ATLGirl

I am almost a month out and protein drinks STILL make me ill. I did not do well during my liquid phase with protein drinks. You'll get through it though. I focused on skim milk during my liquid phase and low carb smoothies from Smoothie King. Now I try to eat all my protein. To get to my daily requirement I am eating about 2 Low-fat string cheeses a day and drinking about 16 ouces of milk. Cuple that with my breakfast (egg) lunch (tuna) and dinner. I think I am getting all my protein in. Do a search on "protein drinks" and you will see you are not the only one.

Since you are so close to your date, I would recommend going on an all liquid diet. The point of the pre-op diet is not to lose weight but to shrink the liver some and remove some of the fat from the outside. Just my thoughts

Looking good...

I was just getting ready to post something similar. I had surgery on Jan 22 and I am down about 35 pounds since then. i see people who went to surgery around the same time and weighed less down at least 10-15 some 20 pounds than me. I never wanted to loose super fast (because of the whole skin thing) but I wanted to be out of the 200's 4 months post op (5 months max). I CAN NOT stand Protein shakes. I have wasted about $200 on different ones and the foam, the smell, everything makes me gag. I do eat a good amount of protein a day. I eat 2 boiled eggs (12g) 2 Sargento skim milk string cheese (16g) I drink about 12 oz of skim milk (15g) and then Water protein I eat for dinner usually 1/2 chicken breast (15g) or fish (12g) and most days I have tuna fish thrown in the mix. I get at least 64 oz of Fluid daily and I work out 40-60 mins. i knew it was going to be slower for me because I work from home (telecommuting) and spend most of my day in front of a monitor or a conference (video conference) calls. I read the post of others who are on the fast track and they are downing a Protein shake in the morning and i wonder if that's where I am missing the mark. I am hoping to lose 15 pounds by April 15. I really just want to be out of thr 240s and close to the 220s so I can stop beating myself up. I feel like that will put me back on track. I am losing inches and a "shape is appearing BUT I really want to well into the 100s when I go on my cruise in November. I am super psyched that my body is changing and I look/feel better. Not to many people asking questions, but you can't help but to feel a little down when looking at sleevers who went from flab to fab leaving you in the dust.

Congrats

I know this feeling. I had surgery on Jan. 22 and now I'm eating regular food. When something taste so good and then after a few bites.. I'm like "oh-np". But I am learning to stretch my eating period over 30 mins to make sure I am getting all the vitamins possible.

Only drink bottled water. My surgeon, coordinator, and driver all pressed that.

Dearly beloved, We are all here to say Rest In Peace to the salty fred goodness known as McDonald's Fries. Oh they were good fries. Crispy, crunch, and oh so good. They are being laid to rest with the Whopper and the Triple Thick shake. May they never return to this body For I am now made new and whole

Sorry you having issues. Sending healing waves your way.

Onederful!

Sending healing your way

I read somewhere on here that the amount of calories you would have to eat to gain a pound or two overnight is almost impossible for new sleevers. Once I read that, I stop beating myself up and kept it moving.

The sleeve does require a hospital stay...recommended 2-3 days.

Tiffany posted a chart about the importance of a good multivitamin. I'm going to try to find it to post.

Welcome Mary. I am only a little over a month out, but I'm glad I made the choice.

Hi my wonferful family, I can really use some suggestions and word of encouragement. I am 32 days out and I feel like I am failing already. I thought I was doing pretty well with 32 pounds gone. But this week alone I have added 2.4 pounds back on. At first I thought it was because of the Water. I have finally been able to drink about 70 ozs a day. But now, i'm not sure. I wanted to ask about the importance of the Protein shake. i don;t eat much but everyday I fail to make it through a Protein Shake. So to make up I eat a can of tuna and 1 egg everyday. I don't know if not getting to my protein goal of 50-60 grms a day is hindering my weightloss. I am trying to suck it up and not be a baby. If you guys tell me its the lack of protein, then I know what I have to do. I was out of the 250s and now I am back knocking at its door. I do workout about 30-45 mins a day (in 20 min sections). I just don;t want to feel like I went through all of this for nothing. Thanks for listening.

