CharlyScott

I was blessed with a surgeon that shared this with me.

He said that your family and friends love you and want you to be healthy. When they are used to you being so large, you being a healthy weight is not normal.

When you stand in a room of strangers you could ask any one of them what they thought and every stranger would say you look healthy.

This is an unintentional sabotage that awareness can help you avoid. He said, if a friend or family member told you that your haircut did not flatter your face. How long would it be before you pick a new haircut? Their opinion matters. In this you must be strong and lovingly remind them that you are working hard to be healthy. Appreciate their concern.

Lastly he said, the only one I am to listen to is him. My surgeon said he would tell me if I was too skinny. And he finished it up with, he only had one patient lose too much. She was a grandmother that started to love the attention her family was giving her worrying about her weight loss.

Stay strong and keep your healthy goal in mind always.

I had a mini Cadbury egg the other night, just one, it was delish. I'm 15wks post op and down 76lbs. I do allow myself a little treat from time to time but I also count it in my daily values and hold myself accountable. I think that's more important, accountability than never allowing yourself another treat again. We are all human.

My Easter candy weakness was Cadbury chocolate egg with Carmel inside ! But I haven't even looked at them a second time ! I guess I'm over them! We have broke up![emoji3]

Last Spring/Summer I mainly wore Walmart workout clothes around the house. They are great and once you get to regular sizes super cheap.
One caution though, if you keep wearing the same sizes, you feel like you aren't losing. especially in those times when you are not dropping weight but are dropping inches. I suggest even if you can't afford new clothes, to at least go try them on each month so you can see your progress.

Costco multi Vitamin is what Kaiser recommended... they said less expensive over there Kaiser brand .

I have tried and like the Fortress Powder. I found it at Walmart. As for the suppliments I went to CVS and was able to stock up on enough for a three months supply for $35.00. They only thing I didn't get was my muliti-vitamin and that was because I was unsure about what to get.

I have tried and like the Fortress Powder. I found it at Walmart. As for the suppliments I went to CVS and was able to stock up on enough for a three months supply for $35.00. They only thing I didn't get was my muliti-vitamin and that was because I was unsure about what to get.

You might try the Garden of Life. It is a vegetable Protein.< br>

Right!
This discussion has happened here so often and so many scientific studies and links have been cited.
I only responded and posted because I am procrastinating on a work project but I am promising myself today I am never going to post more than one sentence about sleeve stretching again. "Properly formed sleeves don't stretch"
If people are comforted by thinking that sleeves stretch so they have an excuse for regaining and failing, hug that blankie tight Linus van Pelt, may it comfort you in hard times,
I'm done.

How are you doing ladies? I'm was sleeved the same day as you and so far i've lost 41lbs since surgery day. Surgery weight: 220lbs. My goal is to lose another 40lbs.

May 18th here in Mexico with Dr. Montano

So finished class the 28th. The caseworker came in that day to talk to us to let us know what the next steps were. He called me the next day to tell me that my file was complete and perfect and was going to send my file over to the surgeon then 20 minutes later someone from the surgeons office called me and I have a appointment April 11 for a consultation. I will keep you posted

I am in month 2 of 4 of my pre op stages. I have good days and bad days. Today is a bad day.
I just keep thinking to myself, "is it worth all this money?" I keep getting bill after bill for each appointment, and then I keep thinking, Jesus dude, I still have to pay $6,000 for surgery!! Like, why am I doing this to myself? I'm trying to live my life and do things and I can't because I have to save every penny extra for all these appointments and the huge expense of surgery. My boyfriend is very good at getting me to see the big picture but when I am sitting here stuck in my head I stress myself out so much about it. Not only am I going to have life altering surgery, I'm going to pay a life altering amount of money for it. That money could go toward a house, my retirement account, or a wedding!
But I just keep thinking of the phrase "invest in yourself".
I could spend $6,000 on gym, special diets, or junk food in one year.
To look at it that way puts it into such a different perspective. I can change my life for less than $10,000 and lose this weight, be happier and healthier, and live a longer life and spend my old age with my amazing partner and my future children. That's what gets me. Those future children. I have to be healthy for them and teach them how to live a healthy life!
I guess I just need to remember "invest in yourself, and think about those future kids"
I guess I just needed to rant. No one around me understand what's happening in my head and you guys make my day better because you know what it's like.

