YIPPIE!! Im loving the new proteins I have found, you guys may have been using them all along but they are new to me. See my blog on my profile and you will see how easy it is to fill up on low carbs, good protein to help us old timers, keep loosing! Have a good one! ES

Hello my fellow Aprilians ..... Well Its been two years since I had the time of my life ...WLS!! I have lost 240lbs and gained 40 lbs... I started out a week before surgery at 536 lbs. I am today down to 320 lbs. I know its not the most I could have lost... But I have to admitt that I have not been working out as much as I should be... My knees are wore out and I have bone spurs in both knees so its painful to walk much... But I get out every day and walk around the block and go around town on the bus to just get out and about. I think back to this date two years ago and say to myself that if I did not go thru with this surgery.... I would not be here today. I could not walk 20 feet before without being out of breathe and the pain in my joints was so bad... Now I can tolerate it as I mention before. But I am looking into getting total knee replacements this summer as I have talked to the knee specialist and he said that there is nothing that can be done when there is bone spurs . I have to say I can eat just about anything.... But I do concentrate on protein first, I do have trouble with hamburger or any meats that are fatty. I do admitt that I eat alot of soft foods... and WAY to much coffee!! That is my fix these days as I do not drink. I quit that cold turkey 4 years ago. Well that it for now I will keep you all updated when I go in for my knee replacements! Take care all I love you!! Tom

I dont know but it couldnt hurt to try it that way. After 10 days if you havent seen the scale move, then you know you need to go by this, as it is written. I do know of people who have lost as much as 10 pounds by the end of thier 10th day on this. I personally have not tried it for myself but Im interested in seeing how it works for you.

I am sooooooooo guilty of this! No matter how much water I get in or protein shakes I drink to stay full I find myself nibbling on something all the time. I decided to give the Quaker Rice Cakes (cinnamon sugar flavor) a try yesterday. They have come a long way since I had my last one about 10 years ago. Much smaller and easier to chew and get down with FLAVOR! One serving is 9 rice cakes. I did good to get down 4 with a little peanut butter ( fat reduced). I did feel full afterwards and was satisfied. This is a good alternative If you find yourself nibbling on the wrong things. Ive learned when I want crunchy and salty, grab a handful of toasted soy nuts! Quaker Rice Cakes serving size: 9 rice cakes calories: 60 total fat: 1 gm sodium: 90mg Total Carbs: 12gm Protein: 1 gm Divide 2 TBS reduced fat peanut butter between 4 rice cakes for a filling snack and added protein, approx. 12 gms protein! I use the Target brand, reduced fat smooth peanut butter. One serving, 2 TBS, has 8 gm protein, 15 carbs, 12g fat and 190 cal. Toasted Soy Nuts (Archer Farms, Target brand) serving size: 3 TBS calories: 160 total fat: 8gm sodium: 95gm total carbs: 11gm Protein: 11gm That's alot of protein for 3 TBS!

CONGRATULATIONS on the baby!! pregnancy weight is by far, the hardest to loose. I never lost mine, after my second child, 25 years ago, until I had my RNY. Your young and you can do this!!! One of the things I feel I didnt is because my metabolism changed drastically after my 2nd child and my thyroid has never worked well since. My pcp refused to put me on thyroid supplements (which would have helped me loose weight). His reasoning was I was a "normal low", still if I had been on some medication it might have helped. Now that Ive aged, my thyroid is even slower than it was back then and I am now on thyroid medication, which has helped alot. Increase your protein to at least 100 gm a day. This is how much I have had to do daily since my RNY. The denser protein does fill you up quicker and helps you stay full, lots of water and put that baby in a stroller and start going for walks everyday! Go back to post op basics, and it will help. I still drag out my post op instructions from time to time and go back to the basics for a boost. Make sure you get in your vitamins and B12. B12 is what gives you your energy! If I feel tired and exhausted I do my sublingual B12 everyday until I perk up. So far, even at 2 years post op, my B12 level has remained high. Look into a gym like the "Y" or maybe a local park and recreation board has one near you. Most have memberships available that are reasonable ( $100.00 a year for family package here) and most have child care while you work out. I would look into a portable play pen I could pack up and stick in the stroller and just take the baby with me to class. I was particular about leaving my child and never did leave mine in a day care so I really cant suggest that to you. Invest in some "Sweating To The Oldies" tapes. I lost 75 pounds one time, sweating with Richard! It was fun, a good work out and one I could do when my babies were napping. In fact, I think I will dig out my sweatin tapes and get back on those myself. Best of luck and let us know how your doing!