LosingItForMe2011

The PB&J ones are great. I break it in half because I can only eat half at a time. Put any of the Quest bars in the microwave for about 7 seconds and they are softer and easier to eat. I have PB&J, Brownie and strawberry Cheesecake. Haven't tried the cheesecake one yet though. The others are great warmed up Great Fiber in them too!

100 pounds in 5 months! Simply amazing and you look great. What tips and tricks can you share! I swear it's going to take me forever to lose 100.

hormone changes don't help either but, always remind yourself how far you have come! 64 pounds is amazing!

100 pounds in 5 months! Simply amazing and you look great. What tips and tricks can you share! I swear it's going to take me forever to lose 100.

I had surgery at 715am..had some scar tissue removed and have to have a hernia repaired at a later time but overall...i really cant complain. No pain just uncomfortable...the gas was horrible in recovery but has been very mild today. Thank you God. Im ready to get this life change started!

Breakfast is the Protein shake - 160 to 170 calories and 35g of Protein.< /p>
"Brunch" for lack of a better word, usually three hours after breakfast, is often half of a Jimmy Dean Delights Turkey Sausage Bowl (120 calories and 11g of protein), or half of a Jimmy Dean Delights Canadian Bacon and Egg Honey Wheat Muffin (105 calories and 7g of protein) or half of a Weight Watchers Smart Ones - Ham & cheese Scramble (220 calories and 10g or protein). As you can probably tell, I love eggs (actually egg whites in all of these) and turkey anything.
lunch, usually three hours after brunch, is often 6 or 8 medium cooked shrimp (the packaged shrimp you can get at just about any store) with cocktail sauce (110 calories and 15g to 18g of protein), one or two Babybel light Mini Originals (50 calories and 6g of protein each), and five to seven Kashi Peta Crisps (60 to 90 calories and 1.5 to 3.0g of protein). Sometimes I substitute 3.5oz of canned tuna salad made with light mayo and diced sweet pickle for the shrimp (185 calories and 24g of protein). Other times I eat the second half of brunch. Still other times I make a canned chicken salad instead of the tuna.
dinner varies all over the place. chicken, fish and turkey are all great, high protein foods and we love all of them. Usually accompanied by steamed fresh vegetables, sometimes canned green Beans, or pinto Beans, or spinach, or even new potatoes. Other times we make a fresh spinach salad with light balsamic vinegarette. Turkey burgers (without the bun - bread and I still don't get along too well) are great. Occasionally a pork roast. And maybe once a month or so we bbq some steaks - usually sirloin with all visible fat removed. Turkey chili, tilapia, scallops, salmon, turkey meatballs, and chicken are all great options.
And about an hour after dinner, we have a cup of coffee with Splenda and flavored Creamers (not sugar free) for dessert just about every evening.
I have a food logging app on my phone and I record everything I eat. Occasionally I have a day where I fall short of protein for one reason or another. I keep a supply of Pure Protein chocolate Deluxe bars on hand for those occasions (200 calories and 20g of protein). But I know at any point during the day what my protein intake has been so I usually don't have to resort to the bars to get my 100g of protein or pretty close.
Hope that helps!!

Well gang I an VERY happy to report that today makes three weeks following the recommended high Protein diet plan. Stepped on the scale this morning and I am down 23 pounds. Its total willpower and mind over matter.
Success IS within my reach!!!!!
Jeff

Sharoncarrie - so sorry to hear of your breakup. Don't know the past issues etc but, now is the time to take the time for you! You're so worth your choice and effort to have this surgery done. You made the decision to get healthy and please don't let any one or any situation change your mind. Its not easy.....we all have gone through emotional roller coasters to say the least and there are battles to stay positive all the time. But you can do it....you can for you and your kids. Soon you'll be on the losing side of surgery and you'll gain better health and more confidence. Something to look forward too for sure.
Look at your children and look within yourself....you can do it for YOU. You're stronger than you know! Hugs

