Yvette1026

Dark and dreary day here in az with a high of 54 right now... all I want to do is stay under the covers but I've got work to do. So today I was going through the forums and found the "protein" post and while I was giving advice and recipes I got some inspiration on this cold day.. HOT CHOCOLATE!! Yumm yumm yumm!!! I could improve it but it was good for the first try.. 4oz skim milk 1/4 teaspoon vanilla pinch of cinnamon 1 scoop designer whey chocolate protein powder I made it like old fashioned Hot Chocolate on the stove.. milk, then dumped eveything else in and stirred until it started to bubble. I could have made it creamier by adding some yogurt or non-dairy creamer, and the sugar free chocolate pudding but honestly the way I made it is good too. And I won't feel guilty when I go back for more later HA! lol Ok in other news... It's official!!! My surgery is now back on the 18th, better day, better number, more recovery time! WOOHOO and I may, may just be able to eat something come Christmas LOL... But now this puts me EXACTLY where I want to be. I'm SO excited! YAY ME!!!

Ok Hot chocolate was made and it's good. I could improve it but it was good for the first try.. 4oz skim milk 1/4 teaspoon vanilla pinch of cinnamon 1 scoop designer whey chocolate Protein powder I made it like old fashioned Hot Chocolate on the stove.. milk, then dumped eveything else in and stirred until it started to bubble. I could have made it creamier by adding some yogurt or non-dairy creamer, and the sugar free Chocolate pudding this is good too.

Oh and if you're able to have decaf coffee - this one just hit me.. Make some decaf mocha's or lattes with your Protein mix and skim milk.. I'll have to go try that.

Having tried every diet out there and KNOWING I don't like shake options I elected to make my own. Using my expertise in the kitchen and the knowledge of my body builder friends I have come up with some great tasting shakes using the Designer whey Protein (18 grms per scoop) I'm working on chocolate flavors but I actually prefer the vanilla because it's so versatile. I'm also working on hot mixes, living in AZ the cold drinks would normally work, but wouldn't you know it's only been in the 50's and 60's during my pre-op diet lol so I'm working on a hot chocolate and more. Here's two that I loved: Indian Summer (Apples are available in fall but the drink reminds me of summer lol) 2oz lowfat vanilla yogurt 4oz Healthy Balance Apple juice 1 scoop vanilla designer whey protein Handful of ice Blend or mix with ice - both ways are good. Purple Passion 2oz lowfat vanilla yogurt 4oz Healthy Balance Pomergrante/blueberry/Acai Juice 1 scoop vanilla designer whey protein 1 scoop ruby reds (optional) Blend or mix with Ice - both ways are good. Purple passion is my favorite.. and adding the rubyreds gives me a full day supply of fruits and veggies in one scoop and they're sweet and good tasting. Purple passion tastes like a smoothie you would get from Planet Smoothie or Jamba Juice. It's great. With the use of yogurt you must be careful on which brand you buy as just because it's lowfat doesn't mean it's low carbs or sugar. Greek yogurt works best and has the most protein. You may want to add a lil' honey to greek yogurt to fight the tartness. Overall I think making your own shakes is better for you, your wallet and your taste buds. You can also add sugar free Jello and pudding to change the flavors, without breaking the rules of your pre-op diet. I'm going to try a hot chocolate one today and I'll let you know how it turns out... think I'll steam the skim milk then pour it into the chocolate whey protein with a lil' Sugar Free Chocolate pudding mix to enhance the flavor. There's also another brand called dessert delights with flavors like Carrot Cake, banana Nut Bread, etc.. I haven't tried them yet but my fitness friends/clients swear by them. Don't be afraid to get creative...even a frozen shake with chunks of marthon bar protein or fruit would be an awesome variation and a treat. If you found this helpful feel free to PM me or leave a message on my profile. I also post recipes to my blog as I create and test them. Happy pre-op!

Let it out NOW.. Work you diva girl!

Stick out your hand... BAD GIRL.. BAD GIRL...only concern is for you in the long run.. I know some people eat whatever they want after 3 days, but it helps with the healing to not have anything more than liquid to process. Yes the stomach can hold and process the food, it's about healing and swelling at this point. Be careful my friend!

the lapband is geared to help you lose 2lbs per week, once you balance out. Depending on your starting point you will see rapid results of Water weight and the shock of not eating your normal food, as well as the low calorie intake. So some people may lose 45lbs in 6weeks, but 30 of that may be water weight, and the rest is a combination of things. If you go to people's profiles most people have documented their journey with pictures with weights and dates on them. That should give you a fairly good idea. The best advise I can give is to NOT compare yourself to others. The one thing I've noticed is that even though we're all getting the same thing, it's very different for each of us as individuals. Hope that helped.

