TakingABreak

My PCP wasn't supportive and I realized that I didn't need a referral. Once I came to her and said it was all in motion with a surgery date, her tune changed. Just as an FYI, your OBGYN can also operate as a woman's primary care physician. I don't know if you have a better relationship with him/her but they can also send a referral & do the weight loss monitoring.

I appreciate your concern, but my bariatric vitamin technically has enough calcium and Vitamin D in them, I choose to supplement with the Caltrate for my own piece of mind. I'm confident that between what I consume in food, the bariatric vitamin, and even if I only consume 50% of the Caltrate.... I think I'm doing okay. I appreciate the clarification on how they measure calcium.

I'm feel the exact same way! I am 3 months post op and I'm down 75 lbs. Initially I was worried that my physical appearance hasn't changed enough for anyone to notice, but I don't believe that's the case now. I think my co workers are trying to be polite and not bring up my weight. For them, it would be awkward if I hadn't lost any weight and they insinuated that I had. But they also see me everyday and even though I've lost rapidly, it is harder for people who see us regularly to notice.

I wear a swim "shirt". It is short sleeved and it has a nice V neck and singe sides for added style. It isn't tight like a rash guard which I like. I bought mine from Lands End a few years ago. Old navy has a couple really cute ones this season! Although, it was in the plus section. Not sure where you all are right now.

I stalled less than 2 weeks after surgery as well. It's common to hear of the 3 week stall. I had lost so much pre op, 27lbs, that my body went into a immediate stall after my first week. I was loosing again by week 4. I think that increasing my calories when I went into soft foods and exercise helped break that stall.

@FluffyChix I found this article that says medication may not even be effective if the rise in cholesterol is due to fatty tissue stores. I'm going to def weigh my options before going back on the statin. https://www.livestrong.com/article/500114-can-losing-weight-raise-your-cholesterol-temporarily/ This is why I'm glad that I have this forum! I would have never known this was a thing.

Thanks lady! This is great!

I'm afraid what I have to say isn't probably hopeful. I have a best friend and we were both overweight and unhealthy. She was super supportive throughout the process. She traveled with me over 3 hours to my bariatric class. She went to orientation with me, ect. She was my rock during my pre op diet. We talked about her getting the surgery as well. She seemed genuinely interested. Although, she has a husband that holds her back tremendously! And the sad fact is that he needs the surgery worse than she does. Anyways, after surgery it was bizarre. She started this new health regime. She was researching about healthy dieting. She was obsessed. More so than me, and I just had major surgery to change my life. It was refreshing though. She did a "juicing fast" for the two weeks I was in my full liquids and pureed phase. We lived breathed and died talking about health trends. Then her husband sabotaged her, and I mean..... seriously and maliciously sabotaged her. She caved and it was over quicker than it started. From that point on we went to talking every day to not talking for over 2 weeks. I didn't see her for over a month. I think ultimately she was ashamed for me to see that she fell off the horse. I even remember going over to her house for the first time and she tried hiding a soda from me. We eventually recovered, semi. We still don't talk but maybe weekly now. We hang out every other week. Our lifestyles are so different now. I don't think it's jealousy, but rather, that I am a reminder of how she'd like her life to be. The sad thing is that she could make all the changes I've made if she'd just commit and put her husband in the trunk of their car for a few weeks until she created a habit. I don't know if we will ever be the same again. Our friendship revolved around very unhealthy habits before. I've kicked those to the curb. I hope you and your best friend weather the storm. Good luck! Xo -Ashley

If you happen to know where I can print off some research on this to take to my PCP on Friday. I'd be greatly appreciative. I didn't find much when I googled.

I do the foil packets. I'm not sure.

Actually, I do eat tuna 3-5 times per week. So I can’t say I don’t do #1.

There are a few things from this list that I could do more or that I’m not doing. 1. Eating fatty fish 2x per week 2. Adding tree nuts 3. Add soy protein 4. Natural supplement, like fish oil.

This is very interesting! Gives me something to talk to the doctor about for sure. I did not know that about a VLCD. I’m going to put all of these suggestions on my question list for the doctor next week. I meet with my PCP on Friday and my surgeon next week. It doesn’t run in my family that I know of.

I need to incorporate more fish, salmon specifically. I eat tuna and that’s about it. I’ll ask my doctor about the flaxseed. Thank you!

I am doing low carb. I keep my carbs to 50 or lower per day. Side note: My A1C is awesome, 4.2.

It seems to be working for me. I wouldn’t recommend it for someone else if that’s the case but my levels are great.

I'd say that your pouch is probably on the smaller side. Your stomach is typically healed at 6 weeks and according to your stats, you are past that point. Therefore, there is probably not a lot of swelling left

My circumstances are similar. I have a very supportive husband. He loved me at my highest and loves the new me. He has embraced my lifestyle change as well. He hasn't been overweight a day in his life. He's enjoying every moment of my new found energy. We do so much more together and I think it's helped our relationship. I haven't tried to change his eating style. I still buy him all of his junk favorites and I don't scoff when he eats them in front of me. I know his metabolism is different and we are DIFFERENT human beings. I should have learned this a long time ago, I could have avoided the 75lbs I put on during our marriage.

We ordered Chili's take out recently. They have naked chicken nuggets and a side for $5.00 on the children's menu. The chicken was enough for dinner and lunch the next day. So even the kid's menu has portions large enough for left overs!

I agree! My surgeon was fairly picky about bariatric vitamins. I know some people take Flinstones. It's crazy how different these programs are. I say, find what works for you, and if it's Flinstones or Caltrate.... safe the extra buck!

I'm not sure to be honest! So I did a quick google search. It looks like the absorption depends on whether you take it with a meal. Which my program did specifiy. I always take my calcium with breakfast and lunch and never within two hours of an iron supplement. I just had my levels checked last week and I'm good to go on the Vitamin D and calcium. https://labdoor.com/article/calcium-carbonate-vs-calcium-citrate-which-is-better-for-human-health

Glad it went well! I did hear of someone who had theirs that consisted of this: " Hi, I'm doctor _______. My office is at the end of the hall on the left, I'll meet you there".- Doctor *Patient patiently waits in office* *Doctor walks in with piece of paper* "Here is your surgical release, you are all set!"- Doctor *Patient, blink blink* "That's it?!"- Patient "You can obviously follow directions, so you are approved"- Doctor

After surgery I took the Caltrate chewables and I think they are decent, taste wise. The price is pretty good as well. I took 2 chewables daily. The bottle was $14.22 and 155 tablets, approx. 2.5 months. Recently though, I ordered the Caltrate minis, sense now I can swallow pills. They have 155 tablets as well, a 3 pack (465 tablets) on Amazon was $34.32. I will still take two per day. The Vitamin D and Calcium are increased in the minis as well.

I do know that I always take CoQ10 whenever I'm on a statin because it helps with my energy levels. I haven't taken niacin, but I will talk to my doctor about it. Thank you!

I do this a lot now as well! I wait my 30 minutes and I have a nice drink waiting for me One other thing I've found is I do take out more often now. I order Chili's take out, Olive Garden... ect. I don't have to pay for the drink and I can order off the kid's menu with no question. Best part- NO TIP!