Congratulations on your date.

We'll all be here to cheer you on throughout your journey.

Enjoy your vacation, plan your meals and you'll do fine.

FatGuy(shrinking)inNC

Variety is the spice of life! I can't eat the same thing for very long or it gets dull. One thing I find is that ham has a lot of sodium and it makes me retain water. Doesn't matter how much I eat. The next day, the scale goes up. The good thing is that a day or two later, it goes back down. Your mileage may vary.

I love Mexican food too and eat it regularly. I usually make what I call a mock taco salad whi*****ludes meat (gound beef, chicken or ground turkey), black beans, cheese, salsa, a little lettuce, onions, tomatoes and a little low fat sour cream. I try to put mostly the meat and beans in it. Once in a while I will crush up a few tortilla chips and mix that in for the crunch. I swear I could eat this every day! LOL I think it all depends on how much of each ingredient you put in it for how healthy it will be.

Happy eating and good luck to you!

Hi Rachel,

I hear you... I'm on day 13 of my preop liquid diet.  I would advise following it exactly as prescribed by your doctor cause there is a reason for it.  For one thing, you will not be able to eat anything but liquids for 2-3 weeks after surgery so you might as well get used to it now (at least that was my logic.) For me, it has gotten easier though some days are better than others. More than anything though, I've lost a good deal of weight pre-op and gained a new appreciation - and CRAVINGS even - for the simplest and healthiest of solid foods. Like I wrote on day 2 of my liquid diet, I'd kill for an apple or some tuna fish...things I normally find pretty boring.  My only cheating for the past 2 weeks has been to get soups with meat in them (3 times) and blend them till they're liquid and eat that. Those were days when I felt I was going to pass out if I didn't get some substantial protein. I've continued with everything I do normally though like horseback riding and rock climbing so if you're not too physically active you may be able to survive without dong that.  In the end, I don't think you'll do any real harm by eating cabbage or lettuce when it comes to the weight loss but in my opinion, it's better to get accustomed to liquids now and know you can do it for real so you don't doubt yourself after surgery.

Best of luck!

Very cool!  My mom took me to see Bill Clinton when he was running for President in 1992.  It was really a neat experience, even though I was only 14 and didn't know much about politics at that point.

I went to Disney World & Disney Land when I was WELL over 300 lbs. There were some rides that I had some problems with them being snug to fit in( Space Mountain is one that I can think of off the top of my head)..It certaintly wouldnt hurt if you wanted a few months after surgery to go. I would think that it will be easier for you to walk around, feel better after surgery and not feel so uncomfortable getting into rides that can be tight.

Best of luck.

Paul

I just talked with my nut this past week b/c of the same thing. I was working out a lot and he said lets up my cals from 1000 to 1200 for 2 weeks and see what it does. He told me not to expect a change at first but see if in the course of two weeks it helps. In one week I have lost 4 pounds doing nothing different but eating an extra 200 cal.

I would try that and do it religiously for 2 weeks before deciding it isn't working. But first I would call you nut to get his/her advice.

That sounds delicious! What's broccoli rabe? Is it like chinese broccoli?

OT: why is there so much blank space at the bottom of all your posts?

Mick

Great quotes and I needed to hear what you were saying!

That's funny!  At least he noticed a big difference. 

What a cool memory for her - getting to see the President! 

I saw George Bush give a speech in Atlanta once - it was a neat experience.

B: blueberry greek yogurt
L: Not sure
D: Making bean burritos with leftover pintos from last night, and rice. I'll eat the bean filling.

Broccoli Parmagiano

Ingredients:

2 pounds broccoli rabe or broccoli, cut into florets, stems peeled and cut into 1/2 pieces
1 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, pushed through a press
1/4 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

In a large, deep skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and pepper flakes; saute 30 seconds.
Add broccoli rabe, water, lemon juice and lemon zest; mix well.Cover skillet and cook over medium heat 8 minutes, until broccoli rabe is crisp-tender.
Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Transfer broccoli to a serving dish and sprinkle with Freshly Grated Parmesan.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 179 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories 95 Calories from Fat 42

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 4.6g 7%

Saturated Fat 1.8g 9%

Cholesterol 7mg 2%

Sodium 191mg 8%

Total Carbohydrates 4.6g 1%

Protein 6.8g

Vitamin A 125% • Vitamin C 148% Calcium 27% • Iron 15%

Nutrition Grade B

thanks for all the great replys.....I  will adjust some more and just keep going...i knew the journey wasnt gonna be easy........but im in it for the long haul so.......thanks again..yall are great.....

I am okay with pretty much everything.  I did get stuck off of chiliquiles once but I think I was taking too big of bites.  I try really hard to not eat carbs...so the chips and shells are a no-no for me except on special occasions.

I typically grab a hard boiled egg for in the morning.  I have been eating things that aren't normal breakfast foods just because I find it easier to get the protein in...I even had steak the other day and I can't lie.  It was sooo good.  lol 

Congrats on the pregnancy by the way!!

Thanks (to everyone) for the replies.

This makes much more sense than what I thought the nurse was saying about making the band whatever size it needed to me. Cause I thought there were only certain sizes.

Surgery tomorrow! 24 hours from now I'll be in my recovery room maybe trying to log into OH on my ipod touch.

I like the carbmaster yogurts, but if you're carb sensitive blueberries and granola add A LOT of carbs to the yougurt you just chose because it's low carb.

It's so confusing sometimes, but I would choose one or the other, not both, or do peacans or almonds on your yogurt instead, or try ground Flaxseed.

Lisa O.

I've been at my present job for a year now...   I started 2 weeks after my surgery.

There's a vendor that used to come in all the time, and I've spoken to him a handful of times.  He hasnt been here in 8-9 months.   He walked into my office and said "you look familiar..."  I told him that I've worked here a year, to which his reply was.... "ooohh yeah, I remember now.  Werent you pregnant back then?"  

HAHAHAHAHAHA   I said, "No, I've just lost a significant amount of weight in the past year"   He got really red and apologized over and over again.  I assured him it was ok.


Once upon a time, this wouldve bothered me.   Today, it was totally amusing! 

Early: Coffee
Breakfast: Raisin bran with milk (I need fiber, badly)
Lunch:  Mocha Lattee Shake
Dinner:  Protein shake

I had a fill today so it's liquids for a couple of days!

B: sausage and eggs
S: Coffee with splenda and cream
L: salad with grilled salmon

D: Salmon and veg?

lookin' great mama!! :0)

My Thursday girl teaches Step and then Pump right after. I stay far away from Step..it's too much coordination for me. LOL. But I do RPM and Pump together. Pump is my favorite class. Love the teachers..and it's almost like having a personal trainer. You are hitting all the muscle groups and I have really noticed a difference in my body and muscles after doing it for 9 months or so. Anyhow..enjoy your workout! -Nik

Protein shakes didn't keep me full.  Cereal filled me up, but didn't keep me full.  Toast kept me KIND OF full, but I got peckish sometimes.  Now I'm trying ham and cheese omlettes.  I'm a bit hungry.  But I ate early this morning.  So who knows.  I'm gonna start trying oatmeal with protein soon, as soon as my new shipment of Unjury arrives.

So, in answer to your question, there seems to be no magic bullet.  I know of people who eat pork chops and chili for breakfast, and I know of people who drink shakes.  Everyone is different.  Whatever works for you, I hope you find it.

Makes sense to me Nikki!

I guess cause I am pregnant and nauseated all the time the idea of eating pork chops for breakfast just rolls my stomach a bit LOL