NewBeginning2015

@@Biloxigirl, I get the Protein chips on amazon these days. But to try different flavors, I went to Whole Foods and other "natural" or health stores. ;-p

@@Liz5012 and @@Biloxigirl, I'm impressed that you can tolerate Protein drinks. I wish I could but they make me sick. So I am eating protein bars (Kind or Pure Protein or Qwest) and Snacks like Simply Protein chips & Kay's Naturals Protein Chips. They are mostly 10-15 grams of protein, which pushes me up there to meet my protein requirements. And they are portable, a nice bonus. I feel like I can eat mostly normally now, just focused on protein first and avoiding too many carbs. It's a great feeling to be more normal yet eating healthier and in small quantities. I really haven't craved anything sweet or "bad", am rarely hungry due to the protein I guess. This is entirely different for me, I love it! What a life saver.

@@Biloxigirl and @@Liz5012, me, too! I am eating very little, 1 egg for Breakfast & less than 1/2 cup of something high Protein for meals. So, I am having Protein Bars or protein chips for Snacks 3x day. That works well, in that I am not hungry and am losing steadily. It is funny too, people at work have commented that I appear to be losing weight despite "eating constantly" but haven't noticed that I eat so little, and such good stuff! Still I won't complain, since no one noticed that I lost any weight until I hit -50 pounds. :-D

@@Biloxigirl, I was sleeved on 31st December too! I agree, best decision ever! I have never looked back. Did you feel like having the surgery done on New Year's eve was symbolic for you? For me, it meant that I was starting 2015 with an entirely new emphasis -- health -- and that has remained my focus since. I've lost weight a bit slowly, but am pleased with the slow steady pace as my stalls have been short. Today I hit 50 pounds lost which is exciting! I used to Celebrate with food, but now I buy flowers. So today I got a big bouquet. :-D

@@2NewBeginningsxoxo, glad you have a new surgery date! Are you ready? I am now almost 2 months out. Things are pretty normal for me with regards to eating. Except the portions are radically different! Like tonight we went to Baja Fresh for dinner. I had 1/3rd or less of my burrito, and 5 chips, and was full. I find that my eating is slow but steady, so people just don't notice how little I am eating. I am steadily losing (about 40 lbs now) and feel great. Just think...this will be your own situattion too, in mid-May. :-D

@@Liz5012, Our situations are very similar! I was sleeved on the 31st of Dec, am down 38 pounds now, am doing well except for Water which is still a challenge. I haven't told anyone but my hubby either, and no one has noticed yet. But I don't mind, I am down a few clothes sizes, and feeling great. @@HealthArtLove, I starting eating Protein bars & chips a few weeks ago because I just couldn't stomach adding a shake back in and wasn't getting my 70 grams. I found a few I really like: Pure Protein Bar, gives 20 g of protein; quinoa chips by Simply 7, with 9 g of protein; and spicy chili chips with 15 g of protein. All of them you can take anywhere, and they satisfy that need for something crispy. This has really helped me a lot with the protein requirement. I have hit multiple stalls, too -- seem to lose nothing for a week or so, then a bunch, then nothing again. So I am just not worrying about it .... (as much as possible, lol). Good luck!

@@2NewBeginningsxoxo, wow, great epiphany! Glad that it's helped you make a decision, one way or another. That conviction will help you be a success and make the most of your WLS. And the sleeve is certainly going to help with portion control! :-D Best wishes!

@@2NewBeginningsxoxo, I think it was wise of you to postpone since you didn't feel ready. Do you feel really relieved today, knowing that you would have been in the hospital tomorrow? Or, do you feel disappointed and sad? Or a bit of everything...? Gauging those feelings about the missed surgery might help you make a longer term decision. I am five weeks out from surgery now and have resumed life as normal (and normal is 35 pounds lighter!). I've gone to a wedding (a few days after surgery), out to dinner, drinking with friends, a baby shower, and several parties. I ate tiny quantities of whatever was offered, emphasis on Protein. Not one person noticed that I was eating like a bird -- everyone was too busy talking and eating to watch me. Yesterday I went to my favorite deli while out shopping. I ordered a sandwich and ate about a quarter of it. I didn't have room for the chips and cookie that came along with it, so that went to my DH. I did have some rough Patches the first month after surgery - with the incision pain, difficulty swallowing, eating too fast & then feeling terrible, that sort of thing. I am glad that is behind me now. But, relative to the rest of my life, four weeks of adjustment is a small price that I willingly pay in exchange for the health benefits, dropping two sizes (already), ability to walk further and move more easily, and renewed hope. I see so much opportunity in front of me - beach vacations, business promotions, enjoying the outdoors with my family, wearing "normal" clothes, and improving health. One of my motivations to have WLS was that my life insurance was denied due to my "height - weight ratio" (and they weren't saying I should get taller!). In 5 weeks, I have dropped from "Morbidly Obese" to "Obese", according to my NUT's body weight / BMI chart. This accomplishment of losing 33% of my total excess weight is something that I was unable to achieve in 20 years of dieting, exercise, pills, etc. I am in shock, awe, and anticipation, because this is just the beginning. With the WLS springboard, I will keep losing. I am absolutely determined to reach 100% of goal weight, and it is now possible. I am telling you this not to convince you to have surgery. I am not conceited enough to think I know what is best for anyone else. I just want to express that the cost-benefit ratio in my experience was pretty darn good, and that WLS can offer new possibilities if you get to the point where losing weight is an impossibility. Good luck in your journey, and please do keep us posted!

Welcome, @@RoseSA! Good for you to take the chance again...with all the research under your belt. Best wishes. Keep us informed as to your progress.

@@CJSLEEVE, great weight loss thus far! Congrats. I was sleeved on 31st December and am recovering nicely, too. Just started eating solid foods. Who would have thought that crackers would be so exciting!?

