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Happy Halloween from BariatricPal!#subject#> body,div,dl,dt,dd,ul,ol,li,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6,pre,form,fieldset,input,textarea,p,blockquote,th,td { margin:0; padding:0; } table { border-collapse:collapse; border-spacing:0; } fieldset,img { border:0; } address,caption,cite,code,dfn,th,var { font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; } caption,th { text-align:left; } h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { font-size:100%; font-weight:normal; } q:before,q:after { content:''; } abbr,acronym { border:0; } address{ display: inline; } html, body { background-color: #d8dde8; color: #5a5a5a; } body { font: normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; position: relative; } h3, strong { font-weight: bold; } em { font-style: italic; } img, .input_check, .input_radio { vertical-align: middle; } legend { display: none; } table { width: 100%; } td { padding: 3px; } a { color: #225985; text-decoration: none; } a:hover { color: #328586; } div.outer { margin: 0 auto; padding: 14px; } table.wrap { max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; } td.logo { background-color: #0f3854; padding: 8px; } td.content { background-color: #fff; font-size: 14px !important; color: black !important; line-height: 150% !important; padding: 8px; } ul { margin-left: 25px; } Hey BariatricPal Members! Happy Halloween! It’s time to enjoy a few scares and spooks and a lot of fun, but how is that possible when you are trying to lose weight? This newsletter has a few tips that can help you enjoy yourself this Halloween and in the coming months, and keep the results from showing up on the scale. Here’s what we have: Surviving Halloween as a Weight Loss Surgery Patient Scary Good Treats from The BariatricPal Store The Start of the Eating Season (Or Not) Thanks for reading the newsletter and being part of the BariatricPal community. Don’t forget to login to share your healthy Halloween tips and get some healthy inspiration when you need it, and have a safe and happy Halloween! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Surviving Halloween as a Weight Loss Surgery Patient Halloween is one of the hardest times for bariatric patients. You’re sure to see candy nearly everywhere, and you may not see much else. How are you supposed to pass up the sugar while still having fun and getting in your Protein? It may not be easy, but you can do it. Go with a Plan Plan ahead, just like you do in the rest of your post-op life. If you are going to a party, plan to drink ice Water for most of the time. Set yourself up far from the buffet table, and talk to everyone you can to keep your mind off of the food. Also, remember to fend for yourself instead of depending on the party far. Bring a dish or two to share to make sure you have something healthy to eat for when you are hungry. These are some fun Halloween ideas. String cheese Fingers with half-sticks of string cheese being the fingers, and grape tomato halves filling in as the fingernails. Drizzle tomato sauce for blood if you like. Candy Corn Fruit Plate with three layers: each representing a color of the traditional candy corn. The bottom of the triangle can be a yellow fruit such as pineapple chunks; the middle stripe can be an orange fruit such as orange wedges or cut cantaloupe; the white tip can be banana slices or even cottage cheese for dipping. You can also make this with veggies! Banana Ghosts using banana halves for the ghost and blueberries, peanuts, or pieces of Protein Cereal for the eyes and mouth. Tangerine Pumpkins using a peeled tangerine for the pumpkin body, and a piece of celery stuck in the center as the stem. Stay Busy without Eating If you are trick-or-treating, there are all kinds of ways you can stay busy without diving into the kids’ loot. Keep yourself busy by helping out any children who need it, whether they are yours or anyone else’s in the neighborhood. Fix their makeup and costumes, help them cross the street safely whenever necessary, and hold the littlest ones’ hands if they get scared. Practice the One and Done Actually, practice it twice! For your first “one and done” trick, choose one piece of candy, assuming that you are up to eat solids foods on your post-op diet, and assuming you know that you can handle a sugary