IsB

I've been doing yoga daily for over 5 years now. Nothing beats it. Yoga won't firm you up on it's own, it won't give you that 'yoga' body you see on TV. I know that because I've been as high as 284 pounds despite daily yoga.
What it will do is make everything else feel better. You can run, bike, swim, climb, lift, surf or anything else you like to do better than you did before and with less pain. It's the best way to prevent injury and recover from all other activities and life in general. in my opinion everyone can benefit from daily yoga.

Hi Ginger,
Please do not get down, I exactly how you feel as I spent the last year arguing with my insurance company. Be determined and most importantly know that you surgeon will help you in any way possible. I have a top bariatric surgeon from Boston Mass. and even with her help it took this long. Here is a lsit of all I have been through so you can see how horible these companies can get:
had lapband out 4/2011 because it infected and almost killed me
9/2011- Surgeon submitte for revision and we were denied because they wanted updated info.
12/2011-was denied because BMI was not high enough and I was not sick enough(truely this is the honest truth)
2/2012-denied again still not heavy enough(gain40 lbs. at this point)
4/2012-BMI finally right, new medical info. submitted was denied again..why the company never updated any info that ahd been sent. Denial based on info. fro, 9/2011
5/2012-had outside appeal and talked with lawyer
7/2012-re-submitted thing outside appeal wanted was denied again(this time because they again did not us new information and BC/BS even had infor. that was not mine in this denial
8/2012-Surgeon had enough called BC?BS and informed them their info. was not anywhere near correct...after this coversation..surgery was approved and done last Tuesday.

This no doubt the worst part but be strong and you will make it. Most importantly keep ALL information from the insurance company and the info. sent to them. By proving they were not being honest and doing their job they could no longer deny because I had all the info. to prove I meant all credentials they required. The icing on this cake is BC/BS refused to return the hospitals calls for approvals I had to fax them down today.
As you can see this last year was hell but like me you will come out on the other side, just do not quit. Determination ticks of the insurance companies and really will pay off. Hope this helps.

Instead of crash diets why not try a local WLS support group? Or, maybe see a nutritionist to get a refresher on the basics. It's amazing how much we can forget when we aren't constantly forced into doing things. The sleeve is just 1 tool. That doesn't mean you don't need to use the others.

Instead of crash diets why not try a local WLS support group? Or, maybe see a nutritionist to get a refresher on the basics. It's amazing how much we can forget when we aren't constantly forced into doing things. The sleeve is just 1 tool. That doesn't mean you don't need to use the others.

