Under1star

I believe you are going into ketosis which is normal..... If you go to the pharmacy you can get some KETOSTICKS and test the levels of ketones. Ketones are good at some point but having large amts can be toxic. Ketones are a sign your body is breaking down the fat storage. If you have bad breath that's a good sign of ketosis but get it analized by the chem strips. As well keep an eye of high Proteins in your urine which can be dangerous. I know a lot about these things cause I'm a nurse who worked in a obesity clinic where they believed injecting vit b6 and B12 burns fat and increases your metabolism. This works but I kept seeing pt's return and it was just a vicious cycle. Hope this helps somewhat!

I believe you are going into ketosis which is normal..... If you go to the pharmacy you can get some KETOSTICKS and test the levels of ketones. Ketones are good at some point but having large amts can be toxic. Ketones are a sign your body is breaking down the fat storage. If you have bad breath that's a good sign of ketosis but get it analized by the chem strips. As well keep an eye of high Proteins in your urine which can be dangerous. I know a lot about these things cause I'm a nurse who worked in a obesity clinic where they believed injecting vit b6 and B12 burns fat and increases your metabolism. This works but I kept seeing pt's return and it was just a vicious cycle. Hope this helps somewhat!

Sorry about the wait! Last Month crossing the Mexican border was crazy. The car didn't move one bit and waited 1 hr and 30 min to get through the border line. It's not the mans fault but maybe he should have left earlier to avoid this.

Unfortunately that happens trying to cross the border. Hang in there all will be fine soon!

This Post should be taken down.... sorry this is not to encourage eating disorders but to encourage healthy weight loss through proper nutrition. Where's the admid when your really need them.... The person who posted this please seek some help and I pray you become to realize how destructive this behavior is!

I'm not sure why you'd want to use these.. Especially on the pre op diet. You are going to want a Protein Drink to fill you up no?
So you won't be hungry?

I am post op,and still worry about it. I have tried every diet that came out. This was my last option. The sleeve helps immensely, but I still have to do the work. I still have to wrap my head the fact everyday I have to make good choices. Do I screw up and make poor choices sometimes yes but I have to move forward each day.

Although I got my sleeve in Mexico as did my husband, we did that because our insurance didn't cover it. If it had covered it, I would have gone through the 6 month process, attended the meetings with the NUT the PSYCH and learned from it had I been given the opportunity.
There's nothing wrong with choosing a good doctor who just happens to be in Mexico if you think s/he is better than your local docs, that you will get better care etc. I certainly felt that way and I live in Dallas which is Sleeve City. But I think a 6-month prep time is actually a good way to get educated and prepped.
I spent the 45 days I had reading voraciously, hanging out on the forum and otherwise educating myself. My doc also have very specific instructions for post-op, so I knew even better than some of the people here who were sleeved in the US what to do.
But if his office had a 6 month program to get ready? I would have followed it.
just my 2 cents. In the long run, as you look back on your life, 6 months is nothing. But being prepared and walking into life-changing surgery with your eyes wide open?
Priceless.

Just because you can get it done quickly doesn't mean it's the best thing for you..I know it's part of our American, instant gratification fast food nation mentality of I want it now! Now! NOW!!
I vote go through your classes..
I see people here increasingly getting this done not knowing anything about what they are getting into. Blinded by "girl I want to rock those skinny jeans"
Take the time learn, adjust your lifestyle and know that you will be truly prepared for every up and down that comes with this major surgery..

1. If you think it is a magic bullet.
Bariatric surgery is not a magic bullet. It will help you lose weight but the responsibility is on you to keep going and maintain that loss. Regaining all of the lost weight is very possible and not even that uncommon.
People who do not commit to a healthy lifestyle after the surgery are highly vulnerable to regain. Unlike diets, regain with surgery is delayed. On a diet people usually gain weight back within a few weeks or months. With surgery, people won’t begin to regain the weight until 18 months to 2 years. People who feel like surgery is a magic bullet will not be prepared for the commitment and will end up on the road to failure.
2. If you think it will be easy.
Bariatric surgery involves an extensive process of nutrition counseling, temporary liquid diets, and pre- and post-surgery meetings and preparations. Most clinics will ask that you lose some weight before the surgery, start on a special diet, and exercise. If you find a clinic that does not ask you to go through multiple steps like this you should find a new clinic. A good clinic will prepare you for success by giving you the right nutrition, behavioral, and exercise support before and after surgery. If you view these steps as a hassle, then you are not in the right mindset for surgery and will be at high risk of weight regain in the long run.
3. If it is in the back of your mind that if it doesn’t work you will just try it again.
Even though people like Carnie Wilson had a second surgery, keep in mind that most people do not. Some surgeons will not want to do a second surgery for you. In fact, they may lose hope in you. Surgeons want to set you up for success. They might not want to take the risk of an additional surgery unless they are very sure you did not squander the results of the first surgery with a blatantly unhealthy lifestyle. Surgery is an intensive and invasive process, only plan to do it once.
4. You Haven’t Truly Made Committed Attempts to Lose Weight.
One of the criteria to be eligible for surgery is that you have had numerous failed weight loss attempts. Nearly everyone on the planet meets this criterion, right?! Well, no. If you can’t honestly say that you put your heart and soul into previous weight loss attempts, then you aren’t really meeting this criterion. If your reason for not losing weight in previous attempts was because you were too busy or stressed out to make lifestyle changes, these problems will not go away with surgery. You will need to make the very same lifestyle changes. The difference will be that regaining the weight you lost from surgery will be 10 times more demoralizing than it is from a usual diet attempt. Once again, if you aren’t committed to making lifestyle changes, surgery will not make a long lasting difference.

