Daisee68

Fat free refried Beans with shredded cheese melted on top; pimiento cheese; Laughing Cow cheese wedges; mashed avocado; ricotta bake (see your other post - I replied); Greek yogurt w/ 1/2 scoop of vanilla Protein powder added; sugar free chocolate pudding snack w/ 1/2 scoop chocolate Protein Powder added. These were my go tos. You will likely have to keep drinking Protein shakes to get your protein in during this phase. (At one month post-op, I still drink 1 Premier Protein ready made shake per day to insure I get protein). Having said that, do you have to limit your protein to a certain amount? I know that there is some concern about too much protein affecting kidneys though as little as we eat, it is unlikely to reach "too much". Just be sure your kidney Dr is aware and possibly does protein tests occasionally. (I have chronic kidney stones and my Dr always watches to make sure it isn't too much protein. I get about 100g to 115g of protein per day and it hasn't been an issue yet though this reminds me I am die for a 24 hour urine test. Yuck!). Best of luck! You are doing good planning. Things get easier! Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

@@Kaze - here is a link to some other ideas (including recipe for Ricotta Bake). http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2007/08/pureed-foods.html?m=1 Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

No issues with it at all. It is very soft. Just don't let it burn or take caution if there are burned parts on the edges. As long as your program has approved you to move in to pureed / mushy foods, it should be fine. Tiny bites and put your fork son in between so you don't eat too fast. It is very filling so you won't be able to eat much. Quite literally 2 to 3 Tablespoons. Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

I ate it as my first mushy/pureed foods at 2 weeks post-op Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

@@Oregondaisy - I take an SSRI but I take it right before I go to sleep so that I sleep thru the early side effects, if any. Have you tried that? Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

As @@Christinamo7 said, I do find I have less weight to throw behind things to move them making that more difficult; however, being 150 pounds less, I am stronger in other ways like doing yard work (I have hauled and put down 30 bags if mulch this last week and not only was I able to do it without dying, I haven't been sore afterwards. Used to a few hours of yard work made me so sore I was barley able to move for days afterwards.) My best advice to "not look sick" is to do all the things you should - Protein, fluids, Vitamins and exercise. I know that seems a little oversimplified but those things are vitally important. As to the emotional part of it, your feelings are normal. Losing weight definitely exposes all those feelings we had previously hidden with fat and buried with food. I highly recommend seeking therapy. It is has been my best tool to deal with these rapid changes! Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

First, I want to send you my sincere condolences. I know this is a tough time. I wish I had some better words of encouragement! Otherwise, I cannot say it any better than @AussieGirl81. Exactly the words I wanted to say...

I love fruit. I do eat it with Protein. I have blackberries and/or blueberries pretty much every morning. This week I bought some clementines. I have really enjoyed them (without any issues thankfully). I have tried watermelon recently too and I had a small amount mixed with 1 tbsp. of feta cheese and a dash or two of balsamic vinegar. It was SO good! The watermelon pizza @@Valentina mentioned sounds amazing!

Best of luck to you! Look forward to hearing your journey!

@@VSGAnn2014 - To be honest, that is my biggest worry. I have discussed it at length and with a few of his other patients who had the same and apparently it is quite safe. Sounds scary though, doesn't it? Dr assures me it is safer (and cheaper) than going under several different times. He is a specialist with Massive weight loss skin removal / reconstruction. Dr Peter Fisher in San Antonio, TX. I'm trusting his expertise. Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

