lsereno

I like: Turkey little smokies: 5 have 80 calories and 8 grams of Protein Gallo 55% reduced fat light salami: 5 slices have 70 calories and 7 grams of protein and everything on Meg's list except eggs: I hate eggs! If you like eggs and you like cooking, eggface has some egg bite things that look interesting, http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2009/10/party-time-confetti-bites.html Lynda

Your symptoms do sound like lactose intolerance. I developed it after surgery. At first, the only Protein powder I could tolerate was unjury chicken flavor. It is easier to digest if you are lactose intolerant. I also switched to Soy Milk and gave up cottage cheese. I can eat greek yogurt, but not regular yogurt. After a few weeks I also used the Gold Standard whey Protein in French vanilla, mixed with soy milk. Hope you feel better soon. Lynda

I'm 8 1/2 months out. My craving are much worse since I slacked the reins at Christmas time. I am not more tired. Is your Iron good? Or do you eat a carby meal? That used to make me tired, but I can't stomach much bread, rice, potatoes, or Pasta, so I don't eat many carb heavy meals. The most carby thing I eat on plan is Beans. I sometimes have a cup of beans for dinner and I notice I am hungrier after eating them, but not more tired. I can now eat a cup of greek yogurt and one slice of toast for breakfast. That's about what I hoped for in restriction. I don't want to be stuck eating 6 meals a day to get my Protein in. For dinner, I can eat 3 oz. of dense protein, a little bit of veggies, and a bite or two of a starch. For lunch, I often have 2 oz. of lunch meat, an ounce of cheese, a handful of whole grain crackers and a little fruit, such as a little cutie or 1/4 of an apple. Lynda

Janerose, I'm with MeginNola. I buy lots of stuff that doesn't have to be cooked, such as: costco Rotissere chicken: I add it to canned Soups, eat it plain with BBQ sauce, chop it with a little lite mayo and eat on crackers, or mix it in with a package of stir fry vegetagbles Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt: I like it as a smoothie: 1 cup yogurt, splash OJ, 2 frozen strawberries, 3 tablespoons Splenda, and 1/4 cup Water. Blend and Yum! Also good as parfait. I mix it with splenda and thin a little with OJ, then layer with splenda sweetened berries and Kashi Go Lean Crunch Cereal. lunch meats: My latest fav is Gallo Lite Salami 55% reduced fat (the 95% reduced fat is NASTY!) Light string cheese and Babybel cheese Whole grain crackers Whole wheat bread, well toasted Canned chili, 99% fat free beef Canned tuna, which I like mixed with a little liite mayo and some honey mustard Frozen turkey meatballs (I add these to soups for extra protein) Beef jerkey For eating out on plan I like: Shrimp or crab cocktail at the seafood place chicken, beef, or shrimp skewers at the Asian restaurant Smoked chicken at the BBQ joint McDonalds: Grilled Chicken salad PF Changs: Oolong Tea Sea Bass Subway: Sweet Chicken Teriaki with cucumbers and red onions on whole wheat ( I eat only a few bites of the bread) Everyone has to find a way to make the plan work for them. My biggest quick tip is find some prepared meats you like and add them to other take out stuff to get enough Protein in. The deli counter has a lot of good choices too. And I like the salad bar area because I can just pick and choose a few veggies instead of winding up with bug bunches lot of stuff that I throw out. Lynda

For a sweet treat with less calories, I like a cup of Soymilk with some sugarfree syrup in it. My fav is the 8th Continent Original Soy Milk with a teaspoon or two of sugar free caramel syrup. It's 80 calories and 8 grams of Protein. I drink that at night when I want something sweet. I am having a hard time with sweets too. And I like salty Snacks too. Grrr. lynda

Congrats! I've lost a short adult! My feet and knees know it too. I can barely lift 50 lbs. Go sleevies! Lynda

I have a Blender Bottle too. Also got mine at Amazon. I prefer it over the blender because the blender makes stuff to frothy. I shake mine over the sink because it leaks a little sometimes where the pour spout closes. I see others don't have a problem with that, so it may just be the way I hold the pour spout closed. Lynda

For weighing me, I like this WW scale, http://www.conair-store.com/product_detail.asp?T1=CON+WW43D&HDR=WELLNESS#back. I've been using mine for several years and it seems accurate with my Doctors scale. For food, I used a Salter scale simiar to http://www.salterhousewares.com/salter_us/catalog-us/kitchen-scales/aquatronic-electronic-kitchen-scale-1.html. My Mom gave me a WW food scale that I'm using now, but I actually preferred the Salter. It was smaller and had fewer buttons. I really don't need much besides the 0 function and the swtich between grams and ounces. Lynda

