lsereno

It's always foamy in the blender for me too and I hate the foam. I make the drink in the blender without the Protein powder, then mix the Protein Powder in at the end. I mix the protein powder with a little of the liquid (milk, soy milk, coffee) first so it blends in better. Lynda

I waited six months and started with a couple of ounces of port. I moved on to MaiTais after a few weeks. I drink slightly less sour drinks now. I drank margaritas and vodka/cranberry or vodka/grapefruit pre-op. Now I drink sweeter drinks. The acid hurts my tummy a bit now. Although last SaturdayI did manage to enjoy 5-6 tequilla shooters. It's the first time I've done that post-op. It set well, but I was hung over but good the next day! Lynda

Yes, post op I have switched from my double espresso straight to a tall soy latte. And at first, coffee, even decaf did not sit well. But by 7 weeks I could enjoy a decaf soy latte. I didn't go back to caffeine till I was three months out. Lynda

Rapid weight loss releases lots of estrogen into the blood stream. And VSG is a life-changing surgery. Perhaps your doc can adjust your meds during the early transition to your new life? I was so tired post-op I didn't notice if I was depressed or not. Lynda

I don't care for the unjury unflavored Protein. I can taste it and I don't like it in anything. I haven't tried any other unflavored Proteins. I do use the Unjury chicken. Lynda

How slowly are you drinking the fluids. I literally took a full 15 minutes to drink one ounce the first few days out. Also, my tummy was really picky about the temp. I only tolerated lukewarm fluids. Not cold or hot. You probably have more swelling than most. You might consider a clear Protein, such as

Not sure how long it's been since your surgery, but I developed lactose intolerance post-op and it's still not completely gone. Pretty much all milk products except Greek yogurt and firm cheeses give me grief, even now. At first I couldn't tolerate even a little. They gave me gas and diarrhea. I can have a little now, but if I have to much, it still gets me. Lynda

Might just start taking the Iron and see if it helps while waiting for the Dr.s appt. Tiredness is the classic hallmark of iron deficiency. According to my program (Kaiser Fremont Bariatrics): If you are taking two mulitivitamins with minerals per day, you are getting about 36 grams of elemental iron. My program recommends an additional 30 grams of elemental iron per day if needed. When selecting an iron supplement, pick one with Vitamin C or take 500 mg of C with the iron. Take the iron just before bed. It must not be within two hours of taking mealks, Multivitamins, or tea or it will not be absorbed correctly. Lynda

I've spent a lifetime with rude people asking how old I am, how old my Mom is, etc. because Mom and I both had children at a young age and we look young for our age. Stick with a story or a saying. It makes it easier. Sounds like you are there with "alot. That's all I'm saying about it." And ask the question that makes them realize how rude they are if you care enough about them to invest the energy. Such as "Thanks for the congratulations. It's a personal detail I don't want to share and I know you are a kind and polite enough person to respect that and still wish me well." You can't really do that with a boss though. For them, stop with the word share. Shaming a boss hasn't gone well for me in the past and I don't recommend it. Lynda Lynda

Agree totally with vsg30815. I used a little notepad for the first few months to track all fluids and foods. It's helpful to keep you on track throughout each day, identify how to do better (after I progressed to being able to drink more at once, i realized I need to get a certain amount in by each meal to get enough fluids by the end of the day and I was careful to keep up with my schedule) and as a way to look back on how I've progressed throughout the first few months. Finally, it allows me to answer questions about what I ate and drank early out. Without that notebook, it would be easy to forget. Lynda

Congrats Pasquini! I'm so proud of you! Lynda

Congrats and welcome to the goalie's bench! Lynda

One advantage to free weights is that you generally are working more muscle groups at a time to maintain balance and complete the correct motion. The machines limit your movement, so you don't have to balance as much or work as hard on the other side of the movement. But it's easier to hurt yourself with free weights by moving incorrectly. Does your gym offer exercise classes too? I enjoy Body Pump classes at my gym. it's choreographed strength training using free weights. It includes a warm up, an exercise set for each of the major muscle groups, and a stretch at the end. Class takes an hour. As your strength improves, you add more weight. Lynda

Sharon, Congrats! You are a fabulous ad for your surgeon. A happy, healthy success story! Lynda

