Arts137

Interesting article!
http://www.nbcnews.com/health/scientists-obese-have-higher-levels-hunger-hormone-their-blood-6C10639235

I had the same hopes. I am about 10 weeks out from surgery. What I have realized is that I have NO IDEA what it is to be hungry. In the "before time" I just ate all the time, so I was NEVER hungry. Now I can't tell the difference between mental and physical hunger. SO, I just keep to the plan, assume it's ALL in my head and fight to succeed! Here's hoping that ghrelin helps...

Interesting article!
http://www.nbcnews.com/health/scientists-obese-have-higher-levels-hunger-hormone-their-blood-6C10639235

THANKS, this is Very Helpful information. Yes, it's not simple. I find (but by definition this is anecdotal only) that I am hungry at the same times each day, AND that if I have a "treat" on dayt one I'll want that treat for the next 3/4 days at the same time. Lastly, while I say "hungry", I really don't know what that is since I spent most of my adult life eating without ANY relationship to hunger...

The Big Book on the gastric Sleeve!
Read it all and it's better than good. It's a must read and I'd recommend it for everyone from the Very Start of the process. While I need to go back and Dive Deep into the book, I have two first suggestions based on a lot of questions that I've seen on our VST board.
1. Please consider expanding the Pre-op medical preps. Here's what I mean... go into more detail about what exams and tests "might" be required for insurance or the surgeon. Descibe them from the patients perspective. Might need to be a page for each test.. Consider including:
Pulmonologist examination and clearance: Exam, Pulmonary Function Test, Methacholine Challenge, sleep study (and what if you are positive for OSD (sleep apnea) and require CPAP.
Cardiologist examination and clearance: Exam, Resting ECG, Stress Test, Pharmacological Stress Test, BNP.
GI evaluation and clearance: Colonoscopy, Endoscopy
I am SURE that there is/are more but at least it's a start.
2. There are SO MANY questions about what Protein suppliments are out there. Consider adding a comparison table or nutritional values and costs, (maybe the results of a member poll re taste) etc. of as many of the "acceptable" ones as you can. Shoot, might even allow products to pay for a One Page ad/information sheet. (If they were smart they'd send free samples to folks who bought the book).
This is just a start. Let me know if I can help!
Art Spencer
(Sleeve Date 6-4-13)

Cheri, Your responses are thoughtful, well written and spot on. This and ALL others! THANKS!

Will your MD support your doing Optifast?

Nana, I am 63 (almost 64) five months out and doing fine. No complication. No difficulty
But you must be ready to have, for all your life, a different relationship with food. I like food. I enjoy food. But food is not and cannot be the be-all and end-all of life! You talk about TV time. It's a fun activity with family... It does not Require food.
Please do not have surgery unless you are really really sure...

Every pound you lose is a pound you have lost. Just keep the focus on liquids and Proteins, and follow your program. It'll come off, and what the heck, you are sleeved for the rest of your life!

IMHO, and I am a "40"... I defer to my surgeon. I want him to do it right, and of the two of us, he's the only one awake.
So, I don't KNOW if "40" is good or bad for me. But I can't get a "36" or "32" now, so I'll play with the cards I am delt!

Every pound you lose is a pound you have lost. Just keep the focus on liquids and Proteins, and follow your program. It'll come off, and what the heck, you are sleeved for the rest of your life!

