7 Bites_Jen

I am a cider fan. Love it! It doesn't hurt my sleeve one bit. I don't have any other tummy issues (dumping, etc.) with it, but some might. My favorites are Strongbow and Angry Orchard Crisp Apple. :-)

Glad you like it! Thanks! Don't worry about getting over 700 calories. Eventually you're going to want to start trying to get all the way to 1000!! You're doing just fine on your calorie count. Focus on your Protein - 92g is AWESOME!!! And walking is excellent. How great that your wife is walking with you!! So wonderful to have that support!

LOVE this story!! I've always said dogs know EXACTLY what their people need when they need it. If you need a hug - there's your dog. If you need to play - there's your dog. If you need someone to get rid of all the food that you're not supposed to eat - there's your dog ...

As a cook, I have to say that from my own experience yes, it is a really hard choice. Good for him for doing it!

Okay, you want to stay as close to 6-900 calories as you can. Since your on pureed foods, you have a lot more variety options. Make a big pot of Soup or chili, then run it through a blender or food processor. Make up some refried Beans and dilute them with about 1/2 c of chicken broth per can of beans. A day would look like this: Breakfast: 1/4-1/2 C greek yogurt (if you like it sweet add some honey or stevia to it) Snack - 1/2 C refried beans or Protein shake Lunch: 1/2 C pureed beef stew Snack: 1/2 C ricotta cheese or Protein Shake dinner 1/2 C pureed chili You want to use Protein shakes as a supplement. Getting your protein in is important, but it's also important to try to get as much as you can from food sources. Protein shakes don't actually give you as much protein as you might think b/c it's hard for the body to absorb it in that form. Some other things you can do - egg yolks mashed with some mayonaysse, instant grits mixed with cream of shrimp soup (i have that recipe on my blog), grits and oatmeal are okay - but don't eat a whole lot of them b/c you really need the protein more. I hope this helps! Feel free to check out our blog or our you tube channel for other suggestions :-)

I've done them in the oven before - and they're just as good!

Thank you!! So glad it made you laugh :-)

Go do something fun that doesn't involve food! Putt putt golf, laser tag, bowling, hike in the woods, roller skating - something active and FUN! As for the boring shakes and yucky Soups phase - take a look at this - it might help you get through :-)

I was never given an actual ratio of Protein to carbs, but I was told to try to stay within 60-70 grams of protein daily if possible. Right now, protein and Water are the two most important things for you. You're going to want to avoid refined carbs - at least for a time while you're in the losing phase. What you should be eating right now is anywhere from 2-3 oz of a protein based food (meat, fish, cheese, etc.). Lean protein has a higher protein count than fatty protein, so you're going to want chicken, lean beef, lean pork, etc. A menu example (for when you're on full solids) Breakfast - one egg scrambled with 1 oz cheese snack - 1/4 C greek yogurt lunch - 6 boiled shrimp with 1/4 C steamed veggies (you might not be able to eat all that) snack - 1-2 oz cheese, dinner - 2 oz grilled meat, 1/4 C steamed veggies (you might not be able to eat it all) For right now, what stage of eating are you on? Are you on full liquids, pureed or soft foods? Let me know and I can help with a bit of a road map to get you started. :-)

Here's our latest episode! It's pretty nutty. And I mean NUTTY ... In so, so many ways ... LOL. Let us know what you think! Happy Halloween! <3

PLEASE follow your doctor's orders!! There's a reason they have you going through these stages. For some docs pureed and soft foods are the same, so they don't make a distinction. For others, there IS a difference. Our new tummies are like a babies - we need time to adjust our new sleeves to solid food. You wouldn't send a baby from formula to a porterhouse, right? I know that's an extreme case, but it's the same principle. Our tummies need to learn how to digest food all over again. Pureed foods isn't really that bad. There are a ton of options - Soups and stews are great pureed as are Beans, chilis, etc. It doesn't have to be boring! In fact, our first episode talks about this: There are a TON of ways you can get through it. Remember, each stage is only 2 weeks. What is 2 weeks when compared with the rest of your new, healthy life?

