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Finally, the Syntrax Nectar Apple Ecstasy this morning. Was it really ecstasy though . I give the final shake of this line a 3. Nice try though.

All in all, I'd say out of all that I have tried (17):

-Roadside Lemonade

-Strawberry Kiwi

-Chocolate Truffle

-Double Stuffed Cookie

-Caribbean Cooler

-Lemon Tea

-Fuzzy Navel

-Strawberry Mousse

-Vanilla Bean Torte

-Twisted Cherry

-Apple Ecstasy

-Pink Grapefruit

-Crystal Sky

-Wild Grape

-Cappuccino Latte

-Vanilla Latte

-Caramel Macchiato

Double Stuffed Cookie, Caribbean Cooler, Lemon Tea, Fuzzy Navel and Strawberry Mousse were probably the best tasting. I think the fruity ones are definitely on point with flavor but many of them, especially the latte line left this horrible after taste I just couldn't shake unless I ate something later or brushed my teeth.  

I think I may try their non-flavored one you can add to any drink. Decisions, decisions.... 

This weekend I found it difficult to write/journal anything with my dear soon to be 2 year old running around and keeping me busy. I have quite a few shakes to write about since Friday.

Friday's continuation of lunch was the Syntrax Nectar Crystal Sky. I'd give this a 4. Reminded me of Kool-aid. Not too shabby and kept me full. 

For dinner Friday I had my left overs of baked chicken, sauteed spinach with olive oil and garlic and steamed broccoli, potatoes and cauliflower. 

For my pm snack, I had the Syntrax Nectar Wild Grape. I blended it with PB2. I should have just had it plain.  I think it would have tasted so much better. In my head  I figured it would have tasted like a pb and jam sandwich. Because of my experiment, I gave it a 2 and 1/2. LOL.

Saturday morning I tried the Syntrax Nectar Cappuccino latte with pb2. Not bad. Some of these Syntrax latte's have that sweet after taste even though they say they are aspartame free. I have no idea what it is but I'm not a fan. The PB2 or banana kind of takes that away.

Hubs took me to see a movie and my n-laws watched our son. I didn't think ahead so I grabbed a smoothie at the Jamba Juice to stay hydrated. I could have totally snuck in my own shake or drank water but I was tending to my son's needs ahead of mine. I need to learn to make more time for myself. I do have anxiety and this kicks in right before we leave to go out whether it's the family or just me and my hubs. My mother-n-law and father- n law are great with my son but sometimes they don't listen to instructions I give them and thus causes the anxiety to come out. Ugh. Anyway, back to it....

So this Jamba Juice I had ordered was the PB Banana Protein and MAN did it have ALOT OF SUGAR IN IT. I should have made my own but I'm only human right....Yes, It was tasty but a medium size with 34g of protein, okay......58g carbs, 23g fat and ....eekk....49g of sugar .

Not, the best choice. Again, I'm only human but I need to really research my nutrition info. before just looking up and seeing "oh protein, that's what I need, I'll take that, please" on the big board of what looks good.

For dinner, I had a hoagie bowl from my local Wawa which was grilled chicken (all 3 stripes of it ) REALLY?!  packed with veggies and some honey mustard dressing. 

Breakfast Sunday morning was Syntrax Nectar Strawberry Mousse. I swapped out water with almond milk and added 1/2 a banana. That was a 5 for sure! Very tasty!

Lunch I tried the Syntrax Nectar Caribbean Cooler with almond milk and 1 banana. Tasted just like a daiquiri. So good. One of my favorites so far! 5!!!!

Dinner I made turkey chili. Very good! High protein and so good!

Breakfast this morning, I tried the Syntrax Nectar Vanilla Latte with 1 banana and almond milk. Bit of an after taste again. I need to find out what the hell that is. Again, all of these protein shakes are aspartame free yet, I have this horrible sugary, "sweet-n-lowy" kind of after taste. I give this one a 3.  

If anyone is interested I've created a meal plan that have been inspired by other plans and changed to my personal preferences. It's 7 meals 2 hours apart with 10oz of water in between each. 

