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Great! I'm scheduled for June-22 in Tijuana. I've been busy preparing for post-op. I've stocked up on Clear liquids such as: beef and chicken broth, Crystal Lite, Green tea, Vitamin Water Zero, sugar free Jello. I plan to make my own sugar free popsicles. I've tried several different Protein shakes. I purchased a Nutri-Bullet to puree foods. And I've got a couple different kinds of bariatric Vitamins. Good luck!

<p>OMG Nevermind after a week I finally figured it out. For some weird reason the option was hidden on my phone. Logged in to the computer and saw where it was supposed to be and just clicked on the same spot on my phone. There it was! </p>

Aren't the recipes pretty much the same for all procedures, or am I missing something there? @@Alex Brecher, I thought the Protein, less carbs plan was for everyone... just curious what would be different

You can also edit it from the mobile app by going to the top of the post and little arrow there will give you the option to edit. But for threads created, it would be better to ask a host or Alex to delete the thread. In a web browser (not mobile app), in the subforum, where all the threads are listed for that subforum, go to the very bottom of the page. The subforum's hosts will be listed there. Send them a PM with a link to the thread and the reason you would like it deleted and they can delete it.

I just download the iPad app as well... I see the facebook login option still isn't there, can you share what I need to do as well to login from my iPad. It is definitely my preferred way to use forums.

thedailyplate.com is a good suggestion. I use it too (should have mentioned it in my earlier post). It does really help me be more conscsious about what I'm eating. I mainly use it to make sure I'm getting all of my protein in.

Go to the picture in Photobucket. You'll see one of the items beneath the photo called "Direct Link" Copy the URL code for your Direct Link Now click here to modify your profile picture You'll see: ---------------------------------- Custom Profile Picture You may upload a new custom image using the controls below. Option 1 - Enter the URL to the Image on Another Website ---------------------------------- Paste the "Direct Link" url beneath Option 1 Click save changes

I like the Unjury protein powders too. I've had the Chicken Soup, vanilla, and chocolate splendor and they were all good but I really like the Unjury Strawberry Sorbet. It's really good mixed with crystal light lemonade especially refreshing on hot days! Sometimes I just don't want another milk based protein shake and it's become my daily "treat" plus it helps me get all my protein in everyday.

Hi there, I ended up having it at the end of March so i'm only a few months out now. It was different than i expected. The procedure itself was quite easy and I had a quick recovery. I was more affected by the lack of energy the first week or so because of so little food than the procedure itself so a positive reaction. I've lost about 8kg in total - much less than i was expecting as i'm sure you can imagine. I was expecting it to similar to the gastric sleeve in terms of restriction etc but i have found i am able to eat much larger quantities than i expected - not so much as to be super full but not as small as the gastric sleeve by any means. I have also found the hunger pains are more like stomach cramping - which i can deal with - but it is a different sensation for sure. For me, i think my expectations were about that of the sleeve which it is not. I also didn't feel as though i had much support from my doctor as he was new at doing this procedure. I would have liked to speak with other people who had had the procedure for example or hear from their experiences. That being said, i do have some restriction in quantity compared to before. When i eat with other people, there is no way they can tell - i just get fuller a bit quicker - i eat about 75% of what i did before. In other words it's less but not a lot less. I have also felt more cramping when i eat meat or chicken so i am opting for more vegetarian choices - not a big deal but perhaps worth mentioning. I also don't get cramping with things like bread which is of course more carbohydrate than meat or proteins which is not ideal - it is just softer on my stomach to digest. If asked i would do it again and i heard that it is only supposed to last 2 years so i would do it again in 2 years (with another doctor and hopefully at a lower price). If you have any other questions, i would be happy to answer! Best of luck to you!

I have not had this experience, yet, but at almost 17 months post-op, my body is still changing. I always said I was going to wait until 2 years post op before looking at these options. I didn't really want to investigate it early on as I knew there would be a lot of changes in the field in 2 years and everything I learned would be irrelevant and my thinking may be skewed.

