smg

One of my favorite sides dishes is roasted spaghetti squash with sautéed spinach, garlic, and a sprinkling of feta cheese. You can sub Parmesan if you're not fond of feta.
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I have tried quite a few. Quest is the best brand that I've found. Clean ingredients, great flavors and recommended by my NUT. I also tried unjury but it's the only powder that didn't agree with me. It actually made my stomach upset.
There's some good rankings on Labdoor -- https://labdoor.com/rankings/protein

Good for you! Please stay safe...that looks like a nasty storm!

Yes I used Dr. Umbach and he and his entire team are fantastic. Michelle the Nutritionist is an amazing resource who is easy to communicate with via email or phone...always there for me with any questions I have...even months after surgery.
The entire experience there was easy and they make you feel comfortable the whole time. I was a cash patient, so I didn't have to deal with insurance requirements, and was able to use their state-of-the-art, brand new surgical center instead of dealing with a hospital. Went in at 7 am to prep (was first surgery of that day) and was on my home by noon. I've lost over 100 pounds so far and I am feeling great.

At this point, we are not only allowing, but INVITING someone to make a mockery of the purpose of this site.
Have at it, y'all!

I didn't have any luck with the Unjury brand Protein Powder. It didn't agree with me and I usually don't have any issues with Protein powders. I have been using Quest for some time now and I really like it. The flavors are very good, and the powder is extremely fine, so there's no grittiness or texture. Also, they make one of the best unflavored Proteins I have found for using in foods.

Not sure about your surgical team, but my team had a therapist on staff and a support group that meets twice per week. You might check with your team to see if they have a group or therapist on staff or one that they can recommend. Glad to see you are acknowledging it and looking for help! That's great.
Also, congrats on the successful weight loss so far...that's a great milestone!

Not sure about your surgical team, but my team had a therapist on staff and a support group that meets twice per week. You might check with your team to see if they have a group or therapist on staff or one that they can recommend. Glad to see you are acknowledging it and looking for help! That's great.
Also, congrats on the successful weight loss so far...that's a great milestone!

It's an adjustment for sure. I too was a gulper, often times downing 1/2 to 3/4 of a bottle of Water at a time. I've learned to drink slower and sip more often. The first time you try to gulp will be your last...at least it was for me. In addition to the large volume of liquid when you gulp, the air you take in with it can be painful. That pain subsides the further post-op you get, but it's still a discomfort when I do it.
You'll get the hang of it. I'm able to drink a lot more in a single sip now than right after surgery, but nowhere near what I did pre-op. It hasn't prevented me from getting in more than enough fluids though, so it doesn't bother me too much.
I live in Las Vegas where temps in summer get to 115 and up, so I know the feeling with being in a hot environment. One piece of advice, if you are very thirsty at the same time you are about to eat, TAKE A DRINK FIRST!!! It's easier to wait 15 minutes to start eating than it is to wait long enough after you eat to drink comfortably.

So my original thought when hearing things like this are that the spouse is just "scared" and sometimes fear can cause negative reactions in an effort to stop you from moving forward, however, this one sounds a bit different. Honestly, I think there are still several possibilities as to why he's reacting this way, and I have no idea which it is (or if it's something different altogether), but here are my thoughts.
Possibility #1: He's scared. I don't think this is the answer in this case because your mother has apparently had success with the surgery unless she had complications that you didn't mention and he's seeing that as a possibility.
Possibility #2: He's insecure and thinks that if you lose a bunch of weight you may not be attracted to him any more if you start to get more attention from other men.
Possibility #3: He likes eating poorly now and knows that once you are sleeved food experiences will change in your house, which will most likely include what he eats as well?
Possibility #4: He's a selfish prick and either #2 or #3 scare the s***t out of him to the point where he is willing to make you risk your health and happiness to keep his idea of "normalcy" intact.
Possibility #5: He really doesn't believe that you need the surgery and is willing to help you lose and then maintain your weight once you hit goal without surgery.
Not sure which of these (if any) are the one that fits, but in the end you have to do what's right for you. You have to live the rest of your life. You shouldn't have to choose misery to please another.
Best of luck!

I really think when most people mention "starvation mode" they are truly meaning "ketosis". When you deny your body the number of carbohydrates it needs to use for energy it then switches to fat stores (and muscle tissue if you're not getting enough protein) to burn instead. Many people refer to this as a form of "starvation", even though it's clearly not.
I agree that eating too few calories (nutritious ones) can have adverse effects and prevent weight loss just as eating too many can do the same, but I don't think people here truly believe they are "starving"....or at least I would hope they know the difference.

It's an adjustment for sure. I too was a gulper, often times downing 1/2 to 3/4 of a bottle of Water at a time. I've learned to drink slower and sip more often. The first time you try to gulp will be your last...at least it was for me. In addition to the large volume of liquid when you gulp, the air you take in with it can be painful. That pain subsides the further post-op you get, but it's still a discomfort when I do it.
You'll get the hang of it. I'm able to drink a lot more in a single sip now than right after surgery, but nowhere near what I did pre-op. It hasn't prevented me from getting in more than enough fluids though, so it doesn't bother me too much.
I live in Las Vegas where temps in summer get to 115 and up, so I know the feeling with being in a hot environment. One piece of advice, if you are very thirsty at the same time you are about to eat, TAKE A DRINK FIRST!!! It's easier to wait 15 minutes to start eating than it is to wait long enough after you eat to drink comfortably.

So my original thought when hearing things like this are that the spouse is just "scared" and sometimes fear can cause negative reactions in an effort to stop you from moving forward, however, this one sounds a bit different. Honestly, I think there are still several possibilities as to why he's reacting this way, and I have no idea which it is (or if it's something different altogether), but here are my thoughts.
Possibility #1: He's scared. I don't think this is the answer in this case because your mother has apparently had success with the surgery unless she had complications that you didn't mention and he's seeing that as a possibility.
Possibility #2: He's insecure and thinks that if you lose a bunch of weight you may not be attracted to him any more if you start to get more attention from other men.
Possibility #3: He likes eating poorly now and knows that once you are sleeved food experiences will change in your house, which will most likely include what he eats as well?
Possibility #4: He's a selfish prick and either #2 or #3 scare the s***t out of him to the point where he is willing to make you risk your health and happiness to keep his idea of "normalcy" intact.
Possibility #5: He really doesn't believe that you need the surgery and is willing to help you lose and then maintain your weight once you hit goal without surgery.
Not sure which of these (if any) are the one that fits, but in the end you have to do what's right for you. You have to live the rest of your life. You shouldn't have to choose misery to please another.
Best of luck!

I am also a lurker, taking it all in trying to learn as much as possible.
It took me years to gather the courage to have wls. The day the program called to schedule my orientation I panicked; but I came here and saw the 6 month surgiversary post by Dub and it reminded me why I needed to do this. I am very grateful to all of you veterans that share your wisdom and are here to not only motivate people but help keep them on a solid path so they don't fall into their addictive behaviors again. Honestly, for me a taco at 3 weeks would be a gateway food for me. I would find a way to continue to get in more and more foods that would sabotage my success.
I am 13 days post op and down 68 lbs since my orientation 4 1/2 months ago. After coming here and reading many of the posts, I am very grateful that I have such a strict and structured program. If people think any of the posts I have seen from you guys are mean...they should try and get through my program. They don't mess around and they would definitely call you out for trying to eat certain foods. But it is to ensure our success, health and safety. I have followed it 100% since surgery because I did something extreme by having this surgery and I want to be successful (and I am afraid of hurting myself by eating the wrong foods).
There are too many people that sabotage unintentionally. We wouldn't be here if there weren't enablers. Sometimes someone handing us the hard truth is what we need. Sometimes the person who has our best interest at heart is the one telling us that a taco isn't the best choice at this stage.
I hope all of you veterans continue to post because there are so many of us that you are helping.
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Great attitude.
I am very grateful for the advice given by Lipsticklady and the many other vets who were frank and honest. It helped me form my own gameplan and see things through.
I remember the pre-op days very well. It was a time filled with anxiety and aggravation. I was ready for change and tired of being encumbered with the extra pounds. I'm normally a hardheaded type who has to learn things on his own. I approached the sleeve surgery a bit differently though. I was nursing a back injury and needed to get the weight off as quick as possible. I didn't want to "learn on my own" anymore.......I wanted the collective wisdoms of those that had succeeded. I needed to hear it all....the good and the bad. It helped me a great deal.
This process can be harsh when the progress slows....and worse when we have periods of backsliding. A swift kick in the rear is exactly what I needed to jump start me.
It is encouraging to know that as long as we keep our heads in the game....our sleeves will be there for us....ready to help us burn it off.

@@Valentina I'm so sorry for your loss. You have been such a great source of information for me on my journey, and I had no idea you had gone through that.
God Bless.

as one of the veterans in my support group constantly reminds us "it's stomach surgery, not brain surgery. you have to do the brain work yourself"

I'm a relative noob (sleeved on 9/6) and it doesn't make any sense to me either. I was it utter disbelief when I read that someone had a pork chop 7 days post op. I was like SERIOUSLY??? Do you not understand what you just did to yourself???
I do appreciate the veterans that dole out good advice, even when it is ill-received!

@@LipstickLady @@WLSResources/ClothingExch
I honestly don't know how you stick around and deal with this ****! I'm very thankful that you do though!!! I think the people who are the worst are those that tell the OP not to worry that they just ate a fat filled, carb loaded meal two days before surgery because they did too and after all "there surgery went fine" or "you can't just stop eating what you want because the Dr said to". Not that I want anything bad to happen to these people but just once I'd like to see the surgeon cancel their surgeries! The "cheaters" are the first to b***h and moan when something goes wrong or they aren't skinny when they wake up from surgery! I really love the post-op people who "test" their surgery because they think there sleeve/pouch isn't small enough or they expected to dump and didn't so something must be wrong with the surgery. WTF people - do you not know what your insides look like after surgery and that you could die from complications. Okay - I'm done with my rant. I had road rage earlier - my BP was 142/92 at the Drs and now I'm getting BP rage! LOL

You put in the time.
You put in the money.

You go to all the appointments and you jump through all the hoops.
You do the pre-op diet.

You have the surgery.

You cared enough about yourself to make the commitment to WLS and you physically and permanently alter your body...


And then you get mad because someone tells you not to eat the d@mn taco? Not to drink alcohol or soda 2.783 days after surgery? To put down the freaking pizza'? To stop eating bread/rice/pasta/bananas/hoagies/20oz steaks TEMPORARILY while your body heals and you get to your goal weight? To actually stick to YOUR doctor's plan?

Even better, you get mad when they only do so AFTER you ASKED????

SERIOUSLY PEOPLE?

Yes. I'd guess most of us have head hunger and cravings. I'd guess most of us had a nibble or sip of something off plan. I've no doubt that most of us were not 100% compliant 100% of the time. But I'd also guess that those of us who have done this, gotten to goal weight and stayed there have been compliant the majority of the time. I'd also guess that many of us who have been successful would appreciate a swift kick in the rear if/when we ask a question I bet we already know the answer to.

It's not rocket science and this isn't Romper Room. Make good choices, stick to your doctor's orders or don't, but don't get mad if you fail to get the results you want when you refuse to do what you are supposed to do. And don't get mad when someone tells you that what you are putting in your mouth isn't the best idea in the world even though you want it right now.

Value yourself more than that. Seriously.

Thanks. Smart water is my favorite. I love my fitness pal. Was using it last year while trying to keep track of calories on one my many failed attempts to lose weight. Didn't know there was a water tracker. Good to know!