dlappjr

I am not sure if it's a good thing, or a bad thing, but I have had an easy time post op. Never had a food that disagreed with me, anything I used to like, I still like and even tolerate things I didn't before. I do tend to eat too quickly still. Because of that, I sit down to only a small amount of food so that if I lose track of eating slowly, I don't over eat. Most of the time I only ate about 1 1/2 worth. After a couple of weeks doing that almost everyday, I would still only eat about 1 1/2 worth, but added fresh fruit or turkey sausage as well.

Phase 3 for me allowed soft scrambled eggs. That was my savior. I would scramble 2 every morning with a little cheese. That was a good source of Protein, along with cottage cheese and pureed clam chowder.

I followed my pre op diet for 14 days. I dropped 25 lbs before surgery. I think 4 days is too soon to see any real progress. Follow the instructions they gave you and drink lots of water. You will be ok.

Did you try the Isopure Protein drinks? I like them, some people do not. But they are not thick like a shake, more like a gatorade. I found several Protein Bars that I like. Not sure if they are phase 3 safe, but they are: Power Crunch AND Power Crisp Protein Energy Bar, both vanilla and chocolate Mint are great. Pure Protein makes a good Chocolate Peanut Butter one. I didn't start on bars till around 6 weeks though. And only as an occasional snack or before a workout.

I did the same. Low Carb Tortilla with homemade sauce from canned tomatoes I do every fall. Used stevia instead of sugar. Added just a little brown sugar. Turkey Pepperoni with Low Fat Italian Cheese Blend. I ate half of it and felt good. I have also had: Cheeseburger: Turkey Burger, Cheese, Pickles, Sauteed Peppers and Onions, low sugar ketchup Italian Sausage and Peppers: Turkey Mild Italian Sausages with Sauteed Peppers and Onions topped with my homemade Pasta sauce and low fat cheese. Pizza: Confession, I did actually consume a half slice of supreme pizza last weekend. I did not eat the crust. I felt ok afterwords. slightly guilty, but physically fine. Cannot make a habit of this though. Looking forward to making chicken fried rice using cauliflower instead of rice. Cauliflower Fried Rice You will find new and creative ways to get similar meals that you used to love, just healthier versions of them. I find it fun to shop at different places and for different things to put together as a healthy alternative to the crap I ate before.

@@Elode told me about this site. I have not used it yet, but looks like they have a lot of options for us. vitacost

It's a bargain at any price. I know how that must feel, but I will add this. You were prepared to spend the money for a better future. Hopefully you can end up getting it covered. If not, you will still be happy with the results just the same. Good luck!

Good question. I am watching this now. Hopefully someone with experience will chime in. I just started at the gym a couple weeks ago. I am regularly getting 100g Protein per day, but once I lose more and want to really add muscle, I bet I will need more than that. I think it also helps to know when to consume it too. I read in a Protein pamphlet that The Vitamin Shoppe put in my last bag, that you want whey Protein: After you wake up in the AM, Before a workout, after a workout. Then you want Casein Protein before you go to bed. Casein takes longer for your body to breakdown, thus your body will not breakdown your own protein while you sleep. At least that was the case this article made. I also found this link helpful to me for many reasons, Protein Intake being one of them. The Best Diet Plan To Lose Fat, Build Muscle & Be Healthy The Ultimate Weight Training Workout Routine