piece of candy without feeling sick or reaching for another 10 pieces. For your second “one and done,” remember that Halloween is one night. The leftover candy from what you handed out to trick-or-treaters or that your children collected needs to go on November 1. Otherwise, if you keep it around the house, you risk munching on it, well, possibly up until Thanksgiving! No, thanks! Donate the leftover candy to your local school or church. Throw unwanted leftovers away (really, the trash can wears the calories better than you do). If you allow your children to continue to eat their trick-or-treating loot, have them stash it away out of your eyesight so you are not tempted to eat it. Scary Good Treats from The BariatricPal Store Treats with a Little Trick Trick or treat! It’s fun to gather all kinds of candies, but you know the damage to your waistline. The calories pile on, the sugar leads to more carb cravings and possibly dumping syndrome, and the fat clogs your arteries. Who needs those kinds of effects when you can turn to treats from The BariatricPal Store? Our little trick is to change up the nutritionals to bump up the protein and dial down the calories, sugar, and fat. Instead of grabbing a candy bar next time, try one of these little treats: Caramel Coated Protein Puffs Snacks with 150 calories and 15 grams of protein. chocolate & Caramel Crispy Bites with 160 calories and 12 grams of protein. White Chocolate Dream Bar with 170 calories, 10 grams of protein, and 5 grams of Fiber. Peanut Butter and Smooth Caramel Crisp Bar with 140 calories, 15 grams of protein, and 10 grams of fiber. You may not even miss your favorite candy bar. Grab the Best Deals! We’re celebrating the 1-year anniversary of the opening of The BariatricPal Store, and you will come out the winner! We’re constantly increasing our inventory, so check our new products regularly. Are you new to our store? Just use coupon code BPNEWSLETTER10 when you check out for a 10% discount off your entire purchase cost! The Start of the Eating Season (or Not) On guard! Halloween marks the unofficial start to the holiday season. Festive though it may be, the holidays can mean trouble for your weight loss plan. Leftover Halloween candy in the home and office. Thanksgiving…a four-day eating marathon in itself. Christmas Cookies, fudge, fruitcakes, and candy canes. Holiday parties with friends, family, and coworkers. Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. And more… The bottom line is that there may be food wherever you turn, and you can’t give in each time if you want to stay on track with your weight loss goals. Here are a few tips to help you get through this time. Practice saying “no.” “No, thank you.” “No, thanks, my doctor says I can’t eat that.” “No, thanks, I’m not hungry right now.” Have your own healthy substitutes ready. You can save hundreds of calories by making yourself some Protein Cocoa instead of ordering it with your friend or coworkers at a coffee shop, or by munching on a Chocolate Wafer Protein Bar instead of a few squares of fudge. Eat regularly to keep cravings down. Instead of letting yourself get too hungry so that you risk overdoing it when it is time to eat, keep healthy and quick meals and snacks on hand. Canned tuna, washed and cut fruits and vegetables, nuts, yogurt, and protein bars are just a few ideas. Change your goals slightly to be more realistic. You may lose weight a little more slowly during these months, and that’s okay. Scour the table before serving yourself. Often, there is a high-protein choice that can work for you, such as roast beef or ham, even if it is not the healthiest in the world. Plan an occasional treat when you know something spectacular is coming up. It might be a cookie from your aunt’s annual Christmas delivery, or some cornbread stuffing. Plan to have a bite to satisfy yourself so you do not feel deprived or, on the other hand, go overboard. The holiday season is long for weight loss surgery patients, since temptations are everywhere and these are foods that you may have enjoyed in the past. Still, you can get through it right on track by being a little cautious and planning ahead whenever possible. Have a safe and healthy Halloween this year! Enjoy every minute of it, and come tell us about it on the boards at BariatricPal! · Unsubscribe from all BariatricPal E-Mail.

