OKCPirate

@@GinaCampbell - Young lady, I don't know what to say, but I think those idiots messed the lot of you up. I know it is mathematically possible for all of you to be the worst cases in one spot, just as it is mathematically possible that a bunch of chimps could randomly type out Romeo and Juliet, but the odds are really low.

@@FloraBama Girl - That is my favorite hole in the wall bar ever. Need to get back down to the redneck riviera soon.

"Nightmare"? Hell I loved it. Can you imagine being a 17 without the teen angst, and know what in the heck you are doing? That is fun stuff when you are a responsible adult with his own house and hot tub. Just saying

@@summerset - yep at some point I'll forget I'm sleeved and leave @@sharonintx - "great bariatric enforcers" - I Iike this term BTW...I think it might make a great t-shirt GBE. That might get a good conversation going, esp with a before and after pic on the shirt. But I am not too worried about this site. There are two groups of people who seem to be successful...those who jumped through all the third party payers hoops, and those who self paid...it was a struggle to get the surgery but they soldiered on. And there are those who whine and feel like they have to because of family or some other outside pressure. (Strangely, I can usually quickly figure out where they are on the spectrum, and will respond as I think I seem them). I'll keep poking around until my memories of starting off on this journey start to fade and seem irrelevant.

@ - Sigh wish I had done this at 46 Oh well. Funny, I kind of figured out most of this on the front end watching YouTube videos of those who did well and those who fell on their face. It all boiled down to research and attitude. You knew it was a tool, not a magic wand. And that is clear from your story (and it is a very good and very real one BTW). Thanks for sharing. My hope is that those thinking about this would read your story first and quit thinking this is automatic permanent weight loss. I can't/won't talk about all the personal struggle messages I get into with people who are fighting other demons that pop into their lives post surgery. But HELL YEAH it is a great tool and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I just wished I could have planned better for the hormone dump as a single guy (wink wink, wow that was fun).

Hate to chime in, I was 52, and I freakin rocked it. Got in the best shape I could at my size, and I have been really digging the 80+ pounds lost. The pre-op diet is to shrink your liver so the surgeon can go in from the side and cut your stomach. It he/she can get a straight shot they will get you done quickly reducing recovery time. This sleave thing is a tool. You can do it. Pre-op is only for a couple of weeks depending on how fatty the liver is. Then get walking and figure out what Protein works for you. Not sure Tai Chi is a great idea for the first month because IMHO it puts too much stress on the core, but please feel free to ask the surgery team. (NOTE this is a personal opinion based on my experience with Tai Chi, don't know what the Regis version is). The reason they don't want you too lift too much for the first month is for the staple line to fully heal. Hope that makes sense. Age is just a number, and there are many here who were older than I was when they had their surgery and they freakin rocked it too.

Don't know what I would have done without my "coffee cup" warmer during that phase. It took so long to eat my scrambled eggs they would get cold. But by keeping it on the cup warmer, I could take a bite wander away and come back. (My lawyer says I need to say - don't put a paper or Styrofoam plate on the warmer, only use ceramic...geez).

Run by GNC and try a couple of the Isopure flavors (I liked the green tea). Not everyone does (I admit, some kind of gag on it, but if you can tolerate it, it's easy Protein during this phase). I could sip through two of those when I was on Clear liquids and get 80g of protein. Never had an energy drop.

@@TracyBar - 6-800? You know it depends. Sometimes people's metabolism gets so messed up from yo-yo dieting that is what they need. Some need more. We are all the same in that we are all different. There is a great deal of trial and error and figuring out what works for you.

@@cameron1209 - Hey mom, get a shot glass and practice sipping Water out of it for the first few weeks. Start practicing eating small bites and slow during lunch NOW. Start playing around and checking out what are the best clear Proteins for you, so you can keep your energy up. You ladies want to take care of the world and not yourselves. Kids and husbands will never remember a couple of bad weeks. But they will remember a healthier mom FOREVER. So focus on this. This is a game changer for you AND your kids. Plan, don't fret. Most of it is small stuff, keep it in perspective.

