Cknorte

I drank some when I got home from the hospital. It was something I could drink, not super sweet and just felt good going down. I drink it on occasion after a hard workout....I count the calories and the carbs and enjoy...ice cold....yummmm... you can also mix with PB2 to make a peanutty curry-type sauce for chicken and seafood.....instead of using coconut milk....

my trainer is a big believer in building muscle....he has me do cardio on my own...and yes even with my low calorie intake he expects me to do cardio and weights...and I do both and am starting to love it. He says body pump classes are good as a cardio exercise but not as a resistance training, since most of the body classes are loads of reps with lighter weights.... With me we do weights, and we go heavy on weights we get anywhere from 10-15 reps. We are also doing alot of body weight stuff (think PX90), so push ups, planks, squats, lunges, etc...these mixed with weights, like doing a squat with a curl, over head press in sort of one motion..... Talk to your trainer, mine has actually studied and works with some dr.'s on their WLS programs as well as those who do Optifast programs. He knows that I'll be needing more calories as I lose weight, but in the meantime, we are tapping into reserves and trying to maintain strength and muscle....as I burn fat.... if your trainer doesn't get it....find another one...or go online and look up a routine.... You have the right idea, you know what you want/need....and if you are paying for it, you should get what you want/need......

deli sliced chicken or turkey wrapped around a laughing cow wedge....yum!

If you ask for it at the pharm counter, they may be able to order it for you and have it there the next day....like medication....

I use Fitznutz a powdered Peanut Butter, put it in my chocolate shake and have used it to make Protein squares....also good to make a dipping sauce for chicken..... I ordered the samples first to try and fell in love.... FitNutz Peanut Butter Mix

I am still here...still loving it....still losing....I have over 100lbs to lose...good luck on your surgery....

Try these teas....the "original" sweet and spicy is soooo awesome, no caffeine and no sugar/calories....doesn't need additional sweetener it is already sweet....they have them at costco and at the regular grocery store... Good Earth Tea Good Earth Tea

I made home made chicken broth/soup. Before surgery....and then froze it. 1 whole chicken 4-5 carrots 4 leeks 2 cloves garlic chicken bullion/or stock Water pepper Place the whole chicken in a pot (or you can cut it up into pieces and put in pot, skin bones and all) Chop carrots, leeks, garlic, throw in pot. Add chicken bullion, pepper and cover with water. Or you can use swansons chicken broth instead of water. I like mine pretty salty, but you can add to taste.... Let it cook/simmer for an hour or 2. Take the chicken out of the pot, be careful, it will be hot and will be falling apart. Put aside and let cool. If you want and can, you can use a slotted spoon and get some of the veg out of the pot, if not... Take a fine mesh strainer, and strain the broth. Throw the solids or whatever is left in the strainer away. You now have a bowl of clear broth. Put in the fridge over night and the next day you will be able to scrape the solidified fat off the top of the container. Place in smaller sized containers and freeze. The chicken you set aside. Once cooled, you can shred the meat, and throw out bone/skin. What I did, is I put the chicken meat in some of the broth, that way I had clear broth with no chicken and clear broth with chicken. Once I was able to go to full liquids and pureed, I used the broth with the chicken and blended it to make it totally liquid. (came out sort of like cream of chicken) I also used the clear broth to make canned Soups a little thinner and more watery...I even mixed it with a can of pinto Beans to make a bean broth (helped get pipes moving after surgery)....