Yea i have been using sugar free chocolate pudding mix with unflavored poweder and pb2 ice and a little almond milk. Or i use sugar free frozen yogurt chocolate flavor with the above mentioned minus the ice.

women's one a day has Iron, you want to get about 18 mg/day (at least for men presume same for women). Forget cleanses, that will happen if you change diet. You want to reduce fat to make liver smaller so they can move it to get to stomach. At least use 2% milk or fat free, same with cottage cheese and there is even fat free cheese but at least change to low fat dairy. Wheat bread instead of white bread. More chicken, fish, turkey (white meats less in fat) keep some red for iron and other benefits. Vitamins - B12 is also important for anemia, do not get B complex very little if any B in them and you want B12 and B1. Cut down on juices and sugar in coffee in fact you should reduce caffeine so you can get used to it after surgery when you will initially be on herbal tea. You will be able to go back to coffee but surgeons usually want stomach to heal and best to reduce to lower risk of ulcers - smaller stomach you have to protect it. Find a Protein mix you like for shakes, you can use milk instead of Water and putting in half banana gives the vanilla some flavor and body. Protein important after surgery as rapid weight loss will cause you to lose protein and muscle mass as well as the fat. Exercise - do some resistance (weight) training to build muscle, you will need it. building muscle will help fill arms to reduce sagging skin. Biotin is supposed to be good for hair loss, usually comes in around month 3 postop. Beware of buying lots of clothes, just buy a little at at time as you will undergrow them quickly and have to keep replacing - may want to shop at goodwill and save money. I leveled off at month 4-5. Don't fret over stalls, they will happen and remember you will only lose 50% of excess over course of year. If you weigh 200 ideal for you height is 120, you can expect to lose 50% of 80 pound excess or 40 pounds. Walking good, took about 3 weeks to get back to gym and 3 weeks after that to get stamina/endurance back to last for an hour or so training. You mentioned yogurt - use either low fat or switch to greek which is higher in protein. Again, probiotic and cleanses probably not necessary but talk with doctor. After surgery for about 6 weeks you will need to avoid things with seeds, like strawberries and things that could lodge into open wound inside of stomach until it heals, after that period you are pretty much open to eat normally. I was on solids in week three, just chewed a lot. Learn to eat slowly over a longer period, yes your food will get cold but you are going to have to get used to that also.

hello everyone.. today i start 2 week pre-op diet.. 3 protein shakes, 1 small meal 3/4 oz of lean meat /fish and all the veggies i want.. I will most likely try some plain greek yogurt as well .. any one did this 2 week pre-op diet?...

Soooo I knew up front that I would have some nay Sayers when it came to my surgery. I expect the "easy way out" comments. But what I didn't expect was the hostility that I get from my son's father. Granted, we are no longer a couple....but we work in the same facility and see each other EVERY DAY. We have recently ( within the last two years) learned to be friends after being apart for 6yrs. We have spoken about me having the surgery and he said he would support me in any way I needed. He said he was " all for you being healthy for our son" . Now I've noticed that if I ask him to pick me up a bottle of water from the store.....he brings back Pepsi (I've had no soda since Sept). If i asked for a piece of fruit or yogurt.....he brings me a pack of Ring Dings. At first I thought he was just being absent minded, but Friday we had this big blow out argument over something that had NOTHING to do with me or anything important....by the end of the argument he showed me exactly how he feels by calling me everything but the child of God....first choice being "fat b#%^h" come to find out (from someone else) he doesn't even want me to have the surgery because he is only attracted to BIG GIRLS! I honestly don't care what he is attracted to because unless he'll freezes over we will NEVER be a couple again. But if I am doing this for health reasons, how could someone be so selfish and try to sabotage what I'm doing because of what they like? Arrrrrgh???? I just had to vent...........

So I got my FMLA approved today, there was some concern as it can be labeled as "elective." So it feels really real now, we are go for the 16th (eek!). Also tried a whole bunch of different protein shakes, so far I HATE muscle milk, and everything else (special k, ensure, oxyelite) is okay. The oxyelite is a powder I mixed with lactaid according to the directions and it was WAY to thick, I had to force it down. Next time more liquid. I also got some Greek yogurt and jello to eat with a spoon--you know to mix it up some. Overall I got about 95 grams of protein in. Today I also bought the recommended chewable vitamins, antacids and GasX strips. Any other suggestions for supplies?

Oh yes liquid diet starts October 27 but I'm allowed yogurt veggies and Turkey or chicken 2oz. A day very small portions. I'm so ecstatic. Love this forum for my outlet!!!! Sent from my Samsung Admire using VST

I am having my surgery on Monday and my dr has only required that I do a diet for 1 week.. it actually isnt even an all liquid diet.. I can have 2 servings of the following: egg, slice toast, bagel, piece of small fruit or yogurt for Breakfast.. then a Protein drink for lunch.. then for dinner 4-6 oz of meat with green vegetable and then another Protein Drink before bed.. I have to drink lots of Water..

