sillykitty

I have been getting B12 shots since shortly post surgery. It's not routine with my program, but I was feeling extremely shaky and exhahausted and asked for one. That seemed to solve the problem, so I have continued to get them once per month. Going forward though I don't want to make a trip to my surgeon's once a month, so I got a prescription of Nascobal, which is B12 nasal spray. I used a sample my surgeon gave me, it was east, and certainly something I could manage once a week. But my insurance doesn't cover it, so it would cost me $600 a month, which is not happening. So once my last B12 shot "runs out", I'm going to try the sublinguals, and hopefully those will do the trick. I just hate to add another pill to my daily routine. As far as prenatals,, go, I take one that was recomended by my physicians PA. They are very complete, and most importantly easy on my stomach. I'm personally very skeptical of the patches. I just don't think it's possible that most vitamins and minerals can pass through the skin's barrier. I mean skin's whole job is to keep everything out. If you swim in the ocean, salt doesn't enter through your skin, when you put on lotion, it doesn't penetrate your blood stream. The medication that are in transdermal patches, like birth control and nicotine have been formulated by drug companies to be effective. I don't believe the same amount of research and engineering is being done by these supplement companies. Also, this article, made a lot of sense to me. https://www.unjury.com/blog/important-information-if-you-are-recommending-a-patch-vitamin/ How can a patch deliver more mg of vitamins and minerals then it even weighs? Fianlly, I know many say their labs are fine when being on patches. Labs are a tricky thing, so deficiencies won't show up until it is far too late, like calcium, which your body will pull from your bones if you don't get enough. And labs don'y test for a very limited amount of vitamins and minerals.

Really, so many things qualify for soft foods. My favorites were taco seasoned ground turkey (with refried beans, cheese & hot sauce), poached chicken with buffalo sauce, and lentil soup.

What you wrote right there is the key. What can you maintain long term? We all can follow any diet short term, and succeed. But very restrictive diets very rarely work long term. Diets others are following, don't have any bearing on what will work for you. For example some people can do low carb long term. Maybe because they already have a preference for protein over carbs? I know for me, it's not something I could stick with . I would feel deprived. I don't want to live my life feeling deprived. For me, I focus on making sure a vast majority of the food I consume is healthy and nutritious. I also allow myself for an occasional splurge, but only a couple of bites, not a meal or a day. That is something I can do long term.

Very interesting question Ash! I think for me it will be in two phases, pre and post plastic surgery As I'm losing now, I am feeling comfortable in clothes that are more figure hugging than before. I'm still mostly covered up, but I am really liking the shape I have (in clothes!). Like for instance I'll wear leggings out to the grocery store, which I never would have before. I think this will continue as I lose down to goal. I like my shape, but I don't like my lumpy, bumpy, saggy bits. After I have plastics, I'm not really sure. I'll just have to see how I look. I would love to be confident enough to rock a bikini, which I never was even when I was young and normal weight. I feel like I will get good results from a tummy tuck and breast lift/augmentation. I have friends that have them, and they look amazing, a seriously totally flat tummy. My thighs are my biggest worry. I don't want to do more than an inner thigh lift plus lipo. I know that won't get rid of all the lumps and cellulite. So I imagine I will still want to keep my thighs covered. One of the things I am most looking forward to is being able to wear a different style of business clothing. I live in fit and flare dresses, wrap around dresses, flow-y blouses, anything to disguise my tummy. Once my tummy is flat I so want to wear sheath dresses and pencil skirts!

Funny, I have to avoid watching cooking shows to this day because it triggers head hunger

I don't care for salmon, but I ate a variety of white fish starting a few weeks post op, with no problem.

Four months in and my stomach is still very grumbley and noisy. This is just a new reality post sleeve.

That's awesome! I don't think I'll ever get there. My thighs have rubbed together since jr high, when I was normal weight. Maybe a thigh lift will fix it!

Trader Joe's Organic Creamy Tomato Soup does not have HFSC, it does have organic cane sugar. It comes in an aseptic box. If you don't have a TJ's near you, I believe it is made by Pacific brand. It has 100 cals, 5 g protein, 10 g sugar, with 16 g carbs overall per cup.

For cheese lovers .... my go to snack/small meal that I crave. Laughing cow cheese wedge on 34 degree crackers. One wedge on 5 crackers is only 63 calories, but tastes decadent.

I've had all those, and more! Sashimi & poke are one of my go to's, high protein and low cal.

I love My Fitness Pal. It seems to have most foods in it’s database, even kind of obscure ethnic dishes.

Don’t stock up too much on food items for the liquid, purreed and soft stages. You just aren’t going to be eating that much. I gave so much food away to the food bank!

I’m almost 4 months post op sleeve. I can eat literally anything, and nothing at all bothers my stomach.

I like to add cottage cheese or Greek yogurt to sf jello. IMO it kills the afternoon taste and adds protein at the same time.

I like some of the protein soups here on Bariateic Pal. They are a good savory alternative.

Vegan is doable, but as stated above plant based protein is far less dense than dairy based protein. You may need to plan to supplement with vegan protein powder, shakes or bars long term.

Chapstick, phone, tablet, charger, comfy clothes to go home in. That's all I needed

I would definitely get an appointment and speak to the surgeon directly then. I would be prepared, and document why you use cannabis and why it is a better alternative than opioids. I would also tell him that you vape, or use (low cal) edibles, or tinctures if his objection is to smoking. I would also look up any study you can on cannabis use and positive and negative effects and bring them with in a neat binder. Being an informed, empowered patient will get you further!

Was this your surgeon denying you, or your insurance?

@Sosewsue61 Thanks for the tip on Dress Barn, I think there is one near my mom's house. I'll have to check them out. I've never seen a Christopher Banks locally though. @Frustr8 My favorite dress brand is City Chic. Their plus size sizing goes from XS to XL. I'm now fitting into XS, which is they say is equivalent to size 14. Talk about vanity sizing! @Biddy zz Exciting! I'm glad you're enjoying the shopping experience. I'm a devoted online shopper, so I really loathe to go to a mall and find new brands that fit and flatter me! @Roxine So far I have kept the same shape, it has just shrunk. So it has been easy for me to just size down on my favorite brands. I am excited though after my tummy tuck to wear sheath style dresses instead of fit & flare, or wrap around! It'll be nice to not have to always worry about hiding the tummy! Re: Bras ... I am just about needing new ones, ugh. The band still fits, just on a smaller notch, but the cups are gaping a bit. Not where I wanted to lose weight, but to be expected. I have though been able to fit into my "pretty bras" without a band extender. I was measured for them years ago, and they were too tight even back then. But unfortunately they may be pretty, but they are scratchy, so not an everyday solution!

Oh, yes, egg drop soup, and the broth from hot & sour soup are good ideas. As is Pho broth, or Tom Yum Kai or Tom Kha Kai broth. Oh and ramen broth, especially Tonkatsu.

Oh no .... I haven't even shopped undergarments yet!

You will soon!

I agree ... restaurant food is very hard to calculate. Can you cook? That way it would be easier to get an accurate count. At this point to have not lost weight in 5 weeks you have to be consuming the same or more calories than you are burning.