lisaanewme67

Hello everyone, My name is Lisa and I am just starting the process. I though about it back in 2012, went to the informational session then chickened out of surgery. I felt that I could lose weight on my own. Well I am back 3years later 20pounds heavier with diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesteral and sleep apnea. I went back to the informational session, scheduled my appointment with the surgeon within a week and now just waiting on insurance approval. I would love some buddies...I have lots of support from my family but I know I am bugging them to DEATH. Plus it is helpful to talk to people who are in the experience with you, been there and/or going in that direction. I am so excited about this platform and Forums. I am happy to communicate with anyone. Love all of the support!

Thanks I will... Hang in there. Time is flying!!!

Congrats also... You are close keep us posted!?!

June 3rd add me ????

I'm June 9th--I don't know how to add people but would love to be added!

Yes! It will be great to have someone who is going through the same things.

@@sarabeth Ohhh GREAT congrats to you. YES lets buddy up. I'm adding you as a friend. Lets do this together :-)

Congrats to all of you! That is so exciting! I can hardly wait to see the pounds start dropping off!
Louise

Thanks everyone!!! @@SavorySweet I agree that this process is going so fast and I am blessed that I am able to be in this whole heartily, no doubts or reservations.
@@Martene81 Oh yeah!!! I couldn't get a surgery date without an approval at my medical center. That is awesome your date is just around the corner and it worked out to coincide with your summer break. Your student are going to be in for a treat when school starts back in the fall. Have you told anyone at your school?
I know you will keep us posted on your progress. I will be watching and many blessings!!

Hello EVERYONE,
Just want to share in my celebration today while shouting to the top of my lungs that I received my approval for my surgery today. I am so overwhelmed with JOY that I didn't have anymore requirements.
Next is my surgery date and I will know by tomorrow. I am shooting for next month (JUNE). There are openings so I'm jumping in head first. I need to heal and be ready to enjoy the summer with my kids.
Thanks for all your support before now and after and I will keep everyone posted when I settle on a date.

I LOVE Cream of Wheat with this fab little Protein Powder that I buy from my Dr's office. . There are a lot of other favors and I have not met one that I did not like. They have large jugs but I tried several of these smaller pouches first and the girls from the office brought me over a gift bag with a ton of them. Mmmmmm... Oh, I never liked CoW until after surgery. ???? surgery date: May 6, 2015????????

I have some Protein shake recipes. Try them to see how they taste. They aren't a huge investment.
[ ] Apple pie shake
[ ] 8 oz. Water or unsweetened almond milk 1/2 scoop unflavored Protein powder, 1/2 apple powder from Mott's, 4 tsp of Torani brown sugar cinnamon sugar free Syrup
[ ] Key lime pie shake
[ ] 8 oz Water or unsweetened almond milk or skim milk, 1 tsp of sugar free lime Jello powder, 1/2 scoop unflavored Protein Powder, 3 tsp of lime juice
[ ] Orange creamsicle shake
[ ] 8 oz water or unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1/2 scoop Protein powder, 1 tsp of sugar free orange Jello powder
[ ] Peach pie shake
[ ] 4 oz unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1 scoop unflavored or vanilla protein powder, 1 tsp of sugar free torani peach syrup, 1 tsp sugar free torani brown sugar cinnamon syrup

@@KalelsWifey yes, be sure to check out the On-Demand when you get a chance. I did a Julian Michaels workout this morning. Last night, some yoga with Rodney Yee, it was awesome. They have all of the big names trainers as well. Sounds you are excited and ready to GO. Thanks to everyone's responses we all will have a BIG variety to choose from...

@@KalelsWifey Hi there. I enjoy exercising especially cardio. It is just I had limited time to go to the gym as much as I use to so I put on the extra pounds and medical issues were next. I ordered an elipitical/exericse bike and like that but my knees don't, lol. Shortly I discovered that there was a fitness catagory on my Xfinity on-demand channel with all types of fitness videos. Strength training, pilates, yoga, everything...
My very favorites are the speed WALKING videos. They are WONDERFUL. You can chose to walk 1 mile, 2miles or 3 all in your home. They are all cardio packed with weights or without. The 1-mile is 18 minutes, 2miles is 34 minutes, 3 miles 53 minutes. Super fast power walking... There are so many catagories of walking/jogging/strength training videos you can do in your home when you are pressed for time or don't want to leave the house. Easy moves so you can focus on working hard in getting it done. Trust me, I feel the workout just as much. I usually wake up half hour or 45 minutes early and turn one on get my cardio done, shower and then wake up my children. I have decided that I need to come first with my health and this is my time to myself with no interruption. When I get up early and exercise, no one is awake I can focus on myself. This way, I am done with the workout and not have to stress all day about how I will fit it in when I get home & exhausted.
I have also seen these videos dirt cheap on Amazon. Let me know & I will give you the name of some good ones :-)

