Catracks

I just had my TT. They removed 6 pounds of skin....with very little fat it was quite a large section. I had to pay cash but it was worth it. I was going to buy. Toyota forerunner last year which is over $30000. I bought a Nissan xterra instead which was under $20000 and boom....surgery paid for. Great trade off in my opinion.

But....with my insurance, the keys to getting it paid for we're medical complications caused by the excess skin. The 2 most common are rashes or immobility due to the skin. I had neither, and would have needed well documented proof by my pcp to even attempt to get my surgery covered. If you have either issue, my suggestion is go to your pcp and seek treatment/diagnosis for the problem. If he can't resolve it with other means then he can refer you to P/S which might then be covered.

You will be happier with the Xterra. I have a 2002 and LOVE it!!! It crawls up rocks almost as good as a Jeep. It does need to be lifted to clear some bigger rocks, but it is a wonder in the low gears.

I don't have rashes either. There is no way I would be covered under insurance. The extra skin on the thighs and arms I can live with. The extra skin on stomach and lower abdomen really gets to me.

I wonder if surgeons have low interest payment plans :-P

A strong core makes all the difference. I don't ride as much now as my neighbor moved with her horses. I used to ride a sturdy Morgan. She had real issues with people on her back off balance so even when heavy I was pretty good. She did not startle easily at all, but one day, not paying attention, she jumped back at a rabbit and then spun half around. I was unseated and fell off still clutching the reins (boxed in by major streets). I landed on my side and messed up the ligaments in my lower back. Took me an age to get over that.

My profile picture was on a horse in Supai, Arizona. This one was owned by a Havasupai Indian and he was busy with a pack train so he said, "Ride ahead. I'll catch up." and "They will run." BTW, If you heard that the Havasupai don't take care of their horses, that is bullsh**! That is their bread and butter.

Anyway, that was the first real ride I had taken. The way in and out of Supai is horse, mule, hike or helicopter. It's a 12 mile ride with the last (or first) mile up a VERY steep canyon wall. All the horses and mules take the whole trip at a fast trot with either mail or supplies. They are in the best condition of any horses I have seen. Our weight, or lack of was probably a mini-vacation for them. That and I let him play in the Water at his leisure and intermittently walked. When the trails forked off, I trusted him to know the best way. That was funny because he would pick a path and then look at the other path not taken, sigh and move on. I could actually hear horse brain gears turning. He probably thought I was stupid.

My point of this long story is that I rode fast and rode well. The pack train only caught up to us as we were heading up the canyon wall.

Cowboy mounted shooting!!! I like. I would probably like competitive trail riding.

I think the idea of once being so successful and gaining weight back is utterly intolerable to us. I am not going back to what I was in 2011 - NEVER!!!

Meant to ask you Cowgirl, How has weight loss impacted your riding?

I applied for membership to the group without first reading that I should try it out for two weeks. Oops!!

I can't really buy the book right now. I will read through the posts, but I imagine there are some modifications for a sleever. My usual calories are 800 a day. The rules say fast is a quarter of the recommended calories which is 500 for women.

Hmmm, it's still a deficit, but much more than a quarter of what I take in. I won't go to 200, but should I do 500?

I live in So Cal too, but there is a definite change in the air. It's not just the temperature -- it's the length of the day. When you walk into work and it's dark and you walk out and it's dark ...

Okay, so it's not Siberia, but still.

Hey, my chickens feel it. They've stopped laying.

Healthy Protein packed Soups and stews. There was a lady in here I think that had the best soup/chowder/stew recipes.

You can make big batches and freeze them. Great to take for lunch.

I lived on pureed Soups during those first couple months.

I has been while, hasn't it? I think I started to drift away when the boards started the weird little wars (aka: when can I eat Cheetos again -- You shouldn't do that -- have a little compassion -- stop judging me). I haven't been outside the veterans board and don't think I will.

Check! No two days in a row. Tuesday/Thursday for me then.

Thanks for the links!! I think I'll hang around.

I'm going to give this a try. Which days do you fast? I can't do it on the weekends obviously. It would be much easier at work. Since Monday sucks anyway, I'm not going to make it any suckier.

I think Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Today is horse day. I think I will post one of me on a horse in the Water. It's our backside, but oh well.

