bakawaka

I grew up allergic to dairy (causes migraines for me) and learned to love soy milk early in life. There actually is soy cheese and all sorts of substitutes for yoghurt. I have switched to almond milk (unsweetened - and it's lower in calories than milk plus it is calcium-enriched).

I love sweets and can only recommend using lots of Splenda and Equal. Regarding caffeine, I found that switching to the cold brew method helped - it makes decaf coffee taste better. It is also possible to transition slowly off of caffeine - example: mix caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee 50/50 for awhile and slowly increase the decaf over time. That might help. Wishing you the best of success! My surgery is in 3 days. Following the pre-op liquid diet for one month helped me cut my carb/ sweets addiction. Nervous but determined.

These are wonderful observations! Thank you. I do not find them preach at all.

The surgeon did say that my body will find its own weight on its own. In fact, I have not yet set a target weight. My target is to get off of high blood pressure medication and high cholesterol medication. I want to stop the march towards diabetes which I am watching my other suffer horrible things from that could not even wish on an enemy (but I don't have an enemy). I want to have a better quality of life in my 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, etc. I plan to keep working into those later year

I am choosing WLS to improve my health. I want to get off of blood pressure/cholesterol medication. I also want to achieve a higher quality of life as I age. What were/are your goals?

Suggestion: use the fear constructively. Channel that fear into motivations and actions. It really does work.

I am on a one-month pre-op liquid diet. I look forward to eating real food again.

I am having surgery at a hospital in a suburb of Chicago. How about you? I wish you the best as well.

I do not know how chubby I will be. But I do not want to be super thin. I trust my surgeon's judgment. I have a body that will always be chubby.

My surgeon simply told me that I will always be "chubby" unless I become a fanatic about exercise and eating raw vegetables. And being chubby is fine with me as long as I don't have health problems.

Slow weight loss might be a good thing because it is better for the gallbladder and it might enable skin to adjust more easily to the new body size.

Do you make veggie smoothies in your vitamix? What do you use it for? I am still preop but post op plan to drink more vegetable smoothies with Protein powder (when it is allowed on my post op diet).

I have surgery next week and am following all of my surgeon's instructions. I am nervous about surgery but am going to go through it no matter what.

I have a meeting scheduled out of town for eight days after my surgery.

I have a Vitamix - it has a two horsepower motor. It is expensive but has a lifetime warranty.

This is from the Journal of the American Medical Association. It is entitled, "Prevalence of Alcohol Use Disorders Before and After Bariatric Surgery" at http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleID=1185618

This is from the Journal of the American Medical Association. It is entitled, "Prevalence of Alcohol Use Disorders Before and After Bariatric Surgery" at http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleID=1185618

Interesting article from ABC News entitled, "Weight Loss Surgery Increases Risk of Alcohol Addiction at http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/weight-loss-surgery-increases-risk-alcohol-addiction/t/story?id=16582225

There are iron supplements that you can take as well.

Tofu and tempeh are great sources of protein. Same for beans and lentils. Some green leafy vegetables can supply iron. I am not vegetarian but I do not eat a lot of meat for health reasons.

I am on a one-month liquid diet through thanksgiving. But now I am used to it and like it. Try varying the shake recipes.

Pumpkin is a wonderful source of vitamin A.

I had extensive dental work done and found that my tastes changed. I also had sensitivity for several months. I am still preop for gastric bypass. My friends who are postop also report changed preferences for food. I am expecting something similar to happen after my surgery.

The medical profession exists in the US to make a profit. In the US, healthcare is a privilege, not a right.

Here is a story from ABC News, entitled, "Weight Loss Surgery Increases Risk of Alcohol Addiction" at http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/weight-loss-surgery-increases-risk-alcohol-addiction/t/story?id=16582225 My father was an alcoholic. So I notice these articles.