A few days ago a girl was eating a bag of Cheetos and I started to automatically vomit.... I don't see food in the same way anymore. I see empty calories of junk food that's just rat poison to me! This junk had brought me so much agony to my life..... Now I wont let it control me!

I'm scheduled for Dec14 2013 with Dr Aceves! You made an excellent choice of surgeon! :0)

You should try shiritaki noodles they are tofu noodles full of Proteins and very low on carbs.

So this 25 pounds......it's your nutritionist's goal but NOT an insurance requirement, right? If so, you'll be fine. The 6 month diet is a great way to make the needed changes before surgery. I used every month of mine to change my diet, increase exercise, and practice some post op stuff. I'm about 4 months post op but haven't had caffeine or carbonation in almost 10. It makes your post op SO much easier! During my 6 months I think I only lost 15 pounds....and most of that was during the 2 week preop diet I had.
Don't expect any miracles during those 6 months because it's not gonna happen. Just keep your eyes on the prize. You sound like you're doing great so far! The holidays are rough on everyone. I avoided the Thanksgiving temptations because I was at work but I already dread Christmas. Just going to the grocery store is torture right now lol

Thank you all for your encouragement! I am very grateful that my insurance covers the procedure almost 100% because I have never had insurance. I am back on the wagon and will be going to work out and get some fresh produce Monday when I get off work. Like one of you said, it's only 6 months for a life time of health. I can't get enough advice and all is welcome. Thanks again!

Sorry all this seems stressful to you! You need to look at the positives as well and feel blessed that your surgery will be covered at some extent through your insurance depending on your company. The insurance company are covering your surgery and they want you to have a successful outcome. Lot's of barriers to overcome but a lot of people went through the same experience and did very well! This is a great benefit to you in the long run! Feel blessed and you will succeed..... This surgery isn't a miracle it won't change your head hunger etc... as it's only a tool! A good tool ;0)

I'm going to be sleeved by Dr Aceves on the 14th and will let you know how it goes. I full confidents & faith in Dr Aceves. Keep in mind the number of successful surgeries the Dr has made etc.... No Dr is perfect!!!! There's complications in any type of surgeries. I would be more concerned to be in a clinic versus a hospital. Dr Aceves is in a hospital with all the specialist. One question I raised to myself is ''What will happen if I need a blood transfusion? Will there be a blood bank? I'm glad Dr Aceves office is honest and letting you know the truith.... this shows integrity! I heard Dr Ariel Ortiz is also a fine surgeon. I have only three surgeons I would consider Dr Aceves, Dr Alvarez and Ariel Ortiz.... No matter how amazing you are no one is a perfect A plus as a surgeon. You need to look at the bigger picture! I will keep u posted ;0)

To a certain extent the sleeve is still about willpower and taking personal responsibility.
I think this is why fights erupt here sometimes...
You may eat that pizza and be ok, you may not..
Like I said that's all of our choices to make.
But those of us further out know that a "cookie" is not just a cookie, it represents so much more.
the deeper issue I think is the behavior. We did a serious thing to ourselves having this radical surgery..
But it is not a miracle or a cure.
Many people find ways to "eat around" the sleeve. We got here because of our disordered eating so it's not a surprise that we would try to figure out ways to eat still, even right after surgery.
This is something we need to face and work on changing in the early days. Because it will get increasingly harder to do it the further out you get.

Have you tried Mexicali Baritarics with Dr Aceves,, Nina is his coordinator and is really sweet and has never pushed! I have y surgery on Dec 14 with Dr Aceves.

I think that you can be as prepared as you can possibly be..But there is always the unknown...I know more about weight loss surgery now then I ever wanted to know when I thought I was so prepared....Everything is different, everything has changed..right down to the people I spend time with...My fat self died along with my old life...
Having trouble adjusting but that is okay.....i am the me I knew was in there some where..She just has to find her new way..that's all!

Thank you for telling me how you feel...I am on here for the same reasons as everyone else to give this new life my perspective of it...If I can be encouraging to your friend...message me privately and I would be glad to help her where I can...maybe she would talk to me via email...I am here for the sleevers 100 %

I don't personally drink them, but I know some sleevers do. Most prefer to let them get a little flat as the carbonation can be upsetting to our smaller sleeves. At least that's what I've heard. I've had no more than 2-3 sips of Rootbeer since being sleeved. It was a tough thing to give up but actually I haven't missed it. Wish I could say the same for chocolate.

My surgeon says no, and a few in my support group who tried regretted it. Those a year or so out, said they can have in small amounts, but surgeon says bad idea cause carbonation can stretch the pouch.

You look fantastic! Beautiful family as well! The sleeve was the best decision you have made for yourself and your family to be able to live a healthy life. ;0) I have seen your before pics awhile back and you completely transformed. Your testimony has given me a second chance at life as I undergo my surgery in 2 wks.Thank u!

I look forward to seeing more pics!! I love non traditional thanksgivings..
I want to spend it with the people I REALLY feel thankful for.. So those pics, my husband and kids? They are what I give thanks for