, and that is sad.

Hey everyone, I was banded on June 10 and am trying not to get to concerned about it but my weight is at a complete stand still. I have in total lost 28 pounds, thats 18 during pre-op and 10 since surgery. I will get my first fill on July 21 and can't wait. I don't feel much restriction but am still trying to eat small meals and I'm not snacking. Is it possible to still be in starvation mode and the body is holding on to what it has? I still have not started exercising which I'm sure will help. Any advice to help me move this along will help.:biggrin2:

Katie, I had surgery the week before you. I have lost 25.5 lbs, but I haven't lost anything in over a week. I had my first fill on May 19 and I have an appointment on June 24 at which time I hope to get my second fill. I have 5 cc's in a 10 cc band. It is a struggle at this point because I don't feel the restriction at all at this point. I think I felt it a little after my fill but it did not last long. My band started out with 4 cc's on my surgery date. My fill was for 1 more cc on May 19. I don't think being hungry 3 - 4 hours later is that bad. I think you can allow yourself a small snack in between meals. I don't snack after Breakfast and I sometimes will have a late afternoon snack (sugar free pudding or yogurt). I always have a little snack in the evening before bed. Good Luck Alice Banded April 8, 2008 271/245.5/150

I totally agree with all of ya'll---I'm ok until DH starts making wonderful dinners for the kids, they smell sooo good. My doctor has me on shakes only--I've read others that are eating cream of wheat, etc. My surgery was June 3rd-- the diet started a few days before the surgery so I haven't had a bite of ANYTHING for over 10 days and still have a week to go. The only thing I have had are protein drinks--can someone suggest some other things that I am supposed to be able to consume right now? Thanks!

Weighed in at 273. Down 3 lbs last week. Total lost 64 lbs and feel good. Restriction still there so I think I will not be getting an additional fill this week. My XL shirts are loose. My son Steve got me for Father's Day two large shirts that fit pretty good. Once I lose another 10 lbs, they'll fit perfect. I need to go find size 40 pants as the 42's are too loose as well. This is what I call fun shopping, especially for me since I hate shopping.

I started my two week all liquid diet and vitamins. I am taking about 10 different vitamins. My girlfriend had the sleeve in Feb. and she only takes a multi vitamin and iron. What is everyone else taking?