SpecialK1960

Does it mean we were naughty on the site, or ate chocolate? You do not suppose they are watching us? LOL

What drives me crazy is my scale. It is a decent digital scale. And for the last 4 days I have weighed the exact same thing to the 1/10th of a pond. The odds of that are astronomical. A few weeks ago it gave me identical readings for three days - ten boom, I lost like 3 pounds in 2 days. Hopefully, I am on the edge of another 3 pound drop. Bottomline - The scales are in a wicked conspiracy to keep us unhappy. They somehow know when we are vulnerable and then they just give us the same weight day after day.... and they laugh about it. The fact that your scale has maliciously added 2 pounds means you have an especially evil scale. Probably a conspiracy ring leader. I say we round them up and throw them in a dumpster tobe free from their evil tyranny. (although mine cost $75, maybe I will just have a talk with it) .....Sushhhh, I hear the black helicopters, they must be reading my e-mail. Good luck. I am sure you will be losing again in no time.

chicken does go down well, and it is lower in fat than most 2 and 4 legged Protein choices, but I gotta tell you I am getting sick of chicken breasts!! Sorry, that was me going off on a tangent. We have been grilling a good bit, but that can really dry it out. I have been using sauces from Buffalo Wild Wings. They add calories, but I eat so little and such a small amount of sauce, that I do not think it is significant. Especially if it keeps me eating the right foods. My wife has also made chicken breasts in a tomato sauce, or a Mexican chicken and rice, both of which are cooked in liquids, so the chicken stays a bit more moist. Or you can get barbaric and get a turkey injector and shoot some liquids into the chicken breast. Finally, baking a whole chicken usually makes for a much moister breast, because it is cooked with the skin and fat on, then just trim at the table. Or instead of using just a skinless boneless breast, get the breast fryers with the skin on and the bones still in, they will cook up more moist as well. Good luck -

Not to be a total downer, but you need to keep on the programs set by your doctor. Getting enough liquids is one of the keys to a healthy recovery. It is not that hard to get down Water, tea, juice, something, anything. Remember you have a tough road ahead - a road with a million great benefits - but it is not easy. Keeping up with all of your new responsibilities is not always going to be without effort. But drinking is one of the easiest. And one of the most critical. So give it your all. Remember you have started a journey to a new you. That journey is not always going to be downhill or go as planned. But working hard to meet a few dietary goals is critical to your success and to your health. The less you consume, the more critical liquids become. At first I was having to work to hit 64 ounces, now I do not even track it as I regularly hit over 100 and sometimes way more than that. Find something you enjoy - that will make it easier. My wife found some margarita flavored Crystal Light. Very dumb, but it was kinda fun. Good luck, now get to drinking!!! PS- maybe being 100% Irish makes it easier for me(LOL).

PS- I can not see the notation under your profile, maybe it is just something that we can see ourselves.

It showed up on mine yesterday. I made a post that had a correct medical term for a part of the male anatomy (not the p-word) and the word was astrisked out when I posted. Now I have the same notation. Rather frustrating. I guess I should have used a tacky slang term, when I thought I was taking the "high road" by using the correct term??

I will look for those tomorrow. A great tasting shake is a good find. Especially if you do not have to mix it yourself, or add ting to a premade powder to make it taste better.

How much follow-up have you had with your doctor. I had an appointment 1 week post op to remove my drain. Then another 1 week after that. Then I got to go 2 weeks before next one. That meant I was there 3 times in four weeks. The reason I ask is that they always ask about liquidity in the stool and/or constipation. They also take blood and do workup to make sure all blood chemistry is okay. Can you discuss it with your doctor? As to your questions: 1. I had some liquid stools but only for a week or so, and even then it was not total liquid. 2. I get 80+ grams of protein, but I use Yes Whey or similar products to get an extra 25-50 grams a day just but adding it to my regular drinks. 3. 22 pounds at three weeks is a pound a day. I was about that, and have seen many others on here that have been at that same rate. 4. Scared about my decision? No way. I am down 50 pounds. I am feeling so much better. I still am having trouble with the transition to solid foods. I have to eat sooo slow or I get slimed, but I am so happy with the results and the lifestyle changes I have made. VSG is a tool to bring about a new you. It takes sacrifice, time, will power, and a good deal of work to be truly successful. But it is also a wonderful tool that can help one get their life back. Just wait until you go back to school and they see a 50 pound lighter you. That is where my willpower comes from. All that positive re-enforcement. Good luck.

At a law firm i worked at years ago. An attorney, who did not do medical cases, had a couple of breast implants and a ******** replacement on top of a short bookcase by his door. People would naturally pick them up, not knowing what they were. When they asked he would say something like that was a breast implant that my grandmother had to have removed. Or that was my grandfather's replacement ********. Of course they were unused medical samples, but he would get a good laugh before telling the truth.