Yes ma'am! Very different!! Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

Lol @VSGAnn2014a. Exactly!! Thanks again to all for the comments and complements (except @KindaFamiliar)! And can I just say that each day I am reminded how amazing this journey is regardless of my new figure (though that certainly helps!). I have just moved 13 bags of mulch each weighing at least 40 pounds and I'm not even out of breath! Seriously the most amazing part. I moved 16 bags mulch to the front yard last week and had to go up a slight hill and while I was more out of breath then, I wasn't sore the next day! Used to when I did yard work, I could barely move for 3 days or more later! And PS despite the gross loose skin, when I am working in the backyard alone by the pool and gates closed, I wear a bikini top win my shorts to get some sun! Quite shocking to me that would EVER do that! @@melyssafaye - thank you! And what a strange story! How could they mistake you? Damn kids! ???? (seriously that's just offensive. Clearly you looked nothing alike but they chose not to acknowledge you. Just rude!) Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

Congrats!! You look fantastic! Keep up the great work! Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

Thanks @@KindaFamiliar but just because I SAID I wasn't fishing for compliments doesn't mean you couldn't have given one! ????. Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

@@nieuwevis - Thanks! I have actually met with a plastic surgeon and scheduled my first surgery just this week for October 13. I went to him when I was at 180 (I am 5'10"). He said I had good muscle tone and felt I was ready to move forward with surgery whenever I was ready. He said IF I was going to lose more, then 5-10 pounds at MOST or I would start looking gaunt (which I DO not want). I have now lost that 10 pounds and am at 170 meaning my BMI is just barely in the "normal" range. My bariatric surgeon said at my 1 year post-op that I had lost 100% of my excess weight and she was happy for me to do plastics whenever. (My NUT says I should wait until at least 18 months post-op but I am not going to wait. All other drs are on board.). I will likely lose a little more after plastics but hopefully can tone up enough (our even gain back a little) that it won't be a problem. My first surgery is a lower body lift (which includes outer thighs, butt lift, extended tummy tuck including muscle repair and Mons lift). He will also do arm lift during this surgery. It is and 8-11 hour procedure! My second surgery will be minimum 3 months later and will be breast lift/augmentation and vertical thigh lift. It's a lot of surgery but I am a mess and I am excited for it!! Did that answer your question? If not, feel free to PM me... Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

My initial consultation with the surgeon, she told me she would like to see me under 200 pounds but I would have to work really hard for it. (I am 5'10".) At my one year check up I was at 173 was the very top of my BMI range and dr was thrilled. Having said that, I went to a plastic surgeon when I was at 180 just to see where he thought I was and what he thought about what I would need for plastics. His comment was that I was perfectly fine at 180 and if I were to lose more weight, that to only lose 5 or 10 pounds max. (I have done that. I am now at 170.) My point though is this - I was more concerned with what size I looked and what clothing size I wore than I was about an actual number on the scale. Having said that, I also really don't want to look too thin. As you get lower, your body will sort of decide where it wants to be and you can decide if that is a reasonable weight or not. I still think the BMI charts are WAY off too. Maybe body fat percentage is a little better to determine but either way, in the end, you will know if you need to lose more or are happy at the number the dr gave you.

I am not lactose intolerant so I don't know if this helps, but the powder I use is called Precision Engineered Whey Protein Isolate and it says 99% lactose free on the label. It tastes REALLY good!

@@OKCPirate - Wow, thanks! Having been so overweight all my life, I have not gotten attention for the most part. I have gotten a lot of "you have such a pretty face...." comments in my lifetime. (Note to guys - DON'T say that to an overweight woman....) Your comments are much appreciated! @@waterwoman - That is a good question! I am not sure if I ever really did identify with my body. I have been overweight my whole life - starting around age 11 or 12. At age 17 I lost about 50 pounds by literally starving myself and even then, I thought I looked odd. Skinny mind you but still odd.... Of course I immediately gained that weight back. I was a senior in high school. And I even remember asking my best friend (who happened to be male) at that time if he really thought I was really big before I lost weight. He said I had a big butt. (Should see my butt now - non-existent!) Anyway, when I started losing weight because I was "overweight" at that time, I weighed 200 pounds. I got down to 150. I am 5'10" (and was then) and NOW I realize that 200 wasn't actually THAT heavy! If only I had realized that then perhaps I wouldn't have the struggle I have now. At 200 pounds this time around, I was THIN! At 170, I really feel thin - in fact, my shoulders are a bit bony. I expect that after plastics, I may actually have to gain a little weight. I DREAD the thought of looking too thin. (How odd is that?) Rest assured, I am still seeing a therapist and body image is something we work on every time. I don't have the answers for you - yet . If I find them, I will come back and let you know. Dealing with it and not avoiding it is probably helpful - which is why I started the post - trying to really see the side by side comparison...

