"WLS" ROLL CALL

JOIN IN: When did you have surgery? How much have you lost? What is a typical day's menu for you? How much more do you want to lose?

Hi Snuggles, great post idea! I had surgery March 23, 2004 As of this morning I am down 56 pounds An average day for me consists of, usually a scrambled egg with melted cheese and a small veggie sausage in the morning...lunch is usually chicken, shrimp or tuna salad with celery and onion and 3-4 melba rounds...if I am out to lunch I usually order soup and a small salad ( only get a few bites of the salad ) or some chili...dinner 3oz whatever meat I am fixing for the family plus 1/4 - 1/2 cup veggies...for a snack I might have 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds or a string cheese...before bed I always drink 1/2 bottle of Isopure. I typically get around 80-100 grams of protein a day. In a perfect world I'd like to lose another 80 pounds. I'd be very happy at 160

Not sure who to thank for this, LB, Snuggles, all you others out there who give us tips and ideas for food choices.... But I AGREE that as a premie (but only until August 2 !!!!), it's great to see what foods the posties have tried and liked. I've started reading the food labels and boy am I confused! I thought I'd get some baby food to have on hand, especially for the first few days (I'll be on my own and not sure if I'll feel up to cooking) but they (the fruits and veggies) seem to have ample helpings of sugar! Am I looking at the wrong kinds, or reading the labels wrong, or ?????? Regular (grown-up) foods are confusing too! Also I went to Trader Joes on Friday and think I was doing the same thing...I got Soy Protien Powder, some of the canned premade shakes but as for "food" I only found one or two things (Butternut Squash Soup in a box, Vegetarian Stew in a can) that looked "OK" to me. I MUST be doing something wrong, I hope. My fear of eating post-op is that I'll stick with the same stuff day after day and get bored. Any tips on label reading?

Hi Kitty, My advice to you would be to keep things as simple as possible at first. Stick with items like soups and ready done foods that are easy to puree. If the protein content isn't that great on a soup, add in a scoop of unflavored Unjury powder. My first 4 weeks I ate alot of pureed chili, refried beans with cheese, bean soup, beef stew etc. I used the little microwave containers of Hormel chili and Dinty Moore beef stew, it made those early days no brainers. canned chicken was also one of my staple foods. I mixed it with some lowfat mayo and celery and onion, just a tiny bit and pureed it. many people enjoy oatmeal and other hot cereal. Making sure you eat beans and such will help you with any constipation issues you may have. Most of all relax and enjoy the process. You will feel like your brains fell out for a few days and you forgot everything you learned, lol I know I did. Give yourself time to heal and most of all give yourself time to work into your new way of eating. Your protein will increase over time and you will learn what you can and can't tolerate. What goes down smoothly one day may give you problems the next, it seems to be ever changing. I know you're gonna do great! Linda

Thanks Linda, I need to pay more attention to this website and all the good ideas everyone has. I got discouraged after that whole label reading fiasco, then the bookstores, topped off by comments from my "skinny-never-had-to-diet" friend who told me I would get bored with just a few foods to choose from. Guess I should get new friends, like the ones I've made here? Ok, I'll keep my skinny friend, she can't help it, but no more food advice from her!

Roll call can be fun. OK. I am floating at 198. I never even realized we were supposed to have a goal and ideal weight prior to having the surgery and getting on-line. My total focus on the surgery was on improving my health. I have met that goal already. I started at 340 pounds with my official weigh-in at Dr. Irgaau's in August, 2003. By the day of my surgery on Oct. 6th 2004 I was down to 325 pounds. So I've lost either 127 or 142 pounds since I started this journey. It doesn't really matter at this point. I'm happy. I hope to lose another 25-30 pounds, or in lieu of that maybe 10-15 pounds. If I can get to 175-180 pounds by October I will be extremely thankful and gone where I never dreamed possible. My typical day consists of (this is today) over 100grams of protein: 5:45am Oatmeal (1 package) and ½ cup soymilk nuked for 90 seconds. Then add 1 scoop Unjury, 2 tblsp. Flax seed meal (Trader Joe's) 1 tblsp. Cinnamon 1 pkg. Splenda [Protein 30+g] 6:45am 8-12 oz. of fresh ice water, plus vitamins 7:30am 8-12 oz. of fresh ice water, or crystal lite 9:00am Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie (I make these at home in my Back to Basic smoothie maker) ½ pkg. of chocolate Real Meal 2/3 cup of soymilk 1/3 cup of frozen raspberry some davinci raspberry sugar-free syrup ¾ cup of crushed ice [Protein 30+g] 10:00am 8-12 oz. of fresh ice water, or crystal lite 11:30am chef salad (a little over a cup) [Protein 20+g] 1:00pm 8-12 oz. of fresh ice water, or crystal lite 2:30pm Orange Pineapple Smoothie (I make these at home in my Back to Basic smoothie maker) ½ pkg. of vanilla Real Meal 2/3 cup of soymilk 1/3 cup of frozen pineapple some davinci orange sugar-free syrup ¾ cup of crushed ice [Protein 30+g] 4:00pm 8-12 oz. of fresh ice water, or crystal lite 6:00pm 6" homemade whole wheat pizza with sausage, Kennett Square Mushrooms (picked and delivered today by a friend of my daughter), and Vidalia onions. [Protein ~20g] 7:00pm 12-20 oz. of fresh ice water at the gym 9:00pm Snacktime: Handful of nuts (almonds or sunflower seeds). Or 1 package of Danon Carb Right (Vanilla) Yogurt ½ Hershey bar (carb rite) crushed for topping 1/3 cup of Kasha cereal (Trader Joe's) [Protein +10g, but who cares] 10:30pm 8-12 oz. of fresh ice water at the gym Goonight, Your bud, Rob