Calories: 1,400
Protein: 141 grams
Carbs: 128 grams
Fiber: 34 grams
Sugars: 26 grams
Fat: 39 grams 

8:00am MEAL #1: ! scrambled egg with 3 oz chicken and 1 thin slice of cheese

8:50am: drink 10 oz with 1 t of fiber powder

10:00am: MEAL #2: 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1 T Peanut butter powder, medium apple

10:50am: drink 10 oz water

12:00pm: MEAL #3: 3 0z hamburger steak (93% fat free), 1.5 oz green beans, and 3 parm crisps

12:50pm: drink 10 oz water

2:00pm: MEAL#4: 4 oz salmon, 1.5 oz green beans

2:50pm: drink 10 oz of water with 1 t of fiber powder

5:00pm: MEAL #5: 3oz chicken, 1 string cheese, and 1 serving of pretzel chips

5:50pm: drink 10 oz water

7:00pm: MEAL #6: 1/2 cup cottage cheese with t of sugar free strawberry preserves

7:50pm: drink 10 oz of water 

9:00pm: MEAL #7: 3.5 oc chicken and 1.5 oz green beans

9:50pm: drink 10oz of water with 1 t of fiber powder

Tomorrow is my last dietician appt since February 22nd.  She said they would be able to schedule my surgery date tomorrow but it seems as though everyone says they have to wait on ok from insurance co. But I already know my ins pays 100% of surgery and my hospital copay is $430, so hopefully I'll know date real soon. I also know I have to do 2 weeks of pre op even though I've lost 20lbs on my own just from making changes! I've been on every diet there is and lost but always had problems keeping it off. My health was deteriorating quickly and I need to turn this around before it's too late. And permanently.  I've never been more ready physically, mentally, spiritually for this as I am now.

So the doc wants another week before i try lifting again and then only light weights for another week after that.

i don't know how much of this slow healing process is me just being an old **** or if my post op diet is slowing things down or hell maybe Tricep tear just takes along time to heal.

I do know i dont want to do any damage to it again. Not being able to do much of anything with your right arm is a pain in the ass if your right handed.

well me and the wife and daughter are off to Reno for a family reunion this weekend so that means lots of vegan food (daughter)  sigh 

i will weigh in real early in the morning and post my Saturday  update if i lost any weight this week.

need 4 more pounds before August 1- will have my 1 year follow up with surgeon in first week of August 

Hope everyone has a great weekend and i'll be back monday to rant and rave against the evils of added sugar and processed carbs.  

Down another three pounds and had my one-month post-surgery follow-up (although its actually be 7 weeks tomorrow, their scheduling sucks). The nurse practitioner was pleased with my weight loss (36 pounds in 7 weeks) and told me I was cleared to go back to water aerobics and whatever else I would like to pursue exercise wise. Now to find a new pair of tennis shoes

Happy to set month 3 behind me!!  Onward and downward :-)

Me and the Scale have been having a staring contest this morning cause i want to weigh so bad it hurts but i know its a bad idea so i am trying to hold out.  I get this way every time i am at a threshold. in this case the 179/180 crossover. based on last weeks weight i should cross over to the 170's this week.

I have  only weighed 170 anything for 2 years of my adult life. oct 1984 till sometime in 1986 when i crossed back into the 180's

well i got the windows and doors open wide and the birds are singing. It is a California Classic today - for those poor souls that have never enjoyed one it is mid 70's to mid 80's and a slight breeze that just begs you to spend the day in the sun.

Now come August when its on its 27 day of 105+ i will be bitchin and moaning to no end  

I am down from a size 28 to a solid 20. I can even fit into some 18/20s. The motivation I feel when I see myself in these smaller clothes is incredible. I almost don't recognize myself because the transformation is pretty drastic. I met with a personal trainer yesterday that they offer at my office's fitness center and got some basic info. He is going to give me 2 free "trial" sessions if I sign up for at least 2 additional sessions. I am pretty sure I am going to sign up. I am making this the summer of SleeveinIL! I can't be the mother, wife, caregiver and anything else I want/need to be unless I am healthy. Food is fuel! I see the scale moving again and that is also very motivating for me as well. NSV this week...taking a bath (first since before surgery) and my behind and thighs weren't mashed up against the sides of the tub not allowing the water to flow between the front and the back of the tub. The water was able to move around and nothing of me touched the sides of the tub unless I physically moved my legs there. This surgery is giving me some confidence back for sure. I even updated my photo at work because I don't look like that anymore!   

