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Yes I should have said that. I work the night shift so when I would get off work at 7am after working 12 hours I was having trouble getting in 3 "meals" throughout these weird days where I swap shifts. My doctor recommended I eat a bar after I get off of work, before sleeping, because normally I would not eat anything at all. I've been really happy with it so far they set easy on my tummy, and feels good knowing i'm getting a little more protein where as normally I would be getting none!

Hello all, Have any of you tried PowerCrunch Protein bars? I had to get on here and ask, or suggest to those who have not, to definetely seek them out if you haven't. I have only tried 2 of their flavor options, but they were both delicious! I have not seen them in stores, rather I bought mine from my surgeons nutrition store. However, I did find there website (www.bnrg.com). The two that I have had are Peanut Butter Fudge, and Peanut Butter Creme but there are others that I hope to try soon too. The Peanut Butter Fudge one has 13 gr protein, 5 gr sugar, 10 gr carbs, 12 gr fat, and 200 calories. If you have ever had a 'nutty buddy' snack, it to me taste very much like that, but better.

Hello all I attempted to create an album just a while ago but the submission of photos was failing so I just thought I would attach a few progress photos here, if it works. Perhaps another time I will try to make an album again with more before and after pictures, but for now here's an idea of the changes that I am experiencing. PS Recent mini shopping spree was amazing, feeling good and confidence in new clothes is on the rise!:thumbup:

Many kudos and congrats to you Tiff. You deserve everything bit of the fabulous results you have accomplished with such dedication and determination. You look amazing. Great job!

just an update to my own post for others if they may begin experiencing this. The knots in my calves did settle early last week. While I do believe it had something to do with being deficient in a particular vitamin, the cramps have stopped although I did not add supplements.

Thank you for all the replies and advice. I will look more at the gummies. I do recall her mentioning that the BA vitamin included iron so I will need to start that seperately if the gummies do not include it. I just feel so drained right now being almost 9 days out and haven't had anything except water, broth, sf jello and sf popsicles. I feel like since I'm not even tolerating the protein shakes (I've had 1 since surgery) that I need to be putting something in my body for everything that is coming out, and coming off.

I went to my post op nutrition class on Monday (I'm 8 days post) and one of the things I asked the nutritionist about was not being able to tolerate the chewable Multivitamin (Bariatric Advantage-Vitaband 1 (2) times daily). I started taking it the 3rd day, tried it twice both times almost vomiting it up. She suggested just waiting then until my stomach is healed and they allow for capsule usage vs the chewable. Great with me but when I asked when that will be she said about a month (4 weeks post).. I then said OK would it be alright then to take (2) children chewable flinstone completes OR the gummy One A Day adult Multivitamins in place of the ones I cannot tolerate until I can move onto the capsule and she said NO don't worry about it, you can go without the Vitamin for a month. I just kinda said OK with a reeeally look on my face. Wouldn't you think having some type of vitamin would be better than having nothing at all? I'm pretty sure I have seen some of you here on the boards using the alternatives I mentioned above, if so there were no obvious issues with them, right?

I do agree how that looks like you would be signing up for failure if you really thought you would never touch these foods again, but there are other areas throughout the plan where it states these are the foods that should be avoided. In person during our meetings they elaborate more so saying they do not think we will never have a piece of birthday cake or have a meal that is outside the ideal path to our weightloss, but in order to get to goal and maintain throughout the future these are the eating behaviors that are needed to keep it off longterm. While I think I will incorporate an occasional rice, potato, etc in my meals, I will not start a pattern with it because there are obvious better food choices. The way I looked at it after seeing that is they word it so blatently because when we fail with food getting us to the point where we need surgery, is like handing you a free pass to do drugs if they freely allow it knowing these are the things that helped get you to bad health in the first place. I agree though, as I'm only one week post op I keep reading more of everyones experiences after meeting goal and I'm sometimes surprised by their eating behaviors now. While I hope it all works out for the best, I think my program has the right idea when it comes to longterm maintenance.

hello tia I'm no expert by no means, and I'm only 1 week out post-op but from what I have learned from the nutrition classes in my post-op program is that once you are past the healing phase (probably 3-4 weeks out) you should not be taking Protein shakes so much as taking real protein food sources like chicken, steak, turkey, fish, etc. These foods are more dense which will keep you fuller and satisfied longer (as well as good serving of protein) versus a Protein shake that will go right through your sleeve (funnel factor). While the smart ones may be a healthier alternative to a non-sleeved persons diet, while you are on the decline trying to lose, the smart one dinners probably aren't ideal as they do have large amounts of carbs, calories, from the Pasta contents, etc. Try to eat whole protein foods first, then add non-starchy vegetables. Did you surgeon provide a post-op diet plan to follow? If you are interested you can look at the information provided here from my surgeon, it gives a good plan to follow once you are in stage 3 and able to eat normally again. Weight Wise Bariatric Program :: Patient Resources :: Post Op Instructions Good luck to you. Keep working at it and you'll find what really works for you.

I don't think its completely impossible. I know before I left the hospital they weighed me and said its normal that weight always goes up after surgery because of the large amount of anesthesia they pump into your tummy during surgery. I went up 4 pounds, but my nurse said that it will come off quickly during the first 2 weeks, and will take with it a lot more. Perhaps what you see in the loss is mostly anesthesia weight. Maybe? Anyhow good deal, and keep it up