My weight loss journey began on July 13th, 2006 with my initial consult with my bariatric surgeon. Between then and my surgery on August 29th, 2006, I lost 24 pounds. On September 13th, 2006, I measured my body for the first time. I wish now that I had done so way back in July before my weight loss journey began! I don't have a "true" beginning point for my measurements because I'd already lost about 40 pounds by the first time I measured myself.
BUT, as of today (March 1st, 2008), I have documented a loss of 170 inches from all over my body! WoooooHoooooo!!! LOL I swear that losing the first 100 inches feels even better than reaching that first 100 pounds lost and joining the century club! It is an awesome feeling! And, seeing that you've dropped several inches can go along way towards making up for even a 2 month long stall!
I cannot encourage you pre-ops enough to MEASURE yourself early! I wish someone at my surgeon's office had suggested it at that initial consult! Measure yourself so that even during weight loss stalls you can see that you are losing inches. And, take good FULL BODY before pics to compare to later when you just can't see your own weight loss that everyone is commenting on. I know that I had lost over 100 pounds before I could really SEE the loss that others were commenting on. I truly didn't see it until the first time I tried on clothing that fit me properly after losing over 100 pounds and dropping from a size 36 to a 26 or 28. I guess that as long as I was WEARING the 4X clothing, in my mind I still WAS a size 4X. But, when you stand in front of the mirror in clothing that fits properly, it is very hard to deny that you have lost the weight and your body is shrinking and reshaping! What a wonderful feeling!
I know that I will emphasize the importance of measuring to anyone I know who is planning surgery. It is great to be able to document not just pounds lost but also inches! Measure at the same time each month and write down your numbers so that you can tell month-to-month how many inches you've lost!
Saturday, March 1, 2008
What do you look for in a bariatric program?
I've talked to folks who went with the first surgeon they ever had a consult with. And, I've also talked to folks who went with the surgeon they "thought could get me approved." But, for those of you who saw more than one surgeon and then chose between them and the differing programs offered, what factors helped you decide who to use?
The item of the greatest concern is usually a surgeon's complication rate. You can't help but want to know how many of your surgeon's patients have died during or as a result of surgery. And, you need to know what sort of complications are common amongst your surgeon's patients. But, what should be, in my opinion, of the greatest concern in a surgeon's program is the amount and type of pre-op and post-op education you are given about the surgery, the changes to your anatomy, and how to adapt your life and eating habits in order to have the most successful WLS experience. My surgeon has a program that includes dietary learning before surgery and 1 year of post-op follow up and education workshops. This is included in the cost of your surgery and a small "education" fee ($275) that is due before surgery. It also includes the option to meet with a nurse or the dietician once a month for that year if you feel the need. They also have a support group that meets monthly in his office and it is pretty well attended (20+ at most meetings, ranging from new post-ops to folks 3+ years out). The dietician is at most support group meetings as well and is willing to stand and talk to you before or after the meeting if you have questions that can't be answered in the flow of the meeting itself.
I have been very happy with my choice of surgeon and programs. I just wondered how everyone else felt and what factors most influenced your decision...
The item of the greatest concern is usually a surgeon's complication rate. You can't help but want to know how many of your surgeon's patients have died during or as a result of surgery. And, you need to know what sort of complications are common amongst your surgeon's patients. But, what should be, in my opinion, of the greatest concern in a surgeon's program is the amount and type of pre-op and post-op education you are given about the surgery, the changes to your anatomy, and how to adapt your life and eating habits in order to have the most successful WLS experience. My surgeon has a program that includes dietary learning before surgery and 1 year of post-op follow up and education workshops. This is included in the cost of your surgery and a small "education" fee ($275) that is due before surgery. It also includes the option to meet with a nurse or the dietician once a month for that year if you feel the need. They also have a support group that meets monthly in his office and it is pretty well attended (20+ at most meetings, ranging from new post-ops to folks 3+ years out). The dietician is at most support group meetings as well and is willing to stand and talk to you before or after the meeting if you have questions that can't be answered in the flow of the meeting itself.
