Tracy46545

I looked for the Gingerbread Spice celestial seasonings tea.....didn't find it....boo hoo! I'll keep looking and will put my friends and family on alert to search for it..lol

Katrina, the committment you've shown PRE-op will serve you well when you're post-op! Congrats on sticking with it!

Remember that a balanced amount of HEALTHY carbs are vital for our good health. What could you add in that wouldn't: spike your blood sugar slow your weight loss set off cravings be junk carbs with no nutritional value Try adding a V-8 or some other vegetable juice. Vegetables have healthy carbs for energy.

JudyJudyJudy, Swai is a very mild tasty fish, suitable for people who don't really like fish. (I think it's milder than tilapia). I find it at Krogers all the time for $1 per 4 oz filet and fix it all sorts of ways. Probably my favorite it to salt and pepper it, bread it with grated Parmesan and broil it until done (7-10 minutes) in my little toaster oven. Using the parmesan cuts out the carbs in a "breading" and adds some great flavor. I've also simply sauteed it in a bit of Olive Oil Pam in a skillet on the stovetop. It's very flaky and is easy to digest. It might help when you don't have shrimp on hand.

Yogurt and some type of soda crackers. Stay hydrated no matter what!

TwoBlueCats, I'm on day 7 and experience only mild soreness, certainly no pain. I think you should call the doctor.

I've been to Dr. Aceves twice for surgery, as well as my sister having surgery by him the same day as my first surgery. Both Dr. Aceves and Dr. Campos excel in compassionate skilled care. The staff is very responsive to any needs you may have and their on-site patient coordinator, Yolanda, is a gem. I was there last Monday for my revision surgery from Lapband to VSG. I went totally alone, not having a family member that could go along and the friend that was planning to help me got terribly sick with the flu. I still went for surgery and I never had a doubt. From the moment I was picked up at San Diego Airport until the moment I was returned I knew I was in safe hands.

Wisconsin_Gal, Just keep sipping a variety of things. I'm drinking broth, lower sugar fruit juice, low sugar Gatorade, Crystal Light, water, hot tea, Protein drinks made with water (this helps the most with a feeling of fullness). It's a short phase, meant for healing so we don't stress our staple line or force the stomach to contort in order to digest foods. We can make it!! (I'm just a few days ahead of you...my sleeve was done on the 14th).

Just a quick comment for BoredOnceMore......if you're planning a high carb food like Malt O'Meal for your first mushie please be prepared for that to trigger a carb craving that will be fierce. If you can control it, fine....but I know that Cream of Wheat is a trigger food for me and I have to really prepare for it as an indulgence! One way to help offset the high carbs in Malt O'Meal or Cream of Wheat is to stir in one or two beaten egg whites as it finishes cooking. This adds Protein, really almost no flavor and just makes it creamier. Good luck either way!

TwoBlueCats, first I'm dying to ask what your screenname means...... and ....I had surgery the same day as you, I didn't even get weighed prior to surgery unless they weighed me while I was in the bed unconscious! So I don't have a clue and I'm glad. Until I'm below 219 this is just regained weight that I'm re-losing. My acheivement will be when I can step on the scale and have it say less than 219. Until then I'm just working the plan, doing the exercise and working my way through my closet full of smaller sizes! I'll start celebrating when I have to go buy something to wear!

Good to hear that I might enjoy my Midori Colada once a year like always...lol

Thanks for checking on me Lan2K, How are you doing? managing any new foods yet? I find it very bizarre that I've gone 6 full days on clear fluids. Apple juice, SoBe Water, low sugar gatorade, Crystal Light, tea, chocolate

Well I'm gonna get "flamed" for this response, go ahead, I'm prepared. Judy, Lets be truthful here. You've been "cheating" on the post op diet since like...day two. You talked/bragged to me about it in the chat room and realized I would not congratulate you on your choices and left. If you're not willing to follow the post op diet that your doctor recommended...don't bitch about not losing weight! There's no cause for alarm...you're simply not following the plan. You're leapfrogging ahead and then not happy because your plan isn't working. This forum is for support....not enabling someone to risk their health and patting them on the back and saying "do better tomorrow". Get real with yourself, return to basics, meaning....follow the post op diet and you'll lose the weight. It's boring, it's monotonous, you'll have cravings, you have to activate some self-control...but just do it. Perhaps now you'll see that the DOCTOR recommended post-op diet is effective for reasons more than just the healing process! It's where that first truly impressive weight loss happens. I truly am sorry to be harsh. If you were following your doctor's orders I would be the first to research everything I could to help you find the key to a "stall". But you can't expect to break all the rules and still lose weight like the ones that follow the rules. Consequences follow actions....you're not losing weight because you chose the wrong actions. I'd like to be encouraging at this point, but I'm sure I've already made you mad by speaking the truth. However, I do think you can resume a steady weight loss by returning to the post op diet FROM THE BEGINNING, which will help ease the carb cravings, detoxify your system and get you started back to success. Good luck,

I'm on day 6 Sarita, and heading back to work tomorrow. Feeling no hunger issues currently and tolerating the Protein drink varieties I have. I'll be ready for new flavors and textures soon, but I can wait. Congrats on the walking to market. It's great to feel more active!

