Question:
1) Where do you purchase Real Meals? 2) Lower Body Lift question?

1: I had my WLS 18 months ago and I am now at 115lbs down 1110lbs and am thrilled!!! However, I am always exhausted, I have read alot about the Real Meals on this website and wonder if it will help with my energy level (all my bloodwork is fine). Where do you purchase them and do you notice a differance with your energy level? Question 2: I had a lower body lift on 2/18. I still need an inner thigh lift. My question is since the LBL none of my pants with waistbands fit me. The dr. said because a person's waist goes in and he pulled the excess skin down I lost my waist. I am a crunch fanatic and don't know what else to do. I defintedly don't need pants a larger size for the waist if anything I should take a smaller size since the LBL. Any suggestions? Did this happend to you? Thanks, Donna    — Donna B. (posted on March 31, 2003)

March 31, 2003
You can get Real Meals at www.protein-solution.com. They have definitely helped me in the energy department. I notice a huge difference if I skip it. Did your surgeon say that your waist would return in time? Perhaps as everything heals it will go back into place. I have heard of people who had swelling for months after a tuck. Good Luck!
   — Carol S.

March 31, 2003
my freind gave me a box of real meals because she can not stand them i am trying to drink one now. they are way too sweet! and what a vile taste, maybe if i doctor them up i can choke them down they have great numbers (protien, vitimens etc) but eeeew they are nasty tasting.
   — janetc00

March 31, 2003
Yes, they are too sweet immediately post-op. I think Janet is newly post op. Now they are fine. I am going to be 7 months out on the 13th of April and they helped me a lot with protein and fluid intake. Now that I can eat whatever I want, I find if I eat solid food for breakfast I am starved by 11:00, but if I have a protein shake, I can make it till 1:00 with a cup of soup on break.
   — Kristy J.

March 31, 2003
As far as bloodwork goes, ignore this if you've looked at your labs personally -- but my advice is, get copies of your labwork, and look at them personally. "Your bloodwork is fine" is often what a doctor will tell you about an individual test where everything still falls within the "normal" range. What some docs *don't* do is to review and compare the bloodwork from previous tests, to see if you're dropping (or rising) *within* the normal range, which can be a sign you're developing a deficiency. Some docs seem content to wait until you feel crummier, and then six months down the road, for your next test, you finally fall "out" of normal and start getting extra shots, supplements, etc. Don't wait for that to happen -- look at your bloodwork yourself to notice any such trends, and nip problems in the bud early. :~)
   — Suzy C.

March 31, 2003
I have been taking Real Meals for just about 10 months. I notice that if I forget them for a couple of days then I have less energy. Sometimes for early post ops it tastes too sweet, but everything tasted too sweet to me in the beginning. Go to www.protein-solution.com
   — Linda A.

March 31, 2003
Donna, I can't answer your fatigue question, other than to say maybe your surgery has wiped you out and you just need more time to recover. The LBL if very taxing on the body. I did want to say that when I had my surgery done I had a HUGE belly and afterwards, although sooo glad to have a flat tummy and all that went with it, I too felt that I had no waist. I felt shaped like a man (I know, I know - ridiculous! -esp. since I was still a full D cup then). Anyhow, the swelling and such takes a lot longer to go down than we realize. For me it was different because I was losing weight during recovery, but I realize that I was also changing because of the swelling factor. If you give your body a chance to heal fully and get to the point of no more swelling you'll be happier. About 7-8 months later, trying on jeans after my second surgery (a crotch lift) I realized I DID have hips. If you wear a pant that sits lower on the hip, I guess it would be a "low rise" pant instead of a higher waist one you'll have better luck in sizing properly. A higher waist pant tends to be much smaller in the waist than at the hip, while a low rise pant sits just at the top of the hips and so is sized for that. And you really need to try on pants, waist to hip ratios vary according to brand. Hope this helps!
   — Shelly S.