Sorry to butt in, but...
...I would like to share this month's rant from Susan Maria. I think we all need to read it. I can honestly say that while I may not be so good with the food sometimes (but I think I am most times 
, I take my vitamins RELIGIOUSLY, and I make sure my protein intake is AT LEAST 80-100 grams a day. Take your vitamins, please. And don't forget: Protein is KEY for us. Not enough protein=muscle mass loss. If nothing else, think about this: The HEART is a muscle. Does that give you a good perspective of what can happen if you neglect your protein intake? I sure hope so!
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http://store.bariatriceating.com/thismonthsrant.html
I just had the privilege of spending a week attending the American Society for Bariatric Surgery annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. Engaging in casual conversation with the top surgeons in this field, discussing vitamins, protein, calcium, and compliance issues was an opportunity that I won't soon forget. I was as excited to meet some of the 'famous' surgeons as I would be if Mick Jagger stepped up to my pink and black BariatricEating.com booth.
Now... why this is a rant!
These surgeons cannot fathom that after they save our lives that we have the audacity to be picky about nutrition! The way many of them see it is that we are NOT living up to our part of the deal. They perform life altering surgery to save us from a certain early death from morbid obesity, their office staff does battle with our insurance company to pony up tens of thousands of dollars to pay for our surgery as it is surely the only means by which we will survive, yet we are lackadaisical about putting a small pile of vitamins and minerals into our body every day, and are boldly noncompliant with protein requirements.
The docs are even more incredulous about our pickiness with protein. When I would give them a taste of Vanilla Very Berry or Fuzzy Navel, their eyes would have a twinkle and they would love the taste but they would question as to why this was even an issue. It is cut and dry with the surgeons; they think it is a given that we do what we are supposed to do. These are no-nonsense men and women; when something is broken, they fix it. Some of them could not believe the letters and stories I related to them and had no idea that noncompliance was so widespread.
Here is a message from your surgeon...
Pick up the protein drink, the calcium, and the multivitamins and take them. There is no negotiating, there is no looking for a compromise, and there are no valid complaints about graininess, taste, or smell. Pick up the glass and drink the protein. Chew the tablets. Swallow that mouthful of calcium or vitamins. Period. We saved your life on that operating table, now do what you are supposed to do to maintain the health we have worked to give back to you.
Fortunately there are drinks that taste good but as I have said before; if in order to be sitting here in size 10 jeans I had to drink a glass of toile****er every morning, I would gladly do it. In fact, if I had to drink a glass of water from my neighbor's toilet every day I would do it. Why is this so difficult to comprehend for some of you? Do you take the label morbid obesity so lightly that you don't think you have to perform certain tasks, that you have a responsibility as a post op. Look up the meaning of MORBID. That should be enough to scare you. Why would anyone not do what they were told when given a new lease of life with so few strings attached?
I used to think that making pre-ops jump through hoops for weight loss to qualify for surgery was cruel but I have changed my mind after a year of speaking to thousands of pre and post ops. With so many people facing insurance rejection, how can we make sure that the ones who will not hold up the end of the bargain are put at the end of the line for approval? I think that strict compliance goals are a great way to weed out the disobedient. If you can't lose 10% of your body weight before surgery, you don't deserve to have it. If you can't stop smoking, you don't deserve this procedure. If you can't manage to choke down vitamins, calcium, B-12 and protein; too bad, let someone have the surgery that will. We all can mange to stick to a program short term. We are all experts at losing weight. We just can't keep it off; which is where the surgery comes in. It gives us the means of control we lack.
As you can tell, this is NOT the week to write me an email and tell me that you cant 'tolerate' the taste of your protein, or that you cant 'tolerate' your chewables or your stomach feels 'icky' when you drink your protein. I have little lenience for weakness and whining. It will take a long time before I allow much room for the helplessness that I so often hear. I can't stand the word 'tolerate'... it is pure baloney. About 3 years ago I read a 'tough love' essay by an OH member named Leilani, and one line in particular resonates in my head; 'If this surgery doesn't slap a backbone in you, nothing will', as it is so true!
