notmyname

re: rings, I highly recommend these spiral ring sizers until you reach your ultimate size. That way you can wear the rings and not get them resized until the end.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0757JLTY7/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
my glasses are also too big (I've had to start wearing my spare pair, which are tighter), and my pants too long. My wrinkles are definitely starting to show now that my face skin isn't as tight. My cross-body purse hangs lower on my body. The seatbelt in my car no longer scratches the bottom of my neck - it sits lower where it is supposed to. And a ton of other things.

re: rings, I highly recommend these spiral ring sizers until you reach your ultimate size. That way you can wear the rings and not get them resized until the end.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0757JLTY7/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
my glasses are also too big (I've had to start wearing my spare pair, which are tighter), and my pants too long. My wrinkles are definitely starting to show now that my face skin isn't as tight. My cross-body purse hangs lower on my body. The seatbelt in my car no longer scratches the bottom of my neck - it sits lower where it is supposed to. And a ton of other things.

well, i joined a stepbet. You bet on yourself (games are $20-40) and they draw your steps from your fitness tracker and create a daily goal for you to meet 4 days, then a higher "stretch" goal for 2 days. Its based on where you are, so someone who runs every day currently will have a higher goal than someone who is currently sedentary. If you meet the goals for the duration of the game (2-4 weeks), then you split the pot at the end. If you don't make your goal any given week, you lose your money.
So, I guess it works - to get my stretch goal for today, I stayed on the treadmill an extra 15 minutes. So, I guess its doing its job. Just need to keep it up for another 4 weeks!

I know enough about myself to know that if I set a goal and don't attain it, I'll feel like an utter failure. So, my first goal is to lose 60% EWL, so I'm gunning to be average. My second goal is still in the overweight range, but it was the point I really started to feel like I was really heavy (even though looking back I looked good). And I've also set a hopeful goal which I won't feel bad if I don't meet, which is a point where I felt comfortable with myself when I was in my late 20s/early 30s. It is above the "normal" weight range, but I tend to be really muscular and I looked good at that size. When I was in my teens I lost a LOT of weight and looked terrible. Even as a teenager I looked bad at those lower weights. I can't imagine what it would look like on a 40-something woman with extra skin (looking back, I realize how unhealthy it was for my mother to consistently put me on a diet so I'd be in the lower end of healthy BMI).

Unfortunately, because I appear to have lost all of my weight in my legs and chest (40lbs so far), my clothes fit exactly the same at the wait. No chance could I put on a smaller size. One day, though.

I use sparkpeople. Basically the same thing as my fitness pal.
When I first had surgery, I had a google doc chart that tracked the following things:
Medications (when I took them)
Liquid/Protein (Time, what type of liqiuid/protein, oz of liquid, g of protein)
Breathing exercises (the hospital gave me a breathing device and asked me to use it several times a day - I tracked the time, number of breaths, and volume)
Walking (time and how far. For example, at first it was how many laps around my row of townhomes, then by time).
Space for notes.
I did this for about 2 months just so that I could see the progression. For example, I could see when I was able to increase from 1 oz of wter in 15mn, increase how any laps around my row of houses, etc. I found that after 2 months, I just needed to track via sparkpeople and my fitbit tracks my exercise.

For that small of a portion it is probably 1/2 tablespoon.

It is antibiotic ointment. A lot of places don't have it because they don't believe it really works. I remember a doctor telling me i was mad for using it when I lived overseas.

re-measured this AM. Actually lost an inch at my waist over the month. Phew! Although that means that means I had 2.25 inches of Fluid retention yesterday. Need to look at that. I eat almost no salt (in fact my doc says I need to eat a bit more), so not sure what it is.

So, I know this is a journey, and it'll start going the right way, and blah, blah, blah. So I just want to rant. I take my measurements once a month. As of today, I'm 3 months out from surgery. I lost 10.6 lbs this last month. And somehow I GAINED 1.25 inches on my waist. Also gained 0.25 inches in each calf. Lost inches everywhere else (except my neck, which is the exact same size it was before surgery), but still just a touch irritating. I know I measured at the end of the day vs. in the AM, so there's food in there, but it can't be 1.5 inches worth of food/liquid.
OK, rant over. Focusing on the fact that I'm losing, and that I'm still almost 34 inches down over my entire body (bust, chest, waist, hips, both thighs, both calves, both upper arms, neck). And am down 70.6 lbs overall - roughly 50 since surgery.

I've lost a total of 70 (both pre- and post- surgery). I just started to see it a little. It didn't help that I didn't lose a pant size until I'd lost 50#. So, now, every month I take pictures (front and side in a full-lenth mirror wearing roughly the same thing) and measurements (bust, chest, waist, hips, both thighs, both calves, both upper arms, and neck). I still really don't see it in the pictures, but I can see where it's coming off in the measurements. For example, I saw that I lost a LOT in my legs and hips in month one, but almost nothing in my waist - which is why I wasn't really losing clothing sizes. Month 2, though, I could see that I lost several inches in my waist. So, while my brain still looks in the mirror or at a picture and says "You look the same", my brain can look at the measurements and logically know that isn't true. It has helped me a lot.

