Catracks

Sleeve sister! I think I will stick to the Protein powers and shakes for good. They are low cal and the more protein you get the better you will fare. The Pro Max and Isopure powder are 22-26 gm of protein that can be mixed in 6 oz of liquid. Using the Torani syrups and other tricks like a tiny amount of frozen fruit will make these taste like shakes. I did the chocolate powder with Torani chocolate syrup, half coffee and half 1% milk and it was SOOOOO good. Why not add cinnamon to just a chocolate shake? Later down the line: a tiny piece of banana? I can understand why people want to give up on things like Medifast. I tried one of thoise and almost heaved.

The SF Torani have under 5 cals per serving. The label says 0, but under the guidelines, anything under 5 cals. = no calories. These pack a lot a flavor in those little servings.

Cost Plus? I have one down the street. I HAVE to check this out! I haven't been going into the food portion for a long time. I guess I really missed something.

I think pulling off the engagement ring swelled my finger up a bit. I'll try tonight with some lotion. Maybe some ice too. Good luck in Mexico. When is the surgery? Mine is Wednesday.

The foo rangoon bites look good, but the sweet potato shepherd's pie didn't do it for me. I have have to modify it even more and use ham and peas with the sweet potato or maybe shredded turkey.

I got my engagement ring off but the wedding band is not budging. My toe ring won't come off either. I hate taking off my jewelry. I'm never without it and never have taken my wedding ring off. ARRGGHHHH!!!!

Mine is on the 11th. Oh boy. I'm getting just a tad freaked out because I HATE to be all helpless and invalided -- even if it is only a few days. Having an IV is okay, but a catheter? Bleech!

I'm getting sleeved on Wednesday and would love to meet other So. Cal. Sleevers. I am close to the San Gabriel Valley or Inland Empire (Pasadena, Arcadia, Monrovia, Rancho, Glendora, Upland, San Dimas, La Verne, Claremont, etc.) - Mostly Route 66 cities huh? I like to walk, hike, horseback ride, kayak ...

Seems about right. I have two days left and I lost 12-13.

I came here to say what everybody else already did. Don't you go back on the food for comfort. Stay a little angry and work your ass off to make him eat his words. Also pray for a soul who could talk to anyone like that, especially his wife. Sounds like he had a baby trantrum. :-P

It's just lucky that I'm virtually a carniviore anyway.

1 oz of meat? Meh. I had 3 oz of raw ahi tunu last week. I think that's going to be my go to Protein after I'm sleeved. 3 oz of that fish was 19 grams of protein with virtually no fat!!! Still have managed to lose 13 pounds or so. Two more days to go with one only Clear liquids. Now I get to see how that Isopure liquid tastes like. I was told that it was "tolerable."

So sorry about your daughter. That's another reason I went with the sleeve. Once that bypass that stomach, there is now way to get an endoscope in there to look for ulcers or cancer.

I use Torani syrups and well, a bit of frozen fruit. I know the fruit won't go over until puree stage, but seriously, a couple of berries is not going to hijack weight loss. Since I'm going to continue Protein shakes for life, I'm going to make them somewhat enjoyable. I'm not saying to make a smoothie, but 3 berries in 6-8 oz. isn't killing anything. BTW, 1 tsp. of Torani syrup will do it. SF chocolate, vanilla and hazelnut can be found in stores, but others like lemon, raspberry, orange, strawberry, etc. can be ordered online.

Circa, what a nightmare for your friend. There is something really nasty and aggressive going on there. I am so lucky to have a supportive family.

Paola, my surgeon said the same thing -- that I was too heavy for the sleeve. See, he does them mostly for cancer patients than for weight loss. He seems to think that without the threat of dumping, I will not lose all the weight. Boy, am I ever going to prove him wrong.

I don't get near 1000 calories with this. I'm lucky if I hit 600. I've lost 11 pounds so far and I still have 5 days. YIKES! 5 DAYS!!!

How cool is this? Im 5'1"and my goal is 130-135 too. The surgeon said 110, but I know my body and 110 is gaunt on me. I weighed 244 a couple weeks ago. I'm older than you 46, but we are virtually twins. Here's the advice. I make a double Protein shake in the morning, drink one and put the rest in a shaker bottle for lunch. I get my crystal lite and Vitamins together and get my packets or make my broth and pack them for the day. I never really have an empty stomach. At about 10:30 I get hungry so then I drink broth. I went to a Thai place and asked them to get me the broth out of the Tom Yum Soup. At 1:00 I have another Protein Drink. At 3:30 I have another serving of broth. All this is interspersed by drinking the Crystal Lite stopping :30 before the Protein Shake. Evening is the most difficult. I drink the remaining protein. I wish my plan allowed me one high protein evening meal, but it's all liquids. If you feel like you need to eat, Sip some more broth. There are a lot of recipes for Protein shakes and the best are from Theworldaccordingtoeggface.com. Keep busy. Get your surgical info, lists for what to bring to the hospital and post-op food in order. I've been cooking and saving broths, Soups and stews. Make sure you have stuff for your clear liquid, full liquid and pureed stages. Have your vitamins ready too. I also bought a heating pad (for pain), a 1.5 cup food processor and a mini muffin pan (for pre-op food). I also worked on an exercise plan and got free weights and exercise DVDs right out by the TV. I am going to walk, hike and do Tae-Bo. Also, at night when you really want to cheat -- if it's late enough, simply go to sleep. Take some hot broth with you or herbal tea if allowed.

You can see my progress below. I had PPO insurance and the approval didn't take long. What took time were all the tests that the surgeon ordered, plus the nutrition class and psych eval.

than sleeve gastrectomy. I got this from my surgical coordinator when I told her why I choose the sleeve: "Well, gastric bypass is the Cadillac of WLS and there are no long term studies for the sleeve ..." and then she went on about the pros of bypass. Also from family - they thought bypass sounded better because it's reversible (who does that? Reverse a bypass I mean?). To me the sleeve is far superior because you keep your own stomach, can take steroids, keep your stomach and valves, less chance of dumping, don't have a blob of unused stomach in your body, is restrictive and does not cause mal-absorbtion of nutrients, etc., etc. I guess the weight loss is slower, but all the better for my skin. What is it with all the negativity?

Fishy smelly, slimy and rubbery. I wanted so much to like these. I couldn't do it.

This is how I'm coping with it. I'm staying busy and I constantly have something in my stomach. Either I am drink Crystal light, drinking a protein shake or drinking broth. Mine is strictly liquids and clear ones other than the protein shakes. Late at night is the worst. I'll drink another broth and go to sleep. By that time it's morning and I'm never really that hungry in the morning. I have another protein shake and pack my broth and shake + vitamins for work.

and one of the best things about this is that his ... uh, YOUR boys really love you. I am lucky to have the love of 2 stepsons and the friendship of their mother. It makes a difference.

Is that all? My pre-op went over New Years and the surgery coordinator told me that I could cheat a bit on New Year's, but not to over do it and get right back on. Just get your Protein, Vitamins and liquid in. Are you loosing weight? I sure am. Not much, but it's there.

The guy that did my endoscopy pointedly called my surgery "elective." I guess technically it is as this is the treatment I asked for. Still, this is the most medically necessary treatment I've ever had.