@@Nikkidoodlebug, It seemed that you were expressing surprise in your original post, and I feel that too. I am 3.5 weeks post sleeve. My sister is about 4 years out from RNY. She lost 150 lbs, and in the last year has put back on more than half of that. Over the months I have watched her eating things like ice cream with fruit and whip cream on top, pie, Cookies, high fat & carb meals, etc. She "beats the surgery" by eating slowly but continuously. Eg will eat steadily through out a movie, or keeps a plate and continues eating long after dinner is over. She runs to the bathroom to "dump" and then comes back for more. It breaks my heart to observe because I know how hard it was for her to lose that initial weight, and how drastically the weight loss improved her health and confidence. It also scares me to observe it, because I know "that could be me". I make myself available if she wants to talk, but so far she hasn't wanted to, so don't know why she's making these choices now. My surgeon told me that about 20% of people with WLS regain back to an obese level. So, I take my sister as a cautionary example to remind me that the surgery is not the final solution but rather a tool that I need to use effectively. And, I look for other examples of success -- there are many on this board which is encouraging. I try to learn from them, but it is clear that everyone's route to success is different, so I need to work out what will be successful for me. The odds are still much, much better than any other weight loss method I have seen. You are smart to be considering such questions now, before surgery. Keep observing and contemplating and learning. Be sure to somehow record or retain these lessons so that you can draw upon them after surgery. That's your own personal plan for success. Good luck, and keep us posted on your journey!

Hello there, my surgery is tomorrow (New Years eve!) and I have been up all night worried that my insurance approval will be overturned because I have gained weight since the approval several weeks ago. The approval letter states "The information provided above is not a guarantee of coverage. Coverage is based on all the terms and conditions of your plan as well as eligibility at the time services are received." My Aetna plan requires a 90 day pre-surgery regimen, and states: "Records must document compliance with the program; the member must not have a net gain in weight during the program." I lost weight during the program, but gained 4 pounds after the approval letter was received. Does anyone know if Aetna ever denies paying for surgery after pre-approving? Am I over thinking this? :-s

@@vane1383, I was having something similar. I am 3 weeks post-sleeve. I saw my NUT who said to try a non-whey Protein shake, since whey gives some people digestive issues including burping. She also suggested to not blend the Protein Shake, or even shake too much, because that introduces air into it. I followed her suggestion and am burping far, far less now. I read this article which talks about why. If you are still drinking a lot of Protein shakes, then perhaps this will help you too. Good luck, and let us know what you discover.

@@Jersrose43, wow, thanks for the feedback! I had no idea that it would take that long. That is crazy...but I don't mind waiting until I have to pay my portion. :-D

@@beautiful12no, so glad that it worked out in the end! Great that your surgical team went ahead and submitted the appeal, even better that it was approved! Congrats.

@@BobbieVSG, I haven't had my sleeve long enough to answer your question about feeling down, but I have to say it sounds like you've encountered your fair share of issues, with the nerves, constipation, and pressure from well-meaning people about eating. I have fibromyalgia, and one of the things a doctor told me that's stuck with me is eliminate one thing at a time because even one less stressor can swing the balance and make you feel better. The constipation one is a good one to start with, it is just finding works best for me. Personally, I take MiraLax because I can mix it in my Water bottle and sip throughout the day. I put lemon in my water and it covers the taste. Maybe fixing that problem will help settle your abdominal nerves. I know it was a huge relief for me to finally have a BM after a week of constipation, LOL. Anyway, as @@FitnFabfor2014 and @@joatsaint said, you will find your stride again. Maybe you just need to give yourself a bit of time to get some emotions out. Best!!

@@Susan909, this doesn't sound right. I am glad you're seeing your surgeon! Let us know how it goes.

I can completely relate to all of this...belching, crushing medicines, etc. I just started pureed foods. Had a scrambled egg with a laughing cow cheese mixed in. I *never* thought an egg would taste so good, lol! Great news re your diabetes, @@Debbie Jean. That is huge.

@@hkdontplay, congrats! You look absolutely gorgeous.

I was super bored in both pre-op (surgery prep, took a few hours) then a few hours after surgery. I took a kindle and it saved me from focusing on the pain. Highly recommend that you take the laptop or some entertainment device. I stayed in hospital gowns because I was all wired up. I took a whole suitcase and really didnt use much other than my kindle and my toothpaste/toothbrush. Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

I'd be very interested in the service (thank you for thinking of it!). I would do auto-renew on some items, but would also very much like the samples. I spent a fortune trying to find Protein shakes, Vitamins, and laxatives that I could tolerate. I would *much* rather have purchased items here than at a bunch of different places around the net.

@@chrispina, I had that debate too. For me, the decision came back to statistics from a clinical trial on long term weight loss that my primary care physician showed me, which I have posted below: Dietary/lifestyle therapy provides <5 kg (11 lbs) weight loss after 2-4 y, pharmacologic therapy provides 5-10 kg (22 lbs) weight loss after 1-2 y, and surgical therapy provides 25-75 kg (55-165 lbs) weight loss after 2-4 y. Weight loss of > or =5% baseline weight is not consistently associated with improvements in cardiovascular risk factors. The conclusions very clearly showed that I was much more likely to have success via WLS. Link to the study abstract is below. Systematic review of long-term weight loss studies in obese adults: clinical significance and applicability to clinical practice.

@7 Bites_Jen, great article! Thanks for taking the time to pull it together.

@@fsujoe, excellent update, thank you!! I am almost three weeks post sleeve and not yet approaching normal, so it's great to hear that you're coming along so well. How many weeks out from surgery has it been? Congrats on the new life! So glad for you. :-D

Thanks for posting the chart, @@BLERDgirl! Very useful.