(No pictures this time. I HATE photos; I'm so damned pale and washed out that I always look corpse-like and OLD in my photos, whereas in real life I'm looking pretty damned HOT! )
So I was sleeved in May 2010. It's about two and a quarter years out. I started at 338 lbs.
At that weight, I was miserable. I was sick all the time, everything hurt all the time. No clothes fit properly, unless I just bought everything in tent-like proportions. I had multiple chins, moobs (man-boobs), rolls and rolls of fat around my waist, a fat ass, fat legs, everything. I felt awful. I couldn't walk very far without becoming winded and my feet hurting. I couldn't stand upright for very long without my lower back aching, and my thighs would chafe like I was being scourged by the Furies.
And my self-esteem was just awful. I felt slovenly, ugly, unsexy, unsexual, unmasculine, frumpy, and ashamed all the time. I felt -- fairly realistically -- that no woman would look twice at me, let alone want to take me as a lover. It was okay, though, because I was in a monogamous relationship, so I didn't need to "date." How disrespectful that is to my girlfriend, I can't put into words. But that's a separate issue. That's between us.
Fast forward, past VSG surgery, past two years of steady weight loss, careful eating, ups and downs, plateaus and sharp drops, past fitfully starting and restarting my fitness program, to today.
Now, I work out at the gym almost every day. I like it. I look forward to it. It's how I start my day! It's still challenging, I'm still exhausted, but I look forward to it. I usually lift weights, but some days, like today, are all about stabilizers and athletic performance -- today was focused on speed and agility, on building muscle memory. My trainer agreed with me that I'm still pretty uncoordinated, but also was impressed at how fast I improved; he claimed that maybe, under years of sloth and a sedentary lifestyle, just maybe I was a natural athlete who never developed his abilities! I'm not sure I'd go that far, but I think that I have a lot of potential, and better late than never -- let's leave it at that.
I'm getting ripped. With my shirt off, my chest and shoulders and arms ripple with muscle; they have a lot of that classic bodybuilder look (without that nasty veiny zero body fat/covered in baby oil thing). I realized today, and pointed out to my girlfriend -- that I'm actually developing a six pack. Me! Mr. Fat-ass! Mr. Lazy! A six pack!
I'm down to just a hair over 200 lbs. That means I've lost over 130 pounds, and (more importantly) am maintaining it (and, in fact, am still losing, slowly). At the same time, I'm steadily building muscle mass (contrary to myth, muscle building is slow, but all my measurements show a steady gain). My stamina and energy are the best they've ever been. EVER. Even when I was a kid, and I'm 42 now! My latest testosterone measurement was 611 ng/dL, which is pretty phenomenal. Reference range is 300-800, so this puts me on the high end, about on par with a kid in his 20's; this is just stunning for a man in his 40's, and bodes very well for my continued sexual and physical well being into middle age and old age. It will protect me from injuries, keep me strong and fit, and even boost my mood and libido going forward.
My self-esteem is way up. My girlfriend and I opened our relationship up to other partners (if you want to discuss open relationships/polyamory, I'm available to talk, but please don't post here, that's not the point ), which means I'm dating again. And I'm having FUN! I'm finding that women that I used to consider "out of my league" are now tongue-tied around me. I messaged a woman on my poly-friendly dating site; I thought she was super sexy and probably way too pretty for me, and she responded that she hadn't contacted me because she thought I was out of her league. I mean, holy crap, Batman! Who'da thunk it!
But it's not just vanity. I'm finally, finally, finally coming to accept that I'm a handsome, interesting, attractive, sexy, sexual, masculine man. Along with being wicked smart, with an IQ approaching 200, I'm becoming something of a jock. I'm hiking, bicycling, running, lifting weights, and soon I'm going to start swimming laps at the local pool. I go out to concerts and clubs, I date, kiss, make love, have fun. I'm fit, in shape, and healthy as an ox. Yes, I'm middle aged, so my only regret was that I couldn't have found this when I was 20.
But you know what? I'll take it. I'll take it! This is the life that I think many people wish they could lead. And in a lot of ways, I owe it all to the sleeve!

I've been doing yoga daily for over 5 years now. Nothing beats it. Yoga won't firm you up on it's own, it won't give you that 'yoga' body you see on TV. I know that because I've been as high as 284 pounds despite daily yoga.
What it will do is make everything else feel better. You can run, bike, swim, climb, lift, surf or anything else you like to do better than you did before and with less pain. It's the best way to prevent injury and recover from all other activities and life in general. in my opinion everyone can benefit from daily yoga.

Instead of crash diets why not try a local WLS support group? Or, maybe see a nutritionist to get a refresher on the basics. It's amazing how much we can forget when we aren't constantly forced into doing things. The sleeve is just 1 tool. That doesn't mean you don't need to use the others.

Instead of crash diets why not try a local WLS support group? Or, maybe see a nutritionist to get a refresher on the basics. It's amazing how much we can forget when we aren't constantly forced into doing things. The sleeve is just 1 tool. That doesn't mean you don't need to use the others.

Exercise can be a job but just like a paying job it's something you have have to do. Hate it but do it anyway. I get up at 5 am 6 days a week to run for 40 minutes on the elliptical. It's a real grind but it's something that I know I have to do if I want to stay alive so I do it.

I've been doing yoga daily for over 5 years now. Nothing beats it. Yoga won't firm you up on it's own, it won't give you that 'yoga' body you see on TV. I know that because I've been as high as 284 pounds despite daily yoga.
What it will do is make everything else feel better. You can run, bike, swim, climb, lift, surf or anything else you like to do better than you did before and with less pain. It's the best way to prevent injury and recover from all other activities and life in general. in my opinion everyone can benefit from daily yoga.

Thanks for sharing your story. We don't always want to hear these things but it's very important that we do. I really appreciate you advice about having a strong network of help. That's something that I can do and will make sure I do when my time comes.

Honestly, I'm one week out and have spent two days in icu and been to the ER twice. I am in constant pain and can not take care of my son (6). I had internal bleeding with the surgery and had to have blood transfusions. Last night as they were scanning me for blood clots I told my husband that I feel so irresponsible for having done this to myself.
I am low bmi with no complicating factors. Everyone kept saying that I would be the poster child for the long term benefits of the sleeve. What happened to me is not uncommon. When I was in the icu there was another woman from a diff surgery center with the same issues as me. I'm checking back into the hospital today...honestly, I am not sure I will ever be able to say it was worth it. .
If there is one thing you can take from my story, please be more prepared than you think you need to be. If I didn't have a strong network of help around me I don't know what this would have done to my baby boy.