Sounds like a great recipe Sarita...comfort food! I didn't sleep well last night..which really surprised me. Here I was, in my own bed with my great assortment of pillows...and I couldn't sleep! I think I was over-tired. Oh well, nothing of greatness to do today...I could run to the store for some things..but also can make it without them. I might just vegetate today and continue to unpack, do laundry, straighten the house and cuddle my critters. Tracy

I always just used my Body Fortress or Unjury Chocolate protein powder, and added a tsp of Medaglia D'Oro instant Espresso coffee powder to it. I stir both into cold water and then warm it gradually so the whey protein doesn't chunk up. 30 seconds at a time, stirring well in between until it's the temperature I want. I make a 12 oz mugfull at a time and it starts my day off with a nice warm drink that gives me a protein and caffeine boost.

My biggest fear of getting thinner is all the saggy skin. I'm financially broke and can't even consider plastic surgery to pull things up where they used to be. I know that the last time I lost 70# that the saggy flappy skin made me feel ugly unless I was dressed. I looked great in clothes...but depressing naked. I'm really going to have to work on natural remedies to get that skin to tighten I'll be 50 when my weight loss is complete and I'm not sure my skin will "snap back" like it would have when I was 33....so take advantage of your youthful skin's natural elasticity. Exercise to tone the muscle, stay well hydrated and moisturize daily to help the skin recover. And then.......just go out and be drop-dead-gorgeous!

Nanna, so glad you mentioned these! I think I'll try the gingerbread one since I seem to be craving cinnamon and other spices for some reason. You know you can add your Protein powders into warm beverages as long as you add them when the liquid is cold and then microwave them 30 seconds at a time, stirring like crazy in between. I just did it with a 1/2 packet of unflavored unjury and 1/2 packet Crystal Light Peach Tea.....mmmmm yummy! It'll be too sweet for those that have heightened sensitivity...but for now it tastes just right. tracy

I'm home. Exhausted, car unpacked, dogs greeted, laundry started, flannel nightie on....just totally wiped out. I think adding in some Protein tomorrow will be a very good thing. No problems drinking or with incisions. Haven't fainted on anyone... so this is a plus. More tomorrow when I'm coherent. thanks for all the support. ' I'm home....& thankful for it! Tracy

Rough spot yesterday morning as I was getting ready to leave, b/p dropped and I got pretty dizzy. I was mortifyingly morose and weepy....sheesh...pitiful. A shot in the hiney fixed me right up and off I went in Ernesto's capable hands. He got me all checked into the hotel in San Diego where I proceeded to ignore all Dr. orders and basically slept the entire day and night away. However, I feel good this morning. Stronger, focused and clear minded. Have already taken in 20 oz Gatorade (only got in about 4 oz Water yesterday), have had my shower, redressed my battle scars and getting ready for my flight home. I even curled my hair. So there! Now if someone hits on me at the airport and I belch in his face it won't be quite so appalling. I'm packing up the little black box (laptop) so this will be it until I get to Chicago tonight. Just know that I'm on the mend, and coping. Tracy ......and ...I'll have to change my signature line when I have more mental acuity.

Stop trying eggs...try something different. Go back to eggs in a month and see if they work then. (poached seems to work best anyway). I'm sure some more experienced sleevers will respond...since I'm only one day out! Tracy

It's by Syntrax ...but I don't know the other stuff. I have some in the fridge...can't remember if I put it in Crystal light or not. I stopped using powders a while ago because when I was totally unfilled I could get my prpteins in the old fashioned way. Tracy

anyone got a spare charger for a LG phone that they can slip across the border??? wouldn't you know I left mine in Long Beach. grrrrrr.... oh well..forcing my family to stick to topic in an email can't be bad.....can it? The A-team was just here and checked my drain after drinking the blue stuff, he said it's coming out where it should and I can go take a shower...you think he's telling me I stink? Question...why can't I spell anymore??? I seriously just had to correct three things in that five word sentence. Maybe I should slow down. This herbal tea is pretty good..although with an entire splenda in it, it's rather sweet. I wonder when I can have some of my English Breakfast tea? mmmmmmm That's about it folks..I'm gonna get de=mummified (leg wraps off) get in the shower and become something that humans want to be around. Back later! P.S. no pain, no nausea, lots of pee pee, no anything else..not worried about it! Tracy

alrighty then....... I was sleeved about 12 hours ago. The pre-op barium swallow showed my band to be twisted and slipped. (I always knew it was a seriously "twisted" piece of equipment anyway!). Dr. Aceves and his team were able to salvage everything, there was no erosion. I'm pretty loopy...skin is itchy (they're giving me something for that) and mouth is dry...so I'm sipping and spitting. Sore...but no real pain. I made pee pee...so they're all out there doing the "tracy peed" dance. talk to you when I'm more clear. Tracy

I doubt that "runny" grits would get caught in the staple line. Things that are problematic are things like strawberry seeds, apple peel, tiny bits of meats....things that are slow to break down and difficult to chew to "goo". Try some purreed Bean with Bacon Soup if you're in that stage.....it's flavorful and warm, soothing and filling. pureed cottage cheese topped with pureed peaches would make a nice two layer "dessert". I think it's important not to get bored with the stage you're in, you have to season things, and alternate tastes of naturally sweet, tart, salty, creamy etc. Tracy