LowBMISleever

@@hats123 you're killing it!!! And you're getting SO close to the feeling normal again days!! Hugs & kisses to the lowBMIers on here taking crap from people about not needing the surgery!! This is only part 1 of our journey. If we get to our goal and ruin maintenance, then we didn't do it. So excited to see us all reach goal & maintain together!!!!! #marathonnotasprint Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Between this comment and the thread with the person who ate a pork chop 7 days out, I just can't even... #meansleeverforlife Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Congrats @@Hellya - I'll bet you'll end up with better stats than I have at 2 months out. Stick to plan & enjoy the amazing results!! @@Britts vsg welcome! You're going to be SO happy with your decision! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Great questions! OCC follows up with phone calls once a week after surgery and sends emails with videos and written instructions for each phase. They are GREAT about answering any questions within 24 hours. I haven't had a single complication by following their program. I have no loose skin, but I started at 180lbs 29 BMI. I still want to lose about 15 pounds, but I absolutely do not foresee any loose skin. I haven't lost any hair yet either. Will keep everyone updated on that. I do work out and I love it! You will feel so safe and taken care of at OCC Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Here are side by sides: Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

It's the 22nd! Time for an update! HW: 180 SW: 173 7/22/16 CW: 145 9/22/16 Total Loss: 35lbs Since Surgery: 28lbs What I'm eating: Premier Protein mixed with coffee for Breakfast. 30 g Protein 2 net carbs 160 cals Quest bar for snack 20g protein 4 net carbs 190 cals Deli meat/provolone cheese roll up with mustard & "just mayo" for lunch 12g protein 2 carbs 190 cals Quest bar for snack 20g protein 4 net carbs 190 cals Salmon or tuna sashimi (no rice!!) & 1/4 avocado 12g protein 3 carbs 150 cals Total: 94 protein; 15 carbs; aprox 880 calories Liquid: 64oz or more of sugar free Propel Thrilled with how everything is going!!! I go to the gym everyday. 30-45 minutes of cardio & 2 60 minute weight lifting sessions. Great energy, stamina & strength!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

The brownie one doesn't do it for me either. I 5th the cookie dough bar! Yummmmmy! chocolate chunk is great too. Love s'more and cinnabun too. Don't eat any of them expecting them to taste like candy though, bc candy they are not! chewy, yummy Protein they are! Good luck! On a side note, I honestly wouldn't recommend any other Protein Bars on the market. None that I have found come close to the protein-carb-fat-calorie ratio that Quest bars have. For more calories and less protein, there are plenty of options, but I'm greedy with where I put my calories, and 10-15g protein for 250+ calories isn't good enough for the more "candy bar" like products that atkins has. But, not everyone's NUT worries about calories, so to each his own! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yumm!! @@suzzzzz cookie dough is my favorite flavor! The s'mores & mint chocolate ones are incredible too! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm 5'6", 31 years old. I had the surgery at 180 pounds. Best decision of my life. I'm 8 weeks post op and weigh 148. Everyone was nasty to me about it too, but it's all high fives and "you look awesome" now. I have NEVER regretted my choice. I did it for longterm health and to stop the endless cycle of yoyo diets. You are ABSOLUTELY doing the right thing! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

If I were going by total carbs and not net carbs, there is NO way I would be in ketosis. But, I pee on the stick that measures ketones and it is as purple as it can be (160+ present). So, I think there is a lot of good research and science to back up how the net carbs affect your glucose levels differently via sugar alcohols/fiber/etc. it might be controversial, but it seems to work. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Publix, walmart... Those are the only places I've looked for them at so far. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I lived on drinkable yogurt, Fage greek yogurt and premier Protein the first 2-3 weeks. When I moved to soft foods, I really enjoyed 1 or 2oz of salmon sashimi. It's so soft and flavorful and goes down comfortably. The ricotta bake is delicious - search for the recipe in the search bar on this site. Well-chewed cheese sticks are great too Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I feel better than normal at 8 weeks...just can't eat as much, but I think I'm extremely lucky. I can chug Water, Protein shakes. I can eat til I'm full and then stop. I never get any signs of nausea anymore and I have NEVER thrown up. Not the day of surgery or any day after. Everyone is different, however, and I came into this surgery very healthy and with a much lower BMI than most people that resort to this have. I count those as major reasons I've had no complications. I work out daily and have a trainer twice a week. I work full time. I have more energy than I've ever had! (Thank you Dr. Ortiz!!) Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Buffalo chicken dip, by the spoonful! Shredded chicken, creamed cheese, mexican cheese blend, tabasco, buffalo dressing - oven til it's bubbly. Crowd pleaser! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Quest bars are amazing. One word of caution though - don't eat them for all your meals. Not that you would, but some of us (ahem, maybe it was me, maybe it wasn't...) enjoyed the flavor varieties a little too much and decided it would be delightful to eat 5 bars a day for 3 days instead of real food... Bad idea. Lol Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Anyone use the Fitbit Aria scale or something like it to track body fat? My surgeon recommended I get it, so I spent the $130 bucks. On the Day of surgery, I was 38.9% body fat according to my dr's scale, and the day I got home and got on my scale, it read 41.7% body fat. I have since (8 weeks) lost 32 pounds, do at least 30 minutes of cardio p/ day, and began light weight training this week. The scale has me down to 36.8% body fat, but I find that to be high as I'm 5'6" and 148lbs. I'm wondering if anyone has any experience using their body fat function on their scale versus another way to determine body fat, and, if so, if there was or wasn't a disparity in the outcome? Also, does anyone know another way to test your body fat at home? I think I heard the only truly accurate way is when you're submerged in Water and it tests you, but I'm not willing to pay for that just yet lol. Or, maybe, I just have that much body fat and need to wake up! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had a DEXA scan 3 days ago. It only measured my bone density? I did just read about it, and my body fat info should be part of the report. I guess my dr was only interested in bone density. I'll find out if they'll tell me my BF %. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

You just have to show up. On good days. Bad days. Rainy days. Busy days. Days when family is visiting. If it's not a habit, you'll lose motivation. I consider my 30-60 minutes at the gym the most important part of my day. Some days I kill it; some days I barely break a sweat. But I show up. Every day. Cardiovascular health, muscle gain, endurance, increased energy, camaraderie with other gym goers, fun classes, boosted metabolism, calories incinerated, inches lost....all motivate me to show up. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you @@simpsongrad that makes sense Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I won't touch bread/pasta/rice/crackers/potatoes/carrots/corn/popcorn/chips/cereal until I'm WELL into maintenance, because I know that, for me and - dare I say - many others on this site, these carby foods slow down losing progress and are major trigger foods. That being said, when I do reach maintenance, I will opt for Ezekiel bread, and will toast the crap out of it (bc it's texture is wet and kind of mushy without being toasted). It has about 4g of Protein & 3g of Fiber in an 80 calorie slice. In terms of good carbs, oatmeal is a good higher protein option too with 6g of protein, 4g of fiber & 166 calories per cup - if you put some Protein powder in there, then you've really got a super breakfast! Be so careful introducing the very foods that got you to the point of needing bariatric surgery into your diet so early on. I can tell you from personal experience that eating the high protein extremely low carb diet most of us are on post op is not what got me into trouble - it was carbs (mostly via delicious Italian dishes!). Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

You're the first person I've heard who has actually tried the "pouch reset". Please let us know how it works! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

So many good ideas! Don't know if anyone mentioned this yet, but I drink diet green tea. It's delicious and boosts your metabolism! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I was starving until I could move on to pureed foods. Stick it out, keep sipping. These challenging beginning weeks will be behind you before you know it! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Nothing is wrong. You're consuming liquids, which go straight through. You might not really feel your restriction until you get to pureed foods. Don't panic over things going exactly as they should be You're doing great! Keep sipping & getting your fluids in. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Just wanted to amend this: after 3 days of following this, I did gain .8 of a pound. It is too easy for me to eat too much with the Quest bars. They've retired to my freezer for emergency food options only, and I'm back on normal food. An egg, a slice of turkey, string cheese, chili, chicken...these things keep me much more satisfied. I actually think the bars were creating cravings! One day at a time. #trialanderror Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App