Parker's Dad

Good advice. It is a double whammy of Fluid and protein at the same time. I have had the orange, blue raspberry, and apple melon. All were good and it gives you a break from the same old chocolate or vanilla that most others seem to be.

Preference for the Dannon Oikos or Chobani. I throw in some vanilla protein powder for extra protein and thickens it some. I am doing low carb right now and I do allow this as I won't do bread or crackers at all and the only other carbs I take in are a few dry roasted unsalted peanuts or what little I get from ketchup or bbq sauce I put on meat. I see it as a good trade off for me versus trying to choke down the plain unflavored greek yogurt. I do however buy the plain to put in smoothies or dr up shakes for extra protein as it kinda goes well with that. I can not do the plain by itself and I can tolerate a lot when it comes to finding protein but the plain is just out of my capability lol!!

Since you are so early out and have no issues with getting or keeping stuff down try the Isopure Zero Carb fruit stuff. It's a 20 oz bottle, zero carbs, 140 cals, 40 grams of protein. It's not caffienated so it will count for 20 oz of fluids and at 40g of protein, it's a double whammy of fluid and protein. There are several flavors that I have tried. The orange, blue raspberry, and apple melon are pretty good. It will give you some different flavors besides just chocolate and vanilla sweet shakes.

I have tried several. Muscle milk, muscle milk lite, oh yeah, body fortress (wal mart), and a couple others I can't think of right off. I really like the Body Fortress stuff. I have no issues with it at all. I mix with milk though, not so hot with plain Water unless you mix strong. I have the chocolate and vanilla. Love the chocolate, awesome with some Peanut Butter. I am not even a big vanilla fan but I like this. I mix it with Dannon greek yogurt and it's great. I even throw in some peanuts or cashews to add some Fiber and even extra Protein and it gives it some texture. It's not that expensive and may be worth a try if you have not tried it yet.

Congrats bud! 300 is my next goal.

This is a really good post and I wanted to use it to help make a point if you don't mind.... You said something in the beginning that is very very important. That mental click. I am not sleeved at this time but something just "clicked" one day and it's been pretty easy. I don't know what it was and can't put a finger on exactly what caused it but it was just there. Hard to explain, you just have to feel it and you know it.... To the OP, As I said, I am not sleeved as of yet but I cam gonna throw out a couple things for you. If you really want it, take it and you have to know that it's the right way for YOU. Do your research. Look at Drs. How much weight do you need to lose?? Do you know your food habits and can you change them before hand as in soda, carbs, pure junk etc.... Cut all the crap. Drink your Water and take Vitamins. As far as exercise goes, some people do and some don't. That is up to you and your ability but the more you can do the better off you will be. The more changes you can make early on will undoubtedly make it easier later, and that is why I am really working on those things now. Fortunately, I had that mental "click" that has made it much easier for me. Never had it before just to be honest and after talking to others and having my own little mental pow wow I realize that I can not do it by myself and this is the best solution. Just gotta get your mind right...

I am gonna play the Devil's Advocate here so bare with me... I am not sleeved at this time but I am doing a lot of research and asking a lot of questions of people that are willing to help answer them. I only know a couple people personally that have had the sleeve. One is only a few weeks out and one is a little over a year out. I ask them questions all the time, questions regarding everything really surgery related. I refuse to go into this uneducated and uninformed. I am not that kind of person, never have been and never will be, so... Maybe these people are asking you questions due to really wanting to know. A lot of people don't understand what all is involved. I know I didn't and that is why I ask. I don't do it to be annoying or pressuring at all. Maybe they genuinely are concerned and would like to know things that may help them if they are contemplating surgery. Now if it's "I can't believe you would do this knowing that you may never _____________" over and over again, I can see your point of if possibly being a pain. I mean that would get old I suppose if it's on a daily basis from the same person. Maybe they can't give up ______?? That is up to them. There is a lot of ignorance on the subject out there. I mean that in the truest form of the word and not in truely stupidness lol! Some are just not informed. If you are sleeved at this time, there was a time that you were not. There is a really really good chance that you had the same questions and concerns as well. Lets not forget that and lets not forget where you came from. Just my opinion. Dave.

I have not been sleeved yet but I have to be completely honest when I say that I don't see anything wrong with it. It's a finale. A closure. Your way way of hopefully saying that it's all good. A silver lining sort of if you will in that you will soon enough be able to enjoy things again. A peace of mind if you will. It may be a kind of weird way to think of it but I don't worry about that. I really don't. I have made up my mind to have the surgery and I know that I will probably have a few days of stuff that I shouldn't and wouldn't normally do even with the changes I have made... All is well. Don't sweat it. Do it if you feel like and don't if you don't. You have to have some peace of mind from somewhere and it's odd the thoughts and the places where these things come from. Rambling maybe but it's all good in my mind lol!

