Geri Marie

I am going through the same. I go to my first "Class" on the 24th of this month. My planner told me as long as I dont gain any weight from this point forward, my insurance will approve me. I have to go to a class a month, a nutritionist, and a mental health appointment. I hope loveing food doesn't make me mental! Lol. I had the lap band and have had a ton of issues so I'm going to commit to the permanent gastric sleeve. I even got a surgery date of November 13th since my PCP is confidant ill get an approval. Good luck with yours I can't wait to go through this journey with everyone!!

For me.
Mexico is only scary in theory. But was a breeze.
The Drain in the shower makes you feel like you are in a horror movie. Blood everywhere.
barium swallow is awful but watching it on a monitor was worth it knowing surgery was successful.
very little pain. Off meds by day 3.
Flying sucks 4 days post op.
how normal you feel until you put something in your mouth and quickly get that "full" feeling.
liquid diet is the worst and graduating to soft food is the most rewarding feeling ever.
The psychological struggle of keeping pace subconsciously with others you eat with. So many stomach aches because I ate too quick. Take smaller bites and fork down for a min or two kids.
The head cravings suck and don't go away easily. need to break those habits.
How quick I'm dropping lbs is awesome. 3.5 weeks postop and down 52lbs.
Gaining confidence in the weight loss is a weird feeling. Especially when I haven't done much except eat less.
Those are some of the things I'm finding.

Try Bariatric Advantage, it is expensive, I agree but I always look at it as how much per "meal" does it cost. I have fun with the mixology of it. I make my own, use the bariatric advantage with unsweetened almond milk (Low fat high Calcium ) and then i mix. Today I made a mango vanilla with frozen mango. I order Davinci No calorie syrups to make great flavors. I also us PB2 its a dry Peanut Butter low fat lower calorie. I make a strawberry and PB2 with vanilla and it takes like a PB&J. Also chocolate Protein and coconut milk takes like an almond joy;). Have fun with it like you would making dinner. One last thing, add stevia to sweeten to taste.. That helps too

Geri thank you for sharing.. I wish you a speedy recovery!! I like how you said "commit to the sleeve" from what I've read it's committing to the lifestyle! Everyone seems to say with the band what you've said.. which terrifies me that I wouldn't be able to get lettuce down!!

I am in Boston area too. I went to information session in January. Had a consult with the surgeon. I met with the nurse, nutritionist, sleep study, psych, nurse and nutritionist again, follow up with surgeon, 4 week pre op classes, followed up with surgeon again and I am ready to go on the 7th. A solid 6 month process. It all depends on your insurance too. They all have different criteria. I have BCBS PPO. My BMI was just over the tresh hold. With history of being overweight constant yo yo weights and family health history, I was approved with no issues.

joeibaby- With the band you physically cannot eat certain things because no matter how much you chew it won't go past the band. I don't regret getting it, but if I knew then what I know now, I would have went for the sleeve first. I never really got the "full" feeling from the band. throwing up became a common thing to me because I'd eat too fast or too much. I couldn't even eat salad because the lettuce wouldn't go down right. I didnt have any complications, just couldn't get the hang of it. On Mother's Day, I started having chest pains and thought I was having a heart attack. Im 46 and people die all the time at my age and my weight from that. After two hospital emergency room visits I find out its my band causing all these issues. I'm currently stuck at home due to a recent spinal fusion surgery so I can't exercise(not that i was big into that anyway) so for now I'm finishing all my "Bad food" in the house and will switch over to the Protein Shakes and one meal. I do enjoy them and half of this process is wrapping your mind around the fact that it is a life style change. You have to let go of the quantity of food and go for quality of food. I might be a "Newbie" here, but trust me Ive been battling this for 8 years. Time to go with the sleeve. I feel like the fact that it will shrink my stomach, and take the hunger feeling away, I can focus on other stuff in my life and get healthy.

That's very interesting. I read a lot about the band and the sleeve. I was very confused about the two until I went to the seminar and the surgeon said the same thing as you just said Geri Marie. So I am going to go with the sleeve the other surgeries scare me so bad. The sooner they get everything fixed for you the better. Sometimes I don't think people understand how hard it is to lose weight. Some people it is easy but people just don't try to understand.

