caligirl3

I'm so happy for all of you with your dates scheduled! I'm patiently waiting for the coordinator call since I got approved by insurance last Friday... Going NUTS though! This is rough!

I am new to the group, my surgery date is set for December 16th. Merry Christmas to me I am in North Fort Worth, Texas and would love to connect with others going thru this and that have already gone thru this. Looking forward to getting to know some of you.
I do have a question with the changeover VST is having to BariatricPal, have you noticed that everything transfer's over?
Hope you are all having a great day!

Someone add me to the list for Friday the 13th! So much for Dec 5th, but at least I have a date!

I'm going big! I'm sending myself on a scuba trip with adults only. I'm always doing everything for everyone as a single mom, and I deserve a trip to reward myself...
Sent from my iPad using VST

Finally got a date. After trying to jump through insurance hoops since March, I got denied. Cash pay now. December 9th. Yay!

My husband isn't obese but now I want him to get the sleeve!

I was approved by Anthem took less than two months surgery November 11

Sleeved this morning. No complications all good pain pump is a life saver. Pretty bad pains on left side under ribs. I have a very low tolerance for pain. Can have pain meds every 10 min. So far have only used 6 times since surgery at 7:30

This is a great strategy. Back in the day when I worked out with a personal trainer, they basically said this same thing to me. Don't start doing an hour of cardio a day now, when you have all the weight to lose, because by the time you're lighter, you'll have to do 3 hrs/day to maintain what your body is used to!
I think about half way I'm going to start to incorporate weight training 2 days and small walks (30 minutes) 3 days a week, resting on weekends. I don't want a ton of loose skin, but I also want to take advantage of my honeymoon period (that 1st year) to get the weight off...

No BIG Thanksgiving Meal for me this year.. My surgery is Dec 2nd...Nov 18th I start my 14 day pre-op which is 3 ounces of lean Protein, 8 ounces of veggies for Breakfast, lunch and dinner. I've already started practing no drinking with my meals or 30 min before or after I eat..and chewing, chewing, chewing.. the not drinking with the meal seems to be the most difficult at this point. I gave up soda back in July...so I don't miss it anymore.

Got my date -- December 10.
My surgeon is making me do a 3-week liquid/low-cal diet.
I'm both excited and freaked out.
Andrew

I hear ya!! Its like waiting for the results of a pregnancy test. .. torture

I'd pay you the $100 if I wasn't already doing all those things! I hit minimum 60 protein, less than 50 carbs, drink as much as i can, don't do sugar or bread, do Vitamins, I do dairy for cheese, cottage cheese and greek yogurt but not daily, and only eat low GI veggies, and almost no fruit. Paleo except for dairy basically.
I'd pay you $150 if you solve the dilemma of when I'll be at goal. Wanna bet?

I can't give you advise, only impart what I know.
Other doctors will perform the surgery.
I highly doubt your insurance will pay for any of it due to your BMI and lack of comorbidities.
Many doctors are now refusing to do the band due to high post complication rates, so make sure you look heavily into it.
I keep hearing Mexico is a fantastic option if insurance will not cover it.
Sorry if this isn't what you're looking for, but hope it helps!

I think it is up to the individual. At about the 6 month mark, people get to the stage where there sleeve can handle just about any type of food. They learn what foods will "slide" right through. It is strange feeling restriction after only a few bites. Pre-sleeve, our solution to this was to drink liquids to settle an uncomfortable stomach. Those who choose to ignore this guideline post-sleeve will have something to drink when this feeling comes and are able to consume more calories than the person who doesn't drink with their meals.
So, I firmly believe that if you follow the guidelines of eating lean Protein first, chewing well and not drinking 15 minutes prior, during or 15 minutes after eating (and of course exercise), you can lose weight anytime you need to post-sleeve.
Myself, I am almost 2 and a half years post-sleeve and have excellent restriction when I follow these guidelines. I know my slider foods and avoid them when I am looking to lose a few pounds. I'm sure you have seen it posted here several times that this is a surgery on our stomachs, not our heads. If a person doesn't face the issues as to why they got to being obese, the sleeve isn't going to change this behavior. If you want to abuse food post sleeve, you will be able to. The 6 month "honeymoon" is a time when it is too painful to do it, so this is the time when you need to face these demons and make the fundamental change with your relationship with food. If you are able to do this, then the honeymoon lasts forever.

