lisafrommassachusetts

31 minutes ago, GradyCat said:

I travel a lot and I bring almonds, Protein Bars, and Protein Snacks with me in airports and on cruises and land trips to make sure (1) that I'm getting in enough Protein and (2) that I'm snacking on something healthy instead of something bad. It's definitely do-able. Restaurants have plenty of good options.

Great suggestions. When I get hangry now I reach for cheez its, hence the need for surgery, I guess.

3 hours ago, AZhiker said:

You can add Protein Powder to anything, so have it on hand, in the original packaging. You can buy single portion, samples of Protein powder, as well. This may be helpful when travelling with "white powder" through airports. Take some Protein Drinks in your checked luggage, as well.

Soups are a wonderful option, especially in the early stages. You have to eat so slowly after surgery, so most people won't even notice your small portions, like a bowl of Soup. It's not like you are going to gulp it down and then sit there watching everyone else eat.

I actually do more meal planning and cooking now than I did before surgery! I love trying out new recipes and new ingredients.

A couple weeks after my surgery, I cooked a full Mexican buffet meal for a family gathering. Everyone was so busy with their own plates that they did not even notice me sipping my bowl of broth. And it was amazing to me to see how much food everyone else was eating!

You will do fine. It's all about prep, and when travelling, have your "emergency rations" with you.

PS: I am using the once a day, BariatrilPal Multi Vitamins with Iron. I take one of those with a B-12 with m first meal, and then my calcium citrate and D3 with my last meal. This keeps it very simple and easy. All my labs are fine.

Are there tasteless Protein powders you would recommend? I'm not a big fake sugar fan

4 hours ago, Brent701 said:

Eating out gets easier too you wont finish your plate but thats ok. The first 2 months will be very challenging but doable. At 9 months out I still eat most of the foods I was when eating out but the portion sizes are now 1/2 to 1/4 what they were. I wish there were more options for 6-8oz steaks instead of the massive 14+ oz ones that I will never again be able to finish let alone including a side. Its just laughable to look back at how much I was eating.

You give me hope! I want it to seen laughable. And not me feeling irrationally jealous...

4 hours ago, elsie77 said:

Hi Lisa, I’m in Ireland so I’ll just reply about your upcoming trip. You should have no problem meeting your Protein goals here. Generally most restaurants have Soup, chicken and fish options which most places would be happy to adjust for you if requested. If you choose to go to a cavery then they offer kid size portions if meet, potato and veg etc.
if you are eating on the road, a lot of petrol stations have sandwich bars where they will make you up a salad to order so chicken, tuna, eggs, cheese all available there. And fast food outlets are quickly adapting to having healthy options, grilled chicken sambo being most popular.
Finally, we have lovely Protein Bars here called Fulfil, loads of Flavors and available in basically every shop in Ireland, including the airport.
Hope this helps.
We also have a load of breweries for the hubbie:)

Wow! Thank you! I was lucky enough to visit a couple if years ago, and can't wait to hop again. The beef is so good, all those happy cows running around...lol. I will make note if the Protein Bar brand more room in the suitcase for my new skinny clothes.

5 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

as someone else said, this whole thing is more of an issue when you're early out, but here goes:

1) take Protein Powder or Protein Bars with you (I don't eat Protein bars regularly because I'd abuse them, but when traveling, they can sometimes be a godsend when you don't have other options). I also used to take beef Jerky and cheese sticks with me (cheese sticks can be left out of refrigeration for several hours). Eating on the road - chili, ordering a grilled chicken sandwich and ditching the bun, getting a taco and just eating the innards.

2) that first year, I switched most of my lunch and dinner dates to coffee dates. I later felt safe doing dinner and lunch dates again, but I try to limit them because it's so easy to go over my calorie range on days I go out. And yes - I usually get an appetizer or order some "safe" meal and take half of it home with me. And absolutely I feel comfortable doing that. I have a number of skinny and normal-weight friends who eat like that all the time!

3) I cut down on my cooking a lot when I was in weight loss mode, but I'm cooking about as much now as I did pre-surgery - I just make (mostly) bariatric-safe dishes.

