"I just found these at the Walmart Supercenter where I live (Marshfield, WI). They had a popsicle form and a cup form. I purchased the popsicle form of the regular ones. The flavors in the box are: Orange Dream; Cotton Candy; Razzle Dazzle (like Raspberry); Rainbow (reminded me of "Bomb Pops"); Banana Split; and Paradise Punch. They're all 48 calories each; no cholesterol; dairy-free (for those of us who have lactose intolerance); and only 10 grams of sugar per serving. They also make some of the above flavors in a cup form, but they're a bit higher in calories and sugar. When I visited their website, I noticed that they also make ice cream sandwiches, chocolate and fruit bars; and sugar-free popsicles. So far, the sugar-free ones are only at Sam's Club stores. They're being tested out through April of this year to see how well they sell before putting them into the Walmart stores.
It's worth checking out if you're someone who likes something sweet every now and then, but doesn't want to worry about sugar, fat, cholesterol or calories....which anyone who has had weight loss surgery or diabetes knows we need to be careful about. Alex, one of the owners, asked that anyone who tries the products and likes them, to please spread the word so that these stores will continue to sell them. If you go to their site, you can request further info and even ask for coupons to be sent to you.
I wish you all continued success and look forward to meeting some of you at the Obesity Help conference on April 2nd in Bloomington, MN :)
Andrea Harrington
WLS 12/07/2000 "
"I would only recommend this hospital to others because of the wonderful care I've received there in the past. They never cease to let me down. This is why I recommended to my best friend to apply there for a nursing position before anywhere else. She loves it there too! My only gripe would be that the recovery areas for surgery patients is not a place to get "rest". The rooms are semi-private (unless you're lucky enough to get a private room) and it's just a bit on the noisy side at times. Also, they could use a bit more parking in the Piper Building attached to the hospital (this is where patients and family go when they are being admitted for surgery). Other than that, it's a fantastic hospital!"
"This was the first protein bar that I could actually eat without wanting to chug a gallon of water after each bite or spit it out. I recommend the Chocolate Peanut Butter or Chocolate Caramel Cluster ones. The fruity/yogurt ones are not so great. They really help with keeping those carb/sugar cravings under control :)"
"I haven't had my surgery yet, but the two consults I've had with him, the good things I've heard from some of his other patients, and the phone calls to his office staff during the approval process have brought me to believe that he is an excellent surgeon. "
"I have only met Dr. Schwartz once so far. I thought he was very nice and that he genuinely understood my situation and didn't make me feel bad about being overweight.
I think that the office staff is wonderful! They try their best to answer any questions you have and seem to be very personable. I especially like the nurse, Judy Schwartz (she is Dr. Schwartz's wife). She is very professional, but also has a good sense of humor.
I guess the one thing I would let others know about Dr. Schwartz is that he is a very busy man and from what I've been told, he can sometimes come across as being a bit abrupt, but that it's only when he's running behind schedule. I was told that he's absolutely wonderful before and after surgery.
Dr. Schwartz makes a point of letting you know just how important it is that you follow the aftercare program precisely. He says that if you have any reservations of not being able to follow one or more of the requirements, you shouldn't have the surgery. He also wants to make sure that you understand not only the physical changes that will occur, but also the emotional ones. If you have any history of mental illness you have to make sure that your psychiatrist/psychologist thinks it's all right for you to have this surgery. You actually have to have a written recommendation from him/her in order to be considered for the surgery.
There is a structured aftercare program. It involves meeting with a nurse and dietician while in the hospital, visiting the surgeon's office 3 weeks after the surgery, every 3 months after that for a year, every 6 months for a year, and then once a year after that. They give you diet and exercise guidelines to follow and also let you know what to do to make your recovery a smooth one.
Dr. Schwartz does let you know about the risks of surgery during your consult. You actually learn a lot about these risks and about the procedure itself from a 2 hour class you take prior to sending in paperwork for approval of the surgery. They want to make sure you understand all of the risks before you start the approval process so you know if this is the right choice for you.
I would highly recommend Dr. Schwartz to anyone who is seriously considering gastric bypass surgery. I like the fact that he is skilled in both the "open" and "laproscopic" versions of this procedure.
I guess I would say that surgical competence would have to outweigh good bedside manner. But, it would be nice to have both in a surgeon. From what I understand, Dr. Schwartz is both. So, I'm in good hands."
