Rainbow_Warrior

I just made up my mind to buy the best-tasting, good-value per serve protein shakes. I am resolute enough to put taste aside if it comes down to it ... pretty much like taking medicine, i.e. it might not taste great but the greater goal is to get better and lose the weight. It'll be a month or three. I'm mentally prepared.

My daily MFP target is for 90g Protein but I'll be happy to clear 75g or about 80% of the intended target.

My best man, 10 years younger than me, had this op 14 days ago. His surgeon said that, "international evidence is that you may not lose quite as much as other forms of bariatric surgery but you will have better healing, lesser risk of complications and a shorter recovery time." He added, "whereas others of your relative mass of 190 kg and height of 1.91 metres (BMI 51) could expect to lose 50%-55% of their body mass, your likelihood, ON CURRENT EVIDENCE, is that after 18 months you might have only lost 43%-48% of your body mass. There exists a likelihood of a greater chance of failure or diet recidivism too ... typically about 8%-10% more people than with other WLS." Jason expressed to me that if he could get under 115kg (BMI 31), he'd be excited by the extra mobility alone. And further success in reaching 100kg (BMI 27.5) would be utter joy.

Well, thank you. I am actually looking forward to it.

Monday 8am here on the east coast of New South Wales ... 30 hours into this daylight savings season. It's the Monday of the Labor Day long weekend and the penny has dropped for me ... just ten days until I'm in a hospital gown been prepped for my gastric sleeve op. Tingly happy excitedness.

You may have, like me, restrictions to your airways when you're anaesthetised or asleep. This will affect the type and amount of anaesthetic you are given.

Likewise ... hard to believe it's only 11 days away in my case.

Likewise ... hard to believe it's only 11 days away in my case.

You're right. The 20 pounds (or most of it) has left from your lower torso. You look more vertical ... a higher centre of gravity. A strong hint of more confidence.

During a weight loss effort about a decade ago, I embraced the idea of eating food and drinking drinks 'unadulterated' by condiments and sweeteners. No sugar, no sweeteners, no tomato sauce/ketchup, no gravies ... I became more and more impressed at how things tasted 'naked'. Coffee is better. Meats are better. And most foods taste lovely.

Sensible course, IMHO!

Best to give up sucrose altogether. Best to steer clear of chemical-laden sweeteners too. There are a couple of 'natural' plant based sweeteners worth trying if you really have to BUT you'd be surprised how quickly you start enjoying the actual unsweetened taste of nearly all foods.

That's where the savings are. Shakes in sachets are 30% to 80% dearer per serve. Mix them in a blender too and chill them for at least 20 minutes in the fridge.

Aldi Supermarkets for Slim & Trim. Pharmacies/Drug-stores for Isowhey and Optifast. The Isowhey website has great two pack discounts.

And, in time, there's better than an 85% chance that the circulation will improve ... as long as you're not smoking or hiding from regular exercise.

Well, please stay on the train and work after your surgery to achieve an even more desirable outcome. Remember, that there's no food or drink that tastes as good as slim feels! Not a seven-ounce steak with baked potato and pumpkin; not a shot glass of lovely Licor 43 from Spain. The train ride you're on is your best shot at helping yourself. Stay strong. Be resilient.

A parallel story here. Mine was not 20lbs or a bit more but more like 45kg (100lbs). Terrible yo-yoing to serious morbid obesity. October 12 has me excited with the prospect of a changed future. The graph is 30+ years of my life. The red line is ideal weight for my height.

This is it. Alcohol is mathematically poor. Calorie rich nothingness in the long run.

No brainer. Although I was not an alcoholic, my job and social life meant a fair chance of social drinking. Then there were the long Australian east-coast summers of 5.5 to 7.5 months. So, I could end up with 3000-4500 extra calories per week ... like adding an eighth or ninth day per week to my calorie consumption. I probably won't be a teetotaller but I can see my drinking being cut to four to six drinks per fortnight average, probably less ... and I'll keep those for important events or occasions.

Aldi Slim & Trim are 99.5% the same ingredients as Nestles Optifast VLCD but cost 40% less. (About 10%-15% sugar) Isowhey (about 5% sugar is 35% fewer calories but nearly the same protein load) can be bought as shakes in sachets or in a bulk 1.28kg (2.7 lb) container. Optifast = $3 per serve Aldi Slim & Trim = $2 per serve Isowhey sachets = $1.90 per serve Isowhey self-mix = $1.65 per serve They all have chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, banana, coffee flavours. Isowhey and Optifast have banana. Optifast has a caramel.

Good old De-Gas mint flavoured tabs are great for both anti-burping and anti-farting. About four bucks for a box of 48. A mild day means I take two; a more extreme day means take four.

Can you go back to two or three protein shakes per day with one other meal loaded with green veges and other non-starchy veges? Can you limit your snacks to a medium apple and a half-dozen nuts per day? Can you drink six to ten tumblers of water per day?

My family doctor is about five years older than me. He has been my doctor since 2002. On Saturdays, he comes to the swim centre to get feedback on me (and another 4 to 6 of his patients). He even spends 50-65 minutes in the water with us. I first asked about WLS in 2007 but was willing to try diet and exercise. (This was prior to it becoming Keyhole surgery.) I asked him again in May 2017 and he referred me to an Obesity Clinic with bariatric surgeons. I passed all the testing and referrals in July and August. On Sept 4, I was offered Oct 12 as my surgery date.

And how are you about one day since your procedure?

Can you pin-point a factor or two? What has your family doctor and nutritionist/dietitian said in response to being told?