Redcobra

I buy my protein bars and Muscle Milk Lite from GNC on the web using my gold card the first week of each month. I use the Atkins Day Break Cranberry Almond bars which have 10g Protein, 1 g sugar, 5g Fiber, and 150 calories. And the Oh Yeah Cookie Caramel Crunch bars that have 15g protein, 5g sugar, 1g fiber and 180 calories (these are wonderful, but I also need the fiber from the Atkins bars). I don't use them as snacks, but as Meal Replacements.

I tend to eat out of boredom now. My mind can wander to food (ie. I used to gourmet cook French, so I may wnader into thinking about complicated sauce recipes). Ads and smells also trigger an emotional response. If I am by myself without an external stimulus I forget to eat. When I stand up too fast and get dizzy I remeber to snarf a Protein bar.

Now or then? After surgery I followed all the rules in the "Green" book I was given by my doctor. The only change I made was to accelerate moving from one stage to another. ie. from clears to liquids to mushies to softs to solids. I arrived at solids about 2 weeks ahead of schedule. Now, I eat lots of protein (60-80g/day), drink lots of liquids, but then eat anything I want. If I want a snack (rarely as I am not hungry) I have whole grain crackers. Like I said, Protein Bar and drink (and coffee) for breakfast, protein bar for lunch, and whatever I want for dinner. The other thing I have found is that although I have no physical hunger, I have psychological hunger such as when there is a pizza commercial on the tube. When that happens I force myself to ignore it, but then may have Pizza for dinner that night.

I was sleeved on 2/8/11. I went through the clear/liquid/mushies/soft food faster than recommended, but my body seemed OK with it. At 3 and 1/2 months I now eat anything I want and feel great. I have lost over 60 lbs and am losing about 2 lbs a week. I am off bariatric Vitamins, my doctor said see you in 4 months, and told me to keep exercising. I eat anything and everything, but not very much of it. It took me a while to learn when I had enough. The trick is to stop one bite sooner than you think you should. I feel great, my knees and feet don't hurt, my BP is down, I haven't had a gout attack in 3 months, and I sleep great. Yesterday I had Muscle Milk Lite and a Protein bar for Breakfast, an "Oh Yeah" Protein Cookie Bar for lunch, and filet mignon, caesar salad for dinner. Today, I had the same breakfast and lunch and Pasta with sausage for dinner. I don't get hungry and have to remember to eat. Oh, and I had some Hagen Daaz coffee icecream as a snack tonight. This is the best thing I ever did for myself!!! Your mileage may vary, but go for it.

At the stage where you are I was drinking Muscle Milk Lite chocolate. I still drink it every day for breakfast. To me it tastes like Chocolate Milk. 20g protein/14oz.

congrats

go for it

Update. I have now had two gout flares in 2 weeks. The second one really bad. I was sleeved 4 weeks ago. I am beginning to think hydration is the isse. However, at 4 weeks I am now starting my Omega-3 and Tart Cherry extract again which prior to surgery really helped the gout. I am continuing the Uloric (40mg) and use Colchicine when I get a flare. My arthritis pain has increased also, and I am going to ask if I can start up the Arthrotec again even though it is an NSAID. Interestingly, even though my Uric Acid is in acceptable range I still get the attacks. That is why my doctor won't increase the Uloric from 40mg to 80 mg. So it appears not to be a high Uric acid level.

I was sleeved 1 month ago and lost a good bit the first 3 weeks. Now I am stalled and have not lost a single pound in a week (week 3-4). Also, mentally, I can't seem to judge the amount of food I can hold and often overeat by just 2 bites and that causes great gastric distress. I then have to sit still and vertical for 30 minutes as things settle while feeling like I am going to throw up the whole time. Anyone else stalled? How much food can you eat in terms of volume? I am posting this in the man room as things seem to be quite different for the women.

My instructions were 1 week liquids (after release), 1 week mushies, 1 week soft food, then slowly introduce reg food. However, I am one that often doesn't follow instructions, so I did 5 days of each and am doing fine. I think it depends on the individual. I am one of those with an Iron stomach. I have never thrown up in my adult life. Had meatballs and Pasta with red sauce last night. Total about 1 1/4 cups. If I eat too much it sticks in my throat and sits there like a uncomfortable lump. So I eat slow and see how far down each bite goes. Your body will tell you what you can and cannot do. Listen to it.

4 weeks out and no physical hunger. I get head hunger such as when watching TV and seeing a Domino's commercial but I am learning to ignore that.

OTOH..I just had two scrambled eggs with a slice of american cheese melted over the top and it was fine. Definitely didn't want any more but it measured to about 7/8 cup total and was alright. Best food I have had since surgery. delicious.

I'm sure they are still doing the surgery, but don't know about the study. I am in Towson, and did a lot of research before making a decision about where to have surgery. After a lot of thought I chose the GBMC Comprehensive Obsisity Management Program (COMP) over Hopkins Bayview. I am now two eeks out of surgery and couldn't be happier.

I don't like the Keurig because you can't make strong decaf coffee in large cups. If you use a large cup, it's weak. If you use a small cup you have to make 2 or 3. It's a defect in the concept as the amount of coffe in each k-cup can't be varied. I use an auto-espresso maker and put a double shot in an 12-ounce cup.

Bariatric Advantage Calcium Citrate chewables in Wild cherry flavor

Ninja Chop

I am two weeks out and starting the mushies/soft food. I have found that even my protin shakes taste different. I had some chooped eggs and tuna last night and some chopped chicken and mashed potatoes today and it just didn't taste like I thought and remembered that it would. I tasted some of my son's egg foo young gravy also and it tasted weird. I used to love that stuff. Anybody else note a change in your taste buds?

Muscle Milk Lite chocolate. I love it. I drink 3 a day. 20 grams of protein each. Warm it in the microwave for hot chocolate. Two weeks out, Down 38lbs.

I just tell people I had bariatric surgery because of a long term weight problem.And now that I have had the surgery, it's not a problem anymore. I just don't eat alot. For msyself, I figure if I found a girlfriend who also had bariatric surgery we could be really cheap dates:\ Two apetizers and we're outa there. ps: Why does dating have to revolve around food? Why not aound say paintball, or hiking Just sayin.

Yes, the liquids don't make me feel full until it starts to come back up. However, now that I am on the mushies/soft food, I can tell when I am full and if I don't stop I get naseous. I can do about 6 ounces of say chopped chicken and mashed potatoes (blenderized) then I stop as it gets tight up around my upper chest. I also have to do my Protein shakes or I get light headed. I LOVE Muscle Milk Lite chocolate! Starting exercise this week. Two weeks out, down 38 lbs.

I calcium citrate chewable, 1 b-12 sublingual and 1 multi chewable twice a day. With Breakfast and dinner. Also 1 Calcium citrate with lunch. This is how it is prescribed by my doctor and the nutritionist. I am two weeks out and down 38 lbs.

My doctor/plan required them. I am taking calcium citrate, a B complex and a multi-vitiamin every day. They are Bariatric Advantage chewables. I am two weeks out and doing very well.

I had a similar flare in the hospital after surgery and took some colchine. It's ok now and the doctor said to now get off the colchicine because it restricts healing. However, he said the Uloric I take is alright. Uloric lowered my Uric Acid to acceptable levels. No flareups since and I am a week and a half out of VSG surgery and doing well.

Muscle Milk Lite chocolate from GNC. I love it and drink at least two bottles a day. 20g protein/bottle. sleeved 2/9/11

update: sleeved 2/9 Pain is gone except for a backache in the mornings. dinner was chicken gravey and a lite yogurt for dessert. muscle milk for Breakfast and lunch