Daisee68

You got this! Working on those habits now really help! But I promise you surgery helps with the smaller portions and slowing down! (I had bypass not sleeve but have seen same from many sleevers.). Keep posting and let us know how we can help! Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

Congrats! I know how good it feels to move on to "real" food. I ate a lot of pimento cheese early post-op. I ate it with a spoon though. Watch out for those carbs! They can be tricky!

Glad you are doing so well! Walk, sip, repeat!

You have received tons of great advice here so I won't repeat it. BUT I want to say this - I would argue that NUT's rarely know what the actual insurance requirements are for being approved for the surgery. There are some on here that were told one thing by the NUT and then found out otherwise when it was time to apply. I would call your insurance and get in writing what the requirements are as well as contacting the insurance coordinator for the surgeon's office and have them put in writing to you what your insurance requires to be approved. (I got this at my first consultation.) Having said that, some SURGEONS require patients to lose weight before they themselves approve them for surgery regardless of the insurance requirements. I would ask this of your surgeons office as well. NOT to say that 5% weight loss isn't a great goal. I think that is great to strive for along with changing habits, but just want to save you a little pain in the long run by getting all the requirements in writing from all involved parties.

My Doctor (Dr. Peter Fisher) will be doing a what he calls a "J Lift" for the arm lift scar. It curves around towards the breast (like a J) to pick up some of the laxity of the "side boob". I will be doing a breast lift / augmentation in a separate procedure from the arm lift (doing LBL at same time as arm lift and the Breasts and inner thigh about 3 or 4 months later). He also says he does the arm scar on the back because he feels the one that runs down the bicep (anterior) while less visible can result in more scarring and harder to maintain long-term results. All to say, I agree with @@WLSResources/ClothingExch that picking someone who has experience with WLS patients can really make a big difference - depending upon how much skin you have to remove I suppose. Mine is pretty extensive, so I am traveling out of town for surgery (though only a 5 hour drive or 1ish hour flight from home). In the end, I was most comfortable with results of pictures of his patients (including a few on BP site which is where I originally found his name) and thrilled with the reviews of his bedside manner which is extremely important to me. After my consultation with him, my sister commented that I should get at least 1 more opinion. I did more research (real self and actual dr websites) and still was most satisfied with Dr. Fisher's results and reviews and felt it unnecessary to see anyone else. Admittedly, I did not ask a ton of questions about his procedures. I figured he is the dr and expert and I will trust him (and again his results speak to his expertise). I know I will have a lot of questions as the surgery date gets closer but mostly about logistics. Excited that I get to do this and excited for you too @@Djmohr!! Oh - also I have started a "surgery tips" document on my computer where I am copying and pasting ideas I have read on here and on RealSelf that I hope will help when my day gets here!

I completely agree and think 18 months post-op makes sense - even though I am only 12 1/2 months post-op. I like what @@VSGAnn2014 said that others could read the forum to glean info but not be able to post until they are satisfying the restriction. Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

Congrats to you for your progress! And what an a$$!! I cannot believe someone would say that - to anyone let alone family!! I'm so sorry that happened. I don't have any advice but just wanted to say that I am feeling irate for you! Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

I had 6

4 weeks post-op is a long time. I had 2 weeks like most. BUT there is likely some reason dr requires it, so I would do your best to stick with it. Is there any chance it includes things like yogurt or pudding? Sometimes, they consider those things in "liquid" diet. You might ask... You really need to find a Protein drink you can stomach. At 1 year post-op, I still have 1 Premier Protein shake per day. Have you tried Premier Protein ready made drinks? The powder I use that I LOVE is Precision Engineered whey Protein Isolate. The vanilla smells heavenly even and the chocolate is amazing. I will add an Orange Crush powder stick (like Crystal Light) to vanilla powder and 2 oz of Fairlife milk and 4 oz of Water and lots of ice. Tastes like Orange Julius! Yummy! I also add PB2 to my Chocolate powder (again with Fairlife milk and water and ice) and it is wonderful. If you haven't bought any yet, get some of the sugar free flavored syrups to add - peppermint mocha, raspberry, pomegranate, salted caramel, etc. The options are endless. This blog has lots of good recipes - http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2007/06/my-favorite-protein-shake-recipes.html. Oh and try the protein hot chocolate in the Bariatric Pal website. I LOVE the amaretto flavor!