GREAT NEWS!!! My CPAP machine will be delivered this evening. I will have happy dreams tonight. Finally I had the sleep study a week ago and after knowing I have sleep apnea and having 71 times per minutes collapses while I am sleeping without the use of the cpap, I have not been able to sleep since last Monday night worrying about if I am breathing while I sleep.
I can't wait to get a full nights rest tonight... HOORAY!!!
Happy Dance :-)

WLS Do’s and Don’ts

DO remove the word ONLY from your vocabulary. Ex: I’ve ONLY lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks… Now let’s look at this again without the word ONLY: I’ve lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks!! See what I mean? Perception is reality folks!!

DON’T assume you’ll never eat all of your favorite foods again. This is just an excuse your brain has designed to allow you to indulge. You WILL eat all your favorites again someday, just much less but find it to me more enjoyable. Which leads directly into the next:

DON’T do the “last meal” syndrome. You will only sabotage your weight loss you might have pre-surgery or set you back further from your ultimate goal post-op. This surgery is very serious and is for the serious minded. Use this time wisely to get the feeling of how life might be like post op.

DO learn all of the rules pre-op that you will endure post-op. Such as, no drinking with meals, using smaller utensils and plates, engaging in some type of workout routine, limiting your sugar and sodium intake, joining as many WLS support groups as you can.

DO Celebrate every single pound lost! Imagine one pound of butter. Yeah… that’s gone from your body forever. It is noteworthy and worth every bit of a pat on the back as any others that may go along with it.

DON’T compare your successes and losses to others. Chances are very high that you will only come out on the short end and only find yourself disappointed. Everyone’s journeys are their own…

DO keep track of your losses in many different ways than just the scale! Examples:

DO keep one set of your largest clothes you’ve ever worn. Make it a point to try them on, especially when you’re having a down moment. You will find this will really pick up your spirits! This is a real rollercoaster of a ride, and anything that will keep you positive is what you should do!

DON'T keep any other fat clothes around. Get rid of them ASAP. You're never going to fit them again, right? So... off to donations they go.

DO take photos of yourself just before your surgery. Keep them close. Again, having a bad day? Look at them and compare them. As a matter of fact, take photos of yourself often. You will also find that the more you lose, the more you will want to take pictures. Nothing wrong with that!!! That goes with celebrating your losses.

DO take measurements of yourself often. Keeping track of all your inches lost will really keep you on the right track when your scale is being stubborn!!

DO reward yourself every time you hit a mini goal. Make some more worthy than others. I like to go shopping when I hit a goal, it is my favorite thing to do now.

DON’T let the scale define you. Great majority of us will endure many fluctuations and stalls in this journey. It is what it is… patience is the key here. Meditate and envision yourself months down the road at your goal. Smile, then move on!!

DO find out about measuring body fat! It’s more than just weight loss, FAT LOSS is the real goal here. Keep in mind that the BMI scale is greatly inaccurate and most Health Studies do prove this. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE) our body fat % ranges should be average: 25-31% for Women and 18-24% for men. Any higher is considered obese. However it does go more in depth, according to ages and more. Everyone has different genetic make ups, frame sizes and fitness levels... even a different ethnicity can post differences.

DO have many goals in sight. Having only one, especially a simple weight goal you will find can be difficult. Have many MINI goals along your journey, and more than just ones that involve the scale. Such as, clothing size goals, body fat% goals, fitness or workout goals, dietary goals, etc…

DO challenge yourself always!! Whether it’s a global challenge with others, or personal challenges... It will keep you motivated and always willing to go further than you ever thought you could!

DO have a mentor! Find someone that you can trust and confide in, and that you know has “been there”. Preferably someone you know in person. You will find many folks in your life who have been there, for obesity is worldwide now and there are so many who have been able to defeat this demon. It’s not easy! It quite literally is the toughest feat I’ve ever had to endure. I can say this too, my job will never be done. This is for life!
DON'T believe the myth that your tool has an expiration date. Yes, it's true you will lose the most weight in the first year and it's also true that the further out you are and the closer you are to goal, the harder it is to lose. However, as long as you keep up with your healthy eating and fitness routines you will continue to lose weight and / or keep it off in the many years post op. It all boils down to calories in vs. calories out.
DON'T believe the myth that having WLS will keep the weight off forever. That is our individual responsibility.