I was super happy with them. Especially after reading all the problems with other companies on this site. I was approved quick and did not need a psych evaluation at all. They paid 90% becuase it was an overnight stay. I got the impression for a band it would be paid at a lesser rate. I must admitt hat I was stunned at the actual bills hat have come in. I know it is all a game where you bill a million bucks and then they write it down to $50.00 and then pay $35. But still game or not the bills are staggering. I have a 2500 out of pocket maximum. Thanks goodness. My bills to date (I do not have them all) before all the silly discounts is ..............$89, 352.42. CRAZY HUH? It was written down to something like $32,744 and they paid $25,000+. I still owe $2700 but that is above my out of pocket. So we will see how it all shakes out. Bottom line is that from me United gets an A++++

I have been losing at a similar rate. I was a 40 BMI and was approved becuase of comorbididies. I lost a lot on the liguid diet pre-op as well. I am down about 50 in a bout 53 days since starting the liquid diet. I was concerned that a pound a day was too much, but doctor is pleased, I feel okay and heck - I'll take the weight loss. I know it will slow soon and then I will be wishing I had the big losses I had the first few weeks.

We have done the baked chicken strips - dip it in milk, or egg white or basically anything wet and somewhat sticky and then roll in breadcrumbs, corn flakes, anything crunchy, add a touch of parmasean cheese, or onion Soup mix, some salt or pepper to taste, whatever you like. We then put them on a wire rack, so they are not sitting on the pan, so the bottom doesn't get soggy. Turn occasionally and enjoy. The same as real fried chicken - NO; better than eating one more piece of grilled chicken - HECK YES.

Great to see you are doing so well. It only gets better. It is not easy, but when you start looking better it makes everything seem worthwhile.

I wish I could wear a T-shirt that said somethinig like "I used to be so big I missed out on life..." I wonder if it would get people to ask? If they were interested I would be happy to share my journey and I am only 1/2 way to goal. But I am 100% of the way torwards being happy.

I use the big Bariatric Advantage sweet tart looking things, but they make me nausous for about 10 - 15 minutes. Nothing bad, just unpleasant. I think it is the rasberry flavor that one poster did not like either. I need to try some of the other flavors. I have been a bit lax in taking them on schedule, but so far my numbers are good. I do like the chewing better than another pill.

I have trouble with ice Water. Room temperature or cool seems to work better for me. With things like yougurt and more solid foods the temperature does not seem to matter, but with water it does, go figure? You are not alone.

I cheat. I use little tube of fruit flavored "clear" Protein. Like Yes whey, New Whey, etc. You can get them on line or at any health food store. They ahave anywhere from 35 to 50 grams of protein in each 3-4 ounce tube. They are fruit flavored, so I just add 1/3 of the tube to my Water or tea 3x a day and WALLAH! I have 50 extra grams of protein. It has 180-260 calories, 2 grams carbs and they taste good. I used the blue raspberry in my tea, or directly into a water bottle. They do not have any "fill you up" qualities like a shake, but they get the protein in every day. I love them and swear by them. I have also bought drink mixes from Bariatric Advantage and some other sites that have 15g or so per serving. Good luck.

I agree about waiting. For two reasons. If you lose another 100 pounds, you will have some pretty dramatic body shape changes. Particularly towards the end, when there will be lots more skin and way less of the fat that has kept us filled out. Second, a tattoo is permanent. Spend time choosing both a design and an artist. Ask people you see where they got their's and if you really like it (and it shows talent, not just paint between the numbers) go see the artist. Certain ones like photos and complex people really require a specialist. You might get something small that is shaped in way that it is not likely to get distorted. Then after the next 100 add to it, or get another one. What kind of tattoo are you looking for? I am not a tattoo guy (my son has enough for both of us) I have just never thought of anything so cool and so timeless that I would want it forever. I wish you could change them like those electronic photo frames. That would be cool. Best of luck. And whatever you decision be sure to put up a picture on your profile.