The Big Book on the gastric Sleeve!
Read it all and it's better than good. It's a must read and I'd recommend it for everyone from the Very Start of the process. While I need to go back and Dive Deep into the book, I have two first suggestions based on a lot of questions that I've seen on our VST board.
1. Please consider expanding the Pre-op medical preps. Here's what I mean... go into more detail about what exams and tests "might" be required for insurance or the surgeon. Descibe them from the patients perspective. Might need to be a page for each test.. Consider including:
Pulmonologist examination and clearance: Exam, Pulmonary Function Test, Methacholine Challenge, sleep study (and what if you are positive for OSD (sleep apnea) and require CPAP.
Cardiologist examination and clearance: Exam, Resting ECG, Stress Test, Pharmacological Stress Test, BNP.
GI evaluation and clearance: Colonoscopy, Endoscopy
I am SURE that there is/are more but at least it's a start.
2. There are SO MANY questions about what Protein suppliments are out there. Consider adding a comparison table or nutritional values and costs, (maybe the results of a member poll re taste) etc. of as many of the "acceptable" ones as you can. Shoot, might even allow products to pay for a One Page ad/information sheet. (If they were smart they'd send free samples to folks who bought the book).
This is just a start. Let me know if I can help!
Art Spencer
(Sleeve Date 6-4-13)

The Big Book on the gastric Sleeve!
Read it all and it's better than good. It's a must read and I'd recommend it for everyone from the Very Start of the process. While I need to go back and Dive Deep into the book, I have two first suggestions based on a lot of questions that I've seen on our VST board.
1. Please consider expanding the Pre-op medical preps. Here's what I mean... go into more detail about what exams and tests "might" be required for insurance or the surgeon. Descibe them from the patients perspective. Might need to be a page for each test.. Consider including:
Pulmonologist examination and clearance: Exam, Pulmonary Function Test, Methacholine Challenge, sleep study (and what if you are positive for OSD (sleep apnea) and require CPAP.
Cardiologist examination and clearance: Exam, Resting ECG, Stress Test, Pharmacological Stress Test, BNP.
GI evaluation and clearance: Colonoscopy, Endoscopy
I am SURE that there is/are more but at least it's a start.
2. There are SO MANY questions about what Protein suppliments are out there. Consider adding a comparison table or nutritional values and costs, (maybe the results of a member poll re taste) etc. of as many of the "acceptable" ones as you can. Shoot, might even allow products to pay for a One Page ad/information sheet. (If they were smart they'd send free samples to folks who bought the book).
This is just a start. Let me know if I can help!
Art Spencer
(Sleeve Date 6-4-13)

From Butterbean:
http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.html

Globe, I have reread the entire thread and I did NOT find your one sentence negative or sarcastic or mean. Sometimes we all would do well to just take the words in and not ascribe an emotional overtone to the words!
And from one of your first posts on this thread:
"One last thing - if you are still in your honeymoon period and already scheming on ways to eat bad/trigger foods, you might want to consider adding therapy to your recovery, I personally consider it essential."
I absolutely agree. Start strict and losen up later. Once loose it is hard to tighten back up (IMHO)...
And I have done this long enough to know my trigger foods and, as I have said, thinking about them is is not a problem for me (thankfully), but if I (personally, me, nobody else) has even one bite than I crave, physically CRAVE more simple carbs for the rest of the day... week... regain period...
And while only 5-6 months out, I could do a master's thesis on how my own fat brain works...

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/03/31/297160022/weight-loss-surgery-can-reverse-diabetes-but-cure-is-elusive

Every pound you lose is a pound you have lost. Just keep the focus on liquids and Proteins, and follow your program. It'll come off, and what the heck, you are sleeved for the rest of your life!

The Big Book on the gastric Sleeve!
Read it all and it's better than good. It's a must read and I'd recommend it for everyone from the Very Start of the process. While I need to go back and Dive Deep into the book, I have two first suggestions based on a lot of questions that I've seen on our VST board.
1. Please consider expanding the Pre-op medical preps. Here's what I mean... go into more detail about what exams and tests "might" be required for insurance or the surgeon. Descibe them from the patients perspective. Might need to be a page for each test.. Consider including:
Pulmonologist examination and clearance: Exam, Pulmonary Function Test, Methacholine Challenge, sleep study (and what if you are positive for OSD (sleep apnea) and require CPAP.
Cardiologist examination and clearance: Exam, Resting ECG, Stress Test, Pharmacological Stress Test, BNP.
GI evaluation and clearance: Colonoscopy, Endoscopy
I am SURE that there is/are more but at least it's a start.
2. There are SO MANY questions about what Protein suppliments are out there. Consider adding a comparison table or nutritional values and costs, (maybe the results of a member poll re taste) etc. of as many of the "acceptable" ones as you can. Shoot, might even allow products to pay for a One Page ad/information sheet. (If they were smart they'd send free samples to folks who bought the book).
This is just a start. Let me know if I can help!
Art Spencer
(Sleeve Date 6-4-13)

