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I'm so glad that I've never really liked ice cream...lol! Actually, I made protein ice cream (same ingredients as a protein shake) for my birthday last month and I liked it better than I used to like regular ice cream. I thought I would miss crunchy, salty snacks, but for some reason I don't. Small blessings.

haha Newat...the Eastern Shore (Maryland/Delaware).

Amen.

When I go on vacation in June, I am definitely going to indulge in a SkinnyGirl margarita. Probably about the same calories as a lite Starbucks drink.

What an amazing transformation! Congratulations!

Don't buy a lot at one time. I can eat more salad (especially lettuce) than I can dense protein--but nowhere near what I used to be able to eat. I love salad! So glad to be eating it again. I add protein to it. I like to get the heads of romaine lettuce bc they keep longer than precut salad or other types of lettuce. I usually also get at least 1 or 2 peppers, an English cucumber or mini cucumbers, shredded cabbage, and sometimes baby carrots. That is for both my husband and me though.

Totally agree with this--better visualization for the surgeon has to up the potential for a better outcome. Not sure a few minute scars matter when most of us are going to have crazy loose skin anyway.

What was your thyroid diagnosis? I know if you are hypothyroid like I am, you have to take a thyroid replacement for life (mine is secondary to a pituitary adenoma). I imagine it's possible that it could be reversed or that you were misdiagnosed as needing thyroid replacement initially, but I would tread carefully there. You might want to get a second opinion from another endocrinologist.

that's wonderful! are you the guy in the before picture and far right in the after pic? It's so difficult to see detail on people's profile pics, but I'm guessing from your forum name that you are the guy and that in the after pic it's your whole family, including your son?

I think he was being facetious about being a dietitian (otherwise, he would know how to spell it?)--maybe just saying that he feels he knows so much about nutrition that he is an ad hoc dietitian and nutritionist. I used to think I knew a lot about nutrition, too--until I met my current RD. She is SO knowledgeable--I have learned a ton. Even about things such as label reading, which I thought I had down pat after doing it for so many years.

are you on a gastric-protective agent (which will help prevent heartburn) such as Prilosec, Prevacid, or Nexium?

Musiclover, I think the big things are 1) go into it with realistic expectations. The surgery won't do the work for you. You will eat less--a lot less. You won't use food for comfort or entertainment anymore if you do now. If you have emotional issues with food, you should start getting counseling now and it may continue after. You will need to exercise to lose weight, you will need to drink water and take supplements. You may not lose weight as quickly as you would like, but you will lose. 2) as with any surgical procedure, there is a (very low) risk of complications. Pick your surgeon wisely. Ask about surgical complication rates and go for someone who has few to none. Follow your surgeon's and dietitian's recommendations to a "t." Honestly, the vast majority of people who post here who have kept those two items in mind say they do NOT regret their surgery. I think if you had a post that asked people instead to post why they are happy they had VSG, you would see a whole other slew of responses (vast majority of posters). I think it's good to look at it objectively and hear from people who haven't had a good experience, but you shouldn't view that as "typical." I would say that those experiences are atypical for sure, based on what I have read here.

Although a lot of the people who throw up sound like they get dry heaves for hours and stuff like that--sounds pretty awful...

you could also puree some no-sugar-added peaches with Greek yogurt

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I saw another thread where you are telling people that they should eat Frosted Mini Wheats to fill up. That's just not good advice. You really need protein, and it doesn't need to be expensive. I'm not trying to upset you more...just trying to give some ideas. You can get Greek yogurt on sale, or chicken thighs and bake them or cook in the crockpot (I am a vegetarian, but it sounds like you eat meat). Some people even like canned chicken, which isn't expensive. You can get salmon patties and string cheese. I am saving a lot on my food budget bc I'm eating so much less and almost never eat out. I hope that you can get some answers to your issues and wish you all the best.

Thanks BB, good advice. What are your thoughts on Bran Buds vs Fiber One?

Generally, yogurt with fruit has too many carbs for most surgeons' recommended diets. My RD recommended adding some canned pumpkin (pure pumpkin not pumpkin pie filling) and Splenda or Torani SF syrup--or you could do a low-carb all-fruit jam if you pureed it in the yogurt--if your RD and surgeon agree of course.

Why did you get taken off thyroid meds? I'm hypothyroid and will have to be on them for life. Is this related to soy or just two different things that you are sharing? I have heard the claims about soy in the past...asked my RD, who I really trust...and she said she doesn't believe it's an issue, especially for the amount that we can eat. With that said, whenever I can get a soy product (like tofu) in organic, I do. However, I thought it was the phytoestrogens that were the issue, and I don't think organic would make a difference?

I agree, but if someone is planning to eat cereal, I think it's better to do some protein cereal and Greek yogurt vs a sugary cereal or high-carb cereal and milk. I've sprinkled about 1 or 2 teaspoons of special K protein cereal on my Greek yogurt 2x so far and didn't have any adverse effects. But I wouldn't eat a whole portion of it.

Are you working with a registered dietitian? Also, it's important to learn to differentiate head hunger from physical hunger. something like protein will keep you full a lot longer than cheese pizza. I am not planning on eating anything like that during weight loss, and once I reach goal, I'll probably just do something like a Flat Out (low carb) "pizza" if I have a craving. with protein on top....

My doctor only prescribes the Lovenox injections if you have a 50 bmi or higher. If you are lower than that, perhaps that's why (depends on your surgeon's protocol). Just make sure you walk a TON--at least 10 minutes every hour...I set my iPhone alarms to remind me. And immediately have any calf pain or other unusual pain checked out.

If you're going to do cereal, I might suggest going for a higher-protein one like Special K protein or Kashi, and eating with some Greek yogurt instead of milk--will keep you fuller longer.

so sorry to hear, Luckysmomma--wishing you all the best. Hopefully it will get better.

hope you feel better soon!

weird...I was just talking to someone about this yesterday.