lsereno

I took it it the first six months. I didn't notice that it upset my stomach, but it took from the second day post op. My tummy was sensitive post op, but not a lot more than anyone else's, except I still can't do much dairy roger tat garden cheeses and Greek yogurt. Lynda

Also, if you're searching from your desktop, make sure you are searching all forums. Or, to find more food ideas, search the food and recipe forums. Lynda

I make into a thin paste with water and use it as a dip with apple slices for a snack.

I eat brown rice on occasion and very rarely white rice. I'm more than 2.5 years out and at goal almost two years. I think whole grains are good in limited doses if they are not a trigger food and if you can tolerate them. I did not eat rice tii about 1.5 years after surgery. Lynda

I have see. recipes I. Which the cottage cheese was blended till smooth then added. If it's the texture, that would work. If it's the tang of yogurt, try it where you would use sour cream. Lynda

Well Hi there! A little late to the party, but I am SO glad to see you Little Miss D. I joined the FB group, but I don't post there much. This has been my main home since I started researching the sleeve in the fall of 2010. I'm still at goal, but I struggle with it. I had to change my bounce range to 2 lbs instead of 5. I don't have TOM anymore so I don't have the weight swings that come with that. We have a new area for Vets now, the Vets Forum, where i mostly hang out, so I missed this thread at first. Lynda

Ooh Plain Fage, my diet staple. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways: 1. As a smoothie, with your sweetener of choice (I like Splenda), a splash of Water, small splash of OJ, and a couple of frozen strawberries. Whip it in the blender till smooth. 2. With frozen blueberries and Splenda. Makes a great Breakfast if you don't like eggs, or an evening treat. 3. As a dip for raw veggies. I mix it with the packaged ranch dressing mix 4. Instead of sour cream in cream Soups. Love it stirred into tomato Soup. 5. Mixed with my fav sweetener and thinned with water a bit, served over chopped apples that I stew till soft. Lynda

I have my settings so I only get notified of PM's, not every time someone replies to a thread. That way, I pick the time I read the forums instead of getting tons of email reminders. It's easy for me to follow threads I've participated in and boards that interest me in the My Content section. I don't often reply to newbie threads because there are plenty of answers for them. I'm more interested in long term vet topics and building a knowledge base for them so people can see what life is like years down the line. I, too, am very grateful to Alex for creating and maintaining this space for us. I know without vigilance, I could gain every pound back and that keeps me here, even though I'm approaching my three year surgiversary and I have almost two years at goal. Lynda

I have the sleeve and I love it. For me, the sleeve seemed less extreme and more footing with. Y medical and food choices because I can still take ibuprofen and eat a wider variety of foods including fruit with the peel. Although I have to confess I don't care for fruit peels on most fruits post sleeve. I suggest you look in the subgroups for band to sleeve and band to bypass to find people who have had the procedures you're considering. I know there are several successful band to sleevers because I follow the sleeve forums. I am sure there are also successful band to bypasses out there too. Lynda

Do you gave Kaiser? I would go the seminar. Wear heavy clothes and scrunch down when they measure your height. Lynda

I see some of Dr. Criangles patients on another forum, obesity help. Frisco weighed over 400 lbs and has done very well with the sleeve. I'm in the South Bay and had mine through Kaiser with Dr. Hahn. Lynda

Check the forum under gastric sleeve support, weight loss specific, 200 + to lose. There are several success stories for those who started over 400, including butterthebean. Lynda

Happy birthday and best wishes for many years of health at happiness at goal! Lynda

Hi all, I'm a VSG Vet. My surgery was May 17, 2011. I've been at goal since March 2012. As a Christmas present to myself, I had my body fat tested in a bodpod today. I'm 5'6" and weighed 135.8 in the undies and sports bra I wore for testing. My BMI is 21.8. Body fat is 38.7, higher than expected, but in the healthy range ( under 40% for women). My TEE total energy expenditure is 1342-1645 per day. I'd like to get weighed on one of those scales that estimate body fat so I can compare it against the bodpod. The bodpod is very accurate and I'm wondering how the scale compares. I am going to work on decreasing fat% by increasing my resistance training. I've been walking but I'm going to add some exercise classes and then get tested again later this year. I'd like to get under 30% body fat but I'm not sure how realistic that is for me. Lynda

I didn't eat non Protein foods. I stuck with soft protein, fat free Greek yogurt, split pea Soup, protein drinks and nonfat dairy. Lynda

Hi Georgia, it's published Jan. 26 2010 in the HEART BEAT section of the Wall St. journal. Title is "The Scales Can Lie: Hidden Fat" Subtitle is "New Study Argues Even Thin People Can Face Health Risks From Fat; It's 'Normal Weight Obesity'

Yes, but high body fat in normal BMI is correlated with a four-fold increase in cardiovascular disease: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704762904575025313433081780 So I am thinking of dropping my weight another 5 pounds, which will put me at a 21BMI and attending a Pilates class for seniors. I'm 57 and have RA with joint damage. Lynda

I buy my vitamins at Costco and Walmart. Daily: 2- multi with iron, 1 - D, 6 - calcium citrate, 1 - B complex. Twice a week I take B12 sublingual. Lynda

Congrats and welcome to onderland! Lynda

I like the Special K whole grain crackers, Ry-Krisp, and Dr. Kracker pumpkin Seed and Cheddar crackers. I eat them with Protein such as a low fat cheese so they make a filling nutritious snack. It's a fine line. I have to like them, but not so much that they constantly call "eat me!" Foods that constantly call " eat me" do not get to come home with me. Lynda

I weigh daily. When I first get up. When I was in weight loss mode, I only tracked my weight on Fridays. Lynda

My staples include low fat ham, rotisserie chicken, fresh veggies and fruit, whatever fish strikes my fancy that week, soy milk, Greek yogurt, whole wheat bread, oatmeal, beans, low cal whole grain crackers, frozen fruit and veggies, and low fat cheeses.

I went off all my blood pressure meds at about three months out (it's been awhile so I don't remember exact timing). Eventually, maybe about a year out, blood pressure started going up again. I now take smaller doses of two meds. Pre op I took three meds. So even if you go off them for awhile without a problem, keep an eye on it as time goes by. Of course, I'm nearer 60 than 50, so I'm sure that's part of it for me. Lynda

Yes Linda I totally agree. I am sending good wishes your way for you and hubby. I know with the weight off, your health and his will be much improved. Lynda

At first I had a decaf soy latte. Filling, 8 grams of Protein and a treat for me. Later, beef Jerky, lunch meat and string cheese, Special K crackers, and then popcorn after I was about 6 months out. I don't go to movies often, so popcorn is ok. If I went more often, I'd have to learn to go snack free or choose a lower calorie snack. One I used in diets preop was baby carrots and sugar snap peas with a little seasoned salt. Lynda