I have been very happy with my choice of surgeon and programs. I just wondered how everyone else felt and what factors most influenced your decision...
Another day down... Day 4 of back on track
Today (Saturday) was day 4 of my back on track program... I got off to a fair start, then the Kay's Naturals order showed up and I ate a whole bag of the butter pretzels! So, let's see how the day worked out:
breakfast--1 oz Kay's Naturals french vanilla Protein Os cereal
snack--Carb Master yogurt and mixed nuts
lunch--salad with leftover steak and cheese on top
snack--Kay's Naturals butter pretzel twists (1.5 servings)
dinner--taco salad with meat sauce and cheese
before bed--Atkins Advantage chocolate coconut protein bar
For the day, that works out to 1580 calories, 80 carbs and 123 protein. The 80 carbs wouldn't be as bad if it weren't NET carbs! It was actually 118 total carbs. But, there were a lot of salad veggies in there too! And, 28 grams of fiber is nothing to sneeze at when you fight constipation as regularly as I do. So, all in all, I guess not a terrible day. I also got in my full gallon of liquids by like 8 pm, so will be closer to 150 or more ounces by the end of the night.
The scale was down to 201.8 this morning. It would be SO cool to see 199.9 even by Monday when I see my surgeon for my 18 mos postop appt. We'll see if it actually happens!
breakfast--1 oz Kay's Naturals french vanilla Protein Os cereal
snack--Carb Master yogurt and mixed nuts
lunch--salad with leftover steak and cheese on top
snack--Kay's Naturals butter pretzel twists (1.5 servings)
dinner--taco salad with meat sauce and cheese
before bed--Atkins Advantage chocolate coconut protein bar
For the day, that works out to 1580 calories, 80 carbs and 123 protein. The 80 carbs wouldn't be as bad if it weren't NET carbs! It was actually 118 total carbs. But, there were a lot of salad veggies in there too! And, 28 grams of fiber is nothing to sneeze at when you fight constipation as regularly as I do. So, all in all, I guess not a terrible day. I also got in my full gallon of liquids by like 8 pm, so will be closer to 150 or more ounces by the end of the night.
The scale was down to 201.8 this morning. It would be SO cool to see 199.9 even by Monday when I see my surgeon for my 18 mos postop appt. We'll see if it actually happens!
Day 3 of back on track goes well...
Day 3 in my continuing saga of getting my eating back on track went well. I have been really carb-conscious and working the protein and liquids. I'm on a mission to make it to onederland!
breakfast--Atkins chocolate PB protein bar
snack--none
lunch--butter beans and green beans and one slice cheddar cheese
snack--a few almonds and a string cheese
dinner--salad and steak!
bedtime snack--Atkins chocolate coconut protein bar
Totals for the day ended up being 128 ozs clear liquids, 1270 calories, 62 net carbs, and 114 grams of protein!
And, the scale that has said 205 to 207 since like EARLY December said 202.6 Thursday and 203.2 on Friday! Then, to make things even better, it was down to 201.8 today! So, while I am not at onderland (my goal weight for New Years, and Valentine's Day AND now Easter too), I am on the way again! LOL It would be so awesome to drop another 1.9 pounds and show up for my 18 mos postop visit on Monday afternoon at 199! That would be a total loss of 211 pounds!
Lea
breakfast--Atkins chocolate PB protein bar
snack--none
lunch--butter beans and green beans and one slice cheddar cheese
snack--a few almonds and a string cheese
dinner--salad and steak!
bedtime snack--Atkins chocolate coconut protein bar
Totals for the day ended up being 128 ozs clear liquids, 1270 calories, 62 net carbs, and 114 grams of protein!
And, the scale that has said 205 to 207 since like EARLY December said 202.6 Thursday and 203.2 on Friday! Then, to make things even better, it was down to 201.8 today! So, while I am not at onderland (my goal weight for New Years, and Valentine's Day AND now Easter too), I am on the way again! LOL It would be so awesome to drop another 1.9 pounds and show up for my 18 mos postop visit on Monday afternoon at 199! That would be a total loss of 211 pounds!
