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After another traumatic foaming/heaving episode last night, I called the on-call dr. again.  I told him I know something is wrong, I should not be feeling this sick particularly when I'm taking anti-nausea meds.  I couldn't even think of drinking protein drinks, and could barely tolerate water.  He said what I thought might be the problem - my band is too tight. It was "primed" when they put it in, apparently a little too much. 

So... first thing this morning I went to the dr. office and had 1.4cc removed from my band.  WOW, what a difference!  I drank a whole cup of water at their office (sipping, of course) just to make sure all was good.  Then I came home and had 6 ozs of chicken broth.  Waiting to make sure, then I'll progress to a little yogurt, and then try a protein shake.  That makes me a little nervous, because it's when I drink those that I've had the most trouble for some reason.  But if the yogurt settles in okay, then maybe the protein shake will too.

Well, at least I know now what being too tight feels like! 

Now I feel like I can really get going with my nutrition plan.  By the time I get used to drinking what I'm supposed to be drinking, it'll be time to move on to mushies!

I just got out of bed to start the day.  I think my abdomen is more sore this morning than it has been, but in a different way.  It's more my incision and port sites, and it's kind of like a tight, sort of burning feeling.  I think that it's probably a good sign, like the stitches are healing.  I can tell the swelling around my band has gone down because I can swallow much more easily.   The soreness is also probably somewhat due to the episode I had getting ready for bed last night.  Once again, I had the mouth frothing which lead to three big dry heaves.  OMG... that hurt like the devil.  Let's just pray those little episodes will go away.  It just comes over me out of nowhere.

I've got to get some good nutrition today.  I've got a notepad out to keep up with everything in writing now so I can really strive for more protein intake.  I had a tough time with it yesterday, everything sweet (i.e., all my protein shakes!) were very sickening.  I can't imagine craving anything sweet for a very long time.  DH took me to the grocery store last night, but naturally they only had a limited selection of protein powder, and all of them were flavored.  Wanted some unflavored to add to strained cream-of soups.  Maybe I can get up to GNC or the Vitamin Shoppe today and find some.  I found the Special K2O water mix-ins, and I have to say, the strawberry kiwi isn't bad at all.  It's very light and not super sweet.  I figure as long as I"m trying to get in my water, I might as well get the benefit of another 5g's of protein too.  I also need to get back on track with my vitamins.  Just couldn't handle the chewables before now.

I'm very optimistic about today.  If I can just keep that mouth frothing situation at bay, and not be so turned off by the taste of  anything sweet, I think I might just be able to handle it.

On a more positive note, the scales are down 2 more lbs this morning.  But I have a good feeling it's partially due to dehydration!  I need to remember this when I start mushies, because I'm sure they will creap back up a few lbs. and I can't let that catch me off guard.


Update at 4:00 pm:  I was so pleased that I was able to drink a protein shake this morning and it didn't make me feel ill or anything.  Then, about half hour later, I got in the shower.  Started having that weird feeling in my throat, and by the time I got out of the shower, I knew what was coming.  There came the frothing thing again, and several big dry heaves (tried so hard not to let that happen, but couldn't control it!).  Since I know that both of the two most recent episodes happened  about 30 minutes after drinking protein shakes, I am not doing those anymore today and maybe even tomorrow.  I managed a small container of yogurt just a little while ago and it seems to be staying put okay.  I'll try a little more of the K20 protein water too, and some strained cream of chicken soup with skim milk.  But just to make sure I don't get anymore of those dry heaves, I've decided to take my anti-nausea meds just as a precaution.  The last thing I need is to dislodge my band!  God knows I don't want to have to go through this again.   I've also got a bad headache this afternoon. Probably because I'm not eating/drinking enough.  Taking liquid Tylenol, but it's not helping much.

I suppose I should actually wait til the end of the day to blog my day, but there was a lot happening last night that I want to get down now while it's fresh in my head.  Maybe I'll update a pm version tonight.

So, late yesterday afternoon my friend Sue (a surgical RN) came over and pulled my On-Q catheter out.  It was stuck in a big way and I couldn't get it to budge.  Also, I was expecting maybe 3" of the tubing inside, and it turned out to be more like 6-8".  I was so glad she came to help me, I would have never been able to take that out on my own!  The on-call doc at the surgeon's office had no advice for me except "pull harder" (believe me, I was pulling as hard as I possibly could) or go to the ER and have them remove.  Anyway, in the end it worked out ok even though it hurt like a b*tch getting it out!