I'm on a regular diet now, and I can drink (any fluids) significantly more than I can eat. As mentioned, some foods just fill me up faster than others. So I may have 1/2 of food one meal and get totally stuffed at a couple tablespoons the next meal. It all depends on what I eat. Obviously, sliders don't count. I can eat pretzels, chips, crackers and never really get the pressure feeling that I do with Protein based meals. Hence why I try to stay as far away from those carb rich foods as I can. Some days I do have a few pretzels, but I count them out as a serving and limit myself.

harley, thanks ... i didnt even think sleeping side/back was an option... its one of my 20000 questions to ask tomorrow cause i am NOT a back sleeper

I lost 22 pounds on my two week preop diet. Drank 3 protein shakes/day with unlimited leafy greens (broccoli, spinach, lettuce, kale, brussel sprouts)

Those last few lbs. were frustrating but I did the protein, chicken or a turkey patty, and went back to the liquids, soups mainly.....Broth or black bean soups, plenty of protein there...That helped...But I came within 4lbs of BMI and the doc did my surgery anyway....I was sooo relieved....Don't stress that just makes for frustration and hunger!!! Good luck....

Thanks for your ideas, I think I do need to back off the whey protein just a bit have the shake or the bar and then go with real food the rest of the day.

If it is working, then why change it? However, our bodies do flourish with variety, especially with veggies and fruits. These are foods that provide our body with protective nutrients we need. Also, maybe venture out with some shrimp, scallops, beans, eggs? Getting your protein from food is ideal (vs. protein shakes/bars) once you can eat anything. I assume you are past the restrictive phase. I make my own "protein shake" with baby spinach, plain nonfat greek yogurt, 1/2 cup frozen cherries, 1/4 cup guava juice and sugar free torani syrup. Simply divine - a bit more carbs yes but full of many good things for the body and the protein!

I think I'm going to try 900 calories of dense Protein and see if that will work for me. My exercise is just ok. I walk/jog a couple times a week. I try to walk to work. I could be doing more. I do work 40+ hours a week on my feet in a restaurant. I know that isn't exercise, but I'm sure it helps. I have tried some treats recently. But I noticed that eating a treat is like insta gain, so I stay away from them mostly. I've been eating a lot of veggies, salads, squash. So of course I eat more than when I do majority protein. I'm grateful for your response and I'm going to adjust my calories and diet. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am on my second week of the 2 week diet. Actually tomorrow starts the second week. All I've been having is Protein shakes, and for dinner I have a piece of chicken with lettuce. My surgeon allows it. I'm now starting to have problems with having to run to the bathroom. Like omg I better run before I have an accident. Anyone else having this problem? Anyone else a July sleever?! Also.. Can I take anything to help me stop?

I take a special bariatric vitamin.. and I take biotin too.. im experiencing hair loss as well.. but I think you need a different vitamin too.. make sure you are getting your protein and drinking plenty of water.. .dehydration can cause fatigue too...

