roundisashape

4 more weeks! I swing widely between "I love this stuff!" and "grr! Argh!"

Thanks! I'd pluck my toe hair if it would get me through this test. As an aside - statistics makes me feel stupid .

It's worth a shot - thanks!

Since you've had such awesome success, maybe just tell her you're on a serious, doctor approved low calorie diet and really determined to stick with it? Maybe make a production of looking at the menu online before you go to pick out what's in your calorie budget for dinner or something? Good luck - I wish my mom were still around to bitch at me

Hi, I'm still at least 3 months pre-op (I have 3 months to go to fulfill my insurance requirements) but I have been trying some Protein samples. Thought I'd share my opinions! Atkins Daybreak Creamy Chocolate: This is my favorite prepared drink so far, but of course lowest in protein! Not much aftertaste and a good texture. Atkins Advantage Milk chocolate Delight: Not as good as the daybreak version, but drinkable. A little "watery" tasting. Atkins Advantage Strawberry: Chalky, tastes like medicine. Very artificial strawberry flavor. Not good. Muscle Milk Chocolate (powder, not prepared): This, so far, is my very favorite of all of them. Least offensive smell, but a slightly gritty texture. It's better with milk than Water, and tastes a little like a melted Frosty from Wendy's. They sent me a sample of regular, not lite, but the stats on the regular one didn't seem too far off of most other Meal Replacement Protein shakes. I liked it enough to buy a whole jug of it to use pre-op. It's also good with PB2 added, and makes tolerable Cookies. Sets up like cement if you don't wash your glass immediately. Muscle Milk vanilla Creme (powder, regular): I just don't like the taste of vanilla as much as I like chocolate, but it wasn't bad. Same gritty texture and a little too sweet, but I could drink it again. Also better with milk than water, and I'll bet it would taste good with crushed ice and a little McCormick's root beer concentrate. Maybe I'll try that with another brand of vanilla. Syntrax nectar Strawberry Kiwi: I wish I'd known not to mix these when I'm already dressed for work - as soon as it hit water, it turned "Radiation Red". They all do that - turn shockingly bright colors. Anyway, it tasted like a cross between Hawaiian Punch and feet. Oddly enough, it was fine just eating the powder like a pixie stick. Can we do that after surgery? I know it wouldn't go towards our liquid requirements that way, but it wouldn't hurt anything if that's the only way to get it down, right? The Syntrax flavors I've tried so far seem to have the most offensive smell, and that's hard for me to get past. It could also be that I'm mentally psyched up to drink juice, and it just doesn't taste like juice. Syntrax Nectar Fuzzy Navel: I really wanted to like this one. In fact, the first sip, I was in love. The second, I wasn't so sure. The third, I retched. It wound up going down the drain. I have no idea why I reacted this way, but I just couldn't force it down. Has anyone ever tried freezing these? For some reason I felt like I might be able to get it down if I froze it into cubes, then shaved it and ate it like a snowcone. I still have samples of other flavors left, I might try it just for giggles. Syntrax Nectar Chocolate Truffle: Mixed this one with milk. Tasted kind of like chocolate milk - not as good as Muscle Milk, but tolerable. Lower in calories, for sure. Chike Orange Creme: I've never really found anything orange creme / orange sherbet-y that I could get excited about. I mixed it with water, and it stayed a little lumpy but not gritty. Toothache sweet and had a strong smell (I wound up pouring it in a cup with a lid and straw), but the taste wasn't terrible. I wouldn't buy any quantity of this, but might not mind having a few packets around just to break things up later. That's it for now, but I'm sure I'll have more later - I still have a bunch of Chike and Nectar samples at home, and just ordered the unjury starter pack. I've also tried a few bars: ThinkThin Chocolate Fudge (and caramel - my review wouldn't be different if I split up the flavors): These are the most disgusting things I think I've ever put in my mouth. Gritty, too sweet but not sweet enough at the same time and I'm not sure how that's possible, massive aftertaste - just gross. If you've been diabetic or ever spent time with one, you know that smell bottled insulin has? That's kind of what these taste like.

I'll remember that for next year (::brushes cookie crumbs off chin:: )

They're everywhere. Those evil, delicious little things...