I was able to drink a protein shake yesterday morning without much trouble, and tried sipping other SF drinks through the day.  I didn't get much in, it hurt too badly to swallow like someone had their hands around my neck choking me.  By around 9pm I knew I really needed to drink another protein shake, because I don't want to become ill (or bald!) during the process.  I separated it into 8 1-oz cups to make myself take smaller sips, and it took me almost 2 hours to drink it all.  After I finished it, I had an episode where I felt like I was going to throw up.  I went to the bathroom holding my head over the sink, and my mouth was just  foaming up.  It was horrible.  I actually heaved once but nothing came up.  I was so afraid I was going to throw up!  I would have taken an anti-nausea pill but I was afraid that would make it worse.  So I walked around between the kitchen and living room trying to get everything to settle.  I decided it was about time to go to bed, so I climbed the stairs, and by the time I got to the bathroom I had that happen again.  After a while it settled down again.  I had to get some pain meds in because all that made my surgery site hurt even worse.  My nurse friend told me that I could dissolve the percocet in a little water or other liquid and drink it instead of risking breaking it and having it get stuck.  Boy, was that ever easier!  Except that it tasted reeeealllly bad.   So I got that down and another sip or two of water, and I started having this wierd sensation like I was about to burp but couldn't, and it's hard to describe, but it was like a big rush of hot air that came back up my throat and made my chest really tight.  Is that reflux? 

I woke up really early this a.m. (around 4:30).  I went to the bathroom and knew I needed to take some more pain meds (hope this gets better soon, it hurts so much to get up and down).  So I dissolved another percocet and finally got that down with a few sips of crystal light.  Now I'm having that hot tight sensation again.  Don't know how I'm going to get any water in me this morning, let alone a protein shake.  Man, I really hope this gets better today!  I'm going to walk more today than I did yesterday, trying not to overdo it, but enough to loosen my body up and hopefully expel some more of this gas.  That hurts just as bad as the pain from the surgery site.

I'm using this blog feature more for my own reference, but if anybody is reading and has any advice for any of these issues I'd surely appreciate a reply or PM.   I still do not regret getting this surgery, because I know I'm healing and everybody goes through this.  I wish I could have a time frame of when it would be better, but that's different for everybody too.

I'm off now to catch a little nap, then I want to get this day started.  I pray that it will be a little easier than yesterday.

Thanks to everyone for your kind words and well wishes.  Surgery went great, and my first day in the hospital was so much easier than I anticipated.   I found out that I got an 10cc LapBand. 

Got home yesterday around 11:30 and took a 3 1/2 hour nap (sure couldn't sleep in the hospital!).  Afterwards, I worked on an 8oz shake for about 1 1/4 hours.   I started feeling really queezy, and every little sip of water later on made it worse.  I really thought I was going to throw up and that was scarey since I know I have to do everything I can do not to.  Called the dr. and he called in a prescrip for anti-nausea meds.  That helped. 

This morning I took a shower and really examined stuff in the mirror.  The nurse at the hospital told me I only had one incision.  She's right!  The only other thing going on is the tubing for this On-Q "medicine ball".  Looks like it will be flat by the afternoon and I can pull the tube out.  No fun wearing the "fanny pack" the ball is in, but it's not like I have anywhere to go.  I think I found my port, and it's not where I thought it would be.  More on my left side than in the tummy area.  Maybe when my tummy goes down from the gas it will be more towards the front.  There's a big round bruise there and I can feel something like a knot underneath, so that's got to be it.

I am very aware of something in my stomach area.  It's a strange sensation that is impossible to describe, but I bet anyone who's ever had LapBand knows what I'm talking about.  It's also a weird feeling when I swallow.  I'm imagining that it's due to swelling where my band is.  Hope that goes away soon, because it's going to be extremely hard to get 3 shakes in PLUS water in a day's time.  My stomach area and incision are both really sore.  I know that's to be expected.  I'm trying to manage the pain on tylenol rather than the stronger pain meds.

Oh... I lost 10 lbs on the preop diet, 1 1/2 inches off my waist and 1 1/2 inches off my hips.  So there were some good bonuses, and the doc said my liver looked great (haha).  So I guess it did what it was supposed to do.

Ready to get this all healed and get on with my weight-loss journey!

Whew.. thank goodness that's all settled!  I'm going to be at the hospital at 6:30 tomorrow morning and then on my way down to surgery.   Yippee!

Now I have the urge to eat something really bad for dinner tonight!  But I guess I'd better not spoil the results of my efforts on preop diet.  

Thanks to all my friends for your support while I got all this worked out!

I woke up this morning thinking thank GOD it's the last day of my pre-op diet... tomorrow's my surgery!  Yeaaa!  I was giddy all morning.

Then right before lunch, it all fell apart.  I got a call from the surgeon's office telling me there was a problem with my EKG, and before proceeding I would have to see a cardiologist and get cleared for surgery.  Long story short, I was lucky enough to get in at 1:30 with my hubby/daughter's cardiologist (how's THAT for service?), got a new EKG and stress test on the treadmill, just for good measure.  No problem - I'm cleared.  Trouble is, they didn't hold my surgery date for me at the surgeon's office, so now I'm back to not knowing when I"ll be able to get my surgery done. 

