Fiddleman

That is so fascinating to hear about the correlation between obesity and the inflammation of this organ. I have always known obesity and inflammation is highly correlated, but this study takes that understanding to new levels. Keep us updated!

Yes, I was the same way for a good part of the last 6 months. Just as I am no longer so cold at post op 13 months, room temp water is also tasting better or should I say normal as I remember it from before surgery. Just something newer post ops may be able to look forward to.

I second Cash and Carry. This is where we pick up our SF flavors. It is cheap, convenient (close by) and a really good selection. No shipping costs!!

Try and sip through 64 oz from rise to bed.

Fecal transplants? Now there is something you do not hear about every day. As for repairing a "sick" digestion system, there are many flora supplements out there. One that I used many years ago with success is called Dr. Floras. It is a fairly expensive product, but probably one of the better ones out there on the market.

Oh and flavoring water might not last forever. I just had some tap this morning without any flavor and found it OK just as is. I think drinking plain water is becoming easier over time (13 months post op). It was also interesting because I had a moment when I drank the tap water and thought "am I cured from having to flavor water?" I hope so! It would be nice to enjoy plain tap water again as I did before surgery.

It is also interesting the range of different types of pre op diets there are. For example, my doctor had us doing simply high protein, low fat and low carb ( less then 20 g). In other words, it was a modified Atkins. Others on VST I see have to do all liquids. I can see eating the modified Atkins would be far easier then all liquids when it comes to not cheating.

Yes, crystal light gives me acid if I have more then 1-2 Water bottles full. It is very acidic and a little hard on your stomach and esophagus. We need to be drinking minimum 64 oz a day, but 120 oz is ideal. Try and drink as much as you can to stay hydrated and being well hydrated also helps with weight loss. Over time, I found some alternatives which do not cause me irritation: Dasani Drops, propel and hiC flavors. All can be fund at the standard grocery stores like Safeway, albertsons and Fred Meyer. Infusing water with slices of fruit, such as orange, lemon and lime, is also a very good alternative but does require more preparation above and beyond squirting drops in a bottle of water. Whatever you choose, make sure it is something you can stick with day after day and month after month. You and water are in a relationship for the long haul. Good luck!

Nice! I guess you can't wear the slow running is my superpower shirt any longer...

You will probably be able to enjoy pasta again, but let me offer you a tasty alternative. Zucchini can be made into a pasta for something like lasagna by using a mandolin to cut thin flat "noodles". It tastes really good. We had a zucchini lasagna a week ago and I swear it was like real lasagna once you bake in the meats, cheeses and spices. There are also other tools you can buy to make spaghetti noodle out of any vegetable like squash, carrot and more. What do you think? Edit: just noticed above poster made similar suggestion to make zucchini noodles.

It is really not good to cheat for several important reasons. The first is you do not want the surgeon to open you up, see that your liver is too large and then sew you back up without doing the VSG. It just means you have to wait for XX amount of time before the doctor will see you again. The second, while not a deal breaker, is still very important. Preop diet gives you the rigor of preparing for the challenges of following the surgeons eating plan post op. It is better to be mentally prepared for it by following the preop diet. Now, you are only on day 4 so you have the time to get back on the wagon. Do it now for the reasons enumerated above. If you wait to get the cheating under control, it may be too late to correct any physical or mental issues before day of surgery. Good luck and know you have all of VST to turn to for support.

Statistically, the occurrence of a gall bladder issue after significant weight loss from VSG is much higher for women then it is for men. I am not sure why this is the case. Does anyone know?

The best Peanut Butter / chocolate Protein bar I have had is the Pure Protein brand. Quest bars are very good, but I have only tried it twice and that was lemon and chocolate chip cookie dough. After hearing how addicting they can be, I do not want to take the chance by having them around. Typically, I might have 1 pure protein bar a day or 1 every few days. Not a big deal; it is just a 180 calorie snack and fairly low carb (2-3 g). Oh and the worst protein bar of the same chocolate / peanut butter flavor? That would be think thin. Considerable more calories at 270 and cardboard taste. Not worth it.

For the same reason we got the sleeve to teach us how to control and form new eating habits. Do you see both are just different approaches to solving the same problem with eating too much?

At 4 months out, try to target 600-900 for best results. After 6 months, target 900-1200. The following 6 months can be a slow ramp up to 1600-2100 calories. Ramping up calories also assumes you are ramping up exercise as well.

During puree stage, I was 200-400 a day. Felt fine eating that amount at that time.

Not literally a "pet" tunnel. I mean a pet project: the people voted against the new tunnel, but the mayor wanted it built anyways, which I am sure is many billions of taxpayer dollars. Meanwhile, most of the freeways are impossible to drive on during rush hour without sitting in a parking lot. However, as bad as the traffic is here, I am sure it pales in comparison to traffic in the bay area.

Seattle is a very nice place to live because of close access to water and mountains. If only the mayor of Seattle would take traffic seriously and upgrade our freeways to support increased traffic instead of chasing pet tunnel projects.

Today was kind of a strike out on lunch. I did not have time to prepare anything, so heated up an Atkins chicken Alfredo and brocolli from the freezer. Made me want to throw up after eating about 1/2. Darn you processed beast!! Typically, I am eating fresh chicken and brocolli, ala paleo diet. Warning to all of you. Breakfast and snack were protein shake / chia seeds and left over shredded buffalo chicken / cucumber, respectively.

McDonalds on every corner in Manhattan? Didn't super size me get filmed there?

Bwahahaha, I think I prefer my alien model to yours!

You mean, like this? http://kuweight64.blogspot.com/2012/03/model-who-looks-like-alien.html