Papillon Princess

I'd like to respectfully disagree with muscle milk again...this is not very high in Protein - to back myself up I looked at the nutrtiion information. There is only 12g per 1 scoop, it is made up of a milk protein and for weight loss, it is recommended to use whey protein (something about the way it breaks down, etc). To compare to what I was discussing earlier (Body Fortress Whey Protein) - it has 26g protein per scoop. It's a much higher quality of protein. The dumping syndrome has nothing to do with other Protein shake vs. muscle milk. That pertains more so to the amount of liquid people drink with milks, lactose, sugars, acidic foods, etc. So again, do not recommend muscle milk (light or otherwise) - read more about this if you don't believe me.

I agree with the above...Body Fortress from WalMart is cheap but great quality! It's very comparable to others and I think it tastes great! I drink it mixed with Water, soymilk (I don't drink regular milk), and frozen fruit mixed in a blender. They have free shipping to home too on the website AND have some great deals if you buy the "bundle" of 3 for $35. I have seen a lot of ppl mentioning muscle milk, carnation and boost....all of these were highly recommended AGAINST because they are full of sugar and are not really as high in the necessary Proteins and nutrients. Look for something that isn't full of sugars. I've also read the unjury shakes are a great brand but it was a little more pricy so I didn't even try it.

I don't think everyone needs to know...I think you should tell people you trust and that the people who live with you should definately be told. They are going to see the changes and they are going to be more helpful if they understand what is going on. It was hard to tell my dad about it and I thought for sure he'd be totally against it but he ended up going to the seminar with me and is very supportive now. He just wants me to be healthy and do this the right way. My mom on the other hand has been supportive since I first mentioned it and trusts that I'm making the right decisions. I haven't told ALL of my closest friends, but have told a few that I'm sure will be here to support me and help me do well. You will need support throughout this. I'm in my 6th month of the pre-op diet/lifestyle change and couldn't imagine not having the support of those who I live with. IMO - you should truly consider telling those that you live with, or like some other people mentioned you may need counseling because something doesn't seem right if you're uncomfortable talking with them about it. (I don't mean that in a harsh or rude way, sorry if it comes off like that...) I'm also a very private AND extremely independant person so I understand you there as well

Does that one work well for you?? I could never get it to full mix the fruit! I had HUGE chunks of fruit that I couldn't fit through a straw. It didn't matter how much I put in there. I had to return it.

http://www.walmart.c...r-1-ct/11994734 It says they're out of stock now...but keep trying, I bought 5 of these! They even wash up in the dishwasher. The tops feel a little flimsy but they are still holding up quite well. I keep one at work too! It's the body fortress mix shaker 25oz - I can't find the path to it, just search body fortress and you'll come up with lots. I buy their Protein Shakes (They are VERY similar in nutrients to the ones my surgeon offers) and it's only $13 for about 30 servings. I buy the 3 pack for $35 and it's free shipping to home! If you prefer not to store them, you can buy one of them and it still ships free! I LOVE the walmart website. The vanilla has an AMAZING, strong, sweet flavor I can't even describe. It's super good with frozen fruit.

I'm on my 2nd magic bullet since they came out! I LOVE these! I tried a cheaper one and absolutely hated it. You can get them at Bed Bath & Beyond for about $50. Sign up for their coupons and you may get a 20% off coupon or $5-10 off. The magic bullet is AWESOME! If you're just looking to mix protein shakes, walmart has some great protein shaker/mixer things for around $2...ship to home for another 97 cents (they didn't care them in store around here). The bullet is great if you want to mix in fruits though or add ice to make it a little thicker.

I have had several surgeries and have my tongue, nose & ears pierced. I have never been allowed to keep any of them in during surgery or even a plastic retainer. This is for safety reasons. I had surgery just 3 months after getting my tongue pierced and had it out for almost 10 hours and was able to get it back in. I've found it goes better from the bottom of the tongue to the top after it's been out for a while. If you feel some resistance just let your tongue relax in your mouth with it partially in and it'll work through. The nose & ears will last a little longer than the tongue (The tongue is a muscle so it will start to "heal" closed quicker). My suggestion is to keep them in right up until you are about to go into surgery, remove them and then put them back in later that day after you wake up. Within 12 hours you shouldn't have any issues, within 24 hours you may start to close up a little depending on how long you've had them done. They made me take out the plastic retainers too, so I wouldn't waste your time on those either.

Please try not to be scared. If you have done your homework and looked into your doctor and trust him/her, it'll be fine. I've had many surgeries and they get less scary each time. The number of people who have complications are VERY low and they typically have an underlying condition. This is why doctors and insurance require so many pre op appointments to evaluate your physical and mental health to get through this. There are many people here to support you and you can do this!

Try adding some eyeliner...I use a gelpen type liner (maybelline define a line), you can put this on your inner lashes and it's not as drastic or hard to put on as a pencil (IMO). This will definately make your eyes pop! It's also quick and easy Try a neutral tone on your lids (a brown, tan or gold...depending on skin color) and this will also bring out your eyes. I don't wear much makeup but ALWAYS have my liner & a lengthening, thickening mascara. Instead of chapstick, try a sheer gloss! I personally don't like all the other junk (foundation, etc) so nothing major is needed, just definately add in the liner, a little color on the lids and you'll look great!

I am going on my 3rd month of the 6 month diet and have had a lot of questions, the surgeon & the entire office I have are amazing! They have put up with my millions of questions. So I'd like to share what I've learned for others that may be wondering and not getting the necessary feedback. -Afraid of losing too much weight? This is not a concern for the surgery, if you end up under the 35-39 or 40+ BMI (depending on which scenario you are) that is not an issue! They want you to lose weight and show your commitment. The BMI that is required for surgery is based on the initial visit NOT the BMI after the visit. (Ex. If you go under a BMI of 35 or 40 (depending on your case) AFTER your initial visit, this is fine! You are showing that you can commit to losing weight) -How much weight loss is expected during the diet? People on the 3 month diet (may depend upon insurance also) need to lose a minimum of 6 lbs and people on the 6 month diet need to lose a minimum of 10 lbs. This doesn't have to be in equal amounts per month. Trust me...the 6 months seems like a long time, but use this time to educate yourself even more. Start discussing with trusted family & friends about what changes you are making and get their support and help them understand what you are going through and what the future holds. I was so upset at first about 6 months but now I've found it to be easy. Don't dwell on it I know it seems hard but seriously use this time to make minor, positive changes and it will be worth it! (I don't work for the Dr's office or insurance company and if any of this info has been misinterpreted by me...I apologize, I'm trying to just help people out based on how I understood the information given.)