ReaRaes

Welcome Bella, you've got a long road a head but it goes quickly. I meet with my surgeon a week from Tuesday and then we're ready to submit to insurance. Good luck, we're all here for you if you need anything.

Lol, that will be funny...

Get better soon, do what they tell you and get lots of rest. Warm thoughts and prayers coming b your way.

For those interested, I have had the Target brand Market Pantry Chocolate protein powder the last two days in a shake that I make with almond breeze unsweetened mik (1 cup) and frozen raspberries, it is delicious and it has 28 grams of protein. Yesterday I had only 900 calories but was over our suggested protein by many grams. This is pre surgery of course. But if I can drink three of these shakes a day afterwards I'll be just fine.

Welcome Kim, of course you can join us. Wow, you've got to make up your mind fast. I made the decision a long time ago, because of a few reasons, number one being in hopes of getting rid of my diabetes and reading so much about failures with the band and difficulties with gerd with both the sleeve and band. I realize that there are some complications with all of them, but I just feel the bypass is the way to go for me.

I will post mine. I should have taken a before pic 20 lbs ago when I was at my highest.

Good luck to all of you tomorrow. You'll do great.

I have told very few people. Only those that I know will support me. I will not be telling any of my family other than my husband, a cousin and my mother in law, ever if I can help it. I've told a couple people at work and will have to tell my brother's doctor, but will be asking him not to tell my brother. I won't be seeing my family much for the rest of my life so I don't really think it is any of their business. Let them mn think what they want when they see me.

Congrats blueyz. It's going to come soon.

Hoping everyone did well today, good luck anyone for tomorrow.

I just bought today Target's chocolate protein powder. Going to make for breakfast tomorrow a raspberry chocolate protein shake. Has anyone tried Target brand tomorrow?

Good luck to everyone who is having surgery on Monday! You'll do great!

The other day I spent 45 minutes reading the sugarless gummy bear reviews on Amazon.com just because they were so hysterical. However it gave me an idea, why can't we intentionally use these for a colon cleanse before surgery rather than the crap they give us? But seriously, I am considering it for a jumpstart. Apparently you just need a small amount 20 or so to get a clean out. Has anyone either mistakenly had this experience or done it on purpose? Read the reviews at the link below, you'll at least get to spend some time laughing hysterically. http://www.amazon.com/Haribo-Gummy-Candy-Sugarless-5-Pound/product-reviews/B000EVQWKC/ref=cm_cr_pr_top_link_1?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=byRankDescending

Tiffany, myfitnesspal.com is a great journal for tracking everything you eat and making sure you stay within your calorie limit. You can do it online, on your android or apple apps. It is also great for tracking exercise and water consumption. I am hoping for March 6th surgery date and have lost about 17 lbs since I startec the journey in October, I also don't need to lose weight beforehand but wanted to to get used to the routine. I am stalling now so thinking of doing the liquid diet starting next week for two weeks. I think that it will really help me be ready for surgery too.

Congrats kcamp, you'll do great!!

I just got horrible news, my brother who was diagnosed with cancer in 2012 and went through bone marrow transplant using his own bone marrow, today met with his doctors and found out his meds are not working and his cancer is progressing. He now requires a transplant from someone else, preferably a sibling. I need to get my surgery done sooner rather than later, because currently being on insulin, I can not be a donor. Tomorrow I will call and hopefully get answers to my questions about how long I must be off insulin before I can be a donor. Does my surgery complicate things and many more. If he is unable to get a transplant and the new meds don't work he could have less than a year to live. Last year was the worst year of my life, I lost my mother and had so many other things happen in mine and my husband's life which was what started me on this journey to lose the weight, I vowed I was not going to be my mother, I am going to get healthy and be active and happy this year, this is not the year to lose my brother.

