7 Bites_Jen

I know several people that have used Dr. Stowers and have done beautifully. I do recommend finding a support group, however, as they do not offer one face-to-face. We go to one in the Dallas area (we're in Wise and Montague counties) and I am about to start one in Bowie (if you're close).

GREAT article. I had no idea this was even an issue with ACA. I wonder how they treat aftercare by people that have already had the surgery?

Interesting that Texas doesn't cover it. Although the Medicaid program DOES cover the gastric bypass (after several hoops). You would think that the ACA would as well!

I agree 100% that each of these states needs to rethink this!!

To find your representative:
http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

Or you can go to your state's website!

Are you for or against smoothies and Protein Drinks? Here are a few reasons why blending it up might not be such a bad idea for some people!

Among the bariatric community there is a raging debate going on:

Smoothies vs. No Smoothies.

Or, Protein drinks vs No Protein Drinks.

There are many that believe that once you get past a certain point in your bariatric life, you should be able to set aside the protein drinks and focus on actual food instead. Others think that keeping in the protein drinks and smoothies are a good and healthy way to make sure we get our protein count.

Those that are the No-Drink advocates believe that protein from food sources such as meat, tofu, and dairy are more easily absorbed and digested, and that the protein count from drinks can be inaccurate because of how much our bodies actually absorb vs. how much the product contain. There is also the fact that many protein powders and drinks on the market are filled with chemicals and artificial flavors that wreck havoc on the body and the digestive system.

Something else to consider from this perspective is that many of us become intolerant of things such as lactose, soy, and other foods that most protein drinks contain. Consuming these drinks can cause digestive distress and other allergic reactions.

Despite these thoughts, there is a strong case for the benefits of continuing smoothies and protein drinks well after we begin our lives on solid foods.

First off, our bodies are actually able to absorb about 30-40 g of protein per hour. If we are drinking a 25-30g Protein Drink over the course of a half an hour, we’re likely to absorb the majority of that protein.

Second, when we make a smoothie using our protein drinks (adding fruits and vegetables to the mix), we are adding vital Vitamins, nutrients, and Fiber to our diets. For some of us, there’s no way we’d be able to eat what we need in one day, much less in one meal. Smoothies are a great way to get those things in.

Third, if you have a food intolerance to whey or soy, there are other amazing alternatives that are just as easily absorbed. There are many great vegan protein powders on the market made with flax, hemp, pea, rice, and other ingredients that contain almost as much digestible protein as whey( look for a good powder that contains a combination of brown rice and pea protein). As someone who personally cannot tolerate whey or soy, these were a godsend to find!

Lastly, there are some of us, especially those that may have a band or a sleeve, that have issues with meat and protein. For example, I’m two years out from my vertical sleeve, and often still have problems tolerating chicken and beef! When this happens, we are left with little choice for protein then to turn to drinks and smoothies.

The choice whether or not to continue with protein drinks or smoothies is a personal one. Many people tolerate meat and other high-protein foods well, while others might still have problems with them. In these cases, protein drinks and smoothies can be a viable and important dietary supplement!

Sources:

http://www.precisionnutrition.com/rr-whey-too-much

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/wheys-vegan-alternatives-combining-pea-and-rice-protein.html

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-much-protein-can-the-body-absorb/

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/healthy-eating/know-your-nutrients/how-much-protein-can-the-body-absorb

That is a great tip, Miss Mac!! Thank you for sharing!

You know, that's a great point! Try it out and let me know if it works the same! If it doesn't, I'll adjust the directions on the web site for it!

If you're still losing, then you're just fine!

At 4 weeks I was about 28 lbs down. Is your ticker since surgery? If so, than it looks like you're right on track! Don't worry - be patient. It might go slower than you think it should or than you want, but remember that you didn't gain it overnight either!!

I think you are on such a great start!! Removing those things now will make the transition so much better for you later!
I did the whole "eat whatever you want" thing before surgery and I really think that was a huge mistake. Good luck to you! I would also suggest getting into the habit of drinking Water all day - that was another one that I had issue with - and still have a problem with to this day!

Big hugs to you and let me just say that you have a WEALTH of support here!!
I am so sorry to hear that you have little support at home - but it is wonderful that your husband backs you up 100%! Remember that he (and YOU!) are the only opinions that matter here. And to have that support is so important.

Congrats on your decision to take control of your life and your health! Keep us posted on your progress!

First of all, thank you to everyone's comments. I feel like the past 48 hours have been full of research on both sleeve and band procedures. I checked out many YouTube videos both pro and con about the band and sleeve and read lots of threads. I even thought about 0 surgery and just diet and exercise. Well, I've been doing that for 15 years--- and I always gain it back.

Maintaining has always been my downfall. I love working out, swimming being outside. When I lose weight I feel great then 5 lbs creep on and then 10 and I feel defeated and just quit the maintenance and next thing I know 30 lbs are added to my rear. See,in 2008 I was 172 and now 2014 I'm 332. If only I had a tool to help with the maintenance for my weight loss back then I wouldn't be in this position. That's where the band makes since for me. I want to have help with maintenance down the rode.

As far as the surgery I just couldn't deal with such an evasive surgery. So therefore, the sleeve is out.

I know the lap band is not a cure all for losing weight but if used as a tool I can reach my goal and maintain easier with it. So with that being said I'm calling True Results in San Antonio to schedule the lap band procedure.

