Mommabird

I am very early in this weight loss surgery process. I'm going to have my first weigh-in on Thursday after being on a required weight loss plan for the past month. Needless to say, I'm hungry! This afternoon, I needed to go to the CVS drug store that's about four miles from my house. Remember that I said I was hungry? This is a list of what I had to pass on my way to CVS: 2 fast food taco places, 5 hamburger places, 4 pizza ones, 3 Mexican restaurants, 2 donut shops, 2 Subway sandwich places, a deli restaurant, 2 Chinese restaurants (one a buffet), a steak house, a sports grill, a fried chicken place, an Italian restaurant, a Starbucks, A BBQ place and a wine bar. Behind the CVS, there is another pizza place and another Mexican restaurant. And I had to go past them all again to get home. This is just ONE street!!! It's no wonder I'm in the shape I'm in!! However, I will say that I didn't stop at any of them. I came home and had a Protein shake and a forth cup of almonds. But I really, REALLY want a Whataburger!

Wow! I'll have to look next time I'm talking myself out of buying some. I know that the plant here makes around 85% of all snickers bars (but no snack size ones) and it's the only place that Skittles and Starburst are made. During the hottest part of the summer, it can make you queasy driving past because that sweet, fruity smell is over whelming. Personally, I'd rather smell chocolate!

I wondered where the M&Ms were made! If I detour around to CVS to miss all the food joints, I have to pass the Mars plant where they make Snickers, Starburst and Skittles.It's reached the point when I pass the plant, I can tell by the smell if they are making Skittles or Starburst. We mainly get the Snickers smell at late at night.The chocolate gets going at about 8 PM.

I just walked very quickly past all the goodies. Kept my eyes averted, never made eye contact. I could still hear all the chocolate calling my name...I pretended to be deaf. : )

I was told by a Dr. I went to for help to "Just exercise some will power". He then put me on a high carb-low fat diet. I gained twenty pounds. Went back with my food diary ( I had stuck like super glue to his food plan) and was told that I was obviously lying. Last visit with him! I was later diagnosed with PCOS. Eating high carbs is the worst thing for me to do.

Hi, Sharon, I've been reading your posts and couldn't resist going over to the fiercefatties site to read your "friend's" post and the resulting comments. And me being me, couldn't resist posting my own. It may get taken down, as it is waiting on "approval" by the moderator. Here's what I wrote: Having read posts from the friend on other sites, this isn’t about fat hating or being fat phobic. It’s about her health and WLS resolving the health issues she has. Yes, she will lose weight. but, really, that’s just a side effect of regaining her health. And before everyone attacks me saying that there are other ways to get healthy and stay fat. No, there’s really not. Not when the health issues are being caused by being obese. Obesity kills. It’s that simple. Maybe there are those that will dodge the bullet, but I doubt it. Obesity comes in second only to smoking for being the largest preventable cause of death. Heart disease, stroke, asthma, osteoarthritis, cancer, fatty liver (which can lead to liver cancer), sleep apnea,renal insufficiency (kidney failure) and the list goes on. Do you really wish this on your friend? If so, she’s better off with out your friendship. Friends don’t wish ill on friends. If you have really discarded her as a friend, why do you keep attacking her in blogs and postings. Me thinks thou protests too much. Your now ex-friend seems to me to be protesting WAY too much. It really makes me wonder what her real issue is.

Dave, I would love to have a copy of the list, please. Thank you for all the work you've put in on it! Robin mommabird0511@gmail.com

I'm 58 and just starting on this journey. I'm still waiting for the surgeon's letter telling me I have insurance coverage and can get started with all the appointments. I know the insurance covers RNY because I called and checked before I ever even went to the seminar (first requirement to get into program). It's been three weeks and if my letter isn't in the mail today, I'll be making a call down to the surgeon's office. Just waiting to hear the mail truck go by. And waiting...and waiting.

Hi, All, I don't really know why but I'm feeling down and blue today. I'm on track in my three month mandated weight loss program. I've upped my exercise to four times a week.(Ultimate goal from surgeons is one hour a day, seven days a week). I have all the required test results that I can get up to this point. I went to the "must attend" seminar two weeks ago and am now waiting for my commitment letter from the surgeon. Maybe that's it. They said that it could take up to three weeks to get the letter but that they usually arrived in a week and I haven't gotten mine yet. I know my insurance covers the gastric bypass. They even consider it medically necessary for some patients and I fit into that category. I'm just worried that now that I've made the decision, there will be some glitch that will prevent me from having it done. I've done as much as I can until I get that letter and now I feel like I'm in limbo. I just want to get started and I feel like I'm at a stand still. Sorry for the pity party. Thanks for listening. Robin

I went to the mandatory seminar at Scott & White Hospital in Temple, TX last night and now I have more questions than ever! My insurance (Aetna) requires a three month "Multi-Disciplinary Surgical Preparation Regimen" ????! I don't even know what this is or how to get started! Do I wait for the surgeon's office to send the "commitment letter" first (1-3 weeks) and wait for them to tell me what to do or start this on my own? The surgeon said we could do as much of the requirements pre-letter as we wanted. I know my insurance covers the surgery as I called them before I went to the seminar. Also, the surgeon told me with my history, I would need to be on the pre-op diet three to four weeks prior to surgery What do I have to look forward to there? I just thought I was stressed before the seminar....I'm pretty much off the chart now! Any answers will be gratefully received!!

