MsLissa12

CONGRATULATIONS!!! WAY TO GO!!! I can't WAIT until I reach 50!!

I saw these awhile back in the frozen food section at the grocery store. I have been super tempted to try them, but am worried about sodium content, and there are always only THREE options: breakfast bowl, and the alfredo chicken/broccoli, and the beef tips one. How many more are there out there? And where did you find them? I saw them at the WalMart Neighborhood Market, and HEB. No where else yet.

Definitely something to look into...the mystery of mind over matter? lol I know that chemical changes occur (because we have a smaller stomach), there are things that are missing that our body used to have there, and that somethings need to re-balance post op. And, YES, most of it is mental (the struggle w/re-learning our habits). My surgeon wrote a book that I read pre-surgery and it really helped give me some insight on the way VSG works, what to expect post-op, describing what the surgery is physically, and lastly how to effectively use it as a tool to learn to be healthier.

So, I'm 13wks out. Lots and lots of changes happening since my VSG surgery. I have noticed that I feel cold alot, and I have the sensory smell of a pregnant woman...which leads me to my topic today. I never thought I would reach the "lose the crave" phase of my recovery. Well fellow sleevers, I'm here today to say that it's a real thing. I'm a junk food junkie, loved fast food, and a straight carb-a-holic. I love french fries, nachos, tacos, burgers, chili dogs, etc....for the first time since surgery I have lost the craving for fast food stuff. With my new "pregnancy sense of smell" my stomach turns with certain odors. While working one day last week a mom of several tiny tots came in and had stopped at Jack in the Box to feed her brood. The smell of those once glorious curly fries TURNED MY STOMACH!!! YES!!! The freshly fried taters were turning me green so much that I had to close my "window" to the lobby so that I could breathe! Slowly but surely I've noticed that this is happening w/many other bad foods that I once treasured (although sometimes my brain still thinks I want it). Anyone else had this happen? Is it hormonal or chemical? It happens quite often w/things non-food related as well - i.e. cigarette/cigar smoke. In other news, DOWN 22 LBS and go for my 3mnth follow up next week. Keep on Truckin' sleevers...it's a long road, but stay at the ready! HAPPY MONDAY!

Today is Thursday, and Monday I had my 2nd post op follow up with my surgeon. GREAT NEWS! I'm down 6lbs since my initial follow up and I'm 1/4 of the way to my goal already! He said he was proud of me and that I seem to be on the right track so far. I can't express how great it felt to hear someone sasy they were proud of me. At first I was like, uhm, ok? proud of me for what? not eating my weight in M&M's or falling into a large pit of Pasta? But as a long term fluff (that's what I call it) I have never been good at hearing compliments of any kind. After understanding that he was offering me positive reinforcement praise for (in my mind) so little efforts, I was like WOOOOHOOOO!!! I DID GOOOD!!! So, nothing else to report, just thought I'd share. HAPPY THURSDAY fellow Sleevers!!

I haven't tried any "cold" cereals since my surgery. I'm currently week7 and have only had oatmeal (good grain, low carb, no sugar). I did previously find the KASHI Go Lean CRUNCH cereals good prior to surgery... I haven't found many protein benefits to cereal other than the added skim milk...but if it helps get the grams in, I'm willing to try it!

i too am making the Buffalo Chicken Dip!!! Had this after the holidays, my first "mushee" LOL it was so.good.!!! Love the stuffed mushroom idea (sans breadcrumbs) and did you see my turkey meatballs?! lots of great stuff goin on in here!!!

Or did you mean like full meal? As in entree/main dish? I've got: Grilled pork loin slices w/avocado & tomato slices Pepperoccini Beef - lean beef roast made w/pepperoccini peppers/garlic in crockpot x5-6hrs Chile Lime Grilled Shrimp in wonton cups (bite sized type food) check out emilybites.com or ziplist.com (ziplist has skinny recipes and emilybites is WW)

Famous Dave's Meatballs 1 bottle fAMOUS Dave's Sweet & Tangy bbq sauce 1/4-1/2 bottle FAMOUS Dave's Devil Spit bbq sauce (depending on the heat you like) 28oz. frozen reduced fat turkey meatballs - frozen simmer sauce for 10-15min. in small sauce pan. Coat meatballs in crockpot. Cook covered on LOW 2-3HRS Serving size: 6meatballs these are scrumptious!!

amen to that! it seems to me the girls are the first to go!! My hubby keeps saying "you're losing your boobs babe" and I'm like...yeah, i know...what the heck!!!?? I've lost inches in the bust, arms, thighs...belly is slowly slimming down too, but then it's always the last to go!

Thanks for the info all, I know that it's still a carb (pasta)...and yes, moving away from those types of foods. I haven't tried quinoa yet...and brown rice is common. The couscous I had wasn't pre-boxed or "instant" it was in a container that listed 1/4c. as a serving and had 17g. of protein with 23carbs Any other ideas for whole grains?