I have tried: Bariatric Advantage Protein Powder: Orange Cream, banana, Iced Latte They were ok tasting, overpriced. Premier Protein: Strawberries and Cream, vanilla Best bang for the buck if you can get them at costco or Sams. Taste is good Isopure whey Protein Powder: Alpine Punch I like this one. Its not as thick as other shakes. Wanted something Fruity. WheyTech BodyTech Pro 24: chocolate Mint, Banana Cream Hands down my favorite Protein shake. I was always a Vanilla guy, but this Chocolate Mint shake is amazing. And you don't have to buy a huge tub of it either. The Vitamin Shoppe sells single serve packets of it. Pure Protein Premade Shakes (Pop Can size): Banan Cream I liked these a lot too. Best Banana flavor I have tried. nectar Protein: Sample Pack. You can get 13 individual packs for $15.00. One time only. Its really worth it. They have some good flavors but buying a large canister for 28+ is a gamble. http://www.si03.com/EMAIL/nectar_gng_sampler/nectarsampler.html Isopure Protein Zero Carb DRINK: Alpine Punch, Apple Melon, Orange-Pineapple-Banana I like these drinks. I got sick of the shake thickness after the 3rd week post op. I also did them for 2 weeks pre op so by then I had enough. The drinks are not for everyone. Its like gatorade but with a weird aftertaste. I suggest trying one to see if you like it. It might not be for you. Vitamins: I started with Centrum Complete Chewables but after the first bottle, switched to Kroger Childrens Complete Chewable Multi Vitamins. Better price. I got B Complex Chewable wafers from The Vitamin Shoppe but didn't care for the after taste of the Kiwi strawberry flavor so I went back and got Strawberry flavored Gummies from The Vitamin Shoppe. Calcium Citrate I bought through the Pharmacy at my local hospital but you can get them online. Bariatric Advantage Cal Citrate 500mg Chews, Orange flavor. My Surgeon told me to wait till I was a month Post Op to take these. D3: I just got the cheapest bottle from the local Meijer or Kroger. 2000iu, once a day. If you go to The Vitamin Shoppe, sign up for their rewards program. After the 3rd week after you sign up, they will send you a 20% off coupon in the mail. Try a few things from there at first and once you get that coupon, make a list of things you want to buy large amounts of, that 20% off is for the total of one shopping trip. I saved like 50 by buying a bunch at once. Good luck!

Its very good to be prepared. I read so much before Surgery that I think I forgot at least half of it and still learned so much. Vitamins: 1 Multi Vitamin, twice a day, chewable at first, starting on Day 1 Post OP (I take one at 7:00am and the other at 7:00pm) B Complex, Chewable wafers or Gummies, starting Day 1 Post OP and Vitamin D3, 2000iu Once a day, starting Day 1 Post OP. Calcium Citrate, 500mg or more per chewable, 3 times per day. My Surgeon told me to wait till week 4 Post OP for these. I use: Kroger Brand Childrens Complete Multi Vitman Chewable (Do not use Gummies, they are not a complete multi) Cheapest 2000IU D3 I can find, Natures Bounty I think, Cannot remember B Complex Gummies: http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/p/nutrition-now-b-complex-gummy-70-gummies/nn-3014#.Viksjek6NUM Cal Citrate: Bariatric Advantage Chews 500mg, Orange. http://www.bariatricfoodsource.com/Bariatric_Advantage_Calcium_Chews_500mg_p/ba-cal-chewy-500.htm Food: As for the Sugar part, I was told by my surgeon that there is no excuse for drinking any beverages with sugar in them ever again. He just doesn't want me to drink sugar. As for Sugar in foods, naturally occurring carbs and sugars, like in fruit, veggies and other whole, non processed foods, are ok. It took me almost 3 weeks to realize this and I was purposely trying to keep my carbs down. My Nutritionist said I should be getting 80g of carbs per day and I was trying to stay below 20. Now that I can have foods again, and next week, bread and grains, I will be eating whole for sure. Just watch your added sugar or refined/processed sugars/carbs. Protein Shakes: These will make up the majority of your Protein for the first month or so. I am 2 months out and get a lot of protein from food, but still take Protein shakes or drinks or bars occasionally. Most of the reputable shake makers have 5g or less of sugars. Speaking of that, that is one thing my NUT told me also. Anything above 5g of sugar per serving, look to see where the sugar is coming from. If its because it has fruit in it and no added sugar, that is ok, but if sugar is a listed ingredient and it has more that 5g of sugar per serving, try to find something else instead. The Premiere Protein at costco or Vitamin Shoppe has less that 5g, most of the good whey Protein powders do. You are asking the right questions!

Hope you are doing well since your surgery! Its amazing how much better I feel having weight off of me!

I have also been fortunate enough not to have issues throwing up. I was worried that because I was on phase 1 for two weeks, it was a full 5 weeks before I could have soft cooked veggies and chicken, that I would have a stricture. Fortunately everything is good, but the Dr. should know about this. Good luck!

