I LOVE the Full Liquid Stage!

I'm doing pretty well! I am down a total of 25 pounds since I began the pre-op liquid diet. (It had been more like 26, but I actually gained a pound since starting full liquids. I think I may have hit my first stall!)

I am a few days short of three weeks since surgery and feeling just fine. I started full liquids on Wednesday, 6/23--technically one day short of two weeks if you start counting from the day AFTER surgery, not the day of. I was thrilled to move past watered down apple juice and Isopure clear protein drinks, let me tell you.

I will readily admit that I am not quite there with my protein levels, or any levels for that matter. I've started on some gummy vitamins (they are terrible for you, but I'd like to give it some time before getting back to swallowing horse pills. Something is probably better than nothing, IMO).

I hit up Bariatric Advantage and ordered up some Omega-3 chews, calcium citrate soft chews and some chewable iron supplements. I am anxiously awaiting delivery so I can start getting in at least some of my required vitamins. Bariatric patients have strict guidelines regarding vitamin/supplement intake levels, and the main reason I had VSG was to get healthy!

Sugar-free Jello pudding is great. Sugar-free Neopolitan ice cream is amazing. I haven't been as "good" as I could be, but mind hunger just wins out sometimes. I've been right around 800 calories a day. Considering the bottomless pit I was before surgery, that is a major victory in of itself. I have some concerns about the sheer amoount of these full liquids I can consume, especially a single sitting, but from what I understand, this will improve greatly once I am eating solid food.

I just wish I felt the immediate restriction that so many other of my fellow VSGers describe. I am flabbergasted when someone posts that they cannot eat a six ounce yogurt in one sitting. WTH? I can do that with my eyes closed. I try not to do too much at one time; I do not want to damage my innards. I just can really pack it away, always could. I have a constant feeling of emptiness in my stomach and can honestly say that while I am not feeling very deprived (love that lack of ghrelin!), I could always eat (aka drink) more.

It could be that my swelling has gone down faster than some others. It is also very likely that my pouch is larger than average. I am fairly tall for a female (5'7" and a half!) and probably had a huge stomach to begin with (I regularly outeat people twice my size). Whatever, it is what it is. Liquids go through pretty quickly from what I hear.

I was previously very concerned about my stitches. Well, I removed them myself last night and am now relieved. I had seen a YouTube video of this chick who took her stitches out too soon and had like two of her incisions open right up! I waited several extra days before attempting to remove mine and they were a bit tough. I got them all though, and no re-opening! The scabs look pretty gross right now, but at least my stitches will stop catching on my clothes.

So onto one of the best parts of full liquids- Chike protein powder with plain almond milk (the almond milk adds 40 calories and 3 grams of fat per 8oz serving). I've tried the chocolate and orange creme Chike with water and it was just "okay". This morning I made up a half serving of the chocolate with almond milk and it tasted like friggin' brownie batter. Yummy. I'm looking forward to trying the other three flavors I have left (banana, strawberry and vanilla). I took advantage of Chike's special sample offer- one serving packets of all five flavors for $6.95 S&H. They also threw in two half portions of the chocolate for a total of six servings. Each full serving has 180-190 calories and 28 grams of protein. Their prices are somewhat on the high side, but worth it for the taste and the high quality. They do send a code for 25% off your first order with your samples, so that definitely helps offset the price. Slimfast low-carb tastes fairly rank to me now, so I'm happy to have found something I enjoy. I have chocolate Isagenix (not the best choice as far as calories/carbs, etc., but I've always liked adding a half portion of the vanilla to my frozen fruit smoothies in the past), some unflavored GNC protein (haven't found a use for it yet; maybe I'll try blending some into my Activa yogurt) and a big tub of something from Walmart that is probably crap. Needless to say, I'll be taking FULL advantage of that 25% off Chike coupon in the very near future. Their website is chikenutrition.com if anyone is interested.