It happens, no worries - you'll have more people to ask questions to and get advise from :thumbup:

If you want variation of flavors go to the store and buy some Protein shake mixes, yogurt and fruit juice to mix/blend with or over ice. You can always do sugar free carnation instant Breakfast with skim milk, or boost/ensure glucose versions. It's really very easy to do the diet (on mine now) just create some flavors you like. Are you able to have food as well or just shakes and broth? Let me know and I can give you some ideas.. Also there's some shake recipes in my blog.

Glad you're doing well! Here's a to a speedy recovery!

I'm sure they meant for surgery...you could always call and ask them to clarify.. Consult isn't necessary unless surgery is looming

How does that old song go.. "Mama said there'd be days like this.. there'd be days like this my mama said." - you know they're coming and you got through it. WELL DONE! Even with the beans and cake.. I'm actually trying to have my surgery moved up so I CAN have cake lol so I can totally relate! My mom makes the best german chocolate cake ever and she only makes it for me once a year at christmas. If I push to the 18th that gives me 7 days before christmas lol - but back to you.. WELL DONE.. you made it through and the next time you'll make it through again, it's all about taking it one day at a time and thinking do you want to put something in your mouth that will move you further away from your goal, or something that will put you closer to it.

www.rubyreds.com there's local places to get it from as well, but that's where my friend bought them for the gift.

Ruby Reds are a GREAT invention, they give you a full day serving of fruits & vegtables in a small scoopful and they taste great. They were a gift to me and they've lasted quite well through my on again off again healthy fads/trends. You can put the RubyReds in anything, water, juice, etc.. I've noticed it's especially good with Berry Propel and the Healthy Balance Brand Pomergrante/blueberry/Acai blend juice. I originally found the Healthy Balance juices as an alternative for my diabetic mother, but quickly found out they taste great. Even my 9 yr old nephew likes them and has for last 2 years we've been buying them. That being said today I made my best shake yet, it tasted just like a smooth from Planet Smoothie or someplace like that... 2oz vanilla lowfat yogurt 1 scoop designer whey french vanilla protein powder 1 scoop ruby reds 4oz Healthy Balance Pomergrante, blueberry, acai blend juice. Handful of ice Stir or blend either way is delicious. If you try the shake let me know what you think.

Ruby Reds are a GREAT invention, they give you a full day serving of fruits & vegtables in a small scoopful and they taste great. They were a gift to me and they've lasted quite well through my on again off again healthy fads/trends. You can put the RubyReds in anything, water, juice, etc.. I've noticed it's especially good with Berry Propel and the Healthy Balance Brand Pomergrante/blueberry/Acai blend juice. I originally found the Healthy Balance juices as an alternative for my diabetic mother, but quickly found out they taste great. Even my 9 yr old nephew likes them and has for last 2 years we've been buying them. That being said today I made my best shake yet, it tasted just like a smooth from Planet Smoothie or someplace like that... 2oz vanilla lowfat yogurt 1 scoop designer whey french vanilla protein powder 1 scoop ruby reds 4oz Healthy Balance Pomergrante, blueberry, acai blend juice. Handful of ice Stir or blend either way is delicious. If you try the shake let me know what you think.

It depends on where you're going through, my approval came first then the surgeon visit, as to not waste the surgeon's time. But I've seen the reverse happen for others, visit then approval. I would ask your scheduler or coordinator, often times they know before you do. I got my letter of approval from my insurance almost a week after True Results called and told me I was approved. The one thing I've noticed about this journey we're all taking is that it seems no journey is the same.. everybody is different. Your patient advocate or scheduler should know in your doctor's office. Good luck!

I will never HAVE to bring my own towels on vacation again, but I WILL continue to do so because 1.) they're clean and 2.) I LOVE the BIG towels :w00t:

Good luck! Speedy recovery!

