Spirit Fire

There is a helpful Nutrition Calculator online for Subway that allows you to customize your order and determine the protein/carb/fat counts. http://www.nutritionix.com/subway/nutrition-calculator

My NUT said never drink a RTD with less than 15 grams of Protein. I prefer the Pure Protein shakes that I order from Amazon.com or pick up at Trader Joe's. They are 160 calories, 35 grams of protein, 2 grams of carbs, and 1 gram of sugar. However I only like the chocolate and the Cookies & cream flavors. I can't stomach (pun intended) the strawberry. http://www.amazon.com/Pure-Protein-Ready-Frosty-Chocolate/dp/B002XULCA2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339181124&sr=8-1 I use this product along with the ever-popular Premier Shakes from costco. I also like the Premier bars as the numbers are good and they are tasty.

Did you follow a pre-op diet? Yes. I was on a 1300 calorie a day pre-op diet eating high protein and low carb foods. If so, what/how long was it? I began my self-prescribed diet on October 18, 2011 until I had surgery on March 21, 2012. I did not have to do the pre-op liquid diet -- my doctor just told me to continue doing what I was doing since I had lost nearly 50 lbs. I know many people use My Fitness Pal, but I discovered FatSecret.com before learning about My Fitness Pal. I used FatSecret.com to log my foods either on my computer or on my phone. I contribute much of my success to daily log-ins of my food, liquids and exercise. On a scale of "no-pain at all" to "just shoot me", how would you rate your recovery process after surgery? I was on the "no/relatively low pain" end of the scale. On a scale of 1-10, mine at it's worst was a 3. I rarely used the pain meds in the one-night I was in the hospital and only used it a couple times over the next two days at home. Now, with this being said, around week three I developed a pain near my incision that the stomach was removed from. I think I overdid cleaning out my closet, however I have also learned that many develop this pain/stitch around week 2-3 as the organs are reestablishing themselves in the body. I had odd feelings when I laid on my side to sleep as it felt like my insides where shifting so I used my tummy-pillow during week one and then weeks three-four.

11 weeks post-op, 82 lbs off (50 pre-op/32 post-op). I feel wonderful, staying focused on proper eating and enjoy walking. Trying to figure out how to add additional exercise into my daily routine.

My husband made a Post-Surgery Kit for me. He took a fishing tackle box and filled many of the spaces with various items that he assumed I might need after surgery. He put it next to our bed so everything was within easy reach. He filled it with things like hand lotion, kleenex, cool-down wipes, nail file, band-aids, dental floss, q-tips, nasal spray, chapstick, decaf green tea, pedialite, deodorant, hair clips and hair bands, etc. Some things I used -- chapstick and hand lotion, and some things I didn't -- sugar free throat lozenges, but it was incredibly reassuring to have these things "there" if I needed them. Now that I am 11 weeks post-op, I found another thing I needed -- large safety pins. My pajama pants are falling down but I don't want to buy new ones yet. I just said this in an off-hand way but that night after his motorcycle club meeting, he came home with a pack of safety pins. I have been so in awe of my hubby because he has truly shown his care-giving side and truly wants this experience to be the best for me. I told him if he is ever in need of care-giving, he is so screwed -- I'm just not as good at it as he is!

I have also noticed that since being sleeved I sneeze and have a runny nose much more than I did pre-sleeve. Don't know what the correlation could be, but it has been a noticable transfomation. As for soups, I buy high potein/low carb soups from BariatricChoice.com. Here is link to their website. http://www.bariatricchoice.com/bariatric-diet-protein-soups-16.html Feel better!

I have the same question -- What's Fred?

I "second" MedInNOLA's post. When we make changes, those around us are forced to change in one way or another and that can be very disconcerting for them. Your husband may feel that you are going to no longer find him attractive and want to get a new version. I found, with my husband, that simply discussing the changes and reassuring him has made the transitions smooth and enjoyable. A number of years ago I went to a hypnotherapist to lose weight. One of the first questions he asked me was how my marriage was doing. He said women often want to "get to fighting weight" when they are preparing to leave their marriage. This SO wasn't the case for me but it did help me to realize that although it is my body and my decision, my husband is impacted with the choices I mak

Thanks for the website link ... just a quick scan of the site and I found a number of recipes I want to try. THANK YOU!

Sending healing energies your way!

I miss coffee! My surgeon said I could drink decaf tea, but can't have decaf coffee until 3 months post-op. He said there is a chemical/acid in coffee -- even decaf -- that could cause ulcerations in my new tummy. I have had a non-fat latte every day for 7 years! I love steaming the milk and the smell of the coffee pods as I put them in my Starbucks Barista machine! I have a countdown timer on my phone that will signal June 21, 2012 when I will try my first post-op non-fat (or 1%) decaf latte. Here's a TMI story: I went for my 2-week post-op doctor appointment and asked the doc when I could have my latte again. He said 3 months. I told my husband with great enthusiasm, but he asked, "Great for your latte, but when can we have sex again?" I looked at him with a blank stare and he immediately said, "OK . . . got it! I now know your priorities!" He was joking and I knew the answer to his question -- but it has been a running joke with us ever since.