Sugar free pudding. Scrambled eggs. Cottage cheese...I added a tiny bit of fruit baby food ..which is watered down. Cream of wheat with unflavored protein powder. I added the protein powder to most of my soups too. You can also add a bos of sugar free pudding to 32 oz of plain yogurt. Tastes a little like cheesecake. I would wait another week or two for that, though.

I am so excited having RNY bypass on march 26th after 8 long months. I am so excited I can barley contain myself. Question though, coming out of the hospital on stage two purée. Anyone have any advise for what to get to eat initially? Soups, cottage cheese, yogurt. Any meat suggestions??

I know Special K protein cereal is a good protein source. We all can dump on different things. What will affect me won't affect you and visa versa. If you really liked it, wait a while, then try it again in a much smaller amount. I personally can't eat cereals by themselves but I like Special K protein mixed into my Greek yogurt. Bear Naked Protein granola is good in yogurt too. Good luck!

Thanks for the replies, after I spoke to the friend today, I realized she said she was put on blood thinners after her surgery. For other reasons, she was only given a blood thinner before her surgery, as many are. I spoke to several friends about this and they all said they werent put on blood thinners post surgery. Only during the surgery itself. I guess I misread, or misunderstood, or jumped ahead of myself. The reality is hitting me I suppose that I am only 12 days from my date, and maybe I am getting a little freaked out. Trying to stick to the pre-op diet, my doctor told me yesterday to ease up a little, I was pretty much living on broth, yogurt, and bananas and Protein drinks for the last 4 days, she told me I can have some eggs and tuna and green veggies as long as I dont have starchy carby foods, or sugary drinks...for the next 4 or 5 days, then i need to go back on the stricter diet. I think my brain was misfunctioning from malnutrition, just kidding.

Hey there! I'm with you on the "I don't eat too much, I eat the wrong kinds of foods." I was a total junk food junkie, and it cost me a lot of time--time I didn't do what I really wanted to do, see the people I wanted to see, go to the places I wanted to go, etc. etc. because I was embarrassed to be so fat. I want to share with you that for me and for my husband (also a sleever), the sleeve has been a turning point in our eating habits, AND WE DO NOT FEEL DEPRIVED!! My husband was sleeved in 2010; he said then that he wanted something that would serve as a "hand slapper" to tell him it was time to stop eating, since he WAS a volume eater--of the wrong types of foods, double whammy. He was shocked to discover that post-sleeve, his body would pretty much dictate that he avoid junky foods, and he began to PREFER healthier foods like salad and yogurt! My 2-portions-of-spaghetti-with-meatsauce-and-garlic-bread-eating husband PREFERS salads!!! In my case, I had the diet of a teenage boy--I ate junk food almost all the time, washed down with soda. It was ridiculous. I never had a problem with emotional eating or eating too much volume-wise, just made consistently bad food choices. I was hooked on sugar. The sleeve solved that for me by limiting what I could eat until my body got those toxins cleaned out. I always loved vegetables and healthy food; I just never chose it before because I was "super hungry" or whatever--I don't know the reason. Post-sleeve, I find I am eating extremely healthy food in "normal" quantities, never feel deprived or like "oh, I really wish I could have _____," because I'm satisfied from a food point of view. You will probably miss food at the beginning--you'll miss the sense of comfort and routine that a particular food is associated with. But TRUST me, once that weight starts dropping off, and it will soon after surgery, your body changes, your body chemistry changes, and your brain begins to adapt to "the new you." It's WONDERFUL. Getting off all meds caused by poor diet--WONDERFUL. Knowing you're going to live longer because you are healthier--WONDERFUL. Feel free to PM--lots of helpful folks on this board, lots of support. It's entirely up to you, and I wish you the best no matter what you decide to do.

