atPeace55

Total Transformation!! You look great - Congratulations!!!

Well i'm trying my best over these hot summer months to stay very hydrated which is very important. We have been hitting the 100's lately and working out in the heat or just hanging out in the sunshine can be draining. I love water but, a friend of mine suggested that I try coconut water, believe it or not i've never tried it before - i've seen it everywhere but never had the urge to try it - mind you I like coconut cake, coconut milkshakes and coconut cream pie! (I know I know all fatty) ! I even use raw unrefined coconut oil & cream in my hair to naturally moisture it but never drank the water. So my friend was like, you should try it, it's so good for you. So I decided to see why it's considered so good for me before I go and buy it right?!?! Turns out that "Coconut Water" is the latest beverage trend and its health claims are many, from preventing cancer to curing hangovers (Hmmm sounds interesting) LOL! It's a clear liquid found in young green coconuts, It also says out there in internet land that it slows aging, promote smoother skin, regulate blood pressure, lower cholesterol, break up kidney stones, and cure a range of digestive disorders. (Sounds like a cure all and a age definer) Hmm Alrighty then! Can it Really Cure Cancer??? When it comes to cancer, no major studies link coconut water to cancer prevention. Some of the compounds in coconut water, such as selenium, have antioxidant properties and fight cancer in the lab, but many common fruits and vegetables are packed with these compounds. (That's more like it, was sounding too good to be true) What about Hydration? When someone exercises heavily, the body can lose electrolytes via sweat. Electrolytes are elements that carry a charge, either positive or negative. The natural balance of electrolytes keeps our body’s cells running smoothly. Sodium, potassium and magnesium are electrolytes, and coconut water has them all especially sodium and potassium. The handful of studies on exercise and coconut water suggests that after vigorous exercise, coconut water has the same positive effect as a sport drink. But most people do not exercise at such strenuous levels that they would need to replenish their electrolytes. (This is the information that I have been commonly finding out there on the internet - I can believe that) So How does it Taste? To be honest when I first tasted it I didn't like it at ALL! To me it had too much of a strong coconut taste, it's thicker then water and it's kind of salty to me if that makes any sense kind of like gatorade. So my first try was not the best. I did however give it a go again and this time I found one that was blended with another flavor (peach and mango) I put it in the freezer to make sure it was super cold - a friend told me to do that and I tried it again.......Still kind of salty tasting maybe that's the potassium but after a few more drinks of it my palette started getting use to it so, it's not so bad! Will it totally replace water for me? Not so much like I said I LOVE Ice cold water but it's an alternative - a healthly alternative that I will put in my rotation for hydrating myself. I definitely want to try it after and/or during a workout at the gym to see how it makes me feel. So is it a cure all or some sort of superfood? In my opinion based on what I've read I don't think so but it can be many things for many different types of people. It is refreshing, it's not sugary like flavored water (which I hate), it's high in potassium which is good, low in calories - the one I have now is 60 calories per 8 fl. oz and it about 2 serving in this contain so that's about 120 calories. Thus far I like it! I would encourage you to check it out for yourself if interested and let me know your thoughts. I have attached a pic of the one that I like drinking thus far.

These two make my day a little lighter. Since my surgery I have had like most folks i've seen on here really bad acid reflux. I usually take a PPI - Protonics but my surgeon doesn't want me to stay on them long time he suggested that I get another GI and that I may need to have a revison to the RNY (not happening)! I continue to search for natural remedies to resolve this issue but until then these two are my "Besties"!!

Thank you ALL for your wonderful and supportive comments, I know what I did was far from cheating, this is a lifestyle change unlike any other and I decided to take this journey and it has been the most successful for me. I've met alot of encouraging folks along the way! And if I had it to do all over again I would still make the same choice hands down!!

Do you know that stress and worry can cause you to stall in your weight loss? Relax and follow the process. Stop looking at the scale it's making you anxious now and it probably made you anxious pre surgery when you were trying to lose weight right so stay away from it. I only got weigh during my follow up appts. with my surgeon other than that I went by the way my clothes kept getting bigger and bigger and that made me smile. Believe me don't worry just relax and enjoy the journey you will see that wait come off, be anxious for nothing!!

I may not be like others when it comes to this but there is a reason why and it was confirmed for me recently why I don't really talk about it much. I was talking with a family member who knows that I had the VSG surgery last year and they have put on a few pounds recently (well over time). We were speaking of the US standard of BMI and I had stated that with all i've lost i'm still considered "overweight", and they said oh yeah well what do they say about my weight and I said well I don't really know your size but it you are 200 lbs or more and based on your height you are probably considered "obese". I even said a year ago I was considered "morbidly obese" according to the standards but i'm glad i'm not there anymore. Well once I said that they stated well if it had not been for the surgery you would probably still be but you "CHEATED"!! I was like cheated - really?? At that point I confirmed that no matter how many people say congratulations or i'm proud of you or you did it! In the back of some of their minds they feel "I Cheated"! That's why I don't tell people I just say I had my gall badder removed (which is true) and I can no longer eat the way I use too and I exercise and eat right (which is all true). I did not know there was a right or a wrong way; a honest way or a chearters way of losing weight?? Do you?! Just because I didn't join Weight Watchers again for the 4th time or try the lastest fad diet like most of my friends and drop some weight and then blow back up again shortly after does that make me a cheater? It doesn't matter if I slaved away in a gym 5 days a week or that I still need to eat right and be mindful of what I eat they still see me as a cheater! I hate that stigma but, at the end of the day I made a decision that was best for me and my life, i'm not coping out to being a cheater - I still have to put in the work both physically and mentally despite what people may think about bariactric surgery and it's supposed "quick fix". I've seen people gain it all back so I know that it is not a quick fix and you still have to work at it - it's a tool. Used wisely or unwisely you will it the fruits of it. I just needed to vent I guess and it hurt me to hear that from a loved one but like I said that's why it has been a personal choice of mine not to be forth coming with this journey of mine because of that very comment. Hopefully one day I will feel open enough to let more people in on my journey but until then that's why I have my VST family where i'm not judged!

