makemyownluck

I completely agree that calling this a tool is oversimplifying the surgery. But if you don't call it that, people tend to think this is a miracle surgery that requires no effort on their part. It is a major surgery, one that could kill you. I had my surgery on Thursday and one of the other patients died on the table. My heart rate slowed to 40 with my bp being 80/40. I'm thankful I made it through, but it could have just as easily been that my heart stopped. I didn't consider these possibilities too much when I was pre-op! Now I'm just thankful to be alive and that every day is getting better.
But yes, there are many risk factors involved with this, few of which were discussed. Patients want to lose weight, surgeons want to make money, and while they try to minimize complications, the fact is that fat people are very, very risky surgical patients.
I'm glad to be one of the lucky ones.

That's so awesome, Laura!! I'm so happy that you're able to do the fun things your Superman husband wants to do - and what a pretty area you live in, too!! Can't wait til I can go on birdwatching hikes with my best friend. He's had this hobby for a few years now and goes on 2-3 hour hikes ALMOST EVERY DAY. I would love to be able to join him for one (tho I'd probably drive him nuts due to my inability to shut the hell up).
What a wonderful day for you!

It could happen sooner than you think!!
I'm NOWHERE NEAR my goal, but I already move around soooo much better. I've lost about 70lbs since I started with pre-op stuff and I already notice a major improvement! I don't have to struggle to get up anymore. Yesterday I went shopping all day, while wearing TERRIBLE shoes for walking, and had zero pain, wasn't tired at the end of the day and wasn't constantly looking for somewhere to sit down!! I can't wait for it to get better as I lose more and more!
Hang in there, everyone! You can start to reap the rewards of weight loss well before you get to your goal! Good luck!

It could happen sooner than you think!!
I'm NOWHERE NEAR my goal, but I already move around soooo much better. I've lost about 70lbs since I started with pre-op stuff and I already notice a major improvement! I don't have to struggle to get up anymore. Yesterday I went shopping all day, while wearing TERRIBLE shoes for walking, and had zero pain, wasn't tired at the end of the day and wasn't constantly looking for somewhere to sit down!! I can't wait for it to get better as I lose more and more!
Hang in there, everyone! You can start to reap the rewards of weight loss well before you get to your goal! Good luck!

I was able to drink pretty close to normally since about 4 days post op... I'm 5 1/2 wks out and have had no issues. I don't chug, obviously, but I drink normally. I can also take normal bites from my food... I've only had indigestion once or twice, and it's usually from eating too fast, so I've been working on that..

don't like hummus so I will try light mayo.. but it sounds good.. thanks for sharing!

little elves come in the middle of the night and sew away enlarging the clothes you have. they're called the motivation elves.

When you talk about losing weight, what you usually mean is slimming down. But slimming down doesn't always mean losing weight. I know that it sounds odd, but it's possible to get thinner without actually seeing the scale move. Typically this is going to happen when you lose body fat while gaining muscle. Your weight may stay the same, even as you lose inches, a sign that you're moving in the right direction. But, if the scale doesn't change, you may not even be aware that you're getting real results. What helps is you have clothes that you know are getting too big for you. I don't go by the scale as much as a I do with a tape measure and a body fat analyzer. Both tell me that I am leaner than I was before. Either way you are working your way to your goal...good job!

Read this article, it explains what is happening to your body.
http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.html

I make wraps for lunch all the time... I think you could do better making it yourself! Here's my go-to wrap:
Kretschmar low sodum turkey - 2oz = 60 cal, 13g Protein
Sabra Tuscan Herb hummus - 1/2 tbsp = 35 cal, 1g Protein (2.5 carbs)
Flatout Flat bread Light - Italian Seasoned - 1/2 slice = 45 cal, 4.5g protein (8 carbs)
and then I pile on spinach, which adds maybe 2 calories.
Total: 142 calories, 18.5g protein, 10.5 carbs. And the spinach takes a while for me to digest, so it keeps me full for a long while!
I'm all for convenience, so this isn't a bad choice, but I definitely prefer to make things myself to save on sodium.

I make wraps for lunch all the time... I think you could do better making it yourself! Here's my go-to wrap:
Kretschmar low sodum turkey - 2oz = 60 cal, 13g Protein
Sabra Tuscan Herb hummus - 1/2 tbsp = 35 cal, 1g Protein (2.5 carbs)
Flatout Flat bread Light - Italian Seasoned - 1/2 slice = 45 cal, 4.5g protein (8 carbs)
and then I pile on spinach, which adds maybe 2 calories.
Total: 142 calories, 18.5g protein, 10.5 carbs. And the spinach takes a while for me to digest, so it keeps me full for a long while!
I'm all for convenience, so this isn't a bad choice, but I definitely prefer to make things myself to save on sodium.

I make wraps for lunch all the time... I think you could do better making it yourself! Here's my go-to wrap:
Kretschmar low sodum turkey - 2oz = 60 cal, 13g Protein
Sabra Tuscan Herb hummus - 1/2 tbsp = 35 cal, 1g Protein (2.5 carbs)
Flatout Flat bread Light - Italian Seasoned - 1/2 slice = 45 cal, 4.5g protein (8 carbs)
and then I pile on spinach, which adds maybe 2 calories.
Total: 142 calories, 18.5g protein, 10.5 carbs. And the spinach takes a while for me to digest, so it keeps me full for a long while!
I'm all for convenience, so this isn't a bad choice, but I definitely prefer to make things myself to save on sodium.