Joannel, I will have completed everything except my preop test before I meet my surgeon. That appointment is Feb. 4th. After I meet him they will submit to insurance. My process started on Oct 30th with my first appointment meeting the endocrinologist and dietician and psychologist. I am doing my surgery at the Mayo Clinic. Although there are many surgeons so much closer to home I decided I wanted to get the best care possible. The one thing I have learned on here is that everyone's process is different. It depends on your surgery center, your insurance requirements, your primary care physician, and your mindset. Thank god, the Mayo clinic doesn't require weightloss. I have been dieting since I started thinking about this in early October, I've set my caloric intake at 1200 calories a day. My nut told me I should do about 1750 -1800 so I thought if I do 500 calories a day less than he is recommending I will drop weight like mad. Nope, I have only lost 17 lbs since I started. Just more proof I need this surgery. I am hoping my surgery will be March 6th. Luckily I have double insurance so I will have no out of pocket for this. Best of luck to you and everyone.

Great job nngrete! December is hard for anyone to lose, but you didn't gain so that's the best. Crossing fingers for a fast approval.

I do not have a surgery date yet. I meet with the surgeon on Feb 4th and they will submit that day or the next to insurance. I was originally hoping for the 20th, but I've been reconsidering that date and am thinking maybe the 6th of March instead, spring break starts the 10th so if I could be out while my students are it would probably be better. But, we also have to be moved out of our house by April 1st and so I don't know which is better to do. I'm hoping that my time off recovering i will be able to do some packing. I have also been asked to participate in a study for the Mayo clinic which will have to taken in to account as well.

I'm glad to hear everyone is doing well. I seem to be going up and down lately. I start out the day and go through work great, but at the end of the day I fall apart. I really wish I didn't have to go in a grocery store at all. I love fruits and vegetables and I have lots of them at home and I plan on eating them every night. However that always changes when I get home because I've come home with something I definitely should not eat. They say never go to the grocery store hungry. But I do every night. I can't wait to have this surgery so that I won't be hungry when I go. I have no problem sticking with the good for you stuff when I am not hungry or stressing out.

Betsy, at your next appointment or else call your doc and request some more anti - nausea meds. It is best to take the meds they prescribe if you need something to relieve pain rather than chancing it with something else. This soon after surgery the last thing you want to do is start puking and rip open sutures or pull staples.

I have chosen to tell very few people, a few coworkers two of who have had the surgery and my two closest friends there. The only family I am telling is my husband and mother in law. I have many siblings but am dealing with other issues with them that I don't need to even guess what they will say. It's my life and I am doing this for my health and lifestyle. I want to be able to get out and work I my gardens and go down to the lake and swim and not feel lime I need to hide my body from my entire family that is skinny and fit. And, I don't want to be my mother with all of her health issues that helped speed up her diseases and death.

I did pretty good, it was just my husband and me for Christmas. I fixed a turkey dinner but I didn't eat anything else that day. I have avoided all of the leftover christmas cookies that are sitting out o. My front porch. Been sucking crystal light raspberry lemonade down like mad. If I stay away from the kitchen I do much better. Tonight I had a turkey sandwich with lite bread, low fat mayo, and lettuce, the. Two pickles , some carrots, was doing good until I then had half a bag of potato chips. Sure wish I hadn't bought those. But no more, they'll go downstairs to my husband's kitchen tomorrow.

I will Autumn, it has been hell the last week. Today I was good in that I didn't touch a single treat, was very tempted though. Can't wait until Christmas and I can send it all away with the college students that are coming for dinner. Come Thursday it's completely back to good eating and exercising. I haven't had time lately, I 've come home from work and immediately started working on Christmas stuff then went to bed. Today was my first day of not doing that stuff, but instead I spent it cleaning and moving furniture.

I had been a diet soda fanatic. Several a day. I decided to quit right after I started this journey in October. My first week was the worst because I was having caffeine withdrawals. Since then I've had maybe six sodas. I have one when I really need caffeine. I can't drink coffee because I need flavored creamer or sugar and I'm really trying not to add extra sugar to my life. (Not going so well right now, tons of baking going on at our house.) I switched from soda to water with slices of lemon. Just keep trying. You can do it.