Just do what you are supposed to do. Figure it out and make it happen. Thank goodness we have products that make it easier to stick with the program but the bottom line is that it shouldn't even matter.
Ciao,
Susan Maria
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Angie
http://www.geocities.com/tiger_angie
, I take my vitamins RELIGIOUSLY, and I make sure my protein intake is AT LEAST 80-100 grams a day. Take your vitamins, please. And don't forget: Protein is KEY for us. Not enough protein=muscle mass loss. If nothing else, think about this: The HEART is a muscle. Does that give you a good perspective of what can happen if you neglect your protein intake? I sure hope so!
-----
http://store.bariatriceating.com/thismonthsrant.html
I just had the privilege of spending a week attending the American Society for Bariatric Surgery annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. Engaging in casual conversation with the top surgeons in this field, discussing vitamins, protein, calcium, and compliance issues was an opportunity that I won't soon forget. I was as excited to meet some of the 'famous' surgeons as I would be if Mick Jagger stepped up to my pink and black BariatricEating.com booth.
Now... why this is a rant!
These surgeons cannot fathom that after they save our lives that we have the audacity to be picky about nutrition! The way many of them see it is that we are NOT living up to our part of the deal. They perform life altering surgery to save us from a certain early death from morbid obesity, their office staff does battle with our insurance company to pony up tens of thousands of dollars to pay for our surgery as it is surely the only means by which we will survive, yet we are lackadaisical about putting a small pile of vitamins and minerals into our body every day, and are boldly noncompliant with protein requirements.
The docs are even more incredulous about our pickiness with protein. When I would give them a taste of Vanilla Very Berry or Fuzzy Navel, their eyes would have a twinkle and they would love the taste but they would question as to why this was even an issue. It is cut and dry with the surgeons; they think it is a given that we do what we are supposed to do. These are no-nonsense men and women; when something is broken, they fix it. Some of them could not believe the letters and stories I related to them and had no idea that noncompliance was so widespread.
Here is a message from your surgeon...
Pick up the protein drink, the calcium, and the multivitamins and take them. There is no negotiating, there is no looking for a compromise, and there are no valid complaints about graininess, taste, or smell. Pick up the glass and drink the protein. Chew the tablets. Swallow that mouthful of calcium or vitamins. Period. We saved your life on that operating table, now do what you are supposed to do to maintain the health we have worked to give back to you.
Fortunately there are drinks that taste good but as I have said before; if in order to be sitting here in size 10 jeans I had to drink a glass of toile****er every morning, I would gladly do it. In fact, if I had to drink a glass of water from my neighbor's toilet every day I would do it. Why is this so difficult to comprehend for some of you? Do you take the label morbid obesity so lightly that you don't think you have to perform certain tasks, that you have a responsibility as a post op. Look up the meaning of MORBID. That should be enough to scare you. Why would anyone not do what they were told when given a new lease of life with so few strings attached?
I used to think that making pre-ops jump through hoops for weight loss to qualify for surgery was cruel but I have changed my mind after a year of speaking to thousands of pre and post ops. With so many people facing insurance rejection, how can we make sure that the ones who will not hold up the end of the bargain are put at the end of the line for approval? I think that strict compliance goals are a great way to weed out the disobedient. If you can't lose 10% of your body weight before surgery, you don't deserve to have it. If you can't stop smoking, you don't deserve this procedure. If you can't manage to choke down vitamins, calcium, B-12 and protein; too bad, let someone have the surgery that will. We all can mange to stick to a program short term. We are all experts at losing weight. We just can't keep it off; which is where the surgery comes in. It gives us the means of control we lack.
As you can tell, this is NOT the week to write me an email and tell me that you cant 'tolerate' the taste of your protein, or that you cant 'tolerate' your chewables or your stomach feels 'icky' when you drink your protein. I have little lenience for weakness and whining. It will take a long time before I allow much room for the helplessness that I so often hear. I can't stand the word 'tolerate'... it is pure baloney. About 3 years ago I read a 'tough love' essay by an OH member named Leilani, and one line in particular resonates in my head; 'If this surgery doesn't slap a backbone in you, nothing will', as it is so true!