So I've just gotta vent for a minute... I didn't think to ask until when I was sitting in the cardiologist's office, but I have to wonder... since I got all my preop testing last Wednesday, how long has the surgeon's office had the EKG report telling them something was wrong?  Did they just look at it today?  Because I would have loved having more than a few hours' notice to have to get cleared.  Which I did, by the way (get it cleared),   WITHIN  FOUR  HOURS  OF  GETTING  THE  PHONE  CALL!   And I still lost my surgery date.  I am so frustrated.

The cardiologist is faxing the clearance to the surgeon today, but it's so late now, I'm sure nobody will be looking at it until tomorrow.  The scheduler said she *might* be able to get me on Thursday's schedule if she got the letter from the cardiologist right away, but no guarantees. 

So here I am again... sitting and waiting for my fate.

Can't wait til this surgery planning deal is OVER!

Here's a basic shake recipe that I copied from a post here one day.

Basic Shake Recipe: vanilla protein powder, skim milk, ice

Thin Mint Shake: add 1 T. cocoa powder + 2 crushed sugar-free chocolate mint cookies (Murray's)

Oreo Freeze: Add 2 or 3 crushed sugar-free Oreos

Strawberry/Raspberry/Blueberry: Add one of the fruits (frozen fruit from your grocer's freezer works perfectly...do I sound like a commercial?)

Strawberry or Raspberry Chocolate: Add one of the fruits + 1 T. cocoa powder
Candy Blizzard: Add 2 or 3 sugar-free candies such as Reese's PB cups or any other sugar-free candy that you would like (you can add 1 T. cocoa powder for a chocolate-based shake)

Dreamsicle: Omit milk and substitute sugar-free Tang

Raspberry Cream: Omit milk and add Raspberry CL

Apple Pie: Reduce milk to 1/2 cup + add 1/3 c. s-f applesauce + 1 t. cinnamon, + 1/2 c. s-f apple pie yogurt

Key Lime: Reduce milk to 1/2 c. + add a carton of key lime yogurt

Chocolate: Add 1 T. cocoa

Banana Pudding: Add 1/2 banana + 3 s-f vanilla wafers crushed

Midori: Use water and add frozen melon balls

Cranberry-Orange: Use 2/3 cup low-cal cranberry cocktail + a carton of vanilla sf yogurt + 1 orange (peeled) + 1/2 banana + ice + protein powder (deviates from Basic Shake so much that I just did this recipe without the omit this and that)


Peanut Butter n' Chocolate Smoothie
1/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt
1/4 cup 1% milk or skim milk
1 Tblsp fat free cream cheese
1 Tblsp PB2
1 Tblsp Hershey's unsweetened cocoa powder
2 packets of Splenda
1/4 tsp of Vanilla
1/2 cup crushed Ice

Berry Berry Smoothy
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1-2 scoops low carb ice cream
1 cup skim milk (or 1% milk)
¼ cup frozen fruit medley
Mix in blender until smooth

Sunrise Smoothy
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 cup orange juice (or orange tang)
½ banana (peeled)
2 scoops carb freedom ice cream
4-5 frozen strawberries
Mix in blender until smooth

Cherry Vanilla
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
4-5 maraschino cherries
2 scoops low carb vanilla ice cream
1 cup cherry sugar free kool-aid
Mix in blender until smooth

Peach
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 cup Crystal Lite peach tea
4-6 frozen peach slices
4 ice cubes
Mix in blender until smooth

Strawberry-Lemonade
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 cup sugar free lemonade kool-aid
4-5 frozen strawberries
4-5 ice cubes
Mix in blender until smooth

Cindy M’s list

Cherry Vanilla Coke Float
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
2 scoops low carb ice cream
1 cup diet coke
4-5 cherries
Mix in blender until smooth

Apple Pie Frosty
1 1/2 scoops HDT 5+1 vanilla protein powder
1 apple, peeled, cored, and sliced
(or 1/2 C no-sugar-added applesauce)
2 packets Splenda
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 t nutmeg
3/4 C water
8-10 ice cubes Blend thoroughly and drink up

Butterscotch Pecan Liquid Pie
2 scoops ProScore 100 vanilla
8 oz cold water
2 T sugar free butterscotch pudding mix
4-5 ice cubes
1/4 C pecans
Blend protein powder, water and pudding mix.
(The pudding mix thickens the liquid considerably).
Add ice cubes and blend till ice slivers.
Add pecans and blend again for a few seconds.
Pour into nice huge parfait glass and enjoy.
(about 300 calories).

