Only a few days till my surgery!

 You--BOB!  Why I oughta!!!    Loser like my co-workers think?  Who you been talking to over here?  I'll smack 'em!  I swear!

I am surprised and excited that it's only a few days away.  Now if I can just get my messy house cleaned and my grass cut before Monday.  I've already given up on bathing my filthy pack of dogs.  Oh well!  I can do that after I recover from surgery and am able to lift again.  P.U.!!!

Thanks, Bob!
Denise

You'll be a LOSER in no time. Good luck to ya!

 Hmm.  According to Bob L. I already am a loser.  But not in the good way!    So from now on you are the  Bob and he is the  Bob!

Muaahahahahaha!

Thanks for your support, Bob and I look forward to taking up my space on that bench!
Denise

Said a prayer for your surgery!
Have you tried acidophilus milk with the CIB?  That helped me a lot in the stomach side-effects.

 Thank you ErikaAnn!

Right now I am swilling one down with the skim version of Lactaid to see if that makes a difference.  (I certainly hope so because I have to go volunteer at the Walk from Obesity Booth at 1!!)  I have some soy milk on hand but I'm not sure if I can do that.  Ick!  

Jessica told me I could do 1 or 1.5% milk, so I think acidophilus is close to that.  Or maybe 80:20 acidophilius with skim.  Ehh.  Only a day and a half left of shakes, then a break to clear liquids! 

Thanks for your support and I look forward to losing with you!  
Denise

With the milk issue: are you trying to get a lower carb/calorie count or are you lactose intolerant?

Here are a few alternatives I have found along the way with the help of wls friends:
*I have found that just using 2 oz of milk alternative and 6 oz of water in a shake does provide that extra creamyiness that folks want with milk.

Serving size:  8 oz
Hood calorie Countdown FF:  Cals: 45/Carbs 3/Sugars 3/ Protein: 8

Hood Calorie Countdown 2%:  Cals 90/Carbs 5/Sugars 3 /Protein: 8

8th Continent Light Vanilla Soy Milk:  Cals:60/Carbs 5/Sugars 5/Protein 6 *This is a little high early after surgery, but still stats are lower than reg milk.  And, is soy.

Almond Breeze Unsweetened:  Cals:  40/carbs 2/ Sugars 0/Protein: 1 *But if you are using protein powder with it, it won't matter if you have low protein in the milk alternative

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the suggestions, Mel!  You're an amazing resource when it comes to food and dietary info!  The Almond Breeze sounds especially good, so I'm gonna have to try that.

My stomach seems to be lactose intolerant, but only on a case by case issue.  Sometimes I have no problems at all.  I think that 48 oz a day was waaaay too much.  And I think the rest of the problem was just my guts self-cleaning and totally not being used to being empty.

For the moment I am alternating between the Atkins Shakes and then making shakes with Lactaid skim.  So far so good and today is the last day before surgery (WOWEEE!!!), so there's light at the end of the tunnel.

Today I just have to focus on sip-sip-sipping.  I cut the grass last night and it took me an hour and a half.  The grass was tall and it never got dry, so my mower kept clogging.  I am looking forward to my hour and a half anesthesia nap to get some good rest!!!  

Thanks again for your recommendations!
Denise

I'm going to wish you the best for the surgery. I had a very hard time with food the last few weeks before surgery, so I feel your pain. Just remember, you are almost at the finish line.


Sarah M.

 Thank you Sarah!

I'm doing much better and only have . . . whoops.  I just now realized I'm supposed to be doing 6 shakes a day and I've only been doing 3 the past few days.  HA, no wonder why my stomach is happier!  (shaking my head!)  Must be the lack of glucose in my brain.  It's shorting out!

I'm looking forward to the surgery tomorrow . . . we'll just see if I can get all the junk done around the house that I need to before bedtime tonight.  Now THAT'S where I need some good luck!  

All the best to you Sarah,
Denise

I'm glad you've found something that you can tolerate for the protein diet.   I had the same problem.   Some of those things are just NOT going to make your tummy happy!

Best wishes for a super smooth surgery and a very comfortable recovery.

Dennie