I was seriously thinking about doing a modified 5:2 with normal eating on the 5 days and shakes and broth on the 2 days.

My favorite exercise is the hike which is extremely long duration obviously. I will look into the high intensity interval training. I have to admit that as the days get shorter, I turn into a slug -- or hamster? and want to hibernate. Pair that with an hour commute each way to work ... Whine, whine, whine ...

How do you do the 5:2. I read about that Brit and he ate anything on his non-fasting days. I don't think so ....

My surgery was Dec. 11, 2011. You can see my stats below. Life is great. This summer I got back from a trip where I had to hike 13 miles in and then back out of a canyon. I'm climbing mountains and loving it.

The only problem I'm having is the extra skin which is bad, but not bad enough to be covered my insurance and these last few pounds I would like to loose.

I am afraid that I've gotten my body into a metabolic syndrome by restricting calories for so long. I'm short and don't seem to need much, but am still at 800 calories. If I add carbs or more calories, I gain rather fast. To loose I'd have to drastically cut back, but what will that do in the long run?

Anybody dealing with this? Anybody have a guess about what I should do to get going again. I think I have been gaining and loosing the same 5 pounds for two years now.

I drink diet soda (yeah, yeah, bad, bad) and belch after every drink. I do try and do it quietly. I also hiccup when I'm full. I suspect that this is a forever thing. No biggie.

Way to go!!! I had my surgery on December 11, 2011 and am not quite at goal. I intend to ask a question about my situation in another post.

I am almost 3 years out and pretty much stay around 800. I am on 5'1", but maybe it would have been better if I hadn't restricted to calories for so long. If I get much more than that I tend to gain.

I'm so used to eating this way that it's no bother.

I have an old set of restaurant ware. That is heavy restaurant china from the early to mid 20th century. These sets came with what were called fruit bowls. They hold about 4 oz. of liquid are are perfect for new sleevers.

Hit Ebay and do a search on "Restaurant ware fruit bowls." There are some really cheap ones in every color you can imagine. Be careful because if you are like me you will think: The Soup cups for this pattern are cute ... so are the pie plates ... THEN: I like this pattern too.

I would rather not disclose how many sets of dishes I have including serving pieces.

I am now completely back to normal and feeling great! I asked my Dr. how long I would take it and he said a total of 6 weeks. I had a hiatal hernia repaired also and was taking Nexium daily before surgery. I was told that this repair would mean that I would be medication free so I am really hoping that is the case.

Glad you found the answer. You are one of those for whom it is necessary for the short term because of that hiatal hernia. I was one of the lucky ones.I had no pain and no complications. I only had some discomfort from the gas which I walked off like one possessed. I do attribute some of it to the fact that I treated this surgery as something akin to a vacation and a new lease on life.

My doctor tries to put me on statins every time I see him. My cholesterol is high, but all other blood work including triglycerides is stellar. He writes "Patient refuses medication" on my chart to cover his arse.

I may be an extreme case as I don't even take Tylenol unless my head is busting open. I could have been flying through my surgery recovery in a haze of morphine, but I'll bet you that I recovered faster than I would have otherwise.

I VERY occasionally get frustrated when enjoying something really good and suddenly getting full. No problem. Box it up and eat it later :-)

This is the best decision I ever made -- well that and my husband :-)

I am 1 1/2 years out and in maintenance. I still cannot eat high or even moderate carbohydrates and maintain my weight. I still eat between 70-90 grams of Protein, under 50 grams of carbs and under 35 grams of fat -- unless I am hiking. In that case I can up the carbs and calories.

I do not eat white flour, white Pasta or white rice. I use only butter, olive and coconut oil (or animal fat). I still also enter everything into My Fitness Pal. It's habit now, like brushing my teeth.

I haven't had fast food except for El Pollo Loco and Taco Bell one or twice. I had one bite of a filet o' fish a year ago.

I will never go back to what is a "normal" diet. I try to make almost everything from scratch and go pretty much sugar free. Highly processed foods are off the list for good.

I never want to be fat again. I'm having too much fun!

My surgeon prescribed Prilosec even though I never complained of GERD or acid reflux at all. I never took them and here is why: Once you are on the drug, when you try to go off of it, your acid production increases to a state higher than it was before you took the drug causing people to have to go back on it -- FOREVER.

I simply do not put poison into my body. Same with statins.