Here is a new one I got - "Did you mean to get this thin?" Um... yes? Seriously not that thin. I am 5'10" and wear a size 12 and Large tops. Not like I am a size 0 or something - AND so what if I was? Sigh... Backhanded compliment maybe? I also still do not love "I didn't recognize you". I know they mean well but it makes me uncomfortable...

Try this blog for a lot of great ideas too - http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ .I have found some great ideas on Pinterest too. I eat a lot of roasted chicken, tuna, deli turkey meat, cheese (lots and lots of cheese), protein shake 1x per day, lean ground beef, beef jerky, chicken salad, tuna salad, cucumbers, roasted vegetables, etc. What kind of foods do you like? Are you cooking just for yourself or do you also have to cook for others?

I got a peanut stuck at 3 months post-op and found out I had a stricture. Apparently peanuts do not digest very well. Keep an eye out for issues and don't do it again. Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

I was just watching Good Morning America who measured body fat in a Bod Pod (they considered "gold standard") and then took body fat measurement on 6 different scales. They were all off. The Withings scale was inaccurate in body fat by 9%! Supposedly that scale is no longer made and they have improved their electronics. Anyway, all to say, if you get one with body fat % on it, don't count on it to be accurate as @@Alex Brecher said. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/comparing-accuracy-body-fat-scales/story?id=40082433 I have an old Weight Watchers scale that has 5 buttons to keep weight for 5 different people. I used it to show my initial weight, my surgery weight, my goal weight. it is interesting to hit those first 2 buttons and see that in fact I truly did once weigh over 330 pounds and now I do not! I find the weight to be very accurate and it measures to .1 of pound. I have considered buying a new one, but seems this one still works....

I have been thinking more about this question lately and yesterday one of my realizations was that WLS gives you TIME while you LOSE weight to get used to new habits. My eyes and brain have adjusted to what an appropriate portion looks like. I don't necessarily have to eat until I am full. I eat what I portion out on my plate and have assessed (by food tracker) is appropriate for that meal. I am 1 year post-op. Might this change in the future? Perhaps, but I truly hope (and will continue to work on) that after a not so good choice or meal, I will always get back on track after each meal (and not waiting until the next day or the next Monday...)

This is a great list! Thank you for sharing. I am going to bookmark it so I can come back to it when I am having "one of those days!"

Yep. I hit it at 1 year post-op. It is doable. Whether "normal" BMI is a reasonable goal or not has been quite heavily debated / discussed here. Not sure I buy into the BMI chart myself but I was happy to hit the top of it.

I'm sorry! I know that is disappointing! Hopefully it won't take too much longer!

Ugh! How frustrating! I have had the fibrocystic masses and had needle biopsies twice (and sonograms on several occasions). It is very scary! I have history in my family too (maternal grandmother and maternal aunt) so it scares me every time you get a call back! And funny enough, I wondered if when I get my breast lift / breast augmentation if they can just remove all of my breast tissue! Good news is, the mammograms get easier as you lose weight. (Be sure to tell them you have lost significant weight when you go in as it can make a difference to the radiologist reading the films.) I am sorry you are going through this. Will be thinking of you! Let us know how it goes!

Thanks. I definitely want to check this out!

I doubt it will be a problem. Only issue might be if you are taking any NSAID's for it which you will have to stop before surgery (likely 2 weeks prior). I had a stress fracture in my heel and was in a walking boot during my surgery. I just put that boot back on and walked around the hospital floor like I was supposed to. You might just be sure to mention it at the hospital when you do pre-op so they are cautious how they grab you to lift and move you from bed to bed.

That's strange. They may have coded it wrong. Did the insurance website say why it was denied? Once you have that info, you might call the dr office and ask them about it (both the reasons for denial and why the initial visit hasn't been submitted yet).

Girl, I haven't been able to suck it up and post any pictures yet. I hate the thought of how I looked before. BUT I think I might really bee amazed at the difference so I know I need to do it..... You really do look incredible!

Oh my gosh!! Look at you!! You look amazing! Great job!

Agreed. Too much sugar. How about some flavored teas? Check out Republicofteas.com. they have some great flavors Luke cuz Myer mint, orange blossom, passion fruit, etc. They are not sweetened but the flavors enhance the taste Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App