I've been doing yoga daily for over 5 years now. Nothing beats it. Yoga won't firm you up on it's own, it won't give you that 'yoga' body you see on TV. I know that because I've been as high as 284 pounds despite daily yoga.
What it will do is make everything else feel better. You can run, bike, swim, climb, lift, surf or anything else you like to do better than you did before and with less pain. It's the best way to prevent injury and recover from all other activities and life in general. in my opinion everyone can benefit from daily yoga.

Exercise can be a job but just like a paying job it's something you have have to do. Hate it but do it anyway. I get up at 5 am 6 days a week to run for 40 minutes on the elliptical. It's a real grind but it's something that I know I have to do if I want to stay alive so I do it.

I am sure everybody lives this life when seeking WLS approval through insurance:
Spend 3-12 months of your life meeting monthly with your PCP
Dietician appointments
Initial consultation with surgeon
Labs, EKG, Chest x-ray (and any other applicable testing)
Psych Evaluation
Etc
Etc
Etc
Submit to insurance
AND, now we wait for insurance to approve. And what is really frustrating is waiting around for something that might not happen. I mean really, I just spent 9 months of my life jumping through hoops and paying ridiculous copays, deductibles, etc for no good guarantee that insurance will cover the surgery.
So, I wait and hope for good news!
Sincerely,
Hopeful and Anxious

Thanks for sharing. It's a big help to hear about longer term results for those of us who a pre-op and trying to figure out what it's going to be like.

Thanks for sharing. It's a big help to hear about longer term results for those of us who a pre-op and trying to figure out what it's going to be like.

Thanks for sharing. It's a big help to hear about longer term results for those of us who a pre-op and trying to figure out what it's going to be like.

I had my surgery Sept 25th 2011. I weighed 225. I now weigh 156. For me...it was easy. At first it restricted my eating quite a bit. Now I eat normally. I can eat anything or drink anything I want. I just don't eat the massive amount I used to. I'm still loosing. Not alot, but it is coming off very slowly. I get alot of feedback from people who havn't seen me in a while. Was it worth it. Hell yes! I would be 250 by now If I hadn't done it. Dr. Rodriguez in Mexico was great! I have absolutely ZERO regret, and I never ever got sick, I recommend it for those who feel desperate. That feel they will always be fat. For those that have no self control over quantity of food. That was my issue. Good luck to all!!!

The stomach is situated right behind the liver. When somebody is overweight, they hold a lot of fat in the liver and it makes the liver larger. In order for the surgeon to safely access the stomach (and not nick the liver or something) it is a good idea to try and shrink it a little bit by losing some weight.... It's not the most scientific of explanations but it's what my NUT told me, LOL.
-Bubbles

Unfortunately there is always going to be stress for all of us. It might be money or kids, relationships, work, even the news of the world for some people. What you need to focus on is your reaction to the stress in your life.
You've already identified yourself as an emotional eater. Get some help with that. Go to a support group or see a mental health expert. Focus on how to deal with stress as opposed to trying to eliminate stressful situations because some new ones are always going pop up.

Unfortunately there is always going to be stress for all of us. It might be money or kids, relationships, work, even the news of the world for some people. What you need to focus on is your reaction to the stress in your life.
You've already identified yourself as an emotional eater. Get some help with that. Go to a support group or see a mental health expert. Focus on how to deal with stress as opposed to trying to eliminate stressful situations because some new ones are always going pop up.

K, so I was sleeved on Monday, August 15. The entire experience has been waaaaaaaaay easier than I expected. Much easier than what many have reported on this board, so I thought I would share my daily routine with community. Maybe it will help, maybe some replies will help me improve!
I am 40 years old, was a 32 BMI, was always active, and never ate a lot of food but could never maintain any weight loss. I have lost 8 pounds since surgery (boooooyeah!) and the pre-op diet was successful so I know it's not just Water.
I am still on the clear liquid stage of the post op diet. I have no problems getting enough liquids. At first I would feel a moderately painful bubble about 5 seconds after each sip/gulp of water. The larger the sp, the longer/larger the bubble. That has lessened just a bit each day. I still feel it now, but maybe only 1 of out five and the pain is almost gone, but the "pressure" is there. I drink, wait for it, fist pump when nothing comes and go again. I was able to drink about 20 .oz of water in 20 minutes while driving my daughter to soccer practice today. I think just making sure you get the water as much as you can in the right quantities trains your new sleeve to be more comfortable with the water workout.
I have also found that Isopure premade clear liquid Protein drinks are KEY in the clear liquid stage. I buy mine at GNC and they are pricey but not too bad with the deal GNc is offering right now - buy one ($5.50) get the next half off. I am not sure if it just my store, but if you spend $50, they give you another $10 off. The result is 12 bottles for $38. The babies have a whopping 40 grams of whey protein isolate in a 20 oz bottle and they taste fantastic. There are two types, one with 25g of carbs, and several with 0g of carbs. I drink one of each a day. The "Apline Punch" includes the carbs and taste the best by far. We need carbs so this is what I drink mid morning. I drink the zero card for dinner. This equals 40 oz of water and 80 grams of protein alone and they go down EASY.
Here's the rest of the routine:
Vitamins :
- adult gummies from costco, 2 per day. Chew up until its nearly dissolved
- sublingual B12 fromo Costco, small pill dissolves under the tongue, awesome for energy
- Calcium chews from GNC, 2 per day
Protein supplements :
- Isopure whey protein isolate bottled clear protein, 20 oz. each, from GNC. After discounts about $4 each. Goes down easier not refrigerated.
---- 25 carb in morning
---- zero carb in evening
- powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury chicken broth protein, not that great tasting, but if you mix with organic chicken broth and dilute it 2x with water it works. Gets your daily protein total to 90-100g
- Gatorade recover drink
Other food :
- sugar free Jello
- apple juice
- sugar free Popsicles
- 40 - 60 oz. of water throughout the day
I have zero energy issues, in fact I have a hard time falling asleep, usually midnight and wake up around 6:30. I walk constantly and can barely feel the incisions. The "other foods" are getting very old, but only 5 more days of that which I think I can handle, then full liquids will be much better, creamy Soup, tomatoe soup, regular Protein shakes, ect.........
That's about it. Like I said, no one even can tell I had surgery. I feel like I could have easily gone back to work on Thursday (but didn't to be safe.) I need to watch myself now so I don't over do it.
Fellas, share you pr go to foods!

Researchers generally determine Protein quality by using the protein efficiency ratio (PER) or the protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS). They determine the PER by evaluating the weight gain in growing rats fed a particular protein compared with a standard protein, egg whites being the gold standard. The higher the PER value, the greater the protein quality. The PDCAAS was introduced as a more accurate way to evaluate protein quality for humans, because it uses human, not rat, amino acid requirements to calculate the amino acid score. It compares the amino acid profile of a protein with the essential amino acid requirements for humans according to The food and Agriculture Organization. When a protein meets this requirement, it gets a score of 1.0. PDCAAS has now been adopted as the official method by the World Health Organisation, the US Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Agriculture.
Although the PDCAAS method is the internationally recognised standard for comparing Proteins for human consumption, it does not allow for differentiation among proteins with a PDCAAS of 1.0, so proteins can have different PERs while still having a PDCAAS of 1.0. This is significant, because researchers are now exploring how variances in specific essential and/or conditionally essential amino acids, as well as the availability of various peptides and micronutrients, affect human physiology. Claims of consumer-relevant superiority or inferiority, when performance of physique modificaitons are concerned, have yet to be supported by population-specific evidence in humans.
Protein
PCDAAS PER
Gelatin/collagen 0.08. --
Beef/poultry/fish 0.80-0.92. 2.0-2.3
Soy 1.00. 1.8-2.3
Ovalbumin (egg) 1.00. 2.8
Milk protein 1.00. 2.8
Casein 1.00 2.9
whey 1.00. 3.0-3.2
Bovine colostrum. 1.00. 3.0-3.2
Table 1
Table 1 (above) lists the PER and/or PDCAAS for the major types of protein used in nutritional supplements. The following discusses the relative strengths and weaknesses of these basic types of proteins that are often used as starting materials for nutritional supplements. Of course, adding deficient amino acids and other nutrients to these proteins may increase the PDCAAS, nutrient value and/or functionality of the protein.
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As you can see above collagen/gelatin is nearly useless to the human body. This is what is in almost all protein shots. Always check the ingredients. Many makers of protien shots are giving them names that have Whey in their title but are still using collagen/gelatin as their primary protein source.
Also keep in mind that ingredients on labels are listed in the order of amount used. So if collagen or Gelatin is listed first then it is the primary protein source for that product.