Just do what you are supposed to do. Figure it out and make it happen. Thank goodness we have products that make it easier to stick with the program but the bottom line is that it shouldn't even matter.
Ciao,
Susan Maria
-----
Angie
http://www.geocities.com/tiger_angie 
Wise lady, Ms. Leach....
Let me just add one more concept: If you don't like the protein shakes (and I hate them), there are SO MANY other alternatives: There are some GREAT protein bars out there (Odyssey Chocolate Peanut Butter bars taste close enough to Reese's Peanut Butter cups to satisfy AND HAVE 30 (that is THIRTY) grams of protein; I just tried a Labrada "Rockin' Roll" bar that tastes like a Payday bar--21 GRAMS!) or get creative using real high-protein food (my favorite is a buffalo burger I found at Trader Joe's--48 GRAMS and if you add a little low-carb bbq sauce in the patty, mix and reshape before you hit it on the grill, it's as moist as a regular ground beef burger!)
Point is, anybody after, say, two months post-op, who complains that they can't get enough protein in, needs to re-evaluate and get creative. Read your nutrition labels when shopping. Low-protein items should become 2nd priority--if you find something you want, and a portion you can handle is under 10g of protein, use a little less and mix it with another high protein item until you get enough (example: I like the Mary Kitchen's low-fat corned beef hash, but it's 9g for a 1/2 cup. I melt 1/4 cup of shredded cheese in it, which adds very little volume, but I now have a 17 gram breakfast and it is delicious!)
Use fitday.com properly, adjusting the portions to what you realistically are eating, and you'll do fine.
Definitely! It's about the protein intake. Drink it, eat it... whatever... just make it happen, I say! I am totally pro-variety! Mostly I eat my protein, but a protein drink here and there is a great boost.
And hey, I'm SO there with you! http://www.fitday.com is my daily companion
Angie
I am totally pro-variety! Mostly I eat my protein, but a protein drink here and there is a great boost.
And hey, I'm SO there with you! http://www.fitday.com is my daily companion
Angie 
Angie,
i agree with everything here EXCEPT the "if you can't lose 10% of your body weight, you don't deserve this surgery" I was with a surgeon *****quired up front weight loss for several months. His diet was very strict 1 egg and 2 slices dry diet toast for breatfast and a 300 calorie lean cuisine for lunch and dinner - snack was an apple but only if the total was less than 800 calories per day. I did this diet for the 1st 2 weeks and lost 6 pounds - the next 2 weeks only 2 pounds and the next I lost nothing and he said to eat 700 calories a day... When I finally went to another doctor, they ran tests and determined I would never loose weight without the surgery. This surgery was a must in my life and I do take my vitamins, calcium, B12 shots, water and protein every day. I am off all diabetes medicine and my blood pressure is coming down. I have lost 63 pounds in 15 weeks. I deserved this surgery as much as anyone else and I am working my tool with no complaints about protein etc.
Just my 2 cents ...
Terri
I'm with you on that one. I guess the issue is knowing if the person is serious and understands the responsibility...
I know I wasn't required to lose any weight prior to surgery... shoot, I wasn't required to see a nutritionist or a psychologist either! I guess since I am overseas... lucky me!
But! I personally knew once I made the decision, that I would definitely be taking advantage of the opportunity. Not so for everybody and that is worrysome and frustration. I read about people who didn't educate themselves and don't understand what this surgery means/entails. They put their health at risk instead of the opposite because they don't follow the rules... 
Anyway, I didn't want to cut parts of the rant, but my focus was on the vitamins and PROTEIN...
CONGRATS on your weight loss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whoo hoo!!!
Angie
But! I personally knew once I made the decision, that I would definitely be taking advantage of the opportunity. Not so for everybody and that is worrysome and frustration. I read about people who didn't educate themselves and don't understand what this surgery means/entails. They put their health at risk instead of the opposite because they don't follow the rules...
Anyway, I didn't want to cut parts of the rant, but my focus was on the vitamins and PROTEIN...
CONGRATS on your weight loss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whoo hoo!!!
Angie Most Active
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