I can't eat most things yet. I'm eating off the approved list, and a little bit into the next list (pureed/soft)....taking everything slowly, only eating what's comfortable. Doing my 70 minute rule. Am enjoying: Mashed potatoes oatmeal cream of wheat baby meat sticks yogurt bean/pea Soup canned chicken sweet potato cottage cheese canned green Beans fresh greens in my nutrabullet....set to liquefy with a little apple or prune juice for regularity avacado Tofu Premier Protien...One caramel shake a day used as creamer in my decaf coffee I'm walking about 6-7 miles a day, have incredible energy, am sleeping 7-8 hours a night, and am off most of my meds. I'm eating 1000 calories a day, and getting at least 80g of protien. Sipping drinks nonstop. Weight improves daily. Am pooping daily. I read so many stories on this site about people who have problems....thought I'd add my positive experience to the stew. No nausea. no pain. Feeling like a million bucks. Healing up great. Enjoying my diet, and looking forward to being able to tolerate more Proteins and veggies. Am dying for a salad...but know that's weeks away. Some lessons I've learned: If foods feel uncomfortable or gets stuck for a minute....you're not ready for them. Put them away for another week or two and try again cautiously. If you feel uncomfortably full......get up and walk...it helps shake things loose. Anything new....try a tiny little amount and WAIT 15 minutes. See how it feels. Listen to your body cues. Eating super sugary food makes me sick. Sugary things are good for a bite...not a bowl, even a small bowl. Mom's Christmas cookie was NOT a good idea. A nibble would have been ok. Eating half a cookie...not so much. I was dumb and rationalized I was eating oatmeal, and the cookie was oatmeal....can't hurt, right? Wrong! Be very carful with heavily refined sugar products. The cookie triggered some nausea and I felt really crappy for a bit. It passed in 20 minutes, but I'd rather not repeat that. I love oatmeal and cream of wheat with almond milk and splenda. Greek yogurt is 12g of Protein a tub...try the whipped, it's awesome. You can get instant oatmeal with extra protein. Canned chicken isn't as awful as I feared. Particularly in homemade Soups with beans. Decaf coffee doesn't taste like coffee....but it's not bad. I think of it as something similar to coffee...but not quite coffee. LOL This isn't meant to be advice to anyone else....this is simply what's been working for me. I just wanted people to know that not everyone has a rough hellish experience. For some of us...the surgery is very easy on us and the changes are very tolerable:) Best wishes to each and everyone....on a safe healthy good outcome:)

I am on the PreOp diet and have gained weight. Before starting, I ate 2 meals a day, breakfast and lunch. Breakfast was a small low-fat yogurt, a little bit of low sugar granola and a banana or some other fruit. Lunch as usually out while at work. Normally places like Luby's, where I never get fried foods. Rarely ever did I get anything fried. I am a big salad lover with a vinegarette dressing. Now that I have been having a little breakfast (2 of what is on the allowed list), a sensible lunch (tilapia or some other sensible meat), and those 2 shakes (made with 8 oz of skim milk), I have gained 2 pounds. I am not eating sweets, I haven't been eating stuff that I shouldn't eat. What is going on? Any ideas?

That sounds really challenging. What about bean based dishes? They won't smell bad heating up. I have been living off them right now, as it's the only thing that has been tasting good. Or, Greek yogurt or soup with protein powder? Good luck!

Good Morning All My name is Tammara and I am a mother of 2 here in the ATL (Atlanta, GA for those who don’t know...LOL!). I have been overweight for almost 18 years now. I have gone on diet after diet only to gain the weight back. I will say that over the past few years after I found out that I have PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome) I have been confused about how to lose weight. So I really have not tried like I should to. Like everyone else, when I am told that I cant have something it make me want it more and now time is not my friend in the journey for weight loss. So I decided to get WLS. I decided on the Lap Band procedure as I did not want anything too invasive to my body. I just need a little bit of help as I know I need to do the work. I am on a diet from my nutritionist and my surgeon where I have to eat of get in 70 grams of protein a day. I am having a hell of a time getting to that number. I really don’t know what to eat to get that amount in. I am not a milk drinker...I don’t like oatmeal, yogurt, cottage cheese, brain cereal...LOL!!! I know it is a lot. But I just need to know what I need to do to get this amount in. I want the surgery will all my heart and I don’t want to do anything that might get me turned down. I just need a little help. If all goes well I should be scheduled for sometime in June and I will like to lose 20lbs before that time. Any bit will help...Thanks everyone.... Tammara!!! :thumbup:

What a cute teeny taco! I use tiny ramekins the size of my cat's food bowls for teeny lentil soup & chili (doctored with said sliced avocado, shredded cheddar and a teeny dollop of plain FF Greek yogurt). So how does your tummy do with the teeny tortilla? I still can't keep any kind of bread down. Not even a teeny bite.

The only way I could see fish eing a mushy would be a really wet tuna salad. That had been worked up one side and down the other with a fork. Unless you're partial to pureed fish. Ack! Since the food caused you some discomfort, maybe try thick liquids nd soft mushies for a few days. Cream of X Soups, yogurt, tofu (esp. silken tofu), hummus, pudding, etc. This gives you more to work on than liquids, without having to go straight to mushies. I think I did 4 days of thick liquids before moving to things like mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, etc. You could have eaten too much, and you could have eaten too fast, and you could have eaten the food without chewing adequately, and... (on and on). Just remember to take it easy. When I hit mushies it was one small baby spoon bite every 5 minutes or so. I wanted to wait that long to make sure everything felt ok. Did your surgeon provide you with a graduated meal plan - what to eat for how long, and sample foods that fall into the classification?

Very scared and feel so alone..I am a 47 yo female with type 1 diabetes since age of 15, i have COPD AND chronic back pain with arthritis.am a LPN but have not worked in past almost 4 years due to MANY issues with my diabetes effecting my ability to work. I was approved for social security disability June of 2013. I have NO ENERGY, TIRED ALL THE TIME AND ALWAYS IN PAIN. To top this all off i had ALL my teeth extracted the end of September due to 90% bone loss in my mouth. I have NO self esteem.. I am a LPN but have not worked in past almost 4 years due to MANY issues with my diabetes effecting my ability to work. I was approved for social security disability June of 2013. I have NO ENERGY, TIRED ALL THE TIME AND ALWAYS IN PAIN. -my dentures dont fit so i only go out of house mayvbe once a week. Yesterday i saw my dr due to my back pain is worse---he mentioned his concern of my weight effecting all aspects of my life and wants me to consider "gastric bypass surgery" --i am floored- i feel so lost, so alone and utterly disgusting. I am hoping someone here will be able to give me some advice or suggestions as this is ALL NEW TO ME- my main issue is -even though i am a type 1 diabetic i eat VERY LITTLE- i normally have a pot pie for lunch, a can of soup for dinner and maybe a yogurt for night snack--that is it- so if the surgery is just to limit intake i dont feel it would benefit me-- i dont get hungry often and when i do i eat very small amounts. I do drink alot of sweetened ice tea- i appreciate you listening ansd appreciate any help or suggestions.

I am 4 months post-op, and for the last week, most of the time I eat or drink something, I have a cramp like feeling in my stomach. It occurs 80% of the time. Water, yogurt, protein shake, soup, eggs etc. The unpleasant feeling can last 15 minutes to hours. It is not sharp pain. Really not pain as much as "unpleasant and odd." Has this been discussed recently by anyone? My searches turned up empty.