Great suggestions. And I'm glad you're cooking again.

5 hours ago, Sosewsue61 said:

It really isn't a big issue, only in the beginning when you can't eat solid foods. People might notice, but no one is that interested in other people eating.

When going out, I either just get an appetizer, or an entire meal and eat what I can and take the rest to go. Early out - Soup is a good choice as it takes awhile to eat.

Entertaining - I still cook the same Thanksgiving dinner (with 8 pies), I plan what I really really want the most - eh not mashed potatoes - turkey and stuffing, maybe roasted Brussels sprouts. I eat sliver of pie 4 hours later. When going away from home, I always take food with me in my car, because you never know about delays or such - cheese, nuts, Water, etc. I have always carried Water with me anyway. I have went on many many vacations, a cruise, hiking, square dance conventions, quilt shows - you name it and not an issue.

Early out I had food intolerances - chicken breast was too stringy no matter how it was cooked, salad slimed until 9 months out, and rich chocolate anything I still can't eat but one bite, beef can still be a little harsh. Fast food is iffy regardless but I get grilled chicken salad if there are no other places to get food.

Thank you! I decided just to tell people what kind of surgery I'm having. It was very difficult at first, I feel shame around weight and food issues, which I know is common. One advantage I think of being over 60 is being able to get past that a bit. I feel relieved with so many people saying they handle this.

5 hours ago, AJ Tylo said:

1. Carry powder with you - You can get Almond Milk anywhere - I travel a lot - Two Protein Bars will get your thru the airport and Soup is available so is chili

2. Eating out is kinda awkward i order off the kids menu or the app menu - But people will look at you like your nutz but you will always be the one with the doggy bag. The questions are the pain in the ass

3, I still love to cook and cook healthier and more detailed, However i am trained in culinary arts so this has been a long time of cooking, Cooking does not mean over eating, so if you can separate the two it works well,

the biggest challenge for me has been the Vitamins and minerals getting them balanced out and taking in some sort of food daily, I do not eat much at all - so have had a hard time with getting the vits and mins. Read back on a long post i did on how i cracked mentally, So the head games are a something to deal with.

Triumphs are simple I am healthy thin and can move and do stuff i never could do before, This surgery kept me out of the URN so No regrets here

Thank you for the feedback (pun not intended). I know most of my concerns are fear based. It's good to hear from folks who've been there

I'm having my sleeve on Feb. 3, and of course I am nervous and trying to focus on the positive. I am realizing how much of our social life revolves around food! I am 61 and married. We are taking a lovely trip in June to Ireland and Amsterdam with another couple; We often meet up with folks for dinner/drinks; my husband and son love breweries, I am a pretty good cook and we have people over for dinner a lot. This super bowl Sunday is the first in forever that I am not going to a Super Bowl party with my ribs and/or chili. (To be fair, I am from Massachusetts, so this is not a great SB year for us....) I am not that worried about the no alcohol part, I am a light drinker and am happy enough to substitute with Water or herbal tea. But:

1. How do people deal with Protein needs while traveling? Eating on the road, or worse, in the airports?

2. Do you still meet up with folks for dinner, etc.? Can you enjoy a small meal or appetizer and still feel comfortable in that setting?

3. Do people still enjoy cooking? I really enjoy making food for a group and then hanging out at the table, chatting and laughing. Will I still feel that way?

I'd love to hear about other people's challenges and triumphs post surgery.

6 hours ago, bikerchick519 said:

I'm Feb 3rd. I'm getting a revision from mini gastric bypass to full bypass to fix acid reflux. I only have a 3 day liquid diet, first 2 days are full liquids and 3rd day is Clear Liquids. I'm going back to Mexico because insurance won't pay for the revision. They said the acid reflux is a complication of my prior wls which is so not true! but whatever insurance does whatever it wants.

I'm Feb. 3, too! Good luck! I'm having mine done in Boston so we will be 3000 miles apart....You have had a great weight loss already. Speedy recovery to you.

