esskay77

@@catwoman7 Thanks!! When did you have surgery? Just wondering how far out you are from it. Doesn't seem like a lot of food but maybe I've upped mine too much without realizing it!!!

@@catwoman7 What does your day of food/drink look like? I've fallen off the wagon and need some help getting back to a good meal plan THanks!!

Such a great post!! Thanks for sharing. Sweets are the thing I always THINK I want and do tend to buy the when I shop. Sometimes I eat them when I get home, sometimes I throw them in the extra freezer, and sometimes I throw them away. Just buying them is half the joy. But, that's also part of the addiction I have recently discovered. So, I will try to follow what you said that you do to see if that helps. I have been successful many times not buying things that I shouldn't have but as someone else stated above, I feel empty when I get home and I really regret not buying them. But, again, I'm sure this is part of the addiction!! lol Anyway, thanks!

@@music_lover0721 Fantastic!! We wish you the best of luck. It doesn't hurt now to try to find Protein shakes that you like since you will need them after the surgery. Check out a few blogs (I can't remember the first one from a guy on here. His name is something like Jim Marsek (but that's not quite right) and also theworldaccordingtoeggface.com ) -- these will give you some good info that you can use for the next several years if not for life. Start keeping food journals to get used to that and also to see how you are currently eating, even if you don't change your eating habits right now. I wish you all the success in the world!! And keep us posted.

@@mmy -- No, your Protein requirement does not come down. THe only difference is that eventually, you will not need to have protein shakes as a Meal Replacement anymore--you will get all your protein from food (and Isopure if you like but that isn't a meal replacement as far as I know). I will warn you that Isopure is an acquired taste. It's talked about a lot on this site. When I first tried it I hated it and spit it out. But for some reason a few weeks later I went back and now I love them but understand that not everybody will. But, protein is your main thing you need to watch and count forever (at least for RNY--I can't speak for sleeves or bands because I just don't know). And you should try to get over "counting calories". We count grams of protein rather than calories. It's actually easier and less overwhelming.

I agree with the others. The main thing they are looking for is that you are doing this for the right reasons and that you understand that this is just a tool, not a magic bullet, and not to get a skinny as possible, and look great (even though you might). It's about your health, saving your life, etc. Best of luck!

I make microwave scrambled eggs in a coffee mug every morning. Easy to carry if you need to or you can put it in a different type of container. WHen they cook, they do rise temporarily so you want to make sure you have enough room for the to do that.

What ARE probiotics and WHY does one take them. Does everybody take them or just people who have a problem? Do you take them for life or just for a while?

I always mix a can of Campbell's tomato soup with milk or water. But I don't think that will affect how your pouch feels. It's just how everyone generally does it (including people not on diets or not WLS people). But it shouldn't be a factor in how you feel.

Attending a food addict support group would be a must for you. It's hard, I won't lie. But as others have said, once you kick it, as long as you don't cheat, the cravings diminish. Find some substitutes. You can make Protein Mug cakes, I absolutely LOVE cottage cheese with crushed pineapple in it. Sometimes I also add a dry package of Non Fat Cheesecake flavored jello pudding (need to add a little skim milk in it because it can get dry). Add a bit of sugar free cool whip and enjoy!!!! Find some good substitutions.

@@katesuccess Could you give an example of what, specifically, you eat in during the day? Thanks

@@Cervidae Thanks for the info. That helps.

I have recently replaced rice with quinoa. It's not a bad substitute. Though frankly, I try to even limit quinoa because I don't enough about it. People keep telling me it is a protein but it looks so much like rice that I can't wrap my head around that. lol

@@Djmohr Nice! and Thanks!

@@Inner Surfer Girl Thanks.

@@losergrl75 That's so funny and awesome!