Cherry Vanilla Protein Shake
1 scoop vanilla powder
1/2 cup SF cherry yogurt
4 ice cubes
splash water
vanilla extract (to taste)
cherry extract (to taste)
Put all of it in a blender and hit liquify! Enjoy

Choco Mint Shake
1 1/2 scoops HDT 5+1 chocolate protein powder
1 packet sugar free hot chocolate mix
1 teaspoon mint flavoring
1/2 cup of soy milk
1/2 cup of water
6 large ice cubes
Put all ingredients into blender
And mix to desired consistency. Serve cold.

Chocolate Almond Shake
2 scoops ProScore 100 chocolate
1 cup of soy milk
2 T Sweet N Low chocolate syrup
1 t almond flavoring
1/4 cup of almonds
6-8 ice cubes
Blend all ingredients,
Except almonds and ice cubes,
Then add nuts and cubes and blend again

Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter De-Lite
3/4 c. cold water
1/4 c. Toasted Marshmallow s/f syrup
2 scoops PS IOO Chocolate Protein Powder 4 packets. equal
1/2 small banana
1T. low sugar Peanut Butter
1T. s/f White Chocolate Instant Pudding Mix
Put everything in blender and whirl till smooth.
Scrape down sides if necessary and whirl some more.

Chocolate Banana Smoothie
1/2 cup banana Fat-Free NutraSweet Sweetened Yogurt
1/2 cup Non-fat Milk
1/2 cup ripe banana peeled and sliced
Dash of Vanilla
1 Scoop Chocolate Protein Powder of Choice
Put all ingredients except ice in blender,
Blend until smooth.
Add ice and blend to give it a frozen smoothie consistency.

Chocolate Coconut Shake
2 oz Coconut Milk
6 oz Cold Water
2 scoops Chocolate protein powder
1 tsp Chocolate or Banana Sugar-Free pudding
Hand Shake well.

Chocolate Covered Banana
1 scoop Chocolate Isopure
1/2 c 1% milk
splash of sugar-free chocolate syrup
1/2 banana
4 maraschino cherries
2 handfuls ice
Blend

Chocolate Covered Cherry Shake
1 1/2 scoops HDT 5+1 chocolate protein powder
1 cup soy milk
2T Sweet N Low chocolate syrup
10-12 cherries - (no pits please)
8-10 ice cubes
Put all ingredients into blender and mix to desired consistency

Chocolate Frosty Shake
1 rounded scoop Optimum Nutrition Pro Complex Chocolate Protein Powder
1 rounded tsp. fat free sugar free French Vanilla International Coffee
1 rounded tsp. fat free Creamora (non-dairy coffee creamer powder)
10 ice cubes
Use a blender to get a shake-like consistency

Chocolate Fudge Shake
2 scoops ProScore 100 chocolate
2 T chocolate fudge sugar free pudding mix
8 oz water
5 large ice cubes,
tiny silver spoon (optional)
Blend ProScore, pudding and water, add ice cubes,
Blend till crushed with ice slivers still un-melted,
Pour into insulated cup (makes about 16 oz)
And eat it with a tiny silver spoon.

Chocolate OrangeSicle
1 1/2 scoops ProScore 100 chocolate
1/2 Scoop OrangeSicle protein powder
8 oz water
Shake very well

Chocolate Peanut Butter Death
2 scoops PS100 Chocolate Protein Powder
8 oz Cold Water
2 tsp Chocolate SF Pudding Mix
1 packets Splenda
1 Generous splash (probably 1 1/2 ounces) of SF DaVinci Peanut Butter Syrup
1 Generous splash (probably 1 1/2 ounces) of SF DaVinci Cookie Dough Syrup
1 Heaping Tablespoon (Daloop) of Fat Free Cool Whip Light
1 Heaping Teaspoon of Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter
approx. 6 oz of crushed ice
Mix until entirely smooth - pour - sit back and enjoy pure indulgence

Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
1 tbs. peanut butter
1 cup skim milk
2 handfuls ice
Blend thoroughly

Chocolate Raspberry Shake
2 scoops ProScore 100 chocolate
8 oz water (or skim, lactaid or soy milk) sugar free raspberry syrup
Blend and enjoy

Chocolate Vanilla Swirl
1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder
1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
splash Vitamite
splash water
ice
Blend thoroughly

Chocolate-Banana Shake
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
1/2 banana
1 cup skim milk
2 handfuls ice
Blend thoroughly.
Hint: if you can't use a banana, try banana extract...tastes good!