Well, I must have been the luckiest bandster ever, or the doc just managed to deaden some nerve in my tummy - because I have had so little pain that it hardly bears mentioning. The gas has been present - occassonally a little pressure, but not painful or problematic. I have been reading about new bandsters with pain for a long time and I was quite surprised NOT to be one of them. I am generally such a wuss!:knockedou I went on Tuesday (2/21) to my two week post-op visit with Doctor Fox. While I haven't lost any weight officially, I know that my measurements are still catching up to the 16 pounds I lost on the pre-op diet. My clothes fit again - and my face is visibly thinner. I forgot about that pointy chin I have... While this makes me happy, I still need to get up and get back to the gym. Work has been so crazed lately that I have been very bad - I haven't been to the gym since prior to surgery! This weekend - it's the Treadmill or Bust. I have not been very compliant on the food side, either... I started eating things consistently a day or two prior to when the doc's diet said I could... Bad me. I have currently eaten everything except steak - including bread. I had a fish sandwich for lunch. I have the Vanguard band - and while I have some limited restriction during the day, I have little or none at night. So far, though, this has not distressed me too much. I am practising my chewing skills. Knowing how much I have to concentrate on this act, now, I guess I spent the last 40 years swallowing my food practically whole. Considering how fast I used to eat, that's not impossible. :yuck: I have to guard against getting hungry - since that is when it is very difficult for me to get the food fully ground up before swallowing. There have been several times when I knew that some not-quite-well-chewed bit got past me - and I was waiting for the pain - but it never came. The big band means that the food is pretty much just Pausing - and then moving right by. So far, I haven't had any major portion control issues - maybe just slowing down is enough that the stop signal gets hit. I am on the fence about getting a fill. My doc says I can have one after my one month visit on the 7th - but I am afraid. I mean, geez... I have no pain and I can eat anything I want if I chew it well. My bathroom scale said I was down a couple of pounds today - so do I really want one? But, on the other hand - I have already said that the food is only pausing - the big band is mostly worthless without a fill... and the danger of being able to eat anything is that I will eat everything. No restriction is too much temptation. I think I will have to get a small fill - whether I want to or not. I got this surgery for a reason, and no matter how nice it is to be spoiled, I better take the next step. *fear* I hate pain and I don't want any PB's!!! I really am in this for the long haul, though. I don't want to lose weight so fast that my whole body sags and I get that big wattle under my chin. I am doing what I can to stave off the panni problem - I wear a girdle 24/7. A comfy one to sleep in and a tougher one during the day. I started wearing it about 2 days after surgery. My belly flopping around was way more uncomfortable than wearing the girdle! I wish I had started doing it 10 yrs ago when the panni first started to hang!! I know I will have to have PS if I ever want to have a flat belly. It's just a fact. I am wearing a sports bra to lounge and sleep in, too. I don't want the girls getting bruised on my knees!! It's an adjustment to sleep with garments on - but I guess it will be nicer if I ever have to run from a fire in the night or anything. LOL! Thank goodness for Bestform. They make a lovely cotton-spandex sports bra that slips on over your head in big-girl sizes. No tags, no hooks, just soft support. Again, I should have started sleeping in one when I was 14. Oh well... I will never mess with the girls - not even if I have to roll them up to get dressed in the morning.... So far, this thing is working... I have evolved a little bit now that I have the official ok to eat real food. I was eating yogurt & cheese and soft things all day at work and then eating a little bit of whatever DH cooked for dinner. These last couple of days I have just been drinking my breakfast shake (min. 40 grams of protein + vitamins & calcium) and eating some small thing for lunch. Yesterday, I had a cup of Chili. Today I had the fish sandwich. I am pretty sure that my calories have gone DOWN by doing this... I was parcelling out about 800-900 calories worth of protein shake, SF pudding, cheese, yogurt, etc and just nibbling all day long - which was GREAT for keeping me from getting hungry - but with just the shake and one thing for lunch, I am probably at 700-800 calories instead - depending on the day and the phase of the moon. But DANG - you could eat a lot of stuff, if everything comes in under 70 calories! I think that I will never properly count calories - I mean, I hate that crap - but I need to keep in mind what the calorie counts on my food are. I imagine after my fill, everything will evolve again - which is fine, too. Ruts are bad. I don't ever want my body to "get used" to anything, except for exercise! I think I will have to boil myself up some chicken breasts and do like I used to do when I did Atkins - low carb during the week, anything on Saturday. Maybe banded, I can carb on Sundays, too. It's hard being pure around my beloved. But, I do lots better when I don't have to worry that I have the right foods. Chicken & cheese sticks with dipping sauce were a staple during the Atkins days. I just need to make them up again. If the food is here, and easy access, I will eat it... most of the time. I also know that, even with no fill, exercise would make the difference. It takes A LOT of calories to move my beautiful bulk... Now, if I could just get work under control again, so that I could consistently get to the gym, life would be good. The biggest problem is that before I was banded, I would work until 7 - get home at 8 - run to the gym, come home and eat at 9:30 or 10:00. That won't fly any more. Not only will I drop from low blood sugar; but I have to eat before 9 so I can go horizontal without a pouch full of food. I *might* have to try going *GASP* in the morning before work. (ICK!!! Did I just type that?!?) I am going to have to do SOMETHING - cause I have to get to the gym at least 3 times a week - and there are only two days in the weekend! LOL. Maybe a snack in the late afternoon and coming in a wee bit earlier to work. Hmmm. A little earlier to work seems easier to accomplish than actually working OUT before work - and the whole showering in public thing has never really worked for me. Yeah, that's the ticket. If I get in earlier, SUPPOSEDLY I can leave earlier. We'll see how that goes. I got here just after nine today. For me, that was early - by almost an hour! If you are not me, and you have read through all this blather, I love you too. I figure you must love me to read through all this personal sorting out. Hope you are having a great day, and that something more exciting than this entry happens to you, soon. (in a good way.) :]