Happy Memorial Day!#subject#> body,div,dl,dt,dd,ul,ol,li,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6,pre,form,fieldset,input,textarea,p,blockquote,th,td { margin:0; padding:0; } table { border-collapse:collapse; border-spacing:0; } fieldset,img { border:0; } address,caption,cite,code,dfn,th,var { font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; } caption,th { text-align:left; } h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { font-size:100%; font-weight:normal; } q:before,q:after { content:''; } abbr,acronym { border:0; } address{ display: inline; } html, body { background-color: #d8dde8; color: #5a5a5a; } body { font: normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; position: relative; } h3, strong { font-weight: bold; } em { font-style: italic; } img, .input_check, .input_radio { vertical-align: middle; } legend { display: none; } table { width: 100%; } td { padding: 3px; } a { color: #225985; text-decoration: none; } a:hover { color: #328586; } div.outer { margin: 0 auto; padding: 14px; } table.wrap { max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; } td.logo { background-color: #0f3854; padding: 8px; } td.content { background-color: #fff; font-size: 14px !important; color: black !important; line-height: 150% !important; padding: 8px; } ul { margin-left: 25px; } Dear BariatricPal Members, Happy Memorial Day from BariatricPal! Everyone loves this holiday because it kicks of the summer vacation season. As a weight loss surgery patient, you can use this holiday to kick off a new phase of weight loss and health, whether you’re getting ready for surgery or you’re working on losing weight or keeping it off. Here’s what we have for you in this newsletter. Use Memorial Day to Inspire Your Next WLS Victory Red, White, and Blue: Your Memorial Day WLS Treats! Healthy Barbecue for Memorial Day and Summer Enjoy the newsletter, then use your day off to spend time with your family and friends. Don’t forget to burn a few extra calories and put together some healthy meals for the rest of the week! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder BariatricPal.com Use Memorial Day to Inspire Your Next WLS Victory Memorial Day is the national holiday that honors the men and women who have died while serving in the United States’ armed forces. This could include members if your immediate family or your former friends, or maybe your family tells stories of ancestors who went off to fight in long-ago wars such as World War I. Most of us know one or more family members or friends who currently serve in the armed forces, and this holiday offers the perfect chance to thank them for their service. Memorial Day can also offer the opportunity to become inspired again in your WLS journey. Maybe you can dedicate the next phase in your journey to a vet, an active duty solider, or a current member of the reserves. Knowing how proud you can make this person can give you the energy to put in an extra 10 minutes on the treadmill when you feel like quitting, or the strength of mind to say no to dessert. Hit your goals as your inspiration is fighting for the country, and the two of you can make each other proud. Red, White, and Blue: Your Memorial Day WLS Treats! If you’re going to a Memorial Day party or just trying to enjoy the time for your family, there’s nothing more appropriate than bringing or making something red, white, and blue to serve. Decorated cupcakes and berry pie with ice cream are tempting and simple options, but you can do better. Here are some fun and healthier ideas. A veggie tray with purple and white cauliflower, red grape tomatoes and bell pepper strips, and white yogurt-based dip. Sugar-free strawberry jell-o topping with sugar-free whipped topping and blueberries. Sliced blackberries and strawberries in cottage or ricotta cheese optionally sweetened with low-calorie sweetener. Sliced figs and red pears served with white low-fat feta or goat cheese. With a little creativity, you can make an attractive and healthy treat to share. Healthy Barbecue for Memorial Day and Summer Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer. That means it’s grilling season! Whether it’s a party at the park or a backyard barbecue, you’re the one who gets to decide how well you’re going to stick to your WLS diet. Remember your pre-WLS days? A meal at a barbecue might have looked something like this. Chili dog and bun or barbecue ribs (500 calories) Cole slaw or pasta salad (300 calories) Baked beans (200 calories) Iced brownie (200 calories) Can of soda (150 calories) 1 beer (150 calories) That’s 1,500 calories, in case you lost count. Healthy Grilling Hot dogs, cheeseburgers, ribs…who needs ‘em? You sure don’t! With all the healthy possibilities out there, you have no reason to worry about a barbecue! For a healthy, tasty burger, grill a mixture of lean ground turkey, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasonings, and crumbled fat-free feta or grated parmesan cheese. Or, if you’re not in the mood for much food prep, just throw some lean ground turkey, veggie burgers, chicken breasts, or shrimp on the grill. They’re all high-protein, low-calorie choices. Instead of serving your protein on buns or rolls, serve them with lettuce leaves. You may be able to get your family to try these healthy swaps. You could even challenge them to see who can come up with the best healthy burger or other recipe for the grill. If not, you know the drill. Throw their hot dogs and beef burgers on the grill, and let them have their treats as you enjoy your lighter, high-protein, low-carb food. Guess who’ll feel better after the meal! Smart Summer Sides after WLS If you’re still hungry and don’t feel like more protein, try grilling up a portabella mushroom or some sliced eggplants for something to chew on. For a side, almost any vegetable is a great grill choice: zucchini, asparagus, artichokes, onions, and even cabbage. Just brush them with a little olive oil, not butter, and flavor them with herbs, bouillon, or teriyaki sauce. The cold sides can be killers at a barbecue, so plan ahead for healthier options. Skip the baked beans and biscuits, and don’t even think about mayo-laden pasta or potato salad. If your grilled protein wasn’t enough to fill you up, think about the following. Use Greek yogurt instead of mayo when making prepared salads. Make prepared salads based on veggies or proteins, not carbs. So, make slaw with shredded cabbage or broccoli, or make tuna salad or egg white salad with ham. Always have a big green salad available. It’s something to fill up your plate and keep you busy when you’re not truly hungry but still feel like eating while everyone else is. Sweet Endings…No Regrets Red, white, and blue cupcakes...American chocolate chip cookies…a flag-decorated sheet-cake…you don’t have to blow your diet to show your patriotism! Fresh red strawberries, white peaches, and blue blueberries or purple grapes are just as patriotic, just as popular, and way healthier. Sugar-free ice pops work, too! Your Memorial Day celebration and every other barbecue this summer can be even more fun because you know you’re doing the right thing for your weight loss. You can make your meal high-protein and low-calorie while keeping it delicious and simple. Have a great Memorial Day! Remember to keep it healthy, active, and fun! After all, that’s what life and your WLS journey are for, right?