Coco Loco
1 1/2 scoops 100%Whey Vanilla Protein powder
4 oz Vitamite
6 packets Splenda
splash Luzianne Peach Mango Ice Tea flavoring
2 drops Coconut extract
2 drops Pineapple extract
1 drop Rum extract (optional)
5 ice cubes
Blend and chop ice thoroughly

Cookies & Cream
Splash of Cookies & Cream coffee Splash of Vitamite
Splash of water
1 tsp. Sugar Free DaVinci Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Syrup (optional)
1/3 scoop ProBlend 55
_mocha/cappuccino
1/3 scoop Pro V60 Chocolate Thunder 1/3 scoop Pro V60 Vanilla Crème ice Blend

Creamy Peach Melba
6-8 frozen peach slices
4-6 oz water
1 tbsp peach mango Luzianne Tea Flavor 1 tsp DaVinci Raspberry flavor
2 packets splenda
1 tbsp heavy cream
2 scoops Keto Peaches & Cream Protein Powder
Blend peaches, water, flavorings, & splenda until liquid.
Add protein powder. Drizzle in cream last. Blend well.

Donna's Delicious Protein Smoothie
6 to 8 oz sunrise orange crystal light (premade)
3 ice cubes
3 frozen raspberries
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
Optional: tablespoon of light cool whip
Mix crystal light with the ice cubes and frozen raspberries,
Add the scoop of vanilla protein powder
And mix only for a few seconds
(mixing the protein too much causes it to foam)

Double Chocolate Fudge
½ cup skim milk
1 packet, no sugar added hot cocoa mix
1 scoop Chocolate protein powder
4 ice cubes (or ½ - 1 cup crushed ice) Mix in blender.

Egg Nog
1 scoop of Vanilla HDT 5+1 vanilla 1 cup of soy milk
1 teaspoon of rum extract
1/2 teaspoon of all spice
4-6 large ice cubes
Put all ingredients into blender and mix to desired consistency. Serve cold.

Elvis IS IN MY KITCHEN RIGHT NOW making a PB & J Milkshake
2 scoops ProScore Vanilla Protein Powder
1 Tbsp. vanilla sugar-free instant pudding
8 oz cold water
1 Tbsp or to taste berry, raspberry or peach (or other) sugar-free syrup
3-5 ice cubes
1 Tbsp. crunchy peanut butter
Combine the protein powder, pudding, and sugar-free syrup into blender and blend for 30 seconds. Add 3-5 ice cubes, blend until ice slivers, add crunchy peanut butter, blend for a few seconds. Pour into 16 oz glass. Eat with a small silver spoon, savoring each spoonful.

Extra spicy ProScore _Mocha Chai
2 oz of any strong (i.e. Starbucks) left-over cold coffee with half & half
piece of fresh ginger
4-5 cloves few peppercorns
1 oz cold strong unsweetened Chai tea
4-5 ice cubes
2 scoops ProScore 100 Chocolate Protein Powder
pinch nutmeg
splash vanilla extract
in a COLD blender, add cold coffee, ginger, cloves, peppercorns, cold Chai tea. Blend, adding 4-5 ice cubes one at a time until ice cubes are broken up. Add 2 scoops protein powder while blender is moving. Add cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla extract.

Frappachino
1 tbs. instant coffee or a splash of cold coffee
1 scoop chocolate or vanilla protein powder
2 handfuls ice
1/2 cup skim milk
blend thoroughly.

Frappucchino On-the-Go
1/2 can Blue Luna light _mocha (or Starbuck's light Frappachino brand)
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
Shake in Blue Luna can and pour over ice.

Fruit Freeze
½ cup skim milk (substitute water if you don't do milk)
1 scoop unflavored protein powder
5 strawberries, frozen, no added sugar
2 peaches, frozen, no added sugar
¼ cup pineapple, canned, packed in juice (or Lite syrup)
4 ice cubes (or ½ - 1 cup crushed ice) Mix in blender.

Fruit Smoothie
1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
4 fresh strawberries frozen and sliced
1/2 fresh banana frozen and sliced
1 scoop Vanilla or Strawberry protein powder of choice
Put all ingredients except ice in blender and blend until smooth. Add ice and blend until frozen smoothie consistency.

Fudgesicle
1 1/2 scoops chocolate protein powder
12 oz cold water
10 packets splenda
1 sugar free fudgesicle
1/2 oz DaVinci sugar free vanilla syrup
6 ice cubes
put all ingredients except protein into blender-blend on high until no more pings from ice on blades-turn down blender until top of mixture is moving but not splashing-add protein-replace cover and whirl-but not too high or it will puff up to about 40 oz!

Good Morning Smoothie
1 small banana
3/4 cup skim milk
1/2 cup non-fat sugar free strawberry yogurt
1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
1 scoop vanilla protein powder of choice Put all ingredients except ice in blender and blend until smooth. Add ice and blend until frozen fruit smoothie consistency.

