meyouus

Well Thank You All! I will have to buy some Protein powder to start this whole shake thing. I am not hungry in the morning and am sick of making myself eggs all the time (for breakfast). I'll check this site for ideas... http://www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com. There are SO many! And I've noticed people's Protein Powder preference is as individual as each person is. Thanks for the info people, it feels good to hear from you.

I enjoy my coffee, decaf every day. My nut says to only use FF 1/2 + 1/2. I seriously miss my flavor syrups though. I hear there are SF ones, but I don't know if they would taste as good. I also drink in moderation. My problem is I miss my DD iced coffee w/mocha. So, I make it at home. Here's a secret I'm going to tell you all...don't laugh... I saved my lg iced coffee cups from drive thru's and put my iced coffee in them, to make me feel like it was from a drive thru. Silly, but it works for me.

OK, I tried that, doesn't work. It comes up "normal" for a split second then fades away.

http://www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com

Will your results above apply to me? I was banded in 07, and am unfilled. I'm on the South Beach Diet until I see my posse at the hospital next week. I don't know if I'll be filled or discuss other options for WLS. I LOVE your ideas for shakes! Have you ever checked out http://www.the worldaccordingtoeggface.com? She has a massive list of shake ideas.

HELP! My message screen is faded and the "buttons" don't work. i.e FONT, BOLD, EMOTICONS, etc. The whole thing is faded so I can barely see it.

I noticed that a lot of folks use Protein shakes, for various reasons. I was wondering if I do try the shakes for Breakfast, will that be enough to fill me and support the role of breakfast being the most important meal?

I noticed that a lot of folks use Protein shakes, for various reasons. I was wondering if I do try the shakes for Breakfast, will that be enough to fill me and support the role of breakfast being the most important meal?

Lissa, I now understand what you meant. You are 100% right. I just have to wait until I see my posse ( ) to ask more questions. I can't wait until next week! Thanks a heap for your ever lovin care! Polly

Lissa, I must not be searching right, I came up with my own post's. I searched "Tiffykins", found nothing on leaks, but sure enjoyed the photo's of her family! WOW, what beautiful people! She does sound very happy. I have an appt with my WLClinic next week, I will definately be bringing up the sleeve. I've read almost every post in the Band to Sleeve section here. The journey sounds very difficult and unpleasant, but people nevertheless are pleased with their Sleeve. The longevity of my knee's is greatly reduced by the wear and tear I put on them with my weight alone. Part of why the Sleeve piques my interest. My surgeon said they should last 20 yrs under the best circumstances. I'm hoping for 10-15 yrs. You mentioned..."If that happens, you'll be in the same place as you would be post-revision with an infection." - I'm not sure what you mean? Knee revision or Sleeve revision? Lissa, thanks SO much for trying to help me out here! I was hoping I'd find some help!

Thank you CowgirlJane and Wheetsin, Based on just the information you have given me, I am very close to not opting for this revision. The reason I ask about leaks is because I have two knee replacements. KR's are funny, if you get an infection in your body, it goes straight to the prosthesis'. Antibiotics help if the infection is caught early. But since leaks can go unnoticed for so long, it could mean that the knee would have to be taken back out and redone. Recovery from a knee replacement is bad, but recovering from a revision is worse. These leaks sound like they're brutal on the system! Why would anyone go for this revision when the possibility of leaks are so real? For my health, and for longer usage of my new knees, I have to lose over 150 pounds, the sooner the better. Now I'm not sure what to do.

Lissa, mine might be a ResMed (my husband is sleeping so I can't go check but I can tell you that my cpap is about the size of a loaf of whole grain bread. Then there's the long tubing and the mask. It fits into a custom made bag. When I fly, I leave the bag at home and pack the cpap into my carry on, with a bit of room to spare. My husband has one too, thank goodness! Saved my marriage the gentle hum of the machines lulls us to sleep. Doesn't help much in the romance department though, we look like Darth Vader! I've never had a problem keeping the mask on, and I used to roll all over. My husband's sometimes moves off his nose and the air escapes with a little noise, but I just nudge him, he fixes it and off to sleep we go. It all depends on the type of mask you're fitted with. BTW, I've never heard of a BiPap, what is it?

I was told the same thing when I was Banded 5 years ago. My sleep apnea was/is very bad and my cpap is my best friend. I can't sleep without it! I had two major surgeries in the last year, and had to bring my cpap to the hospital with me. They don't want you having a stroke or dying. The cpap is not that bad. I don't use the humidifier anymore, too cumbersome, especially with travel.

mkardh, I am only Banded right now. I'm seriously looking into being sleeved, but haven't been sleeved yet. I'm trying to learn about leaks, because that is a big concern of mine and don't know if it needs to be. Someone help?

It's been suggested to me to have the VSG. I'm researching it and reading all of your post's. Question about leaks. - How do you know you have one? Are you hospitalized right away to fix it?