Please give us an update on how you are doing. If you still aren't getting any Fluid or food to stay down, and you haven't gotten in touch with Dr., then go to the ER, you may need IV fluids, or they may be able to prescribe a stronger pain med. For whatever reason, the pain medication from Mexico is not as strong as our narcotics here in the US. I was luck to not have as much pain, but I know that sometimes pain just spirals out of control.... Hope you feel better soon. CK

I did have the tightening/pressure, but it wasn't that bad, or I have a high pain tolerance. I made sure to get warm broth in, I had some home-made stuff, and ice cold gatorade. I knew the supradol would make me sick on an empty stomach. The nexium helps with the acid/pressure feeling. I was able to sleep at night, but I had some ambien that I would dissolve/crush. Also tylenol PM. I used a heating pad and propped myself up on a bunch of pillows. Your tummy is swollen and needs to recover. But you need liquid and calories if you are going to take pain meds. They gave us the same stuff in the hospital in the IV. The stronger pain med they would have given you a shot in your arm. Since it was via IV your stomach didn't feel like hurling. If you can't keep anything or sip anything you will get dehydrated and will compound your malaise. Try different temp fluids and just sip. Don't drink plain water that might make you sick, the acid in the flavored drinks is easier on your excess acid. It doesn't have to work as hard to neutralize. And seriously call the coordinator and have them contact the Dr. He may have some suggestions.

it sounds like leftover gas. Walk, maybe a heating pad and try super small sips of warm tea or broth. Are you taking the Nexium? Does it feel like pain or like something is stuck and feels like pressure? Make sure you get some calories in, regular gatorade or some fruit juice. You may be getting cold sweats due to too much medication on empty stomach. Have you tried calling your coordinator or Esmeralda on her cell phone? They should be able to contact the Dr. Even on Sunday. I don't know what else to suggest. I'm so sorry you are feeling so crappy. Sip and Walk and start annoying anyone on any phone number you may have.

I make everything in the crockpot.... chicken you can make it into gumbo, spice it up with old bay, cayenne, salt, pepper, add okra, you can add a little arrowroot powder to thicken up right before serving. Also white chilli, with tomatillos (they sell them canned you can blend up) or add a few cans of Herdez green salsa...this may be a little spicey, add some white Beans and season it up. Taco Soup, with chicken instead of ground beef, but same principle. Add a can of rotel/diced tomatos, corn, couple cans of beans, pack of taco seasoning, pack of ranch dressing seasoning (this has loads of sodium, so you may have to up Water intake) Chicken, 1 jar of pace picante sauce, 1/2 jar of sugar free grape jelly (makes BBQ flavor) Chicken, 1 jar of pace, 1 8oz pack of fat free cream cheese, a few dabs of tabasco, add corn and beans chicken, can of cream of mushroom (healthy choice low sodium), 1 pack of mushrooms (raw sliced), spice up with salt pepper, paprika, cayanne. You can add bell pepper and corn.

Week 9 = 36.6

Is dr. Ponce de leon associated with Dr. Almaza in Tijuana? I think I heard his name associated with him. If he is check out if your recovery is in an actual hospital or in a "recovery home". I don't know anything good/or bad about Almaza and his team, just the fact that surgery is at a clinic and recovery is in a private home. I had surgery with Dr. Corvala at Angeles Hospital, don't have anything but good to say about him and his surgical team, as well as about the hospital. I wanted to make sure that I was in a hospital setting and not in a clinic/house setting. Just in case the worst happened, I wanted to be taken care of. Good luck with your research and surgery. For me it has been great. Take care,

I had surgery last Thursday, all is good and I am feeling pretty normal, I have discomfort on the incision spots but other than that I'm feeling pretty good.... I went back to the gym today, back to cardio. I am still on clears, and so I took it easy. I talked to my trainer and he had me start with 5-7 minutes of cardio on 3 machines (bike,treadmill and elliptical) he wants me to add a minute a day for the next week so I can get back to my 40-45 minutes of cardio pre surgery. I got a little sweat in, I didn't feel light headed, came home, showered and alcohol-ed down my incisions...just precaution from after gym....but all is good... So far so good.....