Iced _Mocha Latte
2 scoops ProScore 100 chocolate, leftover cold coffee (decaf Hazelnut)
1 T fat free sugar free vanilla pudding mix a splash of sugar free hazelnut coffee syrup and a few ice cubes
Blend

Light and Dark Symphony
1 scoop ProBlend 55 _Mocha Cappuccino
splash coffee
splash water ice
Blend thoroughly for light symphony; for dark symphony add 1 tbs. white chocolate SF syrup and blend

Luscious Pina Colada
2 scoops ProScore 100 vanilla
2 T vanilla sugar free pudding mix
dash of coconut flavoring
dash of pineapple flavoring
ice
Blend and enjoy

Mango Morning Smoothie
Juice of 1/2 of a fresh lime
2oz cold water
meat of 1 mango
small piece fresh ginger
1 tsp vanilla extract (or almond extract)
7-8 ice cubes
2 scoops ProScore Vanilla
Blend lime juice, cold water, meat of mango, ginger and vanilla extract until smooth. When blended, add 7-8 ice cubes, one at a time until blended. Add ProScore Vanilla protein powder one scoop at a time while blender is still moving. You can substitute soy milk instead of water and soy ice cubes instead of plain ice, but you will need to watch calories with those substitutions.

_Mocha, Ginger & Cinnamon
2 scoops ProScore 100 Chocolate
4 oz left-over coffee with half & half
a few good sprinkles of cinnamon
small piece FRESH ginger 6-8 ice cubes
Blend on low, then on high. Add about 6-8 ice cubes, one at a time - chuck each one HARD into the blender while blending. Blend until creamy.

Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream Shake
1 1/2 scoop GNC 100% Whey Vanilla Protein Powder
4-5 packets of Splenda
1 capful DaVinci's Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup
5 oz Vitamite
lots of ice cubes
Blend syrup, Splenda, and Vitamite together. Add protein powder; blend until mixed. Add Ice and blend until chopped well.

Orange & Cream Shake
8 ounces (or less if you wish) Stewart's Diet Orange & Cream Soda
splash Vitamite
1 scoop ProV60 Vanilla Cream protein
ice blend extra thoroughly to get rid of all of the carbonation

Orange Banana Smoothie
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 cup pulp free OJ
1/2 banana sliced
1 rounded scoop Keto Shake Orange Crème protein powder
1 rounded scoop Keto Shake Banana Crème protein powder
1 cup ice
Blend all ingredients except ice until smooth. Add ice, blend until smoothie consistency.

Orange Julius 8 oz non-fat plain yogurt 1 can (6 oz) Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate 2 1/2 cup skim milk 1 Tsp vanilla extract 2 scoops Protein Powder of your choice Put ingredients in blender, blend until smooth, fruit smoothie consistency.

Orange Julius Ain’t Got Nothing On Us Smoothie
2 Scoops ProScore 100 vanilla
6 oz water
1 T sugar free vanilla pudding mix
1/4 c real orange juice (preferably hand squeezed with pulp, or from store with pulp)
1 t good vanilla flavoring
3-4 ice cubes
Blend all ingredients except ice cubes. Cold water will cause pudding mix to thicken. Add ice cubes and blend till ice slivers. Pour into tall glass and use straw to sip, dainty, a little at a time, really taste it. Don't guzzle (grin)

Peach Creamsicle
6 oz Crystal Lite Peach Tea
2 tablespoon SF Instant Vanilla Pudding
1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
6 packets Splenda
ice cubes
Blend thoroughly

Peach and Strawberry Yummy
3 slices frozen peaches (or 1/2 frozen banana)
3 good sized frozen strawberries
1/4 - 1/2 cup water
1 packets Splenda
1 rounded Vanilla protein powder
Blend

Pina Colada Smoothie
8oz can refrigerated crushed pineapple in natural unsweetened juices
1 Tsp coconut flavoring
1/2 cup crushed ice
1 packet artificial sweetener
1 scoop vanilla protein powder of choice
Combine in blender and blend for 2 minutes on high

Pineapple Vanilla Ginger Shake
Meat from 1/2 SMALL COLD pineapple enough cold water to blend
small piece of fresh ginger
5-6 ice cubes
2 scoops ProScore 100 Vanilla Protein Powder
cinnamon fresh mint
In a blender put meat from pineapple, enough COLD water to blend, and ginger. Blend until smooth. Add 5-6 ice cubes, 1 piece at a time and blend until creamy. Add 2 scoops of ProScore 100 Vanilla while blender is in motion (OK to substitute different brand). Pour into a brandy glass, sprinkle a bit of cinnamon on top and add a piece of fresh mint.

Real Root Beer float
1.5 scoops of diet, sugar-free vanilla ice cream
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
3/4 can diet root beer
Stir thoroughly

Root Beer Float
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 can diet root beer
Mix thoroughly and pour over ice

Root beer Float
2 scoops Vanilla Carb Solutions Protein Powder
1 12 ounce can Diet Root Beer (A&W is best) open and let soda go flat
4 or 5 ice cubes
2 envelopes Splenda
Throw it all in a blender and enjoy!