I'm 7wks out and starting to meal plan w/regular foods. I'm fine w/getting most of my proteins in via solids, but having difficulty w/whole grains. What is whole grain considered that isn't a starch? And can couscous be substituted? I recently tried 1/4 c. and it was wonderful!!! I ate it as a side, not a mixture and w/grilled veggies and pork loin. It was wonderful!! Just wondering what else is considered a "whole grain" other than bread. My surgeon's regular diet plan calls for concentrating on protein (of course) first, then vegetables (non starchy) and then whole grains. Any advice would be helpful.

this has been a HUGE struggle for me. My body/brain think YES, YOU CAN! and I'm telling myself NO! IT'LL RUIN YOU!!! As a carb lover, I'm really trying to quit carbs and move to protein. I think I've realized trying to intake 80oz of protein via solids is too hard!! I'm going to keep up the shakes and better protein based meals. I'm eating eggwhites and/or almond butter at breakfast chicken/turkey based soups lunch ground turkey/chicken entree dinners

thanks everyone. I was pretty certain I'm doing it wrong. I'm going to try harder to get all my proteins in, and keep to my current meal schedule (B - mid morning protein - L - afternoon protein - D) and water*water*water!! I've GOT to get better at H2O!!! I will definitely call my dr. office, the girls are always happy to help! (Although you guys are doing a pretty bang up job here too)

YAY!!! W2G!!! that is an awesome feeling I'm hoping for!!! Can't wait to get into "Skinny" jeans/shorts/dresses/whatevers!!!

Good for you!!!! That's some progress!!! I was in 20/W jeans and those started to not fit...i was miserable! I am now back into 18W!!! and i'm just at 6wks. I've never been into "skinny" anything...I think at 14 I was a 5/6...then 9/10 turned into 14/16...and you get the picture...I'm waiting to fit into my Size 11 shorts/capris that i was once in (although an unhealthy habit got me into them) - they are my goal clothes!

oh yeah baby!! I went on a 3wk foodie binge for foods i knew i'd not be having post op. I rationalized it in my mind like this: if i kill the cravings BEFORE surgery, I would be over the crazed crave...most of it worked...my funeral list? FRIED chicken PIZZA/PASTA ENCHILADAS RIBS/BRISKET/SAUSAGE SODA (PEPSI MAX/NEXT/ORIGINAL) STEAK W/BAKED POTATO Although we are urged not to do this, it actually kind of helped me not even want these things now...the things I didnt manage to consider seem to be things i crave now, but it's much easier to bypass the temptation since I over did it pre-VSG.

i lovelovelove the wonton wrappers!! I use a mini muffin tin and carefully fold my wonton cups into them. Bake for like 30 sec. and then fill w/refried Beans, ground turkey w/taco seasoning, & few sprinkles of cheddar. top w/avocado (or salsa) great mini taco cups! (I used to do this w/SCOOPS! chips) Also,chile lime grilled shrimp on top of arugula w/FF sour cream!!

I'm much the same. Sometimes I eat hardly anything, and then other times I eat right through my meal w/out issues. Sometimes it's the foods, sometimes it's how fast/slow I eat. If I remember to slow down, I get fuller faster, but when blind eating due to "hunger" I mostly tend to overeat.

that's pretty good for just 3wks out. I'm 6wks out and only at 16lbs. I stalled at like 3-4wks and then had a 4lb loss. everyone is different, but you'll notice inches gone

my surgeon's list for wk3 (Soft foods): soft scrambled/boiled/poached eggs fat free refried beans tofu low fat lunch meat bean/lentil soups/dishes hummas white flakey fish LF/FF Cottage cheese LF/FF Ricotta cheese soft cheese cooked canned fruit/veggies (no skins or seeds) oatmeal/grits/cream of wheat - thinned dry toast SF Applesauce tender ground poultry/beef/pork - still moist, not dry I couldn't WAIT for wk3...my wk2 was CHRISTMAS WEEK!! >.< I was on liquids and purees...whew that was something!

2wks and the 3rd was soft foods w/option to move back one week to liquids if softies not tolerated

I've had mood swings since week3. Irritated that others are eating/drinking while i'm stuck on liquids/mushees. How much fat mentality do i have? Lashing out at people who are trying to keep me on my diet plan and then being ok the next 10min and thankful they were just trying to guide me. I need someone to remind me, but not EVERY.SINGLE.TIME i go near a table/kitchen/fridge!!! I chalked it up to recognizing that my lifestyle is changing and has to be for a better me. No sodas, and yet feeling angry/jealousy when i *hear* a soda top pop. I haven't really been on a depressed/sad emotional state, more like irritable/edgy and just plain no filter from brain to mouth lately. It's getting better as I have accepted this was my choice, and it's for the best. Sorry for the rant/babble...dont' know if I even helped out here...

Thank you, this helps me out alot! Yes, I know the drinking rules. I'm starting to work my daily water in - seemed to be all Protein shakes/drinks the first month! I'm already using a smaller plate, it's a "salad" plate...and I def. need to find out what my measured portions should be. Calorically I'm only taking in 700-1000/daily. Is that alot for being so newly out? I really want to get a handle on this early so that I don't spin out of control and waste a perfectly good procedure!

I don't have a NUT...the office has a 24/7 policy that I can call, and they will offer the advice. the NUT from the hospital gave me the exact same guidelines as the surgeon, and I also have her card to call. I have been encouraged to wean off the protein shakes, but I'm finding it hard to get all my grams in daily. Shakes I keep on hand and I've tried the LUNA protein bars...but cautioned to only eat 1 or 2 mnthly. Our meat should only be 2oz?? I've been eating 3-4oz. at a sitting and then veggies...trying to avoid the carbs.