Lea
Product Review: Kay's Naturals Golden Butter Pretzels
Darn you Melting Mama! LOL I clicked over to your You Tube video review of this product and left it to download after I went to bed last night. (dialup SUCKS!) This morning when I woke up, I clicked the replay button and watched it. You make good points about how pretzels can be the downfall of a WLS postop. You also make those pretzels sound darned good! Then, low and behold, my Kay's Naturals order is delivered today--SATURDAY! WTH! Saturday delivery by FedEx Ground out here in the boonies where they normally only deliver every OTHER day during the week! Is someone trying to tell me something??? LOL Oh, and did I mention that I just placed the Kay's Naturals order on Thursday, 2/28, and it is here on Saturday 3/1??? WOW, that was FAST!!
SO, after 3 days of working to get my eating back on track, I throw caution to the wind and crack open my case of butter pretzels.... Oh My Gosh! Those are delicious! As you said, they are not truly a "pretzel" sort of taste, but rather a combo between a pretzel and a cracker and yummy! And, every couple of bites, you get the most wonderful zest of yummy buttery deliciousness! Wow, those are good!
Kay's Naturals Golden Butter Pretzels
Nutrition Facts:
Serving Size: 1 oz
Servings per container: 1.5
Per serving:
calories--110
calories from fat--30
total fat--5 grams (1.5 saturated fat, 0 trans fat)
cholesterol--0
sodium--220 mg
total carbs--12 grams (2 fiber, 1 sugar)
protein--10 grams
From the Bag:
Better Balance snacks help you maintain balance without giving up satisfying treats. Get energized with Better Balance Non-Gluten Pretzels.
* all natural ingredients
* balance of protein and carbs
* 10 g lean soy protein per 1 oz serving
* 2 g fiber per 1 oz serving
* no trans fats
* manage your weight without giving up taste
All in all, a wonderful snack choice and a super tasting, low-carb/high protein treat for a WLS postop or just anyone! And, they would be awesome dipped in some peanut butter! And don't forget the 20% discount! Use the code "newsite" in the additional info box during checkout and they'll apply a 20% discount off your order (won't show in cart but will be applied before card is charged).
Lea
Death of a Favorite
I'm one of those folks who can't seem to find a protein shake/drink or bar that works for me. Either they are just plain nasty, they have too strong a protein taste, or they just have too danged many carbs in them. And, of course, there are many that are just too freaking expensive per serving! I am very hard to please when it comes to protein bars. First, I want at least one gram of protein PER gram of net carbs. And "net carbs" to me is carbs minus fiber grams, none of that glycemic impact crap! So, if a bar has 22 grams of net carbs but only 15 grams of protein, it is NOT going in my shopping cart. Next, I don't want 300+ calories from a protein bar even when eaten in place of a meal. So, to me, the perfect protein bar has somewhere between 170 and 250 calories. BUT, if it has a LOT of protein and less carbs than protein and can be split in half and still meet my requirements, then it will work. A good example of this is one I tried last month. It is a Detour Joyride bar. Flavor was coconut almond and it had about 340 calories, but had 30 grams of protein and 25 net carbs. SO, 1/2 of that bar would be 170 calories, 15 grams of protein, and about 13 carbs. The downfall of that one? The taste is only so-so in my book. It is okay, but not really anything to write home about. It has only a mild protein taste, but not a whole lot of other flavor/taste going for it. Would I buy it again? Maybe...
My all time favorite protein bar to date is an Atkins Advantage bar. The flavor is chocolate coconut. This bar has 230 calories, 13 net carbs (with a whopping 10 grams of fiber) and 19 grams of protein. I love 'em and I could buy them locally! They taste nothing at all like a protein bar--more like a coconut macaroon dipped in chocolate... They are so good that they are being discontinued! Well, that isn't what Atkins is telling folks, but they ARE discontinuing this flavor for some reason. And, it means that I now have to go on a search for a protein bar I can stand or perhaps even like so that I'll have an on-the-go option for protein meal replacement. The search is on!
