Oh boy can I relate to that.  It's not Wonderbread - but at least it lets me pretend to have a "sandwich" like the rest of the family!

Well, I am still alive. Not doing much better on the protein front. My latest labs showed protein level at .1 and I have more vitamin deficiencies I am dealing with now and they added another anti-nausea medication. They did find me a surgeon (local this time) since my surgeon moved out of state. I can't help but think he moved because of me lol. I have had so many complications maybe he thought I was going to sue him. I am also in physical therapy which is helping. I keep trying new foods with protein one bite at a time somedays. I have a weird system in place that works for now but probably isn't the best habit to get into but it has helped slow my weight loss. Whatever meat I prepare for the family at dinner I have a bit or two of then save a small portion and right before I go to bed I eat a smaller portion of the meat then go right to sleep. I figure if I am asleep it won't make my pouch hurt and I will not be as nauseated and that seems to work. I am still on my quest for a protein shake, drink, bar, etc... I loved the peanut butter balls but cannot eat a whole one; the peanut butter gets stuck in my throat for a long time. I am sure I have a stricture again or it is the ulcers in my esophogus giving me so much trouble. I cannot wait to see my new surgeon on Monday. I probably am lactose intolerant because I could barely take in milk products prior to the surgerybut at least then I still liked the taste. I have never heard of protein chicken broth or jello where do you get that or how do you make it? Thank you for all the advice and help. It is hard to talk to anyone outside of OH. My mom either worries about me to the point she is yelling at me, my husband is deployed so I do not want to worry him so I don't say much. One of my sisters treats me like a leper and I think it is partially due to some jealousy that I have lost weight. I get it from some of my friends to....I wasn't prepared for that part. I still have about 24 pounds to go before I hit the top of the "normal" BMI range and I have a few friends that are heavier telling me I look like I am wasting away but I am not. Since the surgery I have shrunk a half an inch so I am five-seven and a half weighing in at 174 pounds I wear a size 9/10 or 11/12 depending on the jeans and a size large shirt plus I have a medium to large frame. To me that is not "wasting" away. I am doing everything I can think of to get the nutrition I need, going to physical therapy, and keeping in touch with all my doctors and keeping my appointments. Losing weight is not on the top of my priorities list but I eventually would like to be in the normal BMI range and be healthy doing it. To me that is not over doing it. Have any of you had friends or family members whose attitude towards you changed since you had WLS? Losing weight has not changed me fundamentally as a person; if anything it has made me a better person. With everything I have gone through my faith in God has been restored, I have become more conscience of my body and proper nutrition which goes into what I feed my kids, I no longer take simple things for granted, and I know longer hide away in my home because of low self esteem. I feel better about myself as a person and now I am just trying to get as healthy as I can then worry about those last few pounds later. I wish they had a buddy program for WLS patients lol....that way I would have someone local to visit with, attempt workouts, and lunches with etc.....

I can not eat soy becuse I have hormone positive breast cancer.  Isnt there a new pasta being sold as low carb or no carb right along side with the other pastas?

My surgeon has the following recipe posted on his website.  I absolutely love it.  It satisfies that psychological craving for a "bread" based sandwich that lettuce wraps just can't fill! 

No Guilt Hampurger Buns
Ingredients:
3 eggs
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
3 T. lowfat cottage cheese or sour cream
1 packet artificial sweetener of choice
pinch of salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Separate the yolks and whites of 3 eggs, using an egg separator, making sure there is no yolk in the bowl with the whites. Add cream of tartar to whites and beat until fluffy and stiff.

In other bowl, mix egg yolks, cottage cheese or sour cream, and packet of sweetener.

Fold the egg yolk mixture into the beaten egg whites. Do not mix for more than 1 min to avoid breaking down the fluffy texture of the whites.

Spray baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Spoon mixture onto baking sheet into 6-8 piles, approximately 2 inches high per roll. Bake for 45-50 mins. The color should resemble that of regular hamburger buns.

Note:  You can vary the flavor by addiing in various herbs to the mixture prior to baking.

Keep in mind, if you are not very far out from surgery, eating this together will likely prevent you from eating all of the protein, so do not add this until you are capable of finishing 3 oz turkey burger, salmon burger, Boca burger with cheese, etc.

Tuna salad was a lifesaver at that point. I also loved refried beans with some salsa verde and/or cheese. Boiled eggs chewed to a mush were a dream.....lol