10 hours ago, november11 said:

Can't wrap my head around the changes !!  

Wow, yout look stunning. You're adding backwards!

8 minutes ago, Fiddles said:

Hi all...

im new on here and just began my pre op low carb high Protein diet. gastric sleeve surgery in two weeks. Not sure how I feel so many emotions!!! But positive about the change to come.

I feel the same. My surgery is February 3; so a week before you? I'm on a more restricted pre-op diet, and I am ready to get on with the surgery! Good luck to you; I'm looking forward to all the February Surgery updates from everyone.

17 minutes ago, Lesmud said:

I am new to the forum. I’m scheduled for February 28th. I am excited and scared also. But looking forward to better health. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Hashimoto thyroidism. I’m hopeful my pain levels will be more manageable, I will not be so fatigued all the time and I will have better quality of life. I also look forward to having a smaller body.

Good luck! I'm scheduled for February 3. After 6 months of waiting, it's hard to believe it's a week away. Wonder where we'll all bre by memorial day, or next Christmas!

3 minutes ago, MissPennyP said:

No I’m not feeling any comfort by her telling me she’s not concerned about it what is a milk-based Protein Drink I don’t know what that is

One that I like is called Iconic; I buy them from Amazon. They also use stevia and Monk Fruit instead of aspartame or sucralose, which I do not care for. Might be worth a try! Good luck.

You look great! You must feel like a new man.

2 hours ago, MissPennyP said:

I guess I’m gonna have to force-feed myself Protein Shakes I don’t know what else to do

Good luck to you! I am sure this is a huge frustration for you. I hope that you are able to have a longer chat with your nutritionist, although her saying she is not concerned must be some comfort. Maybe you can't tolerate the whey; it can be hard to digest. Although it is not as perfect of a Protein, you could try a milk based Protein Drink instead. Maybe you don't react well to the artificial sweeteners; you could try some with Stevia and/or Monk Fruit, I find those much more palatable. It is hard to get the protein in even before the surgery, so I am sure you are struggling now.

3 minutes ago, ResaRoo said:

I’m scheduled for a MGB on Feb. 10th. I’m just finishing my first week of the pre-op diet. It wasn’t too bad until yesterday. I slipped up and nibbled a little cheese when making dinner for my family.

Is anyone else finding it hard to get through 3 Protein Drinks each day? I find I’m not really hungry until late afternoon. It feels counterintuitive to force myself to eat (drink) when not hungry, but I suppose that’s what we will be doing for the first few weeks after surgery, so might as well get used to it now.

Has anyone else started to lose any weight pre-op? I’m down 12 pounds and quite excited about it.

Wow, 3 weeks of only Protein drinks sounds really tough. I am surprised that everyone's pre-op diet is so drastically different! Mine is only 2 weeks; I also get to eat 1 small meal (4 oz of protein and 1.5 cups raw veggies plus some fat); 2 protein drinks, and 2 Snacks, which can be a Protein Drink, but can also be a Protein Bar, a hard boiled egg, etc. And even with all of that I found the first 4 days awful. I am allowed (for one snack) a small apple and a tbl of Peanut Butter and one day I had at least 2 tbl; immediately felt so awful. Now when I read about what other people are restricted to I feel even more childish!

Are you allowed Clear Liquids? I have just discovered Bone Broth and find it a life saver. The protein drinks and bars are so sweet, it is a nice change.

Good luck! My surgery is the 3rd, so I hope I will have happy updates to share.

Hi there, I am about one month post-op. Surgery was 12.16.19. I am struggling with getting all my Protein in and I do NOT consume sucralose. Almost all shakes, drinkable Proteins, even oatmeals and etc that I have found on this site and others ALL have sucralose. But also after surgery I now can't tolerate shakes that are super sweet either. I am fine with stevia, Monk Fruit or real sugar (just not a lot of it) OR unflavored. The unflavored/raw one I found here even had sucralose! Any suggestions? I can't be the only one who chooses to not consume sucralose...Help! Thank you!