Hash browns Substitute: Squash for potatoes Summer squash (the football-shaped yellow kind) tastes similar to potatoes when cooked—but has just a fraction of the carbs. Grate the squash, mix in an egg as binder, make patties, and fry them in olive oil, says Mary Dan Eades, M.D., co-author of The Low-Carb Comfort Food Cookbook. Carbs eliminated: About 15 grams (g) per hash-brown patty The taste: "Not as firm and crispy as regular hash browns, but the potato flavor is there." Mashed potatoes Substitute: Cauliflower for potatoes One of Dr. Agatston's favorites: Steam some fresh or frozen cauliflower in the microwave. Then spray the cauliflower with butter substitute, add a little nonfat half-and-half substitute, and puree in a food processor or blender. "Salt and pepper to taste and you've got something that quite honestly can compete with the real thing any day," says Dr. Agatston. To make it even better, try adding roasted garlic, cheese, or sour cream to the mixture. Carbs eliminated: 30 g per cup The taste: "After a couple of bites, you forget it's not potatoes." Lasagna Substitute: Zucchini slices for noodles Slice four to five medium-size zukes lengthwise into 3/4-inch-thick strips, instructs Lise Battaglia, a New Jersey chef whose past clients include Jon Bon Jovi. Sprinkle Italian seasoning on the strips, place them in a single layer on a nonstick cookie sheet, and bake at 425 degrees F for 20 minutes. You want them firm, not crisp. "Then simply make the lasagna as you normally would, replacing lasagna noodles with the baked zucchini," she says. Carbs eliminated: 36 g per serving The taste: "Delicious. The zucchini provides texture that you don't get from noodles alone." Spaghetti Substitute: Spaghetti squash for spaghetti A cooked spaghetti squash is like Mother Nature's automatic spaghetti maker — the flesh becomes noodle-like strands. "All you have to do is cut the squash in half and remove the seeds. Then place each half — cut side down — on a plate with a quarter cup of water," says Elizabeth Perreault, a chef at Colorado's Culinary School of the Rockies. Nuke the squash for 10 minutes or until it's soft to the touch. Let it cool, then scrape out the "spaghetti" strands and top with pasta sauce and cheese. Carbs eliminated: 30 g per cup The taste: "Great. Spaghetti squash has exactly the same consistency as real pasta." Pancakes Substitute: Oatmeal and cottage cheese for pancake mix Here's a can't-fail recipe from The South Beach Diet. Mix together half a cup of old-fashioned oatmeal, a quarter cup of low-fat cottage cheese, two eggs, and a dash each of vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Process in a blender until smooth. Cook the mixture like a regular pancake. Carbs eliminated: 45 g per pancake The taste: "With syrup, you could never tell the difference." Scalloped potatoes Substitute: Tempeh for potatoes You may think you don't like soy-based foods, but that could be because you don't cook them right, says Beckette Williams, R.D., a San Diego-based personal chef. "Tempeh can be really bland, but if you jazz it up with herbs and spices, it's a great substitute for potatoes." Her recommendation: Saute a couple of cups of thinly diced tempeh with garlic and onions. Then pour a cheese sauce (sharper is better) over the tempeh cubes and bake for half an hour. Carbs eliminated: 11 g per cup The taste: "Just like a slightly nutty baked potato." Macaroni and Cheese Substitute: Diced vegetables for macaroni Even instant mac and cheese can go lower-carb; use only half the pasta in the box and bulk it up with a couple of cups of frozen mixed vegetables, says Sandra Woodruff, R.D., co-author of The Good Carb Cookbook. Carbs eliminated: 13 g per cup The taste: "I hate broccoli, but I wouldn't mind eating this." Pasta salad Substitute: Mixed vegetables or black beans for half the pasta Same idea as the mac and cheese, but try black beans, diced tomatoes, and chunks of ham, tuna, chicken, or hard-boiled eggs, suggests Richard Ruben, an instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. "These kinds of salads are a blank slate, so you can top them with anything from a creamy blue-cheese dressing to vinaigrette, or even lime juice and slices of avocado," Ruben says. Carbs eliminated: 10 g per cup The taste: "Awesome. I don't miss the extra pasta at all." Cheese-flavored chips Substitute: Low-fat string cheese for chips Just crazy enough to work: Cut sticks of string cheese into quarter-inch-thick slices and scatter the rounds on a cookie sheet coated with nonstick spray, leaving them an inch or two apart. Bake at 375 degrees F for 4 to 5 minutes or until the cheese melts and turns golden brown. Let them cool, then peel the chips off the tray. Carbs eliminated: Up to 90 g per serving The taste: "Like the cheese you pull off the top of a pizza." Pizza Substitute: Portobello mushrooms for pizza crust Cut the gills out of the inside of the mushroom, says Ruben, "then place the mushroom on an oiled cookie sheet and bake for 5 to 10 minutes so it dries out slightly." Add tomato sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni or other toppings and broil until the cheese begins to melt. Carbs eliminated: About 20 g per slice The taste: "Like pizza, but moister. Give me a fork!" Beef-a-Roni Substitute: Eggplant for pasta Mixing diced eggplant with ground beef is healthier and more highbrow than this old skillet special — call it moussaka American style. You have to soften the eggplant first, says Williams. Cut it in half, brush it with olive oil, and then broil for 10 to 20 minutes. "Let it cool, dice it up, and mix with hamburger, tomato sauce, and spices," she says. Carbs eliminated: 26 g per cup The taste: "Exactly like Hamburger Helper, in a good way." Sandwiches Substitute: Napa or Chinese cabbage for bread Slap your turkey and Swiss onto a leaf of cabbage and roll it up. "I've made some great-tasting BLTs using cabbage instead of bread," Battaglia says. Dip the roll in low-fat mayonnaise or mustard. Carbs eliminated: 29 g per sandwich The taste: "Better than eating plain cold cuts." Source: Some Low Carb Substitution Ideas