Great list and I can feel you guys on some of them. I have a HUGE ego so some of those I can't relate to but some I TOTALLY can. Never again will I... -be the ONLY person in the room that thinks *I'm* the hottest chick in the room lol :tt2: -look at another fat woman and think "OMG do *I* look like that??? -Think "Hmm I'm the biggest person in here.. oh no wait there's that guy *whew*" -Suddenly get depressed in the middle of a good football game because I realize the linebacker weighs less or the same as me. :w00t: -eat in my car as if "those" calories don't count. :sneaky: -buy an extra drink just so it doesn't look like it's all for me. -care if anyone KNOWS I'm getting or got the lapband. :thumbup: -talk about people who get WLS as if it's "cheating" -go to a BBW anything - ok I stopped that a long time ago, but STILL it MUST be on the LIST! :tongue2: -Mess my room up looking for an outfit that hides my backfat. :huh2: -buy shoes 2 sizes too big just to be able to have the width I need to be able to wear the super cute heels I love to wear. :thumbup: -Worry about whether or not I'll fit on a ride or not. I haven't had that problem in a couple of years but it's still hard to not worry about whenever I go somewhere new or on a ride I haven't been on before. :glare: -Not ride a ride I want to ride because I don't feel like the restraints will "hold" me in. :crying: -Never again will I not let someone take a picture of me without my explicit approval and use of proper "fat girl angles" to flatter me. :thumbup: -wonder WHY he's dating/interested in me...fetish or me? :huh2: -ask the "So do you normally date fat girls" question. lol :tt2: -have a "if I were thinner"...moment :w00t: -Never again will I live my life on the sidelines looking "cute", never again will I let my life pass me by. Never again will anything stop me or even cross my mind to try to stop me from living my BEST life. :smile2: I WILL... -Be confident in EVERYTHING I do. -Take a picture straight on and NOT use flattering "Fat Girl Angles". -Jump in every pic and make memories -buy shoes in the RIGHT size -be a motivation and inspiration to any and everyone I can be. -do the public speaking I'm meant to do. -fly and have "extra" room in my seat! :sleep: -take a bath in a regular size tub! -sit confidently in ANY chair or on ANY table -Take a nap with someone else on my couch (there will be room for someone else lol) -wear all the super cute clothes I want to now, but don't because I don't want to show backfat. -make life solutions not resolutions. -live my life like it's Golden!

Spanx may very well be some sort of evil contraption but they do work. I personally cannot handle being "contained" like that so I don't wear them, but they will definitely keep you in place. Lane Bryant, Torrid, Nordstrom's Rack, etc.. are all places to get them for a decent price. Or you can always go try some on so you know what size you are and then buy them from ebay for cheaper. You can also try shapewear by Cass, same control without that super restrictive feeling, Avenue stores has a similar brand that I've heard is good, but I haven't tried them. I try to stay away from shapewear if I can help it. With the exception of the Delta Burke line (my local JC Penny's outlet sells it) AMAZING stuff and CHEAP!

Since getting my call and having an actual surgery date, all I can think about it is my surgery and life after. Researching diets, nutrition, etc.. 100% committed to this lifestyle change. It's consuming my thoughts and mind, to me it's a good thing, but I'm starting to think I'm obsessing over it. I have SEVERAL projects I need to be doing, but as I start to work on them, I get a thought about a recipe or a surgery question or something surgery related and I'm off doing that. I need to focus.. I NEED to get all of these projects done TODAY. FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS... but all I can think about is how long my stay will be, can I talk the surgeon into the single incision method. Does he already use the single incision method? My pre-op appointment is tuesday with the surgeon so I'm SURE I'll get alot of my questions answered then. And wondering if I can get my original surgery date back.. I was originally scheduled for the 18th, but I pushed it back to the 21st due to an event I had scheduled for the 18th, but last night I decided to cancel the event. Now I want the surgery on that day.. I need to call my scheduler and see if it's still available. She'll probably want to ring my neck after I already changed it once lol. 18=9, 21=3 - both good numbers... I'll have to think on this. 9 feels better and has stronger meaning. 12+18=30 3+0=3 12+21=33 - 3+3=6 eh still a good number but I prefer 3 or 9... so 18th it is.. now let's just see if I can get my scheduler to agree :thumbup: Yes I'm strange, yes I just totally just worked that out for the world to see and let you all in on my crazy lol -really Yvette? Really.. lol oh well it's my blog lol.

