Amanda 3.0

Well, happy to say I am in the lounge awaiting our flight with my Premier shakes and my meds. I did, however, get a complete pat down search and my luggage was tested for whatever they test for. They were extremely nice and concened about not upsetting me even though I told them I expected this might happen. Good experience! This was at terminal D at DFW. I know this hit or miss though.

Thinking that was an auto correct, perhaps for "majority"? I am eight months out but not quite at pornography.

I can't say I feel like that, but I can say that it does get better. Please hang in there and don't get too down. Things get much easier with time. I am at eight months so not an expert, but I can drink liquids normally, and there is not much I cannot eat. I wish I had done this years ago, I would have so many lost years back. You have gone through so much in the last week. Give yourself a little time?

Thanks, Amy! I had a nice time talking with everyone, and La Hacienda was a great choice! Looking forward to the next time.

I have wanted to suggest this path to a friend of mine. I know she is struggling, but I don't think she is open to surgery, or perhaps insurance will not cover it. I just keep it to myself. If she ever asked, I would love to tell her about my experience, but I like her too much to risk any alienation. When I see strangers, it doesn't cross my mind so much, because I don't know their circumstances. It does make me grateful for my own progress though.

I have stopped hearing from at least one friend. Some of my friends have had WLS and I think they were okay as long as they were in an "advisory" position. But now that I have surpassed most of my friends, I don't hear from them so much. Be fat really is also being part of a club. Now on the other hand, I don't know if I've offended her without knowing, that is always possible. And there is all the political division going on right now too, that strains friendships.

If you are allowed, you might wish to switch to whole grain crackers. Crackers are a post-surgery love of mine. Fancy, uppity crackers at that (lol). There are a lot of really nice whole grain crackers that will help you feel full. I think the baked Lays will end up being a slider food for you.

I have put the unjury strawberry sorbet flavor in my Crystal Light. It is a good way to get in the Protein. However, it is a flavor you may tire of. My lesson learned: Do not stock up on any protein products. Another option might be to get the Cytosport 100% Whey (I get the big bag at costco, chocolate or vanilla, ~$50/bag). 27 grams per scoop and it dissolves perfectly in coffee in a shaker cup (if you are allowed coffee). That is my first drink of the day, every day. I haven't tired of it yet, and it has been months since I started drinking it. No sugar or milk, just coffee and Cytosport, and it tastes very good!

I would definitely wait until you are at goal, or at least near goal. It might make a difference in your tattoo's final position. It would be a bummer to get it done, and then wish later that it was in a slightly different place!

I am also a fan of the Premier shakes. I hated the vanilla until they recently changed the formula. I guess a lot of people hated the vanilla. Now I like both of them. I am eight months out and still drinking the Premier shakes. I have unjury too, but just the chicken and the raspberry sorbet. The raspberry sorbet I mix with lemonade Crystal Light. I have found it very easy to burn out on the Unjury. Don't over-buy, like I did.

I have packed some protein bars but they are my last resort. They are barely tolerable. I keep them on hand but usually feed to my husband. Plus, the calories are too high for the grams of protein, IMO. My outbound trip is the long haul - I'll be traveling about 24 hours on several flights. The first one, leaving the U.S., is the long one, so I should be okay if I get them through the TSA since I will probably consume four between the airport and the flight. Can I borrow your plane? I know it is a total roll of the dice if the supplements make it on the plane or not but I am going to try. I will definitely put a copy of the email in each bag. How stupid of them to spoil the contents by opening them, but I can see that happening. If needed, I will ask for a supervisor, but I will not be totally surprised if they are confiscated. If they want to do the full body pat down, so be it. I am also carrying my small bottle of prescription liquid pain killer (but over the 3 oz rule). Now if they tamper with that, I will be having a hissy fit! :ph34r: Yes, I will report in afterward!

I have only thrown up once since surgery and it was because I had the flu. It was horrible! I hope you don't have an issue with vomiting after eating. I haven't heard much about that. Please don't worry, just be careful.

Deli turkey breast, the kind that is sliced to order from the whole breast (not formed, packaged stuff). Sometimes I get it sliced pretty thick. A thick slice of that with some mustard and maybe a hearty cracker or two. That keeps me going in a pinch.

