LifeRejuvenated

So, my PCP suggested I see the surgeon. I am 225lbs 5'4. I have high blood pressure that I just can not seem to get under control with the medication. The medication makes me feel awful and I am on 3 different pills. My mother passed away from complications due to HTN at age 45 and the closer I get to 45 (I am 39), the more anxiety I have. Well, I saw the surgeon yesterday and he said I can start the process! I spoke with the Financial/Insurance person. She says I meet the criteria set by my insurance company (Aetna-Innovation Health). She said that it is a fairly simple process for my insurance company. I have to have a psych eval due to me taking Zoloft for anxiety (I am a veteran) and take the 90 day supervised nutrition class which I start on next Wednesday the 14th. I also have to have an upper G I, which I will do in a couple of months. I can't believe that I am getting this opportunity. I have struggled with my weight for so long, I had almost given up on ever getting control of it. I also have to stop smoking, I haven't smoked in 2 days but I pray this isn't going to be a big challenge. I asked myself, "Do you wanna ruin this opportunity for yourself or do you want to take charge of your life?" I know I can do it! Soooooo.......lets see how this goes!

Today marks my one year anniversary!
One year ago I made the decision to save my life. I believe I may have done that
It's been a quick and a much successful year - in my opinion HAHA
Surgery date Sept 21 2015
Starting weight 273.4
Current weight 157.0 (I was down to 153.6 a couple of weeks ago but must've been eating too much salt lately; hence the slight increase LOL)
Goal weight 150 - which I will succeed here shortly!
Thanks for all of your support on this website!
Now to get to goal and live happily ever after!!
Heather

How many pounds would it be to gwt to 40bmi?
I would have food funeral now and then I'd wear the heaviest clothes with rolls of quarters stuffed in my bra and pockets.
Nope, not kidding.
Sent from my SM-G930P using the BariatricPal App

I'm new to this site to I haven't had my surgery yet I completed all my classes and requirements tho just waiting for my final dr appointment then they schedule me to see the surgeon I can wait I started at 285 and I'm down to 265 I'm so excited to get my life back and am so inspired by the posts I read on here
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

One of the women who works for my surgeon's office told me that some patients have gone so far as to jump thru all the hoops, attend the required group meetings, testing and everything else, only to back out at last minute for one reason or another, then come back later, have to start the process from square one, and inevitably tell her that they wish they'd done it the first time.
Ultimately, you need to ask yourself what is truly best for you; make a pros/cons list if that helps you.
My fears were surgery itself (I'd never had any in my 47 years), & the thought of never being able to eat the foods I liked again ( my husband used to be a chef, we love the TASTE of great food!) But I learned that eventually, I'll still be able to enjoy the taste of those foods, just that I will now be doing just that: tasting it, focusing on my Proteins & healthier choices for me and my family.
I have co-morbidities slowly advancing me to an early grave, and I used to be such a healthy, active person who truly enjoyed life and the outdoors; hiking, white Water rafting, x country skiing, etc. & I lost sight of that girl about 5 -6 years ago and I want her back.
I finally realized that getting my VSG would be an amazing tool to help me get where I need to be. I have follow my surgeon's plan to the letter, am approaching my 2 week surgi-versary, and I feel great (despite still being on liquids til next next week).
Bottom line: you have to do what's right for you. I'm sure WLS isn't for everyone. ...you have to be committed, follow the rules, get active, and keep your eye on the prize. (For me: my health & longevity, and those cute jeans in my closet that I WILL wear again someday!)
I'm afraid this turned into a bit of a novella, but I am so happy with my choices, and I want to be able to share my experience with others who may be thinking whether or not this big step is right for them. Thanks for reading & have a blessed day!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using the BariatricPal App

"I am tired of "I cants." I am ready for "i cans".

Are you tired of "i cants"?"
Yeah so there, ok I'll talk my insurance company and then my Dr. then we'll go from there..
the greatest thing to fear is fear its self right?
Y'all rock!

I'm new, just getting started and taking the classes, pre-op stuff... If I had to read one post, this spoke to me! THANKS for sharing! Well done!
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Sure @@proudgrammy!
So, i was 381 lbs on December 23rd 2015, heaviest was 391 but i go with the 381 because it was recorded at my docs... lol
i am 6ft tall and my shirt size was a 24 collar, 34/35 sleeve. I wore 3 and 4 XL t-shirts
My waste was 54 inches.
Surgery was on Feb 23rd. 2016 i weighed 375 the day of the surgery.
You just inspired me to add to my weight loss video, so i have updated this till today https://www.dropbox.com/s/s4lrhbdzzjy2puc/Bob%20at%20219.mp4?dl=0
I am now a 38 waist and that is a little big on me. An XL T-Shirt, and a 16 collar, dress shirt.
I am enjoying life again!!! I hope you are too

