VSG AJH

This is a Snoogle, and it was my BFF during all of my obese pregnancies. Sounds like I might need to bring it out for post-op side sleeping.

Great job, everyone!

What a huge difference! You look like you've years along with the pounds -- like you could be your own son!

Way cute, LL!

I ordered the Syntrax Unflavored powder on Amazon, and tonight I mixed it into Pacific Organic Cashew Carrot Ginger soup. I could not taste the protein at all. Earlier today, I mixed bit into an orange-flavored Starbucks Via, and also no taste. Very thin protein, so no added texture when mixed.

I'm not a physician, and I'm really terrified to respond to anything in this thread, but provided you are taking in adequate water and nutritional supplements (vitamins), I do not believe you can lose too fast. Much in the same way as a bear would take in excess calories to bulk up before hibernation, our bodies are capable of taking in extra calories and storing them as fat for the leaner months. Without modern conveniences, people farmed and/or hunted for their food, and food storage would have been limited (some canning, some dry storage, etc.). Bodies were capable of putting away calories for times that foo was scarce. Present day, food is readily and easily available, one doesn't typically have to labor (farm/hunt) to get it, and additives in our food heighten our cravings, so we pack on and store way more calories than we need. As we over eat, the surface of the stomach stretches and increases, thus altering the production and reception of hunger hormones ghrelin and leptin. To me, this reflects the viciousness of the obesity cycle: the more we over eat, the more our bodies will demand we continue overrating. When we interrupt that cycle by having weight loss surgery, we are restricting our bodies from taking in the excess its grown accustomed to demanding, and we are forcing our body to function properly to burn up the calories we have stored as fat. Can that happen too quickly? No.

I don't think so, gamergirl, although I'm not 100% sure.

Way to go, Mitz!!

I'm not a vegan, but too much dairy and/or meat makes me ill even pre-op, so thinking ahead to post-op, I checked out some vegan protein powders. My nutritionist was concerned because she said I wouldn't get the branch chain amino acids that I would with whey protein, and most vegan proteins are rice or starch based, and therefore high in carbohydrates. I found Warrior Blend by Sunwarrior. It has 80 calories/1.5g fat/4g carbs/16g protein per scoop, and the package says it has a complete amino acid profile. Additionally, BCAAs are available by themselves at GNC. I'm not sure what they're made of how pairing the two together would work for me, or even if that would be necessary, but I'm enjoying the shakes now (along with whey protein), and I have them in my back pocket in case the whey becomes intolerable.

Watch LessofSarah on YouTube. She was in the 400s when sleeved almost a year ago. She's now in the thin 200s, and though she looks/feels great now, she's still losing. I certainly think it's possible.

I'm experiencing it right now. My two week pre-op diet starts Tuesday also, but I started implementing restriction and regularly taking in protein shakes yesterday. Both nights by dinner time, though, I've made the choice to eat with my family "because I won't get to do this for a while," and I've been a little nuts. I easily eat twice what I would typically eat, then feel like such a failure. I'm not "falling off the wagon" officially, but I certainly see how easy it could be.

He's still around, just not BCA. I saw a post not too long ago, screen name Aaron something. I would offer to find it, but the new site...

Thank you!

Thanks for the welcome! Best of luck, everyone!

Re: the fanny packs -- we packed a suitcase full of various snacks/foods that stayed in our room, then refilled fanny packs daily. Re: gas stations -- many gas stations have Muscle Milk Protein drinks in the cooler. Several places have protein options (pre-boiled eggs, cheese sticks, ham slices, etc.), fruit cups, fresh produce, etc. I think you might be pleasantly surprised.

Even restaurants like McDonalds let you order ala carte. You can order just a scrambled egg or just a side of bacon or just a chicken breast, etc. Each time we go to Disney, we wear in fanny packs with snacks. You could carry in protein bars, sample packets of protein to mix with water, etc. As you well know, there are loads of fantastic restaurants where you can get good, healthy meals. The cafeteria near Soarin' is good, and the Mediterranean restaurant in Epcot is yummy. If you're paying out of pocket for meals, I would see about ordering ala carte there also.

