SpaceDust

I was supposed to check in at 8:45, but now it's not until 11. My nerves are fully engaged. .. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST

Well, my fellow July 2nd sleevers, how are you doing? I hope your diet for the day, whatever it might be, is going well! I'm luckily not one of the folks who have to do clears today, but honestly, my poor tummy is tied in knots right now and I'm not hungry anyhow. I'm not second guessing myself at this point - I'm solid with getting this done and I am not having any serious doubts that is the right thing to do. I'm just having a hard time distracting myself from the fact that 75% of my stomach will be gone by this time tomorrow. I think I'll go get my hair done, and maybe get a pedicure. Perhaps that will be sufficient to distract me for a few hours! Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST

Have you talked to your NUT? My guess is that you may be right about your intake being low, but it would be best to check in with an expert. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST

I think burning 1200 calories in one session is probably bunk. From my research, what generally happens with body wraps is that you lose hydration. You may look/feel slightly slimmer for a couple of days, but it is not any sort of permanent loss, caloric or otherwise. They're probably useful to temporarily slim a bit to fit in that special dress for an event, but I'm skeptical of any other benefit. That said, if you decide to do this I'd love to hear about any results you might have! Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST

Best bet for PB is to get PB2. It's powdered, and is real peanut butter, just with most of the fat removed. It is great for adding to Protein shakes for flavor, or you can mix it with Water if you want it for dipping and spreading. You can find it in the health food section of some groceries, or you can order it from Amazon or straight from Bell Plantation. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST

This book, while very good, expresses one set of opinions. There is another school of thought by well respected professionals that carbonation in moderate amounts is unlikely to cause any significant stretching of a sleeve, as the stretchy part of the stomach, the fundus, is removed during the surgery. Per this school of thought, the stretching is actually a holdover and more applicable to either gastric bypass or lap band, as the fundus is part of the pouch for both of these procedures. It can, however, result in discomfort! And, of course if you regularly stuff your sleeve to overflowing you can eventually cause stretching of the sleeve, regardless of what it is you stuff with, including carbonated beverages. The key is always moderation. Bottom line, follow what your doctor or dietician says first and foremost. After discussing it with my dietician, I'm allowed to introduce a glass or two of sparkling Water a few months out, after I heal. Sugary carbonated beverages are highly discouraged because of the lack of nutritional value coupled with high calorie count. I'm also allowed coffee and tea without restriction. Your instructions may be different. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST

You might want to start by searching this forum: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/forum/10-gastric-sleeve-vsg-surgeons-and-hospitals/ Ask your PCP for a referral - he or she may know which bariatric surgeons are recommended in your area. Web searches are your friend, as well. Try searching for "sleeve gastrectomy" plus your area in New York as a place to start. Once you have some surgeons that you're interested in, come back here and do a search for information that may have already been posted, as well as asking about specific surgeons.

Hang in there. It's 7 days left of the diet. You can do this, and you need to do this! I know it's tough - I'm finishing my diet as of tomorrow, for surgery on Tuesday, so I definitely know how tough it is. That said, what makes you say that you are failing the diet? What is your diet plan, and where are you deviating?

Depends on what you want. You can get most things through Amazon if you know what brands you want. Bariatric Advantage, Unjury, and Syntrax certainly all have their own sites, as well. In the Pre-op and Post-op Diets forum (http://www.verticals...-post-op-diets/) there's a sticky at the top of the forum that discusses where to get protein foods and samples as well.

Sounds like pho without the solid parts

Outstanding! That's good to hear!

The problem with most of the Protein shots is the primary protein is collegen, which our bodies do not readily convert for use. Good protein options are whey protein isolate or soy protein isolate for most people. So, while a number of them say they have good Proteins, it's usually a ways down the ingredient list, and the actual usable protein may only be, for example, 11 grams out of the 40-50 grams that they claim to have. There is one protein shot that appears to be reasonably.high in good protein, and I've been told this one is acceptable - it's called Yes, Whey. There may be others, but this is the only one I'm aware of. This Carnivor shot that is linked to above may also be a good option if you can tolerate them, since they use beef protein isolate, which our bodies should be able to use in theory. Of course, if your doctor or NUT recommends you use them, follow their directions. I'm neither a NUT nor a doctor, just someone who has done a bunch of research

My diet specifies soft cooked eggs only when I'm allowed to start them (two weeks out when I start soft food - we don't have a pureed stage though some foods in our soft stage are recommended to be pureed) - scrambled, poached or soft boiled. I'm pretty specifically not supposed to have fried eggs. How did you do with the egg? Did you tolerate it well?

Ugh, I never did really like the EAS shakes. You also need to be careful with their RTD shakes, as most of them are too high in carbs. For RTD, I like the Premier shakes - I keep some of the vanilla and the chocolate in the fridge for grab and go convenience. I have an assortment of powder Protein as well, mostly Syntrax (some of the lighter fruit flavors, vanilla and the Cookies and cream), unjury chicken and unflavored and the Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% whey that I was taking starting late last year (and still like because it leaves me feeling full a bit longer than many of the others!) We'll see which ones I still like when I start full liquids next Friday

It's very normal, even for those of us who aren't getting negative feedback. I'm 2 days away from my surgery and I still have my moments of "do I really want to do this? I'm losing so well on my pre op diet. .." Ultimately, I remind myself that I've been here before, and I need the support of the restriction to keep me in check for the long run. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST

I'm an apple currently, but I'm more naturally a pear when my weight is lower - I always carried the most weight in my hips and thighs. Here's to hopefully becoming a pear again, if I can't miraculously become perfectly proportioned Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST

It's a good book to have in your arsenal, for sure. Just remember that it doesn't take the place of your surgeon and dietician or nutritionist; keep in mind that there are different schools of thought regarding appropriate diet, what's allowed and when it's allowed, etc. so don't be surprised when you find some things don't match. That said, this is an excellent overview and provides a number of useful tips and reassurance to help get through the process

Mine will be at the surgery center. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST

Yup, that would be me, sorry for abandoning you, Daydra! We'll still show 'em how it's done, though!

If you can have a handful and not have it become half a bag, or tempt you to have other high carb, low nutrition foods, then it sounds like a perfectly reasonable way to treat yourself at this stage of the game. Just keep an eye on it to make sure that portion size doesn't creep up, or become a handful in the afternoon, and another one before dinner, and the one in front of the tv later in the evening! Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST