Lillie Lou

If you don't already know, you can easily track your calories, carbs, Protein, sugars at myfitnesspal.com
It's real easy to use and adds everything up for you.
Like blizair09, I have been tracking all of that since the beginning. Actually started with my pre-op diet two weeks before surgery.
You are going to want to know how many calories you are getting in, because the further you get out, it might be real useful for example, if you stop losing weight. In my case, I stopped losing weight and talked to my nutritionist and she told me that I was not getting in enough calories. I was always under 600 calories a day (at about 6 weeks post op). I had to make some adjustments to get in more calories. Now I am back to losing weight again after weeks of not losing weight.

Mine have 283mg, which isn't really anything. Because it is rare for people to not get enough, and it's possible to get too much, multivitamins typically don't address that nutrient in any substantial way.

I never did purees. I'm texture sensitive and just the thought makes me want to hurl. I did liquids longer, skipped purees, and went to soft foods.
There is nothing wrong with not advancing your stages if you are not ready. Just make sure you getting enough Protein and liquids in.

I was advised to do 1 week clear liquid and 1 week full liquid. It is hard.
I never realized how much food fill's ones life. I don't even mean in an addictive sense. Just planning, preparing and sharing daily meals. I miss it. There is definitely some joy missing in my life. I am trying to stay focused on the big picture. That this is a small blip on the scale of things and there will be more normalcy.

Stick with it. I felt the same way, but it turned around. You should be getting your energy from Protein. meat is just more protein.

I had surgery 2 days after you! I just started my full liquid diet today. I had my surgery in Mexico, so don't have a nutritionist. Here are the some of the things I was approved to eat this week (please note that everyone's diet is different). I was warned that Tomato based products may be too acidic but that I could try them and see how I tolerate them.
single grain baby Cereal thinned with milk or Protein Shake
thinned cream of wheat
boiled chicken (can be seasoned) pureed with enough broth to go through through a funnel
level 1 or 2 baby food (stick with fruits cuz I hear the other stuff is gross)
I am actually allowed to have cottage cheese and don't have to blend it
Yoplait whipped yogurt
low sodium V-8

Good luck to all of you. You will feel so great about yourselves. Sometimes I will eat something that I loved before my RNY 11 yrs ago. Now some foods don't agree with me. I could give up meat easily however thank God I love veggies. You all will be proud and you will feel good about yourselves I am elated for all of you. It is the best thing I have ever done for myself!!!!!!

Also try sugar free popsicles

Glad to know everything went so well for you. Best wishes on this journey we are embarking on.

Today is the day!!!! Leaving for the hospital in 1 hr!!! 11:00am surgery. I am some what calm which surprises me. I had my husband take my before pictures just now. I am keeping good healing thoughts for all today's sleevers a uncomplicated and swift surgery and a minimally painful recovery today!!!

Add me on July 21!!!! Got my date today. So excited!!!!!

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I'm a 50 year old mother of 5,scheduled for August 21st, just 5 days after I drop my "baby" off at college. I'm really excited. Just joined this forum.

Samantha, So good to hear... How long did you stay in the Hospital/hotel before you flew out ?

Everything went really well! I'm so thankful that I got on here and reached out to meet some people that are on the same path as me...it honestly helped make the experience so much easier!

The valets were great, the staff at the hospital was wonderful and Dr. Illian for sure lived up to all of the wonderful things that I had read about him. I would recommend this route to anyone who was considering weight loss surgery.
The first evening after surgery was a little rough for me...I did throw up and it didn't feel very well. I rang my bell and the nurses were in immediately and helped me feel better. Other than that, things went pretty smoothly. Do lots of walking, even if it is just around your room.

I am now 5 days out and feeling pretty good. Energy levels are a lot better than I had anticipated. I was a little nervous about being super tired for quite some time, after reading other peoples experiences, but I may possibly feel pretty good because that's the norm for me (as I have an almost 2 year old little boy) Still on liquids and I'm not having any issues in getting my recommended ounces in. I just keep sipping away, rather than chugging. As long as I keep my drinks smaller than I used to, I seem to be able to take one then relatively shortly after have another. My incisions are a little tender, but that is really to be expected. I haven't had to take any pain medication since I left the hospital.

I will say that this whole experience is as much, if not even more, of a mental/emotional thing rather than physical. You have to be in the right mindset and emotionally ready for this.

The best cash prices are going to be Mexic. Other than that, I've seen $8899 with Dr wizman in FL, $9995 in Charlotte and 10kish in Vegas. These are for the sleeve. Some places also fix a hernia via insurance and charge a smaller (5kish) amount for the sleeve.
Hope this helps!

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Good Luck! Please fill us in when you can.. I am looking into Mexico too ... so excited for you

Im at the airport now, sitting at my gate waiting to board. I'm excited and mentally freaking out all at the same time. I have a long day of travel ahead of me and then procedure today as well. Wish me luck!

Well I'm in my clinic room with Netflix for the evening, we go back at 7am tomorrow to our hotel.. surgery was surgery, I kind of slept through the whole thing. I didn't wake up in an ICU so I'm assuming in went good. I have been walking the hall lots hoping the gas pain in my abdomen goes away. I've been given ice chips and Water and electrolite water and unfortunately everything that's passed my lips makes my stomach really hurt, hoping that'll pass by the evening. The staff are great, and the other patients in the clinic are so awesome..

That sounds really good. Will try this when time for puréed food.

Hello! Yes I did Protein Shakes mostly because I didn't like the broth much. I did a MISO Soup mix from Kroger and it was good just had to watch the sodium intake to keep from retaining Fluid.
Correction, it is IdealShape Protein Shake mix. Go online it's a good value and taste good. Now I'm finding that post -op it is too much to drink with regular serving so I have been doing ready-made Protein shakes like slimfast, special K, and premier which has the most protien. I'm having problems with pureed foods, I have to work on that.
But my pre-op success really boosted me. The exercise helped tremendously to reached pre-surgery goal.
#stillexcitedpost-opVSG#week2
Val Rennee!!!

SO glad things went well for you. Did you follow the 2 week liquid diet? 1 week full liquid and 1 week clear liquid?? I start the liquid diet on Tuesday , July 4th, ugh! Please keep me posted on your recovery. I am so glad to find someone with the same Doctor. I will follow your journey and progress and learn from someone that has been through what I am going to go through soon. Best of luck on this remarkable journey.

A few different recipes. My favorite turned out to be baked butternut squash. I puréed it with a little garlic and some low fat Greek cream cheese. I also puréed some asparagus, then ground turkey that I mixed with low sugar marinara sauce and low fat ricotta. I put a bag of pinto Beans in the crockpot to make my own refried beans. I enjoy cooking but I used to do it with a bottle of wine.

Ask your surgeon's office to appeal and speak with a bariatric surgeon for review. S/he is entitled to have a physician in the speciality make the decision on care and not just a case manager who is paid to keep costs down. Best of luck.

Follow your intuitions regarding your hubby.; talk to your closest and dearest friends (not mutual friends) and do what is right for YOU. It sounds kinda like you're already made up your mind. Just find support from others since your husband won't give it to you and go for it. We're all here for you.

I flew Southwest, I paid for an extra seat for me, my wife was with me so we had a row of three to ourselves on each leg of the flight, two of the legs were completely full. Southwest is unique as 1. The allow you to pre-board if you have the extra seat so you are guaranteed to get it. 2. After the flight all you have to do is call them and they will refund you the cost of the extra seat. I know it makes no sense why they do that but it is in the Passengers of Size policy (they are the only airline that does this that I am aware of). As soon as I got home I called them and 7 days later the amount was credited to my credit card.
It made the trip so less stressful, if you can use Southwest I highly recommend it.