A scotch egg is a hard boiled egg wrapped in breakfast sausage, rolled in breadcrumbs and deep fried. So, so good. So so BAAAAAD but so so GOOD! LOL. That being said ... An egg pickled in scotch doesn't sound half bad, LOL!!

It is 100% absolutely and completely normal. If you look at the top of your page, you'll see a spot that you can run a search with. Type in "stall" and you will find so many posts it'll make your head spin!! It happens to everyone - MULTIPLE times. It's okay. :-) Just breathe and hang in there!! <3

At 15 months out, I can pretty well eat what I want. I try to avoid too many carbs b/c I'm still in the losing phase, but they don't bother me (just hinder my weight loss!). I do have issues with things like refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, MSG, and some fruit (grapes mainly). But those are things you're going to want to limit in any healthy diet anyway (with the exception of the fruit of course - fruit is NOT bad for you!). Otherwise, I can eat or drink pretty much what I want (in moderation, of course). Hope this helps!

A couple of things I agree with you on, but I STILL can't eat and drink together. I think that one's pretty universal with most sleeve doctors - the reason why has nothing to do with stretching your tummy, but more about filling it too fast. If you need a sip, I'm sure it'd be okay - but to drink a full drink while eating is going to fill you with liquid rather than food. Also, a LOT of sleevers get really sick when they eat and drink together - I happen to be one of them. There is a TON of conflicting information out there, true. But ever surgeon has his/her own opinion and it comes from personal experience with doing these surgeries and what has happened with their own patients. So, I guess it all boils down to: "follow your doctors orders". Good luck!

They. Are. NAAAASSSSTYYYYYY!!! Run. Run far far away ...

I've been completely open and honest with my surgery - but then, I've made it a living to talk about, so that's no surprise :-) I think that what you tell people and how much is completely up to you. Like I've said, I've told everyone. But then, everyone knew my life long struggle with weight and obesity, so it was really no shock to them when I decided to go with surgery. In fact, they applauded my decision and were very supportive. I've only had a handful of people ask about it being the "easy way out". When this has happened, I've just explained to them the ins and outs of the surgery, what I had to do before and after, and what I've had to do recently. Once they understand the true "nature of the beast" (so to speak) they realize that it really isn't an easy way at all. The only ones that have said anything like that are obese themselves and said it around a mouthful of cake (I'm seriously not exaggerating on that one either ...) Whatever you tell people, remember that you are making the very best decision for YOU - it's about you, not them. <3

I wonder how much he's lost vs how much he needs to lose? My mom only lost about 60 lbs with her band - which is why she revised to the sleeve.

I can't believe this thread is still going strong, LOL!!! Going to the renaissance faire with my hubby and some friends this weekend. I'm sure I will return with a ton of debauchery to report come Monday Funnel cakes. Turkey legs. Scotch eggs. Cider. Beer. Mead. More cider. Pirogis. Even more cider. Some more mead ... LOL ...

It's better for you in a lot of ways - more fiber, fewer carbs, and more vitamins/nutrients. Where did you see active content removed? I may have to check that ... :-/

You do - and can - count your protein like this. 4-6 bites of protein should equal out to between 1-2 oz, depending on how big the bites you take are. As long as your getting your protein first, counting isn't as big a deal (unless your nutritionist insists on having you log it, which some do). And - you're very welcome! That's what I'm here for! :-)

What our nutritionist said (and this is where the show title comes from) is this: "Plan on seven bites. Four bites of Protein. Two bites of vegetable. One bite of starch. Wait ten minutes. If you're still hungry, go have another bite or two of protein or vegetable." In all, you should be able to eat about a 1/4-1/2 C meal within 30-45 minutes, and that will usually equal out to 7-10 bites.

Same! I did Weight Watchers for three years, lost 30 lbs then STOPPED LOSING. I was doing everything right, and it just quit! I was blessed that my PCP is 100% supportive, though. But there are still a lot of other people that didn't get it - my OB/GYN for example ... She still makes snide remarks about how "easy" it must've been. She has no idea ...

Oh my goodness, that is awful! They deserved a slap upside the head for that one ...

LMAO!!!! Love it. I'm not quite sure how I'd respond to that ... LOL. So, they think he didn't like you before or something?