My grocery bill has gone way down. Plus, I basically never eat out anymore, and when I do it is in tiny portions.
Some examples of what I buy:
Protein Shakes are typically $2/2.5 each. Fairlife milk is about $4/52 oz - expensive for milk, but still only about $0.61 per 8 oz serving. And it has more Protein, so it is worth it. But you can also buy cheaper milk. So a meal is less than $3. And Premier Protein is $25/18 at costco (sometimes on sale for $5 off) - so $1.40 each.
I buy frozen fish/shrimp at costco - a bag costs about $14 and has roughly 9 fillets in it. Lasts me forever. Each fillet lasts 2 meals for me (3 in the earlier days) - so about $0.78/serving. Add in some canned or frozen veggies, which are a few cents per serving. So, dinner is less than a couple dollars. Edited to add - and a little veg will last a while. I LOVE veggies and easily would eat a single zucchini or head of broccoli in a sitting. Now a zucc or brocoli will last me a week. SO there is savings there, too.
My eggs are fairly expensive - about $4/dozen (they're free range, organic, etc), so about $0.33/serving. But you can get eggs much cheaper.
I make dried Beans - a lb of beans lasts me forever. And the bag is only about $1-2.
My most expensive things for me are veggie sausage (about $4.50/bag - about $0.75/each) and every now and again I treat myself with really good cheese.
My Vitamins cost about $26/30 day supply, so about $0.86/day.
I track my spending pretty closely. Between rarely eating out (especially bringing my lunch to work every day) and eating a lot less, my food bill (grocery, vitamins, dining out) is significantly less than it was before. Plus, I'm off a few of my meds, so that saves me money every month.
If you're worried about the initial outflow of cash to get supplies, start buying things a bit at a time before surgery. Watch for when frozen veg goes on sale and stock up. Same with meat/fish/whatever protein and freeze it in 2-3 oz portions.

I've lost a total of 70 (both pre- and post- surgery). I just started to see it a little. It didn't help that I didn't lose a pant size until I'd lost 50#. So, now, every month I take pictures (front and side in a full-lenth mirror wearing roughly the same thing) and measurements (bust, chest, waist, hips, both thighs, both calves, both upper arms, and neck). I still really don't see it in the pictures, but I can see where it's coming off in the measurements. For example, I saw that I lost a LOT in my legs and hips in month one, but almost nothing in my waist - which is why I wasn't really losing clothing sizes. Month 2, though, I could see that I lost several inches in my waist. So, while my brain still looks in the mirror or at a picture and says "You look the same", my brain can look at the measurements and logically know that isn't true. It has helped me a lot.

When I got an infection after my hip surgery, I called my surgeon and then sent him a picture (I won't say how carefully I had to take that picture so that I didn't inadvertently send my doc a dirty pic, given where my incision was!). He was able to diagnose and prescribe some antibiotics just from seeing the pic. I wonder if your surgeon could do the same? Worth calling in.

Different programs have different rules. I didn't have to stop at the beginning of the program, but my doc does not want us having alcohol after surgery during the rapid weight loss phase (he'd prefer not ever, but he's realistic). Both because of the empty calories, but also because of something I don't completely understand about the liver - that the liver is busy dealing with the weight loss - and we metabolizing alcohol differently after surgery. I haven't really asked because it wasn't that important to me. I'd eventually like to have a glass of wine every now and again, like on my birthday, but I'm not worried about it now.

It may be good to taper off before surgery, but its worth talking about with your surgeon.

Different programs have different rules. I didn't have to stop at the beginning of the program, but my doc does not want us having alcohol after surgery during the rapid weight loss phase (he'd prefer not ever, but he's realistic). Both because of the empty calories, but also because of something I don't completely understand about the liver - that the liver is busy dealing with the weight loss - and we metabolizing alcohol differently after surgery. I haven't really asked because it wasn't that important to me. I'd eventually like to have a glass of wine every now and again, like on my birthday, but I'm not worried about it now.

It may be good to taper off before surgery, but its worth talking about with your surgeon.

I think they all pretty much do that. I know sparkpeople will also let you put in a recipe and how many servings and it'll calculate the macros for a serving. It will also let you save groupings. So, for example, I drink hot cocoa - so I have a grouping with 1 c. fairlife milk, 1TBL cocoa, & 1 packet stevia saved to use.
I think most of the apps do this.

When I got an infection after my hip surgery, I called my surgeon and then sent him a picture (I won't say how carefully I had to take that picture so that I didn't inadvertently send my doc a dirty pic, given where my incision was!). He was able to diagnose and prescribe some antibiotics just from seeing the pic. I wonder if your surgeon could do the same? Worth calling in.

So, I did not do self-pay. But I met with several doctors before I had surgery and one of them did not take my insurance. Dr Greene at Advanced Weight Loss Surgery out of Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. His office was willing to work with me on my out of pocket costs. Ultimately, for various reasons, I did not decide to use him, so I can't give any first hand testimony on how working with him is. It may be worth calling him to see how he deals with self-pay patients. Good luck.
I'm sure you considered this, but have you looked into switching insurance at your next open season? Even if that was the end of the year, you might be able to go through the process before you switch insurance and then submit the paperwork after you've changed insurance. I don't know if that would work, but it may be worth looking in to.
Good luck.

