laceemouse

I have a blender bottle and a Vitamix. The Vitamix is big, it does a good job but I would like something that make the small single serving drinks. My daughter has a Bullet and she doesn't love it, not matter how hard she screws on the container it leaks (you know how you turn them upside down) I have heard great things about the Ninja, I want a small one, I think. I can see how the immersion blender would be good for making purees but I want to make my own smoothies with ice too. Whatever you get has to be powerful to crush ice. Or do people just not do the ice or frozen fruit in a smoothie things after surgery? I am trying to decide as well, I think it would be nice to have different things for different needs maybe???

Keep up the good work!

Good luck, that's my birthday!

Is this something that someone else said? I read a lot on this thread and never saw that. Are you talking about after the surgery? Some people have it easy but many people struggle, I want the surgery but I know what I'm getting in to.

I'm looking at Dr. Eagon at Wash U. Bmi is 60. Don't know if that's high enough for them, but it's plenty high for me! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App The "norm" for almost every insurance is BMI 40 and above with no other health problems and they will pay. I am just at that threshold and my surgeon thinks I will have no problem getting approved. For BMI 30-39 they usually require co-morbities, 1 or 2 other weight related health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, joint issues etc. I have mild high blood pressure but it is well controlled with meds so the chances of me getting approved if I were under BMI 40 would be iffy. Of course some people self pay and then it is up to the doctor what he/she requires to do the surgery. That's why you see some low BMI people getting surgery, most are self pay. I would/will consider that if I don't get approval from insurance.

I'm so not a woman in front of the camera person lol. But thank you. I watch Nirvana too, but there is something I cant relate to her. I guess its the paranoia if her multiple wls left her at 300lbs, it could happen to me? Not sure. I still watch though. Sent from my SM-G930P using the BariatricPal App I found another one, Danielle's VSG journey. She is awaiting insurance approval right now, just like me! I understand what you are saying about Nirvana. I like her personality but she had so much to lose and still has so far to go. I kinda wanna find women close to my age and starting weight, I am 53 and so many of them are younger than I am. I still love some of them, but can't relate as much. I keep looking. I find new ones every day. I really wanna watch Fat Doctor but I am also watching Stranger Things on Netflix (SO good) There are only so many hours in a day.

I like Mellielay, and Molly Poole. I watch a lot of them, but I NEED to watch Fat Doctor for sure! Yes, start doing videos. And tell us so we can watch!

Mine is less than that. I told my surgeon my PCP was not on board with me needing this and he said she doesn't have to be. HE did the letter of medical necessity. sleep study was optional. I did the psych eval a couple of weeks ago. Once that was sent to the surgeon his office coordinator sent everything to BCBS. After I get approval from them I get blood work. I guess I will have one more pre-op visit with the doctor? I only have to do a 3 day liquid diet before surgery. It's funny how different things are for different surgeons and insurance companies. I am not worried about my insurance requiring less. I am a super information gatherer. I have been researching, reading books, watching YouTube videos and asking questions about WLS for probably 2 years. My hospital has a support group, I went last week and asked the nurse some more specific questions. I'm ready, just need my date! Good luck to you! I have BCBS of IL, yeah, they didn't call for much and ruled it medically necessary for me. I'm very grateful and I know it's all going to be fine. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App I have BCBS Texas. I am just barely BMI 40. I do have mild high blod pressure. My surgeon's surgery coordinator seems to think I will be approved very easily. I hope she is right!

I am sorry about your miscarriages Good luck to you, I can't wait to have my surgery date! If you don't eat a lot have they checked your thyroid, hormones, etc? Do you have other health problems? Anyway, good luck to you. I wasn't a fat kid but I will admit I have always been a big eater. I never realized it until I tried to do Weight Watchers, it takes a lot more than that to fill me up. Then as I got older my big portions caught up with me. That is why I hope the sleeve works for me, I am always hungry. Take care. This is a good group for asking questions

That chicken looks good. You haven't had surgery yet have you?

Mine is less than that. I told my surgeon my PCP was not on board with me needing this and he said she doesn't have to be. HE did the letter of medical necessity. sleep study was optional. I did the psych eval a couple of weeks ago. Once that was sent to the surgeon his office coordinator sent everything to BCBS. After I get approval from them I get blood work. I guess I will have one more pre-op visit with the doctor? I only have to do a 3 day liquid diet before surgery. It's funny how different things are for different surgeons and insurance companies. I am not worried about my insurance requiring less. I am a super information gatherer. I have been researching, reading books, watching YouTube videos and asking questions about WLS for probably 2 years. My hospital has a support group, I went last week and asked the nurse some more specific questions. I'm ready, just need my date! Good luck to you!

Oh, another one I love is Drea vsg. She is very inspirational.