Thanks for sharing this wonderful NSV!

In October 2011 my surgeon told me to lose 20 lbs by January AND complete the multitude of tests (leg ultrasound, upper gi, blood work, psych eval, cardiology/stress test, gall bladder ultrasound, etc., etc., etc.). By January I had lost 35 lbs and completed all my lab tests and was told I was being moved to the head of the class. My insurance (BC/BS of California) approved my surgery and I could have been sleeved as early as February. However, I had work obligations and vacation plans in February so delayed the surgery to March. In October it seemed like such a long journey and and doubted if it was worth it. Here I am 10 weeks post-op and feeling great. I am grateful to have had a tip-to-tail physical because now I know I am a healthy 50 year old who is making tremendous changes toward improving my life.

Hi! It is important to do the research before you spend any time, money and/or energy on a career field. Please feel free to use any of the software programs on the following website -- I would suggest using Eureka, Choices Explorer and eVoc Bios to look up health care/health science pathways. http://cypresscollege.edu/services/cpc/siteLicensed.aspx I'm the Career Center Coordinator at Cypress College and a credentialed GCDF (Global Career Development Facilitator) and have seen so many students over the years pick a major or choose a career field based on all the wrong reasons. Check out your local community college to meet with a career counselor; take some valid and reliable career assessments to find out your interests, values, skills, work values, personality and work preferences; or take a career exploration class. As mentioned in a previous post, make sure you find a legitimate, accredited program to get the training. It is a great idea to do an "informational interview" which simply means talking to someone in the field you are interested in to find out the truth about the career. If you Google "informational interview" you can find out some great questions to ask, or I will gladly send you a pdf of questions we have our students use. Let me know if you have any questions. Deann

Many on this site say they are more successful getting thru stalls and losing in general when they eat low carb. But what is that exactly? 20 carbs? 45? Thanks for your insights!

Thank you everyone. I appeciate your wisdom, knowledge,and experience.

Meant "without" other distractions.

Meant "without" other distractions.

I agree with the mani/pedi, facial, etc. But the "gift" I give myself is time. I give myself time to sit and read for an hour while sipping on a decaf hot tea (or iced tea). Today I gave myself the time to go to a movie. I've also taken a walk around Sprouts and Mother's Market to see what "new foods" I might be able to eat. I used to mediate and have started doing that again. Another low-cost reward I give myself is cleaning out a drawer or closet, trying on clothes that are too big and then enjoy putting them in a bag to donate. My husband and I walked to the park last weekend and had a picnic -- we haven't done this in many years. I download books on tape and spend time listening to them with other distractions. I have given myself "time" to play a game on the Internet. Sometimes I can only get a "20" minute "gift" but I am finding these gifts to be releiving my stress and sense of being anxious. Over the years I have spent so many hours trying to meet the needs/demands of others that I am now makng special efforts to tell myself I am proud of what I have achieved and then fully embrace the reward. Enjoy the rewards everyone!

I thought I was unique in having a PCP who was not supportive of WLS! I am so sorry to read that so many have struggled with this. It took a lot of courage for me to make the initial appointment with my doctor whom I have been seeing for over 15 years. Her first reaction was "Join Jenny Craig and exercise." Hmmm, why hadn't I thought of that? Oh yeah! I DID! I joined Jenny Criag, Nutri-System, Weight Watchers x 3, took herbs, had acupuncture, hypnosis and a variety of other measures to lose the weight that I have carried since my pre-teen years. I broke down in tears in the office. I was so distraught over her lack of support. Then, one week later I received a letter indicating that I had been referred to a nutritionist and bariatric surgeon. The ball started to roll at that point, but I was still blindsided with her lack of support. I am 81 lbs down from when she saw me and can't wait to walk into her office and flaunt my new found confidence and image.

Very happy I found this website and forums before and after I had surgery. Almost all of my questions and concerns were addressed via this website as well as a couple calls to my surgeon's office. But to answer the original question, during my first month, I was not expecting: to feel so fatigued during the first month. to have the 3-week stall which lasted almost two weeks. to have the nausea during the first week and am grateful I finally got some anti-nausea medicine. the constipation. to feel hungry. to panic over how I would eat out or even eat when I returned to work. Now that I am 10-weeks into this process, I was not expecting: to have such amazing self confidence. to look at online shopping catalogs saying, "oh, that's too baggy (big, unfitted, etc.)" to enjoy participating in family gatherings and work events. to have such a good handle on what I can eat and what my sleeve can tolerate. to walk 3 plus miles a day comfortably, while talking and smiling. to allow the "slowness" of my post-surgery weightloss to be a good thing. to enjoy the levels of flavors that 3 oz of food can offer. Again, I just want to reinforce that scanning through the forum topics truly helps to open your eyes to the multitude of experiences everyone has on this journey.

Yes, I would gladly complete a survey. Thank you!