cajun

You're the first person I've seen that has mentioned buffalo. My husband and I have left red meat almost totally behind and switched to bison a year ago. He had a blockage and after that scare and his stent was in place....we really changed a lot. We both read labels!! His nutritionist said that bison was so low in fat and especially sat. fat that it was like eating skinless chicken breast or fish...it is also very high in Protein....perfect for me!!! The trick is I learned after much research, the buffalo must be nothing but grass fed, no grains at all. I order ours from a ranch in Texas and one in Wisconsin. Both ship the meat to our home on dry ice! It's soooo good!

I'd love to know where to order that bison meat...can you PM me? thanks.

So I am here in Mexicali and got sleeved yesterday. First day was great but second day not so good. Sip walk sip only works if you can keep the liquid down and you don't get nauseas every time you walk. I"m hoping for a better day tomorrow

Katldy, welcome to the loser's bench! Be sure to tell the nurses or Dr Aceves if you are nauseated...ask for what you need, they don't want you to be uncomfortable. You'll heal faster if your pain and nausea are medicated! Walk and burp and sip and burp and walk some more...and rest! You are in the best of hands! Isn't it a beautiful hospital? Try to buy all the nexium you will need before you leave there because it costs a fortune in the USA...$300.00 for a 90 day supply! It's much cheaper in the pharmacies near Almater hospital.

Lee and Cajun--you can go to www.myvi.net/419100 to view nutritional content and pricing as well! I am actually starting my 90 day challenge on Monday--the 8th. The shakes are powder and they do taste very good--not like dried up tree bark.

This is not spam it is real--and if people were not soooo skeptical and have open minds they might realize there are people on here that just want to help people.

Thats what nurse practitioners do, and its sad that people are so negative and skeptical about things. I would never post spam on this forum--I really enjoy this site--Ihave my own practice, 4 small children 10-6-4-and 11 mos, and I don't have time to mess with spam or junk just like everyone else!! Hope you understand!! Thanks and I hope you all have a very good week!!

By the way-- I start my 90 day challenge on Monday 3/8/10--so around the 1st of June--we will let everyone be the judge if this was spam!!!

I looked at your website. It appears to me that this is a product that your business is selling. Therefore it IS spam.

Cajun, I JUST got my hubby's support last night for this whole thing after a couple of weeks of praying, LOL There's no way I could go back and say "ok darlin', if the insurance doesn't approve it I'm going to head on down to Mexicali to get it done, k?" LOL

No seriously, we don't have the funds put away to be able to pay cash and I really don't want another bill by financing it. Right now I'm feeling that if it's part of the plan for my life it will all work out with the insurance. And if it doesn't and later I end up with $10-15k (trust me it's happened to us before cuz God's cool like that) then I'll know what to do with it

I have read great things about a couple of the docs in Mexico from y'all on here. When I first saw ppl had went to Mexico for surgery I was kinda freaked, LOL But after reading y'alls posts it seems like for the most part they are pretty awesome. I'm sure there are some who aren't worth a flip and mess ppl up but that happens here too. So, it's all in the research I suppose.

Have an awesome day!

KK...yes, research is extremely important. Once a surgeon has done over 300 sleeves, their complication rate goes way down. Cost is not the most important factor...you can get it cheap, then end up in the hospital ICU for months with serious complications and high $$$$$, so research the complication rate for surgeons. Also, try to get the surgery in a full service hospital, with an ICU, Blood bank, etc, just in case a complication does happen. Some surgeons operate in little clinics where that is all the services...bariatric surgery...and if you have a problem, gotta find a way to get to a big hospital for care...not good, especially if you are hemorrhaging or have a serious leak. There are great ones out there...just do your homework and don't be pressured. When you are confident and ready, you will decide.

The CIA is such an awesome idea. We were trying to get reservations at French Laundry or one of the Michelin's but a 9 tasting menu for an already sleeved person is a tad bit impossible to handle! Will certainly check that out :tongue_smilie:

I think that French Laundry requires a reservation at least 6 months in advance. CIA also suggests reservations...am not sure if they are required but you can do it online. They are not anywhere as expensive as French Laundry. I see that they also have a tasting menu...that might be better for a new sleever. They also serve you lots of wine so you might need to know that sleevers don't tolerate liquor well from what I read. Might want to pass on that treat especially since you are newly sleeved.

Well, no need to test I started today.

X that theory. I hope things improve. Maybe you need more calories for the strenuous workouts!

Some people like to talk just to hear themselves "rattle".

Early in pregnancy, dizzyness can be triggered by low blood pressure, and also by low blood sugar.

I'll admit my adult ADD kicked in halfway through the article, but from what I gathered that guy just talked in circles.

The article IS too long. .. But he basically says it's more important to limit calories than to exercise, if your goal is wt loss. His premise is that exercise burns very few, but limiting calories to 6-800, which is what we are recommended to do after the sleeve, is the most important factor in losing the weight.

I think the best tasting shake is the Jay Robb chocolate. Everyone's taste is different though.

Why not post your idea directly so we don't have to PM you?

Are you selling it?