Oh my, I love Clusie! But I know what you mean, a lot of the people I follow are way ahead of me, looking into plastics, etc. One I just started watching is "my vsg confessional". I met her in another discussion group, she is recently post-op. I follow- experiencing nirvana, vsg Jodi, vsg Tonya, Chemistry Queen, Made Up Mama, and several others. They talk about each other, so then I will go look for the people they talk about. I subscribe to all of them. Sometimes I will go back and watch all, or almost all, of their videos so I can see the story start to finish. One I watched like that ended up depressing me. It was "less of Sarah". I watched hours and hours of her, she was super motivated and did great. Then she got divorced and stopped making videos as often and the last one she had gained 20 pounds and said she was doing fine but seemed depressed. It was upsetting to me YOU should start a YouTube channel!

My surgeon had a check list in the paperwork, I checked off that I had tried Weight Watchers (many times), Jenny Craig, Slimfast, Medi-fast, etc. There was nothing else I needed as proof. WW MAY have records of past clients but most of the others would not, especially if it's something you buy and try at home like Slimfast. My info has all gone to insurance and I am awaiting approval. I didn't have to do a monitored weight loss program or wait a certain length of time or anything. It just varies greatly from plan to plan. Best of luck to you!

Ha! This made me laugh. Banana size varies widely (does that sound dirty??) I usually try to buy the small ones. When I buy the huge ones my kids often cut them in half, the left-over half gets mushy and gross and unless I peel and freeze it it ends up in the trash. Wasteful.

Thanks everyone. I totally understand that what works for one person may not work for another, some people can't tolerate some foods, different doctors and nutritionists recommend different things, etc. I am also very familiar with the differences in opinion about what constitutes healthy eating. I have hundreds of friends who have VERY strong opinions about what to eat and not eat. Most are not overweight. Some eat no meat (my oldest daughter has been a vegan most of her 25 years and has never been overweight), some eat almost nothing BUT meat, others eat raw, Paleo, etc, etc One thing most of them agree on is eating real foods, so the idea of artificial sweeteners is just a big no-no. Personal preference for sure but there is a lot of research out there about them. I don't know how which route I will take after surgery, still don't have a date yet and no recommended diet of course, but I know this much is true.....we always have fruit in the house. Had I eaten a piece of fruit each time I wanted a treat, even a high carb one like a banana, instead of a handful of Cookies or several mini candy bars, I might not be pushing 250 pounds now. Maybe?? I like apples with cheese, not so much alone. Most berries are too tart to me, I like them IN things like smoothies (or bad things like cobbler) but not so much alone. LOVE citrus (don't know if people can handle citrus after sleeve??) and love bananas. You guys take care, keep up the good work, you ALL inspire me

Is that shorter than you thought you were? Maybe check your BMI again??

I am new here, and thus don't understand any of the inside comments and jaunty banter, but I do have a nutrition question. Does EVERY person who has had WLS follow a low carb diet? Does it depend on the type of surgery they had? How low is low? Do some people do virtually NO carbs?? If someone says "I am doing low carb and look, this is what I eat in a day!" and then proceeds to list lots of high carb items, bananas and more, maybe someone should suggest they use a tracker of some sort, enter all those items, and see what the total carb count is. If someone is doing, say, 30 grams of carbs a day, then wouldn't it be okay for them to add a half a banana to their morning smoothie, assuming their daily total stays at or under 30? Or, as long as someone is losing at a rate they are happy with, is it okay for them to eat a banana a day? I mean assuming it works for them? I do find it funny that people who are so focused on weight loss don't know that bananas are a rather high sugar fruit. But on the other hand, if it works for Joe Blow does it matter to the rest of us?? Still waiting for my surgery date but kinda confused by this whole discussion.

What? You look 15 years younger, at least!! Congrats, you are an inspiration.

You look great! What all did you have done? Just a tummy tuck? I love your name LSP, very clever

I am in the same boat. Awaiting approval and definitely planning some food funerals. My birthday is next month and we have this amazing German restaurant in town, the food is SO heavy, I am for sure going to enjoy it prior to pre-op dieting.......

My stuff was submitted to BCBS Texas on Friday. I have been told it will be 1 to 2 weeks before they even look at it. My doctor's office basically said don't bug us again because they can't do anything else until they get approval from insurance. I think I will wait about a week and then contact BCBS and see where they are. After approval I have no idea how long it will be until surgery is scheduled. I understand the office staff doesn't want people bugging them all the time but I wish they would give a guesstimated timeline. So I guess we are in the same boat, waiting, waiting, waiting........

Congrats! You look amazing, enjoy that baby boy

@@Frenchie1977 is correct. My insurance does not require a long time of being at the required weight, but many do. I would research that if I were you. Have you considered self-pay? Then you can do it whenever you want.

Are you pre-surgery? I don't know why so many people shun coffee, I can't even get half a cup down before I gotta poop, works every day