I've been a cook in several food service locations (banks, schools, etc.) and my husband the same, for all of our lives. It is true that the management in these restaurants want to fill you up with "filler". It's cheaper, easier to prepare and makes you feel like you've had a satisfying meal experience. What the public wants is processed, quick, cheap food. I've tried to offer healthy alternatives and so has my hubby, but people will say they want healthy, but never actually order it. And children, it's very scary to me how they are being brought up to think those foods and in large sizes, is normal. People want junk. And as long as the public pays the mighty dollar, junk it will be. It's funny how being on the South Beach Diet and being banded has changed my food experiences at restaurants. I, too eat small portions and ask for no this or that. And yes, I've had a waitress or two ask me if the food was ok. I like Mis73's response, I'm going to try that one! If only they'd pile 2 Cups of veggies sans butter on my plate, I'd be happy as a bug in a rug. (Did I just say that? ) Even my husband's stomach has shrunk just eating some of what I do. I guess now I'm a cheap date! LOL

Thank you Alex! I can sleep better now.

What is that little black, diagonal thing under some of the forum topic titles? I'm stumped. Silly me!

I make mock Buffalo Wings that are superb alone or on a salad. Very, very simple.... Cut chicken breast into strips, put aside. Preheat a frying pan and spray with "I can't believe it's not butter" spray, Cook the chicken to almost done, then add Franks Redhot Sauce (The official Buffalo Hot Sauce) or whatever you prefer and toss till chicken is cooked. It's not Buffalo Wings, but it sure is delicious! Try putting it on a salad as well. Yummo!

I don't know just how much protein is in these, but they have some.... I eat a lot of tuna (packed in water) or you could use canned crab...so I had to come up with new ideas, so I tried this simple thing. Make your tuna (I'm now going to make it like Mis73 does!), cut up an English cucumber into slices. Top each slice with a little tuna. Maybe add a little ff or lf amercican or cheddar cheese. It's a fun snack in this heat! I also eat a lot of three bean salad's. Not the one's in the can. I'm new to making my own food (my husband's a chef and does all the food, I am/was spoiled!) so I'll have more ideas as I learn myself! Good luck!

Mis73, Thank you so much. I'll have to buy a cup of Greek yogurt to try it, but I don't like plain yogurt. And I wouldn't know how to use it. Any more suggestions anyone? As for the cheese, it's a do'er!

I'm not real big on the ice cream thing, I do love it, but it's just not on my mind much. What IS is decaf iced coffee with some sort of flavoring. It's my reward thing. Also, going to Double D's for the IC is somehow fulfilling and addicting for me. I think my therapist called it a control issue. I just love iced coffee!

Mis73, I've never had greek yogurt, what does it taste like? Is it real thick? And, Babybel cheese, is it soft? If so, your idea of mixing it with your tuna sounds way yummy!

Pandabear, we are all so proud of you! I'm glad you came on here with your great news! Be proud and don't be afraid to repeat your performance! I go to DD for their awesome coffee. They've had a commercial for a certain food item that I shall not mention, that I am dying to try, but am so far successful in my drive to stay away. You stayed away after waiting for five minutes, then so can I! Thanks!

Hi! I have so many thoughts and feelings I want to express or ask about, so I hope this post makes some sort of sense. I was banded 5 years ago. I stayed with the program for about a year, maybe a year and a half, I don't remember. I had to keep going in for fills and unfills, never truly reaching restriction. I was so frustrated, I gave up and got unfilled. I recently went back to my WLS clinic for the first time to get back on track. They put me on the South Beach diet for four weeks, when I go in next to speak to my surgeon. When I was there, they said that my surgeon is having great success with the VSG and that they feel it might be the best route to go. I weigh 323, my highest being 362. My doc wants me to get down to 130-150. I have two comorbids: obstructive sleep apnea and osteoarthritis that led me to have two knee replacements this last year. I am 46, 5' 4". I'm trying to do all the research I can to decide if the VSG is really for me. (before I speak to my surgeon) So far, so good. But, I have questions and fears. The fact that this surgery is relatively new makes me question the surgery's future outcomes, that's not how I want to put it, but the words escape me. Going from band to sleeve sounds, from what I've read, to be a very complicated before and after surgery process. It sounds incredibly painful and requires a great deal of down time. My husband works during the day, and probably can't take more than two days off for me. If he HAD to, he would, but his work would be pissed. I'm afraid of the pain people talk about. When I had my knees done, I was doped up pretty well and didn't feel much true pain and I was in rehab for a week right after. But you guys make it sound horrendous, well, some of you. Is it THAT aweful and painful? How long does it last? With my new knee's, I can't have any infection in my body, or they'd have to replace the knee altogether. I mean, antibiotics are there for me, but asside from the normal chances you take with any surgery, would something like a leak cause infection? Speaking of leaks...they scare the hell out of me. It sounds like fixing them with surgery is also a major hell to go through. I read about the stats of leakages with VSG, but it still worries me. Is it enough for you to overlook and have the revision anyway? I have to talk to my surgeon about all these things, I know, but some everyday people input really helps. I've heard of several pre-op diets that sound aweful, are they? I can bite the bullet, I just want to know. Post-op diets, how bad are they? Can one survive on liquids alone for so long??? Btw, I'm not a diet cheater. Do you like your revision, or the experience of one? Like I said, I have many questions and feelings. If you could help me to better inform myself it would help SO helpful. I'm still doing research anyway, if I could find actual stats and info on the net. But you all are more experienced, obviously, than me and I'd love to hear what you have to say, good or bad. Thank you so much for reading my novel!