S'Mores
splash coffee (optional, but really does taste better!)
splash Vitamite
splash water DaVinci Sugar-free Toasted Marshmallow syrup (to taste)
Chocolate protein powder (something milk-chocolaty seems to taste best , like ProV60 Chocolate Thunder)
Sans Sucre Cinnamon Sugar (to taste) ice
blend thoroughly

Snicker
splash Snicker doodle coffee
splash Vitamite
splash water
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
ice
Blend thoroughly. Don't have Snicker doodle coffee? Substitute regular coffee, SF hazelnut syrup and the SF cinnamon sugar. This one is excellent!!!!

Snickers Candy Bar
splash chocolate caramel coffee
splash Vitamite
splash water
1 tsp peanut butter or SF peanut butter syrup
chocolate protein powder
ice
Blend thoroughly. Don't have chocolate caramel coffee? You can substitute it with regular coffee, SF caramel syrup, SF chocolate syrup (optional) if you want even more of a chocolaty taste.

Strawberry Berry Berry
1 scoop of Strawberry Pro Blend 55
4 strawberries (frozen or fresh)
1/4 cup of blueberries
1 cup of cranberry juice
1 cup ice or crushed ice
Put all ingredients into blender and mix to desired consistency. Serve cold.

Strawberry Chocolate Milk
2 Scoops Strawberry Carb Solutions
1 Scoop (use the Carb Solutions scoop) Carnation Fat Free Hot Cocoa
14 ounces water
Mix in blender with ice for a "shake" or shake inshaker for a more milky consistency

Strawberry for Protein Dummies
10 frozen strawberrys
1/2 small banana
1 scoop (23g) Biochem's Ultimate LO Carb Whey (Natural Flavor)
8 oz Water
1/3 cup Carnation Nonfat Dry Milk
Splenda to taste
*Note: I found the protein by going to a local health food store and asking for a whey protein with the LEAST taste and that mixed easily into water*

Tropical Breakfast Smoothie
1 cup fresh cut-up strawberries
8 oz pineapple chunks in natural juice
1 fresh banana sliced
1/2 cup cholesterol free egg product
1 scoop vanilla protein powder of choice
Put all ingredients except ice in blender, blend until smooth, add ice and blend to frozen smoothie consistency. This recipe yields more than one serving

Two Berry Delight
1 cup frozen or fresh strawberries
1/2 cup raspberries
1/2 cup water
1 cup ice
1 packet of sweetener
1/2 cup milk
1 cup orange juice vitamins or protein powder
Put all ingredients except ice in blender and blend until smooth. Add ice and blend to give it a frozen smoothie consistency

Vanilla Butterscotch
8 oz cold water
2 scoops vanilla ProScore
1T butterscotch sugar-free pudding
4 ice cubes
1 T vanilla sugar free pudding
4-5 ice cubes
blend it all, and let it set up a little, and it tastes all custardy.

Vanilla Chai
Vanilla protein powder
8 oz iced Chai tea (made from tea bag and refrigerated)
dash of cinnamon
little Splenda
splash of soy milk
Blend and enjoy

Vanilla Frosty
1 1/2 scoops HDT 5+1 vanilla protein powder
1/2 to 1 container Dannon Fit and Light yogurt (any flavor)
3/4 c water or soy milk
10-12 ice cubes
Blend in blender until the consistency of a Wendy's frosty

Vanilla PB Fruity
2 scoops ProScore 100 vanilla
1 T sugar free vanilla pudding mix
8 oz water,
1T or to taste berry or raspberry or peach or other sugar-free syrup (0 calories)
3-5 ice cubes
2 t peanut butter-crunchy kind
Blend before adding peanut butter, add peanut butter and blend again till ice slivers. Note: (if you put in too many ice cubes, it will dilute the peanutty taste)...

Vanilla Spice Freeze
2 scoops ProScore 100 vanilla
2 T vanilla Sugar Free pudding mix
pinch of cinnamon
pinch of cloves
Blend, store in freezer until it gets thick. Yummmmm

Vanilla vanilla citrus
2 oz of refrigerated water
1/4 lime, (including rind) cut up in about 4-6 pieces
Piece of fresh ginger to taste
About 1/2 t. vanilla Blend. 45
Chuck in about 6 cubes, one at a time, till dissolved,
add 2 scoops of ProScore 100 Vanilla,
swirl in a little cinnamon, while still blending.
Add all except ice, ProScore and cinnamon. Blend. Add remaining ingredients and blend again.

White Chocolate Mouse _Mocha Frappachino
splash Vitamite
splash water
1 scoop PB55 _Mocha Frappachino
1/2 tsp. SF Jell-O White Chocolate Mouse Pudding
handful of ice
Blend thoroughly, sweeten to taste (Optional)

Peanut Brittle Protein Shake
2 scoops vanilla protein powder
2 tbsp sugar-free instant butterscotch pudding mix (dry)
1 tbsp natural peanut butter (smooth or chunky)
8 oz. water (or low-fat milk)
3-6 ice cubes
Add all ingredients to blender, whip, and serve. I like to use chunky peanut peanut butter and add it last so that it it stays chunky (like peanut brittle) but it tastes just as good with a smoother consistency.