I read so many reviews that I can't remember where I read it, but I remember someone mentioning those little hotplate things that you can get to melt candles on. I think I've even seen them sold as mug warmers - something like this - http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Coffee-MWBLK-Mug-Warmer/dp/B000CO89T8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385170908&sr=8-1&keywords=mug+warmer

Those are good, but Lemonades are where it's at! It feels so bad to deny the little cookie-pushers that I wound up with a box against my better judgment.

Hey Rebecca! I'm from Baltimore and still working on a surgery date too. Where are you having yours done?

You're revising from the sleeve? The DS was my first choice but I'll probably sprout fairy wings and fly before being able to get it covered, so sleeve it is! Please keep us up to date on your progress - I wish you luck!

Oh, and congrats on getting sleeved! It's great that you're only a week out and already feeling up to exercise!

You might be able to find something on craigslist, but you'll probably have to move fast and google product information on another page while you're responding on another. I've seen a few people post sturdy equipment at reasonable prices but I've never been quick enough. While you're looking, there are a lot of free workout videos on youtube. I've even tried bellydancing, which I'd never do in front of another human being! My favorites are the walk away the pounds exercises, they're easy on the joints and a lot of the versions are online.

So i have a rant that isn't about the new board - though I'm finding that frustrating too! My PCP is great about accommodating people who have things to do. They're always open one day over the weekend and two late nights each week, and the doctors split the time so they're not giving up their lives to work alternate hours all the time either. It works out well for everyone. Everyone else involved in the surgery process? Not so much. It's feels like they assume that if we're fat enough to need surgery, we're too fat to work or have anything else to do. Mandatory pre-op support group? Have to leave work early. Weight management classes? i have to take 1/2 day to make it to those. Surgeon visit? Can't get anything that isn't in the middle of the day. Nutritionist? Still need to leave early. Fortunately I have some flexibility to be able to take my time in 1/2 day increments and be able to leave early from time to time, but there are some people who don't have that luxury who would be completely cut out of the opportunity to have surgery because of it. I really want this done and over with, but if the sleeve fairy showed up and offered me surgery before the end of the year, I wouldn't have enough time off left to do it.

Oooohhhh, Sue, night shift? Part of me misses it because I could get so much more done, but I also remember spending several years in a fog because I never, ever got enough sleep. Hopefully you'll be able to catch up on your rest while you recuperate! Lucky, that's pretty much where I am. Trying to squeeze in as much of the preliminary stuff as I can before the end of the year so I can take time for the surgery next year. Confident it will all be worth it, though!

I'm very sorry for your loss. Thank you for taking the time to share her story with us.

Congratulations on your success, and on all the decisions you've made along the way to overcome the negative things that happened to you!

Nice job! You don't look like you were ever overweight at all!

Cindymg, I'm looking forward to that too! I live in a neighborhood full of eclectic little shops and I would love to be able to wear what they have. Gamerirl, no joke about the pants. There are parts of this chick we see more of than her husband, lol. Oh, and Old Nave IN THE STORE! That's got me excited, I like their stuff but you can order two of the same thing online, in the same size, and they don't fit the same way. Trying stuff on will be a huge help! Mparkersmith, I suspect we're pretty similar that way. I always complain about not having options, but the truth is I'm not even sleeved yet and I'm already overwhelmed! Soccermomma, 9/10 of my current shopping trips end the same way, with frustration and tears...I was hoping it would be better! Thanks for all the great tips!

Thanks! I've never heard of Free People before. Off to google...

Wow, that's fantastic! That's the kind of loss we probably all secretly hope for .

Bwahaha! Me too! I kept thinking, "If I couldn't catch him before, what am I going to do now that he's all 'roided up on Protein powder?"

Wow! You look like an actress, but I can't remember which one, lol.

Really, you're pissed that she said pissed? Get over yourself. Goldy, PJackson's probably right - unless he's always like this, he might just be feeling overwhelmed and scared and maybe just doesn't know how to tell you that. I hope things calm down for you soon, and Thursday's surgery resolves your health problems. In the meantime, you've always got support here on the boards!

Bummer! A mouse got in my house and chewed straight through the zipper bag I had all my Protein samples in. Bit a hole in every single packet, the furry little freeloader.