Sharoncarrie - so sorry to hear of your breakup. Don't know the past issues etc but, now is the time to take the time for you! You're so worth your choice and effort to have this surgery done. You made the decision to get healthy and please don't let any one or any situation change your mind. Its not easy.....we all have gone through emotional roller coasters to say the least and there are battles to stay positive all the time. But you can do it....you can for you and your kids. Soon you'll be on the losing side of surgery and you'll gain better health and more confidence. Something to look forward too for sure.
Look at your children and look within yourself....you can do it for YOU. You're stronger than you know! Hugs

Sharoncarrie - so sorry to hear of your breakup. Don't know the past issues etc but, now is the time to take the time for you! You're so worth your choice and effort to have this surgery done. You made the decision to get healthy and please don't let any one or any situation change your mind. Its not easy.....we all have gone through emotional roller coasters to say the least and there are battles to stay positive all the time. But you can do it....you can for you and your kids. Soon you'll be on the losing side of surgery and you'll gain better health and more confidence. Something to look forward too for sure.
Look at your children and look within yourself....you can do it for YOU. You're stronger than you know! Hugs

Depending on where you're incisions are a bra can be uncomfortable. You'll have some bleeding from the incisions that will get on your clothes so you'll probably want to watch for that as well.
When I woke up I had a catheter for a while so anything like pants wouldn't have worked and by the time that came out I only had a few more hours so just stayed in the gowns they gave me. I wore one in the back then another in the front. You're pretty covered up in them if you use two.

It's great when the food stages move along! blenders work wonders for the pureed stage!

If it helps the hospital stay isn't bad at all. They come by to check on you, take your blood pressure, make sure you get up to walk etc. Everyone here, as far as I know had to stay in the hospital at least 1 day most 2-3. I stayed 2 nights and was released around noon time the 3rd day.
It's always best for the nurses and doctors to know any issues or concerns you have. They can help you better that way.

Everyone has there own journey though and everyone's body is different. But...it's only been 2.5 weeks and I can bet even all the Water weight and swelling isn't gone. You're body needs time to heal. While healing it will sometimes retain Fluid to do so. If you're sipping your Water and getting the right amount of Protein in......the weight will come off. Oh I know all too well how we can't help looking at how everyone else is doing and comparing ourselves but, it's a terrible path. It really is true that each journey is different. I'm a notorious slow loser on any diet so the doubt is hard to push away but, as my surgeon said....if you're following the eating and exercise plan, I've never seen it not work. I trusted her with my life during surgery so I trust her words now.
Take it easy on yourself....be kind to yourself......and most of all be patient. YOU are SO worth YOUR effort! Go for it!
Hugs

Everyone has there own journey though and everyone's body is different. But...it's only been 2.5 weeks and I can bet even all the Water weight and swelling isn't gone. You're body needs time to heal. While healing it will sometimes retain Fluid to do so. If you're sipping your Water and getting the right amount of Protein in......the weight will come off. Oh I know all too well how we can't help looking at how everyone else is doing and comparing ourselves but, it's a terrible path. It really is true that each journey is different. I'm a notorious slow loser on any diet so the doubt is hard to push away but, as my surgeon said....if you're following the eating and exercise plan, I've never seen it not work. I trusted her with my life during surgery so I trust her words now.
Take it easy on yourself....be kind to yourself......and most of all be patient. YOU are SO worth YOUR effort! Go for it!
Hugs

NICE picture! Love your smile and I can see why you enjoy your walks! Great to see you DL.

WElcome to the boards Jordan and Heavy Duty. Great to do this together...talk about cheap dates later on huh?
Thats what my hubby says....I'm a cheap date. I can take a few bites from his plate and be full. hahaha So he's on a diet whether he wants it or not....he actually loves it because it's helping him lose weight too.
Good luck on your journeys!

Way to go! You must have had a blast with the kids!