Good morning, everyone. I know I've been gone for a bit but I am doing so much better now. It seems as if I am healing right up. The nausea is completely gone and the only time I get an upset stomach is if I eat too quickly. Alas, this is still something of a learning curve. On the upshot, I am ready to return to work and I am going back to tractor trailer driving because it's the best path to make a decent living given my skill set. On July 3rd, I will be starting for Schneider. It's been a few years since I've been behind the wheel of such a big vehicle so I chose the free training (and I don't have to sign an agreement either) offered by Schneider. The particular driving that I got hired for is all Mid-West lanes dedicated to Home Depot so there is no East Coast and no West Coast. In fact, just four states ... CO, NE, MO, and KS. The job is 3 weeks on/1 week off and they fly me between my home in Philadelphia and Kansas City. All in all not a bad deal.

Learning all I can about gastric sleeve.  I think it may be my best option. Going to a surgery seminar next week to learn more.... any tips/suggestions/recommendation etc. welcomed!

Some of my surgery incisions are infected (I was told I was at increased risk for infection since I'm diabetic). I got to the doctor in the early stages so its nothing major, but I'm waiting on the cultures to find out which antibiotic is most appropriate to treat the infection. I should hear from the doc's office tomorrow. In the meantime, I have no desire to eat (surgery was two weeks ago) and find myself preferring to drink my protein. Is that normal?

Bouncing around 243-245 and can't seem to break this stall. Since the month after surgery I haven't lost more than a few pounds. I am tracking my food and getting enough protein (I weigh everything), I have increased my workouts and I am now doing cardio and elliptical for a min of 40 minutes/day as well as weight lifting. I am drinking about 55 - 65  oz of water. I am staying at the 600 - 800 calories as recommended by my surgeon. What is the magic required to drop these pounds? On the positive side, I have energy and am able to move around a whole lot better. I feel good and that says a lot.  This week I had 2 people at work notice and told me I am melting away.  So things are moving, just can't get that scale to budge!!!

I have been stalling for 2 weeks now and I had surgery on 4/24. It's starting to be frustrating! 

Brain dump and rambling...Here I am 7.5 weeks post op and I am stuck at the same 25lb weight loss that I have had for the last 3.5 weeks. I am feeling down, dejected and frustrated with lack of movement on the scale. I am able to get into a lot of clothes and shoes that were troublesome before so I have had some non-weight related wins, but I am ready to scream about the lack of weight loss. I have upped my calories, lowered my calories, increased my exercising and I am hitting all my numbers for protein. I am still having issues with bathroom visits and vitamins making me feel sick to my stomach. On another note, nothing I eat makes me feel sick other than the aforementioned vitamins, no nausea at all from any foods.  I seriously keep asking if I even had the surgery completed because I feel the same. I feel hungry and I FEEL THE SAME as before surgery. I am afraid I am going to be stuck here at 245lbs and not make any more progress. Did I choose the wrong surgery? Should I have done bypass instead of sleeve? Time will tell. Sigh - not a good day for me.

So my daughter reminded my she had a snap shot on her phone of me from about 3 months before i started this journey so pretty close to my max weight. I have had it for few days now and had to work thru my emotions before i could clearly decide if i wanted to post this or not. So the beard hides my 3 chins pretty well but well you can see for yourself. loose skin and all

10 weeks out from surgery, and I just ate popcorn (Smartfood white cheddar, 3/4 cup) for the first time since surgery. It was SO GOOD; now I just have to see if it sits well. So far, so good.

Have been gradually working on trying new things; so far, nothing has given me even semi-major issues, but taco seasoning still doesn't sit well in my stomach.

Well not the greatest start to my day, only down 1.5 pounds and missed the crossover from obese to overweight. So another week i guess. Well at least its down even if slower than i would like.

Tuesday is nine full months and some days it feels like a blink and others like 9 years.

got to get some coffee in me, to dam early in the morning for coherent thought.

enjoy your weekend

Straws & bubbles have definitely NOT stretched my pouch. Couldn't even finish a 3rd chicken wing!