That is exactly what I repeat to myself "invest in yourself, it's about time" I dam near spent almost all my taxes on this lol and i wanted to use that money for my vacation in December. But what's the point of going on vacation if I have to call for weight limits for things like kayak, horse riding, zip lining. I'd rather spent whatever on making sure I have no more limits on life, to be healthy. And if this surgery can increase my chances of having children then amen! Lol. This is an investment and will continue to be an investment if you think of the cost of Vitamins, plastic surgery, and healthy food which for some reason is so much more expensive than junk food lol. If this is what you really want then go for it! Maybe learn to budget so you can accommodate this new lifestyle, that is the stage I am in now and my surgery is in 2 weeks. But I am one of those people who like to prep/plan ahead lol. But good luck! And you got this, just remember it will be worth it in the long run 😉

I hear your rant. We love rants! Rants make us stronger and better! I am so proud of you, look how far you've come! You are really doing great! We support you 100%. 6,000 is only cake money! And we eat cake, we are gonna get through this and get it done! And beat fat's ass!

A little update. My appt went wonderfully I am excited about the clinic. Everyone was very friendly, professional, and answered my questions and concerns. All I am waiting on is final insurance approval. I am super excited

It's nice to hear a good story about an insurance company! Glad you stuck to your guns and will get this done.

Tomorrow I will have my first appointment with my surgeon. To say that I am excited is an understatement. I made my decision 9 years ago to have the surgery done. I have been over weight my whole life except once when I was going through a very messy divorce. During the 9 years a lot has happened. I became a first time mom at the young age of 53 to not one but 2. No I did not give birth we are adopting. I had a complete hysterectomy at the age of 25 so being a mom was never on my list but I did pray for a child of my own. I know that my age may play a factor, but I want a better quality of life and I want to see my children graduate. My husband is very supportive and wants what is best for my health. I have dealt with fibromyalgia for the last 20 years plus I am watching my fasting blood sugar go up. Diabetes is huge in my family history and it scares me to see it go up.
I had an appointment with another clinic and was informed that I would only qualify for their medical weight loss and not the surgical. I informed them of my choice (my BMI was 39.9) I went back 6 weeks later, I had quit smoking (I smoked for 45 years) and I gained 12 pounds in 5 weeks. The nurse practitioner Add to dictionary informed my that there was people that gained weight just to have surgery. My BMI was now 41.2 and again I stated I was wanting the surgery and she informed me that the surgeon would not do the surgery and I would have to wait another six months to even be considered. I was very upset when I left so I called my insurance company (my benefits had already been confirmed that this was a covered procedure). Did I ever get a surprise, not only did I have someone that would listen, they called the clinic asked if they had a problem explained what had happened and recommended that I look for another clinic and found one for me. Tomorrow is that appointment along with appointments with the physiologist and dietician. By the way the other clinic called this week to inform me of the different surgeries that are now available to me.
Yes I feel like this is a long post but there is a lot on my mind today.

Weight loss surgery is not easy. You need a lot of courage to get started, and a lot of persistence to get the information you need to choose a surgery and surgeon, and figure out finances. It takes a lot of discipline to give up favorite foods, to cut portions, and to work out regularly. There can also be challenges from other people who question your every decision or undermine your hard work.
You need help meeting these challenges. You need someone to speak up for you. The best person for the job? It is you. While others can help, you are the one whom you can depend on to be there for yourself and who knows exactly what you need and want. Here are some ways to be your own best advocate.


Ask Questions
Your advocate should get the information you need. Ask your surgeon how you can best prepare for surgery, what you can do to recover faster, and which mistakes he or she sees most often so you can avoid them. Find out how to contact your surgeon for post-op questions, and learn where you can go for support group meetings.
You will need to ask plenty of other questions, too! As your own advocate, don’t be shy about asking anyone about anything. Read everything you can online and on BariatricPal, then use the forums to ask about anything you’re not sure about. You are sure to get all kinds of helpful hints that you never expected!
Provide for Your Needs
Life does throw curve balls, but your basic needs stay predictable. You know which foods and fluids you will need in any given day, so make sure you have them. Plan your menu for each day and go grocery shopping for the week so you are sure to always have the food you need around.
Always keep a stash of “extras” in case of unplanned circumstances. Have instant Protein meals and other staples in your pantry for last-minute meals. Keep Protein Bars and nuts in your car, your gym bag, and at work. Have different flavors of Protein Powder for whenever you find yourself hungry and without other options.
You can also help yourself out by planning ahead. For example, if you’re going to a party, make sure you will have the foods that you will need for that time without needing to wait until after the party to eat or depending on the host to provide healthy Proteins. Stick a Protein Bar or some nuts in your pocket or purse, or bring a healthy dish to share and nibble on yourself.
Be Your Own Planner
If you were taking care of a child with certain needs, you would schedule them in, make sure your child had the materials needed, and get your child to where he needed to go. If you have children, you may keep track of their homework, take them to after-school activities, and make sure they get the nutritious meals and proper sleep that they need. You would keep healthy foods around and provide them with the pencils and sports equipment that they need for school and extracurricular activities.
Why wouldn’t you be just as good to yourself? Provide the same level of self-care for yourself as you do for your family. Keep healthy foods on hand, and schedule your own exercise and meal planning in and keep your commitment just like it was school.
Prioritize your commitments, just like you would do for your children. Your meal prep and workout time is important, but so is relaxation time with your family or friends, or by yourself. Over the long term, balancing work and play can keep you on track but satisfied.
Speak up When Necessary
Keeping quiet can sometimes seem easier or more considerate to others, but keeping a low profile can work against you sometimes. Learn when it makes sense to speak up for yourself. For example, at restaurants, the server may be willing to bring you what you ask for (like a slab of plain chicken breast or the kids’ meal), but will not even know that is what you want (and need) if you do not say something out loud. You may find that you need to explain your weight loss surgery as a medical condition to get your server to honor your request.
These are some other times when you should not keep your mouth shut:
When someone pressures you to eat something that's not on your diet. When you do not understand your surgeon’s or nutritionist’s instructions. When you need help around the house or preparing your food. Learning to be your own best advocate can pay off in a big way, as you will always have someone looking out for your best interests. It is one more thing you can do to help yourself succeed in your WLS journey.

Most overweight people face bias against their weights the entire time they are overweight.
As an overweight school child: your classmates probably teased or shunned you.
As an obese college student: you might have skipped group activities because you were not invited or you knew you would be mocked.
As an obese adult: getting a job was probably more challenging, and you are probably judged daily at work and everywhere you go.



