Angela.fontenot50@gmail.com

Does he take Medicare and Medicaid. Oh and how long does it take to finally get a surgery date from when you first see the doctor. Thanks, I will check into that.

I haven't posted in a while --- busy living life! --- but saw this today and thought it was quite helpful.
If your support system is thin then you may find this particularly helpful.
http://www.success.com/blog/3-ways-to-boost-your-confidence-when-nobody-else-believes-in-you

It seems that at least 50% of the posts on BariatriPal are bemoaning a stall. Daily, and sometimes hourly, I am reading about how someone ONLY lost x number of pounds and now the scale hasn't moved in ___ [fill in the blank] days/months, etc. Oh no, they write, I am a failure/unique/my surgery didn't work/life is not fair, ... Why am I in a stall?
I know I am exaggerating but I think you get the idea.
Guess what? STALLS are a NORMAL part of the PROCESS of losing weight. If you want to lose weight, you will stall. Not just once, but over and over. And, guess what? A stall is where your body actually does the hard work of becoming smaller. It takes a lot of work and energy to dismantle a structure that has been holding up, in some cases, hundreds of pounds.
For those who think they have to DO something to somehow "break a stall" (in my opinion, you do not break a stall, you just ride them out), here is my response:
What can you do to "break" a stall?
1) STAY OFF THE SCALE
Relax and stay off the scale if it bothers you so much. Weigh no more than once a week, or even less often. Weighing only at your doctor's appointments early in the process is a good strategy if your mood and self-worth are dictated by the numbers on the scale.
2) PICK UP A TAPE MEASURE
In addition to using the numbers on the scale to measure your progress, take your measurements. Inches lost are also a great way to see physical progress when the scale isn't moving. Most people see the biggest physical changes in their body when the scale seems stuck.
3) TRACK YOUR Protein AND Water AND MEET OR EXCEED YOUR PROTEIN AND WATER GOAL EVERY DAY
As long as you are getting in all your protein and water and following your NUT and surgeon's instructions, you are doing what you are supposed to do.
If you aren't getting in all your protein and water, then increasing your protein and water is something you can do (and should be doing anyway whether or not you are in a stall).
4) EXERCISE
If you aren't exercising, then you can exercise (and should be whether or not you are in a stall). You can start slowly by walking or even moving more around the house. Exercising will help you feel better, tone your skin and build fat-burning muscle.
5) MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR NUT
If you are unsure or unclear about what you are supposed to be, or should not be eating, then make an appointment with your NUT (which you should be doing whether or not you are in a stall).
6) REASSESS AND REEVALUATE
About the only good result I see that comes from complaining about a stall is when you take an honest look at what you are doing and realign with the program recommended by your NUT and surgeon. Have you started eating more outside of your plan? Are you restricting calories? Are you eating enough carbs and protein for your exercise? Are you taking your Vitamins? Are you eating often enough? Are you eating slowly with protein first? Sometimes, all you need to DO is go back to basics.
7) JOURNAL
One of the biggest things I have noticed from the various posts is how anxious and out-of-control some people feel when they notice a stall. Journaling can help you gain some perspective and deal with some of the emotional turmoil.
-- Write about how you are feeling about the stall and your weight loss, and surgery in general.
-- Write about why you had the surgery in the first place.
-- Write about what life was like before surgery.
-- Write about what you hope and dream about accomplishing in the future.
-- Write about your fears.
-- Write about your NSVs.
-- Make a gratitude list.
-- Make a bucket list.
-- Write a letter to your old self; write a letter to your new self.
Just write.
8) SEEK HELP
Stalls are when too many people seem to revert to old, counterproductive dieting behaviors (restricting calories, over exercising, bingeing, etc.). If this is you, then another thing you can DO is to talk to a counselor or therapist or consider joining a bariatric support group or a twelve-step group like Overeater's Anonymous.
The discomfort of being in a stall can also drive people to develop new, unhealthy coping habits or even transfer addictions. This is where you want to marshall all the resources you have available to you and use them.
The last, and most important thing you can DO is:
9) EMBRACE THE STALL
Stalls are a normal and natural part of the process.
Our bodies are complex systems and not simple machines.
Stalls go hand-in-hand with weight loss.
If you had Weight Loss Surgery, then you probably want to lose a significant amount of weight. So, get ready to embrace the many stalls you will experience as your body is transformed. It will be worth it.

I did! My experience was AWESOME with Dr.Chae. I had a list of 20 questions for him the first time I met him and he was super patient and super knowledgeable. His credentials are impressive and he's calm and collected like a surgeon should be. I gained some weight between insurance surgery approval and the actual surgery and he was very understanding and not judgmental at all. Any time I had concerns post-op, my husband would text or call him and he would respond within a few hours or sooner.
I've also had plenty of support from the dietitian and her support group Post-Op. The only thing I'm struggling with is the mental hunger/habitual addiction to food that came back as soon as I was healed - and they never really address or help you with it besides "change your habits" and "don't snack or drink." I think most WLS centers don't really address that but I could be wrong. I'm looking into behavioral therapy to help, because if you don't change your eating habits, you can definitely snack and eat around the sleeve (I have a few times). Anyway, I hope this helps! Let me know if you have specific questions!

Tell me, our Governor, is on a budget cut, seemed like they always are. Dropped many of my benefits December 31sr. Excuse? I make tooo,much,money on Social Security. I was expected to make!$750 a month or less. I do make a little more than that,but not the $100+ I would,have to,pay to go to Columbus our next big town. I am being threatened with eviction because I can't pay my utilities my cable which also provides phone service in a bundle, my household content insurance, my life insurance, pay copays on medication, remember I can't get them totally covered because they think I'm rich, put food on the table and,pay him cash on the,1st when I don't get SS untill later in the month. I had a court case settling from a personal injury, thinking,i would have settlement I robbed myself to,play him one month, then it slowed down, to balance my that month I went to one of those check into cash places, once you borrow from them you can't get free. I have a son living with me, want him here as he is of much help, can't get into over65 place because he is too young, can't get into Metro because they say he is too old to live with me, subsidized housing won't accept my 2 pet cats which no regard as family too. They are indoor cats, I can't put them outside in a doghouse or tie them from a stake. Shoot,i would not even do that to dogs.
So I understand Angela's points, I even shuffle along in her house shoes.

I’m sorry to hear that they won’t kick you out they will just prolong it but you will still be able to get it done. Prayers for the loss of your brother don’t give up stay focused and you will see how everything will work out and you will get your surgery 🙏🏽