I have not taken the time to share my story, as a matter of fact I have still not changed my Facebook pictures, or the ones of me at work. food. I believe I had an actual addiction to food, the same as an addict, I didn't see it as an issue... But now I realize that I had a problem.
I eat to live now, instead of living to eat. The surgery helped by taking away the cravings, but I worry that if I reintroduce things like breads, fried foods, and other crap, I will develop the addiction again, just as if an alcoholic was to just have " 1 drink". It is a disease, with horrible side effects including low self confidence, depression, and humiliation.
I have made it my mission to find healthy foods, and replace all of my old favs, with healthy... And what I call, feel good foods. An FG food is one that I can eat comfortably, and they just basically feel good. for me, my list of items that I probably have a little of everyday would include... Chobani Flips. (190-210 cal, 12 gram protein)... These are my go to, if I haven't eaten in a while and am hungry, I can put this down a bit faster, and the size is pretty perfect for a meal. Love them all! Pickles- (0-5 cals) I love the spicy pickles, but I can eat them all. Pickles have become a regular snack in my life. Spears, slices, whatever, they all rock! Soup, soup, and more soup!!! My souls have been a huge part of my success. I make a huge crock of soup and it lasts me weeks. You can freeze some, but always have some in the fridge ready to microwave. I make a few varieties, but the basis is always the same. chicken broth base, cut with Water. Chicken or Cod fish, yep... I said fish! My family hates the smell of my "fish soup" but I loved it! However if you are not a big fish can just go with chicken. Vegetables- carrots, onions, mushrooms, kale, spinach, and even Brussels sprouts... Whatever you like and then I would spice it up with Cayenne and red pepper flakes, I even used Sriracha at times. This soup has been a staple for me since the 3rd month post, and I still make a lot here and there now. It was just great for me to grab a coffee cup, fill it, microwave it, and enjoy it.
I pushed myself to walk, and then I started "1 TED" lol. That means 1 thing every day. If it was parking in the back of the parking lot when at a store, or walking down the street and back when going to pick up the mail, I would just push to do 1 thing, which then would keep except use in the front of my mind.
Get an Apple Watch or Fitbit, make goals and hit them! What I learned is that we are capable of so much! When you are used to walking around with an additional 100 plus, your body has been working out for a long time. Now when the weight is gone, you still have that strong frame. Put it to work! I made some new friends that are athletic, I try and play Pickleball ( the game kicks ass, combo of tennis, volleyball, & ping pong) instead of cardio... I want to transition to a healthy lifestyle, not a 30 minute gym session that I won't be looking forward to.
Think of your weight loss as a super power, but only if you stick to the guidelines. This works for me, and I believe it to be a super power... Let me explain.
Since the weight loss, the world has been easier for me. I can go to an amusement park and get on the rides. I can fly on a plane and not need an extension. I can walk into a crowded bar and not start sweating my ass off! I can buy clothes at a normal store, and with actual brand names on them. I can tie my damn shoes, and without holding my breathe! I can sit in any chair, and not just the ones without sides... I can even sit in the plastic ones.
Woman treat me so differently! I am no longer just the funny guy... Even though I haven't changed! Life has just become much easier, much better, and much healthier, and I never want to go back, so I will continue to treat it as an addiction and will not look to be able to re introduce "everything" back into my eating habits, but instead I will work to find better foods. The nice thing about eating less, is that you can afford to buy smaller portions allowing for better quality foods. Take advantage of that! I always have almonds in the house, and I love veggie chips, especially the jalepeno, but now I grab a handful and walk away... If I want another handful, I will go get it at 30 cals, per handful, but I am going to force myself to get up and walk to the kitchen to get a handful
I feel so lucky to have had this surgery, and if I can help you in anyway let me know! I hope you have found this helpful, I know that writing it has helped me... So thanks!
 


Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi Everyone!! I am new to this site but not to the Sleeve surgery community. I had my surgery in November of 2015. When I started the journey I weight in at 320 lbs. Since that time I am down to 165 lbs and feel so great. I want to pay it forward and have even created a blog: throwingscales.net as a place to connect with others. Would love to chat and get to know people!! My before and after photos are below.  
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Right there with ya. I am taking the classes, etc... 1st yesterday. Learning as much as I can so I can mentally prepare such a drastic life change but I'm ready to take control & regain healthy lifestyle & all this extra baggage j carry.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm over 13 months post-RNY. I'm down almost 200 from surgery and over 250 overall from my highest. I'm perfectly healthy, and happily living my life in a way I thought was never going to be possible. I would do it all again a million times over! Please let me know if there is anything I can help you with. This place is a wonderful resource for everyone at every stage of the process. Best of luck!