@@dlappjr I am not sure what your plan allows. I am very grateful that my NUT has the Chike Iced coffee on her list of 4 acceptable Protein powders we can have. It does have a small amount of coffee as an ingredient which surprises me that it's allowed. I do not mix it full strength as per the "recipe", however, I do substitute some into a scoop of chocolate protein powder. It gives a nice mocha flavor and has become my breakfast protein shake. http://www.chikenutrition.com/buy-chike-coffee-mocha.html They make two versions of it. Both are great. I simply mix with ice and Water. I'm very, very grateful toi have this great product in my arsenal. Best wishes. Thanks Dub! I tried the Bariatric Advantage vanilla Latte flavor protein powder. It was ok. Not horrible. I have just really gotten away from the shakes, in favor of bars and Isopure drink. That plus I now eat salmon, turkey and chicken regularly. I will have to try the Chike. I have heard a lot of people like it. Hopefully you are recovering well! I remember my second week off work after surgery I was a little firecracker man. Energy for days and loved to get outside and walk. Best of luck!

It varies from Dr. to Dr. but I will tell you the rundown as it was presented to me. Before surgery, I looked into a lot of different Protein options. Different shakes and drinks, stocked up on sugar free Jello and sugar free popsicles. I found out before being released form the hospital, from my surgeon, not to worry about Protein Shakes or drinks for the first week or so. He kept me on phase 1 for almost 2 weeks. Then phase 2, then 3, then 4 eventually around week 5. My sister in law works on a bariatric floor in a different hospital than I was at and they give their patients protein on day one. So it all depends. Whatever they say, try to follow that closely. It will only hep make it easier. I have tried a tone of different protein options. feel free to message me if you want info.

I have nothing of value to add to the other great posts above. I simply wanted to say that this is a good post. Good for you for talking about it. You took the first step in holding yourself accountable. Let the posts be a reinforcement that you know what you need to do. I think we have all had these feelings in one form, or another. Be it a little bit or a total feeling of failure, we all know what it feels like to wonder if we are messing up. That is why we turn to this site, or others like it, then to our other support options. Nutritionists, Support Staff and Nurses at the Bariatric office you follow up with or even your Primary Care Dr. Take all of the feedback and sort through and pull out what will help you best. Good luck! I know you can turn it around!

The support group meetings I attend, the first monday of every month, is hosted by the NUT from my surgeons office. I will have to ask this at the next meeting. I have no doubt that consuming a moderate amount of caffeine can help stimulate you when needed. My fear is what will happen once I cross that line. Like @@sleevedinseptember said, usually the coffee/espresso is accompanied by wonderful flavors and sweet yumminess. I don't want sweet yumminess, no more.

I also tried the unsweetened, decaffeinated "Iced Tea" as they called it. It was unbearable. I ended up watering some weeds on the side of my house with 98% of a full gallon of it. I think I am going to try to steer clear from caffeine as long as I can. I notice that I don't feel that I need it in the AM like I used to, and I also noticed I don't crash mid day like I used to either. I am going to say those two things are linked and avoid it for now. Unless something happens in the future and I feel differently.

More active years with my little girl More active nights in bed with my wife More times not feeling scared of booths, shopping malls, shoes coming untied More opportunities to be included with friends and co workers Packing for a two day trip in only a carry on Swimming without a tshirt Breathing while climbing stairs In short, living on the outside, the way I feel on the inside.

Its so hard. I did it for 14 days. I think the first 8 were the hardest. Once I hit less than a week to go it seemed to ease up. You can do it! You need to do it. It will be so worth it. Water is your friend now.

I am still only 7 weeks out, and have no desire to start drinking anything with caffeine as of right now. I am asking because I am curious as to what others have experienced in their journey. Prior to surgery, I spent many years suckling down 4 shot Iced Latte's from "The Bucks". I was a very caffeinated person. It has been about 9 weeks since I had any caffeine. I am relating it a lot to when I quit smoking. Because caffeine is a drug, as is nicotine, my thought on it right now is "why reintroduce caffeine at all? It will just end up being a gateway to quad Venti Iced vanilla Latte$ all over again". So, have any of you ever gone back to drinking caffeine, either coffee or espresso? If so, are you hooked again? Do you wish you hadn't? Or are you okay with it in moderation?