Congratulations!!!!

My BMI is -- 25.11

Congrats on the 127lbs weight loss! How long have you been at a stand still? I know sometimes it helps me to go back on the liquids (juicing) or homemade smoothies to help me restart my weight loss or if i'm feeling like I need to give me system a break. Just a suggestion not sure if you have tried it or not. I do it for about 7-10 days. You're not that far from your goal so don't give up and you are still a success 127lbs is alot!!

No one notice for me either than that changed very quickly - trust me!

I thank you for that reply - I was questioning all these procedures but your words made sense. It is just so stressful and I just want it to be over with. But again thank you!

Been awhile VST..Well had my VSG on May 10th it went well but I had trouble eating and consuming enough Water so I was very dehydrated, I had acid reflux from H*** - found out that the forgot to prescribe my Pantoprazole to help me with that so for my 1st Post OP appt. the day before I had noticed yellow jaudice in my eyes. Went to my appt. spoke with the surgeon and told him what I had been experiencing for the last 13 days and he recommended that I go to ER for a few hours and have them put and IV in me for a few hours and get some fluids back in me so I wouldn't feel so exhausted so I did that and I was feeling alot better however, they started doing ultrasounds and X rays because I told them I had problems eating anything and only being able to take two sips of water and then I hear that horrible GERRGLING sound. They took samples of my urine everything next thing you know a POST OP tuned into a 6 hour visit in the ER and I never left the hospital for 8 days!! End result I had 3 ERCP attempts (going down my throat to examine and suck out bile and sand/stones from gallbladder) however liver elevations where still high (peribellum) so they ended up removing my Gallbladder! It was the worst time ever being suddenly told that each day that we need to keep you another day and not being able to go home to my family. I don't wish that on anyone! And even after they removed it I still need to go back and have another ERCP done because during the removal of my gallbladder the surgeon said there are still some stones in my bile duct that need to be removed that may cause a blockage so I have to go back as an out patient this time and have that done! Can't say I have had the best start! :-(( Has anyone else had their gallbladder removed after having the VSG??

I have been all over this sight and i'm so happy that I found this forum in particular. I'm thankful to find this sight. I ask for prayer that I go through my surgery without in problems or mishaps and that the Lord be with my surgeon and the assistant surgeon and everyone who is involved with my procedure tomorrow both pre, during and post. I also pray that everyone having surgery that day is protected by the Blood of the Lamb. I know the word tells me that God has not given the spirit of fear but of power love and a sound mind. Any care that I have I will cast upon the Lord for His word says that he cares for me! Amen Keep me and all having surgery tomorrow in your prayers!

Yes, I rec'd my pre-authorization letter from the insurance company and it stated I am approved! My nurse manager confirmed it as well!

I have been approved for the VSG surgery and have my surgery date however my nurse manager told me that my healthcare provider has a requirement that the employee has to be employed 2 consecutive years with their company. Well it's my husband's company and they were bought out in in 2009 and he was told that his time of service was grandfather over to the new company which he has worked for his company for 10yrs, so I thought no problem. But I called the new company's HR and they stated that they show his affective hire date with the new company as Oct 2010. So at this point he's not meeting the requirement of 2 consecutive years with the new company. I don't know what to do - my surgery date is in jeopardy and I waited so long for this day. And now it seems that if I wanted it done I will have to pay for it with money I do not have!! Is there ANYONE who has gone through this? Is there a way around it?? PLEASE let me know what I can do or some options!

That's a great Idea but unfortunately I have had my height checked a couple of times and I'm 5'10. Normally, I love being tall but in the case not so much! :->

The prayers of the righteous availeth much! Thank you for your testimony I have renewed hope! Good Luck and pray for your speedy recovery!

Yes, I don't have any comorbidites either but I chose the sleeve partly because I do have very bad lower back problems and kneeanches & pains since I was 19 yrsoge and I take NSAIDS often like Naproxen, Bayer Asprin, etc. And for the Roux En Y you can not take those becasue it can cause problems. So, i'm hoping that even though I have not consistantly been at a BMI of 40 that each year even though I have tried to live a healthy lifestyle I have failed and my BMI has increased each years due to unsuccessful weight loss attempts. Good luck to you and please let me know what your outcome is and I will let you knwo once my paperwork is submitted in March.

I'm a week away from meeting/counsultation with the surgeon and submitting my paperwork for approval - after I had successfully transfered all my paperwork from my previous HCP to UHC PPO. My Nurse Manager who is handling my case stated that for my plan I need to provide a five year weight history - ok no problem right? Now she tells me: I need to make sure that my weigh ins are not a BMI below 40, which would be a weight below 280. And that UHC could use this as a reason to deny surgery stating you have not been severely obese for 5 years. REALLY! I'm very discouraged right now I can't even put this into words! Does anyone on here have UHC PPO Choice Plus who was approved with BMI weighin less than 40 for the 5 year history? Anything encouraging right now will be great to hear.