Syntrax Matrix Perfect Chocolate Protein Powder

Okay, THANK Goodness for the makers of this stuff.  Totally not disgusting protein powder!  I HAD to give a BIG mention about this.  Only because after searching through countless products and trying many of them, not to mention, spending money on them after they are now sitting unopened in my closet or opened and sealed because they are nasty, this is one product i swear by!  It's so tasty.  I also bought the cookies n' cream (which is personally not my favorite flavor), they also have vanilla, chocolate as you see (this is my favorite so far), orange cream, strawberry and banana's n' cream.  I plan on getting the banana's n' cream one soon because I know i love banana's so that might be a tasty treat.

By all mean, BUY this protein powder before you try anything else.  The best part is they sell it here in town and not only that but they sell it for a low price of only $19.99 for a 2lb jug!  Woo hoo!!!

A BIG thumbs up to Syntrax Matrix Perfect Chocolate Protein Powder!

-Stephanie

Citracal Calcium Citrate w/Vitamin D - PETITES

I will say this quickly.  I was highly disappointed when i opened up this bottle and realized that it was not in any way petite at all!  I laughed and said "goodness, if this is petite then what the heck does the regular pill look like?" ha! What a joke. 

Anyways, these are sitting in my cupboard for a time when I'm able to swallow large pills.  So for now they will wait until a later date to be taken. 

Although I'd like to give this a thumbs up for being an "option" at least, and for FUTURE endeavors I cannot at the moment give this a thumbs up because I'm only a little over 8 weeks out and the feelings of "doom" after taking a pill this big with my itty bitty pouch is not quite the best comfort for a gastric bypass person.  So for now, a thumbs down.  :(

-Stephanie

Bariatric Advantage Calcium Citrate Lozenges w/Vitamin D

Since Dr. Felix's office was out of the liquid calcium that I was used to, I decided to try a little something else, i needed my calcium so I asked and they had these lozenges.  I guess on the way out the door I read the bottle wrong because I could have sworn it said "chewables" but i quickly found out I was wrong when i turn it around and the directions noted that you put it in your mouth and let it dissolve. WHOOPS!  Yeah, rude awakening.  It wasn't horrible chewed up, but it did get kind of stuck in my teeth, and the chalkiness of it was a bit unnerving.  I won't do that the next time.  All in all, these don't have the BEST flavor, I haven't tried the other flavors which are; wild cherry, mint and cinnamon.  I can tell you though that chocolate isn't HORRIBLE, but it will get me by.  It will help me get my calcium in.

The reason I'm going to post so many calcium things on here (3 to be exact) is because I have tried all three.  The reason I absolutely cannot do the "pill" form is because at this point in my a little over 8 weeks post-op I have found that I'm still not cool with swallowing those bigger than normal pills.  I just hate swallowing pills in general.  Before surgery though it was never a problem you could have given me a horse pill and I could have swallowed it with no issues at all, now, not-so much!

Another big thumbs up to: Bariatric Advantage Calcium Citrate Lozenges w/Vitamin D.

-Stephanie

Wellesse Liquid Calcium Citrate & Vitamin D

This is an item that came in my $950 kit from Dr. Felix's office the day before my surgery.  This was a lifesaver after surgery and after trying to deal with so many pills and chewable vitamins.  I most definitely recommend this for those of you who are less than six weeks post op.

As you know, i had a few complications, nothing TOO major, and i'm still alive and i wouldn't change a thing I am happy with my decision.  Life is MUCH BETTER!  YAY!  Anyways, with my complications getting even liquid down, you can imagine my struggle to choke down pills both for acid prevention and for my still existing gallbladder.  Then the chewable vitamins and iron pill as well.  This was a breath of fresh air. 

WORD OF ADVICE:  Please always remember, NEVER take this with your iron pill.  It will not absorb.  Nor will your iron.  That's what i was told from my surgeon's office.  They know best!  You may take this with your regular multivitamin though.  Remember to only take 1 tbsp. at a time.  Although it says you take 2, your body can only absorb 500mg at a time so just take 1 tbps. at a time and then wait at least 1 hour before taking another.  :)

A big thumbs up to the Wellesse Liquid Calcium Citrate (never use carbonate, it doesn't absorb in our pouches!) & Vitamin D.