Now this:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/melaniehaiken/2013/07/12/common-acid-reflux-drugs-could-raise-risk-of-heart-disease-new-research-suggests/?partner=yahootix

As with statins, there are WAY too many side effects. There are people with serious reflux disease that really have little choicw, but don't start taking them "just as a precaution" or to tame an occasional acid stomach. There are plenty of safe and natural ways to go about it.

EXCELLENT INFO!!!!!!!!

How do you Use zuccini as Pasta? I'd love that. I've heard of spaghetti squash.

You can cut it into strips (Julienne) or peel them into stripes, steam and voila!

You can also slice lengthwise and use like noodles in lasagna.

Check out:

www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com

I guess my main point is replying to this post is to let people know that there is no time limit on losing weight with the sleeve.

I am rather strict with the carbs I eat because I know that if I indulge it sets off a binge cycle with me. Someone mentioned Eggface. She uses cucumbers for crackers and zuchinni in lieu of Pasta. She is even more strict than I am because she knows that to have it within reach is dangerous for her. I am a junkie and I basically have to abstain or be very careful. Get this: I had to bring donuts into work today for a birthday. These just aren't any donuts either. They are apple filled or raspberry cream cheese topped and any other variety you can think of. I got a few too many at the donut place and so took a couple back to my desk - the old hoard the food pig me possessed my mind. I turned around and brought them back and far away from me. I seriously was going to eat a raised glazed donut topped with cream cheese and raspberry. The other one was lemon. I cannot be trusted.

Like (see above) says, everyone's body is different, but there is one thing that has been etched into my mind and that is: Protein first, veggies and fruit next and then a smaller amount of healthy carbs. Many people relax this somewhat as they get closer to goal or modify it on heavy workout days.

To reiterate, I just want to let the people who are pre-sleeve or under a year that the sleeve does not stop working for you after 6 months or a year. That was my concern.

Everyone here who takes this literally is a joke. Eat nothing = 800 to 1,000 calories a day and working out 4 hours a day = well that pretty much was word for word. You all are slow and I am laughing my tail off. Ummmmmm what do you think you did for the first six months? You ate nothing and hopefully worked out a lot. Please read my definition for eating nothing above. So all I am saying is that you need to make sure you work really hard in the beginning because in a year or two...you could gain weight because you will be able to eat 1600, 1800, 2000 calories...maybe even more. And because you obviously could not control your eating...which is why you had the surgery in the first place...if you don't go balls to the wall in the first six months you don't ever have those six months again...you never get them back. I am over 1.5 years out. Where are you again? At goal? I already know people who are struggling to keep it off with the sleeve at two years out.

I repeat again, I have the same restriction at 1 year and 2 months that I did at 4 months. The weight loss is slower as I approach goal, but that is just because I have smaller percentage of weight left to lose.

What gets people into trouble over a year out is a return to the eating habits that got them there in the first place. For me is is no chips, fast food, junk food, white bread, white rice, white Pasta or potatoes. Well, potatoes on special occasions. No pastries, cakes, pies or Cookies unless I make them myself from whole wheat flour and other healthier ingredients.

By a year out we should have adopted good eating habits which include good choices and careful Portion Control. I still weigh and measure. I am also still eating 750 calories and will probably never get above 1000-1200 in my lifetime. I suppose I could get up there if a slugged milkshakes, but they are off the menu unless they are one of my Protein Shakes. I am a woman and petite so your mileage may vary.

Just about 20 months out, here. Still have excellent restriction. My surgeon told me that it would take a real effort to stretch your sleeve and it would be near impossible to get it back to original size. He likened it to a wallet. Brand new, it is tight and over time, it will loosen a little, but stretch ... ? No.

Mine was the size of a football probably. More like damned impossible instead of near impossible. I have heard the wallet analogy? comparison? before and it makes sense.

A bariatric surgeon from Kaiser South Bay told me the other day that the RnY is used less often these days. I believe that the surgeons that are comfortable using the RnY sometimes push it on their patients. As the surgeon told me, the sleeve is # 1. I love his feedback.....

My surgeon does mostly RNY and tried to tell me that I wouldn't lose the weight without the threat of dumping syndrome and malabsorption. He said that I would probably end up at 189 or so. Boy, did I ever prove him wrong! I'm still losing.