I got a plastic coin tube (for quarters) with a screw top. Perfect size for Bariatric Fusion chewable multivitamins!! So easy to carry in my purse. Thought I’d pass along the tip.

I've had this same discussion with myself. I'm also afraid of snacking because I don't want to get into the bad habits again. But I also can't eat enough in a meal to get all my Protein on most days. I do my best to plan my meals to get enough protein. But, if I don't I only snack if I need extra protein. So my Snacks are typically a glass of milk (or sugar free hot cocoa - 1TBL cocoa, 1 packet stevia, milk), sometimes some parm chips, or a stick of cheese.

I use Bariatric Fusion Vitamins. 1 chewable Vitamin 4x/day. I use the orange, but they have several flavors. And I think you can buy a sample pack. I buy them from this website (and I usually check Amazon to see who has the best price). I buy enough at one time for free shipping (not sure how free shipping works to Hawaii).
For Protein Shakes, I try to drink different things. Some that I like: Premier Protein chocolate (I buy at Costco), Unjury chocolate powder (buy from their website), and different Syntrax Nectar (I buy from this website or Amazon - whoever has the best deal. I got a sample pack, then bought a 2lb container of my two favorites - Roadside Lemonade and fuzzy navel.
If your town has a health shop, they'll also have some Protein powders. It is a good idea to have some on hand for immediately after surgery, but note that your taste buds might change, so don't buy too much in case you suddenly don't like what you used to.

My grocery bill has gone way down. Plus, I basically never eat out anymore, and when I do it is in tiny portions.
Some examples of what I buy:
Protein Shakes are typically $2/2.5 each. Fairlife milk is about $4/52 oz - expensive for milk, but still only about $0.61 per 8 oz serving. And it has more Protein, so it is worth it. But you can also buy cheaper milk. So a meal is less than $3. And Premier Protein is $25/18 at costco (sometimes on sale for $5 off) - so $1.40 each.
I buy frozen fish/shrimp at costco - a bag costs about $14 and has roughly 9 fillets in it. Lasts me forever. Each fillet lasts 2 meals for me (3 in the earlier days) - so about $0.78/serving. Add in some canned or frozen veggies, which are a few cents per serving. So, dinner is less than a couple dollars. Edited to add - and a little veg will last a while. I LOVE veggies and easily would eat a single zucchini or head of broccoli in a sitting. Now a zucc or brocoli will last me a week. SO there is savings there, too.
My eggs are fairly expensive - about $4/dozen (they're free range, organic, etc), so about $0.33/serving. But you can get eggs much cheaper.
I make dried Beans - a lb of beans lasts me forever. And the bag is only about $1-2.
My most expensive things for me are veggie sausage (about $4.50/bag - about $0.75/each) and every now and again I treat myself with really good cheese.
My Vitamins cost about $26/30 day supply, so about $0.86/day.
I track my spending pretty closely. Between rarely eating out (especially bringing my lunch to work every day) and eating a lot less, my food bill (grocery, vitamins, dining out) is significantly less than it was before. Plus, I'm off a few of my meds, so that saves me money every month.
If you're worried about the initial outflow of cash to get supplies, start buying things a bit at a time before surgery. Watch for when frozen veg goes on sale and stock up. Same with meat/fish/whatever protein and freeze it in 2-3 oz portions.

Disclaimer: not a vegan. But I ate mostly vegan before surgery (even though I'm actually a pescatarian).

I'm 3 months post-op. Make sure to tell your hospital that you're vegan. And make sure they understand. The hospital gave me broth and Jello for every meal. They found me some vegetarian broth, but kept bringing the jello, insisting that I could eat it (even after I told them how its made).
As for my diet post-op. I've never eaten any kind of jello post-op. I did have some sugar free popcicles, but I really didn't need them. I did a lot of broth with Protein powder in the liquid phase. I highly recommend Millie's sipping broth - its vegan broth in tea bags. Really good.
pureed stage, I made a bunch of pureed Beans and lentils and froze them in 1/4c servings. And veg - mostly spinach and sweet potatoes.
I will say that I've had to eat a lot more dairy than I'd like post-op to get my protein in. I haven't thought through how I'd do it without dairy, but I bet it could be done. I do a lot of morningstar farms stuff. Check the protein content before you buy, some of their stuff has very little protein, while others are better. I still eat beans and lentils, but it takes a lot of those to get significant protein.

i reward myself with jewelry - earrings and necklaces only (my fingers are getting smaller, so I don't wnat to have to re-size them).
As for the cruises - dresses fit for many sizes. I'm down 2-3 sizes in pants and can still wear the dresses I used to wear (especially the belted ones). And dresses are great for a cruise. I buy one pair of black pants in each size (I find ones that aren't too expensive) and am just continuing to wear the tops I used to wear. I did also buy a few pairs of jeans in smaller sizes on super sale after christmas, and those'll last a while.