@@BonnieGail Wow, 2 tests that took 2 hours??!! Mine was a 5 minute conversation. That's it. Actually, I had to do this twice because the first time was at one hospital and it was with a social worker and it was a 5 minute conversation. This is the one where I was joking around, which I do when I'm nervous or in an exceptionally good mood. She didn't have a sense of humor for sure and she flunked me. Barely even looked at me--eye contact maybe once. Made me very mad which is why I switched to a different surgeon/hospital and had to see the psychiatrist but again,it was just for 5 minutes and was only a face to face conversation. I passed with flying colors though I could have made a lot of jokes at this place. This psychiatrist was in the old wing of this hospital and to get there you have to go up one flloor, through some crazy hallways, then down 2 floors, round and round, and then back up in an old elevator to the 4th floor. All these hallways seemed old, dingy, and deserted. It felt like I was in a very strange dream. And then the waiting room was hilarious. There were a few chairs and a coffee table, some bookshelfs and end tables. Everything was empty. Kleenex boxes were empty, bookshelves were empty, candy bowls empty, and I can't remember the other odd stuff there but it just seemed odd. THen when I got into the psychiatrist office, again, all his bookshelves were empty, his desk had nothing on it, there was nothing anywhere. I started to think I was getting punk'd! And I wanted to comment on it but have learned my lesson. Just really weird. You had to see it to understand how off it was.

@@Djmohr - what is a bariatrician? I'm intrigued!

That isn't too much weight loss in that time frame for a WLS person. In fact, it seems fairly normal for us. The NUT knows you had surgery, right? I am surprised they said to up your carbs this soon. I would have thought they would up your Protein. I don't know if I do this right but I always try to have a snack in the morning and one in the afternoon and it's protein. Usually a yogurt or some string cheese or a bit of cottage cheese. How many grams of protein are you getting in each day? (I'm not a NUT so don't have an educated opinion but all these NUTs don't seem to know what they are doing either, especially for WLS). There are several people on there that I hope post because they have blogged and done some great things and seem to have this down better than me. And also--congratulations on the weight loss!!

I normally see the nurse practitioner and NUT. Occasionally I see the surgeon but she also did my gall bladder surgery so I had other reasons to see her.

@@bigmoe99 Doesn't seem like I've heard that happen to others who have also lost a lot of weight before hand, especially if you are still over the BMI % that they call normal.

Yes, you should be honest but focused on your priorities. I tend to joke around a lot and they didn't take well to that! Of course, my priorities are my health but sometimes my mouth rambles on and they "flunked" me for that part. So, now I make sure to tell people to focus on their health which is really what we all want. ANd of course if depression is something you deal with, you mention it if they ask. No lying of course! It's all about how you present yourself. They don't have a sense of humor! lol. For example, if they ask you why you are having the surgery, you don't say "I have depression" but if they ask you about depression, you say yes and I'm working with my dr on this or whatever your truth is. I have just learned to make sure I am answering the question they are asking. But maybe that is me.

Sorry for your loss. They are looking for certain words that you way or phrases or reasons of why you are having the surgery. If you say that you want to look great in a pair of jeans, that won't go over well! But if you say you are doing this for your health and talk mostly about that, whether it is for your heart of diabetes or blood pressure, whatever your demon, those are all great reasons and they love that. I would keep the conversation along those lines.

@@jmcpride I'm over 2 years out, and yes, I'm having some trouble. I'm fighting the same 10 pounds, up and down over and over again! I get hungry again, I am able to eat almost anything and a lot. I try not to but it happens. And I have stopped keeping a food journal and I am very frustrated that I can't find anyone to help me with meal planning. My NUT is useless, just keeps saying, use spices--try cajun, try whatever. What I can't seem to get across to him is that it isn't the flavor, I just don't know how to cook very well, don't know what to make, and if it isn't just a chicken breast, I don't know how to portion it. I need help for sure!! Oh, and I am amazed at how completely wonderful food has been tasting lately! Yikes!

Going out to dinner can be a challenge. Almost every place has a variety of things that are fine to eat but my head wants so many things I shouldn't have! So, my discipline still needs some work. I still need to work on my head hunger. Getting enough exercise in is also a problem but I am taking that one day at a time and trying to get in my exercise. I always have good intentions but I let things get in the way! lol. There are times that I miss a really bad-for-you meal but I also don't want to be as large as I was so I just keep telling myself that it is worth it. And it is, but somedays, the thoughts of some old favorite foods just stick in my head. But, I'm still learning, even 2 years out, what to do "instead" of other things. I would say that family and friends "think" they are being supportive but really, not so much. I recently went out with some friends to an event at the museum. One kept saying how she was craving dumplings at the Dumpling house and how we had to go there. We finally did and I discovered that there really wasn't anything I could eat. I got the egg drop Soup but was really angry about this. I didn't say anything but certainly wasn't happy. Also, in my group of friends, one is a vegetarian, one doesn't eat seafood, and when we try to find a place to go eat, I've been told that I'm the problem one. ?? So, not as supportive as they think they are. But, in the end, it's all good!!