To Melanie

I am not sure if you received my response. Just in case, here is 'public' version:

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Hi Melanie,
Congratulations on your surgery - big step!
To answer your question, try to get unflavored protein mix and add it to chicken broth. Greek yogurt (which has a lot of live cultures and is thicker) is good easy start. Also try Kefir - not many people know about it - but it is not just pro-biotic but PRE-biotic, in other words it has nutrients to feed pro-biotic bacteria.
I live only a block from Trader Joe - and the books are:

Cooking with all things Trader Joe
(http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-All-Things-Trader-Joes/dp/0979938414/ref=sr_1)

And
The I Love Trader Joe (http://www.amazon.com/Love-Trader-Joes-Cookbook-Delicious/dp/1569757178/ref )

Good luck to you - and do not get discouraged. The first three months could be unpleasant, but every time I test my blood sugar and step on the scale - I and incredibly happy.

Best wishes!


___________________

Thaddeus

4 Months

Today is 4 months since the surgery.
I started with BMI above 40 as 'severely obese', at the day of my surgery I was in the top of 'obese' category. Only yesterday I crossed from 'obese'  into  'overweight' range below 30.
So I am just 'overweight' now. Sweet.

100 Kg Milestone Smashed

This morning, after few days of reverse direction, my weight dropped to 218.8 lbs, well below 100Kg mark.
The bad news: my belly button is now 2 inches lower than it used to be. 8^)

Zombie Attack

Yesterday I had another zombie attack. I slept most of the day and night, and today I am just fine. I guess that was what I needed and the rest helped. I know that out of over 1600 (!) people who read this blog, many are either expecting surgery, or already had it and I am just few steps ahead. Of course nobody states that my experiences are 'typical' but generally you might expect similar situations. Just like nausea and puking in the beginning, tiredness later. I am trying to listen to my body and follow its requests. No time to be macho...

Practical Tips (2)

After bypass surgery there is unbalance in fiber consumption. I solved it in a very simple way. I use two kinds of Benefiber. One, unflavored, purchased in large 1.6 lb containers, dissolves almost instantly and does not change (significantly) the flavor of drink. I add it to coffee substitutes, etc. Another kind, flavored, comes in little convenient tubes, each suppose to be dissolved in 16 oz. of water. I use one for my 32 oz bottle. Makes a pleasing drink, and two bottles like this satisfy the 64oz water consumption requirement. Since I started doing this about month ago, I have no problems where I used to get 'stuck' before.

Practical Tips

I would like to share some of the practical 'survival' tips that I use.

1. Fortify the protein:
   I use unflavored protein mix (many varieties).  For example: one container of Nile Organic Potato and Leak soup, just add boiling water and wait 5 minutes, has 110 calories and only 4 grams of protein. That means only 16 calories are from the protein - less than 15%. I try to keep my daily ratio of protein calories to total calories above 35%. By adding half scoop of protein mix (60 calories, 12 grams of protein, 80% ratio), my soup meal becomes 170 calories, 16 grams of protein, 37.6% ratio. I am still not dealing well with meat, so this 'trick' is sure way to boost protein intake and still create easily digestible meal.
2. Eat soups:
   I work a lot, live by myself and cooking is not really what I want to do. Soups (fortified with protein mix) solved my problem. Some of my favorites:
   
- Trader Joe Beef and Barley (200 cal, 14g protein - serves two meals) - a small carton. 

- Nile Organic few varieties - single meal, a cup with dry soup - add boiling water.

- Health Valley Organic - microwavable.. - meal and a half. 

1. Other foods - quick, convenient, and tolerable:
   
- Light string cheese 

- Cooked shrimp 

- Fish (sashimi or broiled) 

- Cottage cheese (organic with live cultures - many store brands are 'dead') 

- Organic yogurt and kefir (again, live cultures!) 

- Canned tuna - go for better ones. 

- Trader's Joe reduced fat smoked Gouda. 

1. Grain beverage as a coffee substitution and use DAIRY dry non-fat milk based creamer.
   

Energy is Back

I cannot explain and I wish I knew. Yesterday I had a heavy day of lectures in front of 450 students, Bariatric Center Support group meeting, etc. I was expecting my lately usual crash, but as of 11PM I was still full of juice. Today - same thing. I will go to the gym, just returned from nice one hour walk, had my Office Hours with number of students, life is great!
I am puzzled, but also relieved as I suspected that something might be going wrong...
I am glad I did not call my doc for an appointment.

To Billy in N.C.

Billy, I responded to you but the email bounces back. Good luck to you and thank you for the email.

Status

The fourth month after the surgery starts with two major themes.

• I can eat more different foods, however still stay away from solid dry textures. I have to eat slowly, or face the punishment. I have to chew, chew, which somehow I forget as old habits die hard.  
• Second prevailing motif is my tiredness. I feel great, but tired, tired, tired. I sleep 12 hours per day, and that's not enough. I was told that it's normal, but doesn't feel normal to me. Even though I signed up for the gym membership, I am just too tired to go there. Sounds like an excuse, I know, but it is not. I go home instead, to bed, and in 5 minutes I am sleeping like I was on drugs. I am wondering if this is a symptom of some deficiency and I am planning to see my doctor. However at the Bariatric Center last week they told me that any deficiencies will not show up on the tests until 6 month after surgery. At the same time they said that being tired is normal at this stage. My system went through a major surgery, rearranged digestive system, lost 75 lbs, all this puts a stress on me. May be the sleep is what I need more than exercise at this juncture. I am planning to take an easy day today - go for a walk, watch the Ducks game on TV, sleep. Tomorrow I will be mostly in my office working.