MindiJean -- what brand of protein is this? I regularly use stevia and tolerate it well, but other sweeteners make me sick. I've tried the J. Robb whey protein sweetened with stevia, but I had the J. Robb egg white protein that also had xylitol in it. It wasn't pretty.

Hey lady -- congrats! I've been waiting for an update. SO glad you got the switch!!!

You're going to find this varies from doctor to doctor. I just got my pre-op diet requirements yesterday, and I'll be taking Protein drinks several times a day, as well as eating soft protein and limited full liquids (yogurt, pudding, cottage cheese, etc.). Some doctors are stricter, apps some doctors don't do any pre-op "diet" at all.<p><p> We've all been on insanely crazy diets before. It is my opinion that we can all do anything for short amounts of time, particularly if there is a guarantees reward at the end -- like VSG that statistically leads to large amounts of weight loss. I do think, though, that many of us are food addicts and/or have histories of inappropriate relationships with food, and like recovering addicts, we will need to take this journey one day at a time.

I'll have to be In it for three months post-op

My surgeon has us to a combination of protein shakes + soft forms of protein (various dairy, canned tuna/chicken, etc.) for two weeks prior to surgery, then three weeks of full fluids, including protein shakes, thereafter. After that third week, he would like us to move to soft, puréed foods, and the goal is to get as much of our protein intake from real food, not shakes. The restriction makes that a gradual process, but it's the goal.

This is not good news!! I'm a Texan, and I just ordered the Unjury unflavored to mix with my stevia tea. The change from caffeinated to decaf tea wasn't too bad, but the change from real sugar to stevia just about did me in. Not that stevia's bad -- i actually like it -- it just doesn't make a hood Southern sweet tea. I've been holding on, though, thinking I could sip away on it with my Protein Powder mixed in. What isn't working? The taste? The texture? Maybe if it were mixed in a shaker bottle? Mixed while still lukewarm (like the sugar/stevia)?

While perusing the natural foods section of my local Kroger, I found a stellar markdown on PB2 chocolate flavor. It was $4.59/container marked down to $0.99! They don't expire for a year, so it makes me wonder if the chain is closing out the flavor, and eliminating it from their store shelves. I have enough to last me a long while, but I wanted to pass the deal along in case anyone else wanted to see if they could find a similar deal. I'm in the D/FW Metroplex, and the PB2 was in the natural market part of the store, right where it would normally belong (so not in a markdown bin in a different section). If you don't spot any there, perhaps check the markdown bin. Every Kroger seems to have one.

Hey luv2plumb -- I'm still pre-op, scheduled for the sleeve on 12/03. Regarding your work question and downtime, at my consult my surgeon recommended taking a week or two off work. I told him I was an at-home homeschooling mom with six children (ages 13, 11, 4, 2, 2, and 5 months), to which he replied, "Well then, you won't get any time off, but you'll be fine." He knows I go 100 miles an hour 100% of the time, and outside of the lifting restriction, I'll be "back to work" from the moment I walk out of the hospital. I imagine I'll be wiped out at the end of each day, but after being on these boards and reading largely of positive experiences, I'm confident I'll be able to do what I need to do post-op to keep my family functional. I will, however, have to be extra diligent to set timers for water/protein intake, and I will have to measure out the required amount each day so I don't lose track and take in too little. I'll have to use tools that others don't just so I don't let the day get away from me.

Here are some online: http://www.steviasmart.com/stpodrmipodr.html You can also find some drinks sweetened with stevia in health food or specialty stores. Zevia is a tasty stevia drink, but it's carbonated, so not really for the sleeve. Check the cooler section of your store. I know I've seen some, I just can't recall names. We shop at Whole Foods, Sprouts, Central Market, and Natural Grocers.