DanaInNewOrleans

Sleeved 12/13 lost 45 pounds been in a stall for 4 weeks

Hang in there....I've been the same weight for about 10 days .. wait, let me rephrase that...I haven't lost anything in 10 days, in fact the scale says I've gained 2 lbs.... crazy and frustrating...

This morning I had half the Cinnamon Roll..... yep, just like everyone says, it was very good...I think that is my favorite so far.

I wish the company would allow you to choose the flavors that you want for the variety box. That way you'd never get tired of one flavor.

I didn't see a Quest cookie dough flavor...where to you find it?

Never mind! I just went to the Quest website and found the cookie dough flavor -- it's new. AND I found that you can order individual bars -- not as cheap as ordering the box of 12 of one flavor but worth it to me to get what I know I like.

Oh PB & J sounds good. I had the brownie flavor today and I hated it!! I took 2 bites and out it went. A few days ago I had the chocolate chip cookie dough and it was delicious! My fave so far!!

This morning I had half the Cinnamon Roll..... yep, just like everyone says, it was very good...I think that is my favorite so far.

I wish the company would allow you to choose the flavors that you want for the variety box. That way you'd never get tired of one flavor.

I didn't see a Quest cookie dough flavor...where to you find it?

I had the Peanut Butter and Jelly for lunch today.... VERY good. It really did taste a lot like peanut butter and jelly!

There was no question in my mind which was a better choice for me. The lap band just was something I was not comfortable with...I did not like the idea of relying on a foreign object that needed adjustments, tweaking, removal, replacement, etc.

When I read about the gastric sleeve I immediately started seriously considering weight loss surgery. It is straightforward and it is for life....no ambiguous adjustments or band failure....

I wish you the best with whatever decision you make!

At last check a week ago, I've lost a total of 56 pounds. I'm below 300 for the first time in a long time. I have had issues with my Iron levels and now my Vitamin D is low. Unfortunately, both make you tired, lucky me! I haven't been exercising as much as I would like to because my energy is so low some days. I'm fighting my second bad cold since surgery now, awesome. I have enough snot for 3 people. Hopefully it will pass soon.

56 lbs is great! Are you on prescription Vit D? I've been on it on and off for a few years I can never keep mine up to a normal level.

Good luck! You went through so much -- I'm so happy you are now at such a good place!!

Can't wait to see your post plastic surgery pictures!

~Dana

_{DAY OF SURGERY: 309 LBS}

_{CURRENT WEIGHT: 203 LBS}

_{GOAL WEIGHT: 153 LBS:}

WAIT WAIT WAIT....are you telling us you LOST 100 POUNDS in 11 weeks??? I'm speechless...I did not realize that was even POSSIBLE!

Please please please fill us in your what you are doing????

(I'm still speechless AND jealous!)

Give up the secret!! I'm getting desperate....

Congratulations!!

Wow really???

Maybe I should have! I think I skipped all my meds for a few days after surgery and then just went straight into taking them.... for the first month or so I spaced them out during the day and evening. My doc never said one way or the other..

Ok, I have noticed more and more that I'm attracted to bald men. I'm talking about the guys who are going bald and say the hell with it and shave it all. The head shape has a lot to do with it I think. And another thing, the bald men who act like they KNOW they look good ( or at least are not self conscious about it) are even more sexy.

And yes, I actually had already decided that you looked great before you even asked!

~Dana

I never crushed my meds -- and I take a ton!

If I'm in a rush I can drink my 12oz Protein shake in a matter of 10-15 minutes. My guidelines specified that liquids /protein shakes will NOT stretch sleeves but I've often wondered if he left mine a little too big....

Solid Protein is different....If I push it I can probably eat 3-4oz but that would make me uncomfortable... I'm usually at my limit with dense protein at about 2 - 3oz... Ground beef and fish are the easiest for me. chicken a little harder and I find pork uncomfortable with just a few bites..

Surgery 12/21

Day of Surgery: 271

Current Weight: 239

-32 lbs

Trying not to be disappointed and frustrated because I am behind most people in stats. But hey, 32 lbs is 32 lbs right? As long as I keep losing I feel ok. My fear is that I will STOP losing...

I just received my variety box a few days ago... So far my favorite is the coconut cashew.

I forgot my other great grab and go snack! I get those individually wrapped prunes (they are called "ones"), and take a couple to work in my lunchbox. They are two bites, superfood antioxidants, high in fiber, give me my fruit servings, help with Constipation, and only 20 cals each! Sure, my husband jokes that I am an old lady for eating prunes, but I love them!

I LOVE prunes...I loved the flavored ones-- lemon essence and orange essence are so good!

Apple pie is my favorite. One I'm addicted. I drive 45 minutes. Away to by them. And. Health wise chips. They r awesome

I had the apple pie today! It was good. I keep them in the fridge because I like the texture better when they're cold....( not just the Quest --- I keep all my Protein bars in the fridge for that reason).

I've never heard of Health Wise Chips.... I'll have to look them up...

Dude, don't do it! They will send Jillian after your ass and you will be in big trouble!

