royalsecret

Hi Lizy, I have United Health Care, Choice Plus PPO. My plan required a BMI over 40 but what they didn't tell me up front was that they required a BMI over 40 for the past 5 years, or a BMI over 35 for the past 5 years with 2 co-morbidities. Since I didn't qualify my doctor fixed my hernia and at the same time did the sleeve and I self paid just for the sleeve. I have read on here that UHC has another plan that doesn't require 5 years weight history, and instead requires you to go thru 6 months of weigh ins supervised by your doctor...I wish I had that plan, lol. Oh welll the $5,000 out of pocket was soooo worth it! Good luck with your journey, and I hope you are approved! :-)

I am 5' 6" and weighed 235 lbs. the day of surgery, 12/18/12. I am 9 weeks out and weigh 202 lbs. and so far have lost 33 lbs. The first 3 weeks after surgery I lost 21 lbs - one pound a day. Then I hit the typical stall that frequently occurs 3 weeks after surgery. I think my body was in shock from losing so quickly. I lost 7 pounds the second month. This past week I've started losing again at a higher rate and have lost 5 lbs. I keep my daily calorie total under 900, Protein 80-100 grams, carbs under 90, and drink at least 80 oz of Water. I've worked out at gym 10 times since surgery, doing 45 minutes on treadmill and a few resistance machines. I know if I get consistent with going to the gym I will lose more quickly. My typical day includes a Pure Protein Drink for Breakfast as it has 35 grams of protein. I love the Thai-style chicken spring rolls lean cuisines for lunch (10 grams of protein) with salsa. Snack I try and have fruit and 2 0z of protein, usually chicken breast. dinner will be another 2-3 oz.of chicken or fish and a veggie, or a chicken Caesar salad. Then for a treat after dinner I sometimes have a Skinny Cow fudge ice cream cone as they are so yummy, lol. I track everything on SparkPeople, I came across it by accident and love it, it's a great site! In my case, the restriction helps the most when I go out to dinner or its a holiday/special occasion when there is a lot of food around. The normal day to day I was already eating like I am now, as I was always trying to lose weight. The BIGGEST gift the sleeve has given me is my loss of hunger and I pray that it doesn't return. Not to say that it has disappeared completely, it hasn't but its diminished by 80% and that is such a huge gift. I love my sleeve and can't wait to hit ONEDERLAND! :-)

I really like the Pure Protein Frosty Chocolate shakes. They have 35 grams of protein and taste good (to me anyway,lol). They sell them at TraderJoes and are on sale right now at Amazon.

I know just how you feel - nausea is the WORST! I had it constantly for 2 days after surgery. Doctor said it was the medicine they used to put me under and it had to leave my system. Once it did I had no more nausea so HANG IN THERE!!!

Wow you look fantastic, great job!!!

I didn't feel much restriction until I started eating solids (chicken breast).

Thanks for sharing. Is your hunger as strong as it was pre-op? I am so hoping your answer is no, lol.

That was great, thanks!

You look wonderful! Can you please share with us whether your appetite has come back at all, or increased since your surgery? Thanks!

Looks very yummy!

I really like the Pure Protein ready made shakes in the frosty chocolate flavor. Walmart has them in the 23 grams of protein and Trader Joes in the 35 grams!

I can't get all my protein in either so I've started drinking a 'pure protein' shake (35 grams protein, 170 calories) each afternoon around 3pm. I'm hoping the increase in protein will help my weight loss go quicker. It does bring my calories up to 800 so we'll see...

How are you feeling? What did your Doctor say?

I was sleeved on December 18th and have lost 27 pounds. I lost 20 of that in the first three weeks but then the weight loss really slowed down. I'm eating 600-700 calories a day, drinking only Water (85 oz. a day), and getting in about 50 grams of Protein. I started doing the treadmill an hour a day this week and have starting losing again. I just don't understand why I'm not losing more quickly when my calories are so low. Thankfully I have only vomited twice since I got home from the hospital. Once from eating a bite or two too much salmon, once eating too much of a fish taco. At the hospital I threw up the entire two days I was there (ugh!) I do feel really good and am hopeful that my weight loss will start going more quickly now that I'm exercising. Hope we all start losing more! :-)

I was sleeved 12/18 and have only lost 25 lbs...it just seems like my body doesn't want to give up the fat. Very frustrating. I've started working out this week and am hoping that jump starts the weight loss.

Could hunger returning have something to do with it being harder to lose after 6 months? I'm a slow loser and am 6 weeks out and have no hunger, so I worry how I will do if/when my hunger starts returning,

My Doctor said to eat 600 calories a day until you hit goal. I think you're right to question your doc's advice - 1500 sounds really high.

It is disconcerting how we each get such different directions from our surgeons!

My surgeon directs his patients to keep their calories at 600 until they hit their goal. In my case he projects I should lose 45 lbs the first 3 months, 30 lbs the 2nd 3 months, and 20 lbs in the last 3 months, for a total loss of 95 lbs in 9 months. Then I will up my calories to maintain. So far I am not having any problems staying at 600 calories a day...but I am praying my hunger doesn't return for at least 8 more months!

Hi Suzannesh, it's great to hear from someone over 4 years out! Great job keeping yourself below goal!! I am very interested to find out when/if your hunger came back, do you still have good restriction, do you feel your sleeve is still working or is it mostly you doing the maintaining, how what's your diet like in a average day, etc? Thanks again for posting.

No not at all. It takes about 15 minutes.

I should add that I refill/use the same bottle during the day,

Hi fatGreek, I was having a hard time getting my Water in until I bought little 8 oz water bottles. For some reason the 16 oz bottles were just too daunting. I drink one right when I get up, another on my way to work, 4 at work, waiting 30 min after I eat. My dr. said I could drink up to 5 minutes before I ate since water leaves the stomach so quickly. Then I drink at least 2 more when I get home.

Try Pure Protein shakes in the chocolate flavor. They have them at Target. They are pre made shakes, 23 grams of protein, 120 calories and taste just like chocolate milk. I hope you are feeling better very soon!