Greenfeather65

My first dr appt I weighed 226.8. And surgery I weighed 205.something. Surgery was Sept 4, 2019. My doctors goal weight was 160. I suprassed that by 3 1/2- 4 months. I weighed 149 exactly this morning. Weight loss was rapid for the first 2 months and much slower the last 2 1/2 months. The scale only drops maybe 1-2 times a week and my morning weights go up and down within 3 pounds when I do not drop. But... I AM still losing weight. And I am still loosing inches. And my health is greatly improved. BYW, I am 5"4.5".
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I would call the insurance company tomorrow and ask specifics for requirements. My insurance also said they needed a weight history For the past 2 years and over the phone they kept telling me that I would need to complete a 6 month diet followed by a physician. My surgeon's office decided to send in for a prior authorization after my first appointment because I had already completed my psych eval and they said well we'll just see what they say. 4 days later, it came back approved. So you could also try doing that and then if it's not approved, they will get you specific requirements for approval. But I seriously doubt that you will need to wait years to establish that history. Usually I've seen 6 months as the max wait time.
Good luck though and don't get discouraged!

Have you talked to the nutritionist at your surgeon's office? Maybe you need to add some calories.

With exercise six days a week and depending on the intensity you need to up your calories to at least maintenance if you don't want to lose more weight. If you want to increase your weight a little you need to eat above maintenance calories.
Aside from the suggestions above, some healthy good fats wouldn't go astray.

Start adding healthy carbs - sweet potato, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, nut butters. I eat an unbelievable amount of carbs now that I am trying to maintain and keep up with exercise. But I make sure they are nutritionally dense and that I am getting all my protein and vegetables/fruits.

Talk to your dietitian. You may need to start eating a bit more calorie-wise to maintain rather than lose.

Congrats! Can't wait to follow your journey!! Wish I had something constructive to add, but you're gonna rock it! (And that surgeon's work looks beautiful!!) Good luck Friday!!!

I'm starting my plastics journey this week! Creating this thread as a place to gather my thoughts, and gather opinions as well.
My priorities
1&2 - Tummy & Boobs
3 - Thighs
4&5 - Butt & Arms
Specifics for each area
Tummy - low & thin scar, natural looking belly button, and lipo/conturing to narrow my waist as much as possible
Boobs - augmentation & lift, VERY important that my boobs look natural, thinking D cup with tear drop gummy bear implants
Thighs - do not want a full thigh lift with long scars, so only a crescent lift, or as part of a lower body lift
Butt - either a fat transfer (BBL) or buttock lift with a dermal fat flap as part of a lower body lift
Arms - do not want a full arm lift with long scars, so only a crescent lift
I reached out for consultations with 5 surgeons who specialize, or do a fair amount of surgeries on massive weight loss patients. I have #1 & #2 choices, and have consultations scheduled with both on Friday ? Interestingly neither of my top choices charge a consultation fee, but the three others do. I am seriously considering canceling my other consultations to see #1 & 2 first, before I invest up to $750 on consultation fees.
Anyone have opinions if I should just see #1 & #2 first, or is it worth the investment in consultation fees to have more surgeons quotes?
My #1 surgeon does lots of lower body lifts. I hadn't originally considered this because I'd rather not have the circumferential scar. But his results are amazing, and at least in the posted photos the scars are very thin. It may also be the only way I can get most of my wish list accomplished in one surgery. I have seen where he has done a lower body lift & a breast lift & augmentation in one surgery. That would only leave arms to tackle at some point later, if I still wanted them fixed.
Here's an example of the work of my #1 surgeon

I strongly recommend the thread “the importance of doing the head work”. Although someone said this regain is likely a nutrition problem, I suspect it is likely an eating/food intake/food choices problem!
Some doctors sell this surgery as ‘set and forget’ but it isn’t! The initial weight-loss phase with a new small stomach is just a chance to start in with new habits - less addictive sugar, more veggies and grains etc.
All is not lost! Can you reset now, go back to your original diet plan? It will be hard at first, but in 3 weeks you’ll be in the groove and losing again...

Here is the list I made preop, my weight loss bucket list as it is:
1. cross my legs - check! I love crossing my legs now and do it all the time!
2. sneeze without peeing - condition has improved greatly
3. rock climbing - haven't tried yet, kinda forgot it was on my list
4. run a 5k - currently training and looking for a race
5. be comfortable wearing shorts and not just capris in summer - check! I never used to wear shorts, but now I have 3 in my new size and only one pair of capris
6. buy a swimsuit that doesn't have a skirt - check!
7. waterski again - gotta get to the lake this summer to knock this one off
7. Sex. More energy for it, more fun positions to try - DOUBLE CHECK!
Some bonus things: I like being able to pop myself up to sit on counters, I can sit on the floor without hurting my hips, I can buy a much bigger variety of shoes because I no longer need wide widths. Unfortunately I'll need to replace all my wide calf boots because they look ridiculous on me now.

Like weight loss before and after photos but of your new diet !
I'm especially interested in before and after meal photos (take a pic at the point you feel restriction) but it can be of recipe substitutions, your refrigerator/pantry/shopping cart/etc
VSG2017 HW 249 SW 238 CW 167

Ok, so you've avoided bread for quite a bit of time even though you obviously like it and now you're wondering why you're craving bread like crazy. Now that makes me wonder...

I'm a year post-op and still can't eat bread because it gives me the "foamies." I consider that a blessing to keep me from eating it. One less food to make me fat.

Girlfriend. You've just described a slippery slope. You are seeking it preferentially. And it's lighting up your brain like heroine.
When a food does that to me, I flag it and red light it.

So bottom line, it's our responsibility to our future health to take in the protein that is going to repair our bodies and build new cells and maintain life. Those proteins need to be easily digestible and bioavailable. They need to be complete. So whatever sources they're from: plant of animal, that's the bottom line. If you don't like it--then I highly encourage you to NOT have the surgery. Cuz it's a lifelong commitment that you make to get your daily protein in!!!!
This isn't a position of "those damn meat eaters" all they talk about is protein! It's not a political conspiracy to keep the man down. It's your nutritionists opinion that you need 100g of protein/day. So you follow it, or don't. They will be running tests on you and those tests are gonna tell the truth of your status.
Albumin and pre-albumin test for how much protein you are getting and have available. The lower the number the greater the association with death from all causes. Critically ill and malnourished people will have low values on these tests. And once you deplete your protein, it's very difficult to replace it--cuz it's much easier to replace it with fat. So you break down protein, you slow your metabolism, and once you DO start eating more calories (and you will--just wait and see), then you will be back crying cuz you've gained your weight back and you "just don't understand why"!?!
So if you want all to be well with your life, I'd recommend you meet your protein goals. Most of us have a goal of 60-80g of protein per day, cuz we're just average peeps of average musculature. I try to get at least 60g/day.

Lisinipril works great. Been on it for8 years no more ankle swelling and usually BP is 112/67 awesome