-Stephanie

Product Reviews

So I just wanted to let everyone know that I'll be spending a lot of time on product reviews for those of us bariatric and soon-to-be bariatric people.  I have been through so many different kinds of protein shakes, the powder AND the liquid that I NEED to notify you all about what is "tasty" and what is just down-right NASTY!

I have also been testing out different pills, some of the time though I go back to dr. felix's office to purchase their very reasonably priced products.  I will also share my thoughts on the products I received in the $950 kit I was given the day before my surgery. 

Join me, and leave your feedback.  If you have any ideas on great products for all of us, please leave me comments.  I'll be happy to post a product review on that product as well for us all. 

Thanks and happy weight loss to everyone!

Sorry for my absence...I am back.

So, just to give a quick update.  Monday i will finally be allowed solid foods, but not EVERYTHING.  I still have to stay away from those scary carbs like; bread, pasta, rice and tortilla's. 

I have had 3 endoscopy's to get me where I am at today and I'm thankful that I no longer have to deal with not being able to hold down mush, much less WATER.  Even that was coming up.  I'm also thankful to be able to eat mush even.  I was on liquids, which actually, I was only able to drink water, nothing else.  Other stuff came back up...anyways, i was on water for about a month.  hence the quick weight loss. 

Plateau...
I did hit this.  A "plateau".  All in part to starting mush after one whole month of ONLY water.  My poor body went into shock and held on to EVERYTHING.  I even gained about 3 pounds.  I have since lost one of those 3 pounds and I know for sure, it will continue to come off. 

Today I felt really good and decided to give "turkey jerky" a try.  I had been eating it.  Although, i think i ate too much.  I over stuffed myself.  I feel guilty about it, but then again, I know i'll NEVER do that again.  Lesson learned.  It's SOOO not fun throwing up turkey jerky that's been chewed to the best you could do.  Sometimes not exactly TOTALLY chewed enough.  Reason I threw up was because I couldn't chew it thoroughly.  Bad idea.  No more turkey jerky for me.  Although it was delicious, it definitely WAS NOT fun coming back up.  Therefore, Turkey Jerky will take a rest for a "later" date.  :) LOL!

I have been updating my youtube videos as much as possible.  Check them out if you haven't yet.  It's not necessarily for anything other than a purpose for myself to see what a different I have made in weight loss.  When i was young and thin, i thought i was fat.  So, this is so I don't EVER do that again.  When i get to my goal weight, i will NEVER doubt myself, feel depressed because I'm not thinner than SOME girls, and I will not let myself down again...EVER! 

I want to take a second though before I end this to thank God who helped me through such a ROUGH time.  Who let me live through such a horrific experience.  Even when I was laying there LITERALLY dying, people crying around me, I managed to live.  I prayed a LOT while I was in the hospital and I know the reason WITHOUT-A-DOUBT was because of Jesus that I am still here today to talk about it.  God Bless those of you about to have this surgery, my prayers will be with you.  Those who have had the surgery, my prayers are with you as well.  Hang in there! :)

Steph

long awaited update...

I know i wrote an entry about day one in the hospital but i was in the hospital for 7 days so i figured with being behind on updating on here, i will just sum it up.

Please understand i am in no way trying to discourage anyone. This is just the truth not all of these surgeries come with no complications.

My case is a good example.

I had not one but two surgeries, got pneumonia when under anastesia the 2nd time. Had a catheder in my neck and well... You know. Had multiple xrays, i literally lost count.

Got out of the hospital and was having troubles. I had these really uncomfortable foamy burps. So i found out i had stenosis and would need an endoscopy. Got that done but dr said he could only slightly dilate me cuz i was only two 1/2 weeks out from surgery and that i would probably need to get another one done when i hit 3 weeks. So i went back and got a 2nd endoscopy. I was told it should be the last one.

Turns out that was wrong i go back again tomorrow for another endoscopy. Number 3! I hope it fixes it cuz i have been on water for 7 straight days, no food. By the time this is all done it will be 10 days of just water. I have been really cranky cuz i am soo hungry.

So thanks to everyone for your prayers and please continue to pray i really need it.

I guess i will end this now, tried to sum it up a bit and i am sorry for not updating in so long. Just been a tough couple weeks.

Steph

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