smellbug

Could some one tell me a Protein bar they use? I have read a lot of labels in the store and they all seem to have high carbs. Do u guys just eat 1/2 the bar. I was also thinking of making my own. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks Tara

Welcome to September sleevers. Super exciting to get a date and start the count down. Good luck on your journey and best wishes. Tara

Fran That's what we are here for to listen So go ahead rant. You should read some of the post from people who went from band to sleeve. From what I have read it is like two different worlds. Best wishes. Tara

I love coconut oil !!! I use it to cook and on my skin when I get out of the shower. I live here in Fl. and my family decided to go to the beach. Well needless to say we went got home and I was burnt to a crisp forgot I put on my oil that morning and cooked myself. It also worked great on my skin to heal my burn. Tara

Welcome Fran, I think your feelings are pretty normal. The good thing is there a lot of people here who went from Lapband to Sleeve and have been very successful. I have the nervouse and scared feeling as well but also mixed with excitement. My surgery is Sept. 18th. Good luck on your journey. Tara

I was also informed when I had my lab work done that I have hypothyroidism. But my THS leve was at 13 which was way over the normal range. If I remember correctly the high end of normal was 4.86. So I had to go to my primary care doctor and like others mentioned was put on medication. Right now I go back every 12 weeks for a blood draw so we can see what my levels are at and adjust my medication. I do have more energy now. Tara

Congrats! You look awesome. Truely amazing.

I am pre-op and have been refusing to buy anything new clothing until I am down sizes and can longer wear existing clothes. While dropping weight I plan on using Craig's list and thrift stores. Back when I was smaller I loved the store Express and plan on going back there. I would love to shop at H&M, forever 21, gap. Tara

I do this. I pinn things on Pintrest. Styles I like and how I want to get my hair cut. I was going to get my hair done on birthday in June but I told my husband I wanted to wait and see how my face changes after surgery. I am like you can't wait to want to go try clothes on and feel good about how thing look and feel.

I just wanted to say welcome to the group. I have learned so much here just reading other people experiences. Everyone here is very supportive and always have great advice. I am a navy wife here in Jacksonville Fl. I have three kids and I totally understand how hard things can get durring a deployment. I am due to have surgery September 18th luckily my husband is on shore duty for the first time in 10 years and will be here to help me out. Also I have made some great friends that are here to help me out. If you have any questions about how the process is using military doctors feel free to ask. Good luck on your journey. Tara

Hey everyone My name is Tara and I am 30 years old. I have 3 kids. They are 8,6 and 2. I have been completely honest with my kids. They started asking questions when mommy had so many appointments. At that point I told them how I have a problem with over eating and I am trying my best to become healthy. I told them I would have surgery that would remove part of my stomach and drew them a picture. I told them it was a tool to help me not eat too much food and make better choices. They seem to understand. I did not have worry about them blabbing to people because everyone in my life already knows. Tara

Yeah they have the full fat versions they just want to eat what mommy has. When I am home I make them eat the full fat version but when I am not home my husband does not want to fight with them and let's them eat what they ask for or they just grab them on their own. Meals are the best way for me to make sure they get the extra fat and calories without them knowing.

My son is under weight so I am always at the NUT for him to gain weight this is what I have been told to do to his food to gain weight. Add olive oil to his pasta then put the sauce on it. His rice or mashed potatoe had extra butter. Snacks should be cracker with either hummus, guacamole, peanut butter, full fat cheese. All dairy products full fat. Smoothies with flax seed full fat dairy and peanut butter and a banana. I am not sure what she can eat.

I have the same problem but my kids eat all my food. They are 8, 6 and 2 years old. I really don't mind because it is healthy. The problem is my kids are considered under weight and we see NUTS for them to gain weight. They are on high protien, high calorie full fat foods. Right now I am pre-op so it is not so much protien drinks they eat. Mostly they eat my Greek yogurt, light baby belle cheese, sugar free jello, sugar free Popsicles and my unsweetened almond milk. Once school starts back up I will be better off the older two get packed lunches with the full fat vareities. The two year gets what I give him so that will be an easy fix. Just wanted to say I know how it feels to go to the fridge and find your planned snack had already been eaten. Tara

I just wanted to mention if you get the Fage plain Greek yogurt it has 100 calories, 7g of carbs and 18g of protien. That is what I eat and I add a Torani sugar free syrup( black cherry/rasberry) . Hope you find something you like. Good luck. Tara

I am also pre-op but for the last month I have started to exercise more. I wanted to get in the routine before surgery. My surgery is scheduled for Sept. 18th. Right now I Zumba for an hour 5 days a week in the afternoon. Then two nights a week a do a 6 mile walking trail with two good size inclines. Then the other three nights I weight train at home with my X-box your fit 2012 game. I do about 45 minutes with 3 pound weights. I am hoping to continue this pattern after surgery as well. Good luck to everyone. Tara

We have the same sleeve date. Yeah!! I am nervouse too but I think I am most worried about the pre-op liquid diet the most right now.

That is awesome work!! Keep it up. I will have my surgery in September and hope for success like you.

I have had feelings of being a failure. I have spoke to my husband about it and he knows how hard I have tried to get this weight off on my own. He told me I am not a failure and that just because I have the surgery things will not be easy. I still need to do the work. The sleeve will not let me fall off the wagon and over eat.I will choose what I eat and if I work out. Once I thought of things that way I felt better. I also thought of why I was doing this. To be healthier, live a long life, enjoy my children and one day grandchildren. I stopped letting what other people think bother me. Good luck in your journey. Tara

My insurance covers a pannicculectomy which removes excess skin from the lower abdomen. They will not do the surgery until at least 18 months post-op and you need to have maintained your weight for 6 months. I have no idea on codes or anything like that.

Newgrandmother Thanks for the welcome. It sounds like u have a good plan to get those ten pounds off. I was going to suggest if u get tired of egg whites you could try a plain Greek yogurt. I use the Fage plain and add in Torani black cherry sugar free syrup for the 6oz it is 100 calories and has a lot of protien. Also for exercise I do Zumba which burns a ton of calories and I think it is fun. Good luck. Tara

Hey everyone my name is Tara. I am a navy wife here in Jacksonville Fl. I just just got my surgery date today for September 18th. I am beyond excited. Best of luck to everyone.

Thanks for the tip MinaT. Also with the nectar I found it frothy so after I shock it up in my cup with a blender ball I placed it in the fridge for about an hour and the froth was mostly gone.

That's funny I ordered both and got them both in today. I tried the nectar today. I had the tea with lemon and I liked it a lot, but I love tea. The nectar did not have the chalky after taste which is awesome. I live here in Fl. so I thought it was to hot for chicken broth. I will try the unjury flavorless tomorrow with my crystal light. Hope you enjoy them as I do so far. Good luck.

Hey Gingersnap I am pre-op so I do not know for sure if Tri-Care will cover a hospital stay due to complication of the sleeve. With that being said I think that they would. I am having the sleeve done here in Jacksonville Fl. at a MTF. I am not loosing any coverage in insurance so if I have an emergancy we are able to go to any ER and be covered. As a active duty spouse it is always a possiblity of being moved to an area that does not have a military hospital for us to go. For example we lived in Maine for awhile and there was no medical on base all of my families medical care was done by civilian providers. I have read on some of the boards here people mentioned they can not get insurance for a year after having the sleeve, but that is not the case here we are already insured. I say yes you would be covered. The best bet is to call Tri-care and ask. Also I am Tri-Care Prime. Hope I helped.