I just tried Premier Protein drinks. They are 30 grams of protein! I've used the vanilla in coffee... there it's a caramel that is a bit sweet but I'm going to freeze one for a dessert type snack, and I had the banana creme for Breakfast. It does have some sucralose, but does not have the awful after taste. I needed a higher Protein Drink for pre OP prep, so that's why I tried it

Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

On 1/23/2020 at 7:22 PM, Solo4ever said:

I am getting my required nicotine testing done next week, then its just waiting while they send all the info to the insurance company. I am thinking end of February maybe early March surgery date, fingers crossed. It's been a long road - these darn cigarettes. I completed all my other requirements but was struggling to quit smoking. I finally got it- and I am 30 days clean as of Monday, I feel really good about it and no longer having any cravings. Hopefully they don't ding me too hard on the weight gain.

30 Days is great! Quitting smoking was the hardest thing I have ever done; and it is something I am still grateful for even 12 years and 60 pounds later....Good luck getting through the process for approval!

5 minutes ago, kendrashae said:

I’m scheduled for feb 3rd

Same surgery date! Are you in the pre-op diet phase? Ugh, although from reading through these posts mine is more liberal than some. I get one "meal" a day; 2 Protein Shakes and 2 "snacks". How is yours going?

My surgery will be at Brigham and Women in Boston. Where is yours?

5 hours ago, Freedom&Bliss said:

Hi there, I am about one month post-op. Surgery was 12.16.19. I am struggling with getting all my Protein in and I do NOT consume sucralose. Almost all shakes, drinkable Proteins, even oatmeals and etc that I have found on this site and others ALL have sucralose. But also after surgery I now can't tolerate shakes that are super sweet either. I am fine with stevia, Monk Fruit or real sugar (just not a lot of it) OR unflavored. The unflavored/raw one I found here even had sucralose! Any suggestions? I can't be the only one who chooses to not consume sucralose...Help! Thank you!

If you can tolerate Stevia and Monk Fruit try Iconic Protein. It is not plant based, it is milk based. I buy mine at Amazon. I cannot tolerate aspartane or sucralose. There are 20G or protein.

I also have been using Purely Inspired … it is plant based, and too much whey upsets my stomach, but I like the French vanilla and use it in my coffee in lieu of half and half. I also have gotten that on Amazon.

3 hours ago, Felicia Leader said:

Hello all! Tomorrow Is my big day. And I am nervous and anxious. I’m ready to get it over with. I’m curious about if anyone was able to drink Gatorade after midnight?

Good luck! Speedy Recovery! Keep us posted!

I have 11! I'm scheduled for February 3. Good luck!

1 hour ago, niffer said:

February 20th! I have been "stalking" this site for months now and finally have a concrete date to look forward to so I figured I would share. Good luck to my fellow February sleevers (and other procedures :))!!

Best of luck!

34 minutes ago, Redeaux said:

I’m so angry just recd a call saying my surgery was denied doe Feb 4th because I had a 2lb weight gain at my December visit I’m sobbing right now office says we can try to start all over again for a may date but I’m done I give up and can go through all this planning again

That is awful!! Is there an appeal process? A 2 pound weight gain could be anything... what you are wearing, sodium, menstrual cycle, digestive issues, holidays. So unfair.

Mine seems so much more complicated. I do 2 Protein Shakes per day; One with more Protein. 2 Snacks, which can be another Protein Shake, but can be 2 eggs, or 1/4 cup hummus and 1/2 cup non-starch veg; 3/4 c. cottage cheese, etc. They are slightly different from each other. Finally 1 meal consisting of 4 oz protein and up to 2 c. non starch veg (raw) or 1 cup cooked with 1 tbl salad dress or mayo or tbl avocado.

Black coffee or tea (can have caffeine until after surgery) plus at least 48 oz of Water or sugar free liquid.

I'm on day 1 of 14; pretty hungry to tell the truth; I have the "meal" and 1 Protein Drink left.

So far I have taken in 390 calories today; protein shake 120; Protein Bar (snack 1) 200 cal; 2 hard boiled eggs, 70 calories. No wonder I am hungry!