I am about to take my first step towards having a gastric bypass. Well, I guess actually it will be my second step, the first being making the decision. Tomorrow evening, I am attending a seminar that my Endocrinologist told my was the only way to get started. I was wondering if anyone has used the Bariatric Surgery Program at Scott & White hospital in Temple,Texas? I'd love to hear about your experience and how you feel about the program. Thanks in advance!

Thanks! I posted that my first day here and didn't know there was a "Surgeon and Hospital" section. It never occurred to me later when I saw the other forum to repost.

I saw the dietitian today. The plan she has put me on is two carb choices each at Breakfast, lunch and dinner and two Snacks of one carb choice each. Three ounces of Protein at each meal, none at the snacks. Hopefully, if I keep the carbs as veggies and some fruit I will lose the required weight. The starchy carbs will have to be extremely limited and avoided if at all possible. I brought up the subject of Protein shakes. She is NOT a fan! "Too many carbs, too much sugar!" When I got back to Waco, I stopped at the store and found some single serve packets of Jay Robb protein shakes with one gram of carbs and no sugar so I will being using these when I don't feel like eating a regular meal. I'm also going to look for some unflavored Protein powder to add to smoothies. She was real big on smoothies. It's just for three months, I can do this.

Hello, all, I am just starting this WLS journey. I've been to the required seminar. I've had my first PCP visit to get started on the 3 month required weight loss and exercise plans. Tomorrow i am going to see the dietician. I want to make the most of this visit but am a little (A LOT) afraid that I'm going to come out of it with no real help. I'm a Type 2 diabetic and have recently been pulled off my evening dose of meds due to a sudden intolerance so I'm fighting my blood sugar being too high. I have PCOS which makes losing weight almost impossible. I can practically gain just by looking at carbs. Does anyone who has been through this process and suggestions on questions I should ask or advice about the appointment? The last time I spoke to a dietician (years ago) I couldn't get through to her that I just couldn't eat like other people and lose weight. I don't want that to happen again. Having this surgery is too important to not get the help I need and I HAVE to lose to get insurance to pay. Thanks in advance for any help! Robin

Hi, James, That's interesting about the Diet Cokes. I started to stop and get a diet drink on my way home from my Water aerobics class this morning. I decided not to as I wouldn't be able to have them post op and now seemed as good of a time as any to give them up! I'm already drinking 64 oz. of sugar free flavored water. The water here is pretty nasty tasting so I go with crystal light type drinks. Does it need to be plain water? I really like the idea of having the Protein shakes now. A lot of times I just don't feel like eating (or no time to stop and eat). I've been drinking Glucerna shakes but I know that they have more carbs than I need. Thanks for the input. I have something in hand now to go to the dietician with instead of being totally clueless!

I am about to take my first step towards having a gastric bypass. Well, I guess actually it will be my second step, the first being making the decision. Tomorrow evening, I am attending a seminar that my Endocrinologist told my was the only way to get started. I was wondering if anyone has used the Bariatric Surgery Program at Scott & White hospital in Temple,Texas? I'd love to hear about your experience and how you feel about the program. Thanks in advance!

I'm just begining my WLS journey and started by ordering this book yesterday. I also bought the kindle version which I've been reading since last night. I'm going to my first seminar this coming Wednesday and I know I'll come away better informed as now I'll know what questions I need to ask!

I am in the very first stages of the WLS process. (I'm going to a seminar next week). My husband and my middle child know and are very supportive. Actually, while I was considering how to broach the subject with my husband, he brought it up to me. My daughter knows as she is living at home while going back to college. I'm not telling my youngest until later, probably when it's approved. My oldest lives out of state and while I know it would very much hurt her feelings if she's not told, I also know she'll tell my sister even if asked not to.Plus, as she's half way arcross the country, we don't see her but every few years. My sis is a recovery room nurse whose best friend just had a gastric bypass. Just before her surgery, I had to listen to a long rant about the early stages of the post op diet and how nauseating it looked and how could anyone eat like that. I haven't talked to her about her friend since then so I don't know if her mind set has changed any with the up close experience. As for my husband's family...NO WAY!! They can figure it out for themselves after the fact. If they ask me directly, I'll tell them the truth. I haven't decided about friends yet. I guess i'll play that one by ear if and when it comes up.