I am the world's only C-PAP lover. I have been on mine for about 8 years now. I am not gining it up for anything. I even have a special small version for travel. I am at about 1/2 way on the weight loss, but have no plans to get rid of the machine. When I put that baby on, the world goes away. It makes a nice soft sound and just tells my body and brian... "Hey, the day is over - give it up - go to sleep" Otherwise I tend to be like a three year old, fighting sleep. But I put on the "face fan" and I am out like a light. And for those of you that say the mask is not sexy, I have two comments. 1. I get my "sexy" done before I put on the face mask; and 2. Did you ever see "Top Gun" or "The Right Stuff," When I put my mask on I am a sexy fighter pilot or an astronaut... (I do realize that it is just in my head and that I am sure to my wife I look like a dog on a ventilator..... However, since most of the voices I hear are in my head, I figure if he is happy I am happy)

In keeping with my juvenile and silly sense of humor, I have to share this. I saw something today that made me laugh out loud. What surprises me is that I had read it before and did not think for a minute it was all that funny. But when I read it today I bust out laughing. Here goes. On one of the forums someone wanted to encourage another member to take charge of a particular aspect of her diet. She used the saying "time to put on your big girl panties." "Big girl panties?" On a weight loss website? That is a level of irony that is just hilarious. Completely unintended. But funny. Now if we could get someone to work in a "lunch lady brasserie" joke, we would have the perfect website.

I did want to add one more comment. I re-read your post and have to bring one thing up. You said, "what if I am not fun anymore?" That is a crazy thought. Fun is Fun and you make it anyway you want. You do not have to drink and be loud to be fun! Seriously, I hang out at sports bars a lot. I now drink tea. And I swear everyone in the bar has gone deaf. I am amazed at how loud people are, especially late in the evening (more liquor = more volume). I actually think I have more fun now. I get to make fun of more people (one more Yeager bomb and she is going to fall over)... and make catty remarks (would you look at those shoes), and remember all of them the next day! But you know what? Even though I am not drinking I still go, I still have fun, I am still funny - and Lord knows I am almost good looking again... another few months and the chunk will be a hunk.... but for now and everyday until I am People's sexiest man, I will be having fun. You can count on that. There is not a reason in the world not to be FUN! Well, maybe one reason and a good laxative will cure that (that is an entirely different post). FUN is an attitude and, if you do it right, a way of life.

I have been taking 2 chewable multi Vitamins each day. I take Calcium a couple of times a week and B-12 sublingual 2x per month. So far all my numbers are perfect. I also use the 3-4 ounce liquid Protein shots (added to Water or tea) and these have lots of added vitamins as well, so I think they are helping keep the numbers up. With some of the posts I could not tell if the people listing their vitamins were taking everything everyday, or periodically. So far for me it has been a non-issue.

I was afraid I would not be able to go out to eat as much (we eat out 5 days a week) and hang out in sports bars... You know what - it has not changed a thing.... well perhaps some. Our bill is half as much. I often eat just a portion of my dinner (so what). I do not drink any more, but still hang out in sports bars. We are regulars at one and they do not care. At a new place I just order a cranberry juice so it looks like I am drinking - or I just get a tea and tough luck to anyone that notices. We are season ticket holders at the Texas Rangers. I have missed a handful of games, but am back to going to just over 1/2 of them (my usual rate). I have found things I can eat there and so I have those and just enjoy myself. It is the same as before, except that I eat 1/4 of my meal. SO WHAT! The bottomline is that you can still do the things you love, just a bit differently. I am still the curmudgeonly old grump I have been for years - just smaller. It will take some time for adjustment, but then you will get into a new routine. I think for everyone it is a bit different. We have been able to keep our lifestyle pretty much the same, others may have bigger changes. Either way, it all seems to work out. the one thing that was very hard for me at first was the eating out since we do it so much. When choosing where to go I would always complain that I did not want to go here or there becuase I did not want to pay 20 for dinner and eat a tiny portion. Well, I have gotten over that. I used to pay 20, and I still pay 20. If I enjoyed it before I can enjoy it now. The fact that it is a waste - well, that is unavoidable. We share sometimes, or if we can, we get a to-go bag. Just remember you are spending no more than before, so enjoy the meal and have a good time.

I am a big beer drinker - or at least I was - I tried a beer this weekend. I was 7 weeks out. But I was drinking it so slow (16 oz beer in 1 hour) that I never felt a thing. Basically felt like I wasted 4 bucks. Obviously beer is more filling than other drinks and has carbonation, so it requires a bit more care than a glass of wine. I also think my tolerance was pretty high, so maybe 1 beer, regardless of drinking speed, is not going to do anything. I used to drink a lot of beer, now none. I just do not see me drinking much at all anymore. Maybe to be social if necessary - Not worth the cash or calories

Make sure you are comfortable with your surgeon. It is the most important decision you can possibly make. There are many experienced and some nationally recognized people in Dallas, so you have the very best to choose from. make sure you get plenty of information and are really comfortable with the doctor's number of procedures. Keep reaching out here for feedback on any doctor you are considering. www.vitals.com is a highly respected rating service. My docs say they watch this to make sure they are rated well. might be worth a peek.