I understand. I was just saying that it may.... without knowing exactly what someone is or is not taking. Just saying. Just giving my $.02 and take it for what it's worth. Everyone is different. I would much rather be doing stuff lol than picking weeds... I think it's important to look at things that affect your partner as well. If not it may/may not lead to other issues. Think about it as important to them even if it's not to you. Not judging or being an ass, just saying. Probably should have never even commented on this one... Lesson learned.

LMAO!!! That is great.... not the actual busted lip but you understand.

I came up with a couple ideas that I do. Pretty simple and depending on what I have on hand and what I am in the mood for I will do one of the two... Go to your favorite deli, I usually so Wal Mart but whatever works. You will need... A few slices of honey baked ham Pepperoni Provolone, mozzarella, and parm cheeses Jar of sauce. *** other option includes the Brownberry sandwich thins or the Italian Herb pockets*** I watch carbs pretty close so I only use these occasionally. The ham slices become the crust in the low carb version. If I have been great on my carbs for the day I may use the sandwich thins, but to be honest I very rarely eat any sort of bread anymore. Tastes have changed. Now if you are watching fat intake, you can get low fat versions or turkey pepperoni or whatever you like. Do the sandwich thins open face.

I am not sleeved at this time. I am doing high protein/ low carb as my choice right now. Not sure what your preop diet is but if you are getting enough Protein and are lucky enough to be in ketosis at the time, you will be fine. I have had a few days in the past few weeks that I will eat at say 6-7 one night and not even be hungry at all until 3-4 the next afternoon. I still drink tons of Water though. You won't be dehydrated with the IV fluids you will get. You can do it!

Couple thoughts for you... Cut all the "junk." No cakes or whatever. I do the occasional apple or pear or berries. I do a very little bit of bbq sauce on chicken or pork on the grill. I don't use sugar or anything in coffee, never did, but thats a biggie I see people really overdo. Find sugar free jams if you do those. Natural Peanut Butter has lower sugar content and I think it's even better than regular PB. Basically besides going cold turkey cut it in every possible area you can. I don't even want the garbage stuff now and it's all over the place at work and I can just pass right on by and never bat an eyebrow. Cold turkey is almost always a set up for failure!! Water, water, water! Flush that crap out of your system. I have been doing atleast 100 oz a day, 124 yesterday! If you're getting headaches from it, take something and drink. You need to make sure you are getting Vitamins in as well. You are kicking the carb flu! It can be hell at first but once you break thru that it is awesome! You will feel much better. Caffiene will help with the headaches but that may lead to a crutch if you are taking too much, plus some say no caffiene after surgery so you have to make up your own mind on that one. Good luck. You got this!

Thank you! I have tried several times and it goes in one ear and out the other. Very frustrating to put it very nicely. I just do not want to see him have to put up with all the BS that is coming. It's a dead horse, head/wall, never ending circle that I can't get to stop with her. She has band, diabetes, arthritis, etc... so she knows the issues and still... I just don't get it. He's a baby, he's gonna get treats she says. I get that. He is a baby and he will get treats but not all the stuff you give him everyday. It's driving me nuts fighting this fight.

Morning, No I have not had the surgery yet. I have been researching for a bit and asking questions on here. I am gonna change my insurance at work during open enrollment this year and it will probably be mid to late spring of next year when I do it. I have to do the insurance thing to try to save a big chunk of change and I want nice weather to be able to be outside for those first few months where you really see that drop to accelerate it even more, hope that doesn't sound stupid. As far as she goes, I almost feel like I am beating a dead horse. She knows I don't give him pop, so she gives him diet dew. I very rarely give him any sugary stuff ouside of pb and jelly or some baby gummy fruit/vege treats. One of the things that really bugs me is she has had the band and still does this crap!! I get the response, well he is a kid and he is gonna get treats!! OMG I really just wanna beat my head into a wall sometimes with this!! With her band, diabetes, arthritis, etc... she should get the point but ?????

It's a good thing that you found out about your Vitamin D. I didn't realize it until recently how much affect that one has on a lot of stuff. A coworkers mother had really low D and was having the palpatations, no energy at all, no weight loss (and she was still really active), among other issues. It messes with Calcium levels which can lead to osteoporosis etc. Apparently it is also linked more to metabolism than we ever thought. I won't get into that equation lol! Another big one is depression, think about SAD links. I love milk!! haha

First and foremost, a huge Congratulations on such an accomplishment!! Secondly, those people are one of two types. They are either considerate and don't wanna open a can of worms or be rude or nosy. If not that they are just snobs and really don't give a rat's a$$. Not sure what you do or where you work, so I can't really make that determination. I commented on three posts, I am done now.... It's just been one of those days at work! Sorry.