I recommend that you follow the recommendations of your program.
You do not get bonus points for restricting nutrition and it can be extremely counterproductive.

By the way, you want to be as healthy as possible going into surgery. 500 calories a day is not healthy.

Ditto ditto ditto......what everyone else said. the reality is you cannot maintain a low calorie count long term. Your body will likely fight by stalling and then gaining more weight than you lost especially before surgery.
I would follow the guidelines completely. After surgery there will be several months where your intake is at or below 500 and honestly it is not a good place to be, you dont want that situation long term. I stayed at 900 calories for the first 18 months while i was losing and now i have slowly had to get my calorie count back up to 1300 to 1500 to maintain. I have gained and lost 5lbs several times now trying to figure out my sweet spot.
I raised my intake because i wanted to stop losing and allow myself more calories because at 2 years i noticed i was hungrier and could not stay on 1000 to 1300 calories. I think I am very close to the right intake for me but it probably should not have taken this long to figure it out.

I myself just started the pre-op process I've lost 27 lbs since July with Weight Watchers. My insurance requires 3months of documented meetings. I'm trying to have surgery in January 2017. I too am not telling many people only my immiate family and my two best friends (who are both nurses) so I feel I have a good support team and don't plan on inviting the haters into my business. Good luck

As everyone has said, follow the guidelines that they gave you. I will say this much anything you can do now only helps you with your upcoming journey. Practice Practice makes perfect. You defintly don't want to cut your calories to love before it won't allow your body to heal li8ke it should after surgery. After surgery we have our tool to help us eat less calories. Hang in there. Come to this site with your ?'s for sure but...do follow what they tell you to do. It is very IMPORTANT to start making the changes now.

No - that's not recommended. That's not healthy long term and could mess up your metabolism. Follow the plan given - it's not for long that your calories will be that low post-op. My pre-op diet for 2 weeks says DO NOT GO UNDER 800 calories a day.

Hi, @@LifeRejuvenated,
I would suggest that you Not eat 500 calories a day. It's not possible to keep that goal life long. I'm in my 6month diet visits as well, and it's a lot of information at one time. So, try it and, this plan will force you to eat the right way. ☺
The thing I'm still struggling with is drinking 30 min before and after you eat.

I would recommend that you follow the guidelines that were given to you.
I recommend you do three things at this stage. 1. Take a good before photograph of yourself, so that you have something to compare to after surgery. Many times we are blind to our obesity. We do not see ourselves. Therefore when the weight begins to drop off rather dramatically, we question if this is really happening. Photographs are a good visualization of our success. Many people carry a before and after photo with them, just to remind themselves of their success. 2. Walk 30 minutes each day, every day until surgery (or equivalent exercise). Walking helps the recovery process go smoothly and minimized the pain levels from surgery. 3. Wean yourself from caffeine and carbonated beverages now. After I gave up my 6 diet coke a day habit, I suffered from a week of severe withdrawal syndrome consisting of severe headaches and body aches. I was miserable. You don't want to combine the effects of caffeine withdrawal with the effects of surgery. By giving up my diet coke habit, I lost 20 pounds on that change alone.

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

Welcome!
I am relatively new to this board too but am learning something new every time I log on. Very supportive group so ask away and do some searches to see if the topic has been covered recently.

I'm pre-op and I'm trying to focus on taking small bites and chewing very very well. I think after surgery your tummy is going to tell you, in a not so pleasing way, if you are taking bites that are to large or not well chewed.
CW 227 5'5" 61yrs

I had RNY gastric bypass surgery and the weight fell off fairly rapidly. I transitioned from the Weight Loss phase into the Maintenance phase at around 7 months. Sleeve patients lose weight at a slower pace but they lose weight over a longer period of time, sometimes 2 years, and can achieve almost the same weight loss as RNY patients. Even though I lost weight rapidly, it was not a shock. Some people no longer recognized me.
It is good to take a good before photograph so that you have something to compare it with after surgery. Many people do not see how obese they really are. I never appeared in photographs because I was the photographer in the family. When I looked in a mirror, it was alway straight on. The problem is that many people do not see how obese they really are and after surgery do not see how much weight they really lost.
So in my case I took a before photo and a 6 month after photo. I tried to strike the same pose so it was a good one to one comparison. Here is the photo.

Just wanted to chime in that I got a two-fer when I went to my doctor light headed this week
He stopped one of my blood pressure meds... hence the lightheadedness. Then he went on to remove Diabetes from my chart! I nearly cried.