MIMISAN

Congrats!

I would have been pissed too!

It's hard to say what people are really thinking and feeling and usually they don't even know, but I think many things are involved. Many people know that when your life style changes that will affect them too. You will no longer be willing to go out to eat at the drop of a hat, you will no longer be the fat friend that makes them feel hotter, you will no longer always be available to their whims because as you get more fit and healthy you will have a life of your own. If they are heavy too but can't have surgery they may just want you to stay hefty because it gives them company. The truth is that the cream always comes to the top so when you and your friends start shifting you will find yourself with the people that really like you for you. PS... I think it is hard sometimes to be friends with someone that has just lost a lot of weight or in some way drastically improved their looks because suddenly they are a swan and so excited about it that they become all about them and drive you nuts for a while. I hope that isn't me.

I haven't had my surgery yet but I know it will be somewhat like quitting smoking. When I quit smoking I initially had to stop doing some of the habitual things I did. Because those things triggered my smoking and I had to start some new habits. I also didn't hang out in person with friends that smoked for a while. After a while I could be around smokers and it didn't make me want to smoke but at first I changed patterns.

I thought it went really well. They said to set aside about an hour but the whole thing was about 26 minutes. The woman was very nice. I assume it went flawlessly because when we were saying goodbye she said I hope your surgery goes well and good luck! I wasn't really too worried to start with because I think my heads in the right place regarding surgery but that is one more requirement done. She also mentioned this site as a place I could come for re-enforcement and information. I told her I was already a member!

You guys all feel like I feel. Having the sleeve before Christmas is like a gift to myself and it will keep me from gaining weight over the holidays like I usually do.

I am in the fine and already thin on top category and I already have a very short haircut. It has been short for years. I worry that when / if I starts I will be a fat little onion head! I have not had my surgery yet but about a year ago I bought a couple of wigs that look very much like my hair but they are thicker and actually a little longer. My thought is that when I begin to really need I will take them to someone and have them cut them more closely to look like my hair. I don't want to wear a wig but if I am forced I will.

Doesn't diet Pepsi have caffeine? That is another thing they want us to cut.

Carol, I have a friend that has many of the same issues you have. She somehow relates sex to love and that if a man isn't panting after her then he doesn't love her enough. So she moves on to someone else that is new and exciting and pants after her, but inevitably the new wears off and she just becomes someone in a relationship and that makes her feel unattractive and unloved! I keep telling her that she has to LOVE herself before she will ever appreciate the love of someone else. It has taken several years but she has made headway and I know you can too. You don't want a man that will just have sex with you. Most men will do that with any available and willing partner. You want a man that will be there to hold your hair back if you have to throw up, and love you later.

I was going to suggest consignment stores. You can pick up some very nice clothing at very affordable prices.

Would love to visit with others that will be using the same group. Also would love to talk to anyone that used them in the past.

I was a COKEAHOLIC. I haven't found a non carbonated replacement for my coca cola but I did find a caffeine free one. I make myself a diet cherry limeade with zero sprite, lime juice and a tiny amount of cherry juice, I haven't had surgery yet so I do this when I need a feel good drink. After surgery I am going to try the same thing but I will try to let the sprite go flat and try it.

If things go right for me I am looking at getting my sleeve done in December! In November I will have my last NUT visit to complete the 6 months supervised, I will have my release from my cardiologist, and have my pysch evaluation done. Also in November we will be doing my upper endoscopy and if that goes well everything will be submitted to my insurance and the hope is to get approved in time for December surgery. Some people think I am nuts for considering the surgery in December but I think it will just keep me from gaining the normal Holiday 10. Any suggestions or thoughts on this?

Congratulations! Make the most of this opportunity!

Atkins makes a decent low carb pizza. It's pretty low in carbs.

sleevedtbd I can't wait to hear how things are going for you. Have you lost any pre-surgery? Do you live near San Antonio?

The only suggestion I have is to stick to the carb requirements you get. They want me to eat 30 grams of carbs which is tough. I usually end up between 30 and 45 which is WAY less than I use to eat. Eat meats, eggs,cheeses and low sugar veggies. I did give up cokes and ice cream totally. But I am determined to be less fat in my future. Good luck.

Now I feel guilty and wish I knew how to delete the above post. They recently let the one girl go and have responded and apologized and answered all my questions. Can I delete this?