Hi Everyone, I had surgery on September 29th, 2003. When I started this journey I weighed 269lbs but right before surgery I weighed 267lbs. I am now at 154lbs and have been stuck there for a few weeks. But I have went from a size 24/26 to a size 12 in shorts! My goal is 140lbs. I am awaiting approval for a tummy tuck and inner thigh lift. Recently I was diagonosed with ulcers in my puch and in my small intestines. So not only do I now have to watch what I eat from the surgery but with the ulcers I have to illiminate spicey foods and acidy foods. A typical day of meals for me is : 2 cups of decaf coffee with splenda and non dairy creamer 4oz cottage cheese Protein Delight Banana Shake kool aid made with Splenda tuna with mayo and 4 wheat thins a pieces of apple or other fruit water chicken or turkey or beef w/ veggies more water or decaf coffee snacks vary from a few goldfish to a piece of fruit to some cheese I am now working part time in a deli my Mom runs so when I am working I will make myself a small salad and add cheese and turkey or ham with bleu cheese dressing or I may have some turkey and cheese on 1 slice of wheat bread. For something sweet I will eat the Keebler Fudge Stripes made with Splenda (just 2) or a few bites of hershey's chocolate bar made with splenda and low carb. I just bought the carb Countdown drinkable yogurt tonight but haven't tasted it as of yet. Peace!! Hope

Hi Everyone, I had surgery on September 29th, 2003. When I started this journey I weighed 269lbs but right before surgery I weighed 267lbs. I am now at 154lbs and have been stuck there for a few weeks. But I have went from a size 24/26 to a size 12 in shorts! My goal is 140lbs. I am awaiting approval for a tummy tuck and inner thigh lift. Recently I was diagonosed with ulcers in my puch and in my small intestines. So not only do I now have to watch what I eat from the surgery but with the ulcers I have to illiminate spicey foods and acidy foods. A typical day of meals for me is : 2 cups of decaf coffee with splenda and non dairy creamer 4oz cottage cheese Protein Delight Banana Shake kool aid made with Splenda tuna with mayo and 4 wheat thins a pieces of apple or other fruit water chicken or turkey or beef w/ veggies more water or decaf coffee snacks vary from a few goldfish to a piece of fruit to some cheese I am now working part time in a deli my Mom runs so when I am working I will make myself a small salad and add cheese and turkey or ham with bleu cheese dressing or I may have some turkey and cheese on 1 slice of wheat bread. For something sweet I will eat the Keebler Fudge Stripes made with Splenda (just 2) or a few bites of hershey's chocolate bar made with splenda and low carb. I just bought the carb Countdown drinkable yogurt tonight but haven't tasted it as of yet. Peace!! Hope

Surgery January 26th, 2004. Down 87 lbs as of my weigh in this AM. Typical Day for me. Flaxseed cereal with skim milk = 17 gr. Isopure strawberry mixed with 10 oz. skim milk = 60 gr. H2O at least 3/4 x 8 oz bottles a day 1 qt of crystal lite with unflavored unjury = 20 gr. Bean soup = 10 gr. maybe 2 crackers = 1 gr. snack: 1/2 protein bar or a couple of pretzels or fruit = 1 to 7 gr. 2 pieces of baby back ribs. 1/2 cup of crab soup. 1/2 piece of cornbread muffin and a small pile of cheesy mashed potatoes = 30 gr. give/take a few Hot chocolate protein drink = 15 gr. I am very regular. I use Nioxin Hair products for thinning hair. I take my B-12, multi-vitamin, calcium & the Actigall pills. So far at 5 months I haven't lost any hair. I would like to shed about 90/100 lbs more. I exercise a total of 2 hrs at the gym every week day and try to relax on the weekends. ((HUGS)) Elissa