And finally…

DON’T ever beat yourself up! We all make mistakes, and dare I say not one person on this Earth is perfect. I try hard to be, no doubt! I always admit that I’m a perfectionist – but I’m far from perfect. I just try to be… The only thing you can do is pick yourself up, give yourself a pep talk, perhaps contact your mentor for reassurance and move on!!! Again, this is for life. Every day you wake up is a second chance.

DO look for solutions to your problems. Otherwise they will just become excuses.


DON’T EVER GIVE UP! I don’t think any explanation is necessary here.

DON'T expect the scale to post a loss every single day. As a matter of fact, don't expect it to move that much even weekly! Just keep doing all the right things and the scale will move in the right direction when it needs to.

DO expect to see fluctuations on the scale, both down AND up. DON'T lose your head over it either. This isn't a miracle cure and the weight isn't going to magically disappear in a few weeks. You have to keep pushing with healthy eating, some type of workout and getting plenty of Fluid.

DON'T let the scale define your journey when there are so many pieces to that puzzle!!!



Good luck to all of you. This journey is a tough one, but if you are here, then you believed in yourself enough to give yourself the life you’ve always dreamed of. YOU WILL BE successful. Always keep that in mind.

Add-ons by other experienced sleevers:

DO keep a list of NSV (Non scale victories) to reflect on when times are getting hard. Can you walk up 2 extra flights of stairs before getting winded? Cross your legs?" and

"DO NOT be afraid to change things if they aren't working. Stalls happen even gains happen. If you are on a long stall look at your eating and decided if changes need to be made. Utilize your tool!" -- Southern Sleever

DO: Keep a food diary of what you eat and drink. This is a great learning tool as to which foods have what amounts of fat, Protein and carbs that add up to your daily intake goals. There are many ways to diary your food - from old fashioned pen and notebook to many options via smartphone apps. Keeping one is the important thing - however is right for you. I use mine now to look back for meal ideas when I hit a blank as to what to prepare for a day or a week.

DO: Realize this is not a diet to be followed for a while then set aside. This is a permanent lifestyle change. Yes, the amount of food you eat will increase as time passes, but your relationship with food will be forever altered. How you Celebrate your joys, successes and holidays will be different. How you mourn your sorrows will be different. Some people need outside help to get through the sometimes overwhelming mental changes this process brings. If you need help with this part of the deal- reach out and get it. -- SKCUNNINGHAM

DO roll with the punches!! -- fern

@@snickysnack78 Yes that is awesome that you are able to work from home. This should be a very comfortable recovery time for you.
@@dhrguru I hope you start feeling better soon. I hear from others that within a week going into the second week the pain is tolerable. I can't imagine with everything that is done surgically but I am praying that this is my outcome as well. My job is also very chill I work at my desk and don't really have to move around much. No lifting, bending or shifting. I would go crazy at home for a long period of time.

Yes I agree say 4-weeks and if you don't need it you can return but at least you will have that option, I firmly feel that I won't disclose. It's no one's business feel the same as you@ThruChristICan.

The type of surgery that you had will also affect how quickly you lose weight. Sleeve patients seem to lose weight slower than RNY. And then there are several other types of gastric bypass surgeries.
Also many people gain weight immediately after surgery because they pump your body full of fluids. It takes a little while to lose this extra surgery weight. Also your body is still recovering from major trauma. So all-in-all a loss of 35 pounds in the first month is great.

You have lost 35lbs in one month. When is the last time you have been able to do that? You are actually doing fantastic!
You have to remember that every time you lose a lb. it's a lb. you will never see again if you follow the plan.
You also have to remember you did not put on all that weight overnight and you won't lose it that way either.
Also, as soon as you start eating regular foods the weight loss will slow down some too.
Rest assured you are doing fantastic!

35 pounds in one month is awesome! Remember, the heavier a person is, the more weight they will lose early on. It isn't a contest. Besides, you really don't want to lose too quickly or you're going to be left with a lot of saggy skin. It takes your skin 2-3 months to adjust every time you lose weight. Give it some time to catch up! I'm a year out from surgery and lost all of my weight at a snails pace. I remember panicking that it wasn't coming off fast enough. Now I feel grateful because 1) I am at goal weight with a big fat happy smile and 2) I have almost zero saggy skin. Trust in the process. Follow your plan. Eat your Protein. You will be at goal weight before you know it ????