I agree with the previous post about Stevia. It is the best sweetener from what I can tell. You can get it at Walmart and many other places. Just be careful to not get the one with sugar in it. Just plain stevia.

kk

If you are self pay, consider Dr Aceves in Mexicali Mexico...his program is awesome, in a full service hospital, and very affordable. I paid 8750. He's done over 700 sleeves, with no leaks, and is more experienced than most physicians in the USA. You just fly to San Diego. They pick you up and bring you back directly to the airport 5 days later. So easy.

Alex just posted this. It is a "must read". I can't wait to hear the comments...

Lose weight without exercise!

18 lbs, already! Great job! I found that white meat chicken was too dry and really hurt. I could do dark meat though.

I preferred shrimp and fish, like fresh wild caught salmon, smashed up at first.....seems much easier to get down and did not hurt. Lots of Protein and nutrients.

Okios plain yogurt with stevia as a sweetener, was a favorite...also loads of Protein in it. More protein plus more Water yields more wt loss! Watch out for carbs...no more than 60 gms a day!

Glad to hear that you are home...keep sipping walking burping...things will get better soon...this is the hard stuff but you will be so glad when you see the pounds just dropping of. Congratulations on joining the loser's bench!

AWESOME!

Congratulations!

Did he do a serum B HCG? I still think that you could be pg and maybe have a false negative urine test...the blood test, B HCG would be definitive.:wink0:

KKandrod: My knees used to kill me. Once I lost about 40 pounds, the pain left me and has not returned since. You will be amazed and how much weight loss relieves pain in the lower extremities.

I understand your chiropractor's reluctance. He has some good points, but as the other poster said, has not walked in your shoes...literally. I embrace and practice the "no medicine" rule also, as much as I can. Right now, circumstances require that I take a lot of stuff though, for my own good...H2 blocker, multiple Vitamins and minerals mostly...but I hope and plan to get off as many as I can once I can eat more and get my nutrition from food. You need what YOU need. But he sounds like a "keeper" too.

How exciting! If you want a nice place to have a fantastic celebration dinner in Napa, go to the Culinary Institute of America. It will be a very special dining experience to remember...not cheap, but absolutely fantastic for such a special day.

I was visiting my sister some years ago and we stumbled upon it...it's in an old stone castly-like building that used to be the Christian Brother's "monastery", where they made the Christian Brothers' wine. Lots of character and ambience. The food is OUT OF THIS WORLD and the service is too. You will love it. My sister and I spent about three hours visiting and reveling in each course...each dish was like a work of art...almost too pretty to eat. But when you ate it...well, it was unbelievable. Worth every penny.

Congratulations! You are doing exactly what I would do!

Here's the link to the Culinary Institute of America's website in Napa:

Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant-The Culinary Institute of America

I love Oikos, but I get Fage because of the high Protein and lower carbs.

I add the crystal light iced tea drink mixes - 5 calories, no carbs, no sugar.

It gives it a sweet taste with a little kick.

Okios Plain (4 oz)

calories prot carb sugar

70 12g 5g 5g

Fage 0% plain (4 oz)

60 10g 4.5g 4.5g

For the minimal difference, I prefer the taste of Okios. Everyone's different though...try them all.

FANTASTIC JOB!!

WHAT A GREAT NSV!

I tried the elliptical once. Failed miserably. You are a trooper, both of you!

I agree Okios is best for me. If I want it sweeter I add a little stevia.

It's great to make Soups creamy and adds a hunk of protein!

I tended to have mid back pain between my shoulder blades when eating solids...but mushies went down fine.

It wasn't until recently, after 5 months, that the back pain has resolved.

Eating slower did seem to help, and chewing more. Slightly moist foods were more comfortable...I could not tolerate chicken breast...too dry. Dark meat was easier.

1/2 of a yogurt may be too much...that is about 4 ounces. 2 ounces is all I could hold...and that is still true most days. Try cutting back portion size.

oh sweetie that has got to just kill the vibe of everything maybe you should try a liquid phase for a while when the scale not moving that what i would try here a BIG HUG

Maybe you are not getting in enough fluids...so a liquid phase for 3-4 days to just see what happens might be a good idea. Be sure you are drinking more than the recommended 70 ounces daily if you are exercising...because you are losing a lot of Fluid with your workouts. The body needs Water to dump the excess pounds.

I feel for you... it does get harder to lose the closer we get to target weight and the farther out we get from surgery.

Thanks so much everyone. And thanks to Tiffy for all that info. I am going in this afternoon to have my drain advanced again. I was on tpn at the hospital for the first week. Then they put in a feeding tube (directly into my small intensines) I didn't drink anything in the hospital, but I asked him again yesterday and he thought I should continue with the Water. I will ask again today. I have only drank Water, nothing else by mouth, though I do brush my teeth. =)

Thanks again for your good thoughts and all your ideas for my to think thru. I wish I had more of an advocate. I just can't wait til this is over!

Stacy,

I would think, like Tiff said, drinking water, or anything, could keep the leak open. I would think that NOTHING should be going down the esophagus into the stomach. Why not put your water directly into the tube, that goes to your intestine? I would ask the doctor about that.

See my PM to you.

I am praying for your quick recovery.