Since getting my call and having an actual surgery date, all I can think about it is my surgery and life after. Researching diets, nutrition, etc.. 100% committed to this lifestyle change. It's consuming my thoughts and mind, to me it's a good thing, but I'm starting to think I'm obsessing over it. I have SEVERAL projects I need to be doing, but as I start to work on them, I get a thought about a recipe or a surgery question or something surgery related and I'm off doing that. I need to focus.. I NEED to get all of these projects done TODAY. FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS... but all I can think about is how long my stay will be, can I talk the surgeon into the single incision method. Does he already use the single incision method? My pre-op appointment is tuesday with the surgeon so I'm SURE I'll get alot of my questions answered then. And wondering if I can get my original surgery date back.. I was originally scheduled for the 18th, but I pushed it back to the 21st due to an event I had scheduled for the 18th, but last night I decided to cancel the event. Now I want the surgery on that day.. I need to call my scheduler and see if it's still available. She'll probably want to ring my neck after I already changed it once lol. 18=9, 21=3 - both good numbers... I'll have to think on this. 9 feels better and has stronger meaning. 12+18=30 3+0=3 12+21=33 - 3+3=6 eh still a good number but I prefer 3 or 9... so 18th it is.. now let's just see if I can get my scheduler to agree :sneaky: Yes I'm strange, yes I just totally just worked that out for the world to see and let you all in on my crazy lol -really Yvette? Really.. lol oh well it's my blog lol.

Congrats! Right behind you on the 21st.. Best wishes!

Day 3 of the pre - pre-op diet.. lol I started a week early just to ease my way into it. The first day the 1st protein shake was HORRIBLE. The 2nd one was tolerable. Day 2 I started off right, created a protein shake that was on the verge of delicious. Then I got derailed by some chocolate chip cookies with skim milk (because yeah that skim milk makes ALLLLLL the difference lol) and a pollo asado burrito for dinner.. WHAT??? It's protein... lol Ok so I fell off yesterday but I knew I would, that's why I did this a week early. Despite my falling off, everyone made comment about how great I looked and my energy level and I must admit I felt GREAT. People were asking me how much weight I've lost lol.. Umm I've been on a diet for 2.5 days, how much do you expect me to lose??? Lol but you know what? I will RECEIVE those compliments and how I feel! Today I ate a cucumber like it was THE BEST candybar I'd ever had.. I think I was just excited for the texture lol, but I also played around with some shake recipes which I will be posting here in my blog as I develop and taste them. Today's shake: 4oz Healthy Balance Apple Juice 2 tbsp vanilla non-fat yogurt (be careful with the sugar/carbs etc in your yogurt. Greek yogurt is best if you can find it - LOTS of protein, low carbs and little to no sugar.) 1 scoop vanilla Designer Whey protein mix handful of icecubes. Mix or blend, whichever you prefer, I've tried it both ways and they're both delicious. Well as delicious as it can be lol. Tomorrow I'll do one with Acai juice and see how it turns out. If you try the shake let me know what you think. :thumbup:

Day 3 of the pre - pre-op diet.. lol I started a week early just to ease my way into it. The first day the 1st protein shake was HORRIBLE. The 2nd one was tolerable. Day 2 I started off right, created a protein shake that was on the verge of delicious. Then I got derailed by some chocolate chip cookies with skim milk (because yeah that skim milk makes ALLLLLL the difference lol) and a pollo asado burrito for dinner.. WHAT??? It's protein... lol Ok so I fell off yesterday but I knew I would, that's why I did this a week early. Despite my falling off, everyone made comment about how great I looked and my energy level and I must admit I felt GREAT. People were asking me how much weight I've lost lol.. Umm I've been on a diet for 2.5 days, how much do you expect me to lose??? Lol but you know what? I will RECEIVE those compliments and how I feel! Today I ate a cucumber like it was THE BEST candybar I'd ever had.. I think I was just excited for the texture lol, but I also played around with some shake recipes which I will be posting here in my blog as I develop and taste them. Today's shake: 4oz Healthy Balance Apple Juice 2 tbsp vanilla non-fat yogurt (be careful with the sugar/carbs etc in your yogurt. Greek yogurt is best if you can find it - LOTS of protein, low carbs and little to no sugar.) 1 scoop vanilla Designer Whey protein mix handful of icecubes. Mix or blend, whichever you prefer, I've tried it both ways and they're both delicious. Well as delicious as it can be lol. Tomorrow I'll do one with Acai juice and see how it turns out. If you try the shake let me know what you think. :thumbup: