esskay77

@@rblakely63 You need to try different brands--they all taste a bit different. And the Muscle Milk mentioned above, you could try Isopure (also an acquired taste!!!) clear drinks. There are different ways to make them taste better but you want to make sure they fit the program. I had started using the Vanilla Protein Powder mixed with apple juice which tastes great but might have too much sugar!! If you are desperate and if your NUT approves only though. (It tastes like a pina colada!!) But mostly try different brands.

@@lifeofblair I also found these at The Vitamin Shop!! And they aren't bad. I had the chocolate which was good and the pumpkin Maple which was also good. I also had a Crispy Apple flavoring but hated that one, though I may have made that one wrong. Read the directions each time because the amount of Water is different!!! I have not been able to make the ones from the Protein powder yet. I am not a very experienced cook and all the recipes have been so general (some of this and a bit of that). That means nothing to me! lol. I need exact measurements of exact ingredients. Still not 100% sure what sugar free syrup is. S

@@Sajijoma I've heard other people say "if you can tolerate them" when referring to nuts. What happens if you can't tolerate them? What does that mean or feel like?

It's somehow magical! I find the same thing. If I write things down, it works. If I don't, I feel like I am doing all the same things but am not losing! I don't know what it is but it works. I had heard that years ago in Weight Watchers and also in therapy (though it wasn't about food). There is just something that happens with the brain/hand connection!

If your doctor is fine with it, don't worry about what anyone else says. You will be able to enjoy your new body longer! And, you will probably heal faster! As I was once told: "stay on your own yoga mat". Do what you need to do for you. Period.

I don't know what you were told. I can only speak for what I was told. My NUT currently recommends Oikos Triple Zero in the black container. It's nonfat, no sugar, no artificial sweeteners or something like that. And it's pretty good. I also do the Dannon Fit and Light (or Light and Fit) nonfat Greek yogurt. I was definitely told nonfat greek yogurt. Sometimes I get the plain and add my own fruit but I'm 2 years out. I couldn't have added fruit at the beginning. AT the beginning I added sugar free jello to give it some flavor. But I see someone said they add Crystal Light--wish I had thought of that! It's cool to get creative!

@@MichiganChic But I am very curious about that. I have also heard that body builders and athletes use the Protein to gain weight. I want to understand that. What happens if we are a few years out, still do the protein, but start snacking and increasing our calorie intake a bit. Not a ton, but what would happen? When is the tipping point? I just like to be informed, especially if anyone asks me about the protein I can actually answer. Thanks all

I think going back to your (or a) surgeon to see what options exist as well as going back to the NUT. Get back to basics! Keep that food journal. Document everything you eat, no matter how embarrassing. Track how much Protein you are eating and make sure to keep it between 70-100 grams of protein/day. Eat protein first, then veg, then the other stuff if you have to. Cut back or eliminate bread/grains/carbs Drink all your Water. Stop drinking anything 30 minutes before your meal. Don't drink anything with your meal Wait 30 minutes after your meal to drink again. Exercise! Really chew your food, eat slowly and mindfully. Or, do the 5-day pouch test to kick it off: http://www.5daypouchtest.com/index.html Best of luck!

Fabulous!! Way to go! Very proud of you.

I think there are varying stages of dumping. For me, all I get is my heart starts racing, I get light headed and a bit nauseous, almost like I might pass out but never do, a bit sweaty. So that is probably the low end. Others can speak to other symptoms (I think they include cramping, diarrhea, that sort of thing).

Monday through Friday I make a microwave scrambled egg at work in a mug. It actually tastes better than the scrambled eggs in our cafeteria. I put an egg or 2 in a large coffee mug (it needs room to expand during cooking), add a couple tablespoons of skim milk, a little salt and pepper, stir it up good, and microwave for 1 minute. I take it out and stir it up some more, add some reduced fat cheese (you don't have to do this part) and microwave for another minute and a half and it's done. Please note that each microwave is different so test it out to find what works for you. The microwave we have before needed completely different times.

I hated all the myfitnesspal tracking things. Mostly because you have to set things up first so it knows what to count and I just didn't have the patience for that. Was I missing something on how t use it?

@ I don't know. There are always so many variables. Are you still keeping a food journal? Are you tracking your Protein? Are you eating protein first? Are you drinking enough Water? Are you exercising? These are all keys to success. So, it isn't just don't drink while you eat. I do recall in the past when some people plateaued, they would increase the amount of protein they were eating (lean protein) and they would start to lose again. Let us know what works!

@ Correct--forever. You should never, from now on, drink while eating. Stop drinking 30 minutes prior and wait 30 minutes after your meal as well.

@@dolphinkrazy22 Yes. I am. I really don't know if it solved my problem but if I do have some pains, it's one less thing off the list to try to figure out the source. The surgery was so easy. When I came out of the recovery room, I was barely awake and they had me get up and dressed and sent me home! lol. That's very weird to just go home like that.

@@Valentina I can do a small bit of rice but that is it and I'm 2 years out. Consider it a good thing to not be able to eat rice! lol

By the way, I just read the funniest thing on a local fitness web site.... To get the best workout, you should not have the same facial expressions that you do during a mani/pedi! lol

Did you say your dad was "over 40"?!? lol. That is YOUNG!!! OMG, so young! He has so much life yet to live. Trust me, that is a young age and you should not think of him as old. He may seem old to you but trust me, and you will be there some day and look back and laugh--this is not old at all. He is at the prime of his life. You didn't say what your side effects were so I can't speak to those. I had Gastric bypass, not the sleeve and I am very happy I did it! And I was in my *gasp* 50s when I had it done! lol

I have a treadmill but it's getting old and it takes up a ton of space. As much as I hate spending money, getting a foldable anything would be worth it. Get some kettlebells, some bands, hula hoop, jump rope. But, you can do all kinds of exercises with just using what already exists in your home. Do toe touches, jumping jacks, sit ups, pushups, all the usual stuff that doesn't require any equipment!! You can use a chair to do squats, steps to do some pushups.

That's up to you and your doctor. I finally had mine out. Still not really sure if it was my gall bladder that was causing problems or not but now one less thing to think about. I wish I had had mine out during my original WLS so I wouldn't have 2 sets of scars. They aren't a big deal but... would have been more convenient to have it all done at once.

Yeah, the hunger does come back but it's not as intense and I can satisfy it with just a bit of food. Before surgery, I would get really bad headaches when I got too hungry and it would take a couple of days to get rid of the headaches. The hunger does stay away for at least a year so that's good news!! Though I am sure everyone is a bit different so your mileage may vary.

You're not alone--you have us!! lol. I would suggest support groups. You might try a few out--try the ones within your center but also try some that are not related to your center at all. I think OA is out there and pretty good, though I have heard varying degrees of info about how some people at these feel about weight loss surgery. Doesn't mean don't go, just a heads up.

How many grams of protein are you getting? I seem to recall that sometimes when you increase the amount of protein, the weight starts to come off again. Are you still keeping a food journal and writing everything down? That helps a lot.

@@Stevehud Thank you so much for the video!! That helps so much more than reading the recipe. I'm very visual so this is exactly what I needed.

And I apparently am the only one who doesn't know how to use my DVD player! I forgot I had it and just assumed nobody used them anymore! Mine has never been hooked up properly or I just don't understand how to use it. Epic fail on my part! Thanks for the reminder that these still exist and are useful. lol