I just had my NUT visit for my 4th month of supervised dieting and I am so proud of myself. I have lost 30 lbs! I was worried about this month because I got 2 heart stents on August 28th and they wanted me to do more of a cardiac diet which adds more fruits and vegetables and even with the addition of more fruit I still lost weight. At this point I don't have to worry about going under the BMI requirement (after all I am built like a fire plug) but these small victories keep me going. I am hoping to have my surgery in December. Before Christmas if necessary but preferably the week following. Wish me luck!

I started my contact with this group because they were in my plan and they were the closest to me since I live in a smaller town. I met my Dr. one time and he seemed very nice and I also met my "Case worker" who was suppose to be my support and go between and if I needed her for anything please contact her. Well, since my insurance requires 6 months supervised dieting I started this process and started seeing their nutritionist as well. Unfortunately I have had a few questions regarding insurance and other things and found that getting hold of my "Case Manager" was like pulling hens teeth. Then last month as part of my work up my cardiac Dr. insisted on a Pet Scan which made him question a couple of spots so he pretty much made me an appointment for a Heart Cath. On August 28th I ended up with 2 stents and I am truly grateful that he pushed the issue. I actually feel better and may not of caught this before a crisis without my cardiologist.. Now the problem became that with heart stents you are on blood thinners and this basically rules out Gastric Sleeve Surgery for at least 3 months and possibly up to a year. Today is the 10th and I have tried every way I know how to contact the "Case Manager" I have called emailed and left voice messages. On Tuesday 8th I even emailed the Dr. and he actually responded and said he would have someone contact me that day and of course....no one did. I finally just contacted my nutritionalist and canceled any upcoming appts because there is no reason for me to continue to see her until I know when my surgery could actually be expected. I can't afford to keep paying for supervised visits if they aren't counting towards my 6 months. Her visits are 35.00 each and I travel 120 miles round trip to see her. She responded and said she would let the Dr. know I was having troubles with contact. So I guess we will see. I think what disappoints me the most is that I was led to believe they were going to be here with me all the way and help and guide me and that has not been the case.

I guess I must just float along in my own world because I don't have deep questions regarding things like that. I don't worry about if it really is 30 grams of Protein in a Premier Protein Shake or if a Coke is really all sugar. What's wrong with me?

I made a post about this previously but my saga continues. I am currently midway through my 6 month supervised dieting for my insurance and one thing my WLS Surgeon requested was that I get clearance from my Cardio Specialist since I have Supra Ventricular Tachycardia. So I go to the Cardiologist and he takes this opportunity to strong arm me into a PET scan. I had always refused this before but to get his clearance I said OK. So I had the Pet Scan and got a call from the cardiologist saying that he sees an abnormality and he wants me to do an echo cardiogram as follow up. I do the echo and then I go for consultation with the cardiologist. He then tells me that he wants me to have a have a heart catheterization because he is afraid there might be a blockage or something going on. Needless to say he wouldn't be able to give a clearance without it. So....I went in and had the heart cath which was quite scary and low and behold I ended with 2 stents in my heart. Now I have to be on blood thinners for at least 6 months. Since I am on blood thinners most likely the WLS surgeon won't want to take the chance and do my surgery so now I have 3 months of dieting under my belt and no where to go with it. BOO HOO I am waiting to hear back from the WLS Surgeon to tell me his requirements so that I can make some plans on how to continue. In any case, if it weren't for me trying to get WLS then I might not have found out about the blockages that I was working on and for that I am thankful.

I wanted to add that I also worry about hair loss and loose skin but I think you have a better chance of less loose skin because of your age. I am much older and I am sure I will look like a blood hound. I don't look forward to that but I will be healthier and that is my goal.

I haven't had my surgery yet but like GraciesMom4 I can lose weight and gain it over and over again. I want the surgery to stop me from back sliding so easily. In my opinion...If you don't want to make changes in your life and your not ready for change, don't have the surgery. Surgery is a last ditch effort to help you gain control over something you can't control. I would rather be depressed because I can eat than depressed because I weigh 350 pounds, but that needs to be your choice because until your ready to change the part of your life style that makes you fat, you probably won't commit after surgery.

I started my 6 month supervised dieting in June also. I am eating low carb/hi Protein. What plan are you on? So far I have been very committed and I have lost 20 lbs. Lately I seemed to have stalled a little bit even though I am still eating the same way and I finally realized it is because I dropped off on my Water drinking. I must get use to drinking WATER! Keep at it, get committed, I know we can do this!