Hello Everyone, I was sleeved on 2/2/11 and I have lost 92 lbs. I feel great and I'm looking forward to loosing the next 60 lbs. I love to exercise now but I'm still picky about the food I eat. Chobani yogurt has been my favorite meal of the day, sometimes twice a day. Here are some before and after pictures. The before pictures were taken the the day of my first appointment with Dr. Goyal in Union, NJ.

You need to be careful with fruit and strawberries in particular following surgery. They were on my 'do not eat list' for the first three months due to the skins and seeds. I was told not to eat any fruit with seeds or skins - no grapes (unless pealed), no cherries - even in yogurt, and my clinic was emphatic about no strawberries due to the seeds. I did eat blueberries but for those first months stuck primarily to canned fruit and applesauce. Carol

Long story short, I needed to lose 10 pounds in 10 days and ... I lost 12.5. My surgery date is set on January 16th. Thanks for all the emotional support and tips you guys shared. So-- for those nearing their weigh in appointment, I can share what I did, hopefully it would work out for you as well. 1. I bought a good old Rubbermaid pitcher with 64oz measurement on the side to force myself to drink it and used one packet crystal light for flavor. Drank this all say long at work (10 hours) . Drink Water to curb appetite! 2. I used Crystal light ENERGY ( with caffeine, coz I gave up my espresso, and can't deal with headaches) Got myself peach mango, grape, wild strawberry and citrus flavors to make it more appealing. 3. Breakfast :Greek yogurt small only 4. Lunch: Tofu mashed with 1 scrambled egg- looks like a pancake when cooked 5. Boiled egg for snack when I am hungry, upto 2 eggs/day. 6. dinner is I cup sautéed Brussels sprout. Or 1 bar zone double dark chocolate 7. I used costco premier Protein drink 30 grams protein) occasionally to substitute a meal. And when I am really really hungry around midnight. 8. Elliptical machine 30 mins & dancing wii (just dance) 30 mins everyday. I walk a lot at work and take stairs instead of elevator. Park far to force myself to work. Basically trying to burn calories if I can. 9. Dry sauna for 5 days before my appointment. 10. Looked at my calories, weighed everyday and logged what I ate at myfitnesspal app. Meeting the goal weight is too important for me to mess up on so I really forced myself to take it seriously. *So that's it! i just want to share -- take it or leave it Everyone's different so I wish us all good luck On our weight loss journey. Hope these tips will help you as well.