@@tiggerbug Correction I just spoke with the sleep study team and found out that I was wrong. I missed taking a breath 71 times a MINUTE!!!
OMG... was I actually breathing while I was sleeping??? this is super scary. I am so thankful that I went ahead with the sleep study. I haven't been able to sleep much worrying if I am breathing but now... Oh Boy. I a going to push the lever to ASAP on this CPAP machine.

The only Protein supplement that I use is Premier Protein ready made shakes. You can buy them at SAMs or costco.
I have tried other kinds including powders and end up throwing it away.
Premier Protein has the best flavor, 30grams of Protein in one shake and only 1 gram of sugar. chocolate is my absolute favorite but the strawberries and cream is ok too.

I had my sleep study last night. It was a very relaxing setup much like a hotel room with private bedroom and bathroom. I thought I slept great but unfortunately, I had to be awakened at 1am and be placed on a CPAP machine because 71 times per hour I had partial or full collapses (meaning I missed taking a breath 71 times per hour) in my sleep. After falling asleep with the CPAP machine, I had 0 collapses.
I definitely have sleep apnea but the wonderful thing is that I know and can be treated until my surgery and I lose weight and be cured.
I have be prescribed a CPAP machine. I will be getting setup by a home health care agency for it. Good thing is that it won't hinder my progress in getting my surgery scheduled. I just need to be sure to keep my log of usage for 30days.
Just to think that I dreaded this sleep study and today, after having it, I am so grateful.

The most successful "bariatric warriors" have learned to manage their weight loss using the same management tools they need to complete a project at work.


In other words, they’ve re-organized their lives in order to make nutrition, exercise and other healthy lifestyle endeavors gain equal ground with the other aspects of daily life.
It’s extraordinarily difficult to prep healthy food, squeeze in a trip to the gym (between work, home and kids) and get to bed by 11 every night if you don’t have an organized schedule to fit it all in. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and discouraged before you even begin trying to get your life more organized.
If this subject is resonating with you, here are five small steps you can take to better organize your day while regaining control of your health.
5 Steps to Organize and Manage Your Weight Loss
With these five steps, essentially, you’ll be organizing and managing your weight loss in the same way you might manage a project at work or school.
1. Sit down and think hard about what’s not working.
It’s hard to concentrate on cultivating healthy habits when your brain is constantly on overload. Successful weight loss requires time, planning and focus. If you’re also listening to a harsh inner voice filled with criticism, pessimism and negative messages, your chances of success will be diminished.
As much as you need to organize your time and environment, you will also need to organize your mindset.
2. Organize your surroundings.
Without a doubt, living or working in a chaotic environment is stressful.
When you can’t find the keys, you’ll be late for appointments. Likewise, if the kitchen is a mess, there is no food in the house and you can never find your favorite sneakers, you’re putting yourself at an unnecessary disadvantage.
Start with the most disorganized space and tame it. (This can usually be accomplished in less time than you think and the results will make you feel five pounds lighter).
3. Schedule your workouts the same way you schedule a meeting.
Pick a specific time each week to review your calendar for the days ahead and schedule your workouts accordingly. Treat them as you would an important meeting or appointment. And then get there — no matter what.
4. Plan meals, grocery shopping and cooking once a week.
Reviewing your schedule for the week will help figure out where and when you’ll be eating meals, what foods you’ll need, and how much time you’ll need to cook. Look at the weekly grocery store circular and buy the healthy items which are on sale and stock up for the future. Planning ahead saves money.
5. Go to bed (no excuses).
sleep deprivation interferes with weight loss by confusing hormones that signal hunger and fullness levels.
Research shows that people who stay up late consume more calories than those who go to sleep at about the same time each night. When you’re tired, your willpower wanes. Even as an adult, you still need to aim for eight hours of quality sleep per night.
Where do I start?
Which areas of your life could see the biggest improvement if they were just a little more organized? Start there.
In just a few short weeks, you’re going to see the positive impact that “project managing” your weight loss has on your life — and your waistline.
Need more help? Give us a call or shoot us an email and we'll be happy to offer advise or direction.
We ARE in this TOGETHER!
Photo Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net.