Good, you should be. You are permanently altering your body. But you could also be scared about the dangers of being obese and how that will kill you early, not to mention the embarrassment and not living your life as fully and abundantly as you could smaller. When I got nervous, I read this section: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/195065-you-know-you-lost-weight-when/ Made me smile and remember why I was doing this.

Did you wean off caffine or stop cold turkey? Getting off that was hard. So was getting processed food out of my system. I drank a bunch of Water trying to get what every is in Diet Mtn. Dews out of my system. It wasn't pleasant.

One has to be VERY careful on the web these days. @Alex has enough problems with rude people, he doesn't need someone being accused of being a pedophile or anything. Geez what is the web coming to these days?

@@Lema - Makes sense to me. You are an adult and allowed to make your own calls. I personally refuse to let any food item have power over me (now certain liquids are a problem, but that is another thread). But I do avoid doughy stuff, not because I want the taste, but because it just goes down wrong and seems to hang in my sleeve. It just makes me feel icky. (sorry real scientific, but that's the best way to describe it).

@@swizzle - Geez, 12, Please don't read my content until you are at least 21, preferably 25. Anyone who knows me on this site will completely vouch this is totally for your safety and well being. Just saying. OK, that said, when you are in maintenance, a little (no more than a tablespoon) before bed was recommended by my nutritionist (everyone thought I was going to say nut). And I do it on days when I am eating under calories so I don't wake up tired. But it depends on where you are. At goal, no worries, before then, extreme caution.

@@cassandramarie93 - ecigs finally got me over the top on this one over four years ago. Geez, I was trying to kill all the damn spiders under my bed for weeks when I tried to do it cold turkey...well not completely true (I think there were snakes there too ) , my biggest problem was I just couldn't think clearly. Patches, nicorette...nothing worked. But the ecigs did. Dang if I know why, but I found a flavor I like that doesn't offend anyone. Now this is the hard part...does your significant other smoke? (if you have one). Because I will tell you, if a few months of not smoking you will about puke when you kiss someone who smokes. You will smell them coming a mile away. So just warning you about that.

@@higher - You know, that is a good point, assuming can make an ASS out of U and Me. @@swizzle - Penutbutter - "moderation" can be a dangerous word. It is so calorie dense you do have to watch it. See @@dubs post on his nuts...http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/359914-im-giving-up-on-my-nuts/ @@Lema - when was your surgery?

@@chycky - I like those to. I think the highest Protein yogurt is Icelandic, it's just tough to find and expensive.

No I have not, but I will take a look at it and knowing me, probably try it to.

@@sharonintx -"All our members are polite, politically correct, sensitive, and joyously knowledgeable" said no internet forum ever. DOUBLE THUMBS UP!!!! Perfect, absolutely true. (OK, IMHO)

@@mdelicia - When I was in my 20's I had this bright idea about quitting my triggers for cigarettes first, and then quit smoking. #1 caffeine. Oh my goodness did I hurt from that one. Somethings you have to taper.

@@Alex Brecher - good post, the only thing I would add is when I am posting to someone's question, I try to differentiate between "facts" and "opinions." For instance there are some accepted best practices on alcohol. I feel obligated to say this is what we know, but IMHO, this is what I have experienced. I think when people make clear when they are sharing but not claiming absolute certainty, it makes it easier for everyone to keep their reactions in perspective. IMHO

This stuff is really good, 21g of Protein for 170 calories? That is tough to beat. http://powerful.yt/ I found it by accident at the Walmart grocery. Who knew?

This is an interesting find. I've been looking into it all morning. http://www.thesinclairmethod.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3041 I know AA works for some people. (My sister and her husband are at the top of the list). I am just not comfortable with the model. My church has a wonderful series call The 12 Steps a Spiritual Journey. I just can't accept the premises. But the Sinclair Method may actually be what Bill W. hoped many years ago when he stated he was hoping there would be a day when science would help find an answer. If you suspect you have a problem, but you are not willing to go abstinence only, this might be the right tool for you.

I have tried a couple different protein powders they don't mix well how do u get it to mix up well I have tried unjury and Isopure Sent from my iPhone I use this: http://www.pipingrock.com/whey-protein/whey-protein-isolate-powder-unflavored-39404 dissolves well in coffee (after the coffee cools a little), yogurt and eggs.