Yes to the above comments! Every insurance company is different.
As to the sleep study, I was p***** that I had to do it (or the pulmonologist would not sign off), heck, I KNEW that I did not have Apnea...and I had to sleep at the center.
Well OOOPS! I have pretty severe obstructive sleep apnea, and the CPAP machine that I now religiously use is WONDERFUL. Never realized how great a good night's sleep is.
All in all, go through the requirements and your sleeve will be here quick as a flash!

No problems post-surgery (a year ago). Fatigue took Months to clear, but I took it as a license to nap!

Almost 64 and the process (surgery) was a piece of cake. or easy as pie? (oops, food porn). I have lost 100# from my highest weight, am 5 months out, and now losing at from 1 to 3# a week. No rush, I got the time...
The research says that the sleeve is fine for up to (at least) age 70...

The Big Book on the gastric Sleeve!
Read it all and it's better than good. It's a must read and I'd recommend it for everyone from the Very Start of the process. While I need to go back and Dive Deep into the book, I have two first suggestions based on a lot of questions that I've seen on our VST board.
1. Please consider expanding the Pre-op medical preps. Here's what I mean... go into more detail about what exams and tests "might" be required for insurance or the surgeon. Descibe them from the patients perspective. Might need to be a page for each test.. Consider including:
Pulmonologist examination and clearance: Exam, Pulmonary Function Test, Methacholine Challenge, sleep study (and what if you are positive for OSD (sleep apnea) and require CPAP.
Cardiologist examination and clearance: Exam, Resting ECG, Stress Test, Pharmacological Stress Test, BNP.
GI evaluation and clearance: Colonoscopy, Endoscopy
I am SURE that there is/are more but at least it's a start.
2. There are SO MANY questions about what Protein suppliments are out there. Consider adding a comparison table or nutritional values and costs, (maybe the results of a member poll re taste) etc. of as many of the "acceptable" ones as you can. Shoot, might even allow products to pay for a One Page ad/information sheet. (If they were smart they'd send free samples to folks who bought the book).
This is just a start. Let me know if I can help!
Art Spencer
(Sleeve Date 6-4-13)

Thanks for the summary AND the references!!!

The Big Book on the gastric Sleeve!
Read it all and it's better than good. It's a must read and I'd recommend it for everyone from the Very Start of the process. While I need to go back and Dive Deep into the book, I have two first suggestions based on a lot of questions that I've seen on our VST board.
1. Please consider expanding the Pre-op medical preps. Here's what I mean... go into more detail about what exams and tests "might" be required for insurance or the surgeon. Descibe them from the patients perspective. Might need to be a page for each test.. Consider including:
Pulmonologist examination and clearance: Exam, Pulmonary Function Test, Methacholine Challenge, sleep study (and what if you are positive for OSD (sleep apnea) and require CPAP.
Cardiologist examination and clearance: Exam, Resting ECG, Stress Test, Pharmacological Stress Test, BNP.
GI evaluation and clearance: Colonoscopy, Endoscopy
I am SURE that there is/are more but at least it's a start.
2. There are SO MANY questions about what Protein suppliments are out there. Consider adding a comparison table or nutritional values and costs, (maybe the results of a member poll re taste) etc. of as many of the "acceptable" ones as you can. Shoot, might even allow products to pay for a One Page ad/information sheet. (If they were smart they'd send free samples to folks who bought the book).
This is just a start. Let me know if I can help!
Art Spencer
(Sleeve Date 6-4-13)

and it's 80% to 85% of your stomach.