Thought I'd share this too. It's from a chef on Discovery Channel. 88 Calorie Brownies November 30, 2007 Yes, these are for real! They are the creation of Chef Devin Alexander, a master at turning sinful treats into healthier fare. The bestselling author is also a host of her own show on Discovery Healthy Channel. Devin’s 88 Calorie Brownies Ingredients 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 4 egg whites 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup unbleached, all-purpose flour 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder (optional) 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (semi-sweet) Butter-flavored cooking spray Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8×8 inch non-stick cake pan with spray. In a medium mixing bowl, using a sturdy whisk or spatula, mix the applesauce, vanilla, egg whites and sugar until they are well combined. Add the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder, and salt. Stir the mixture until it is just combined and no lumps remain. Pour it into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the chips evenly over the top. Bake the brownies for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry (a few crumbs are okay). Transfer the pan to a cooling rack and allow them to cool 5 minutes. Cut into 12 equal brownies. Makes 12 (1 brownie) servings. Each brownie has: 88 calories, 2 g Protein, 19 g carbohydrates, 1 g fat, less than 1 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 1 g Fiber, 133 mg sodium Traditional Double Chocolate Brownies have: 260 calories, 3 g protein, 37 g carbohydrates, 12 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 15 mg cholesterol, 1 g fiber, 165 mg sodium

I have only been sleeved for almost six weeks, but I also travel on business a bit. I'm on solid foods now. I had a business trip last week. I just ordered really healthy, high protein food at meals. One meal, I ordered the steamed clams and ate a few. No one noticed I didn't eat a lot. Another meal, I ordered meatloaf, skipped the mashed potatoes and asked for more veggies. Same thing, ate about a half cup or so of the meatloaf and a couple of bites of spinach and done. No one said anything. Another meal, I ordered fish. Fish goes down well with me. Soup is a good thing to order too If someone would have said something, I probably just would of said that I' m watching what I eat. It's none of their business about my surgery if I don't want to tell them. This weekend my husband and I went out for lunch. I ordered a chicken and cheese quesidilla. I ate the insides of two pieces and left the tortilla and then took two pieces home which my son then ate. I thought eating out would be difficult but it's not. The hardest thing is not drinking during meals, especially when you are waiting for your food.

I have been playing with this going into a strenuous workout empty, and the using protein afterwards and I totally destroys me for the day. My best results have been light protein before, and then heavier protein after.

just talked to my surgeons office. They say biotin is an added help to preventing hair loss especially if you have trouble getting in all your protein. May as well get some, they say its safe & couldnt hurt anything b4 or after surgery. I knew that the chromium picolinate was curbing my hunger, by Dr's office also said it decreases carb cravings!! WooHooo I need that!!!!!!!!!!

My doctor said to have a protein drink in one hand and water in the other and be sipping back and forth from both all day..... Your doctor should tell you how much water and protein you should have daily because both those are important for healing from this surgery as well as controlling your kidney disease. You might also need to consult with your nephrologist to get the best balance of water and protein for your condition. Good luck to you!