Without a doubt, obesity is stigmatized. The unfair bias that you face may be a major factor in your decision to consider or get weight loss surgery. Unfortunately, you will probably find that the obesity discrimination continues even as you try to use weight loss surgery to get healthy. Obese patients are blamed for their conditions, healthcare providers are not always sympathetic, and coverage for weight loss surgery is not guaranteed.
Why Do Obese Patients Get So Much Blame?
People are increasingly sympathetic to diseases that used to be stigmatized. Examples include cancer, many mental health conditions, and sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS and syphilis. Now, treatment for these and other conditions, such as diabetes, is widely accepted as normal and an entitlement. Each of these conditions is largely the result of lifestyle choices, such as diet, use of tobacco and/or alcohol, sexual behavior, and physical activity levels. More than 80% of cancers are likely the result of lifestyle choices.
Ironically, though, many people in our society remain unsympathetic to obese people. They are quick to blame obese people for having no self-control, for refusing to follow a diet, and for not wanting to be healthy. You know, though, that those accusations are far from the truth. If you are considering weight loss surgery, you are confident that you have the self-control for the weight loss surgery diet, that you have tried to follow numerous diets but none have worked for you, and that you desperately want to be healthy!
You Did Not Ask to Be Obese: Some Factors are Outside of Your Control
More than one-third of American adults are obese, and another third are overweight. That in itself should remind you – and the people who judge you harshly – that fighting obesity is hard! The food environment includes fast food, vending machines, restaurants, food-focused social gatherings, and inexpensive snack foods.
There are also biological and family factors that you cannot control. Skinny people have no idea that you may be feeling extreme hunger all day, every day, or that your metabolism may be slower. Your family might have raised to choose high-calorie, high-fat foods, or even driven you into unhealthy emotional eating.
Research shows that some obese patients’ brains even respond differently to food compared to lower-weight individuals. Obese individuals, for example, tend to get less pleasure out of food, meaning they need to eat more to get satisfied. Furthermore, high-calorie foods like sugar can be addicting, leading to the same brain responses as cocaine does. But nobody blames cocaine addicts for their situations! Instead, they encourage counseling and intensive program to help them overcome their addictions, not punish them.
Discrimination in Obesity Treatment: A Look at Weight Loss Surgery Versus Dialysis
Just as unfair is the fact that the healthcare system continues the discrimination against obesity. Compare weight loss surgery as an obesity treatment with dialysis as a treatment for kidney failure (end-stage renal failure).
Far from being blamed for their conditions, kidney failure patients who need dialysis are provided the respect that all people deserve and the medical care that they need. Dialysis patients of all ages in the United States are able to apply for Medicare, the government’s health insurance program normally reserved for older adults. Dialysis treatments can cost about $40,000 per year, not including This is not to mention human factors such as reduced quality of life (the vast majority of dialysis patients are too sick to work) and early death (the life expectancy of dialysis patients is about 5 years). In comparison, a typical weight loss surgery procedure in the United States can cost $20,000 to $40,000, although it can be less, and successful patients are healthier and have more energy than before surgery.
The irony increases. The fact is that kidney failure usually results as a complication of type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure (hypertension). Both of these conditions are often caused by obesity; losing weight after weight loss surgery can prevent, eliminate, or reduce these conditions. In addition, it takes years for kidney failure to develop once you have high blood pressure or diabetes – years during which patients are likely to be on costly medications and inconvenient treatments.
Targeting obesity through weight loss surgery could prevent cases of diabetes and high blood pressure, reduce their effects in people who already have them, and prevent kidney failure, the need for dialysis, and early death.
Searching for Fairness in the Medical Treatment of Obesity
Your first barrier in your path to weight loss surgery may be your primary care physican (PCP). Some PCPs do not know much about weight loss surgery, or may be against it because they think obesity is your fault. Some PCPs take a narrow view of obesity, and feel that the only way to lose weight is for patients to “decide they want it badly enough” and “just eat less.” You already know that doesn’t work, so don’t let your PCP discourage you from learning more weight loss surgery if you think it might be the solution to your obesity struggles.
Insurance coverage has improved for obesity treatments, especially for weight loss surgery. Medicare and many private healthcare coverage plans cover weight loss surgery if you meet their predetermined weight and/or health criteria. Some private insurance companies, though, take a short-term view because they want to make profits within 3 years. Since most weight loss surgeries do not pay for themselves within 3 years, some private insurers do not cover weight loss surgery despite the likelihood that they would pay for themselves within 5 or 10 years, and in addition improve your health and quality of life.
Chance of Reduced Discrimination in the Future?
The majority of Americans believe that health insurance should cover weight loss surgery, in addition to other obesity treatments such as dietetic and mental health counseling. The Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”), though, is not the ultimate solution. In nearly half of states, obesity treatments are not required to be covered by plans sold on the health exchanges. This determination is based on the available competitive services in the region. Since the most obese states are the ones least likely to have competitive anti-obesity care, these states are also least likely to have obesity treatments covered under the Affordable Care Act.
Overcome the Discrimination
Discrimination is an unfair fact of life as an obese individual, and it unfortunately does not end when you decide to get healthy using weight loss surgery as a tool. These are some of the ways that you can keep going strong and overcome the barriers you encounter as you work to get healthy.
You have the right to a second opinion if your primary care physician recommends against weight loss surgery but you would like to find out more.
Do not take “no” for an answer from your insurance company if you know you are entitled to reimbursement for surgery.
Do not listen to negative family members or friends who do not understand your obesity or interest in weight loss surgery. It is your life and health.
Educate others as much as you can to try to reduce the discrimination. Chances are that they are only being discriminatory out of ignorance, not out of true mean-spiritedness.

Like it or not, some discrimination remains as you go through your weight loss journey. You cannot prevent it, but you can change how you react to it. Expect it and respond as positively as you can, keeping your own health and goals in mind. Over time, as you and others prove that weight loss surgery can be a worthwhile treatment for obesity, discrimination by insurance companies, healthcare providers, and the public will decrease.