8 weeks = 35 lbs

lguidry, I can't say much about most of the Dr.'s. I know that for Plication, I would hands down from your list go with Dr. Corvala. He was involved in the introduction of the surgery to Mexico and is a proctor (he teaches the procedure) to Mexican and American surgeons. I had Plication with Dr. Corvala. I was actually scheduled for VSG with Aceves, but my family and then I couldn't get past the "fear" of losing 85% of my stomach. The irrational fears and what if I need stomach tissue sometime in the future set in, and I had started research on VSP. My starting BMI was 49. It's been 8 weeks and I have lost 35 lbs. I eat everything I feel like eating, just smaller meals and I do try to get protein in first....I did protein first prior to surgery I was a volume eater of a pretty clean diet.... I eat around 800 calories a day, there are days when I hit 1000 calories and days I only eat around 600, depends on the day, how much exercise I get in and how dense the foods I eat are. Steak/Chicken tend to keep me full and satisfied longer than beans/soup for example. I work out hard, I did that before surgery, I have always been very athletic and muscular, I lift weights, and triathlon train.... I am not hungry, or at least am not hungry with the anxiety I had before surgery and I actually get full (a feeling I don't think I ever had).... I loved Dr. Corvala and the hospital. It was clean, I felt pampered and taken care of. I would recommend him as a bariatric surgeon regardless of the procedure you choose. I know Dr. Aceves is a master as well and a proctor of the VSG. It is a touch choice. In the end it is a matter of what you can get comfortable with. For me it was, though I didn't go into this with thoughts of reversing. I was able to get more comfortable with getting restriction with VSP and sutures and less long term data, than with losing 85% of my stomach and knowing that it was a very very final procedure. It is a total mind boggling decision.. but I can tell you I am so happy I made the choice I made, I recovered fairly quickly (not a walk in the park, but very manageable), I eat with my husband and enjoy all the things we used to enjoy eating, just much less. Take care and keep us posted on your decision. CK

Tiff...great tips....I season my beans according to what flavor I want....I love the asian flare....you can also spoon a tbs of fat free plain yogurt in and make it creamy once you serve....

Hopin4slv, I didn't have surgery with Dr. Watkins, mine was with Dr. Corvala in Tijuana Mexico. Here is their website: http://www.angeleshealth.com/procedures/weight-loss/default.aspx I received wonderful care and loved the hospital and Doctors. My experience I've documented on my blog...I love the results I've gotten and the way my life is now...I eat everything I want, just smaller portions of everything....check it out...for me it just made sense. Fat Woman on a Mission Also, here is Dr. Watkins's website: Cincinnati Weight Loss Center :: Home. He has been very informative on this forum.

I really really like the GNC Wheybolic 60, both vanilla and chocolate....I tried the strawberry and it was NASTY! so I returned it for my cash back...I love that they actually give you your money back....The cookies and cream isn't bad either...and 60 gr. of protein....I have a shake for breakfast every morning...it really gets me going.....

Hi there, glad you made it home...it does take time to figure out how to eat and how fast to eat. Everyday will get better..thanks for the update I was thinking about you and wondering how your return home had gone. I didn't have to give myself shots. I got those shots in my belly while I was in the hospital, 1 before surgery and every 12 hours until the morning I got released. So that was only 3 days...I wonder why he changed protocols?? Strange... Take it easy, and it will get better. It took me a while to find a comfortable position. I also had some ambien here at the house so I would grind that up and sort of knock myself out. You could probably grind up a tylenol PM, and would get the same effect, might just help you get a full night's sleep. Keep us posted.....take care....

Hey Lisa.... I get in about 3/4 cup or about 6 oz of food, depending on density at one sitting. Tonight we BBQ'd so I had 1/2 a bratwurst and about 2 oz of fillet (beef). I also had a forkful of potato salad. I eat anywhere from 700-900 calories a day depending on the day.... How are you doing?