I'm so excited about my new lifestyle and can't wait to share with y'all. Oh there's a good question, who should I tell? My family lives out of state and my inlaws live 5 minutes away but tend to be negative. Friends? What are your thoughts? Have a good one.

Very excited for you and glad you were able to make an informed choice! Good luck and keep us posted! <3

We teach you how to boil an egg this week, so if you've been putting off adding eggs to your diet, you can stop now!!
We also show you a REALLY tasty egg casserole that can be done full-size or in bites!
Enjoy and let us know what you think!

I read an article about a study they were doing on people who ate meat that had been treated with antibiotics while the animals were alive. Those people vs people who ate organic meat gained weight. They also took a ship of navy men and women and put them on antibiotics for 7 weeks. Each one gained weight. With the hormones and chemicals ingested in animals I have no doubt there is some truth to this. Look how old children look for their ages now.

I read a similar article recently - I certainly think it's interesting to think about. The article I read also discussed the fact that a lot of doctors are now putting people on antibiotics before test results come back for infections "just in case". IDK if there's enough research to support a link between antibiotics and obesity, but it certainly is odd that they've started handing out penicillin like it's candy ...

What an amazing idea! Wish I had seen this when you posted it, LOL!

It is a very personal decision - I would talk to your doctor about it and see what his recommendation is for you. For me, my doctor wanted me to do the sleeve because of the weight I was at. He said that if I had been about 50 lbs. less he might have done the band on me instead. That being said, I've seen people over 400 lbs get the band and do beautifully with it. There are complications with the band, true, but there are just as many possible ones with the sleeve as well. It's good that your doing your research on it!

Hey y'all! 7 Bites will be launching our newsletter next month and we are wanting to include success stories once a month. We'd love to hear from everyone from every walk of life and every type of WLS. If you would like to be featured in an upcoming newsletter, please let us know! You can email us at 7BitesShow@gmail.com or Admin@7BitesShow.com

I've thought about this a lot - I acted like a food addicted kid (though not overweight until my late 20's) and my mother was extremely controlling of the food I did eat. I'm think that did some harm. I do recall one Thanksgiving when my Mom kind of lost it when I asked for more pumpkin pie. She gave me a whole pie and told me to eat as much as I wanted (thinking it would teach me a lesson). I ate the whole pie, vomited, and then asked if there was anymore.

Yes, when done incorrectly it can cause immeasurable harm! That's why it's SO important to focus on the positive as much as possible - especially with kids. The rules are in place, and my daughter knows them, but we don't harp on them either. Fact is, the junk isn't in the house so if she goes to the fridge and gets an apple or a piece of cheese it's not a big deal. It's also important to TALK to your children and EXPLAIN to them why these changes are happening. Kids are more intelligent and responsive than a lot of parents give them credit for. Telling them what food addiction is and how it's impacted your own life is especially important - so is being an example! It's important that the transition is done in a very loving supportive manner.

BANDISTA ..... I just read this and it goes hand in hand what you just posted... Stop eating CRAP :

C - Carbonated drinks

R - Refined sugars

A - Artificial foods

P - Processed foods

Oh my goodness I LOVE this!!!

Good luck to you and your sweet daughter. When you find your surgeon, I strongly encourage you to visit with a doctor here in the states that will be willing to take her after-care on - that is so important especially in the first few months.

7 Bites Jen, I'm surprised that your daughter's pediatrician ordered a strict diet at such a young age!

I applaud what you are trying to do for your daughter and her health! Your mileage may vary, but I can tell you that from my experience with my own mom a restrictive diet and severe ground rules about food at such a young age had the opposite effect on me. It caused me to want to rebel against her restrictions and eat the forbidden foods whenever I could get away with it. And, boy, did I!

It was actually her endocrinologist that ordered it - we've been going through some serious blood work for her so we've been told to eliminate everything except whole foods (meats, veg, fruits, dairy) from her diet for now. The hardest thing is when people "feel sorry" for her and try to give her things anyway. If it hadn't been for the doctor telling us to do these things, I probably wouldn't either just because it goes a teeny bit against my parenting philosophy. But I also know that my daughter's health is at stake and she's gotten to a point NOW where she's beginning to understand more. I do try to encourage her and support her positively rather than focus on the negative, and I think that's helped a lot.

I just saw chiobani now makes a stevia sweetened 100 calorie Greek. Can't wait to try it.

YEEEESSS!!!!

Did you make any adjustments to the recipe?

Nope! I followed your recipe exactly!

I wish we could give standing ovations on forums, LOL!
GREAT article!! This is something we can ALL learn from!

I do think this information is important to anyone who is researching each procedure. I do NOT believe it was anyone's intention to disparage the band at all - in fact, one of the articles was PRO lap-band.

We all chose our surgeries for a purpose - and I think we all have a bit of a bias toward our own surgeries.

This was good information - don't turn something like this into something it wasn't.

ALL surgeries have their benefits, and ALL surgeries have their downfalls.

Those are really interesting stats - and a little surprising! I would have expected Texas (my home state) to be one of the top states - obesity is everywhere around here. I have to wonder if there is a correlation between obesity and income? It looks like the top income states are the least obese and the lowest income states are the most obese ... My mom and I are working with the county to educate those on food stamps and other government assistance on diet and nutrition. I think this is something each state should consider implementing!

Hmmm ... Good question! I might have to ask my hubby on that one, LOL!!