Anyone else love crackers? I haven't started back on bread (and don't plan to), except for a tiny crust crumb here and there, but I do love my crackers. I am not going overboard, or bingeing on crackers, but I like to have a cracker at lunch time or in the afternoon. I usually have about 100 calories of cracker a day. My absolute favorites are the Dr. Krackers. I like the Wasa with some turkey and Laughing Cow. I got some rosemary and sea salt crackers at costco. I bought some spicy saltine-looking things that were made in the grocery deli, but they were oily so the husband ate them. Just about anything whole grain with seeds. I am on the search for cracker recipes to make at home in small batches.

I think his office is very well run, and I have had no issues at all. Considering that he does not advertise, I wouldn't have known of him if not for the referral from our family doctor of many years. Are you seeing Dr. Garza as well for supervised weight loss? She and her office staff are wonderful, IMO. Presby Plano was a great experience - I had my breast reduction there (outpatient) a few years ago and then in December my VSG with Dr. Cribbins. They were so nice to my husband, making sure he had a place to sleep with clean sheets, pillows, and he was well fed. If I can help in any way, please just say the word!

Hi JLOR, I am also in McKinney. Maybe we are neighbors! I used Dr. Cribbins in Plano. He doesn't advertise, to my knowledge, but I have been extremely happy. I was sleeved in December.

I've been traveling and super busy so I haven't been on the forum much. Funny thing is that I actually lost a little weight while on vacation! I will message my email address rather than post it on the forums. Looking forward to getting together!

Regarding the traditional jeans, you might try LandsEnd.com. They have the higher rise jeans and the denim is very substantial. You can order online and return at some (if not all) Sears stores if they don't fit. Some Sears stores sell them as well so you could even buy them in person. I love the Lands End jeans as their lengths are great for shorties like me. I am sure they have for tall folks too.

I do enjoy eating at six months out, but I don't eat much. I have a routine for most of the earlier part of the day, which includes Protein supplements and Vitamin management. dinner is usually quite enjoyable although small. I find that we eat higher quality food now than before. At one week out, I thought I might never eat again. Hang in there! It should get better, but never like before.

That was a great idea to ask your friends to help with your son. I am sure it made it a special time for him as well with some attention and his favorite lunches. It could have been a stressful time for him but you made it better. The next time I have a friend planning a surgery, I will offer to spend time with their kid(s), maybe just bring Snacks and a movie. The uncrustables were a good idea. I had no idea how hard it would be to even just prepare food since I could not eat. Making a sandwich for my husband's work lunch was about all I could do. Not because I was tempted to eat, but because I was so uninspired to deal with food or to even touch it. All the cooking and freezing I did for myself ahead of time kind of went to waste. I am cooking again some now, but nothing like before.

I don't know about lactose intolerance, but I have had a few bouts of "dumping" and it didn't take two hours to process. It happened pretty fast and it was terribly painful and involved the sweats as well. Someone else might be able to tell you about lactose intolerance time frames. Don't give up hope though, because what we cannot tolerate at one point may become tolerable later!

At about two months out I could eat maybe two square inches of super thin crust pizza and that was unpleasant so I gave up on that for a while. Now I can eat one small slice and that's pushing it. Better than half a pizza like before surgery!

I don't think all pizza dough has to be a big no-no. I have had very thin crust pizza (like cracker thin), which is my favorite anyway. I think the thick doughs are what would cause pain and problems. And the no-crust pizza options are great too (going to have to try this cauliflower option) If you have a Papa Murphy (take and bake pizza chain) near you, they have a couple of "de-lite" (?) pizzas that have super thin crusts and lighter toppings. We had the bacon chicken artichoke earlier this week and one slice was great. But I am six months out! So if it helps in any way, please don't think you won't be having pizza again, because you probably will - with patience. And like Minckle said, that diet looks boring. Can you not spice it up some? Try refried Beans with a little cheese and hot sauce, or some spaghetti sauce with a little cheese, if that's approved. A routine is great if you can actually stick to it, but if it causes you to go off plan, perhaps it is time to change it up.

I've not kept it a secret, but I don't tell everyone either. I am kind of a private person in real life so I only mention it if there is a reason. If I get a vibe that someone doesn't approve, or won't be supportive, I don't bring it up around them anymore. If someone asks questions, especially if a little more information may help them (or someone they know) in some way, I am happy to discuss my experience openly. I think you will learn how to handle it in your situation, but definitely don't lie if you can help it.

lollyfidy has a good point. I stayed a third night when originally I was only planned for two nights. But you say your husband will be there for a week and a half so you should be good even if you had a little extra hospital stay.