VSG4aHealthierMe

I got so big I looked like I was having twins lol. I kid you not, with my first I could wear a large shirt @ the beginning, by they end I outgrew a 4X I guess after my sleeve I will start saving just in case.

Thanks for the info

Don't want to thread jack, just have a couple super quick questions that may help the topic starter too. I read the link and I couldn't get a clear read on a few things. 1. Is WLS considered a covered "weight loss program"? 2. Is the need for cosmetic surgery to repair "a deformity arising from a disease" covered as a tax detectible procedure if the disease was obesity and the deformity is excess skin, due to weight loss, being removed? 3. Can a procedure be tax deductible if it is done out of the country? Sorry to bombard you with these questions. I have been wondering about these 3 things since I decided to have WLS and when I saw that you might actually know the answer I had to ask.

I am pre-op but what I can tell from reading about other ppl is this: SOME ppl have a strong reaction to eating the wrong foods, not all. The sleeve is in place not to keep you from eating the things that are bad for you but to help you learn to eat differently than you did before. The sleeve is just a tool and how you use that tool will determine your success. You have to be the one to change what you eat to be as low carb, high protein as possible. As far as you being able to overeat, that I know nothing about. Hopefully someone else can chime in on that one.

Congrats!

Congrats!!

I don't know about Humana but with my ins anything paid out of pocket only goes toward my deductible & max out of pocket if its a covered procedure/test. For example, for some stupid reason they won't pay for bloodwork because they say EVERYTHING is routine and they don't cover routine blood work (please tell me how a 20 something woman getting her testosterone levels checked- I have PCOS- is routine??!!). So my doc has done a FULL hormone workup and CBC panel 2x now totalling around $800 both times, which they didn't pay on but neither time counted toward my deductible or max out of pocket. I wish it did because then I would be set for the year with both my deductible & max out of pocket after my sleeve next year!I would just call your insurance company and see what their policy is on this type of thing.

Holy crap! I have been looking for months and haven't heard of almost any of the suggestions! Looks like I have alot of taste testing to do in the near future because, as I said b4, even if I don't eat any of it post-op my family still likes it so I will still have to make it. I actually think it would be nice to get the carb monster off my back. I have been wondering lately how I will get my protein in if I am eating pastas and whatnot very often. I guess time will tell what happens with my tastes are post-op.

Thanks for the heads up!

I know I won't be able to eat it as much but I know there may come a time when a craving hits and I want to be prepared, plus with or without the sleeve I am supposed to be on a low carb diet because of PCOS/Insulin resistance and I have been looking for healthier alternative not only for myself but for my family as well.

No I haven't heard of either one. The cauliflower crust and zucchini pasta (other post) have me intrigued though, does that count as a serving of vegetables ? I will have to check those out. DH is gonna when I tell him we are trying pizza crust and pasta made of vegetables .

Thats exactly it, an Italian craving. I figure most things could be made with the same kind of noodle though. I am not sure what you mean by a "trigger food" though. Maybe after surgery I won't crave it...or even like it- it would be nice and it would make my life easier lol!Its just so darn hard to avoid the foods you love. Seriously, I could eat Pasta 3 times a day 365 days a year lol, I don't ... but I could if I wanted to. I have never thought of tortillas... I will have to check out the site you mentioned!

I'm not sleeved yet but I have had lap surgery b4 and let me tell you that a recliner is NOT a good place right after an operation. You will be surprised to discover how much of what you do affects your core (tummy area) and while getting you feet up might be tolerable using your legs (and core muscles) to putting it back down again will hurt like a ***BEEEEEP*** The couch you can roll and use your arms to sit up from a laying position so that it doesn't hurt quite so much. Just do yourself a favor, don't spend toooo much time in either one. The more you move the quicker you will heal (not to mention preventing clots and whatnot), just don't baby your belly too much or "baby" is NOT gonna be happy and you will pay for it when you do finally have to get up and move. I have had a lap surgery and 2 cesareans..... trust me you don't want to let those muscles tense up! Good luck!!!