I puke almost every other day. I'm 32 days out, but you would think that there wasn't much in that little stomach. To me it doesn't feel any different. I am worried that I will develop on bad habit (over eating) to another one (puking). Hope it past soon. Spoke to my surgeon who backed me up to liquids for a few days to give my throat a rest. Haven;t puked in 2 days, so maybe its passing.

Please read........it might help you. Apple Cider Vinegar or ACV has been around for a long time yet many doctors do not prescribe it for ailments that it is perfectly capable of treating. * * * This wonder food is said to help with weight loss, acne, acid reflux, cholesterol, constipation and heartburn among others. Apple cider vinegar, also called just cider vinegar, is produced from cider or apple must (crushed and aged apples). The unfiltered product is a kind of brownish to yellow color, the unfiltered cider contains the "mother of vinegar", this is the part that has the most health benefits. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is a natural bacteria fighter that contains minerals and trace elements such as magnesium, phosphorous, chlorine, sodium, sulfur, potassium, calcium, copper, iron, silicon and fluorine. This wonder food is said to help with weight loss, acne, acid reflux, cholesterol, constipation and heartburn among others. it is also said to work wonders for your overall health and can even help fight diseases such as osteoporosis, cancer, memory problems and aging. Apple cider vinegar will also act as a blood thinner which aids in the prevention of high blood pressure (blood pressure chart). Vinegar has been used to cure and prevent a variety of ailments for centuries. As early as the time of Hippocrates, considered by many to be the father of medicine, vinegar was used to treat patients. During the Civil War, it was used as an antiseptic. What makes it so special and why should you use it? Apples are one of the most nutritious, health-giving foods available, containing a host of vitamins and minerals like pectin, beta-carotene, calcium, iron, phosphorous and potassium in addition to enzymes and amino acids. Apples are the main ingredient in apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar detoxifies and purifies various organs in the body. As a purifier, it breaks down fatty, mucous and phlegm deposits within the body. By breaking down these substances, it improves the health and function of organs such as the kidneys, bladder, and liver. It oxidizes the blood, reducing the risk of high blood pressure, and neutralizes any toxic substance or harmful bacteria that enters the body by ingesting certain foods. Apple cider vinegar promotes healthy digestion, assimilation and elimination. Research has proven that apple cider vinegar can assist in strengthening the heart, stabilizing blood sugar and reducing the risk of certain cancers. It flushes harmful toxins from your body and assists in weight control. Try drinking two to six teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with water every day. It can also be used in cooking or sprinkled on salads, vegetables, etc. You can drink it as a hot or cold beverage and sweeten it with honey. You might wonder, if Apple Cider Vinegar is so great, why hasn't your doctor told you about it? I think the simple reason might be that medical doctors are more apt to prescribe medicines than natural remedies. Pharmaceutical companies spend a lot of money getting their medicines and pills approved and they certainly wouldn't want you using the inexpensive, unpatentable alternative of ACV instead of buying their expensive cures and treatments. One big problems today that many people suffer from is acid reflux. Consequently, pharmaceutical companies have come up with a plethora of pills to treat this ailment. But before you take pills that may be harmful to you, you might want to consider treating your acid reflux or other stomach ailments with apple cider vinegar. You see, your stomach needs acid to digest food and when you have digestive problems like acid reflux or heartburn it's not because you have too much acid it's because there is too little. Most medications you would take for these are antacids which diminish the amount of acid in your stomach but this may not be what you need. These antacids may treat the symptoms but they will not address the cause and therefore, will never cure your problem. Apple cider vinegar will mimic the acid level of your stomach and help you digest food properly which can help to treat that burning sensation. In addition, you might also consider taking digestive enzymes that will help your stomach digest the food. If you suffer from acid reflux, heartburn or nausea, try taking one tablespoon of Apple cider vinegar prior to each meal. You may see