macadamia

I looked into the ones sold on amazon but after looking at the feedback on how some of them arrive, I chose to buy them locally. There are photos of people's orders showing up with shakes broken inside the boxes, shakes expired, and shakes being rotten while not yet expired. The local stores always have a fresh stock, so I'll stick to shopping for them there. Amazon is great for some things, but I try not to buy anything that is liquid from them.

Good luck! It's going to be awesome!

Actually, I did a comparison between Costco and Sam's Club and Sam's is cheaper per drink. But, Costco is cheaper than Walmart, interestingly enough... Sam's Club - $16.66/12 = $1.39 each Costco - $28.99/18 = $1.61 each Walmart - $7.99/4 = $2.00 each These prices are non-sale prices pulled today from their websites. My favorite is the chocolate Premier Protein Shake...

Oh, I'm not worried about it, I was just stating what's so. With the two, possibly three other procedures that will happen at the same time as my VSG, there is no way to perform it laparoscopically. Besides, there is something in the way, preventing the placement of one of the trocars in my lower right abdomen. I'll talk more about that in a couple of weeks, after I get a firm surgery date.

Something happened to my post... it should have said to ask your doctor about the vitamin patches... sometimes this site is very glitchy...

LOL! That is how I used to make weight when I wrestled in high school! Always take a big dump before weigh-in! Congratz!

Thank you very much! I'm doing better... it's still a struggle with head hunger but I'm working hard on not listening to my head. I still find myself thinking about where to eat on the way home from work. I've been bringing smoothie for breakfast, and both my lunch and dinner with me to work. This way, I do not eat once I'm home from work.

Is that with MyFitnessPal? I've never used that button... maybe I should try. Thanks!

Congratz on your surgery! Way to go! Ask your doctor if it is ok to use those until you can swallow pills again.

Well, it causes swelling where your esophagus goes through your diaphragm because your doctor closed up the herniated openings. The swelling should go down in a bit but if it does not, call your surgical team's office and have it checked out. I've also heard about tightening of the entrance to the stomach after sleaving and that can be stretched by the doctor during an upper endoscopy. You are only a day post-op. It does take a bit of time. I understand that it can be an uncomfortable feeling, but it will be ok.

I am still pre-op but I was told by my surgeon that once I reach my goal weight, I will have another appointment with the nutritionist and at that time I'll get a more specific plan for caloric intake to maintain that weight. Your goal weight is set by you and your surgical team. If you want to be around 200 pounds and your doctor says that is a healthy weight for you, then that works.

Ignore those pop-up messages for nutrients and caloric intake in that app. It is set up primarily for people who work out and only need to lose a few pounds. It is a great resource because of the large food database. I prefer to use it over LoseIt! and Baritastic. LoseIt! has a more limited food database and I had to enter many of my nutrition labels for the foods I was tracking. Baritastic is a great resource for things other than just tracking. For MyFitnessPal, I just changed my daily caloric intake goal to 800 for my pre-op diet. I have been about 100 cals under each day since I changed it on Sunday. I have yet to get the pop-up for calories, but I do get them for fat and for sodium (I love jalapeno and garlic stuffed green olives for a snack). I take them with a grain of salt and use them as a reminder to watch what I am eating. If 300 calories are where you currently should be for your daily intake, screw the pop-up. It is a good app, in my opinion. I just wish I could justify the expense to get rid of the ads.

Schedule a follow-up with your surgeon and ask them about it. It never hurts to ask...

I know that you will receive all kinds of answers for this, but my paperwork specifically says that my nutritionist must advance my diet. Also, my paperwork says not to introduce starchy vegetables until after week 6. That being said, each surgeon has their own way of dealing with the post-op diet until you get to maintenance. As Tealael says, ask your team about your specific case. I do not think you have hurt anything but there is a reason for the post-op diet advances. They have the experience to know what works and has the least chance for complications. Good luck!

Are you sure that insurance will not cover it? My surgeon has said that as long as he deems it medically necessary, the insurance will (should) cover it. It is my plan to have my excess skin excised using my medical insurance once I reach my goal.

Congratz on your surgery and good luck with your journey. Thank you for delurking and becoming part of the speaking community.

Congratz on your surgery! Way to go! Did the doctor do a hiatal hernia repair? If so, it could be that it is a bit swollen there and you are just experiencing the water passing the swelling. It could also be a combination of that plus gas.

So tonight for dinner, I steamed a couple of servings of stir-fry vegetables, three ounces of grilled chicken breast (with no sauce or seasoning when cooked), a serving of jalapenos, and a dash of Cholula Green Pepper hot sauce. I was taught to clean my plate as a kid and almost always have. Tonight was only the second time that I stopped eating when I knew that the next bite was too much. I had finished all of the meat, all of the jalapenos, and about half of the steamed veggies. I set the plate aside, started my 30-minute timer until I can drink again, and sat back. Within a couple of minutes, I was very full. Officially today, I'm at 705 calories, with 95g of protein, 42g carbs, and only 16g fat. I've also logged 90oz of water and am waiting to start drinking the next 30oz tumbler of water. I'm using MiO Strawberry Watermelon liquid water enhancer. It makes it taste very good. My local grocery store had them on sale for $1.99 each if you buy 10. Needless to say, I have some at home and at work. I also invested in two Fifty/Fifty 30oz stainless steel tumblers, one to keep at work and one for home. It makes it easy to watch my water volume.

Glad everything worked out...

I'm thinking people like that need a knuckle sandwich, eh?

You are very welcome. You will do awesome! I see you reacting and responding to people's posts all over this forum. It is apparent that you are ready and willing to do what it takes to be healthier and happier. I'm all for that - it is also why I am here. As for the scars and trials I've battled through, I have never given up. I'm still alive and I'm still living every day. It has been hard at times; yes, at times I have felt like I was done. But all in all, I have stuck with it and here I am. Besides, no one can see all my scars under my clothes anyway...

Wow, that's short notice, but I would have done the same! Let us know how it went!

Way to go! Keep up the great work!

Hang in there, you're doing great! This too shall pass. As for ever feeling normal again... Well, you have had your body surgically altered to be different. You may never feel "normal" again, but you will get better, you will heal, you will lose weight, you will overcome, and you will succeed! IMHO, "normal" is way overrated. I have had four major abdominal surgeries over the past 23 years, with two of them last year. I have had major organs removed during the surgeries. My abdomen is scarred, misshaped, and fat. I will never be "normal" again - ever. I'm okay with that, because I am me. I like me... I'm glad I'll be seeing less and less of me over the rest of my life.

Are you asking about pre-made shakes or about the protein powder? I have not tried any protein powder yet, but I really like and can recommend the Premier Protein chocolate pre-made shakes. I've tried Atkins (both regular and with fiber) and find the Premier are better. As for other flavors of the Premier, I've tried the stawberries and cream (tolerable but just okay...) and the banana cream, which I use in my morning smoothies. It is pretty good mixed with the other flavors, but not as good as the chocolate. As a matter of fact, I'm having my lunchtime shake right now. Yummy!