I've been at goal and in maintenance a little over a month and I am still getting used to it. I misstate my weight, saying 153 instead of 135, think my clothes look too small to fit me, and have a hard time realizing I can fit through smaller openings, in smaller chairs, and so forth. I've had a couple of nightmares about waking up fat. But I think the longer I stay at goal, the more I will get used to it. I hope to be totally there in the next year. So, for me, the journey includes years of struggling, six months of prep for the operation, almost a full year to get to goal, and planning on being totally used to life at goal within 6 months to one year. Lynda

three weeks out here is one of my daily menus: 6:00 a.m: 1 cup Water 7:00 a.m.: 1 cup decaf coffee 8:00 a.m.: 1/2 cup Fage 0 Greek Yogurt with 1 T. Splenda 9:00 a.m.: 1/2 cup water 11:30 a.m.: 1 light string cheese, 1 saltine cracker 12:15 p.m.: 2 ox turkey lunch meat Afternoon: 20 oz. 0 calorie life water 4:30: 1 cup water 6:30 1 cup water 8:00 p.m.: 2 oz. chicken breast, 1/4 cup watermelon 9:30 p.m.: 1/2 cup soy milk, 1/2 cup ice, 1 scoop Protein powder, 2 small strawberries, blended And here is a typical day for me at 4 weeks out: 7:00 a.m.: 1 cup water 8:00 a.m.: 1 cup decaf 9:00 a.m.: 1/2 cup Fage 0 Greek Yogurt with 1 T. Splenda 10:00 a.m.: 1 cup water 11:00 a.m. 1/2 cup water 12:30 p.m.: 1 oz ham lunchmeat, light string cheese, 1 saltine cracker, bite of apricot 1:30 p.m.: 1/2 cup water 3:00 p.m.: 1 cup water 4:30 p.m.: 3/4 cup water 7:30 p.m.: 1/4 cup green Beans, 1 oz. ham lunchmeat 9:00 p.m.: 1 scoop Protein Powder mixed with 1 cup soymilk 10:00 p.m.: 1 cup water I did have to really focus on protein and water at first. It was a struggle. Sometimes I had a second Protein Drink, such as

I swallowed my pills the next day without a problem. I was on atenol, cozaar, and a cholesterol med. The only thing they stopped before surgery was the Water pill I used to take for blood pressure. I stopped that before surgery and never took it again. After about three months, Dr. took me off all blood pressure and cholesterol meds, but I have had to restart the cozaar. Lynda

Congrats Diva! Your arms look fabulous (as does the rest of you, but you can really see the muscle cuts in your arms!). I'm doing the Les Mills Body Pump class twice a week and walking four days a week. Last week I did a body sculpt class with a different teacher and it was a real wake up call. She focused on abs nearly the whole hour (or so it seemed to me) and I have spent the last two days feeling like someone kicked me in the ribs. Better today, but I'm sure something in the middle must be stronger after that! BTW, that pink lace looks cute on you too! Lynda

I ate the unjury chicken soup. I added a little hot sauce when I craved something spicy. Lynda

I agree with sleeve dreamer. She has selected a couple of great options. Lynda

I enjoy Peanut Butter occasionally and I have since about six weeks out. I didn't eat it previously because almost every biteI ate early out was Protein. I don't really consider peanut butter a protein because of the fat/calorie/protein ratio. I count it as a heathy treat or fat. Lynda

Mike, Congrats and happy sleeviversary! You have had a harder row to hoe than many of us and you are doing a great job! Almost 200 lbs. down in the first year is an incredible success story! Lynda

I started walking the day of surgery, but not really exercise walking. Just around the block at first. I just kept walking further each day till I got up to my pre-op walk: about 45 minutes at a good clip. I also rode my bike starting at two weeks (doc said it was OK but try not to fall :-). At six weeks, I was cleared for heavier exercise and I began strength training three times a week (same as pre-op schedule). I skipped ab work till about 3 months out. Lynda

I used the morphine pump at the hospital and took the loritab at home for about the first 8 days, tapering at the end to just at night. I felt fine when I was moving. I could walk without pain, but could feel discomfort when getting in and out of bed. I slept with a lot of pillows so my bed resembled at hospital bed with my knees propped and my back elevated. It was very comfy. I didn't want anything around my waist and hung out in a comfy nighty. I think walking and sipping Water throughout the day really helped speed recovery for me. Best wishes on your surgery. It's the best thing I have ever done for myself. Lynda

Hi Chris, I think you will do great. I was sleeved a few months before you (May 2011) and I just got to goal weight in March. For me, exercise is key to staying at my goal and looking fit. I'm 55 so muscle is something I have to work at to maintain. I usually top out at 3 oz. of firm Protein, but I eat fast and I don't chew as much as is recommended. I'm maintaining at a little less than 22BMI and I eat three meals per day with two little Snacks. I also exercise 5 days per week. When I get up I have a soy latte. Today I had 1 cup of greek yogurt, 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal, and about 1/2 cup of berries and banannas for breakfast. For lunch I had 3 oz. chicken breast chopped with 1/4 of an apple and mixed with 2 tablespoons of light mayo and a slice of whole wheat toast. For dinner I had about 3 oz. of meatball, 2 small slices of french bread, about 1/2 cup spaghetti with sauce, and a glass of wine. I also had a cookie for a snack mid-afternoon and will probably have a small snack before bed. Lynda