Hi Lynette,

I'm with you.  Nicole was a huge source of inspiration and information for me from the beginning.  She and I are both from the Big Island and I reached out to her because she went to the same surgeon and had the same surgery type I had.  I've found it to be so important to have support from peers to help me be successful.  This board has been so helpful and validating.

Congratulations of your new journey!  

Aloha,
Barb

 Yippee!  Six months ago today I was banded.  I was a size 22-24, weighed 249 pounds and had sleep apnea, asthma, joint pain and major depression.  I couldn't exercise because of bad knees and compartment syndrome in my calves.  I couldn't keep up with my kids and every day I felt like a failure.

Fast foward to today:  I wear a size 12-14 and weigh 183.  I've lost over 60" off my body!  I no longer have sleep apnea, asthma or joint pain and no longer take meds for depression.  I exercise three times a week on purpose, but more importantly I can move all day everyday and do whatever the kids want me to do... hiking, snorkling, shopping, tennis, you name it!  

Even though this last month has been tough (I've been stalled since early June and have had major constipation issues which led to other problems which is TMI to post here), I'm a Winner and would do it again in a heartbeat!  I have my life back and look forward to loosing the rest of my excess weight (another 40 pounds or so) within the next six months!

To anyone considering this surgery... do it!  I've never been happier!  To all who have had WLS and have offered their support to me along the way -- I THANK YOU!  What a special group of people here on our little Hawaii board.  I'm honored to be sitting on the loosers bench with you!

Nicole Kay and I want to find fellow WLS travelers for clothes exchanges.  We have tons of stuff in sizes from 3x down and 24 down.  If you are starting this journey and will need clothes to move down into, let us know.  Maybe we can help.  We are both Big Island girls.

Aloha!

What is acceptable to drink during the initial fluid phase? This is a question a hear quite often.  Your Postoperative Weight Loss Manuel details the progression of the diet after surgery: liquid phase, soft food phase, and solid foods.  For the liquid phase acceptable fluids include:

- Your protein drinks; mix with water.  Some are better if you add non fat milk or soy milk.
- Chicken broth, beef broth, vegetable broth.  Yes, homemade broths are fine.
- Non fat milk and/or soy milk
- Sugar Free Crystal Light (or any comparable product)
- Sugar Free Jello
- Sugar Free Popsicle

You're aiming for 64 oz of fluid/day and 70 grams of protein/day.  A majority of your protein will come from the protein drinks, as the other fluids listed above do not contain much protein.  LapSF does carry some specialty soups that are enhanced with protein: Chicken Bouillon, Beef Bouillon and Tomato Soup.  We also have a high protein Chicken Soup Mix and a Cream of Chicken Soup Mix that would have to be strained in the fluid phase, or eaten in the soft food phase. 

*Some great ideas I've heard for the soups is to mix our high protein Chicken Bouillon with low sodium chicken broth, in place of water, for added flavor.  Mix our high protein Tomato Soup with low sodium beef broth, in place of water, for added flavor. 

What have YOU tried?  Share your ideas and recipes!

welcome home..good job!