Congrats CJFats. In addition to an expanded, more fashionable selection, the clothes generally cost less too! I've found new happiness in the clothing sections of Target and Walmart. I love wearing tshirts, sweaters, and jeans. Even the cheapest ones look cute on me now! Lynda

Congrats! Time to join the 30 lbs or less to goal group! Lynda

I had worries about changing my anatomy and feelings that I should stick with what I showed up with. But then I realized I don't have what I showed up with in many ways. I have lived in my body for 55 years and it shows. I thought it over and realized for me, this operation was my only hope for returning to health. Once I fully grasped that, I was able to proceed, even though I was afraid. Afraid I would be different. Afraid I would die on the table. Afraid I would do something I regretted and there would be no turning back. I had all those fears and more, but concentrating on the fact that, for me, VSG was my only path to health allowed me to continue on my journey. I am so grateful I did. I am at a normal BMI now and my health is so much better. I still don't like shopping for clothes, but I do like getting dressed in the morning. Lynda

Hi Sleeve4Me: Just saw this thread and I want you to know I am thinking of you! I hope you find an exercise you like. I enjoy walking with a group of friends, taking a couple of exercise classes at the gym (body pump and cardio sculpt) and working with a trainer for 30 minutes per week. I've been toying with the idea of getting a Wi, but I am not good about exercising on my own. Basically, if I don't do it with someone else at a scheduled time, I flake on it. Lynda

I did a family vacation at about 3 weeks out and another at about 6 weeks out. I brought: unjury Protein powder, chicken Flavor Gold Standard whey Protein, French vanilla Starbucks Via Italian Roast Decaf Crystal light flavor packets Case of bottled Water Lipton Diet Green Tea with Citrus Protein Drink shaker Small cooler with cooler ice pack Saltine crackers Constipation remedies I bought on the road: cheese sticks lunch meat Greek Yogurt I ate out: Shrimp Chicken Soup Mostly ate dinners out. I had greek yogurt for Breakfast or the French Vanilla Protein Powder mixed with decaf for breakfast. For lunch, I had lunch meat and cheese with one or two saltines. For dinner, shrimp, chicken or soup out or more lunch meat and cheese. If I didn't get enough protein or had to miss dinner for whatever reason, I had a Chicken protein drink. Water has to be less than 130, so I mix mine with hot tap water. Have a fun time! Lynda

I agree with PDXman. I occasionally eat fast food for one or more reasons: 1. Everyone else is. In this case, I can usually find something pretty healthy. At McDonalds for breakfast I get the yogurt parfait. For lunch or dinner, I get a grilled chicken salad. 2. I'm craving something. I had a few sips of Eggnog Milkshake at Christmas time. That was enough to satisfy my craving for that treat. I gave the rest of the milkshake to another family member. I also ate the meat from a McRib sandwich for the same reason. I got the sleeve so I could learn to eat like a normal person. Normal people have treats once in a while. But fast food was never a big trigger food for me. I know my triggers and I avoid them. I love mixed nuts, candy, and certain chips. Some foods that were trigger foods make me sick, so they are easy to avoid: creamy Desserts (I'm lactose intolerant now), greasy foods (I can eat a bite or two but that's it). At six months, I could eat about 1/4 more per meal, and now, at 8.5 months, it's roughly double. For dense Protein, I've gone from 1.5 to 2 ozs tops to 3 oz. tops. For soft foods like yogurt and Soups, I've gone from 1/2 cup to 1 cup. And I now can fit in a little veg or fruit with meals. For example, at two months, I ate 1/2 cup of yogurt and 1/4 cup of fruit for breakfast. Now I can eat 1 cup of yogurt and 1 slice of whole wheat toast, well toasted. At six months, I ate 3/4 cup yogurt and 1/2 slice toast. Lynda

Hey Sterf! There are a lot of Kaiser sleevers here. My details are in my sig line. Keep us posted! Lynda