Awww.. Thanks @@Djmohr! Back at ya' friend!! So glad to see you back on here recently. Hoping that means you are on the mend!!

Wow you guys know how to boost a girl's confidence!! Thank you! @@The Candidate - What you said about "deserving" it and "earned" it is something I am working on. I mean I KNOW that WLS isn't the easy way out, but it is certainly the only successful way I have lost the weight and couldn't have done it without the WLS so I do still have trouble reconciling the fact that I did the work to get here using the tool of WLS instead of giving the WLS all the credit. Always work to do! Thanks for reminding me that I did the work after the surgeon did her part! @@OutsideMatchInside - Thanks but actually I still got too much thigh to rock a sheath dress!! That is one of hopeful style go tos post plastics. For now, a fit and flare works really great hiding the thighs while highlighting the waist! @@Inner Surfer Girl - I find myself doing the same - staring in the mirror at parts I have avoided. It is an interesting part of the journey isn't it?!

Thanks so much guys! What's strange is I honestly see pretty much the same thing in both photos. What I mean is that when people say they don't recognize me, it is hard to understand because I feel like I look exactly the same but with a smaller butt! ????. I'm just not sure staring at these is going to sink in for me and maybe it doesn't need to. Maybe, as @WLSResources said, making notes (maybe reviewing old posts from this site) will help it sink in. Not sure it is truly body dysmorphia because I can see how thin I am. I just cannot grasp how different I looked before. And PS thanks to all here for making this a safe place to post these and my thoughts! Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

Kind of depends on how you are shaped and style of dress but if I had to guess, I would say at high plus sizes about every 15 to 20 pounds drops a size. As you get smaller that transitions to about every 10 pounds (or at least it did for me). I started at around size 24 and after 150 pounds lost, I landed at size 12 (maybe a 10 if it ran a little large). Hope that helps! PS I found I went thru pant sizes like crazy. Try to buy used if you can. Check out Poshmark.com for some great used clothes. You can sort by brand and by size and often find stuff for a low price (not to mention a great way to sell some of your clothes once they are too big!) Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

You won't use much but it sure is nice to have it in case you need it! All good ideas here. Here are some things I had it WISH I had when I was there: chapstick, phone charger, Gas-X strips, Biotene, hair tie / headband, heating pad and ear plugs. Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

I am so glad you posted this! While I am considerably older (48), I have similar stats to you (5'10" / HW 336 / CW 170). I just booked my LBL and arm lift yesterday for October 13 but all I can think of is feeling guilty for taking risks on an elective surgery not to mention putting others out to help take care of me and to take time off work. (I am hopefully about to start a new job and though I have told them I needed to be out on medical leave for a few weeks when I first interviewed, they are acting now like it is a real inconvenience.). Anyway.... it was good to see your post and realize it is perfectly OK for me (and you!) To get this surgery. The skin IS uncomfortable and I do not want to continue to live in it if I do not have to! Best of luck on your journey!! Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

I think my Cigna plan even specifically mentioned Weight Watchers HOWEVER you still had to be "medically supervised" so you still had to get weighed in by the Dr once per month. My Dr referred me to a nutritionist who does their consults over the phone and writes down the weight you tell them on that day. Somehow it went thru fine that way. You just need to get your specific requirements from your Dr AND from your insurance and then you can figure out what to do but you should be able to find ways to do it fairly inexpensively. Good luck! Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App