Rainbow_Warrior

This is just an informational posting, but I thought it would be helpful to some to get an idea of what your surgeon/nutritionist may recommend. These are from Alexian Brothers Health System out in the Northwest suburbs of IL. I'm working with Dr. Wallace and the Kane Center out in Hoffman Estates, and will have my surgery at St. Alexius hospital in Hoffman Estates.
ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR regarding your specific pre-surgery instructions and Protein powders/shakes that are approved by your program. This was very helpful info to have for me, so I thought it could be nice to share for those early on in the process and wanting to learn all they can beforehand

A Sandwich walks into a bar
Bartender says, "sorry, we don't serve food here

I take it all the way and say I don't want to die and I want to be able to one day see my grand children. After that they know anything they say is irrelevant. Please don't let anyone get you down we made a choice and no one has the right to make you feel unworthy. Feel bad for the haters they will make themselves known.

Most Optifast products are 21% to 24% sugar(s). Typical Nestles ... load us up with something our bodies are best off without.

The British National Health System uses this quite realistic HEIGHT-WEIGHT chart. n.b. A 'stone' is 14 pounds.

That's the point of many well respected doctors and wls surgeons as well. Western diets are having WAY too much protein and not enough FIBER and NUTRIENTS from nutritious foods.
Dr Weiner actually talks a bit about this in the above video I shared under the Protein First myth.

I stopped about a year before wls...just something about all those chemicals in my body didn't sit right with me and my weight at the time. haven't had one since and I'm about 4 months post now and don't ever feel like "trying" one just for the sake of having it. What's the point?

The British National Health System uses this quite realistic HEIGHT-WEIGHT chart. n.b. A 'stone' is 14 pounds.

A cautionary serve for everyone to dwell upon.
Three weeks from surgery, I have already decided to avoid all future contact with fizzy soda drinks of ALL sorts. The stats are not good for people who use them.

Yeah, not so much as hiding, just not telling certain people. My three kids know, my husband is my biggest supporter, a friend in London, my hair dresser and the nine people I was in class with. When people see me after the summer I'll just be smaller, and well tell them that I changed my diet and exercise, which is what we are doing. They don't need to know about surgery. It's none of their business. And no, there is NOTHING easy about this, at all.

At first that was my stance too. I was only going to tell my mother, sisters and husband. I too was worried about unsolicited advice. My closest friends are also larger folks. As a team we've dieted together...become supports...checked in with each other and that really worked...until we stopped. LOL. When I mentioned I was going to look into Bariatric Surgery they weren't the same supportive team anymore. "The easy way out". WTF. How is this easy? I'm 6 months into my 6 month pre-surgery hoops for insurance. I've never worked out this much...EVER. And, the real work begins after the surgery. Easy? Cheating? Hell no! Anyway, so I decided to tell more people. Surprisingly most has been incredibly supportive! I also share how hard I'm working to prepare for the surgery. Easy...ha.

Choice of two ways:
1) electric yoghurt maker appliance OR
2) store-bought yoghurt-making kit ... a reservoir for hot Water, culture and other media.
Both work out to 25%-35% the price of supermarket yoghurt.
I use method 2.

You nailed it. WLS is a tool for better health, not an easy out. While not as heavy as I've been in the past, at 65, the cumulative comorbid conditions are almost all of them. I'm doing because i have metabolic disorder, which is hereditary. It means that my stuff is difficult to keep in balance.
BUT, that said, I sometimes answer "whyever would you want to know" as pleasantly as I can. Most people kind of go, oh, well...and it stops the conversation before I get defense.
Kudos for being open, and proactive about what you're doing. You will be very successful because you know its a tool,, not a fix, and NOT easy, just different.

A termite walks into a tavern and says "is the bar tender here?"

I was in the hospital for two days and two nights.
The things I took that I actually used:
Laptop + charger Kindle + charger phone + charger lip balm!!! - This was a life saver! Longjohns/jammie pants Towel - everyone should know where her towel is (I sleep with mine) The things I took that I didn't use:
Extra set of clothes + slippers Toothbrush - one was provided My daily medication - they had this ready for me every day Real book - it was too dark in the evening and at night to read a regular book, but the kindle worked well My cpap machine - I know I should have used it, but it was way too much of an issue with everything else going on. The things I wish I had:
Noise cancelling headphones/earbuds - my neighbor (I was in a semi-private room) had her tv on ALL THE TIME! I really hated that and had them turn it off for the second night. Hand game/toy/puzzle to fiddle with when my eyes needed a break from my screens.

JUDGE: We are searching for more evidence.
PIRATE CAPTAIN: There is none.
JUDGE: Well, firstly, where are your buccaneers?
PIRATE CAPTAIN: On me buccan head!

Keep using this site, message someone individually, ask tons of questions. It only gets bad when you think you’re alone. [emoji106]

Yeah, a good list ... I plan on taking my own face washer, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, shampoo, deodorant, a dressing-gown, a couple of changes of underwear for my 1-2 overnights, clothes and shoes to leave for home, iPhone, tablet computer, Kindle, earphones, three charger cables and a couple of plugs, reading glasses, cryptic crossword books and my regular medication.
And, now, on the advice of others, some lip-balm or a chapstick.

I'm sorry if this comes across as negative but what worked for me was to give up sugar and the sugar substitutes. That way, you taste foods as they (nearly always) naturally are.
I have my 97% cocoa unsweetened block chocolate. It becomes quite okay by about the 5th or 6th time you have it. You get all the benefits, the anti-oxidants, etc but you give up the sugar and dairy aspects of it.
By giving up sugar, sugar substitutes and salt, I have become reacquainted with the actual flavours of foods.
A bit of lemon/lime juice or a drizzle of vinegar or some cracked pepper or turmeric is good for vegetables and salads.
The sugars my body gets are in fresh fruits and some vegetables.

Hey Jan17, I have struggled as well, setting at 240 for many years. Bottom line is, I bounced up and down on my weight for years and have finally decided to at 60 years old to go forward with the surgery. I have now developed three illnesses probably all caused by my weight I'm gonna fix this and add many years to my life. I've also decided to become more active and enjoy what life I have left with traveling and scuba diving and any other activities I want to do, my weight won't stop me. My surgery is in two days.

It sounds as if you have plenty of motivation. Your daughter is worth taking this small risk for a better life. I suggest that you just keep walking forward with this and see where you end up after you have met the requirements for the surgery. You could always change your mind later on. Good luck to you!

What caused you to lose weight post-surgery? Start doing those things again.
What habits have been causing you to regain weight? Stop doing those things.
Your post doesn't offer much information or detail other than the fact that you're regaining. If the root cause is psychological (e.g. emotional overeating, binge eating, food addiction, boredom, grief), perhaps some counseling may be beneficial.
If you don't tackle the root cause, losing weight and "getting back on track" again will be nothing more than patching the hole because the underlying issue will still be there.
Good luck to you. You can do this.

Thank you so much. 🙂

I am a clinician and am bound by very strict confidentiality laws. That person should be too. It is a gross violation of professionalism if they divulge your medical information. Your body, your choice. Personally, I chose not to publicize my WLS. I had a hysterectomy a few years ago and I chose not to share either. Over the years, I have had a urinary tract infection, a yeast infection and got a tooth extracted. Again I chose not to share. I just believe my medical information is private. It is your choice and don't feel pressured by anybody to divulge.

OMG...I thought it was just me. I was starting to get concerned!

HW: 265
SW: 250
CW: 188