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Great job! You look wonderful and so happy : )

You look fabulous! Congrats!

Good luck! Hope it goes well : )

Well everything came to an abrupt halt today. When the surgeons office chked with Ins..they got the go ahead. So, I went through all the pre stuff, consult, nut, psych, having tubes shoved up my nose and misrouted...thousands in medical bills for my OOP only to be told my employer opted to cover everything UP TIL surgery. They opted out actual surgery coverage. Really?? How did that part get ommitted from the info provided?? Im so angry, frustrated, and now so in debt for nothing. Sorry, just had to vent.

Robin, thats one possibility to explore thank you. By the time I pay my part for all those now useless tests, I could have been on my way to Mexico. Rolleyes...

Kathy, Thank you. My insurance does. One of the easier actually. Anthem bcbs, its my employer who chose to cover everything except the actual surgery to save us 1-3% in premiums..the company self funds. But they will "revisit it in October for next year as they have the past 3 years"....oh goody. Lol then I get to redo this mess all over again. Nope. If I lose this fight, Ill be done.

PDx, thanks. I appreciate the positive feedback. You're very inspiring with your posts and blog. Im going to try to fight it, but ya know ..a snowballs chance in Hades. Im a single parent, just bought the house a year ago, so large cash in my world is about like finding that little leprechaun at the end of the rainbow. Some things just aren't meant to be. Keep up the awesome work. You're amazing.

Lol. I was always a muscular young girl. I worked the water and even did tree work, lifting 150lb logs, and bushels of oysters and crabs above my head. Im 38 now, and I'd be willing to bet that not only am I no longer a girl under all this, I bet muscular is a thing of the past too.

Congrats on your loss. ; ) glad you could join us. This is a great board. Im preop, but my Doc and Nut feel Im one if the best prepped patients they've seen. Mainly due to the info here. Keep up the great work.

Congrats!

Wow. You look amazing! Makes me that more determined to get the surgery and succeed with it as you have! Awesome.

Terry, great journey so far. Congrats. Very inspiring.My paperwork should be submitted by weeks end for approval. Keeping my fingers crossed, and though I should do it more, Im praying really hard.

Took the test yesterday, a joke in mho, its all relative and of course I have food issues duh..look at me. Lol he didnt have one form ready after a week and will mail it to me smh..great. So..waiting on him and my patience is withering.We'll get there eventually.

Congrats! Great job keep up the great work.

Getting there. Im done with everything except the psych test. Had the consult, now just waiting on the doc to call me in for the testing (??). After that we go for ins approval.

Congrats on your progress 66lbs is great!

Ok, so I went for my manometry and 24hr PH. While normally, these tests should be uncomfy but tolerable mine didn't go well. I got through the mano..but 3 tries for the PH probe was enough. When the probe popped out of the other nostril, it was safe to assume the tech took a wrong turn somewhere. I not so politely refused further probing and suggested she invest in a GPS. Hopefully, my bariatric surgeon will not see fit to drop me from his program as I have completed all steps and this test was not even insurance required. I'll wait and see.

Yay..doc is keeping me on. The NUT and nurse spoke so highly of my expected success (thanks in part to this site) that the doc has chosen to move forward with only the manometry results. I've had the initial consult with the psych so after his "test" we go for insurance approval. This can't go fast enough.

Heres another recipe for those wanting a treat this summer but trying to fit in protein: Fortified fudgesickle (room for creativity here) 1/2 cup fat free evaporated milk 1 1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese 1 pkg (4 serving size ) fat free, sugar free chocolate instant pudding ( you can sub lots of flavors here or even a fruit smoothie recipe. Another option is Protein powders) Pour ff evap milk and cottage cheese in blender. Blend on med til smooth. About 45 secs. Add pudding mix (or substitute of choice..this is also where a Protein powder should be added) blend on high until creamy Spoon into molds or paper cups. Add sticks, freeze minimum 3 hours.

Shop around, "fresh and easy" and a few other brands have corn tortillas for about 50 cals, 11 carb, and 3 protein. Not too bad. Im sure some creative ppl will have other substitute suggestions...honestly, just the filling is wonderful alone.

Im preop..but everyone here talks abour the infamous 3 week stall. Just keep doing the right things and dont get frustrated. From what Ive read, ppl still lose inches even when the scale stays the same.

Oops sorry, pic went to middle of post. Prep time about 50 min.

I make these chicken enchiladas from Bill Phillips book Eating for Life. He bases everything in portion, high Protein, lower fat, lower carb. They are fantastic and even the nonhealth nuts in the family request I make them for birthday dinners: Ingredients: 4 portions chicken breast (1lb) 4 green onions, sliced 2Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped 1 jalapeno, seeded minced 3 cans red or green enchilada sauce 8 corn tortillas 1 cup reduced fat shredded cheddar 2 cups shredded lettuce 1/2 cup salsa 1/2 cup light sour cream 1 tomato diced 1 can (2oz) ripe black olives, sliced Preheat oven to 350, lightly coat baking dish w/ cooking spray Bring chicken breasts to boil over high heat.reduce to med, simmer until ni longer pink in center about 15 min. Drain, cool slightly. Shred with forks, set aside Coat large skillet with cooking spray, place over med heat. Add green onion, cilantro and jalapeno, saute 2 min. Add shredded chicken and 1 can enchilada sauce. Cook, stir occassionally until heated through about 5 min. Pour remaining cans of sauce in med bowl, microwave til warm about 1.5_2 min. Dip each tortilla in heated sauce, fill with 1/8 of chicken [ATTACH]3443[/ATTACH] mixture. Roll and place seamside down in baking dish. Pour remaining sauce over enchiladas and sprinkle with cheese. Bake until heated through and cheese melts. About 15 min. Place bed of lettuce on plates, add enchilladas. Top w salsa, a dollop of sour cream, tomatoes and olives. Really good!

Moregan, i cut the quash in half, put about 1/2-3/4 inch of water in baking dish and stick in the oven. I leave in until the outside of the squash becomes pliable or I can stick a fork through easily. Take it out and flake or scrape out the "noodles" it should have the texture of "al dente" pasta.

Im a big spaghetti squash fan. Ive been eating this for years as a changeup from pasta...everyrhing frim olive oil and herbs to tomato sauces..good stuff.