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I've seen a lot of posters mentioning that their husbands aren't very supportive about this decision. I think, for many men, it's difficult to deal with changes, particularly one that could make their spouse more attractive to others. Or it could be he simply worries about complications. I'm sure he'll come around, especially when he sees you become healthier, happier and more confident. Hang in there and good luck!

Al, I see that you're a barber. My mom was a barber (not hairstylist!) for 27 years so I already have a soft spot for you. So when are you going to change the name of your shop from Big Al's to Slim Al's?

There's a thread in the post-op forum about possible ways to avoid loose skin. Some people swear they work and others say there's nothing you can do short of plastic surgery. It's worth a look and worth a try. (I've started doing some of the tips there.) Good luck!

Good luck tomorrow! You'll do great. Keep us posted.

Good luck, Delta! I'm excited for you to start your new life.

Thanks for the input! I'm definitely setting non-weight goals as well. I keep adding to the list: ride a horse, zip line, etc. I know I'm also going to need to do a lot of head work during this process. I don't want to settle for being fat instead of obese. I just needed to hear how others like me worked through it. You guys are great! Do I want Jillian Michael's body? Hell yeah! Will I get it? I don't know, but I'd like to get to the place where I think it's possible. I'm really learning that the physical act of losing weight is such a small piece of the puzzle.

After I met with my surgeon, we set 190 as a good goal weight for me. There are several factors, I'm 5' 71/2", have a large frame and have been overweight pretty much my entire life. Unlike a lot of posters here, I didn't put on my weight after having children. I was normal size until I got sick the entire summer between first and second grade (measles, mumps and bronchitis) so I was just lying in bed being fed anything I could keep down. After that I was always chubby. I got down to around 190 when I was 20 and felt really good. At 22 I was married, pregnant and packed on 60 pounds. After that, I yoyo'd back and forth but never got below 200 pounds again. My goal of 190 puts me in the overweight category (but not obese!) If I look at the ideal height/weight charts, I should be no heavier than 165. I can't even fathom being that weight. So for those like me who have always been overweight, how did you arrive at your goal weight? Did you achieve it? Am I being realistic with my goal or am I limiting my possibilities by "settling"? I'd really appreciate your thoughts on this.

You look great! I'm so happy for you.

Jimmy, I'm glad we've heard from you. Take care of yourself and GET BETTER!

Yes, definitely call the insurance coordinator. Or you can call your insurance company direct. I called mine three times to make completely sure I understood exactly what they required. It sounds like you're doing all the right things but the last thing you want to have happen is to get to the end of six months only to find out they want more information. Good luck!

The first thing the insurance coordinator does at the surgeon's office is contact your insurance company, confirm coverage and find out the deductible/copay for the doctor's fees. They will do this again closer to the surgery in case you've met some or all of your deductible. Doctor's typically except full payment of your part up front. Hospitals are a separate matter. They will probably call you (usually the day before) wanting all or part of your projected part of the cost. You can negotiate with the to make a down payment and then once the bills have been submitted to insurance and they have paid, you will be billed for the remainder. Then you can work out a payment plan with the hospital. JustSleeveMe, I'm like you. I had my gallbladder removed this year so my out of pocket should already be met and I won't have a copay.

It's natural to be nervous and/or scared before surgery. It doesn't matter how needed it is, your mind will go through all the what ifs. Just trust in God and yourself that this is the best option for you. You're doing this to get a second chance at a healthy life. Try to get some rest. Definitely ask for anti-anxiety medicine tomorrow! That will definitely help. Please post after you've had surgery and let us know how you're doing. There will be many users here looking for an update and praying for you during your procedure.

Google The World According to Eggface. She's a blogger who has a ton of advice, tips and recipes for bariatric patients.

Welcome to the site! I'm in the middle of my six month diet program. It's been good so far. I've met with the NUT three times and I'm now switching over to my PCP to finish it out. (My NUT is leaving to have a baby.) My PCP got sleeved last year so he's a big advocate of it and will fill out the form dating back to my physical in January, so it's basically cutting two months off the process! I'm glad my insurance requires this program. It gives me time to adapt and adjust to what my new lifestyle will be so I don't get hit with everything at once. I'm working on not drinking during meals, trying different Protein powders/drinks and adding exercise. It will be over before you know it and you'll be on the loser's bench! Good luck.

I'm sorry this has been sprung on you so late in the game. But you definitely don't want to develop an ulcer in what little portion of a stomach you'll have left. I guess I was lucky because my surgeon tested for it on my first visit. Hopefully, the test comes back negative and you can move forward as scheduled. If not, yes they will probably postpone it but it's all for your health. Take care!

I'm sure you'll get some responses, but have you checked out the pinned thread in this forum? It's got a lot of feedback from users about weight regain. Hopefully it will give you some of the answers you're looking for.

Congratulations to you! Have fun in this exciting new phase of your life.

Hmm, the name looks the same to me. Has anyone tried sending a PM?

You'll get there. Give you body time to adjust to the changes. Good luck and don't give up!

Congratulations to all of you! This is the payoff for all the hard work and taking this step. Keep it up!

I'm still preop and I know everyone says your tastes change but I've been trying a bunch of different brands. I really like About Time and Syntrax. To me, Chike has an artificial taste and its almost twice the calories of the others. Their ingredient list is also a bit offputting. I think I'm going to go with About Time because they don't add a lot of "stuff" to it. I'm going to get chocolate, vanilla and unflavored then doctor them up woth sf syrups, extracts, etc. For me, it doesn't make sense to buy a bunch of different flavors. Check out the nutrion forum. There is a pinned thread there on sources for Protein samples. Good luck!

Good luck!

I love Sonic ice too! I plan on buying a bag right before surgery to help stay hydrated and to have something to chew on.

From my experience with other surgical procedures, you have to pay the surgeon's fee up front. Most hospitals will work out a payment plan for your share of the charges. They will expect some kind of down payment before surgury. For example, I paid a $500 deposit for gallbladder surgery and they billed me for the rest.

I'll be praying at 9:00.