your symptoms go away in as little as three days. However, you'll want to continue this practice for three to nine months and you may see the problem disappear altogether. You don't want to use just any kind of ACV, though. What you need is organic apple cider vinegar that still has the enzymes in it (called the "mother"). This is where the healing properties are. The "mother" will show up inside the bottle as stringy globs floating around. To get the most out of your vinegar, shake it up each time you take a swig so that the mother can be dispersed throughout. What's that you say? It tastes terrible? Certainly most people do not take to the taste of ACV right away but it can be somewhat of an acquired taste and I know many people (including myself) that slug down a tablespoonful of the stuff all by itself. If you can't stomach this, space however, there are some things you can do to make it a little bit more palatable. Apple cider vinegar can be taken in many various ways including in salad dressings, making mayonnaise, or sprinkled on chips and fries. It also can be sweetened with natural honey to make it taste better, a method often used in India where physicians will often prescribe apple cider vinegar with Gotu Kola (a herb) to help in the revitalizing of the skin. You might try making a tea out of your Apple cider vinegar by heating a couple of water and then adding a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to that. While it's best to take ACV before each meal, you can also take it anytime your stomach feels a little upset and it will have immediately curative effects. Some people swear by it, and drink it for everything including the onset of cold and flu. Apple Cider Vinegar is also a cure for bad breath or halitosis due to its acidity. An additional benefit is that many people who have taken apple cider vinegar before each meal have seen a moderate weight loss as well. Some theories for the weight loss benefits of apple cider vinegar suggest that ACV may help to speed up the bodies metabolism. Medicinal uses of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar Honestly, natural apple cider vinegar is one of nature's own, true miracle health elixirs. The long history of its use demonstrates, rather clearly, that using vinegar was once highly revered as a practical medical application long before Johnny Appleseed graced North America by planting apple trees. The healing powers of vinegar has been traced back as far as 3000 BC, Hippocrates, Babylonia, and to 15th century England as a means to ward off dangerous and infectious diseases, to keep one's general health fit and strong, and used as a simple antiseptic/disinfectant. When deciding to use ACV for medicinal purposes, be sure to select only a raw, non-distilled vinegar. You may be able to find this type of vinegar in your regular grocery store. But more likely than not, you will probably need to look for it at a local health food store. Clear distilled vinegar is easy to find in any food store and is relatively inexpensive. This type of vinegar is great for regular household cleaning chores, but it is not so wonderful for your internal health. Non-distilled vinegars are definitely going to be more expensive and nutritionally potent than the distilled varieties, but isn't your health worth the price difference? Plus, you are going to have the satisfaction of knowing that you have chosen the right mixture that will work hard to enhance your health. Most commercial brands (whether white or brown) have been pasteurized, filtered, and refined or distilled in order to make the final product look more attractive to please the consumer. The manufacturers are only giving the consumer what they apparently seem to want. Unfortunately, unbeknown to the average consumer, this extra processing actually destroys much of the natural health restorative properties of the end product. Look for ACVs that have been cold pressed and made from whole, organically grown apples, with no added chemical preservatives, and in which the 'mother' of vinegar liquid has been retained. This 'mother' substance, as it is lovingly known, is the gelatinous liqueur that is naturally formed during the final fermentation process. This milky, cloudy, and stringy looking stuff at the bottom of the container is what contains the healthiest part of the mixture. It also lets you know that the important vitamins and minerals, enzymes, and naturally occurring good bacteria have not been compromised due to over processing, filtration, or excessive heating. Before consuming, shake the the bottle gently to thoroughly distribute all of the nutrients, pour, and serve. An energy boosting way to drink ACV, without it taking your breath away, is to mix about 2 teaspoons with an equal amount of raw honey in a small glass