Hi guys! I had my surgery on Oct 29, 2003. My starting weight was 277 lbs. My current weight is 187. Seems I am stuck here once again. The scales are not moving. Guess I am the designated slow loser of the group! *grin* Sometimes that is really hard to swallow, other times I am so very thankful for the weight lost thus far. I just have to keep reminding myself not to compare my loss to others. Currently, I guess I am about 30 pounds over docs goal ... but I personally want to go lower. The nutritionist said I need to eat more in order to lose well. I think she may be right, but I really am not able (scared) to do it. I tried to eat more earlier this week and gained weight two days in a row. Not quite sure what is going on, guess all those years of not really eating right messed me up more than I realized. BUT, I am still thrilled with my loss this far. I feel so much better for the most part. I am able to move and grove in ways I had forgotten possible. My only complaint is my back ... it is bothering me once again. I think it is a combination of the hernia reappearing and the tummy muscles that are shot from the last pregnancies. Last night I picked something up and had some serious pain and suddenly realized that I am going to have to have another surgery to fix the hernia and muscles. UGH! Was really hoping that with the loss of weight, I could avoid it. Guess not, but trying to look on the bright side, perhaps the insurance will allow a tummy tuck at the same time and I can get that 6 pack ... okay, I will settle for a full case - anything is better than this keg I am currently carrying! My normal menu ... Wake up - 16 oz of water while my body is waking up and I am working on a couple of early morning chores. Breakfast - sometimes a 1/4 cup of oatmeal/flax with splenda (BTW - where did you all find the Splenda brown sugar?) I add in a half scoop of unjury unflavored to up the protein a tad. Approx 12 - 15 gms protein - Sometimes I have Unjury hot chocolate 30 gms of protein (I scoop of chocolate-1/2 scoop of unflavored) Hour later - 16 oz Unsweetened decaf tea with Vista Vitamins - biotin and sublingual b-12 from trader Joes. Mid morning - 10 oz protein drink - 20 grams protein Lunch - 2 oz meat and/or cheese a couple of bites of the veg or fruit of the day - approx 15 proteins grams An hour or so later - I take my calcium and work on about 20 oz of sf liquids. Afternoon snack - 10 oz protein drink - 20 grams protein Dinner - it is always a toss up here. If the family is eating something that I can have I eat a bit of that concentrating on protein first. If not, then I usually grab a no fat, no sugar yogurt with a scoop of unflavored protein or high protein pudding. Something along that line. If I find I am still hungry, I will sometimes grab a few nuts, or a slice of meat from the fridge. Sometimes I am just lazy or really not wanting to eat, so I grab a protein shake. I usually get about 20 gms of protein (give or take) for this meal. one hour later - 8-12 ozs of fluids with nightly Vista Vitamins Before bedtime, I take a toll of the days protein and fluids and drink a protein drink to help boost my daily amount of both if needed. I am striving for 90 oz of fluids daily and 85 grms of protein. Rarely hit the 90 oz of water, but doing good at getting the minimum of 64 oz in. Don't alway**** the protein, but I am still pushing. Sometimes I can't finish my glass of water or protein drink or meal. My biggest problem is making myself eat. I am so scared of gaining my weight back I am having issues with eating and I have to force it most of the time. I am still excercising, but am no longer able to do the adominal stuff because of the poping hernia. I think it is time to mix it up a bit and get more serious and start at a gym (if funds will allow). Hoping that soon enough I will be able to work with a trainer to find out how to work around the hernia and still get a good work-out. I find that I want to wear all big clothes (I feel so much more comfortable in them). Hubby keeps telling me that I need to wear clothing that fits. When I do, I feel very self concience. So you see, I am having some body image issues. I usually still feel just about as fat as I was when I started, and yet I know that I have lost weight ... what is up with that? I think a lot of it has to do with my tummy. Who knows ... guess I am just whacky. All I know is I have to get that under control or I stand a better chance of regaining. I truly do still believe that the hardest part of this whole surgery is emotional rather than physical. Oh a bit of strange but true news ... I put on an old ring the other day (it was a gift to me when I was 17) and it fit AND it was a size 4.5. Can you believe it? It felt really weird! I am wearing size 16-18 depending on how I am feeling that day. I have a pair of size 14 jeans that I can squeeze into if I care not to breathe. So for now they are hanging in my closet as my incentive jeans! Hope you didn't mind this strange post ... I know I was all over the place, not making a whole lot of sense, just going where my emotions were taking me ... sorry to be so ... spastic but please know that these emotions can be a very real part of the surgery. This is just a tough day for me ... other days are perfectly fine and I am thrilled with my progress. On a better note, it is getting easier and easier to find foods that agree with me. Very little is off my list now because of inablitly to eat it ... mostly things are on my off list because I know they are not good for me right now. Keep up the good work everyone ... you are all doing so awesome!!! I am so very thrilled for each of you!!! Hugs, Tammy