joatsaint

What if my craving is for human brains? Is that head hunger or am I a zombie? :-P

I did a quick Google search and found these 2 bariatric friendly cook books from Georgetown Community Hospital. http://georgetowncommunityhospital.com/sites/www_georgetowncommunityhospital_com/Uploads/CookBook.pdf http://georgetowncommunityhospital.com/sites/www_georgetowncommunityhospital_com/Uploads/BARATRIC%20COOKBOOK.pdf

I was found to have a hiatal hernia after they did the pre-op EDG test on me. But my doc never said it would interfere with the Sleeve surgery. He said it was very common and he routinely repaired the hernias as part of the operation. But, I decided on the Sleeve before I chose a surgeon. And found a surgeon that preferred doing the Sleeve. I had a hiatal hernia and he repaired it during the Sleeve surgery. He does both Sleeve and Bypass, but he never mentioned the Bypass option.

I'm getting my 15 minutes of fame or should I say, my 1 hour of fame. :-) I'm getting naked on The Naked Truth - Sunday Oct. 4th 7pm CST. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF2gfgx3NcfBCB-_2SkCarQ The Naked Truth is a live WLS support show on Youtube. Hosted by Jennifer Bleecher and Elizabeth We discuss life before and after WLS. The The Naked Truth is a candid look at real life experience and how we traveled this WLS adventure. And how you can apply our hard won knowledge to make your WLS adventure a success. Join the fun and get your WLS questions answered. :-) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF2gfgx3NcfBCB-_2SkCarQ If you would like to receive the latest newsletter updates and helpful tips/advice, I invite you to subscribe to both my Youtube channel and my email newsletter. You'll also receive my free ebook and any future free ebooks I publish. Get my latest free eBook here == http://frankensleeve.com

I hope it's good. I am used to being on camera alone. This will be a new NSV for me. :-)

I know where you're coming from when it comes to cravings. The pre-op diet was the toughest part of this whole adventure. But the good news is, you know there is an end point to the pre-op diet. Knowing the end date made getting through it much easier. And post-op, those relentless food cravings were gone! Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

I would recommend Premier Protein chocolate shakes. I liked the flavor a lot. == Get my Free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt! == get it here ---> http://frankensleeve.com

I am right there with you. Even at 3 years post-op, I can still remember how scared/nervous/excited/scared.... did I mention scared? :-) Not knowing how my friends/family were going to react when I told them I was having surgery. And what did I know about being "normal" sized? I have 40 years of being the "fat guy" at work, at home, and around my friends. The good news is, when I woke up from surgery, I wasn't instantly thin! :-) It took me 18 months to get to what I call "normal" size. So I had plenty of time to grow into my new body and get used to my new way of living. I can tell you, that it's sooooo much better after the weight loss. It was the best decision I ever made. Get my FREE eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt! http://frankensleeve.com

My turning point was in June of 2012. I was on a cruise and sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing a whit T-shirt. I looked sideways at myself in the mirror and I looked like a big white bag of garbage. My life was already miserable enough, between the constant head hunger, feeling trapped by my weight in a job I hated, limited mobility and the random pains in my knees and feet. I just couldn't see myself living that way for another year. Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt! http://frankensleeve.com

Thank you, that's exactly what I was looking for. I'd never realized that it was the complex carbs that weren't listed. I had tried Googling the answer a few times, but I was never able to get a straight answer.

I had the same problem. It was a good 6 months before I could tolerate solid chunks of meat. To solve the problem, I switched out between chicken/turkey/beef hamburger. Turkey hamburger was the easiest on Frankensleeve. But I mixed them with re-fried beans for most of my meals. Here's 3 of my favorite recipes: http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/33646-bbq-sauce-low-carb-my-new-favorite-sauce/ http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/31168-my-favorite-mexican-food/ http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/31464-updated-really-cool-recipe-make-spaghetti-noodles-from-chicken-meat/

I know everyone is different in the way they think about how often to weigh themselves. Those first few days following surgery, I couldn't wait to jump on the scale and watch as my weight started to fall. I got very anxious if I saw the scale stay the same or (gasp!) creep up. I chose not to take it too seriously and made a deal with myself. #1 - The only weigh in that counted was 1st thing in the morning - before I got dressed, drank or ate. #2 - I could weigh myself as often as I wanted during the day. If I started getting anxious about the fluctuations in my weight during the day.... see rule #1! This system has worked well for me for almost 3 years. And when I start worrying about not losing or losing slower than I wanted, I just remind myself of how fast I WAS NOT losing weight before surgery.

The #1 motivator for me was being held accountable. The week after surgery I told everyone that I was starting a walking program. People at work saw me walking before work and at lunch, and asked me how I was progressing - almost daily. My mom, dad, and my best friend asked me how I was doing and encouraged me to keep walking. When I started the C25K jogging program, I make an announcement on my Youtube channel to let everyone know I was jumping into it. And that kept me on track. There were days when I would have skipped the workout if I didn't know there were supporters out there waiting to see me succeed. If you want to reach your goals - whatever they are - let the people around you know. Make it public. Be held accountable. Compare what you say you want against what you actually do. Do they match? If not, it’s time to change and figure out what really matters. Once you do, line up your priority with the actions you need to achieve it. And then become the person you need to be to achieve the big goals and dreams.