I am glad I found a site like this to discuss things with people who actually understand and are there with you. Yeah and I don't think none of us are Newbies to this, it's a long struggle.

joeibaby- With the band you physically cannot eat certain things because no matter how much you chew it won't go past the band. I don't regret getting it, but if I knew then what I know now, I would have went for the sleeve first. I never really got the "full" feeling from the band. throwing up became a common thing to me because I'd eat too fast or too much. I couldn't even eat salad because the lettuce wouldn't go down right. I didnt have any complications, just couldn't get the hang of it. On Mother's Day, I started having chest pains and thought I was having a heart attack. Im 46 and people die all the time at my age and my weight from that. After two hospital emergency room visits I find out its my band causing all these issues. I'm currently stuck at home due to a recent spinal fusion surgery so I can't exercise(not that i was big into that anyway) so for now I'm finishing all my "Bad food" in the house and will switch over to the Protein Shakes and one meal. I do enjoy them and half of this process is wrapping your mind around the fact that it is a life style change. You have to let go of the quantity of food and go for quality of food. I might be a "Newbie" here, but trust me Ive been battling this for 8 years. Time to go with the sleeve. I feel like the fact that it will shrink my stomach, and take the hunger feeling away, I can focus on other stuff in my life and get healthy.

I agree with melunruh you know what you need to do! Take this new move and new job and make it a whole new process! I had the lap band 8 years ago and had lost 80 lbs. I was down to 202. My job and location changed and I didnt have those people in my life that knew my journey so I wasn't getting the encouragement I was before. I started gaining weight and now I'm back to 252 and going to have the band removed and get the sleeve. The modivation has to come from you. Do you want to be healthy and feel good? Plan your meals, and track it. I use the fat secret app. It is easy and quick to track. My plan is 2 Protein Shakes and a chewy meal, but you do you girl!! You got this!

I agree with melunruh you know what you need to do! Take this new move and new job and make it a whole new process! I had the lap band 8 years ago and had lost 80 lbs. I was down to 202. My job and location changed and I didnt have those people in my life that knew my journey so I wasn't getting the encouragement I was before. I started gaining weight and now I'm back to 252 and going to have the band removed and get the sleeve. The modivation has to come from you. Do you want to be healthy and feel good? Plan your meals, and track it. I use the fat secret app. It is easy and quick to track. My plan is 2 Protein Shakes and a chewy meal, but you do you girl!! You got this!

I am going through the same. I go to my first "Class" on the 24th of this month. My planner told me as long as I dont gain any weight from this point forward, my insurance will approve me. I have to go to a class a month, a nutritionist, and a mental health appointment. I hope loveing food doesn't make me mental! Lol. I had the lap band and have had a ton of issues so I'm going to commit to the permanent gastric sleeve. I even got a surgery date of November 13th since my PCP is confidant ill get an approval. Good luck with yours I can't wait to go through this journey with everyone!!

Congratulations on facing your gain and recognizing what's going on to contribute to it. While I haven't gained post surgey, I have lost 80lbs and regained it twice prior to having surgery. You already know what you need to do. Keep it simple. Eat three meals -protein first, two Snacks and get moving. This new chapter of your story is going to inspire so many! You've got this!

SW:269
CW:170
GW:154
Sleeved 9/26/2016

I am going through the same. I go to my first "Class" on the 24th of this month. My planner told me as long as I dont gain any weight from this point forward, my insurance will approve me. I have to go to a class a month, a nutritionist, and a mental health appointment. I hope loveing food doesn't make me mental! Lol. I had the lap band and have had a ton of issues so I'm going to commit to the permanent gastric sleeve. I even got a surgery date of November 13th since my PCP is confidant ill get an approval. Good luck with yours I can't wait to go through this journey with everyone!!

You all look great!! I can't wait to join you!!!

Sent from my SM-G935P using BariatricPal mobile app

Under Fmla (family medical leave act) you have 120 days of job security that's the law. Happy healing!!

Sent from my SM-G935P using BariatricPal mobile app

I am 4 months post sleeve. The pic on the left was 1 year ago. The pic on the right is 77lbs lighter

Sent from my VS995 using BariatricPal mobile app

Vanilla and chocolate. Then you can add a small amount of stevia to sweeten. I add one packet of instant coffee for my own version of a frapee lol. I haven't found a better Protein. It's a bit pricy but totally worth it.

Sent from my SM-G935P using BariatricPal mobile app

Polly,

Great maybe we can be each other's support! I'm pretty nervous about the whole process but after reading a ton of posts and doing some research I have decided its still a go for the sleeve. Bi pass seems to have too many requirements. How did your removal go? Does it hurt as much as when it when in?