of warm water. Stir to dissolve the honey and drink one to three times a day. You can sip on this drink during a meal for extra digestive power, or you can drink this ahead of a meal. Refrain from drinking to much water or any other beverage during your meal, and for up to an hour afterward. Give your gastric stomach juices enough time to fully break down the food you just ate, on its own, without weakening their effects with added liquids. Why use apple cider vinegar? Because, when it is used medicinally it helps the body rid itself of harmful toxins, has wonderful disinfecting properties as a natural bad germ fighter, and is a very biodegradable substance that does not pollute the environment. With regular and continued use, this wonderful liquid helps restore and balance the body's pH, taking it from acidic to neutral in a short amount of time. Normally, it would be hard to believe that such an acidic substance could normalize, or lower our pH so easily. As far as I know, this only applies to vinegar, as our digestive system will naturally convert it to an alkaline based substance. An acidic internal system is directly caused from eating excessive amounts of meat, grains, and sugar by eating and drinking too many processed foods and beverages. This will provide an invitation, internally, for unwanted illness or disease to set up house. Otherwise, a neutral or more alkaline system will promote an enhanced emotional and physical health state. Raw, ACV contains over 40 different naturally occurring substances from vitamins and minerals, to enzymes and beneficial bacteria. It has been used for generations to treat a variety of different human health conditions such as, arthritis high blood pressure all types of skin problems chronic fatigue and insomnia heartburn and other digestive abnormalities high cholesterol maintaining normal body weight This is not exhaustive list, by far, of common health maladies that ACV has been known to eliminate. As with any new diet addition, your expectations may be too high in the healing effects of vinegar. Keep in mind that it is not to be considered a panacea for all ill health evils. Although many individuals have achieved a more improved physical state by using vinegar, without modifying their daily dietary habits, serious diet modifications need to be considered in some hard-core cases. Doing so would further enhance a partial response when combined with a healthier diet. This is, especially, a key factor when using vinegar for serious weight loss. You simply must reduce or eliminate your consumption of over processed foods, eat more raw plant foods, eat smaller meals more often, and step up your effort in getting regular and moderate physical exertion. These strategies combined with ACV will take you a long way in seeing the results you are hoping for, and quicker. It is possible to lose up to one to three pounds a week. Remember too...that diet modifications include increasing daily liquid intake. Apple cider vinegar works best when adequate liquids are supplied to help carry out the toxins we ingest and are exposed to every day. Not just any liquids, but read this to mean WATER exclusively. Start reducing the amounts of other beverages you may be drinking instead, such as soft drinks, coffee, tea, fruit juices, and alcohol. Moderation, in occasionally consuming these, is absolutely crucial in maintaining a healthy body weight (even if your underweight), or if you are trying to lose weight. When used as a flavor seasoning, or drinking as a healthy tonic, ACV could have your current health issue becoming a thing of the past. As with any type of natural or conventional health treatment, be realistic. Expect a reasonable amount of time for vinegar to take affect. This may be only a few days, a week, or it could be longer. If you are really committed to giving it a real chance, you may look forward to a much different health reality sooner than you think. Related Articles about Apple Cider Vinegar Magic of Apple Cider Vinegar as a Natural Home Remedy Brenda Skidmore has spent over the last five years actively researching natural health care alternatives. She can attest to the many positive results natural practical cures and preventive strategies bring to human health. Along with the many medical professionals whose public works she has studied, it is her sincere desire to empower others by sharing this important information. To improve your health today visit: (link) Link To" Apple Cider Vinegar" <a href="http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/apple-cider-vinegar.shtml">Apple Cider Vinegar</a> Email Article Printable This site is intended for your general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Read more: http://www.disabled-...l#ixzz11PR3zLr7 Source: Apple Cider Vinegar

