JerseyMom29

Before I spend alot of money on a mix, I am looking for some brand/flavor recommendations. Someone recommended Gold Standard that he got from GNC. I am thinking of sticking with vanilla so I can add other items to it.. I think chocolate might be too fake tasting and I would get sick of it after a while. Any suggestions are appreciated!

I use Dr. Onopchenko in Egg Harbor. Very well known and big in the field. http://www.atlanticare.org/bariatric/surgical/atlanticare_team.php

My favorite mushie is "unpasta lasagna". This makes this Italian NJ/NY'er feel like I am eating lasagna. Just put some low fat ricotta in a bowl, top it with some shredded low fat mozzarella, then add some Pasta sauce (just made my own marinara sauce) and microwave for a minute. Can also be baked in oven. But this was so quick and delicious this way.

Just ordered my first crockpot!!! Now I need recipes. I've done a search but there are so many scattered posts. Looking for a recipe for chicken that I can get my whole family to eat with me. Not into adding creamy condensed Soups to it. A nice italian flavor would be great. I really loved the Walden Farms no calorie dressing my nutritionist recommended (italian with sundried tomatoes) but have no idea how to incorporate that into a crockpot recipe. Anyone have any they can share? Thanks!

Just saw this recipe at Bariatric Eating website., Maybe it will help, Most italian restaurants will usually have this or variation of this on their menu. Seafood in Tomato - Fra Diavola When we traveled to San Francisco for the bariatric surgeons’ convention, we sampled lots of fresh local seafood served simmered in traditional tomato based sauces such as this one. You can use mussels and shrimp as I have chosen for this version, or create your own favorite, using scallops, crab, or even a whole fish filet or cubes of a firm fish such as swordfish or mahi. I serve this delectable seafood and sauce in a deep bowl with a sprinkle of flat leaf parsley and plenty of crusty sourdough for the family. 12 garlic cloves, chopped (about 1/3 cup) 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1/4 cup olive oil One 28-ounce can whole tomatoes in purée 2 tablespoons tomato paste ½ teaspoon dried oregano 2 teaspoons dried basil 1 cup white wine or chicken broth Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 pound mussels 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and cleaned Cook garlic and red pepper flakes in oil in a deep covered heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring, until fragrant but not browned, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes with purée, tomato paste, oregano, basil, and wine. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally and breaking up tomatoes for 15 to 20 minutes, until sauce is thickened. Season with salt and pepper. Just before serving, increase heat under sauce to medium high, add shrimp and mussels, cover and cook until mussels are open wide, checking frequently after 3 minutes. (Discard any mussels that remain unopened after 6 minutes.)Serve immediately. Per serving: Calories 310, fat 16gr, carbs 8.5gr, Protein 28gr Serves 4 http://www.bariatriceating.com/BErecipes/recipefiles/fish--seafood/seafood-in-tomato--fra-diavola/163/index.html

All sound good but I needed it more simple and meat free for mushy stage. If anyone else is like me, I just made this this morning. Found it on another site and changed a few things (called for broccoli and swiss, used spinach and cheddar). Spinach was very good for mushy stage, 1 cup egg substitute 1/4 cup fat free half and half 1/4 cup 1% milk or skim milk frozen spinach thawed and Water removed used about 1/4 cup but use to your taste or broccoli florets 1/2 cup canned mushrooms 3oz low fat shredded cheddar or swiss cheese Preheat oven to 400F. Defrost spinach and remove water. Mix egg substitute, half and half, milk, stir in spinach or broccoli and mushrooms. Pour in pie pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake approx 40 minutes. Makes 4 servings. Protein...17g, calories 166, fat 7.3g, carbs 9.3g 9 (this was based on swiss and broccoli added.) Had this for the mushie stage. Only problem was the cheese formed a solid layer on top, Had to remove that layer to be able to mush or mushy stage. Tomorrow will try adding the cheese to the mixture, But it was very good, My husband and 12 year old daughter even enjoyed it.

Jersey here too. With my insurance I only had a choice between Morristown or Egg Harbor. I chose Dr. Onopchenko in Egg Harbor (hospital right in the middle of AC). Very happy with him and his team even though its an 1-1/2 hr drive each way. Really wanted someone close by in Central Jersey but had to go with who the insurance company would cover. Just banded on 2-9 and had my first revisit with him yesterday. My first fill date is scheduled for March 16th.