That Jillian scares the hell out of me......LOL....They'd have to have the paramedics standing 5 feet away from me at all times ...

I dontvthink its thyroid for being cold. I stay a lot colder now after surgery and when i was researching it it looks like a LOT of people are staying cold afterwards.

Yep, I've been in heaven since my surgery ....being cold sure beats hot flashes! Hope it lasts...

Being cold is definitely a symptom hypothyroidism......it was one of the first symptoms I noticed before I was diagnosed. I developed thyroid cancer (not related to hypothyroidism) and I'm on full hormone replacement (had a total thyroidectomy).

Well tomorrow is the day I have been waiting for my whole life. I can't believe I will officially be sleeved tomorrow. I am so nervous and anxious I can't sleep. How did u guys sleep the night before lol. I'm on like an emotional roller coaster

:

I was completely calm. I actually didn't go to sleep -- I had to be at the hospital for 6 ( it's a 45 minute drive) so I ended up cleaning house all night - I wanted to make sure everything was clean when I got home...

I had no doubts about my decision so I was at peace. On the way to the hospital my husband made the comment that he couldn't believe how calm and unconcerned I was....

Good luck....be excited....this is the beginning of a new life!

~Dana

Thanks so much ..... sorry if it seemed like a dumb question but all the instructions noted that the sugar aerates the butter and other baking terms that I cannot remember ....I thought I needed something else in place of it...

I posted a brownie recipe blindly a week or so ago, but when I made them they were awful. So I went looking for another and made these today. They are awesome. Fudgy, chewy, and If you didn't tell anyone they would never know they were low carb. I will say if your not a fan of flax seed meal you can use almond meal instead. The flaxseed does taste kind of like grass by itself but in the final product you can absolutely not taste it. My only gripe is the seeds in the brand I bought were not ground as fine as I would prefer. Easy fix just run through a food processor, or coffee/pepper grinder. If you don't have erythritol, truvia is made with it. Whole foods sells the powdered brand suggested (zsweet, and Now). I used Splenda as the secondary sweetener. You could also experiment and add sugar free chocolate chips, or Peanut Butter. Try them you won't be disappointed.

1/4 lb butter (1 stick)

2 cups erythritol (powdered, not granulated)

1 Tbsp vanilla

4 eggs (room temp is best)

1/2 cup cocoa

1 tsp salt

4 oz unsweetened chocolate, melted

2 cups flax seed meal

1 Tbsp baking powder

1/3 cup cream

2/3 cup Water

1 cup artificial sweetener

1 cup walnuts (optional)

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 F and grease a 9X13 pan.

1) Cream the butter until fluffy.

2) Add the erythritol to the butter and cream them together until fully combined (aim for a fluffy texture). Will appear almost like wet sand.

3) Add the vanilla and beat the eggs into the mixture, one at a time.

4) Add salt and cocoa, beat well.

5) Add chocolate, beat until fluffy.

6) Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well to combine.

7) Pour into a pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes until top springs back. (You can also test if they're ready by sticking a toothpick in the brownies. If it comes out clean, or almost-so, they're done.)

8) Cool, then cut into 32 squares. If you cheat and eat one warm, know that the texture will be different once completely cool. That's when they become like real brownies. (They are even better the next day.)

Nutritional Analysis: Each of 32 brownies has 1 gram effective carbohydrate, plus 3 grams of Fiber, 3 grams of Protein, 10 grams of fat, and 107 calories.

Help! The only brownies I've ever made have been from a box and I have no idea how to cream butter...I searched but the only info on creaming butter includes sugar.... so how do you cream butter without sugar? Anybody who knows please chime in!

Thanks!

~Dana

Hey...do they have working Water in the jail...because they all look like they can use a hot bath...lol

I told my husband during the show that Rick has worn the same clothes since the beginning... lol....

WooHooooooo Shane!! You look great!!

I'm getting a little frustrated, and trying not to be. Starting weight was 305, and now I'm down to 252, but most of that was lost the first two months. I've been struggling since late January to lose. I lost 8 pounds in February, and I suppose if I kept at that rate, I would be happy, but I feel like it's ground to a halt. I can't believe it. I track everthing I eat, get in 65-75 gm Protein a day, drink more than 64 oz Fluid, limit carbs, and exercise most days of the week. I was an expert dieter and didn't lose weight before surgery, and I guess I'm not sure why I expected anything different now. However, I remain hopeful that sticking with it for the long haul will make the difference, which is something I never succeeded at before.

There, thanks for the rant, I feel better

Ok, ditto for me for everything in this post! I could have written it myself.

9 weeks post-op and I've lost 30 lbs...

Teri, I just sent you a message!

Wow! I can relate. In mine they found 3. One if which us cancer . I have neuro endocrine cancer. I've been sad, but more than anything I feel SO blessed to have chose to do this procedure and find it when we did. Best wishes!!!!

Oh honey, I'm so happy they found those 3 tumors during your sleeve surgery. What a blessing... Do you have to go through any more treatment or did the removal do the job?