wicked_ash

It doesn't matter what the scale says, be it 250 pounds or 650 pounds, weight wise everyone on this site is exactly the same. Fat enough to require surgery, and that's the bottom line.

I just want to say that I really appreciated this post. My husband accepted a new job in June of this year that moved us from North Carolina to California in August.
We were already engaged, but we moved our wedding up several months since I would be quitting my full time job for the move and insurance is a necessity.
In the matter of six days I quit my job, sold my car, got married, and moved across the country leaving all of my family and friends behind. I had never been further west than Ohio before in my life.
I had already been planning my WLS journey before this, but it's been very hard on top of the homesickness. My husband is very supportive as are my family and friends from home, but I'm still less than two weeks out, this was my first Christmas away from my family and some days I'd really rather be drinking that Protein shake with my mom in my parents' bed while the two of us watch HGTV.
So, yeah, another long (and somewhat off topic) post, but this made me feel a lot better. Thank you.

How to order when you eat out? Seriously easy.
Before I go to a restaurant, I check out the online menu (if possible) so I can familiarize myself with their offerings. Learned this over all those years at WWs and it's a habit that serves me well.
Nine times out of ten, there is something on the appetizer menu that is perfect for me. Mostly Protein, few carbs, exactly the right portion for me to eat as a meal and still enough to share if anyone is interested. Cheaper, too. Just ask for it to come with everyone else's meal.
If there is no appetizer that looks interesting, I go to the soup/salad menu. French Onion is a favorite of mine and a Soup most restaurants have. I love a seafood chowder, too. Again, ask for it with the meal, not when everyone else gets their salad.
If there is no Soup, I go for a salad with Protein and just eat the toppings.
I will peek at the kids' menu, but those are usually so unhealthy, I rarely find anything for me.
My next recourse is the sandwich menu. There are so many yummy variations and I simply ask for it without bread and with salad or veggies on the side instead of fries or chips. This is a common request and I've not had a restaurant deny me.
If I am still unable to find something, I will <gasp> skip the meal. Not a game changer, not a big deal. I will survive and I won't even be unhappy. I nurse a glass of wine and a cup of coffee and I enjoy the conversation. This rarely happens because I can't find something but happens more than I thought it would because I've finally figured out that just because it's lunchtime or everyone else is eating, if I'm not hungry, I don't **HAVE** to eat.
Fast food.
Chili. A burger without the top bun. A grilled chicken sandwich without the bun. A cup of soup or a salad. A wrap, peeling off most of the tortilla. A steak and cheese (YUMMMMMM!), just eating the insides. A sub, again, just eating the insides or asking for it as a lettuce wrap.
Personally, I am partial to sushi. One roll and some edamame is a favorite.
At Arby's, I love a junior roast beef, no top bun.
At a Mexican joint, a kids' fajitas, Beans, no rice, no tortilla. Or fish tacos, yum!
At a deli, seafood salad or hot ham and cheese, no bread.
Panera, soup or 1/4 of the steak and white cheddar panini on flatbread. (My restriction is tight, tight, tight.)
Sliders are all the rage right now. Perfect for sleeved tummies.
Chick Filet has grilled nuggets and awesome chicken soup.
Chipotle has a great single taco kids' meal. Double Beans, no rice. Or I get a bowl, no rice, double beans and eat it for 3-4 days.
Asian. Shrimp dish, beef dish, chicken breast -- not fried, with sauce on the side and no rice.
BBQ, no bun.
pizza places are my biggest challenge and I usually get an order of cheese sticks to share with the table or I eat the toppings off a slice with a bit of crust. Sometimes they will have a meatball on the kids' menu and that's a perfect option for me.
Seriously, eating out is easy and can be healthy with the right choices.

Hello everyone! I'll be starting puréed foods in about a week, and I don't know exactly what that involves. I know I can make actual food but I'm only aware of foods that are already made that I just throw in a blender. I'm wondering if anyone can possibly tell me their favorite puréed food to make, with specifics. I have a nutri bullet, and I've heard people say stuff about eggs, but then I'm like "wait, raw eggs?? Do you cook it before or after??" I'm just so confused. Sorry if this is dumb! Thanks everyone!

My favorite was a ricotta cheese bake, ricotta cheese mixed with an egg, and Italian seasoning, mix and put a thin layer of marinara sauce on top. Bake in the oven at 350 for 30-40 minutes depending on how much ricotta cheese you use, I think I used a 12oz container. At my Walmart it's with the sour cream section ect.... It taste like lasagna minus the noodles. Delicious and no need for blending it's already soft!@@katmaar

They are cooked but cooked soft. Everyone is different but I make mine by mixing one egg with ½tsp of plain 0% greek yogurt and a tiny bit of shredded cheddar cheese. I then keep stirring them while they are cooking until they almost reach a firm custard stage.
I cant emphasize this enough: EAT SLOWLY

I am in the pureed stage now, and have been pureeing all types of chunky Soups, anything canned that looks tempting, hard-boiled eggs with a wee bit of light mayo (tuna and other meats to make a smooth " salad", and I sometimes use baby food stage 3 if in a hurry. Also, try bananas, canned fruit, and the ever-popular refried Beans (with sour cream-light-, and mashed-smooth avocado-yum)-pureed, of course! Good luck!