Thanks for posting.

for home use when I can't get out to work out because its too hot or rainy, etc. The cost of a gym is ridiculous when you consider that after a year you have to pay another years membership fee, then another, and another.... its crazy when you can spend less money and get a couple pieces that are yours forever (I am a bit of a grinch when it comes to spending $, can you tell? lol). I know I want to get a electric treadmill, any suggestions on the best one? It needs to have a weight limit of at least 250, preferably 300 since I doubt I will lose 40+ pounds b4 I need to start working out, and an inclining treadmill is on DH's "Christmas list" lol . I was also thinking about maybe an elliptical or a stationary bike but I am not sure how well my knees will do with those but hopefully once I lose some weight my knees won't be quite so vulnerable to injury (anytime I overdo it now my knees hurt for days on end). I do know for sure that we want to get something with resistance/weight training (upper, core and lower body) so that once I lose enough weight (I want to tone up not bulk up) I can use that to tone my body and DH would get alot of use out of it starting day 1- he wants something like a total gym. Any suggestions on the best options? I am thinking 2-3 (possibly 4 if they are small enough or we can fold them up when not being used) pieces of equipment is about all we will be able to fit in our tiny spare room (It currently has a queen size bed in it and VERY little floor space. Something we could fold up and store would be great to save space when its not being used but we can live with it if it doesn't as long as its a good workout (I don't want to be bored stiff the whole time I am working out). So for those of you who like to work out, at the gym or at home, what are your favorites and what do you wish you had never bought? What vids (Jillian micheals, richard simmons, etc) and what types of vids (pilates, cardio, tai bo, etc) would you recommend for one I can really do some exercising?

Eeeks, that would suck!! Thanks for the replies ladies!

Ouch, I think I just got burned You're one hot lady Congrats on your progress!!!!!!

I have heard ppl mention protein shots. They say they are gritty but not near as bad as the shakes and, my thinking, its alot easier to drink a couple ounces of something mildly gritty than a serving of something extra gritty. That's just me though. I haven't tried anything yet so I am not the best source as far as taste, I just know what I read. Mostly I am posting to say WAY TO GO!!!! 50 pounds in 3 weeks!! Holy crap! At this rate you will be at your goal b4 the end of august lol Kudos! Just stick to what you CAN do for now and do your best at it and try not to worry about what you can't do yet. Think of it this way. If you had knees surgery 3 weeks ago you wouldn't be expecting to run yet, you would have to give it time to heal. The same goes for your tummy. Just hobble along as best as you can and b4 you know it you'll be thinking back on this difficulty as a distant memory

I like the Wii dance games too, I just wish I could get into them more but my knees don't make that very easy. At least it fun though and it gets you sweating

I will check into it again. I didn't call the places just asked a friend if she new what the cheapest place in town was No, not more disciplined just a tightwad lol.

I haven't been for my surgery yet but the last time I went I loved shopping. Everything is so much cheaper comparatively. Made it easy to buy gifts for ppl as well as keep sakes for myself. Granted where I went was in the heart of Mexico so I don't know if things will be more expensive considering TJ and Mexicali are right by the border. Just watch yourself because if you aren't careful some shopkeepers will take advantage of you and try to rip you off!!

Thanks I will try that.

Cheapest place I have found around me is $50/person.

Those are some good ideas and alot would work for me. I have a wii, just not the "fit "accessories. The bolded part could be a problem though. Jumping rope would have to wait until I lost some weight. I have had several ankle and foot injuries lately and they are still in a weakened state and I would hate to re-injure them and be "benched" instead of being able to work out. The push up and mountain climbers I will probably never be able to do. I broke my wrist my senior year and unbeknown to my doc and I it never healed. After my youngest was born it started to pop really hard and hurt like you know what with the tiniest movements. I had to have surgery and have bone crafted from my arm and put in my wrist and a screw put in the bones and graft to hold them together. My wrist hasn't worked right since high school and especially since the surgery. My wrist won't allow a full range of motion and it is very weak Unfortunately, this limits my options I like the idea of hubby training with me, but wouldn't that be difficult considering we would be in completely different places as far as what we need to accomplish? What little fat is on him I insisted on because when we first met he was so skinny his bones stuck out lol.

As I have said b4 I was relying on my mom and my sis-in-law to watch my boys while I went to mexico. I have been waiting to hear from my sis-in-law. I never doubted she would do it, never thought she would say no. She did. She had very valid reasons and I don't hold it against her but without her help we will have to take the boys with us. My mother can't handle them for a week straight. She was just gonna watch him for a couple days and a few hours during a few other days that week to give my sis-in-law a break. Taking the boys with us tacks another (roughly) $1500 (maybe more) to the trip cost, when we were barely gonna be able to afford it w/o taking them. Also, I don't know how I feel about taking my boys out of the country this young At this point I am looking at over $12,000 to do this. I am almost starting to wonder if I shouldn't try again to see if I can find an affordable doc in the states... I don't want to price shop but I can't see myself affording Mexico @ this point. I feel like the bottom has been pulled out from under me :broken_heart::cry_smile: