Hi (coming out of lurking) and some ???

I lurk here often.  I started this wls process back in October when I went to the introduction meeting.  I am now at the point where I am waiting for the surgeon (Casco Bay) to call me for my first appointment with them.  Hopefully all will be okay and I'll be able to schedule my surgery date that day.  Patience is certainly not my virtue LOL. 

It has been quite a rollercoaster and I am really looking forward to moving on.

I joined a gym yesterday and did 30 minutes on the treadmil ~ I am going back to do the same this afternoon.  

I also have started the MMC plan that needed to be done 2 weeks before surgery so I can hopefully have the weight gone that I need to lose before my surgeon appt.  They said  I could use that plan to lose the extra weight.

I weighed in at 309.6  exactly ONE pound short of only having to lose 15 pounds...(1 pound less would have been a BMI of 49) instead my BMI is 50 and I need to lose 30 pounds.  I will weigh myself on Saturday morning to see how much I have lost this week.

Here is a "typical" day:

B: Slim Fast high protein shake -- w/ 3 ice cubes in the blender
Q: After sugery will I be able to use any ice cubes to make my shakes in the blender?  It realize I won't be able to use 3, but I am thinking 1??

10AM: Cheese Stick

Noon: Salad (2 TBSP dressing, lettuce, onions, cukes, peppers)

2PM: Slim Fast Shake

Supper:  Another salad (same as above) and a frozen meal (Lean Cusine).  I plan to have some "fresh" meals this week also.

Tons of water and crystal light

I am doing okay with this so far, I am just worried about my body getting to used to it and having the pounds come off really slowly.  I know when I did low carb I would once in a while have a higher carb day to get things going.  I am wondering if I should add to this once in a while.

Any help would be appreciated...sorry that this post is so rambling.

welcome to the board. this is a great place to get information.

question about slim fast... look at the sugar content. you want to stay 5 grams or less of sugar per serving or you will risk dumping and that is no fun. you can easily blend in the ice cubes. they count as fluid intake. an average ice cube equals 1 oz.

sounds like you are eating ok right now but later you will need to get 60 to 80 grams of protein a day along with 48-64 oz. of fluids. crystal light and water are great. no caffeine or carbination. you may have to switch your slim fast for a better protein. also you taste will change after surgery. what you love today you might hate for a while after so don't stock pile stuff.

the first 6 weeks out of surgery are hard. you have liquids, pureed and then soft foods. it's a slow process but necessary. eat slow, chew a ton and don't overeat. you will get sick. don't drink a half hour before or after your meals. your meals are very important and drinking with them pushes the food thru and we are already malabsorbtive. for the first 6 weeks you will have to take meds in liquid form or crush them. be careful of liquid tylenol. it has a lot of sugar in it.

don't worry about the weight coming off. i lost about a pound a day for the first 2 weeks. it slowed at about 6 months out. it's important to walk and move. you will feel a ton better after surgery if you get up and move.

be patient. it's a long process. there are office visits, nutrition visits, blood work, psych evaluation and on and on....

when i saw my dr. it was in october. i did not get my surgery appointment until after my insurance approved me and that comes after all the appointments and your surgeon feels you are ready. i was approved in february and had surgery in february. i was a good year going thru the process from research to my pcp appointment for a referral to all the other stuff i mentioned. there are also support groups you should attend and may be mandatory by your surgeon.

i'm sure there's stuff i'm forgetting. it's a great journey and it sounds like you've got your ducks in a row. ask all the questions you need to. better to be educated than not. it is a major surgery and to be taken very seriously.

good luck.

The slim fast I am using is on the list I received from MMC as one of the protien shakes I could have pre-op and post-op ~ it is the high protein one. I think right around 5 or 6 grams of sugar.  Slim fast optima is not allowed.  What did you drink that tastes similar??  I can tolerate this one well and hopefully won't have to switch.

Right, the post op diet is in stages and I went over that with the nut and had to take  a quiz on it...this is the pre-op diet.  It doesn't allow me to have that much protien right now. 

I have already been through the office visits, group meetings, nut visits, psych eval, etc.  I am all cleared from the MMC program...now I am just waiting for my surgeon visit.  If that goes well and I have lost my weight and don't need any tests (Other than a standard EKG, I think I am good here, I don't need a sleep study and don't have my gallbladder)

I appreciate all the great information that you took the time to type out for me. 

forgot one thing. you will only be able to drink about 1 oz. every 15 minutes. it will take some time to get your meals in at the beginning. it does get easier as time goes on. i can do an ounce at once now. it still takes a good half hour to get meals in.

On January 27, 2009 at 9:56 AM Pacific Time, pinky0624 wrote: forgot one thing. you will only be able to drink about 1 oz. every 15 minutes. it will take some time to get your meals in at the beginning. it does get easier as time goes on. i can do an ounce at once now. it still takes a good half hour to get meals in.


This is why I was wondering about the ice cubes.  Right now the 3 ice cubes makes the shake double in volume (I use 8 oz of skim milk).  I know there is no way I'll be able to drink even a quarter of that.  It certainly won't taste as good with the ice cubes so hopefully 1 will do :)

WElcome Erica,  LIsa answered all your questions better then I ever could,  but I just wanted to say hi, and happy your here

Hey girl,
I work in Conway and live in Lovell...if I can help you in any way let me know!
I LOVE nashua Nutrition on line and get PVL protein powder-artic cappachina-it is my fav protein of all and I still ahve a shake for breakfast every morning.  Check out their website-they are in Nashua, NH...so shipping is fast!
Kate

OT, hey, what's with the passing out at the gym,

Thanks Kate!!!!  I am going to check out the site :) 

Hi Erica,

I use the GNC protein. I always get chocolate. I use water to mix it. I became lactose intolerant after surgery. It's very creamy and tasty. I sometimes put in a little almond extract to mix things up. I don't drink it as much now as I can get my requirements in with food. Some days I'm short so will do a shake then. Sounds like you've done your homework too. I didn't realize you had gone thru so much already. Smooth sailing from here.

I'd still do an ice cube or two. Tastes better that way. I like mine cold. I put shakes in a shaker with 3 or 4 cubes. I don't blend them. Just shake them up. Got the shaker for a couple of bucks at walmart.

I had Chike protein as samples from my nut and those were awesome. Have to order online and a bit pricey. That's why I go with GNC. Sometimes you can get deals at Rite Aid.