SusieK710

January 2013...wow...long time. Loved the loss of 65 lbs. Slowly regained 5 lbs and this year 10lbs. ?. Lost focus, let blood sugars run me. Tightening the reins now. Love hearing from those who refused to give in and went back to square one. Thanks all.

54 with gastric sleeve 5 years ago! Still at 145 lbs. doing yoga the past few years has been amazing! Kayaking and even doing some standup paddle boarding! The freedom is the best! So worth it!

Adding decaf instant coffee was what saved me! Still have half a premier vanilla in my regular coffee every morning. Cuts the overly sweet and tang.

So it’s now 5 years! Strange! The sleeve was a God send for me. I was an oompa-lumpa and still gaining. I think the fear of where I would be in a few years helped me decide to reverse it then and there! Familiar story, up 10 from my lowest weight. 5 this year. My folks have cancer and dad is now terminal. Easy to eat craving carbs. So for the first time in 4 years, going to really focus weight loss! Amazing to say since it was always the resolution. I have proven I can do it. Time to reprioritize. I refuse to give up the freedom I have gained from the weight loss. Warriors, fight on!

Surgery is basically rehab. We have a few months to get our carb cravings under control and relearn portions. Log foods so at the end of a healthy eating day you can see what you did and then compare what the difference was on off days. (My trigger: junk food doesn't register as food so I'm still hungry even if it settles my blood sugar drop) Routine eater have more long term success than those eating what sounds good. Morning coffee with half a vanilla protein shake as creamer. 3 hours later Greek yogurt. Lunch, protein, veggie and small carb. Fruit or cheese and a couple of crackers afternoon. Regular dinner and I hold weight. Add 3 pm sweet treat or chips daily and I gain.....4 plus years out. BMI 25. Know yourself. Knowledge is power!

Since surgery, love my Keurig coffee with vanilla Premier protein as flavor. The others are very sweet now! I'll have them as an afternoon treat if out tho. 4 years out and maintaining. This is part of my routine! Summertime is the chocolate protein shake with Starbucks instant coffee over ice. Yum! Decaf after surgery until I was hydrating normally.

Could be a stomach ulcer. We are prone to them after surgery. Or gall bladder. Get into you primary care doctor, gastroenterologist or possibly you bariatric surgeon. Good luck!

I like it best over ice with half a packet of decaf Starbuck's via instant coffee. I still have it almost daily 2 years out.

Yes, Gina I was self pay. I went to the informational meeting and the surgeon's office checked with my insurance company. Unfortunately mine does not cover any weight loss surgery. I work as a nurse and on my feet all day, plus rheumatoid arthritis, so I was struggling. Told my husband that insurance wouldn't cover it. He asked how much it would be, I answered "20K". He said "We could do that". The best I love you ever! I could never have risked more finances if I hadn't found out about the physician insurance policy. Medical complications happen and are expensive. My energy and stamina are so much better that I'll be able to work years longer and not be exhausted every night. So instead of replacing my 12 year old car, I became the "sports car"! I know he appreciates the results as much as I do!

How to describe the deep joy that the last year has been to me? I remember feeling like I was holding my breath and time was in slow motion the last day before surgery, excited, scared, horrified that I wasn't able to solve my weight problem myself.. Surgery went well. I was intrigued by the effort it took to swallow even tablespoon of water/protein shake. (Best advice was Water being a priority over shakes the first week or two) Not eating was harder emotionally than physically. What to do instead of eating? It had taken up so much of my time and thoughts. The hardest decision wasn't about the surgery but if to tell and who. I decided to tell my group at work. We are nurses and eat together. I knew I would have to lie to them every day and didn't want to do that. Most other people just got the simple answer, "Anything and everything, high Protein, low calorie, small portions, exercise, water..." By July I was down 60 pounds and meet my surgeons goal of a BMI of less than 25. I was able to go get a resting metabolism test, showing how many calories I burned per day (plus exercise), I was average for a 50 year old at 1400 per day, so I was able to plan how many I could eat a day. This also helped with doing the math on how long it would take me to lose a pound. The plan was instilled in my head so I continued, on adding treats here and there, waiting for the scale to start climbing back up. 6 months later, I'm down 5 more pounds and at my dream weight and in an unimaginable size 4!. I almost feel naked without my weight, people notice and pay more attention to me more now. Sometimes it's nice and sometimes it's creepy. Christmas helped me remember that the carbs don't fill me up, they only make me hungrier. My advice to pre-op folks, read, read, read. I firmly believe that the more education you have, the quicker you solve issues and the fewer bad outcomes. For those who are self-pay, like me, make sure to get a physician that is has a secondary insurer willing to back their work. It costs but that way, if there are problems, you won't lose everything. Thank you all for sharing your lives with me. God bless.

9 months post op and artificial flavorings and soda turn me off. Find ones with natural flavors, Crystal light has an all natural flavor lemonade! I enjoy not wanting things that aren't good for me!

Check out the Bolthouse juices at the grocery store. Lots of vitamins and some with protein. More calories so definitely not a diet drink but a good way to add calories and nutrition with a tiny tummy!

My sister is looking into it from Huron!

Your heart is made of muscle...You can't get that back. Look at pictures of anorexic patients with poor muscle tone, poor skin and hair and die of heart failure in their 20's.

I love the little blue and white Asian bowls and cups! They are pretty too!

Buying size small scrubs!!! Happy 50th birthday to me!!

40 DD to 34 DDD. Occasional mid back pain at the end of a long day for the past few years. Had to pay VSG out of pocket, hoping they will pay for a lift with reduction!

I used my GYN for support, he was excellent. My PCP, while excellent, would not have been supportive since my BMI was barely 35. 6 months and 55 pounds down, I am comfortable explaining my decision!

Try the Gas x strips! Wonderful help, at 6 months, I still carry one in the purse!

ALDFNP, my morning routine is Premier Protein with half a Starbuck VIA instant coffee packet added to it, iced. At five months, I now use regular not decaf. Bless you in your quest!

As much as the vanity aspects are wonderful, decreasing the RA symptoms to be able to keep active and work were my primary goals. If it can keep me working even a few months longer, it will have paid for itself, even being self pay. I was disappointed afew months back when I was hoping for a major long term remission and it wasn't happening. Feel great now! Granted, it's summer and I switched to a desk job but I'm hoping I've hit the threshold where the meds are able to control with the lower weight. Joints feel good 90% of the time now. Pray it will stay this way. Blessing to you all fighting the battle! Stay stubborn and strong!

Congrats!! Adam is fantastic! Knowledgeable and great coach! Enjoy your success!

Sldelux06, had green chili chicken enchiladas tonight! Skipped over the tortilla. Lived in "The Springs" for years, now only get back to see family. Loved a trip to Taos New Mexico in the fall. Enjoy Colorado for me!

100 day appointment today. 40 pounds down! Basically 3 pounds per week. Started with a BMI of 35. It's not fast but the longevity of the weeks adding up is amazing. Starting to graze, so need to stop it now. Summers coming and want another 25-35 pounds off!

The supplemental insurance was associated with the bariatric surgeon. It is actually insurance on his work. They only offer it to afew physicians with great track records for few complications. I used Blis Insurance, out of Oregon. They have a list of physicains that they cover. A $2000 for 3 months, problems usually start in that time frame. If problems start, they cover it until healed. I would not risk my families future otherwise.