Nice work Kim
My sister had surgery before me and she decided not to exercise at the beginning (easy decision) while the weight loss was easy. She then chose to start exercising when the weight loss slowed some. Her reasoning was that if she was gung ho with exercise from the start then when the weight loss slowed she would have to increase the exercise to a level that was not sustainable. So, when I had surgery I did the same thing. I just had the simple walking to and from work for 10 minutes each way and added one treadmill 30 minute walk a week for the first 5 months (remembering that's a lot of exercise anyway when you're that heavy). I felt the slow down 5 months so I started going to the gym twice a week doing cardio and weights (again, alot of exercise LOL). Then, at 9 months I slowed down again some, put up with it for a few weeks then said yes, 5:2 diet. So I have been on 5:2 since and weight is dropping nicely still. I am at month 11 since surgery now and am down 71.6 kilos / 157 pounds.

I am 3 months out and I have lost 60lbs! I am definitely excited about my progress but I would like to keep this going. I know eventually I will slow down losing and I think I am in a stall right now. Can anyone tell me what they did to keep the weight loss going? I still need to lose about 80lbs....
Thanks

Thank you! I constantly think "what if I'm not as successful as everyone else? What if this doesn't work for me? What ifs, what ifs... and it's so hard to get all my Water in, let alone enough protein! it's hard but I'm trying to keep a positive mindset and hang in there! Thanks for the encouragement! I can't wait to lose my 100lbs!

I too had not thought of it that way and it made total sense to me as well! You are doing great, this is the hardest time for you so hang in there! I couldn't imagine being where I am now when I was 2 weeks out! This surgery has been the best thing I have done with the exception of having my kids!

I am a few pounds away from losing 100 lbs and am loving it. I am also tired of hearing people say "you don't need to lose anymore"! I talked to my Dr. this week during my check up and she said that everyone is focused on where I was to where I am now. I look and feel great, but still have about 25-30 lbs to go. She said to think of it this way. What would people think if you put Katie Holmes head on your body, would they still say to stop. The answer is definitely NO, they would make very negative comments that she needs to lose weight. This really put it in perspective for me for the last journey to goal.
Has anyone else experienced this with the last 25 lbs?

I had my sleeve surgery on July 10th of 2011. I started at 454 lbs its kinda hard to imagine but 1 1/2 years later I still at 264 lbs And for someone that is 6'6" tall I feel pretty good where I'm at. I have allot of lose skin especially around my tummy area. I'm hoping to find a workout friend someone who has been through similar circumstances, be it man or woman just a friend to work out with would be nice. Anyone in or around Renton WA.

Started at 454 down to 264.. Looking for work out partner/ friend to help get to my goal weight of 220. I'm in Renton WA. Cheers!!

Still working on my BMI. I have lost almost 200 lbs started at 454 and right now at 264 I wear a size 38 pants and I have to say I have allot of skin left over on my tummy. Checked outta BMI last night and apparently I need to be down to 220 to be a normal weight so I guess it's back to running was going to start trying to gain more muscle. Curves are literally gone. I will say since the surgery and the wait loss I have a tone of energy and exercising especially running is soooo much easier. I would like to find a workout friend in my area essentially the greater Seattle area someone who has gone through similar circumstances. I've lived large all my life and I find it hard to make new friends.. Guess I'm kinda shy... But now after losing allot of weight all I want to do is get out there make new friends and not get back to the same old bad habits of working and watching tv. I want to live life to its fullest!!!

I will not make a call for you if you are asking is it OK to compromise your wedding vows. If you need companionship there are other ways to achieve that.
Perhaps you should seek to find a remedy within your relationship rather than outside it, if you want the relationship you have.