Donna4545

You need the nutrients from 800 gross calories for your body to lose weight. How you use them up doesn't matter, except that you will lose more weight if you exercise them off. You don't want to go over 1,200 gross calories, which you would do if you used "net" calorie counting. It's what you put in there, not what you end up with net that is the thing you want to count.

Thanks everybody. I ended up buying the Walk at Home DVD. I'll see how that goes, and then branch out once I've mastered that one.

I wonder if this is why my doc doesn't do an all-liquid pre-op diet and advances through the post-op food stages pretty quickly-about a week between each.

Kitty- My bariatric clinic is in a pilot program with BCBS BUT even without that, I called BCBS and they said they would approve a sleeve if you had a BMI of 51 or higher with 3 co-morbidities. That said, the pilot program definitely changes things because there were some pretty low (compared to me at 51) BMIs and they were also told they would probably be approved. I was told I would definitely be approved--and I was! I'm glad someone knows where Minot is, lol! Good luck to you!

My doc said clears for 2 days, full liquids day 3-13, pureed day 14-20; and light solids/some real food day 21-27. Day 28--real food

My pre-op diet is shakes for breakfast and lunch, and an Atkins-type meal for dinner. I don't know what the advantage of shakes-only would be.

After surgery, I'll be in for a long North Dakota winter. I know I'm not going to drive to Curves in a blizzard, and I don't have a TV for wii. What kind of low-impact exercise can I do in the house without buying equipment? Thanks

My surgeon lists the following as what to eat: Yogurt with no fruit in it Tomato Soup Strained creamed soup (not sure how to strain or why) Milk pudding Protein shakes Is there anything that I can add to this list to make it more interesting? Remember, full liquid stage only, no puree yet.

Here's my surgeon's suggested sample menu for 3 weeks out: Breakfast: 1/2 cup Cheerios w/ 2-3 oz skim milk 1 oz. mozzarella cheese stick Lunch: 2-3 oz baked cod 1/2 small baked potato 1/2 cup green Beans 1/4 cup canned pears Snack: 8 oz skim milk Dinner: 2-3 oz turkey 1/4 cup wild rice 1/2 cup cooked carrots 1/4 cup canned peaches Snack- 8 oz skim milk It could be that you're not getting enough of the right calories--and lose those oyster crackers--carb city! Good luck!

My pre-op diet allows one small meal at dinner. I feel lucky! I only have to do clear liquids the day before/of surgery.

Update: Since I have to fly when I'm 6 weeks post-op, I found a TSA friendly liquid protein 3.4 oz and 42 grams of protein. Here's the link: IDS Sports New-Whey Liquid Protein, 42 g Protein (3.1 oz. vial)

TSA-friendly 3.4 oz vial of liquid protein in 4 fruit flavors, 42 grams protein, zero sugar, carbs. I ordered several of these. Great for flying. Here's the link: IDS Sports New-Whey Liquid Protein, 42 g Protein (3.1 oz. vial)

My doc said do nothing for 4 days, and then you can drive after you don't need pain medication.

I spent the afternoon shopping for my pre and post-op needs. I found baby flatware, 2 oz tupperware cups, the smallest bowls with lids I could find were 8 oz. I found the pre-op Atkins Advantage RTD Shakes for about $4.50 per 4 pack, 4 oz. baby apple juice for dirt cheap, gerbers baby green beans, stage 2, Isopure 3 lb 50g protein powder for $32 (1.50 a serving). I found the best deals by using Google. I already have a food scale, chicken broth, and shaker bottle. I'm trying to think if I need anything else. For four days after the surgery I will be in a hotel room near the hospital, until the doc says I can drive myself the 100 miles home. They have a special rate for this-$69/night and my Flex acct will reimburse $60/night for that. The room doesn't have a fridge, but for day 3 and 4 I'm hoping I can get some soup in the hotel restaurant, and yogurt for breakfast. Otherwise, everything is check! Surgery scheduled for 7/14/10.

I got insurance approval from BCBS North Dakota in 3 days! One day at the bariatric clinic for clearances, and then I got scheduled. I'm still in shock!

I got insurance approval from BCBS North Dakota in 3 days! One day at the bariatric clinic for clearances, and then I got scheduled. I'm still in shock!

Have you seen this blog? Bariatric Foodie

Here's another one I just ordered: [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592332269/ref=ox_ya_os_product]Amazon.com: Recipes for Life After Weight-Loss Surgery: Delicious Dishes for Nourishing the New You (Healthy Living[/ame]

Here's another one I just ordered. I was impressed with the fact that they had a Jamaican Jerk recipe. [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592332269/ref=ox_ya_os_product]Amazon.com: Recipes for Life After Weight-Loss Surgery: Delicious Dishes for Nourishing the New You (Healthy Living[/ame]

I'm a foodie, so I was really happy to find this. All the recipes can be pureed if you are in that stage of your program. Here's the link: [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1569244537/ref=oss_product]Amazon.com: Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery: Over 140 Delicious Low-Fat High-Protein Recipes to Enjoy in the Weeks, Months and Years After Surgery (9781569244531): Patt Levine, Michele Bontmpo-Saray, William B. Inabnet, Meredith Urban-Skuros: B[/ame]

Here is the link to the cookbook: [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1569244537/ref=oss_product]Amazon.com: Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery: Over 140 Delicious Low-Fat High-Protein Recipes to Enjoy in the Weeks, Months and Years After Surgery (9781569244531): Patt Levine, Michele Bontmpo-Saray, William B. Inabnet, Meredith Urban-Skuros: B[/ame]

This is the beginning. Age 45, BMI 51; Starting weight 331; Goal weight 150 I live in rural North Dakota, and I have just had my paperwork submitted for vertical sleeve gastrectomy to BCBS this week. The bariatric program coordinator said I should have no problem getting approved, as they are part of a BCBS pilot program. My hospital/program are 100 miles away, so the online community will be my main support system. I have been overweight since age 10. I really ballooned to morbidly obese after age 40. I am absolutely done with diets. I am borderline diabetic, have arthritis in the knees, hyperlipidemia, and polycystic ovary syndrome. I am also taking medication for depression, but it is treated, so I don't feel depressed. I am hopling that my surgery will change all of these health problems. I tried to get insurance approval from United Health Care for a RNY in 2007--it was explicitly excluded from coverage. In 2009 I got a new job with new insurance and here I am. I have accepted the lifestyle changes that will have to be made, so at this point my main concerns are cost, insurance approval, and finding out all I can about life after surgery. I'm a foodie so this is going to be quite a challenge, but I've already found a gourmet bariatric cookbook, so I am going to make this work. I'll post again when I hear something from the insurance. Wish me luck!