I know where you're coming from. I freaked out everytime I had a stall. I'd be thinking, "Is this it? Is this all I'm going to lose?" But I stuck to my walking and diet plan. And eventually, the weight would start falling off again. It took me almost a year to lose the fear of a stall. And it took that long from me to gain the confidence that, if it was working before, just stick with it, it will work again. Weight loss is not a steady downward trend, there are times when your body has to take a time-out and adjust to its new way of living. Hang in there, it does get better. Stick to your diet and exercise program and the weight will start dropping again. I promise! :-) Get my FREE eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt! Empowering Weight Loss Surgery newbies and veterans with confidence and knowledge to lose weight and keep it off for life

I KNOW! I was so surprised and happy when I discovered I was overfull with just a few bites or anything. Pre-op, 8oz would have been my first bite! :-P Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

I don't think it's the restriction that is lifted. I believe it is more psychological. I am tending to slip back into eating old habits or not to stick to my diet as closely the farther out I get. My fear of regain keeps me on track. But I don't have the social pressures or the food temptations in my life that others may experience. I'm sure that Star Jones had all kinds of tempting foods laying around her workplace. Plus the constant scrutiny about her weight probably weighs heavily on her mind. Or she may feel like she does not deserve to have lost the weight. Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

My latest NSV was really a Negative NSV! :-P I found a shirt I really wanted BAD! It was the only one in purple they had. And it was 3 sizes too BIG! I was too thin to wear it. :-) Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

I use melatonin on a regular basis. I try not to take it more than once a week, as I become dependent on it to get to sleep. It's not addictive, but if I use it too often, it's difficult to get to sleep without it. The smallest dose I can get locally is 3mg. - about $7 a bottle of 30 pills. I normally only take 1/2 a pill. If I take the 5mg or higher, I have nightmares. :-( Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

Thanks Radar, It makes me feel good, knowing I'm of help. The sleeping thing was really a problem for me. I've been a side sleeper all my life. Sleeping propped up was difficult and I got very little rest because of it. But I was able to go back to my normal way of sleeping within a few weeks. AND I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat if I had to! WLS was sooooo worth it!

I agree! Test, test, test. That's the only way to figure out what works for you. We're all the same, but different at the same time. There's no all encompassing authoritative guide to what works post WLS. Each WLS doctor has their own guide to diet and exercise, they only know what their experience tells them works. I would never say to disregard your doctor's guidelines, but a little tweaking may improve your results.

Just keep in mind, that estrogen is stored in fat. As you lose the fat, estrogen is released and kinda jack with your emotions. :-) And I know from personal experience that when I'm eating too few carbs, that I'm low energy, more cranky and get agitated easier.

I too wish I had known about the gas pains. My doc said to expect, "some discomfort" He didn't say it was going to feel like the critter from Alien was trying to burst out of my chest! :-P I wish I would have known to bring my own CPAP Water to the hospital - they gave me sterilized water, talk about nasty! And I wish I would have brought my favorite pillow to the hospital. It would have made sleeping easier and helped on the ride home.

I am assuming your "normal" food is processed or fast food? I can tell you why I gained 4lbs since this morning. I had lunch with my parents. Seriously! They eat high salt, high carb foods. I woke up weighing 211 this morning. Got back at 5pm and was up to 215lbs. It was all the salt and carbs I consumed. When I get back on my normal diet of lean Protein and vegetables - starting tomorrow morning - I will lose those excess Water pounds in a couple of days. Processed foods and high carb foods trigger my body to hold onto water and store calories as fat. I have to stick with protein and vegetables to maintain or lose weight. Even eating too much fruit will cause me to gain weight.

5 Steps to Cool Down Quickly After a Hot Workout . 1) Pre-cool before the workout To pre-cool, begin hydrating at least two hours before your workout with cold drinks, sit in an air-conditioned room, or have some cooling packs on hand. 2) Stretch it out post-workout Walk and stretch for at least ten minutes until your heart rate slows down. 3) Take a hot-and-cold shower A Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport study found that athletes who alternated soaking in hot and cold water after exercising experienced a significant reduction in their heart rate and blood lactate levels. 4) Smooth on skin-cooling lotion After a shower, hydrate your skin with a lotion that contains cooling properties like menthol. 5) Drink peppermint tea—hot or cold Research shows that in dry, hot climates, having a hot drink actually helps us cool off, since the heat from the drink triggers a sweating response. read the entire article: http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/wellbeing/fitness/5-steps-to-cool-down-quickly-after-a-hot-workout.php

Thanks for the reminder. I had completely forgotten about Quest Cravings. They are a pretty good substitute for Reece's Cups, but they are a bit on the dry side - they seem to have a powdered Peanut Butter center. The only down side is the expense. I think I had to pay $2.00 for a pack of 2 cups.