Sorry I should have mentioned that early out, I also had a Protein Drink to get in enough protein per day. So I had three little meals, and a Protein shake after dinner if I was short on protein, which I was every day till I was a couple of months out at least. So, about four weeks out, a day looked like: Breakfast: 1/2 cup fat-free plain greek yogurt, with a little splenda, 1/8 cup cantelope Lunch: 1 oz. low fat ham lunch meat, 1 Babybel light cheese, 1 saltine cracker, 1/8 cup green Beans Dinner: 1/2 cup split pea Soup, 1 oz. low fat ham lunch meat After dinner: Protein powder mixed with soy milk Lynda

I am 8/5 months out and I make an effort to always get the recommended Water, Vitamins, and Protein. I snack here and there, but mostly eat on plan: protein first, then vegetable or a little fruit, then a little starch. My hair started thinning around 3.5 months, but no one except my hairdresser has commented on it. I am expecting regrowth to start soon, based on what others have reported. One nice thing: your head will be smaller so the hair has less to cover :-) Lynda

I am 55 and I started at 254, in a size 22. Three months of pre-op diet later, I weighed 222 and was comfy in my size 18 pants. By the time I could comfortably wear jeans again, I was in a 16. Now, 8 1/2 months out, my size 8/10s are too big but I'm waiting a little to get a smaller size because new jeans are goal reward for me. I took my measurements the other day and they are 39(hips) 29, 35. At my current weight when I was younger, my hips were bigger and waist and bust was smaller. I am also 3/4" shorter than I was in my 20s. Body shapes are so different! I expect to wear a 6/8 at goal weight of 135. Lynda

I bought jeans at Target and Walmart. Workout pants too. And tops. Target has a new thing with marking jeans for a certain fit type. I'm a pear shape and will remain that way no matter how much weight I lose so I went with Fit 4. I also had good luck with the new Levis Denizan jeans. Lynda

Wow! Thanks for sharing. And great job on maintaining your loss too! Maintenance here I come! Lynda

I waited about three weeks to wear jeans. I had some nice looking workout pants and just wore those instead. My jeans fit right under by belly button and I had some swelling on my tummy and when I sat down the edge of the jeans rubbed the incisions. The scab was off, but I didn't want to irritate them anyway. Lynda

Sharon, I am very interested. I think Kaiser Fremont has an excellent bariatric program, but that don't offer these classes and I am really ready to learn more about these success habits. I'm just a few pounds from goal and for me, maintenance is the big ticket item. This year, next year, and every year after that. Thank you so much for offering to share the info you learn. I was getting more and more jealous of you and that class as I read through the thread :-) Looking forward to hearing more about how to successfully maintain. Lynda

Someone in society was the first to use the wheel to move something, the first to use fire to heat their food, the first to wrap a skin around themselves to stay warm in winter. I'm sure all the other people thought it was odd and not a good idea, but thank goodness someone forged ahead anyway! WLS has the highest success rate for permanent weight loss. You are the one that must live in your body. Do what is best for you. If others aren't supportive, do containment of the issue. My Mom was terrified before the operation and didn't look very happy right after when I was uncomfortable, only able to sip tiny drips of Water and running to the bathroom every few hours. But now, she is so glad I had the operation and I'm at a healthy weight for the first time in 20 years. Some lines I used: - My doctor and I have decided that this is the best choice for me. I have to do what I think is best for my health. - I am frightened of the risks of surgery, but I am more frightened of the risks of staying morbidly obese. - If I could have lost the weight on my own I would have. I have been trying for years. Best wishes on your journey~ Lynda

The first week I lived on unjury chicken Protein powder, Water, and greek yogurt. After I could tolerate it, about 10 days out, I drank the Gold Standard Whey Protein French vanilla flavor with soy milk and 1/2 packet of the Starbucks Via Italian Roast Decaf. I also liked Sleepy Time Tea. Lynda

I became lactose intolerant post-op and I still am at almost 9 months out. I have seen other members post that they were only lactose intolerant for the first few months and then somewhere between 3-6 months they returned to being to have any dairy. The first couple of weeks after surgery the only Protein powder I tolerated well was the Unury chicken flavor, but after about the second week I could have Gold Standard whey without a problem. I can eat greek yogurt and firm cheeses, but no other dairy products. I have learned to like soymilk for everything except hot chocolate. I have Soy Latte and sometimes at night soy milk with a little sugar free caramel syrup. I don't eat whipped cream, iced cream, cream-based Soups (such as Clam Chowder - so sad because I live right by the coast!!), or soft cheeses, or Desserts made with cream. Lynda Lynda