Hi Sarah and congratulations on 15kilos....I'm in the same boat, lost 33 lbs, surgery on July 15th. With a traditional sleeve, recovery is a little harder and takes longer for the swelling to go down, and for people to tolerate foods. I have been eating regular food since week 4, I have meat, chicken, rice, Pasta...like normal people. I don't throw up, I just eat a lot less....maybe 1/2 chicken breast or 1/2 cup of pasta with meat sauce....I'm glad because that's what I wanted, I wanted to feel healthy and normal. Finally eat like 1 normal person not like 2-3 people at once..... You are doing great with 15 kilos, when had you ever been able to lose 15kg in 2 months? Keep it up...stay healthy.... CK

Lguidry, To answer your questions: Why Dr. Corvala instead of Dr. Aceves? Dr. Aceves doesn't perform the VSP (Vertical Sleeve Plication, Imbrication, it goes by a bunch of names so it gets confusing). Dr. Corvala is one of the pioneers of this relatively "new" procedure for WLS. Why VSP instead of VSG? I think mainly I chose the VSP instead of VSG due to my own mental freak-out. I was actually scheduled to have VSG with Dr. Aceves, and started having a total mental freak-out about having surgery in general, about having something done that was so drastic, my husband also was having a melt down...I was still going to do it, since I was a big girl (still am but not as big....). I had also started to see and read about the VSP procedure. Once I started reading about it, it made sense to me to have the VSP instead of the VSG. I know that it it still considered experimental and new, it has no long term history or results, I was running a risk of having a surgery and have it not work.....but on the other hand, I was having surgery to make a life style change, a tool that could help me reduce the quantity of food I ate. In general I was a very healthy eater, but a volume eater. The difference between VSP and VSG? The main difference is that with VSG, 80-85% is cut out and disposed of, you are left with a "sleeve" or a pouch that is stapled and you are left with a very small stomach, therefore you will be restricted to very small portions. None of your intestines or organs are re-arranged and there is no mal-absorption issues like they have with the RNY. With the VSP, a sleeve is also created, however your stomach is folded and sutured onto itself to leave the same size pouch as with a sleeve. Your stomach is left in, it is just sewed unto itself. There is a "claim" that this surgery is "reversible"...I don't really buy that, because I'm sure that there will be scaring and taking the stitches out isn't like pulling out the hem in a pair of pants....so I'm not kidding myself. This is a permanent change. However, since there is no long term effects or information, there have been some trials done here in the US, and now 2 surgeons that I know of are doing the surgery here in the US. Dr. Watkins in Ohio, and Dr. Cottam in Salt Lake City. Dr. Watkins posts on this forum in the Total gastric plication sleeve. Total Gastric Vertical Plication Sleeve Surgery - Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery (VSG) Forum It is totally a personal choice. I don't think one surgery is better than the other. But for me, the plication just was the choice for me. Pre-Op Tests? When you get to Mexico, either the day before surgery or the day of surgery depends on how you have set stuff up, you have all of the pre-op tests done at the hospital. EKG, bloodwork, urine test, chest xray, flouroscopy/barium test, etc. The basic pre-surgical tests you would need. The Dr.s there want to do their own tests and get their own results, so having the tests done in the US doesn't mean you won't have them done there. I had a few tests in the US before I left for Mexico with my PCP, because though he supported my choice for surgery and going to Mexico, he wanted to have his own baseline to work with (he wanted his own tests done, etc)...he was going to be giving me all my follow-up here in the US (not much is needed for either surgery, bloodwork at 3 months 6 months and a year....sort of like your typical annual after that, just that the first year, at least my dr. wanted to have labs and make sure I wasn't missing nutrients, etc....since then I've changed PCP's my Dr. left the practice so all of my planning was for not.....such is life, right?) As far as insurance coverage of VSP I don't think insurance will cover here in the US because the procedure is so new. But if your insurance will cover...that would be awesome. Hope this answers some questions....feel free to email me or check out my blog (in signature), I post my progress, I also posted my decision process, etc..... Take care, CK

Make sure you get a gatorade or something to drink for the plane ride. Good luck,....it gets better pretty quickly..... Stay safe.....