Shanna's shakes & clothing exchange

I keep reading about Shanna's shakes and the new ones at the exchange.  Would you mind sharing some recipes Shanna and ideas for protein.  I want to get some bought up for Lyn and I pre op.

I wish I could have came to the clothing exchange but didn't have many clothes to bring yet since I am waiting on surgery and also had the grandsons yesterday.  I hope to make it to the next one.  Are there men's and women's clothes both there?

Lyn and I both have our psych evals tomorrow and then it will just be waiting for the insurance I guess.  I am not sure if they have us do anything else before the approval or not.

Dr Huse said he thought it would be great for us both to have it done the same day so I am hoping the insurance is approved about the same time although Lyn has Mcare and I have BC.

I just want to say I read on here daily, in fact several times a day and I am gaining so much knowledge and feel I have friends already.

THanks,  Terry and Lyn

Sorry you couldn't make it to the exchange yesterday! It was an awesome gathering, but there will be others! Hope to see you and your hubby at the next get together and hopefully you will both be LOSERS! LOL

My family is from Greene County- Worthington, Switz City, Linton, Dugger, Sullivan, all over down there! It is great seeing someone from there posting!

Shannas smoothies yesterday were very tasty, I must admit! I am almost 3 years out and I could not stand the protein powders taht I tried post-op so I only got my protein from food! I was a litlle naughty, but I couldn't stomach the tase or smell!

I did try hers and I drank it and went today to see about purchasing the magic bullet and buy the protein that she had made her drinks with yesterday!

As afr as stocking up now though, I must say- ALOT of peoples tastebuds change after surgery- so we usually say don't really rely on the fact that you might like it now- cause after surgery COULD be a different story! I have seen ALOT of people stock up and then at the clothing exchange after their surgery they are bringing in gobs of protein to get rid of because they couldn't handle it! JMO!

I wish you both the best and hopefully Shanna can pop on and post some recipes! She had strawberry- banana, and strawberry-blueberry yesterday!

Hugz Dawn

Terry, too bad you had little ones yesterday to care for.  Even if you have not had your surgery yet, you would have been more than welcome to come and meet us.  It is not a requirement to bring clothes to the exchange.  It is just a convenient way for everyone as their sizes change so quickly to get something that fits.  Everyone is at a different stage and really excited about getting something new in a different size.  Even something new in the same size is fun.  I agree about not getting any protein supplements before you have your surgery.  Your taste buds change dramatically.  Why I am not sure because they do nothing to your mouth, but it is true.  They will start you on Carnation Instant Breakfast Protein Shakes while you are in the hospital, at least when I was at St. V's that is where I was introduced to them.  Many of us started with those again at home if we did ok with them in the hospital because we knew already that we could tolerate them.  Everything is a little scary the first time you try it because you just don't know how your little tummy will accept it.  And just because your tummy accepted it one day doesn't necessarily mean it will the next time you try it.  Have you already had your nutrition class prior to WLS?  They will explain a lot of this to you at that time.  At St. V's they also have another class that they offer to the patients before they go home.  It is very informal and all the post ops come in with their gowns on dragging their IV poles with them.  But it helps a lot to have just a little more info before going home.  Good luck!  I know waiting is the hardest part.  Hugs to you both.  Karen

Hi Terry;

I am in the same boat waiting on insurance to approve.  However I was able to go to the clothing exchange and everyone was wonderful.  I hope to meet you and your husband at the next on in January.  Hopefully we all will have had surg. by then.

by the was the shakes were out of this world they were great!

Sheila    ps  how do u get that pretty weight tracker on your profile?

I'm waiting on insurance approval too.  I've had my psych eval already, and my info was sent to BC on 9/24, so I'm hoping it won't take too long.

I hope that I'm a post op by the time of the next exchange in January!

Sheila - click on someone's tracker in their message and it will take you to the site where you can make one all your own to put in your signature.  I just can't remember where to go to update my signature!  LOL

I had so much trouble with the tickers....but you go to the user settings on the forum site to change your signature. Hope that helps!
The site is called tickerfactory.com

Connie

After you get your ticker set up, copy/paste the PICTURE (not the code) of it into your signature line under User Settings'..here on the left side of the page.

Sherri

Terry a big hello from me! Just wanted to tell you do not go buy a lot of stuff post op. As they have said on here your taste does change BIG TIME! Before surgery I loved crystal light and now I can not drink it. THere are alot of other things that I can't tolerate now that I could before surgery. I also could not do any of the protein drinks because they made me nauseated. If you get something post op make sure it is a very small container of it maybe even a few pouches instead of "cans". You maybe wasting money! Michelle

You would have been welcome at the exchange and clothes are NOT required.. (to bring) (we appreciate if you wear them though.) I would not have brought a child with me because I love to socialize but there were several there!!

I reccomend you start out using the hospitals recipe for protien shake and add some Sugar Free Pudding to it for flavor.. it doesnt take a lot to make as it is mostly milk & powdered milk in the blender. then go on little by little to something you like and can handle. Personally I couldn't do the shakes at all and lived on regular milk and string cheese my first 3 months with refried beans to suppliment. GNC has some fairly good bullets you mix with water and ice to get extra protien.

Hope you do get to have surgery with Lyn.. it helps to have someone who knows exactly what you are going thru... that is why these friends become lifelong buddies.

Be well,
Linda Kay