You really truely have to overlook people like this. First mistake is the pregnancy comment. If you don't know, you don't open your mouth. We had this discussion at work this morning!! Secondly, after she stuck her foot in her mouth, she should have left well enough alone and turned around and walked away like a whipped pup. Some people do not have filters. Some do but the wrong stuff still makes it's way thru. Unfortunately.

Post of the year!! We are fat. Regardless of how we got here (not to sound insensitive or mean), we are and we are looked at differently and treated differently. The whole healthcare system thrives on it and the insurance companies raise prices and big pharm lives off of it. We don't do ourselves any favors by being blind to it. If you are overweight and happy with it then so be it but you know that there are consequences to it and no good comes from it. I have always been the fat kid. I knew it, I accepted it, and I lived with it. There were things that really bugged me about it and I know it. I struggle right now with the mother in law, who keeps my 14 month old son. She gives him candy and Cookies and crap everyday. I just kinda shake my head and bite my tongue FOR NOW as I know that he is probably headed down the same path that I have. I fully intend to be able to make this change and be what I need to be for him and to not let him end up the same way that I did and the way that so many of the rest of us have. Sorry for the rant there but something just kinda struck a nerve for a minute and I have to post that....

That low voltage is really not a big deal. Some people do not have super strong electrical activity pulses anyway. Doesn't mean anything is wrong... Secondly, I assume that with being on this board you are preop for sleeve (given). The amount of tissue that the electrical current passes thru can cut down on the strength of that voltage signal being picked up by the machine. This is especially true for women with very large breasts. I don't them all the time and see it on them. It really doesn't mean anything.... Don't be too alarmed. Good luck!!

I am not sleeved at this point but kidney stones are a concern of mine. Follow me... lol. I had started another thread about them and didn't get much response. I have had them for years off and on. It took several attempts to find a med to help in addition to me drinking 60-80 oz of Water a day. No I am not kidding. I finally ended up on potassium citrate and HCTZ daily. It's not regular potassium chloride like others take. This one increases the acidity of your urine and helps to keep the kidneys from forming the crystals. The HCTZ is supposed to induce a mild state of dehydration and works a specific area of the kidney that has to do with calcium/potassium/sodium excretion and reuptake. I am very concerned about the kidney stones with the surgery and being able to take the meds because without them, I live in kidney stone hell. They have been analyzed and are calcium. I tried the low dairy, no soda or tea, low Protein, etc. Nothing worked. My MD said that some people just get them and we have to find the right meds. I have done very well on the K+Cit and HCTZ. Not sure if any of that helped you at all but they are ZERO fun at all. It kinda worries me that mine may get worse post sleeve!!

Yeah I wouldn't go telling everyone that LOL!!! Go Steelers!!!!

I saw this post on here the other day and figured I would try them. We made a trip to Kroger yesterday and I picked up a few. They are much cheaper, like 5 for $2.00. I thought they were OK but not as good as the Chobani or Dannon Oikos. It seemed like I could taste the artificial sweetener a lot more in this one. I am gonna try to throw in a little scoop of vanilla Protein powder and see if that helps some as well as adding some extra protein. Not bad and definitely cheaper...

A couple quick thoughts on this.... I have always been overweight. I have been at my current job for a little over 6 years so overweight is all they have ever seen from me. I got down to about 315 about 4 years ago and I got a lot of the "wow I can really tell you have lost some weight comments." It was good. I got kinda lazy and got back up to about 335 to 340. I have gotten my butt back in gear and am now back down to probably less than that 315 and I get the same comments again. I will know how much when I weigh in on Wednesday. People that are around you a lot notice quickly with a rapid loss. Another thought on it is that people get used to seeing a bigger you and it's a little shock sometimes. Some people do look kinda sickly when they loose too much **(not saying you do)** but some do. To add to that, it really all depends on your height and build and how much you had to lose and how fasy you lost it, IMHO. I don't honestly put a whole lot of faith into the BMI stuff anyway. You look at people that they consider normal and a lot of those people truely do look sickly. The average person, not being built or ripped, can look to be in very poor condition. Moral of my little rant is just get where you are comfortable and want to be and you will be happy. People will accept that when they see it and it's not gonna matter.

I am not sure which WLS surgery he had but look into Rex Ryan. He is the coach for the NY Jets. I caght a quick clip of it on Sportscenter the other morning. He has lost over 100 pounds. I didn't know until I saw that...