Cinnamon Roll Protein Shake
2 scoops vanilla protein powder
1 tbsp sugar-free instant vanilla pudding
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp imitation vanilla (or 1/4 tsp extract)
1 packet artificial sweetener
a few dashes butter flavor sprinkles or butter-flavor extract
8 oz. water (or low-fat milk)
3 ice cubes
Add all ingredients to blender, whip, and serve.

The Hulk Protein Shake
2 scoops vanilla protein
1 ½ tbsp sugar-free pistachio pudding mix
1 mint leaf or a few drops peppermint extract (optional)
a few drops green food coloring (optional)
8 oz. cold water (or low-fat milk)
3-5 ice cubes
Add all ingredients to blender, blend, and pour into cup. This tastes great without the mint so don't worry if you don't have it around.

Instant Breakfast
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup milk skim
1 package of carnation instant breakfast
1 scoop of protein
4 ice cubes
Blend

Strawberry Instant Breakfast
1cup skim milk
1 packet of instant breakfast
1 scoop protein
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
blend 45 seconds

 

Berry Smoothie

1 scoop of protein (20g)
1 BIG Tablespoon of frozen unsweetened OJ
1 banana
A handful of blueberries, strawberries, or pineapple
Crushed ice
Dash of water
Splenda to taste

 

Mocha Instant Breakfast
SF Carnation Instant Breakfast
2c. NF low carb milk
1 tsp decaf coffee
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/2 scoop protein powder
Mix until smooth
This gives you 38g of protein!

 

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
1/2 cup pure pumpkin

1 cup skim milk

1 scoop vanilla flavored protein powder

2 T light cream cheese

Splenda to taste

Pinch of cinnamon

Pinch of nutmeg

Ice cubes

Top with 2 T Cool Whip Free

MAKES 1 SERVING

CALORIES       295

PROTEIN          32 gm

FIBER                 5 gm

Apple Pie Frosty

1 1/2 scoops HDT 5+1 vanilla protein powder
1 apple, peeled, cored, and sliced or 1/2 C no-sugar-added
applesauce
2 packets Splenda
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 t nutmeg
3/4 C water
8-10 ice cubes Blend thoroughly and drink up

 

 

 

To boost any of the shakes, you can add 1/3 to 1/2 a banana (taste will be slightly affected). You can also use Carb Countdown Milk Beverage instead of skim milk. I do this when I'm really hungry and want a big shake. I can double the amount of liquid for the same calories!

Don’t forget to add peanut butter anytime for a completely different shake!

Plateau Buster Diet

How to break a plateau

#1 - Do this for 10 days to break a plateau

#2 - Drink 2 quarts of water a day

#3 - You must have 45 grams of protein and all your vitamins/minerals supplements each day

#4 - You may consume up to 3 oz of the following high protein foods, 5x a day

beef
pork
chicken
turkey
lamb
fish
eggs
low fat cheese
cottage cheese
plain yogurt or artificially sweetened (?)
peanut butter
beans/legumes

You may also have:

sugar free popsicles
tea or coffee
sugar free soda
sugar free jello
broths/bullion (sp?)
crystal light drinks

#5 - If it's not on the list, you can't have it for 10 days!!!!

#6 - Keep a food diary and try to get up to 30 mins of exercise daily

Went in to Dr. office today and met with nurse practitioner.  She was great at answering my questions, agreed with my goal weight, and told me my list of short-term goals was within reason though maybe a little aggressive.  We'll give it 3 months and reevaluate.   I was so excited to get on the scales and see 283.5 - that means I've lost 8.5 lbs already.  Just a drop in the bucket, but thinking that when I weigh the morning of surgery it will possibly be in the 270's... that's just way cool.

Got all my bloodwork done (ouchie!), EKG, chest xray.  Hope and pray everything comes out okay.

Met two really nice women in the dr. waiting room, one who is having surgery by the same dr. on the same day as me.  I gave them both my OH username and told them to logon!  There's so much good information on here.

So... six more days of preop diet and then the big day will be here!!

I got a call at work this afternoon at work from the surgery scheduler at my Dr. office.  She said they needed to switch a few things around with the surgery schedule, and asked if it would be possible for me to get my surgery TWO  DAYS  EARLIER  than planned.  Was she serious?!?  Duh... that'd be a big yes!!  So I changed my time off from work and will now be taking off 3 days + weekend and a holiday for 6 days recovery before going back.  Works out even better than I planned!

The first thing that popped in my head was, "Hallelujah... two less days of pre-op diet!!  haha

I'm ready... let's do it!