PeteO

Check out the myFitnessPal.com app. I use the website and the blackberry app. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/iphone My brother has it as well on his android, and that version has functionality to read the barcode for a food and pull it in to your food log ... pretty cool. I don't know if the iPhone version has that functionality or not. I like it because I can enter my information on-line or via mobile device and it is all in the same place. -Pete

I have one as well. My doctor handed them out at one of our support group meetings. Mine is basically a business card with text similar to the one shown above with my Doctor's office information on it.

Check out Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_15?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=oh+yeah+protein+shakes&sprefix=oh+yeah+protein#/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=oh+yeah+protein+bars&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aoh+yeah+protein+bars You can subscribe to have them sent monthly to your house automatically and save even more money.

Here is a pretty good article on what the Bariatric Center of Excellence means ... http://www.obesityaction.org/magazine/oacnews17/bscoe.php

That is interesting ... my wife suggested the Caesar dressing and tuna idea yesterday.

So today, I was able to start on canned chicken, tuna, baked fis etc. My surgeons office suggested that I mix it with some sort of dressing to cut the dryness and help it go down easier. Well, I don't care for Miracle Whip or Mayo, so I cam up with another solution ... I took about 2 oz. canned chicken breast (Swanson's) and mixed it with 1 tbsp of the Frank's Red Hot Wing sauce. I got my Protein, my low carbs, and my Buffalo Sauce fix all at once. I ate about an ounce of it and was stuffed. Nutrional Info as made: 65 cal, 1 gr. fat, 1 gr. carb, and 12g protein. Not much of a recipe, but it sure beats mushies!!!! -Pete

The drain varies from surgeon to surgeon. Some surgeons never insert a drain. I had one, but it was removed as part of my discharge from the hospital.

I say tell yourself this ... "Wow, if I can lose at this rate for another 3 months, I will be down over 100 lbs!" My 2 cents, -Pete

I was allowed to drive as soon as I was off my pain meds. I took my last dose of pain meds the day after my surgery. However, I didn't drive until my one week follow-up appt.

I am 36 and have 4 boys - a 7 year old, a 5 year old and identical twin 2 year olds. I was very open and honest about my surgery with them ... to the point that I took a drawing of a body/stomach and a pencil and showed them exactly what the doctor was going to do. I also told them why he was doing it ... to help me lose weight so that I could be around longer and play with them more. After my procedure, I showed them my incisions and such. They were more inquisitive than worried and great through the whole ordeal. -Pete

Hey Daddy-O, hope things are going well for you. I am feeling pretty damn good myself. Down another 10 lbs or so. You going back to work on Monday?

I know you say you don't feel much restriction, but what about the quality of food you are eating? How much Protein and carbs are you taking in? How many calories? Also, did you stop drinking with meals to avoid flushing out the food as you eat it? Some things to think about. -Pete

I am on day 10 of my preop diet. I am only allowed the Bariatric Advantage shakes and Clear liquids. According to my documentation, I am allowed to use milk in my shakes. I have been consuming mass amounts of Crystal Light. Mr. Smith is right ... you have to get that ketosis to kick in and carbs prevent that. I am surprised that your surgeon didn't define exactly what you can and can't have. I have lost 18 lbs. in the last 10 days.

I am scheduled for the sleeve in 11 days, but have been without a gall bladder for about 10 years now. I didn't have stones, mine was just not functioning properly ... the hidascan (sp?) showed that my gall bladder was only functioning at about 25%. I was in tremendous pain under the right side of my ribs and it radiated under my arm to my back. Many people with gall bladder attacks go to the hospital thinking they are having a heart attack because the pain is in similar locations. Some people do experience dumping syndrome with their gall bladder gone, but if you maintain a healthy diet (low carb, high protein), the effects will be minimal and easily controlled. Having it out is not a big deal to have it out while they are in there. My 2 cents. -Pete

At my initial consult, I weighed in at 411 lbs. That day, I changed my lifestyle habits ... use smaller plates, reasonable portions, better dining out options. I lost 22 lbs prior to my pre-op liquid diet, and have lost another 8 lbs in the first 3 days of the diet. I was at 381 lbs this morning.