McButterpants

Well said, Butter!!!!

This is spot on with what my insurance carrier said to me, too. For those that are self-pay - if you are going to a doctor for follow-up aftercare and you're insurance doesn't cover weight loss, your aftercare probably won't be covered either. My follow up visits with a local bariatric surgeon & nutritionist is $185 per visit - visits are scheduled at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, then yearly; that adds up (a little under $1000 the first year) and something for which I didn't necessarily budget. I believe the aftercare is important and I go to my visits with a local bariatric doctor as I would had I been her patient.

Since the OP states he has decided to turn off the monitoring of this thread, my response is to anyone else that reads this and is contemplating this risky behavior - PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS. The OP believes he is being chivalrous in giving advice on how to do this properly. That is akin to showing an novice IV drug user how to inject heroin properly. "Here, give me that syringe and let me show you how it's done." Or perhaps we should have a new forum for bulimics and we can show them proper techniques on binging and purging. Imagine all the fun videos we can post! There is no room on this forum to show people, who are already in a fragile state, a way around dealing with or treating their food issues. Even if one doesn't consider themselves a food addict, they did have or are considering weight loss surgery for a reason. The OP states that a woman in her 90's has done this her whole life like she should wear that as a badge of honor. What a miserable existence mentally, not to mention the physical toll that could have taken on her body!!!!! My grandfather smoked for 70 years and didn't get cancer and only had a minor cough when he died. I guess that means we should all go out and buy some cigarettes and see if we get similar results. Hell yeah! And I see the OP just posted another comment which means he's still monitoring this thread in some fashion. As I stated my words are not meant for the OP, they are meant for the other members of our community who may happen by this thread.

I agree with the heated mattress pad. I have had one for years - before surgery I would turn it on about an hour before bedtime, hop in bed, the turn it off because I got too warm during the night. Since surgery, I turn it on High about an hour before bed and leave it on all night!

Right after surgery, the thought of having another shake made me want to run myself over with my own car. They are necessary, so you have to do what you can to make them more palatable. I agree with ribearty above...PB2 is awesome in the vanilla and chocolate shakes. I used sugar free lemon pudding mix (about 1 tablespoon) in a vanilla shake - it was good. I also tried sugar free pistachio pudding mix in the vanilla - delicious and refreshing. You just have to experiment and if you find something you like, write it down so you can go back to it again later.

Wow...37 years! Congrats to the two of you.

Yogurt and fat free refried Beans were allowed on my puree stage. Here are some other things that were on my approved list: blended bean Soup puree chicken (blend w/ chicken stock) pureed broccoli (cook the broccoli well before you puree and only use the tops) pureed cauliflower (again, well cooked, then puree) Greek yogurt - it cannot have chucks or fruit on the bottom. I used the Chobani blended yogurt. pureed Cottage cheese (I added sugar free Torani raspberry syrup) soft scrambled egg (adding a splash of 1% milk and whipping w/ a fork before cooking will make them soft)

Did your doctor prescribe something for acid? If not, you may want to check into an over the counter acid reducer or see if the doc can prescribe you something. Once you get the acid/nausea under control, it should be easier to focus on the Water and Protein - that will probably lead to you feeling better. I had some buyer's remorse right after I had the surgery - once I started feeling better, it went away and haven't looked back. I hope you feel better soon!

C-section was harder to recover from than VSG for me.

I agree with the above...It's important to follow YOUR doctor's instructions. Be gentle with your new, delicate tummy - don't push it, it's not worth it. Now is the time to start letting your sleeve work for you and make good decisions - if it's not on your approved food/drink list, don't do it. Before you know it you'll be adding new liquids, puree, soft foods and then on to a regular diet. Take good care of yourself and that new tummy of yours!!!

You should call the doc for the heartburn if he hasn't prescribed something for it. As for the belly noises...yeah, it's loud. My dad thought my dog was growling, but it was my tummy! That went away for me around day 5. Take good care.

I have it - it bothered me at first, but now, 2 years after starting on Levothyroxine, I kind of forget about it. I was worried about slow loss due to it. Now, I rarely think about it...although I take a pill every morning for it. I have thyroid nodules that they are keeping an eye on, but other than that, it is what it is. I think with the thyroid, insulin resistance (because we don't want to call it diabetes), and PCOS, I wasn't going to lose this weight on my own. I needed this assistance. So far, so good - since I decided to have surgery in August, I'm down 42 pounds with 25 of those coming off after surgery. Best of luck to you!

I agree, you are marvelous!!!!!!

I use Splenda - I caution using a lot, however. I find if I have a lot of Splenda it actually triggers my hunger. If I don't use a lot of it, I'm OK. I don't like a lot of the other sweeteners that are out there like Stevia, but that's just me. I purchased a lot of Torani sugar free syrups to add to the shakes because they will get old! Those syrups are made with Splenda. I had food funerals before surgery - a lot of them. They got old, though, and I ended up starting my pre-op diet a day early because I was sick about thinking about it. Funny story after my two week pre-op diet. I had a mandatory meeting at my surgeon's office the day before surgery. They review what happens during the day of surgery and you meet with the doctor and they take some tests. At the end of the meeting our patient coordinator said, "Go out and have a great meal tonight. No restrictions other than no all you can eat buffets and limit red meat." Seriously? We thought it was a joke, but it wasn't. Now the decision - now that everything is legal, what do I want? We chose macaroni Grill because we don't have one in the town I live it. My husband and I had a fabulous dinner. We had appetizers, we had bread (something I had not had in 4 weeks) and we even had dessert. But what surprised me was, I didn't eat that much. I didn't gorge myself. I took a few bites of everything and was completely satisfied. We had a great time and talked and enjoyed each other's company while sharing a great meal. I will cherish that meal - not because it was great food, but because I feel like that personified how eating out should be...

I'm leaving 42.8 pounds in 2013 - good riddance! I'm grateful for the surgery because it has given me hope. Right now I am not he person I am meant to be. 2014 will be the year I find that person! Best of luck to you in 2014 - it's going to be a great year!

I am at 43 pounds lost so far...almost 50. I feel a huge physical difference, but he mental/emotion issues are still there. While I don't necessarily feel like I'm taking up less space in the universe, I can see physical changes. The steering wheel of my car feels farther away because my belly isn't getting in the way. I can see a huge difference in my face - it's not as bloated as it was 43 pounds ago. I can walk for 3 miles with relative ease and no pain - something that hasn't happened in a really long time. Interestingly, the mental changes haven't quite happened yet...I still feel like the fat girl when crossing a room, trying to figure out a way to get from Point A to Point B without hitting someone with my a$$ when I walk by. I still identify myself with the fatter me - my insecurities are still very much there. The mental aspect is much harder to overcome. Congrats on beginning your journey! The pre-op diet sucked for me in the beginning, but got better by about day 5. Decaf green tea was my savior. Stay strong and committed and you'll get thru it. January 15th will be here before you know it!

Wow - what a transformation! Congrats!

I purchased mine on Amazon.com - I got all three for $12 or something like that. I can't get them at my local grocery store, but you might check there first.

Hoping you get to go home soon! I got dehydrated on Day 3 and it wasn't fun - called the doc and he suggested Propel Zero, Vitamin Water Zero and Powerade Zero (all zero calorie drinks) because I just couldn't stomach plain water (plain water felt gritty in my mouth for some reason). Propel Zero is my go-to drink now. I buy it by the case. I also just got some Just Orange, Just Lemon and Just Lime packets - I can drink water with a packet of those now as well. I drink my water at room temp. When you're farther out and you're wanting to get in your Protein mins (with food and with shakes), I found putting myself on a schedule helped. If I waited until I was hungry, I would have never eaten. That may help you. Best of luck to you!

OMG - me too! I loved the "in the kitchen shows"...At Home with Giada, Barefoot Contessa, etc. I cannot watch them any more! There is so much butter being used! LOL

I live in the north where we have a beautiful blanket of snow covering the ground. Last night while waiting to ring in the new year at home with the family, I was wearing sweat pants, a long sleeve t-shirt, sweatshirt, socks and fleece slippers. I even covered up with a blanket for good measure. I may have to become a snowbird at the ripe old age of 43! Happy new year everyone!

I will tell you a little bit about my experience with the dreaded stall...I was stalled for 13 days between weeks 4 and 5. It sucked. I tell everyone I thought I was ready for the stall, I knew it was coming, but I was really not prepared for the emotional toll it would take. As everyone states above - the stall will happen. It's how you deal with it that's important. You cannot let this derail you. Your body is a wondrous machine that is trying to figure things out. Your mind - the irrational mind - is saying, "I had this surgery and should lose a bunch of weight right now." They are in conflict, but your body knows best. You cannot control what the scales says, but there are things you can control. * Keep getting in the mins for Protein - this is so important so you don't lose lean muscle mass. (Lean muscle mass also helps you burn calories - important in weight loss) It's also important for hair loss that may come. * Keep working toward your Water goal - water helps flush fat thru. Your body needs water - you are in control over how much you give it. * Walk. Walk as much as you can and stop when you get tired. This will help you keep your lean muscle mass and burn calories, again, important in weight loss. * Put the scale away for a week or two; don't weigh every day, it's emotionally draining. My husband hides the scale and brings it out on Thursdays. This kept me sane during the stall. You didn't gain the weight over night, you shouldn't expect to lose it faster than you put it on. Things will work out, you just need to be patient and do what you can to assist your body. You got this! Best of luck.

I will leave behind 41.8 pounds I lost in 2013 - I fought hard for each and every one of those, but I gladly leave them in 2013. I will leave behind that defeatist attitude I've been carrying for 20 years ("you're going to fail again", "you're never going to lose all the weight you need to lose", "you're disgusting", you get the picture). I will leave behind that woman that didn't expect more from herself. I will leave behind the idea that my weight defines me. I will leave behind the attitude that exercise is not a priority. I will leave behind the habit of eating when not hungry - food is my fuel, not my pleasure and not my therapist. Happy 2014 to everyone!

I went thru a stall for 13 days between weeks 4 and 5 and it sucked. It really did. I thought I was prepared for it, I wasn't, not even close. My husband hides the scale from me and brings it out once per week - that has saved my sanity. He forgot to put it away last week and I'm back to weighing myself every day and for me, that's not healthy. I will ask him to hide it today. He puts it in a different location each time - yes, I will admit, I have gone snooping for the scale. Again, not a healthy decision. A lot of doctors will tell patients to not weigh every week even. Your body is going thru so many changes. Looking back, I wish I had not weighed every day. It causes too much anxiety. We are programmed to accept the fact that we lost 2 pounds overnight, then the next day beat ourselves up because we gained a pound the following day. It's not possible - we didn't actually lose 2 pounds of fat overnight and it's as equally absurd to believe we gained a pound overnight. In the simple mathematical formula of calories in vs. calories out - there is no way you are not losing weight. This close after surgery, you are not taking in enough calories to be at a surplus. If you burn more than you take in you will lose weight. It's a fact. My suggestion is if you are in a stall, put the scale away for a couple of weeks - ask your significant other to hide it from you, take it over to a freind's house, I even read someone put their scale in the trunk of the car. Best of luck to you guys! 2014 will be our year!!!!!

What a great story! Sounds like you got yourself a keeper, too!