Poached eggs, refried Beans, melted cheese, and a tiny bit of mild salsa.

I would puree meat with some flavorful sauce in my mini food processor, then usually heat it up in the microwave in a little ramekin with some cheese to melt on top. It came out tasting like a casserole and I really enjoyed it. Some of my favorite combos:
--ground beef with BBQ Sauce and cheddar cheese
--shrimp with buffalo sauce and blue cheese
--chicken with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese
--turkey with peanut satay sauce and jack cheese
--salmon with lemon dill sauce and peccorino cheese
--pot roast with curry sauce and Swiss cheese
--chicken with hoisin sauce
--tuna with olive oil mayo and cheddar cheese
--ranch flavor tuna with light ranch dressing and swiss cheese
But what I liked, you may hate - take a stroll through your supermarket, check the condiment and international aisles for sauces that look good to you! Blend with meats and top with cheeses that you like.
I also did a lot of refried Beans with hot salsa and pepper jack or cheddar, Shelly's ricotta bake:
http://recipes.spark...?recipe=1793517
and Greek yogurt with Peanut Butter stirred in. Oh and poached and scrambled eggs. Good luck!

Hi wicked_ash I can totally relate to your post. It will be 12 this coming April but I too had moved clear across the country from NY to AZ because of my husbands job. It was a super tough move for me to leave all my friends and family. I had a rough go at it in the beginning (I also had a 4yr old daughter). I am pretty sure the move attributed to me putting back on previous weight I had lost.
I'm so glad to hear your hubby is supporting you. Give yourself some more time believe me, in a few more weeks you will be feeling great. You have to know how strong you are to have done all you have done in the last 6 months!!
Here's to a GREAT 2015 for us both!!!!!

I just want to say that I really appreciated this post. My husband accepted a new job in June of this year that moved us from North Carolina to California in August.
We were already engaged, but we moved our wedding up several months since I would be quitting my full time job for the move and insurance is a necessity.
In the matter of six days I quit my job, sold my car, got married, and moved across the country leaving all of my family and friends behind. I had never been further west than Ohio before in my life.
I had already been planning my WLS journey before this, but it's been very hard on top of the homesickness. My husband is very supportive as are my family and friends from home, but I'm still less than two weeks out, this was my first Christmas away from my family and some days I'd really rather be drinking that Protein shake with my mom in my parents' bed while the two of us watch HGTV.
So, yeah, another long (and somewhat off topic) post, but this made me feel a lot better. Thank you.

I just want to say that I really appreciated this post. My husband accepted a new job in June of this year that moved us from North Carolina to California in August.
We were already engaged, but we moved our wedding up several months since I would be quitting my full time job for the move and insurance is a necessity.
In the matter of six days I quit my job, sold my car, got married, and moved across the country leaving all of my family and friends behind. I had never been further west than Ohio before in my life.
I had already been planning my WLS journey before this, but it's been very hard on top of the homesickness. My husband is very supportive as are my family and friends from home, but I'm still less than two weeks out, this was my first Christmas away from my family and some days I'd really rather be drinking that Protein shake with my mom in my parents' bed while the two of us watch HGTV.
So, yeah, another long (and somewhat off topic) post, but this made me feel a lot better. Thank you.

I just want to say that I really appreciated this post. My husband accepted a new job in June of this year that moved us from North Carolina to California in August.
We were already engaged, but we moved our wedding up several months since I would be quitting my full time job for the move and insurance is a necessity.
In the matter of six days I quit my job, sold my car, got married, and moved across the country leaving all of my family and friends behind. I had never been further west than Ohio before in my life.
I had already been planning my WLS journey before this, but it's been very hard on top of the homesickness. My husband is very supportive as are my family and friends from home, but I'm still less than two weeks out, this was my first Christmas away from my family and some days I'd really rather be drinking that Protein shake with my mom in my parents' bed while the two of us watch HGTV.
So, yeah, another long (and somewhat off topic) post, but this made me feel a lot better. Thank you.

Thank you! Sometimes we just need someone to hear us. Not to "fix" everything, but just to listen and to care, even just a little.

This forum is exactly the place to come when you are tired of being strong.

I have been reading posts on here well before my surgery which was on Oct 27th 2014, and reading and posting on here since my surgery. I come across posts that have people struggling and when I read that they have no support system, or barely any support at home it really upsets me.
This is such a HUGE life change I could not imagine going thru this without my support system. I try to get on here and post where I can hoping to make a difference, because I know first hand how just one comment or compliment or Way To Go, can go a long way.
I know how lucky I am. My husband and daughter support me 110% in this journey and have since day one. My parents have also been supportive and very positive. I have friends that encourage me and help me where and when they can. Even my coworkers have been great. I haven't run into one person who has said a negative thing to me yet. (well at least to my face, you never know behind my back, but I would hope not.)
it is just so hard for me to read when people are struggling and the people in their lives that should be lifting them up and helping seem to be tearing them down. That is what I LOVE about this site. I love the help, the encouragement, the advice, and the YOU CAN DO IT attitude. We all struggle no matter how well you are doing. I just want to reach thru this computer and HUG them.
Please for those of us that have done well or are doing well please please continue to post to help out those that need it. Our positive posts can really help you never know who you might be making a difference to at any time.
For anyone struggling be strong, I am not a very strong person, I have always had people to depend on and that made me nervous going into this, but I have found I can do this and you can too!!
And for all you looking into this, starting your journey, remember this site can be helpful and there seems to always be someone here when you need them. No question is stupid, your feelings matter!!
Okay sorry this is so long, but I just had to get that out.
Thanks to all who have supported me with your kind words and encouragement!! And even when it sounds like someone might giving you tougher love than you would like, remember they did take the time to comment and try to help!!!
Good luck everyone!!!!

@@wicked_ash Guess who was on news this morning? Termini Bros. The line was out the door and every other word was "cannolis!" LOL I could SMELL the cannoli.
.......Didn't want even a tiny bite. Isn't that a great feeling? Happy Holidays & may everyone's 2015 be even better!

@@wicked_ash You shouldn't throw it in the trash. Giving it to the office is a great idea. Lots of people get to partake, instead of just the two of you. But for next year your husband may give him a gentle hint of what types of gifts maybe more appropriate.

I've gotten lots of Christmas goodies from clients and vendors. My clients all know about my surgery, but since I'm so "normal" to them, they think the usual holiday sweets are great to give. I mostly just turned around and sent all the sweets with a friend for her to take into the large clinic she works for.....Lots of employees willing to scarf down the yummy stuff. One client gave me a huge box of oranges, grapefruit and tangerines. I shared some, but ended up peeling the oranges and freezing the individual segments. They will be a nice refreshing treat all through the winter.
And here's my favorite regift....a vendor sent a 2 pound tub of chocolate covered peanuts. After eating a handful ???? I put a 1/2 cup in little cellophane gift bags, sealed them with my food saver and gave them away to clients.

It probably just slipped his mind, just say thank you and give it away.

Lots of people just give things that they would like to get. So, I just remember that the next year and send them something similar to what they sent me, which tends to go over big. Another idea for those good food gifts is to drop it by the nurse's station where you had your operation, if it's not too far away, and tell them thanks. As a nurse friend told me, "Nurses love to eat!" and they're usually to busy to go get something.

If there is one time people think it's okay to overeat it's the holidays, one girl where I go to get my surgery was actually getting negative comments because she was going to "miss" thanksgiving. Maybe you should pack up something you know your FIL shouldn't have and send it to him.

LOL! We've never even heard of them before. My husband started eating what will eventually be my diet once I'm on regular foods back when I went on my pre-op liquid diet but maaaybe we'll have to grab two pieces...one for him to try and one to save for me until I can have solids again. I looked at their website and their stuff does look out of control. I've always been more prone to indulge in salty and savory foods than sweet, but I'm not immune...especially to almond Cookies.
Let me tell you, this whole lifestyle change has opened me up to a level of self-control I didn't know I had. On my first two days of my pre-op diet I was allowed a solid lunch and dinner (day one) and then a solid dinner (day two) before I went to nothing but liquids on day three. My parents were visiting us from North Carolina for the first time since we moved across country and on my Day Two we took them to See's candies since they'd never had it.
I really had no intention of getting anything, turned down the free sample at the door and everything. Then I saw that they had a cranberry orange truffle that was seasonal only. I love the cranberry orange flavor combination and since it was seasonal and would probably be gone by the time I could have solids again I decided to allow myself one since I was still allowed dinner that night and we were between lunch and dinner at the time.
I ate half of it. Half a truffle. Nobody wanted the rest of it so I threw it away. I impressed my damn self right there.

Just received a package from my father-in-law for Christmas. The outside of the box said Termini Bros. on it but my family is notorious for reusing boxes and I didn't know what Termini Bros. was anyway so I went ahead and opened it.
Turns out, Termini Bros. is a pastry company out of Philadelphia, PA where my FIL lives and he sent us a big ol' tin of something sweet and, I'm sure, delicious.
I just had my sleeve surgery a week ago today.
Now, granted, I haven't spoken directly to my FIL about the surgery, but I did make an announcement about in on Facebook (I'm being wide open with this, I don't care who knows) and we are friends on Facebook and I'm almost positive my husband spoke to him about it as well.
Beyond that, my husband is also large and has Type 2 Diabetes. He also has Atrial Fibrillation and during a previous episode where he was in the hospital because he was in AFib for over 24 hours and wasn't able to convert back to normal rhythm on his own, his dad called and I answered the phone and the first words out of the man's mouth were, "He needs to lose weight," not, "How is he?"
Honestly, I'm not mad at the guy, I think it's more funny than anything. He's just in his own little world sometimes.
My husband said he'll give the tin to the women in our apartment complex leasing office.

I went to Disneyland and had the same issue. I packed 2 Premier Protein shakes everyday and then I found some hummus and then ate Soup at restaurants. It is tough so you might want to plan ahead. Good luck