I am 32 days out. The liquid stage is pretty "easy" to get through. But trust me when you all have that first egg (or half of it) you will know your sleeve is there. I was glad that I could "drink" more than I expected. You have to stay hydrated and at 4 oz at a time, it take a good amount of energy..

I was worried about the flight so I book a late flight so it wouldn't be full. I was 281 (5'5) when I flew and did not get an extender (embarrassed to ask). If the flight is not full, they tend not care as much.

Please excuse my frankness, but I to look at your profile pic to see exactly who I am offering advice to. I, being African American, am no stranger to extensions. Extensions, depending on the install method, can actually protect your hair. There are many reasonable ways to test them out before spending big bucks. I recommend, like Sleeve, to go with clips. I wear clips on days I just want to add some length or don't have time (or money) to get a traditional install. You can also have your extensions sew-in, making sure NOT to go to a tight braider, fused in (also known as fusion [hot or cold], there is also a new no glue, no braids method which I am considering (but the cost is slightly higher) for an install that I want to last about 9 months. Hopes this helps.

Awesome. Who knew it only took 30 pounds to notice a difference. I just lost my first 30 one month out and I am looking forward to the next 30!

So I needed a space where I can come, vent, and move on without looking childish. The past couple of weeks a particular topic about Dr. Ramos-Kelly has been getting a lot of attention. First, let me say I heart my doctor and what he has done for me. He is an excellent surgeon. The DRAMA that has occurred is because a VST member was advocating to ONLY go through his "personal" assistant for the best price and service. I did not go through this assistant and had a great experience and the price is the same. What irks my nerve is ANYONE who did not go along and praise this assistant was talk to in an unfriendly matter. We're all grown and have opinions. BUT the icing on the cake is the information I found out in the wee hours of the morning. So this particular VST member is telling people to PM her and she will connect them to this "coordinator." She provides no info in her signature like most of us. She is getting a referral fee from this "coordinator." Which I have absolutely no issue with. My issue is bashing other coordinators and companies like you give a darn about connecting people to other good people. You are getting money for the people you send the coordinator and to me your opinions are not genuine. You are a grown women, conducting yourself as a child, and deceiving newbies to the site. How dare you claim to not know said coordinator was starting her own business when YOU supplied her with her new laptop. I was beginning to wonder how, someone who you were only around for 3 days, deserves such high praises and esteem. Its because she is cutting you into her new business model. Be honest with the people. YOU are turning people off from Dr. Kelly (I have PMs to prove it) with YOUR "car salesmen" mentaility. Geesh! Whoosa! I feel better now. Back to the regularly scheduled program. .

Congrats