Kimba Maria Wiggins

http://healthrena.wordpress.com/

I know this all too well. I lived with a man who would belittle me because of my weight and say very cruel and nasty things to me (and expect me not to say anything about it). Things got so bad that I had to leave his house 7 months ago and I feel much better about myself. He frowned upon weight loss surgery and would say, "You don't need to go to a nutritionist, you know how to eat right, just stop eating." Needless to say, I haven't spoken to him since, and it really upset me when I read this thread. I'm so sorry to hear of this, I hope things get better for you. I've been in several emotionally abusive relationships and now I'm just getting back into the dating game after 2 years. My current boyfriend doesn't belittle me for what I look like and actually supports me getting sleeved (I haven't been sleeved yet but this is an issue that will come up after I get my sleeve 2 months from now).

I will be getting sleeved by Dr. Mehta in Riverhead in September (if Medicaid doesn't drag the approval process out).

I haven't had my surgery yet, but I've always used liquid multivitamins because hard pills make me nauseous. Plus liquid vitamins are easier to digest. I would ask your doctor about them before taking them. Hopefully I can use them after I have my surgery because I don't like pills.

I got weighed today and I found out that I gained 5 lbs from the last time I saw the nutritionist (back on 6/21/16). My last NUT weigh in is on August 18th...so I have to make this last month count. After today (7/12/16), no more caffeine, carbonated drinks and sugar.

I've begun to lower my caffeine and carbonation consumption. Today (7-11-16), I only had one caffeinated beverage...when I usually have several. I measured out my portions and found them to be filling (a first for me). I'm learning to limit my portion sizes because I normally eat large portions, which is something I'm unlearning. I don't have a food scale, so I'm using a measuring cup to measure my portions and so far it's working. Tomorrow I'll start logging what I eat again so I can keep track of what I'm eating.

I'm going to my first support group at the end of this month, and they conduct them every month at my local hospital. I have to go at least one to be approved for surgery. I'll be going to them for a long time, since I'll need the support.

I'll be moving in a few weeks because I can't live around unsupportive people. I spoke with my therapist about this earlier this week and she said I needed to get serious: "Would you rather stay the same or improve your life?" I don't want to die before I'm 40...nope! I'll speak to my nutritionist, my therapist and psychiatrist because right now, I have no offline supports around me other than my treatment team and my mother. At the time I weighed myself (which was last week), I was like "What am I doing to myself? This is not what I wanted for myself." My decision? I choose Life...just have to control my portions and set some boundaries at home until I move out.

I plan on buying a few outfits that I can wear as I lose weight. I have clothes already that don't fit me and off to the thrift shop they go.

I am lactose intolerant...what plant based high proteinprotein shakes/powders are out there that will work out for me? I don't want to use Lactaid every time I want to drink a shake with lactose in it, so what are my options? I'm also considering plant based meal replacements (with high protein). Any suggestions?

My NUT gave me a suggested diet plan for me to follow for the next 3 months (required by my insurance). She didn't say how much weight I needed to lose by my next appointment (7/12) but I suspect it's at least 10 lbs. I'm having a hard time sticking to it, but I will get myself back on track. Any tips for me on how to stay on track? I don't want to end up getting denied by my insurance due to lack of effort.

I weighed myself earlier today....quite disappointing. I didn't even lose 3 lbs since my 1st nutritionist visit (not surprised). Soon I'll be moving into a much more stable living situation around people who respect my eating habits. I still have 8 days until I see my nutritionist again for my 2nd visit. I've started to clean up my diet and hopefully by 7/12 I'll know if my efforts paid off.

I live with 5 other women in a boarding house, where I'm surrounded by tempting foods every day. I often eat when I'm not hungry and big portions. Slowing down when I eat has also been an issue which I am working on. I eat 5 smaller meals a day with 2 Snacks in between (fruits only). Since I've been doing this for the past 4 days, I've not overeaten and I drink more Water. As for exercising, I do house chores in small blocks every day since going to the gym isn't an option for me right now. My nutritionist told me I needed to lose 10% of my body weight by my last weigh-in, which is August 18th. I've been working with my psychiatrist to work through my emotional issues and I'm doing well in the mental health area. I know that being sleeved will change my eating habits permanently. I'm glad I'm getting surgery now...because I was so uneducated about bariatric surgery nearly 2 years ago and in a bad place mentally.

No milk products, not even whey. Whey I react to badly, so I avoid it. I love cheese and dairy..but I have reactions to it...so It looks like I'll have to eliminate dairy and lactose out of my diet for good. I love soymilk and almond milk and rice milk. I bought Vega 3 days ago and I love it (20g of pea protein). I mix it with soymilk and I'll use Vega after surgery.

I met with my surgeon the day of my first consultation (when I decided that I wanted to get Sleeved).

I don't have a date yet but my insurance coordinator told me that I will be getting Sleeved in September.

Great advice! I will be asking my insurance coordinator the exact requirements for approval. It will be so different when I get the sleeve because I won't be able to eat like like I currently am...but I won't miss being obese, feeling embarrassed because I can't fit into normal sized chairs and normal sized clothing. Soda and large portions are also stressors as is not slowing down when I'm eating (that's something I need to work on ASAP). The last time I wore a size 14 was my senior year of high school (2001).

When I was more active, I didn't eat as much...because I was out of my house all day. Now I'm home for most of the day and I think that's one of my problems. I need to be more active and that has to change.

My goal is to lose 30-40 lbs by August 18 (my last appointment with my NUT). I've joined a gym and will be working out 3 days a week starting July 1st (and exercise at home 2 days a week). Nutritionist weighed me at my first consultation and I was 350 lbs and I lost 6 lbs by my official weigh in. I walk around a a lot around my house and do stretches to keep my knees from getting stiff so I will continue to do that, plus I already drink several glasses of water a day.

Just got off the phone with my nutritionist. She said I have to lose at least 5% of my body weight to show my insurance company that I'm making an effort.

I've decided to get Sleeved because at 33 years of age, my BMI is 60 and I have degenerative osteoarthritis in both knees as well as high blood pressure. My family has a long history of heart disease, strokes, heart attacks, diabetes and arthritis. My grandmother passed at age 62 in 2001 (a week before Christmas) due to obesity-related complications. I used to be a track and field athlete and a weightlifter (when I was in high school). I've looked into the gastric sleeve surgery and I know this is what I need in order to regain my health so I can live a healthier, longer life. I live in NY and have Straight Medicaid, which requires 3 months of NUT visits and from what the surgeon told me that I may get sleeved in either September or October of this year. I wasn't told how much I needed to lose, but I heard it was minimum 10% of your body weight. I've tried everything from Slim Fast to Kashi GoLean and taking diet supplements. I'm more than ready for a change in my life. I know what lies ahead for me, and I know my path to wellness won't be easy.

If a person doesn't change their mindset about food, then a person will have issues after their surgery. I used to be a food addict and now my body is paying for it. I know it'll be a huge change for me, and my health is top priority in my life.

I have a few questions: *How much weight will I realistically lose in the first 90 days after surgery? I'm 5'4" and 344 lbs now. *Will coconut Water be good to drink instead of regular tap water? *Will I still be able to dine out despite being sleeved?

Not good to lie about having serious health conditions, I could never do that. Just voicing my opinion.

I'm covered by Straight Medicaid, which covers everything (from NUT meetings to the surgery itself). I'd be real upset if I had to pay $200 for nutritional classes.