amylynns

@Beni---Awwww, thank you Beni!! It was hard waiting, for sure--but so worth waiting for!!

I should get some of your chickpea recipes, LOL! I forget about them!!

My go to for a quick Protein fix (snack) are these new (to me) little Sargento snack packs.(7g of protein) They have a little portion of cheese cubes and then nuts/dried fruit. Love them. They're 180 calories, but if I'm getting that hungry feeling about 3pm, they do the trick! (although I try and choose Greek yogurt, since it has a lot more Protein, but I do get sick of that)

As far as meals, I am SO with you on the taco salad! When I fix the family tacos, I make extra meat and then for several days I'll even have it for breakfast!

My other favorite meal is salad. I add grilled chicken breast, black Beans, a sprinkle of a nut mixture I made up, cheese, and I found a yummy dressing. (Lite Asian toasted sesame) It's only 45 calories per serving.

Sometimes I eat that for lunch and dinner, LOL.

@PinkPolkadot619---One of the main reasons I chose the gastric bypass over the sleeve is because I KNOW sweets are my weak area. And I needed something to help control that. A close friend of mine had the sleeve and the only thing she can't physically eat is oatmeal. (of all things?!) She can eat any dessert. I didn't "Want" to be able to eat them easily.

Now....I "can" eat a small amount of sweets if I'm really having a craving. Like, one bite of a cupcake. Or 3 pieces of snack size candy. I cannot do ice cream, well--maybe one bite, but it's too much of a temptation to eat more. And then I regret it. I tried just a baby size ice cream cone, and got very sick.

So for me, getting sick keeps me in line, I like that I get sick when I eat something I find I can't tolerate. Then I KNOW it's not worth it to eat it. I don't eat the sweets often at all. But once in a while I just crave a small treat.

I was happy to find out I could drink a Mai Tai in Hawaii, but I can only drink maybe 1/2 glass of wine. Then I get nauseous. (must be able to tolerate the hard liquor in the mixed drink?) But, I do get tipsy VERY quickly!! LOL! But my metabolism is so fast, that I don't stay tipsy long either, LOL!

Oh goodness, glad you got the measuring cup mishap figured out!

I had to go to just Tylenol when I got home from the hospital. Anything else I tried made me nauseous. It didn't do a "great" job of pain relief, which is one of the reasons I was in tears most days. But I also got dehydrated twice, which they say increases pain.

Glad you're home and recovering!

Your wife has done awesome!! That's super! So glad you have a great support system, that helps so much with recovery.

Take care!

Thank you!!!

You had your surgery, didn't you? How are you doing?? What's your post-op diet like? I know different Dr.'s have different diets, etc. I had 2 weeks of all Clear liquids before and 2 weeks of Clear Liquids after. Then on to other liquids for 2 more weeks. Then mushie foods, etc. Not that I felt like eating afterwards anyway....

Hope all went well and you're feeling alright.

Don't be hard on yourself! Take daily baby steps! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised how quickly the weight drops after gastric bypass. I'm in awe of how much I've lost in 8 months. The 5-6 months of hell (for me) after surgery were so worth it. The most important thing that was stressed to me after surgery was, Get in your Protein and your liquids. It's SOOO hard to even sip, sip, sip liquids, but do the best you can. I had a lot of tearful days, didn't realize how hard it would be to just drink even. My poor little 9 yr old daughter would just hug me and cry with me. It was hard on her. She's happy we're through that stage too! (I'm not saying you'll have these same issues though--I think it's different for everyone)

So your wife had the sleeve done? How long ago? That's great she's done so well! I have a good friend who had it done about 5 years ago. She lost just about 100 pounds. This last year, she's gained back about 15. But I think she looks better at this weight than she did at her lowest.

Better get some work done! Hope you're doing well!

@Luna222--Hey there! Missed you!

I'm doing good. (If you read back a little ways, I just got engaged! Whoohoo!!)

So you're still stuck?? Are you measuring too? Wondering if you're toning and losing inches?

TMI Alert!!---I've been stuck at about 158-159 since I got home from vacation. But it's also been at least a week since I've really "gone to the bathroom." And I take a mild natural pill to help keep things moving and still nothing...UNTIL this morning. Whew!!! Pretty sure that scale will have moved when I weigh again tomorrow morning. Wowzers! (sorry... )

@@brown eyed gal--That must be your body's way of dealing with what it doesn't like.

I told my mom today (who was also at the meeting) it's a nice reminder for me to not eat crap.....

@@brown eyed gal--Maybe onions grilled in butter? I cannot do butter at all.

I had a business meeting for lunch today, at pizza Hut. UGH....I had a salad from their buffet--lettuce was brown. Had ranch dressing because the rest of the dressing looked like they had a film on top of them. YUCK. Ate one super skinny piece of sausage/mushroom pizza. Stomachache within 10 minutes of eating. I knew it was going to happen. I didn't throw up. Just did some deep breathing with my peppermint oil and it passed in about 20 minutes.

That's odd, I had the lapband back in 2008 (removed in 2013) and I was also told no NSAIDS..

Different Dr.s must have different rules I guess?

I was told no creams with NSAIDS in them either because they absorb into the blood stream, but you could check for sure with your Dr?

Have you ever tried those hot pack things? I've used those too. Like a portable heating pad.

I use Young Living Essential Oils. I have to apply them every couple hours for the first day of my period, where a dose of Advil used to do the trick.

You could try Tylenol too. I went to Tylenol for pain when I got home from the hospital after surgery because the narcotics made me sick. Tylenol worked great for me for pain.

I just sent you a friend request. :-) (amy Johnson Snyder)

@PinkPolkadot619---I've heard of it happening to other people too, thinking, "how would they not realize their pants are falling off, LOL" Guess I know now! Haha!

@PinkPolkadot619--Thank you!! You look amazing in that dress too!!!

Funny thing happened today, or not so funny maybe! I'm wearing a skirt today that I've only wore one other time. It stretched out pretty quickly that time, so I washed and dried it, trying to shrink it just a bit.

Well, I was walking along at work and it felt odd in the back. I went to adjust it and realized it was half way down my tush!! Ooops!!! Glad no one saw me!!! Guess I won't be wearing this one again!

We just got back from Hawaii last Tuesday and I'm still not back in the work mode! Not only did I hit my personal goal of 160 while on vacation, I got engaged!

Definitely take this time to focus on YOU! And remember, you might have some days where you think "what the neck have I done?!" But I promise it'll be worth it!

Sending positive healing vibes to you!!!

Sorry...just saw this message now. Yes, we sure can compare notes! Your surgery is Monday right? Good luck!!!

Here's a few more of my favorite pictures

Here's a couple pics!

Hey friends! Back from Hawaii! We got back Tuesday actually. Thank goodness only 3 days of work this week! I'm still in vacation mode and we missed a night of sleep the day (night) we flew back, so I seem to be having a hard time catching up on that! I got way off schedule with my meds too, so that probably didn't help!

Anyway---we of course had an amazing time! The time we spend with just our 2 oldest sons was great. Love that we are able to do this with our kids. For those that don't know, when our kids graduate, we let them pick a trip they want to go on. When our oldest daughters graduated they picked Hawaii too. My Aunt has a home there she rents out when she's not there, so we are able to stay there pretty cheap. :-)

SO!!! I not only hit my original goal of 160 (actually got to 158) on vacation, BUT.....I got engaged!! On the beach, at sunset....it was absolutely perfect.

I'll see if I can figure out how to add a picture on here, LOL...I might need to do it from my phone instead.

I'm in Iowa, but I had my surgery back in October. So I'm about 7 months out.

Just wanted to wish you luck!!

We leave for Hawaii on Wednesday!! I cannot wait!!!

6 days of sun and fun and lots of relaxation!! (Hopefully! Our boys have a lot of excursions they want to do, LOL)

My 21yr old daughter and I went shopping Friday night so I could get more clothes. I fought her all the way into the dressing room with crazy things she was having me try on, LOL! But of course I ended up buying most of what she had me try on!!

Wow--That is such a scary story!! I'm doing a lot better lately with my Vitamins.

Beni--Tell me again which Multi-Vitamin you're taking? The ones I started with, optisource, is a 4 times a day Vitamin and I was having a REALLY hard time getting those all in! I got desperate and have been using Flinstones chewables, along with Vit D, and my Calcium. I had picked the Flinstones because they have the zinc amount my Dr. was suggesting when I was losing hair. (Which I'm not anymore, thank goodness) My labs were all perfect, but I don't want to be doing something that's going to cause issues and I'm not realizing it....

I need to go update my ticker, but I am ONE POUND away from my main goal of 160! So crazy!! I would ideally like to get lower, but to be at 161 right now is just astonishing to me. I NEVER thought I'd actually get here....SO crazy thankful I've had this surgery. And I can now say the first 6 months of hell were worth it.

My hip is finally showing some better improvement. My physical therapist is doing a last ditch effort using this patch thingy that has meds on it, and is then hooked up to electrodes. It stays on and does its thing for about 10 mins. Seems to be doing more than anything else my physical therapist has tried for the last 3 months!

@Bronxmerci--Can you add meats to your salads? I typically add grilled chicken, tuna, black Beans, or turkey to mine. I used to have a problem eating salads, and I was SO sad because I LOVE them. I don't have any issues with them now.

But your body needs the Protein to build muscle and repair. If you don't eat meat, or don't like it--then for sure try and get some shakes in.

I've slacked on vitamins...I know, bad! BUT...all my levels are good, so I figure I'm alright. I was taking the Opti source bariatric Vitamin. It's a chewable horse pill, and it's FOUR times a day. ICK. I'm doing well with Flinstones now, LOL. And I do take my Vit D and Calcium still. Just not the big honking one, LOL.

I've had some mild dumping. My heart races, I get sweaty and then about 5 minutes later, I'm in the restroom.

BUT...I avoid whatever I ate mistakenly so it doesn't happen again. Like ice cream, or frozen yogurt I just cannot do. I've tried sugar free also, but my new stomach just doesn't like it.

For me, it's high sugar foods or high fat that can be a problem typically. And like I said, as long as I avoid those foods I'm good!

I'm 7 months out and have only had that happen a handful of times. In the beginning I was nauseous a lot, but not dumping.

@Bronxmerci--I'm wondering too how you get your Protein?

I am going to counseling for that exact reason! It's really helping a lot! So I definitely recommend it!

I needed to figure out how to love myself, as I am, for who I am--and not based on my weight. It is a super hard struggle, as you all know. But I just really try to focus on the things I can be positive about and when I'm feeling negative about something, purposely changing that thought to something positive. It's hard, really hard. But it is by far easier than 7 months ago!

@@PinkPolkadot619 Yes, having babies done make some changes. But there are those lucky ones out there that still look amazing after having them!

I just wasn't one of those lucky ones, LOL!

@PinkPolkadot619--I've always considered myself big-boned also. I feel like I still am, LOL...

At my thinnest, as a high school senior, I was a size 7/8, and weighed about 125-130. People thought I was anorexic. I wasn't, LOL. I graduated in 1991, got married in 1992, had my first baby in 1993--weighing in at 200 pounds. WOW! And I've been heavy ever since.

So I suppose there's potential for me to be smaller, but I figure with having 4 babies, my hips are wide forever.