If you're doctor recommends that you take in Protein shakes after your surgery I highly recommend find one you can tolerate now. Often the shakes do taste too sweet even though they have low sugar. I know for me taking in at least one shake a day post-op was necessary to heal because it has high Protein and I wasn't able to eat the protein for a while.
For my Water after surgery I wasn't able to drink plain Water at all. I think because my taste buds really changed. I bought Mio and other SF flavored things to add to it. They all helped a lot and I had to change it up frequently. Hope you find the right combo

If you're doctor recommends that you take in Protein shakes after your surgery I highly recommend find one you can tolerate now. Often the shakes do taste too sweet even though they have low sugar. I know for me taking in at least one shake a day post-op was necessary to heal because it has high Protein and I wasn't able to eat the protein for a while.
For my Water after surgery I wasn't able to drink plain Water at all. I think because my taste buds really changed. I bought Mio and other SF flavored things to add to it. They all helped a lot and I had to change it up frequently. Hope you find the right combo

I lost about 12 before my surgery but substituting 1 meal a day with a Protein shake and the other meals were Protein based...kinda like Atkins but, without the high fat meats.
I had eggs in the morning, a shake for lunch and then a smaller portion at dinner but, ate the protein first. Kinda like we have to do after surgery really. If I felt I needed a snack I had lowfat cheese sticks, a yogurt or an apple or cutie orange.

I've struggled with my weight all my life. I turned 40 and was still overweight after saying I didn't want to be overweight when I hit 40. Finally had enough with high blood pressure meds and getting even bigger but so afraid of re-routing my organs. I remember seeing the commercials for it and I kept saying if there were something less evasive I would go for it...then saw an add for lapband. I went for it just before my 42 birthday. Well 6 years and a revision to a bigger band, a really bad prolaps and emergency surgery to take the band out...I was done and figured I was going to be overweight but, at least feel good. Well the big 50 is around the corner, the weight started coming back on again because the band was gone and I finally said....I just need to do this. The medical world has gained 6 more years of experience performing the RNY surgery and taking care of patients and it's become so much safer - I'M GOING FOR IT! I need help to help me stick to eating right and getting healthier. So......I want to be healthier for my 50th birthday! Started the process back up last year with the same surgeon that did my lapband but, discovered that was part of the problem...he didn't listen to me. So after going through hoops and being left on my own with them, I changed bariatric centers and started again. TOTALLY different experience and I couldn't be happier with my surgeon and the bariatric center she works in. I'm down over 40 pounds - it's coming off slow but, I know that's how my body works but, at least it's coming off and coming off healthily because I'm following the rules. The best part is I'm no longer gaining so to me that's worth it all!

Actually I believe him when he says he wasn't in many pictures and from what I've read DL is working on a blog and pictures for that so I can understand wanting a picture without noise around it. I for one haven't been in many pictures either. Always took them so I wouldn't have to be in them. Still hate having my picture taken. Fortunately I knew I was going to wonder about before pictures so asked hubby to take them for me. He did, I looked at the once and BLECK I'm not posting those dang things until I lose more weight.
So DL....when you're ready...we're ready You've been such a help and inspiration for many and so it will be great to put a face to the screenname.

Ummm in dealing with a therapist who specializes in self image and weight issues pre and post op...she has taught me a few things. For me things were black and white....I was on a diet...I was all in and if I did something off plan, I considered it a full fail. She taught me that life isn't black and white...there is some grey in there and I need to cut myself some slack. Basically if I was on a diet and had one piece of chocolate to not mock, or ridicule myself for it and to stop beating myself up. Learn from it, it was actually in moderation so I did no wrong and move on.
taking a little nerd or touch of frosting isn't the end of a good run on eating right...just think of prior to eating right what you would have done and be proud of yourself for ONLY taking such a small amount!

Actually I believe him when he says he wasn't in many pictures and from what I've read DL is working on a blog and pictures for that so I can understand wanting a picture without noise around it. I for one haven't been in many pictures either. Always took them so I wouldn't have to be in them. Still hate having my picture taken. Fortunately I knew I was going to wonder about before pictures so asked hubby to take them for me. He did, I looked at the once and BLECK I'm not posting those dang things until I lose more weight.
So DL....when you're ready...we're ready You've been such a help and inspiration for many and so it will be great to put a face to the screenname.