I have come to realize that I must be the only reason they still make those. I like them. A lot. Not love, but strongly adore would be true. The Alpine Punch and Apple Melon are the best. I much prefer those to a shake.

This happens a lot in a support group I am on on Facebook also. People come into the forum and want approval or verification for the way they feel. They get a little butt hurt because the conversation doesn't go their way. I find it hard to believe that there was not a single attempt by the office to remind her of the apt. In the past 6-8yrs, I have not had one single apt. that the office did not contact me by phone, either in person or by recording, to remind me. My Bariatric Surgeons Office has called me every other week since surgery to check up on me. Just to see how I was adapting. 2 of those times it was the Surgeon himself. I don't buy the story as it was sold to us. That said, I hope @@Snowbutterfly reads these responses and decides to own a little more of the truth. There are a ton of great rescources on this site. People that really do want to help. I hope she keeps coming back and reads and asks and posts. It is a lot better than going it alone, and a far cry better than finding a group of people who might accept you not owning up to your responsibilities. Could you imagine settling in with a group who just says "it's ok, sorry they were mean to you" just because you didn't want to hear the correct answer. You don't need enablers. We all have had that already.

I recently started going to the gym and doing both Cardio and Lifting. I was very concerned about what I should be doing, as it has been at least 18 years since I was in a gym. I found this site. http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/the-ultimate-weight-training-workout-routine/ It is a lot to read, but it made a lot of sense and helped me determine what I should be doing for now, until I get a better feel for working out. You can skip right to the sample beginner work out if you'd like. The rest of it is about the "why" of the workout. It also touches on eating before and after, but I agree with the previous comment that we are different than normal already healthy people. That said, I have about 3.5oz of non fat oikos vanilla yogurt with strawberries or 1/2 banana and about 4oz. of Isopure Protein Drink before my workout. Another 6oz of Isopure right after. Then around 45 min after my workout, an egg and some turkey sausage or something. The stuff before my workout is just to make me feel better about working out while not having an empty stomach. Probably more a placebo to me but it works. The post workout meal is probably much more important.

Agree ^^^^^^^^^^ That also isn't how it should work with support groups. I am part of a support group through the my surgeons office for people who had WLS through their practice. The same things happen there too. Somebody doesn't agree with someone trying to find an alternative to full fat and full sugar ice cream by means of a low fat, no sugar added option so they climb up on their high horse and carry on about how they did it the hard way and they would never put anything in their body that wasn't ever intended…blah blah blah. But this is not what a support group is about. I ask questions about things and get all kinds of answers. I pull what I can use out of it and go about my business. When I answer a question that has been posted, I am answering what I did or what worked for me, in hopes that maybe that person take my input into consideration with all the other feedback they receive. I never intend for anyone to take my approach and only my approach. We all off a unique perspective, that when offered up for assistance to each other, collectively contributes to the group. We are here for the same purpose. To talk about topics that the people in our lives who have not gone through this cannot offer useful information to us because they have never had to deal with this. That is why I love these support groups. Try not to take each other so seriously, or so literally.

I am 7 weeks out from VSG. My typical day looks like this: Breakfast 1 5:00am or 7:00am: Half of the 5.3oz Oikos Greek Non Fat Vanilla Yogurt with Strawberries or Raspberries or 1/2 banana Breakfast 2 7:00am or 9:00am: 1 Egg either scrambled or over medium with turkey sausage or turkey bacon or smoked salmon Snack around 11am: 1 piece of string cheese or a light baby bel. i Old Wisconsin Turkey Snack Stick lunch around 1pm: Grilled chicken of some kind. Either from a Greek restaurant or Schwarma or something with grilled veggies Snack around 4pm: sugar free pudding or Jello or a handful of yogurt covered dried cherries dinner around 7:30pm fish or chicken or turkey burger or sausage (turkey or chicken) with cooked veggies Snack around 9:00pm Not every night. maybe every other night. Sugar free popsicle ****Special treat, once or twice every 7 days**** 1/2 cup Breyers low fat, no sugar added Strawberries and Cream ice cream. This only has 4g of sugar and 10g carbs. Also, I am one of about 5 people in the world who like Isopure Protein drinks. The kind in the bottle, like gatorade. I sip on one of these throughout the day here and there. That is a great way to get in both liquids and another 40g of protein.