That is pretty much the list I have for full liquids. I'm on that for 10 days which ends this Saturday. I've been eating yogurt (smooth but flavored), tomato Soup, sugar free apple sauce, thinned cream of wheat and shakes when I can get them down (I bought the ready made muscle milk light in Walmart when I didn't like the powder). Can't add any fruit till next week. . Thats pretty much it. The reason you shouldn't have real food is because your stomach is sewn to the band. If the stomach needs to work and break down the food, it can rip the stitches. So try and stick with that list. I am staying away from broth because it isn't filling. I rather have a cup of tomato soup which is thicker and fills me more. Try and stick with thicker liquids, thats whats been helping me, I go back to my doctor tomorrow.

I had mine on 2-9 also. Did you get a schedule to follow from your doctor? I got a schedule..... First 2 days after all I could have was clear liquids. Days 3-10 I am on full liquids which includes things like yogurt, thinned cream of wheat, smooth vegetable Soups, etc. I can not have fruit even added to my shakes for a few weeks. I have muscle milk light but can't drink too much at a time, it fills me quickly.

Wow is that really necessary?????

Well my husband just ran out to the store and got me Muscle Milk Light to try. Not that bad. I can drink these I think. So hopefully I can get more protein in me with these ready made shakes.

I'm in the same boat. Not happy with the shakes and can barely finish one. Had a small bowl of cream of wheat, 2 yogurts, and a tomato soup today. I know I need more protein but I don't know what else to have.

Surgery went well yesterday. Some pain around incisions alot of pain in shoulder. Using heating pad but don't want to live on strong meds but afraid regular tylenol won't be enough. Having trouble drinking much. Supposed to drink 2 bottles a day of the clear Protein drinks but have to really force myself to drink any. Any have any helpful hints to get through first few days? Thanks!

Bought Isopure liquid blue raspberry Protein drink and find it hard to drink. Can anyone suggest another brand and/or flavor to try for my 60-90 grams of protein a day requirement while on Clear liquids? Thanks.

Thanks everyone!!

My surgery was yesterday. I am on clear liquid Protein drinks only. I can't have any of that stuff that you add. Protein shakes are a few days away. When I can it does sound good. Thanks.

Is that a "clear liquid" or a shake? I need clear for the first few days.

Thanks. I took the meds. It helped alot and of course knocked me out but I needed it only slept for about 3 hours last night. . But the shoulder pain keeps coming back and it is really bad. I've been taking the gasx strips too. I will trying walking some more and see if it helps.

Sorry you are having problems with your coordinator. Every doctor is different. With mine I had to watch an online 2 hr seminar, take a test on it, and once I passed I was able to make an appt with him. UHC assigned me a nurse to work with me on the insurance.. Didn't have any other paperwork to submit.. Was able to see the doctor relatively soon after the test and the process began. Hopefully they will straighten it out for you and you can get the ball rolling...

Surgery date is Feb 9th and for some reason I am not at all nervous. Really thought I would be. But I've been ok, gotta get this done, make sure husband has vacation time, the kids are taken care of etc etc. But no nerves. Might kick in that morning don't know!! After being on a 6 month diet for the insurance company (lost 60bs), tests after tests after tests and now 2 weeks of pre-op diet (600-800 calories a day of protein and veggies) and thinking that was bad, tomorrow is all liquid diet. Now I start to reverse doing liquids, then having food added little by little,

So you are waiting for a call back from your doctor to make the first appt? Well I can tell you I learned this.....patience. You will learn that you need alot of it through this process. I was told the diet was for any plan on UHC. Besides the 6 month diet, there are all kinds of testing required, so patience will be needed for those appts also. You will need all that time too for those appts. Believe me when I started my process in August I was very disappointed to find out about the diet. I was finally ready and didnt want to wait the 6 months. So I started Weight Watchers and since then have lost 60 lbs and my surgery is now this Wednesday. Guess you could call to just check to see if all your paperwork was in order but learning patience is the biggest hurdle.

I was told by my OB that being overweight can definitely stop your period. It did for me.

Also have United HealthCare and they require a 6 month doctor supervised diet before they will approve the surgery. They are the last company to still require this. Of course now that I finished that and am getting my surgery Wednesday, they will probably drop that requirement. But I know they told me there was no way around it. It HAD to be done.

Its all a matter of what you ate. I had to do a 2 week diet with no fat, had 3oz lean protein, 1 cup veggies for each meal. No shakes. You need cut out the fat to shrink your liver.

Also having it done on Wednesday. Melanie I see you are also in NJ. By any chance are you having it done in AC? Just think of that weight coming off and how everyone is going to be telling you how fantastic you look. And think of your health. How it will improve it keep you from many problems that the weight can cause.