I have tried the Atkins Advantage chocolate peanut butter bars. They are okay. No real protein taste to speak of, but just not my chocolate coconut I love so dearly! I've also tried the Atkins Advantage Caramel Double Chocolate ones which are a bit smaller and have a bit less calories, carbs, and protein. They are pretty good, but again not my chocolate coconut! Why, oh why did I have to find that darned bar! Now no other bar can measure up for my taste buds! LOL
Before you suggest them, I've also tried the Oh Yeah wafers and feel they have far too much protein taste in the pasty stuff between the wafer layers. I've tried Power Crunch in French Vanilla, Cookies and Cream, and the Peanut Butter Creme. They are okay, but leave me with a bit of a greasy feel to my mouth. I've tried a few others, but nothing comes close to measuring up to my tastes and needs in a bar so far. This evening, I ordered a box of a another one of the Atkins Advantage bars. I ordered the Caramel Double Peanut Nougat ones. Any of you tried those?? Please tell me they taste just like a Snickers bar! I am SO craving one of those just about now!
My all time favorite protein bar to date is an Atkins Advantage bar. The flavor is chocolate coconut. This bar has 230 calories, 13 net carbs (with a whopping 10 grams of fiber) and 19 grams of protein. I love 'em and I could buy them locally! They taste nothing at all like a protein bar--more like a coconut macaroon dipped in chocolate... They are so good that they are being discontinued! Well, that isn't what Atkins is telling folks, but they ARE discontinuing this flavor for some reason. And, it means that I now have to go on a search for a protein bar I can stand or perhaps even like so that I'll have an on-the-go option for protein meal replacement. The search is on!
I have tried the Atkins Advantage chocolate peanut butter bars. They are okay. No real protein taste to speak of, but just not my chocolate coconut I love so dearly! I've also tried the Atkins Advantage Caramel Double Chocolate ones which are a bit smaller and have a bit less calories, carbs, and protein. They are pretty good, but again not my chocolate coconut! Why, oh why did I have to find that darned bar! Now no other bar can measure up for my taste buds! LOL
Before you suggest them, I've also tried the Oh Yeah wafers and feel they have far too much protein taste in the pasty stuff between the wafer layers. I've tried Power Crunch in French Vanilla, Cookies and Cream, and the Peanut Butter Creme. They are okay, but leave me with a bit of a greasy feel to my mouth. I've tried a few others, but nothing comes close to measuring up to my tastes and needs in a bar so far. This evening, I ordered a box of a another one of the Atkins Advantage bars. I ordered the Caramel Double Peanut Nougat ones. Any of you tried those?? Please tell me they taste just like a Snickers bar! I am SO craving one of those just about now!
True Lemon/Lime/Orange Samples
Ever heard of True Lemon? True Lime? True Orange?? These products are powdered flavoring that can be used in beverages and more. They offer samples so that you can try them. You can purchase some of these products in local grocery stores as well as online. I know that I've seen some of them at my local Krogers and at Walmart. Here's their response when I asked about whether they offered samples:
SO, click on over and request some free samples! Not only will YOU get some, but so will some lucky soldier stuck overseas! And, while you're at their website, check out the other info there about these products!
Lea
We would be delighted to send you free samples of True Lemon, True Lime and
True Orange as well as a coupon for your first purchase.
Below is a link to register for your free samples. By registering through
this link, you will also be donating 10 packets of True Lemon to Operation
Gratitude, a wonderful non-profit that sends care packages to our troops in
Iraq and Afghanistan.
Each time someone new registers for free samples, we will donate 10 True
Lemon packets and our goal is to donate 1,000,000 packets of True Lemon for
Operation Gratitude's Patriotic Drive in May. We hope you will pass this
link to your friends and family.
http://truelemon.com/gratitude-sample.html
SO, click on over and request some free samples! Not only will YOU get some, but so will some lucky soldier stuck overseas! And, while you're at their website, check out the other info there about these products!
Lea
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