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Broke?--You DON'T need to spend a lot of money!



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I had my surgery in Mexico on December 27, 2012. Other than the surgery cost, which was $4,500 and airfare from NC, I did not go out and spend money on drinks like Isopure, or any other of the expensive Protein supplements and drinks, gels, etc. from GNC or any other health food places or buy a ton of supplements. I did, however, go buy a tub of whey Protien powder from Wal-Mart, chocolate Peanut Butter flavor. When I wanted a Protein shake, I made it out of ice and that. If you don't make it too hot, you can make an awesome hot chocolate drink. I made beef and chicken broth from bullion cubes, bought regular Swanson's canned broth, made it from fresh chicken, etc, and my family ate the chicken in Chicken and dumplings, etc.

The only supplements I bought were gummy vitamins, liquid B-12, chewable Calcium tablets, and that was it. I did not waste money at the time on Biotin supplements for Hair loss, because I researched on this forum and gastric sleeve.com that they only help to help regrow hair faster once it is lost, so I know I could wait 3-4 months on those.

I am only saying that if your money situation is not great, you DO NOT HAVE TO GO NUTS! I had the money to do so, but used my head and bought only the necessities! I knew that further out from surgery my eating needs would change and I wanted to have REAL food available, not a bunch of supplements and drinks. Don't get me wrong, supplements are a necessity, especially when you can not eat real food for several weeks. But just use your head and don't spend hundreds of dollars on drinks and shakes that you can't tolerate. You know that you love the real thing, so use the broths, liquids, and purees to your advantage. They are the most satisfying. Even onion Soup was so delicious. Chic-Fil-A has a great chicken soup, just eat the broth until you can have the rest. Get creative and you will enjoy the process while dropping the pounds quicker than ever.

I am now in W-one-derland as of today 199.2 from 286.8! I haven't weighed this in over 15 years!!

I am 6.5 months out. I have lost a total of 43.5 inches overall and I have gotten all the benefits as well as the heartaches (hair loss). Now I am watching to see how much more loose skin I will get with the last 55 pounds, lol.

Best of luck to all and happy eating!

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I like that. Very smart thinking. I'm not spending a lot on shake or Protein stuff either because I know its all gagging me right now even if it tastes good. Keep up the good work!

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If you dont mind me asking MamaDupa, who did your surgery? The Dr I am strongly considering is Dr Louisiana Valenzuela, who also charges $4500. I have not been able to get a lot of reviews,but what I have seen was good. I have been considering some dental work in Mexico as well, but that is a big difference from internal surgery. At this point I am really confused about what to do.

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My surgery was done at Mi Doctore Hospital by Dr. Elias Jesus Ortiz, not Alejandro Ortiz. My Dr. is the partner to Dr. Lopez He has impeccable manners and a wonderful bedside attitude. My husband love him as well. I couldn't have been happier. I am so glad I did not go to Almanza with several surgeries a day lasting into the early a.m. hours in a stgore front. There have been several good results there, but I am just saying that for me I needed a more one-on-one approach. I considered Valenzuela, but decided on Ortiz. The cost was $4,500 including first night at 5star Marriott, bed in the hospital (my room) for my hubby for two nights, then two more nights back at the Marriott. Dr. Ortiz came on my last night on Saturday and removed the drain right in my room, and checked me out. It was a great experience and his driver Abraham took us shopping and out to a great Mexican restaurant.

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    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

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      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

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      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
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      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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