11 days post op
breakfast: 1 scrambled egg with 1/2 slice american cheese
sipped a chocolate Protein shake through the morning
lunch: 1/3 cup pureed veggie Soup, 4 oz cottage cheese
dinner: baked ricotta with Tomato basil sauce and parmesan
and another Protein Shake.
about 800 cals, 90g Protein.< /p>

Made this today, thought I would share! You can add in other goodies as your diet allows - I would like to try it with different veggie/cheese combinations!



Mini crustless quiche
makes: 4 servings

ingredients:
4 slices of prosciutto, very thinly sliced!
4 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup low-fat ricotta cheese
1 slice american cheese (2% or skim milk cheese would be best)
1 tbsp shredded parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste (I also put in a bit of garlic powder - optional)
*note: prosciutto is very salty on its own and you do not need much added salt in this recipe. In fact, you might want to skip salt altogether and just salt the finished product if it's needed

instructions:
spray 4 ramekins with cooking spray
in the bottom of each ramekin, loosely pile one slice of prosciutto in each ramekin
in a medium bowl, beat the 4 eggs and ricotta cheese together, season with salt and pepper to taste.
pour mixture evenly over the prosciutto in the ramekins.
tear apart and distribute bits of the american cheese among all 4 ramekins and top with parmesan cheese and one last bit of fresh cracked black pepper.

Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for about 13-15m or until toothpick comes out clear. Allow to rest for a couple of minutes. They should pop right out of the ramekin since you sprayed them first!

per My Fitness Pal:
per 1 serving:
148 calories
8.4g fat (you could cut this down if you use egg whites)
1.4g carbs
13.2 g Protein

11 days post op
breakfast: 1 scrambled egg with 1/2 slice american cheese
sipped a chocolate Protein shake through the morning
lunch: 1/3 cup pureed veggie Soup, 4 oz cottage cheese
dinner: baked ricotta with Tomato basil sauce and parmesan
and another Protein Shake.
about 800 cals, 90g Protein.< /p>

I started with walking. At first, 5 minutes on a treadmill seemed like too much. Now I do about a mile a day, sometimes more. I'm currently 385, started at 459. The key is to do more than you did the day before - more time, more distance, more speed - whatever you can manage that particular day.
I also do strength training with free weights. helps get your blood pumping and increase muscle mass, which in turn boosts your metabolism.
Good luck!

I started with walking. At first, 5 minutes on a treadmill seemed like too much. Now I do about a mile a day, sometimes more. I'm currently 385, started at 459. The key is to do more than you did the day before - more time, more distance, more speed - whatever you can manage that particular day.
I also do strength training with free weights. helps get your blood pumping and increase muscle mass, which in turn boosts your metabolism.
Good luck!

When my mom came to see me in my room right after surgery, she told me that she talked to my aunt and told her what I was doing. She felt guilty, and I was mad at her!! I was doped up on morphine, but I was so mad about it!! I feel like she spilled my Beans, I really didn't want to share this with anyone. I don't mind being helpful on a web forum, but I just don't need everyone in my real life knowing about this...
That said, I have only told my parents (who told the rest of the fam, apparently), and 3 of my closest friends. I can't quite articulate why, but I just don't want people to know about it! It's no one's business!

I can totally eat anything i want. Now a days I am eating more than before so I make sure I keep it Proteins and very little carbs....

When my mom came to see me in my room right after surgery, she told me that she talked to my aunt and told her what I was doing. She felt guilty, and I was mad at her!! I was doped up on morphine, but I was so mad about it!! I feel like she spilled my Beans, I really didn't want to share this with anyone. I don't mind being helpful on a web forum, but I just don't need everyone in my real life knowing about this...
That said, I have only told my parents (who told the rest of the fam, apparently), and 3 of my closest friends. I can't quite articulate why, but I just don't want people to know about it! It's no one's business!

I'm just over a month out from surgery and can eat just about anything. I've modified a lot of my foods to cut carbs, but I don't feel deprived at all... I have no issues cooking for myself, but I have NOT tackled eating out at a restaurant yet! The portion I'd be able to eat just doesn't seem worth it, but I do enjoy socializing over a meal... that's gonna be the tough part for me, but as far as what I cook for myself, I've been able to be creative and enjoy having lots of leftovers and stretching my money!

Laura-ven, wow you have inspired me with your honesty, I always read your posts and your advice because I feel you respond truthful and you always encourage people and just by how you are I respect your responses immencely. You dont sound depressed to me whatever it is your going through I hope you work it out , and its all good.

Considering she's telling you that you need to see a doctor for these questions, I don't know why she thinks SHE'S qualified to tell you what you should and shouldn't do, when it sounds like you didn't really give her any details.
It is hard, though, to convinice an MD you've never seen before that you think surgery is the best option - they don't have first hand knowledge of what you've weighed, or how long you've been overweight or what you've tried, etc, so they look at this as a "first attempt" going straight to surgery when it should be more of a last resort.
While that nurse may have given you some attitude, she did raise some important points. You do need to find someone (a doctor) who will provide you post-op care in the States. You need to ask what the Mexican clinic/hospital you are going to would do in case of emergency. I think it definitely could've been done in a more professional manner, but ultimately, you get what you pay for!
Definitely do all your research and preparation beforehand so you don't have to deal with it when you're post op. Good luck!

lol, right! I wanna be the biggest loser around these boards. You'll see!

Definitely take it to the bank and ask to talk to a bank manager. They have contacts at many different banks and can/will often verify funds so that you don't have to go through the bank hold period that happens for larger checks. I did that when I got my loan check from credit union and it worked perfectly :-) good luck.